Abstract: An apparatus for forming monocrystalline silicon ribbon. The apparatus includes a crucible wherein a silicon melt is formed. The melt is allowed to flow substantially vertically out of the crucible and to contact a silicon seed crystal before solidification. Pursuant to solidification into a ribbon, further cooling of the ribbon occurs under controlled conditions and the ribbon is ultimately cut. Also, a method for forming monocrystalline silicon ribbon using the aforementioned apparatus.

Abstract: An oven includes: an inlet elevator having multiple receiving bays for receiving a piece to be heated in the oven where the receiving bays are stacked vertically and the elevator is configured to move up or down to align a receiving bay; a mandrel having multiple shelves to correspond a shelf to a bay of the inlet elevator, each shelf configured to support a piece received from the inlet elevator, the mandrel configured to rotate each piece on a shelf between a loading position, a baking position, and an unloading position; an outlet elevator having multiple receiving bays for unloading a piece heated in the oven, the unloading bays are stacked vertically and the elevator is configured to move up or down to align an unloading bay with a material handling system moving the heated pieces; and a microwave generator configured to heat at least one of the pieces when the pieces are in the baking position. A method of heating a material is also provided.

Abstract: A reflow module of a reflow oven including a reflow fixture housed within a compartment of the reflow oven, removable side ports attached to the reflow fixture for controlling air flow through the reflow module and a chamber housing encasing the reflow fixture within the compartment of the reflow oven. A reflow oven incorporating the reflow module may include a reflow fixture having a plurality of air tubes and at least one orifice fixture plate removably attached to the reflow fixture, wherein the at least one orifice fixture plate includes a plurality of orifices for directing airflow into the plurality of air tubes.

Abstract: An oven includes: an inlet elevator having multiple receiving bays for receiving a piece to be heated in the oven where the receiving bays are stacked vertically and the elevator is configured to move up or down to align a receiving bay; a mandrel having multiple shelves to correspond a shelf to a bay of the inlet elevator, each shelf configured to support a piece received from the inlet elevator, the mandrel configured to rotate each piece on a shelf between a loading position, a baking position, and an unloading position; an outlet elevator having multiple receiving bays for unloading a piece heated in the oven, the unloading bays are stacked vertically and the elevator is configured to move up or down to align an unloading bay with a material handling system moving the heated pieces; and a microwave generator configured to heat at least one of the pieces when the pieces are in the baking position. A method of heating a material is also provided.