Linear tool and method for parallel metallization of solar cell substrates

A linear tool (100) for parallel metallization of solar cell substrates, comprising:

• an alignment system (1320, 120, 720) for jointly holding a first solar cell substrate (12) and a second solar cell substrate (14) and for adjusting a relative position of the first solar cell substrate and the second solar cell substrate;
• a first inspection system (1330) arranged for inspecting at least one of the first solar cell substrate and the second solar cell substrate while the first solar cell substrate and the second solar cell substrate are held by the alignment system;
• a shuttle system (1350) comprising a shuttle platform (1355) for jointly supporting the first solar cell substrate and the second solar cell substrate, the shuttle platform being movable from a loading position to a printing position, the linear tool being configured to transfer the first solar cell substrate and the second solar cell substrate from the alignment system to the shuttle platform when the shuttle platform is in the loading position;
• and
• a screen printer (1360) comprising a screen (1364) facing the shuttle platform when the shuttle platform is in the printing position, the screen printer being configured for parallel metallization of the first solar cell substrate and the second solar cell substrate supported by the shuttle platform when the shuttle platform is in the printing position,
• the shuttle platform being movable from the printing position to an unloading position for unloading the first solar cell substrate and the second solar cell substrate from the shuttle platform.