Abstract: A glass sheet washing machine comprising a conveyor for moving a glass sheet along a path of travel at a controlled linear speed and a brush rotatable at a controlled rotational speed positioned along said path of travel such that said brush contacts the glass sheet moves along said path of travel wherein the linear speed of the conveyor and the rotational speed of the brush are variable and one of the linear speed and the rotational speed is dependent on any other of the linear speed and the rotational speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic feeding of elongated sheet stock from a stamping station into a roll forming station in a window component production line includes a transfer mechanism, a feed mechanism and a controller. The transfer mechanism is between the stamping station and the roll forming station. The feed mechanism is positioned at an entrance to the roll forming station. The controller is in communication with the stamping station, the transfer mechanism and the feed mechanism. The controller is programmed to engage stock material that extends from the stamping station with the transfer mechanism, transfer the stock material paid out by the stamping station to the feed mechanism, and drive the feed mechanism to feed the elongated sheet stock into the roll forming station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating and/or pressing sealant of an insulating glass unit. The apparatus may include an oven and a press. The oven includes a detector that detects an optical property of the insulating glass unit. The detected optical property is used to regulate the amount of energy applied to the insulating glass unit to adjust the amount of energy applied to the sealant. The press may include a displacement transducer that detects a pre-pressed thickness of the insulating glass unit. The measured pre-pressed thickness is used to automatically select a press thickness from a set of pressed IGU thicknesses.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for fabricating a spacer frame for use in an insulating glass unit. A roll former bends a strip of material to form a spacer frame having side walls to which an adhesive is applied during fabrication of an insulated glass unit. Alternately a plastic frame is formed by extrusion. A notching apparatus forms notches at locations that extend into the side walls to weaken the side walls for bending of said elongated channel into a closed structure. A downstream workstation predisposes specified locations of the sidewalls to facilitate bending of the spacer frame. The workstation forces the specified locations of the sidewalls inwardly toward each other at the predetermined bend locations.

Abstract: Each of the multiple spacer frame fabricating machines executes its portion of a schedule, then alerts an operator(s) he or she should move to another spacer frame machine that is simultaneously providing spacer frames for the same schedule. The multiple controllers running the multiple spacer machines continue to prompt the operator until the production schedule has been completed. By alternately choosing spacers from different machines, the operator(s) can maintain the proper spacer sequence on the overhead conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating and/or pressing sealant of an insulating glass unit. The apparatus may include an oven and a press. The oven includes a detector that detects an optical property of the insulating glass unit. The detected optical property is used to regulate the amount of energy applied to the insulating glass unit to adjust the amount of energy applied to the sealant. The press may include a displacement transducer that detects a pre-pressed thickness of the insulating glass unit. The measured pre-pressed thickness is used to automatically select a press thickness from a set of pressed IGU thicknesses.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and system for applying decorative tape to a glass sheet. The disclosed system and method allow tape segments that are shorter than a distance between a cutter and a glass engagement position to be applied by an application head to the glass sheet. The system includes the application head, a tape supply, a drive roller, a cutter, and a controller. The application head applies tape segments cut from the tape supply to the glass pane. The drive roller advances the tape dispensed by the application head. The cutter cuts end portions of each tape segment. The controller is programmed to sort moves of the application head, tape supply, drive roller, and cutter to allow tape segments that are shorter than a distance between the cutter and the glass engagement position to be applied to the glass sheet.

Abstract: A window processing system is disclosed for fabricating window frames. A welding station has welding heads to weld or fuse vinyl frame parts together. The frames are taken to a cleaning station having a number of cleaning heads that are independently actuated to move into a position relative selected portions of the window frame to clean off burrs, weld beads etc from the welded window frame. The cleaning process involves both training of a controller to recognize certain frame profiles and a compensation process for adjusting the cleaning process for individual variations in the frame that occur during fabrication. Real-time cleaning involves coupling a visual sensor to a moving support that also supports a cleaning tool.

Abstract: A system that delivers window or door components to an assembly station where multiple components are assembled to form a multi-sided window or door frame or sash. A preparation station in proximity to the assembly station includes an alignment fixture for bringing multiple frame or sash components into alignment while a preceding frame or sash is being assembled at the assembly station. A conveyor moves aligned components of a next subsequent frame or sash to the assembly station while maintaining the alignment of said window components for clamping at the assembly station prior to assembly. One system is used to assemble vinyl door or window components by welding them together.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for fabricating a spacer frame for use in an insulating glass unit. A spacer frame separates spaced apart window panes in an insulating glass unit for use in fabricating a window The spacer includes an elongated frame that is bent into a multi-sided closed form having outwardly facing surfaces for supporting the spaced window panes. An intermediate or bridging body portion of the frame transmits heat between the spaced window panes. Thermal interruptions in this intermediate body portion disrupt heat flow to raise the inside window temperature in winter and lower it in summer. This is referred to as the warm edge value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying aligned decorative tape patterns to opposite sides of a glass sheet. The glass sheet is positioned such that the first side of the glass sheet is accessible to a tape application head. A first tape pattern is automatically applied to the first side of the glass sheet with the tape application head by referencing a location and orientation of a first corner of the sheet. The sheet of glass is then turned over such that the second side is accessible to the tape application head. A second tape pattern is automatically applied to the second side of the glass sheet with the tape application head by referencing the location and orientation of the first corner. The first and second tape patterns are precisely aligned as a result of referencing the same corner of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A system for abrading and scoring glass. An abrading/scoring station includes a table for supporting a large sheet of glass on a generally flat support. A first tool support moves an abrading tool for abrading a coating material from the glass. A second tool support moves a scoring or cutting tool that scores a region of the glass. By coordinating a movement of the first and second tool supports with respect to a piece of glass, a controller causes the respective tools to first abrade and then score controlled paths on the piece of glass while avoiding contact between the first and second tool supports and their respective tools.

Abstract: A glass sheet washing machine comprising a conveyor for moving a glass sheet along a path of travel at a controlled linear speed and a brush rotatable at a controlled rotational speed positioned along said path of travel such that said brush contacts the glass sheet moves along said path of travel wherein the linear speed of the conveyor and the rotational speed of the brush are variable and one of the linear speed and the rotational speed is dependent on any other of the linear speed and the rotational speed.

Abstract: A glass sheet washing machine comprising a conveyor for moving a glass sheet along a path of travel at a controlled linear speed and a brush rotatable at a controlled rotational speed positioned along said path of travel such that said brush contacts the glass sheet moves along said path of travel wherein the linear speed of the conveyor and the rotational speed of the brush are variable and one of the linear speed and the rotational speed is dependent on any other of the linear speed and the rotational speed.

Abstract: A glass cutting station having a controller that lays out a pattern of lites to be cut from set of glass sheets to fulfill the lite requirements of a multiple number of cutting batches. The controller identifies one or more underutilized glass sheets in a first set of glass sheets that have free space with no lites designated to be cut in the first batch. The controller also lays out a pattern of lites to be cut to fulfill the lite requirements of an additional or second batch in the number of batches by utilizing at least some of the free space on the underutilized glass sheets of the first set of glass sheets. Additionally the controller designates other glass sheets from which to cut other lites in the additional batch. If, after this process is performed, additional free space is identified, the controller can continue to lay out the sheet with standard or filler lites that fill up the additional underutilized space of a glass sheet.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention concerns an ornamental tape configuration applied to a glass surface. The ornamental tape configuration includes first, second and third decorative tape strips applied to a glass surface. The second decorative tape strip is applied to the glass surface in a spaced apart relationship to the first decorative tape strip. The third decorative tape is applied to the glass surface between the first and second decorative tape strips such that edges of the third decorative tape strip overly the first and second decorative tape strips. Another aspect of the present invention is an elongated decorative tape for use between a pair of decorative tape strips. The decorative tape includes a decorative portion is supported by a base portion such that first and second decorative portion edges extend beyond first and second sides of the base portion.

Abstract: A glass sheet washing machine with a broken glass removal system includes a support, a liquid container or reservoir, a pump, a liquid applicator, and a liquid permeable member. The support supports a glass sheet being washed. The liquid reservoir is positioned below the support. The pump is coupled to the liquid reservoir. The liquid applicator is coupled to the pump. The liquid applicator applies the liquid from the liquid reservoir to wash the glass sheet. Excess liquid falls into the reservoir. The liquid permeable member is positioned between the support and the liquid reservoir to catch pieces of glass to inhibit the pieces of broken glass from falling into the liquid reservoir and is moved to remove the pieces from the glass washing machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling production run sequences of insulating glass units based on manufacturing variables. The method creates a sequence of runs of insulating glass units to be produced for assembly to window or door sash and frames at a plurality of glazing lines. A status of the runs, a status of one or more insulating glass component processing machines, and/or a queue of insulating glass units to be assembled to window or door sash and frames at the glazing lines is monitored at a production control workstation. The sequence of runs is altered at the production control workstation based on one of the status of the runs, the status of the one or more glass processing machines, and the queue of insulating glass units at the glazing line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying aligned decorative tape patterns to opposite sides of a glass sheet. The glass sheet is positioned such that the first side of the glass sheet is accessible to a tape application head. A first tape pattern is automatically applied to the first side of the glass sheet with the tape application head by referencing a location and orientation of a first corner of the sheet. The sheet of glass is then turned over such that the second side is accessible to the tape application head. A second tape pattern is automatically applied to the second side of the glass sheet with the tape application head by referencing the location and orientation of the first corner. The first and second tape patterns are precisely aligned as a result of referencing the same corner of the glass sheet.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and system for applying decorative tape to a glass sheet. The disclosed system and method allow tape segments that are shorter than a distance between a cutter and a glass engagement position to be applied by an application head to the glass sheet. The system includes the application head, a tape supply, a drive roller, a cutter, and a controller. The application head applies tape segments cut from the tape supply to the glass pane. The drive roller advances the tape dispensed by the application head. The cutter cuts end portions of each tape segment. The controller is programmed to sort moves of the application head, tape supply, drive roller, and cutter to allow tape segments that are shorter than a distance between the cutter and the glass engagement position to be applied to the glass sheet.