Apparatus and method for aligning and fixing ribbon on a solar cell
AssigneeKomax Holding AG
InventorBrian Micciche
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and a method are proposed for aligning and fixing a ribbon onto the groove of a solar cell for avoiding undue stress on the ribbon as well as crystal damage of the solar cells by hardening of the ribbon. The apparatus includes a frame, a leading arm, and a trailing arm, the leading and trailing arms being movably mounted on at least one linear guide arranged on said frame. The apparatus further provides for upward and downward movement of the at least one linear guide, and a shear for cutting said ribbon. Both the leading arm and the trailing arm have a gripper for gripping the ribbon. These grippers are provided to apply a predetermined longitudinal tension to the ribbon when the leading and trailing arms are moved relative to one another.
Claims5
An apparatus for aligning and fixing a ribbon onto a solar cell, said solar cell comprising a groove in which groove the ribbon fits in, said apparatus comprising
- a frame,
- a leading arm movably mounted on a linear guide being arranged on said frame,
- a trailing arm movably mounted on the linear guide being arranged on said frame,
- moving means for an upward and downward movement of said linear guide,
- shear means for cutting said ribbon, wherein said leading arm and said trailing arm each comprises at least one gripper means for gripping said ribbon, and wherein said gripper means are provided to apply a predetermined longitudinal tension to said ribbon.
A method for aligning and fixing a ribbon onto a solar cell, using an apparatus comprising a frame, a leading arm movably mounted on a linear guide being arranged on said frame, at least one trailing arm movably mounted on the linear guide being arranged on said frame, moving means for an upward and downward movement of said linear guide, shear means for cutting said ribbon, wherein said leading arm and said trailing arm each comprises at least one gripper means for gripping said ribbon, and wherein said gripper means are provided to apply a predetermined longitudinal tension to said ribbon, wherein said solar cell is provided with a groove for said ribbon, said method comprising the steps of
- moving said leading arm, whereby said gripper means of said leading arm holds the ribbon and moves it to a predetermined position,
- moving said trailing arm to another predetermined position, whereas said gripper means of said trailing arm is opened,
- closing said gripper means of said trailing arm again, whereby said ribbon will be tightened applying a predetermined longitudinal tension onto the ribbon,
- lowering said gripper means to a level of a solar cell positioned underneath said ribbon,
- connecting said ribbon to said solar cell by applying heat to said ribbon,
- cutting said ribbon by said shear means, and
- opening said gripper means of said leading arm so that said ribbon and said solar cell can be further transported.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.