Abstract An improved multiple glazed window unit and an improved method and apparatus for fabricating hermetically sealed glazing units are disclosed. The glazing units comprise a pair of spaced glass sheets separated at their marginal edges by a flexible spacer and surrounded about the perimeter by a sealant and a cover of flexible or non-rigid tape. The flexible cover tape and sealant are preassembled with the spacer into a unitary composite strip. During fabrication of a unit, the portions of the cover tape overlying the spacer are longitudinally recessed or indented relative to the lateral portions of the tape which overlie the glass sheet edges. In accordance with the preferred apparatus of this invention, the composite strip is installed by an apparatus which comprises a table for supporting the glass sheets, means for securing the glass on the table, means for holding the sheets together, means for installing the spacer, sealant and cover tape strip, and support means including a pivoted arm for supporting the inserter apparatus adjacent the edges of the glass for movement therealong.
A method for assembling window units by inserting a spacer portion of a composite strip between the contiguous peripheral edges of two sheets of glass, pressing a sealant portion of the composite strip against said peripheral edges, folding the lateral edges of said strip over the outside marginal surfaces of said sheets and finishing said lateral edges in a single operation whereby a window unit is assembled in a single pass, the steps of: securing a first sheet of glass to a horizontal work surface; securing a second sheet on and in alignment with said first sheet; pivotally mounting a tool support arm for motion in a plane parallel to the space between said first and second sheets; pivotally securing to the free end of said pivotally mounted tool support arm an assembly tool comprising spacer wedge means, feed roll and inserter means and finishing means; inserting said spacer wecge means between said sheets of glass to separate said sheets a distance sufficient to permit insertion of said spacer portion of said composite strip; advancing said assembly tool around the peripheral edges of said sheets while feeding said composite strip to said feed roll and inserter means and sequentially pressing said spacer portion of said composite strip by said inserter means into the space between said sheets formed by said spacer wedge, folding the lateral edge portions of said composite strip over the outside marginal surfaces of said glass sheets, and finishing said folded lateral edge portions to space and hermetically seal said window unit in a single operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
259 words
A method for assembling window units by inserting a spacer portion of a composite strip between the contiguous peripheral edges of two sheets of glass, pressing a sealant portion of the composite strip against said peripheral edges, folding the lateral edges of said strip over the outside marginal surfaces of said sheets and finishing said lateral edges in a single operation whereby a window unit is assembled in a single pass, the steps of: securing a first sheet of glass to a horizontal work surface; securing a second sheet on and in alignment with said first sheet; pivotally mounting a tool support arm for motion in a plane parallel to the space between said first and second sheets; pivotally securing to the free end of said pivotally mounted tool support arm an assembly tool comprising spacer wedge means, feed roll and inserter means and finishing means; inserting said spacer wecge means between said sheets of glass to separate said sheets a distance sufficient to permit insertion of said spacer portion of said composite strip; advancing said assembly tool around the peripheral edges of said sheets while feeding said composite strip to said feed roll and inserter means and sequentially pressing said spacer portion of said composite strip by said inserter means into the space between said sheets formed by said spacer wedge, folding the lateral edge portions of said composite strip over the outside marginal surfaces of said glass sheets, and finishing said folded lateral edge portions to space and hermetically seal said window unit in a single operation.