Abstract: An apparatus and method for metallizing parts in an efficient manner. The apparatus includes a plurality of plates stacked vertically and spaced from one another, wherein each plate has an outer perimeter. There is a plurality of part supports arranged about the outer perimeter of each plate. A support frame is secured to the plurality of plates such that it may rotate about the outer perimeter of the plates while maintaining substantially the same distance from the outer perimeter of each plate. There is one or more rotation drive systems attached to the support frame and positioned such that one or more compliant drive fingers are in close proximity to the outer perimeter of each plate. The stacked plates may be moved between a metallizer and parts loading and unloading stations in a convenient manner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for metallizing parts in an efficient manner. The apparatus includes a plurality of plates stacked vertically and spaced from one another, wherein each plate has an outer perimeter. There is a plurality of part supports arranged about the outer perimeter of each plate. A support frame is secured to the plurality of plates such that it may rotate about the outer perimeter of the plates while maintaining substantially the same distance from the outer perimeter of each plate. There is one or more rotation drive systems attached to the support frame and positioned such that one or more compliant drive fingers are in close proximity to the outer perimeter of each plate. The stacked plates may be moved between a metallizer and parts loading and unloading stations in a convenient manner.

Abstract: A textile includes a flexible substrate and a photovoltaic tape adjacent to the flexible substrate. The textile may have at least one of the following properties: a power to weight ratio of at least 10 Watts per pound, a total weight to surface area of not greater than 500 grams/square-meters, and an interconnect located at an end of the photovoltaic tape. In an embodiment, the photovoltaic tape is rollable on a length of the photovoltaic tape. In an embodiment, the flexible substrate is foldable along a length contiguous to an outside edge of the photovoltaic tape.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for metallizing parts in an efficient manner. The apparatus includes a plurality of plates stacked together and spaced from one another in a manner that enables placement thereon of a plurality of part supports, which are affixed to the plates. Spindles are coupled to the part supports, wherein the spindles are configured to allow for rotation of the parts. The plates are also configured for rotation so that parts may be moved to a metallizer station and rotated at the metallizer station. The plates are supported by centered or offset plate supports. The part supports may be pins to which the spindles are coupled. The pins may be configured to rotate or the spindles may be configured to rotate on the pins. The stacked plates may be moved between a metallizer and parts loading and unloading stations in a convenient manner.

Abstract: In-line metallizer assemblies can include an external rotating actuator exchange that can be operable to exchange one or more parts between a conveyor system and a vacuum chamber, and an internal rotating actuator exchange within the vacuum chamber that can be operable to receive the one or more parts from the external rotating actuator exchange, transition the one or more parts to a sputter coater integrated with the vacuum chamber for metallizing, and return metallized one or more parts to the external rotating actuator exchange such that the external rotating actuator exchange can return the metallized one or more parts to the conveyor system.

Abstract: A solar textile formed of a weave of a first tape structure and a second tape structure. In one embodiment, the ratio of the number of the first tape structure to the second tape structure is three to one. The first tape structure includes a photovoltaic (PV) conversion layer and an electrically conductive substrate. The second tape structure includes a PV conversion layer, a first electrically conductive layer, a non-conducting insulation layer and a second electrically conductive layer. The first tape structure and the second tape structure are in contact with one another so that the electrically conductive substrate of the first tape structure is in contact with the PV conversion layer of the second tape structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for metallizing parts in an efficient manner. The apparatus includes a plurality of plates stacked together and spaced from one another in a manner that enables placement thereon of a plurality of part supports, which are affixed to the plates. Spindles are coupled to the part supports, wherein the spindles are configured to allow for rotation of the parts. The plates are also configured for rotation so that parts may be moved to a metallizer station and rotated at the metallizer station. The plates are supported by centered or offset plate supports. The part supports may be pins to which the spindles are coupled. The pins may be configured to rotate or the spindles may be configured to rotate on the pins. The stacked plates may be moved between a metallizer and parts loading and unloading stations in a convenient manner.

Abstract: A solar textile formed of a weave of a first tape structure and a second tape structure. In one embodiment, the ratio of the number of the first tape structure to the second tape structure is three to one. The first tape structure includes a photovoltaic (PV) conversion layer and an electrically conductive substrate. The second tape structure includes a PV conversion layer, a first electrically conductive layer, a non-conducting insulation layer and a second electrically conductive layer. The first tape structure and the second tape structure are in contact with one another so that the electrically conductive substrate of the first tape structure is in contact with the PV conversion layer of the second tape structure.

Abstract: A tape structure and related circuit configurations for textile systems to establish electrical characteristics of textiles. The textiles incorporate charge carrying components, such as photovoltaic components, in contact with conductive layers in a single tape structure to improve electrical properties without compromising physical characteristics of the textiles. The textiles include photovoltaic tapes, each having an optically transparent layer, a photovoltaic layer, a first electrically conducting layer, a second electrically conducting layer and an insulating substrate located between the first electrically conducting layer and the second electrically conducting layer.

Abstract: In-line metallizer assemblies can include an external rotating actuator exchange that can be operable to exchange one or more parts between a conveyor system and a vacuum chamber, and an internal rotating actuator exchange within the vacuum chamber that can be operable to receive the one or more parts from the external rotating actuator exchange, transition the one or more parts to a sputter coater integrated with the vacuum chamber for metallizing, and return metallized one or more parts to the external rotating actuator exchange such that the external rotating actuator exchange can return the metallized one or more parts to the conveyor system.

Abstract: In-line metallizer assemblies can include an external rotating actuator exchange that can be operable to exchange one or more parts between a conveyor system and a vacuum chamber, and an internal rotating actuator exchange within the vacuum chamber that can be operable to receive the one or more parts from the external rotating actuator exchange, transition the one or more parts to a sputter coater integrated with the vacuum chamber for metallizing, and return metallized one or more parts to the external rotating actuator exchange such that the external rotating actuator exchange can return the metallized one or more parts to the conveyor system.

Abstract: A tape structure and related circuit configurations for textile systems to establish electrical characteristics of textiles. The textiles incorporate charge carrying components, such as photovoltaic components, in contact with conductive layers in a single tape structure to improve electrical properties without compromising physical characteristics of the textiles. The textiles include photovoltaic tapes, each having an optically transparent layer, a photovoltaic layer, a first electrically conducting layer, a second electrically conducting layer and an insulating substrate located between the first electrically conducting layer and the second electrically conducting layer.

Abstract: Textile systems and components for establishing electrical characteristics of textiles. The textiles incorporate charge carrying components, such as photovoltaic components, in contact with highly conductive bus conduits to improve electrical properties without compromising physical characteristics of the textiles. Structure, geometries, and methods are provided for textile constructs, including photovoltaic textile constructs.

Abstract: In-line metallizer assemblies can include an external rotating actuator exchange that can be operable to exchange one or more parts between a conveyor system and a vacuum chamber, and an internal rotating actuator exchange within the vacuum chamber that can be operable to receive the one or more parts from the external rotating actuator exchange, transition the one or more parts to a sputter coater integrated with the vacuum chamber for metallizing, and return metallized one or more parts to the external rotating actuator exchange such that the external rotating actuator exchange can return the metallized one or more parts to the conveyor system.

Abstract: A rotary barrel gate valve includes a body and at least one passage through the body defining an inlet and an outlet. There is a first actuator for rotating the body, a second actuator for translating the body, and a sealing portion on the body which seals the body with respect to an opening into a chamber adjacent the body.

Abstract: A system for a method of applying a coating to an insulative substrate. The method includes applying a coating material to the insulative substrate by physical vapor deposition to a predetermined thickness at a rate and for a predetermined time which does not cause thermal damage to the insulative substrate. Then, before thermal damage can occur, moving the partially coated substrate proximate and active cooling station device to drive the temperature of the insulative substrate substantially down. The deposition and cooling steps are then repeated until the desired coating thickness is obtained to avoid thermal damage to the substrate.

Abstract: A method of applying a coating to an insulative substrate. The method includes applying a coating material to the insulative substrate by physical vapor deposition to a predetermined thickness at a rate and for a predetermined time which does not cause thermal damage to the insulative substrate. Then, before thermal damage can occur, moving the partially coated substrate proximate an active cooling station device to drive the temperature of the insulative substrate substantially down. The deposition and cooling steps are then repeated until the desired coating thickness is obtained to avoid thermal damage to the substrate.

Abstract: A gravity-fed in-line continuous processing system includes at least one processing chamber disposed between a first load lock and a second load lock. The second load lock is disposed lower than the first load lock. A first device isolates the processing chamber from the first load lock. A second device isolates the processing chamber from the second load lock. There is at least one track through the processing chamber and the first and second load locks. The track is structured and arranged such that an article slides thereon under the force of gravity.

Abstract: A rotary barrel gate valve includes a body and at least one passage through the body defining an inlet and an outlet. There is a first actuator for rotating the body, a second actuator for translating the body, and a sealing portion on the body which seals the body with respect to an opening into a chamber adjacent the body.

Abstract: A system and method cure a combination of a top and a bottom substrate with a resin disposed in-between. A cure platform includes a chuck on which the combination rests. A cure device cures the resin. An actuation assembly separates the chuck from the platform to thermally isolate the chuck during a curing operation performed by the cure device. A post cooling assembly may be provided to cool the chuck and the combination after a curing operation is performed by the cure device.