초록 ▼

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to edge sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to techniques for providing localized heating to edge seals of units, and/or unitized ovens for accomplishing the same. In ce

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to edge sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to techniques for providing localized heating to edge seals of units, and/or unitized ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a unit is pre-heated to one or more intermediate temperatures, localized heating (e.g., from one or more substantially linear focused IR heat sources) is provided proximate to the peripheral edges of the unit so as to melt frits placed thereon, and cooled. In certain non-limiting implementations, the pre-heating and/or cooling may be provided in one or more steps. An oven for accomplishing the same may include multiple zones for performing the above-noted steps, each zone optionally including one or more chambers. Accordingly, in certain example embodiments, a temperature gradient proximate to the edges of the unit is created, thereby reducing the chances of breakage and/or at least some de-tempering of the substrates.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of making a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) window unit, including an edge seal thereof, the method comprising: providing a unit comprising first and second substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates, one or more edge portions of the first and second substrates to be sealed, and

1. A method of making a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) window unit, including an edge seal thereof, the method comprising: providing a unit comprising first and second substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates, one or more edge portions of the first and second substrates to be sealed, and a frit provided at least partially between the first and second glass substrates for sealing said one or more edge portions to be sealed;pre-heating the unit in substantially its entirety to at least one intermediate temperature, each intermediate temperature in the pre-heating being below a melting point of the first and second substrates and below a melting point of the frit;after said pre-heating, providing localized near infrared (IR) inclusive heat to the unit proximate to the edge portions to be sealed so as to at least partially melt the frit, the localized near IR heat being provided to the unit such that at least some areas of the unit not proximate to the edge portions to be sealed are kept at a temperature(s) below frit-melting temperature; andcooling the unit and allowing the frit to harden in making the vacuum insulating glass (VIG) window unit. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising concentrating and/or focusing the near infrared radiation on or proximate to the frit via at least one parabolic mirror. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the near infrared radiation at a wavelength of at least from about 1.1-1.4 μm. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initially providing the unit at room temperature; andduring the pre-heating, providing first and second intermediate temperatures in this order, the first intermediate temperature being about 75° C. and the second intermediate temperature being about 150° C. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising during the cooling, providing first and second reduced temperatures in this order, the first reduced temperature being about 150° C. and the second reduced temperature being less than about 100° C. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said localized near IR inclusive heat is generated using at least one substantially linear infrared heat source. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the frit melting temperature is from about 350-500° C. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising raising an elevation of the unit during the localized heating so as to move the unit closer to the infrared heat source. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least certain portions of the first and second substrates lose no more than about 50% of their respective original temper strengths during said method. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising evacuating an area between the first and second substrates to a pressure less than atmospheric in making the VIG window unit, wherein said evacuating is performed following and/or during said cooling step. 11. A method of making an edge seal for a vacuum insulating glass unit, the method comprising: providing an oven including a pre-heating zone, an edge sealing zone, and a cooling zone;inserting into the oven a unit comprising first and second substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates, one or more edge portions of the substrates to be sealed, and a frit for sealing the edge portions to be sealed;in the pre-heating zone of the oven, pre-heating the unit to at least one intermediate temperature, each said intermediate temperature being below a melting point of the first and second substrates and below a melting point of the frit;in the edge sealing zone of the oven which is subsequent to the pre-heating zone, providing, via a localized heat source, localized heat to the unit proximate to the edge portions to be sealed at at least a frit melting temperature, the frit melting temperature being sufficiently high enough to at least partially melt the frit, the localized heat being provided to the unit such that areas of the unit not proximate to the edge portions to be sealed are maintained at a temperature proximate to an intermediate temperature(s); andin the cooling zone of the oven, cooling the unit in its entirety to at least one reduced temperature and allowing the frit to harden in making the vacuum insulating glass unit. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: initially providing the unit at room temperature;wherein the pre-heating zone is an entrance zone, and the cooling zone is an exit zone; andduring the pre-heating, respectively providing first and second intermediate temperatures in this order in first and second entrance zone chambers of the entrance zone, the first intermediate temperature being about 75° C. and the second intermediate temperature being about 150° C. 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising during the cooling, respectively providing first and second reduced temperatures in this order in first and second exit zone chambers of the exit zone, the first reduced temperature being about 150° C. and the second reduced temperature being less than about 100° C. 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising during the cooling, providing first and second reduced temperatures in this order in first and second exit zone chambers of the exit zone, the first reduced temperature being about 150° C. and the second reduced temperature being less than about 100° C. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the frit melting temperature is from about 350-500° C. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the localized heat source is a substantially linear infrared heat source configured to generate near infrared radiation. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising concentrating and/or focusing the near infrared radiation on or proximate to the frit via at least one parabolic mirror. 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing the near infrared radiation at a wavelength(s) of about 1.1-1.4 μm. 19. The method of claim 11, wherein the edge portions to be sealed extend around the entire periphery of the glass substrates, so that the seal extends around the entire periphery of the vacuum insulating glass unit. 20. An apparatus for forming edge seals for vacuum insulating glass units, comprising: a pre-heating zone for receiving a unit comprising first and second substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates, one or more edge portions between the first and second substrates to be sealed, and a frit for sealing a periphery of the substrates, and the pre-heating zone being for pre-heating the unit in its entirety to at least one intermediate temperature, each said intermediate temperature being below a melting point of the first and second substrates and below a melting point of the frit;an edge sealing zone located subsequent to the pre-heating zone, the edge sealing zone including a localized heat source for providing localized heat to the unit proximate to the edge portions to be sealed at a frit melting temperature, the frit melting temperature being sufficiently high enough to melt the frit, the localized heat being provided to the unit such that areas of the unit not proximate to the edge portions to be sealed are maintained at a temperature close to an intermediate temperature; anda cooling zone of the oven for cooling the unit in its entirety to at least one reduced temperature and allowing the frit to harden. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a parabolic mirror for concentrating and/or focusing the localized heat on or proximate to the frit. 22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the pre-heating zone is an entrance zone, and the apparatus further comprising first and second entrance zone chambers of the entrance zone to respectively provide first and second intermediate temperatures in this order, the first intermediate temperature being from about 65-85° C. and the second intermediate temperature being from about 140-160° C. 23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cooling zone is an exit zone, and the apparatus further comprising first and second exit zone chambers of the exit zone to respectively provide first and second reduced temperatures in this order, the first reduced temperature being from about 140-160° C. and the second reduced temperature being less than about 100° C. 24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the localized heat source is a substantially linear infrared heat source configured to generate near infrared radiation. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the localized heat source comprises first, second, third, and fourth banks of infrared heat source elements, the banks being arranged such that the infrared heat source is substantially rectangularly shaped within the edge melting zone, wherein the first and second banks are fixed in position and constitute two substantially perpendicular legs of the substantially rectangularly shaped infrared heat source,wherein the third and fourth banks constitute the other two substantially perpendicular legs of the substantially rectangularly shaped infrared heat source, andwherein the infrared heat source elements of the second and third banks are movable in dependence on a size of the unit so as to move closer to the edges to be sealed. 26. A method of making a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) window unit, the method comprising: providing first and second substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates and a frit provided at least partially between the first and second glass substrates for sealing an edge of the VIG window unit;pre-heating the glass substrates and the frit to at least one temperature below a melting point of the first and second substrates and below a melting point of the frit;after the pre-heating, providing localized near infrared (IR) inclusive heat proximate to the edge to be sealed so as to at least partially melt the frit; andcooling the unit and allowing the frit to harden in making the vacuum insulating glass (VIG) window unit.