# US 2009/0056784 A1 · Solar cell connecting apparatus, strip retaining apparatus and transport apparatus for a solar cell connecting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0056784 A1 - Document ID: US20090056784A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/147,935 - Filed: 2008-06-27 - Published: 2009-03-05 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-30 - Assignees: teamtechnik Maschinen und Anlagen GmbH - Inventors: Hubert REINISCH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090056784A1 ## CPC - H10F 71/1375: {Apparatus for automatic interconnection of photovoltaic cells in a module} - H10F 19/90: Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers (between thin-film photovoltaic cells on a single substrate H10F19/35) - H10F 19/908: {for back-contact photovoltaic cells} - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y10T 29/10: Battery-grid making - Y10T 29/1181: including means to handle produced strip or web - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention relates to a solar cell connecting apparatus, for example a solar cell connecting apparatus, for manufacturing solar cell strings from individual solar cells and electrically conductive strips, having a first module for joining solar cells and strips together; a second module which is connected to the first module for connection, for example, soldering of the strips to the solar cells; and a third module for transportation of the solar cells from the first module through the second module. The connecting apparatus is characterized in that the first module has an apparatus for placing a strip retaining element on to a solar cell with strips, in order to fix the strips on the solar cell, and the third module is adapted in order to also transport the retaining element together with the solar cell (FIG. 2). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar cell connecting apparatus for manufacturing solar cell strings of individual solar cells and electrically conductive strips, having: a first module for joining solar cells and strips together; a second module, which is connected to the first module, for connection of the strips to the solar cells; a third module for transportation of the solar cells from the first module through the second module, wherein the first module has an apparatus for supplying a strip retaining element by means of which the strips are fixed on the solar cell during transportation, and the third module is adapted to transport the retaining element together with the solar cell and the strips fixed to it. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third module has a first transport device which comprises a first conveyer belt, which is integral or is subdivided into a plurality of parallel-running conveyer belts and supports the solar cell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first conveyer belt has a plurality of suction openings which are arranged in the transportation direction and interact with suction boxes in order to fix solar cells located on the conveyer belt thereon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third module has a second transport device which comprises two parallel-arranged conveyer belts on which the strip retaining element is located for transport. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the strip retaining element has a lower supporting element which supports the solar cell and the lower strips. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the supporting element has a plurality of supporting needles which support the solar cell and the lower strips. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the supporting element is in the form of a baseplate which rests on the two parallel conveyer belts and on which the other part of the strip retaining element is placed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two parallel conveyer belts have suction openings which are arranged in their longitudinal direction and interact with suction boxes in order to fix the retaining elements and/or baseplates on the conveyer belts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and the second transport device have a common drive device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third module has a third transport device adapted to pick up retaining elements at the end of the second module, or, if appropriate, after further process intermediate steps from the solar cell, and to transport them back to the first module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second module has an associated soldering device, preferably a soldering oven, for soldering the strips to the solar cells, with the solar cells passing through the soldering device, lying on the conveyer belt, together with the retaining element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first transport device has a bar device which comprises three bars extending in the transport direction, on which the conveyer belts rest, with at least a first bar being arranged in an area with opposite strips and with at least one second bar being arranged in an area without opposite strips, and the first and the second bars being adapted differently in order to compensate for the thickness of the strip located between the solar cell and the conveyer belt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bars are interchangeable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the individual bars have longitudinal sections which have suction openings which interact with the suction boxes to provide suction for the solar cells. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first module has an apparatus for supplying a solar cell, and a further apparatus for supplying one or more strips. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A strip retaining apparatus for a solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a frame which has contact surfaces on its two edge areas and has a window in the central area; a multiplicity of retaining heads which are arranged in at least two rows at the side of the window and each have a retaining needle, with the retaining heads being held on the frame such that they can pivot such that the retaining needles can be moved on to a strip. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The strip retaining apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the contact surfaces are adapted to rest flat on the conveyer belts. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The strip retaining apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein supporting elements are provided on the frame and support strips placed on them and a solar cell placed on them. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The strip retaining apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein a baseplate is provided which has contact surfaces in order to rest flat on the conveyer belts, and the frame is adapted such that it can be placed on the baseplate in order to fix a solar cell located on the baseplate, and the strips located underneath it. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The strip retaining apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the retaining heads are pivoted by their own weight in order to move the retaining needles downwards towards the strips. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The strip retaining apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the retaining heads each have at least one associated spring, which springs move the retaining needles downwards on to the strips. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The strip retaining apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the retaining needles have a resilient, preferably meandering section. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The strip retaining apparatus as claimed in claim 16, comprising in each case one bearing bar, which is associated with a row of retaining heads, and has a V-shaped groove, with the retaining heads being mounted in the groove such that they can pivot. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The strip retaining apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein each retaining head has a plurality of retaining needles. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The strip retaining apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the retaining heads can be moved inwards, with the retaining needles being pivoted downwards onto a strip during such movement. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A transport apparatus for a solar cell connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, having a frame which supports a conveyer belt, comprising: a plurality of bars, which are arranged parallel to one another and extend in the transport direction, with at least a first bar being located in the area of a strip to be connected to the lower piece of a solar cell and with at least one other second bar being located in an area without strips, recesses in the frame, which run in the transport direction and are designed to each hold one bar interchangeably with the bars supporting the conveyer belt in the inserted state, and with the first and the second bars being of different height in order to compensate for any height difference caused by the thickness of strips between the solar cell and the conveyer belt. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The transport apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the bar has suction holes at least in some longitudinal sections, which extend from the side facing the conveyer belt to the opposite side. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The transport apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein a suction box is provided and interacts with the holes in order to provide suction for a solar cell located on the conveyer belt. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The transport apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein each bar comprises a plurality of individual parts.