Title: Edge coating apparatus for solar cell substrates

Abstract

A non-contact edge coating apparatus applies coating material to an edge of a non-circular solar cell substrate without physical contact. The apparatus may include a rotatable substrate support configured to hold the substrate. The apparatus may further include an applicator configured to receive a coating material and apply the coating material to an edge of the substrate while the substrate is rotated without any portion of the applicator physically touching the edge of the substrate. The substrate support may be mechanically coupled to a cam, which contacts a follower mechanically coupled to the applicator. A variety of coating materials may be employed with the apparatus including hot melt ink and UV curable plating resist.

Inventors:

Abas, Emmanuel; Pavani, Luca

Issue Date:

2014-03-04

Research Org.:

SunPower Corp., San Jose, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1531903

Patent Number(s):

8662008

Application Number:

12/069,030

Assignee:

SunPower Corporation (San Jose, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B05 - SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL B05C - APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B05 - SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL B05C - APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL

B05C1/0808 - {Details thereof, e.g. surface characteristics}
B05C13/02 - for particular articles
B05C11/1021 - {responsive to presence or shape of target

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/50 - Photovoltaic [PV] energy

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B05 - SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL B05C - APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL

B05C1/006 - {for applying liquid or other fluent material to the edges of essentially flat articles}

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H01L31/02161 - {for devices characterised by at least one potential jump barrier or surface barrier}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

Y02P70/50 - Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B05 - SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL B05C - APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL

B05C1/0804 - {the material being applied without contact with the roller}

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H01L31/186 - {Particular post-treatment for the devices, e.g. annealing, impurity gettering, short-circuit elimination, recrystallisation}

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B05 - SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL B05C - APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL

B05C9/10 - the auxiliary operation being performed before the application
B05C1/0813 - {characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material to the roller}
B05C1/0821 - {characterised by driving means for rollers or work}

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DOE Contract Number:  

FC36-07GO17043

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2008-02-07

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY