Apparatus for aligning a solar cell element, system for use in the manufacture of a solar cell arrangement, and method

Apparatus for aligning a solar cell element, comprising:

• a transfer device configured for moving the solar cell element from a first position on a carrying device to a second position on a support device;
• a first detection device configured to detect information about a first position of the solar cell element on the carrying device;
• and
• a second detection device configured to detect information about an intermediate position of the solar cell element in relation to the transfer device;
• wherein
• the transfer device being configured to adjust an orientation of the transfer device based on the information about the first position,
• the first detection device comprises a first and a second detection section placed at different sides of the carrying device, the first and second detection sections are configured as optical barriers, and
• the first detection device is configured to cause the first detection section to detect presence of the solar cell element for a time range x, cause the second detection section to detect absence of the solar cell element for a time range y and then detect presence of the solar cell element, and compare the time range x and the time range y to determine an indicator for a degree of rotation of an orientation of the solar cell element in a plane parallel to a plane of the solar cell element.