초록 ▼

A sealant strip applying system (10) is for applying a sealant strip (12) to a top surface of a sheet material (16) adjacent to a plurality of straight edges (18, 20) thereof. The system (10) is configured to support the sheet material (16) and to produce the controlled repositioning thereof on an a

A sealant strip applying system (10) is for applying a sealant strip (12) to a top surface of a sheet material (16) adjacent to a plurality of straight edges (18, 20) thereof. The system (10) is configured to support the sheet material (16) and to produce the controlled repositioning thereof on an air flotation table (30) with each edge (18, 20) being selectively aligned with a front edge (34) of the table (30). The sealant strip (12) is successively applied to each edge (18, 20) by a sealant strip applicator (50) that is supported by the air flotation table (30) and mounted for selective movement along the front edge (34) thereof.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [20.] A method of applying a sealant strip to a surface of a sheet of glass adjacent to a plurality of straight edges of the sheet of glass, each adjacent pair of the plurality of edges intersecting at a corner, the plurality of edges of the sheet of glass including a first ed

[ What is claimed is:] [20.] A method of applying a sealant strip to a surface of a sheet of glass adjacent to a plurality of straight edges of the sheet of glass, each adjacent pair of the plurality of edges intersecting at a corner, the plurality of edges of the sheet of glass including a first edge and an adjacent second edge, the first edge having a first corner at a terminal end thereof and a second corner at the other terminal end thereof, and the second edge having the second corner at a terminal end thereof adjacent the first edge and a third corner at the other terminal end thereof, said method comprising the steps of:supporting the sheet of glass at a lower surface thereof which is opposite the surface on an upper surface of a support table having a straight front edge;gripping the lower surface of the sheet of glass in a central region thereof to allow limited movement of the central region toward and away from said front edge along a path which is at an angle with respect to said front edge;mounting a sealant strip applicator on said support table for movement along said front edge;selectively applying the sealant strip to the surface of the sheet of glass with said sealant strip applicator;selectively discontinuing the application of the sealant strip to the surface of the sheet of glass by said sealant strip applicator;selectively coupling said sealant strip applicator and the central region of the lower side of the sheet of glass to establish a fixed distance of said sealant strip applicator from the central region and a fixed direction of said sealant strip applicator from the central region;selectively uncoupling said sealant strip applicator and the central region of the lower side of the sheet of glass to allow a variable distance and a variable direction of said sealant strip applicator from the central region;initially positioning said sealant strip applicator at the first corner of the sheet of glass when the first edge is parallel to and in alignment with said front edge of said support table during said selective uncoupling;initially moving said sealant strip applicator relative to said front edge of said support table in a first direction from the first corner toward the second corner of the sheet of glass during said selectively applying the sealant strip to the surface adjacent to the first edge;subsequently positioning said sealant strip applicator at the second corner of the sheet of glass after said selectively applying the sealant strip along the first edge of the sheet of glass;subsequently moving said sealant strip applicator in a second direction opposite said first direction relative to said front edge, during said selectively coupling and said selectively discontinuing the application of the sealant strip, to cause rotating of the sheet of glass around the central region on said upper surface of said support table until the second edge is generally parallel to said front edge of said support table;said subsequently moving said sealant strip applicator in said second direction initially causing the central region to move along said path away from said front edge and then to move along said path toward said front edge;bending the sealant strip at the second corner of the sheet of glass during said subsequently moving said sealant strip applicator in said second direction; andrepeating the steps of said selectively uncoupling and said selectively applying said sealant strip to the surface of the sheet of glass adjacent to and along the second edge when said sealant strip applicator is positioned at the second corner for repeating said initially moving said sealant strip applicator relative to said front edge of said support table in said first direction toward the third corner when the second edge is parallel to and in alignment with said front edge.