Edge coating apparatus with movable roller applicator for solar cell substrates

An edge coating apparatus for a solar cell substrate, the apparatus comprising:

• a first transport comprising:
• a cam;
• and
• a single-substrate support adapted to receive a non-circular solar cell having a center point, top and bottom surfaces, and a perimeter edge, the single-substrate support further adapted to rotate the non-circular solar cell about the center point;
• a roller applicator comprising a roller member, the roller applicator adapted to rotate the roller member around a central roller axis and to dispense a coating material from the roller member;
• and
• an alignment assembly comprising:
• slider assembly;
• and
• a follower that is concentric with the roller member, the slider assembly engaged to push the follower to contact the cam, the follower supporting the roller member and adapted to move the roller member along a following axis in accordance with the interface between the follower and the cam, the following axis extending between the center of the non-circular solar cell and the central roller axis, the slider assembly further adapted to adjust the position of the roller member along the following axis to maintain a fixed distance between the roller member and the perimeter edge of the non-circular solar cell such that the roller member does not contact the perimeter edge of the non-circular solar cell.