Apparatus to be detachably fixed on a mounted glazing panel and associated method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12539581-B2
Application number	US-202117904564-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2021
Priority date	Feb 20, 2020
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

An apparatus detachably fixed on a glazing panel mounted on a stationary or mobile object, the apparatus includes a fixing frame having a fixing frame plane, FFplane, a functional device, a first motor to move the functional device in a first direction, and a second motor to move the functional device in a second direction. The apparatus has at least N suction devices, including a suction end, detachably fixed to the glazing panel, defining a resting distance, Drest, between the FFplane and the suction end, and defining a working distance, Dwork, between the FFplane and the suction end, and at least M rigid pushing devices, including a pushing end defining a pushing distance, Dpush, between the FFplane and the pushing end, where the sum of the positive integers M and N is equal to or greater than 3 and where Dpush is equal to or greater than Dwork.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An apparatus configured to be detachably fixed on a glazing panel mounted on a stationary object or on a mobile object, the apparatus comprising:
a fixing frame having a fixing frame plane, FFplane, defined by a longitudinal axis X and a transversal axis Y, a light emission element, at least a first motor configured to move the light emission element in a first direction essentially parallel to FFplane, at least a second motor configured to move the light emission element in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and essentially parallel to FFplane, wherein the apparatus further comprises:
at least N suction means, wherein N is a positive integer (N>0), comprising:
a suction end, detachably fixed to the glazing panel, defining a resting distance, Drest, between the FFplane and the suction end, measured in a direction normal to FFPlane, when the apparatus is not fixed to the glazing panel, also defining a working distance, Dwork, between the FFplane and the suction end, measured in the direction normal to FFPlane, when the said apparatus is detachably fixed to the glazing panel;

at least M rigid pushing means, wherein M is a positive integer (M>0), comprising:
a pushing end defining a pushing distance, Dpush, between the FFplane and the pushing end, measured in the direction normal to FFPlane;

wherein a sum of the positive integers M and N is equal to or greater than 3 (M+N≥3) and wherein Dpush is equal to or greater than Dwork (Dpush≥Dwork).

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein Dpush ≥Dwork+xpl(Drest−Dwork), wherein 0.1≤xpl≤0.5.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein Dpush ≤Drest−xpu(Drest−Dwork), wherein 0.1≤xpu≤0.5.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light emission element is part of a decoating means configured to modify at least one of a coating system applied on an interface of the glazing panel.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the suction end is a vacuum pad or a suction cup.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing frame comprises at least a first rail and a second rail, the first rail allowing for the light emission element to move in the first direction, and the second rail allowing for the light emission element to move in the second direction.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pushing end comprises a soft material configured to be in contact with the glazing panel.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pushing end comprises at least two fingers configured to be in contact with the glazing panel.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pushing end is a base.

10 . A method to mount the apparatus according to claim 1 on the glazing panel of the stationary object or on the mobile object, the method comprising:
placing the suction end of the at least one suction means against a surface of the glazing panel to have a distance between FFplane and the surface substantially equal to Drest,
fixing detachably the suction end to the surface of the glazing panel,
wherein during the fixing, pushing the suction end to touch the glazing panel, and pushing the glazing panel to have Dpush equals to or greater than Dwork (Dpush≥Dwork).

11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light emission element comprises a laser.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the glazing comprises a glass sheet.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the glazing comprises a coating system.

Assignees

• Agc Glass Europe
• Agc Inc
• Agc Flat Glass Na Inc
• Agc Vidros Do Brasil Ltda

Inventors

• Morgante Eric

Classifications

• E06B3/54

  Fixing of glass panes or like plates · CPC title

• B25B11/005 Primary

  Vacuum work holders · CPC title

• E06B3/67386

  Presses; Clamping means holding the panes during assembly · CPC title

• B25H1/0064 Primary

  Stands attached to the workpiece · CPC title