Manufacturing systems for thin films, and associated methods
AssigneeGlassPoint Solar, Inc.
InventorsPeter Emery von Behrens, Dylan Miller Fairbanks, Cynthia M. Wight
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Manufacturing systems and methods for thin films, including modifying thin film into engineered film panels, are provided. Some embodiments of the present technology are directed to applying an edging material to a film edge of a thin film in an automated and continuous manner, and some embodiments are directed to treating thin films by adjusting one or more dimensions of the thin film using an adjustable structure, and heating the adjusted portion of the thin film, in addition to, or in lieu of applying the edging material.
Claims49
A system configured to continuously apply an edging material to a film, the system comprising:
- a supply device positioned to support a spool of film, the film having an edge portion;
- a drive device positioned to pull the film, the drive device comprising a drive motor and a drive wheel operably coupled to the drive motor;
- and
- a material application device positioned to apply an edging material to a portion of the film as the film is pulled via the drive device, the material application device comprising a material holder positioned to rotatably support a material spool carrying the edging material, wherein pulling the film causes the edging material to unspool from the material spool and be applied over the film.
A system configured to continuously apply a stiffening material to a film edge, the system comprising:
- a supply device positioned to support a spool of film, the film having an edge portion;
- a drive device proximate to the supply device and positioned to pull the film from the spool in a first direction away from the supply device, the drive device comprising a drive motor and a drive wheel operably coupled to the drive motor, wherein the drive wheel is in contact with the film pulled from the spool, and wherein rotation of the drive wheels causes the film to move in the first direction;
- a material application device positioned to apply a stiffening material to the edge portion of the film, the material application device comprising a rotatable material holder positioned to rotatably support a material spool carrying the stiffening material;
- and
- an adhesive application device positioned to apply an adhesive material to the stiffening material, the adhesive application device comprising (a) a rotatable adhesive holder positioned to rotatably support an adhesive spool carrying the adhesive material, and (b) an adhesive applicator wheel operably coupled to the adhesive holder via the adhesive material, wherein the adhesive applicator wheel is positioned proximate the adhesive applicator and applies the adhesive material directly to the stiffening material when the film is pulled,
- wherein—
- pulling the film causes (a) the material holder and the adhesive material holder to rotate and (b) the stiffening and adhesive materials to be simultaneously applied to edge portions of the film, and
- the drive wheels apply pressure to the stiffening and adhesive materials, thereby securing the stiffening material to the film.
A method for continuously applying an edging material to an outer portion of a film, the method comprising:
- pulling a film via a drive wheel operably coupled to a drive motor;
- applying an edging material from a material spool to an edge portion of the film while the film is pulled, wherein pulling the film causes the material spool to rotate and additional edging material to be applied to the edge portion;
- and
- applying pressure to the film to bond the edging material to the film.
A system configured to treat one or more films, the system comprising:
- a structure having a grooved portion configured to hold an edge portion of a film, wherein the structure is movable in an at least partially lateral direction away from a centerline of the film;
- a thermal system positioned to apply heat to the film held by the structure;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the heating mechanism and configured to move the structure in the partially lateral direction.
A method for treating a thin film, the method comprising:
- securing a film having a first width to a grooved portion of a structure;
- stretching the secured film from the first width to a second width greater than the first width in a direction away from a centerline of the film;
- and
- heating the stretched film to a target temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.