Abstract: A method of dispensing paste for a printer using a paste dispensing apparatus is provided. The paste dispensing apparatus includes a reservoir for storing a paste for a printer. The reservoir includes a stirrer for stirring the paste. The paste dispensing apparatus includes a receptacle for receiving paste from the reservoir. The paste dispensing apparatus includes a closable passage from the reservoir to the receptacle. The closable passage is changeable between an open state and a closed state. In the open state, the receptacle is fluidly coupled to the reservoir so that paste can pass from the reservoir to the receptacle. In the closed state, the receptacle is fluidly decoupled from the reservoir so that the paste is prevented from passing from the reservoir to the receptacle. The paste dispensing apparatus includes a pusher for pushing paste out of the receptacle. The method includes transferring a first volume of paste from the reservoir to the receptacle while the closable passage is in the open state.

Abstract: A method of deposition on a substrate used for the manufacture of a solar cell is provided. The method includes depositing a first conductive pattern on a first side of the substrate. The first conductive pattern is one of a plurality of busbars and a plurality of fingers. The method includes providing a screen over the substrate. The screen includes a set of openings. The screen has a bottom side having a varying vertical profile including low portions and high portions. The method includes transferring a printing material from the screen to the substrate through the set of openings to print a second conductive pattern on the first side of the substrate. The second conductive pattern is the other one of the plurality of busbars and the plurality of fingers. During the printing of the second conductive pattern, the first conductive pattern is substantially wet and the screen is disposed over the substrate in a manner such that the high portions are elevated above the first conductive pattern.

Abstract: A method of dispensing paste for a printer using a paste dispensing apparatus is provided. The paste dispensing apparatus includes a reservoir for storing a paste for a printer. The reservoir includes a stirrer for stirring the paste. The paste dispensing apparatus includes a receptacle for receiving paste from the reservoir. The paste dispensing apparatus includes a closable passage from the reservoir to the receptacle. The closable passage is changeable between an open state and a closed state. In the open state, the receptacle is fluidly coupled to the reservoir so that paste can pass from the reservoir to the receptacle. In the closed state, the receptacle is fluidly decoupled from the reservoir so that the paste is prevented from passing from the reservoir to the receptacle. The paste dispensing apparatus includes a pusher for pushing paste out of the receptacle. The method includes transferring a first volume of paste from the reservoir to the receptacle while the closable passage is in the open state.

Abstract: A method for handling an optical device is provided. The method includes providing the optical device in a suspended state using a contactless suspension system, the optical device having two major surfaces. The method includes gripping the optical device in the suspended state using a gripper having a set of side supports, wherein the gripping of the optical device includes moving the set of side supports from an open position to a closed position, wherein, in the closed position, one or more side surfaces of the optical device extending between the two major surfaces of the optical device are held by the set of side supports. The method includes transporting the optical device using the gripper.

Abstract: An optical device comprising a substrate with a front surface, a back surface and a circumferential side surface is described. At least one portion of an edge of the front surface has a texturization, wherein recesses of the texturization are filled with a light-absorbent material. The circumferential side surface is free of light-absorbent material.

Abstract: A method of performing screen printing on a substrate used for the manufacture of a solar cell is provided. The method includes moving a print head over a screen by a first drive actuator to perform a printing stroke in a first direction. The method includes moving a material processing head in the first direction by a second drive actuator to perform a material processing stroke behind the print head. The print head is moved away from the material processing head by the first drive actuator during a distance increasing phase of the printing stroke to increase a separation distance between the print head and the material processing head.

Abstract: A method of deposition on a substrate used for the manufacture of a solar cell is provided. The method includes depositing a first conductive pattern on a first side of the substrate. The first conductive pattern is one of a plurality of busbars and a plurality of fingers. The method includes providing a screen over the substrate. The screen includes a set of openings. The screen has a bottom side having a varying vertical profile including low portions and high portions. The method includes transferring a printing material from the screen to the substrate through the set of openings to print a second conductive pattern on the first side of the substrate. The second conductive pattern is the other one of the plurality of busbars and the plurality of fingers. During the printing of the second conductive pattern, the first conductive pattern is substantially wet and the screen is disposed over the substrate in a manner such that the high portions are elevated above the first conductive pattern.

Abstract: A processing line for processing a substrate used for the manufacture of a solar cell is provided. The processing line includes a first station including a first chamber. The processing line includes a second station. The second station includes a second chamber and a printer in the second chamber. The processing line includes a linear guide extending at least from the first chamber to the second chamber. The processing line includes a robot arm. The processing line includes an actuator assembly to move the robot arm along the linear guide. The robot arm is movable along the linear guide to a position inside the first chamber. The robot arm is movable along the linear guide to a position inside the second chamber.

Abstract: A method of performing screen printing on a substrate used for the manufacture of a solar cell is provided. The method includes moving a print head over a screen by a first drive actuator to perform a printing stroke in a first direction. The method includes moving a material processing head in the first direction by a second drive actuator to perform a material processing stroke behind the print head. The print head is moved away from the material processing head by the first drive actuator during a distance increasing phase of the printing stroke to increase a separation distance between the print head and the material processing head.

Abstract: A method (500) for printing on a substrate (102) for the production of a solar cell, the method comprising: printing (501) a wet pattern on the substrate (102); extracting (503) three-dimensional morphological data of the wet pattern (104?) in real-time using an in-line profilometer (101); wherein the printing of the wet pattern on the substrate is controlled in real time at least in part based on previous three-dimensional morphological data obtained by extracting the three-dimensional morphological data.

Abstract: A method for screen printing of a material on a substrate is provided. The method includes moving a process head assembly having at least one deposition device from a first position to a second position to perform a stroke, wherein the stroke includes at least a first phase for material processing of a material on a screen device using the at least one deposition device and a second phase for a material transfer from the screen device to the substrate. The at least one deposition device moves in a first direction in the first phase. At least one device moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the first phase. The at least one deposition device and the at least one device simultaneously move during at least a part of the first phase. The at least one device is selected from the group including the at least one deposition device, a material processing device, the screen device, and a substrate support.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing semiconductor cells, the apparatus comprises a printing device for printing on a semiconductor cell, a monitoring device configured to monitor characteristics of the printed semiconductor cell, and a cleaning device configured for cleaning at least one part of the printing device based on the monitored characteristics of the semiconductor cells.

Abstract: A method for screen printing of a material on a substrate is provided. The method includes moving a process head assembly having at least one deposition device from a first position to a second position to perform a stroke, wherein the stroke includes at least a first phase for material processing of a material on a screen device using the at least one deposition device and a second phase for a material transfer from the screen device to the substrate. The at least one deposition device moves in a first direction in the first phase. At least one device moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the first phase. The at least one deposition device and the at least one device simultaneously move during at least a part of the first phase. The at least one device is selected from the group including the at least one deposition device, a material processing device, the screen device, and a substrate support.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing semiconductor cells, the apparatus comprises a printing device for printing on a semiconductor cell, a monitoring device configured to monitor characteristics of the printed semiconductor cell, and a cleaning device configured for cleaning at least one part of the printing device based on the monitored characteristics of the semiconductor cells.

Abstract: A mould holding cross member (9) according to the invention comprises a support base (91) a suitable to compress the mould (S) and more projecting, in the mould closing direction, than the ends (90) with which the cross member is connected to the moving columns (6) of the press on which it is fitted. The base (91) is connected to the rest of the cross member by a narrow portion (99) which extends in the central area of the base and between the projections of the hinging areas (7, 8) of the double toggle of the press on the press bed (2), and substantially not outside those projections. In this way the pressures are more uniformly distributed on the mould (S). The present invention also concerns a press fitted with a cross member (9) as defined above.

Abstract: A mould holding cross member (9) according to the invention comprises a support base (91) a suitable to compress the mould (S) and more projecting, in the mould closing direction, than the ends (90) with which the cross member is connected to the moving columns (6) of the press on which it is fitted. The base (91) is connected to the rest of the cross member by a narrow portion (99) which extends in the central area of the base and between the projections of the hinging areas (7, 8) of the double toggle of the press on the press bed (2), and substantially not outside those projections. In this way the pressures are more uniformly distributed on the mould (S). The present invention also concerns a press fitted with a cross member (9) as defined above.