Abstract: The present disclosure provides a solar cell production apparatus for processing a substrate. The solar cell production apparatus includes at least one substrate support configured to support the substrate; one or more printing stations configured for forming a printing structure on the substrate positioned on the substrate support; and an inspection system including at least one first camera, wherein the at least one first camera is configured for detecting a position of the printing structure on the substrate positioned on the substrate support while the substrate is passing through a field of view of the at least one first camera.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for printing on a substrate for the production of a solar cell. The apparatus includes two or more process stations; at least one substrate support configured to support the substrate; and at least one transport device configured to transport the at least one substrate support in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction for transporting the at least one substrate support between the two or more process stations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may provide a method of printing one or more print tracks on a print support, or substrate, comprising two or more printing steps in each of which a layer of material is deposited on the print support according to a predetermined print profile. In each printing step, subsequent to the first step, each layer of material is deposited at least partially on top of the layer of material printed in the preceding printing step, so that each layer of printed material has an identical or different print profile with respect to at least a layer of material underneath. The method may further comprise depositing material in each printing step that is equivalent to or different from the material deposited in at least one of other the print layers.

Abstract: A unit to support and transport a print substrate (12) for a plant (11) for depositing print tracks made of conductive or non-conductive material, said print substrate (12) being provided with holes (57) that extend between a first surface (55) and a second surface (56) thereof. Said support unit comprises a first fluid-dynamic circuit (32) suitable to generate a first suction condition to keep the substrate (12) adherent to a support surface (113) of the support unit, and a second fluid-dynamic circuit (33), distinct and at least partly independent from the first fluid-dynamic circuit (32), suitable to generate a second controlled suction condition able to allow the controlled filling of the holes (57) with the conductive or non-conductive material.

Abstract: A device for supporting a substrate is provided. The device includes a base body having two or more layers of an insulating material, a substrate support surface formed by the upper layer of the insulating material, one or more cavities formed in a thickness of the base body, and one or more metal elements disposed in the one or more cavities. The substrate support surface of the base body supports the substrate thereon in a processing nest of a printing apparatus. In addition, each metal element comprises one or more features that are used to couple the base body to the processing nest. The metal elements are also provided for magnetically or electromagnetically positioning the base body on a magnetic work plane of a grinding tool. A method is also provided to make the device and attach the device to a planar surface of a processing nest.

Abstract: A method for multi-layer printing on a support, comprising a first printing step performed in a printing station in a system, one or more subsequent printing steps that are performed in one or more subsequent printing stations in the system and a plurality of alignment steps performed in the system, wherein the alignment steps are used to effect the correct positioning of a material printed in a subsequent printing step. The method comprises, downstream of each printing step and upstream of each alignment step, a control step in which detection devices detect the position of a layer printed on a support and/or the position of the support in the system by use of a control unit that compares at least one of the positions detected with predefined positions and/or with the positions detected in the previous control step, and wherein the results of the comparison are used in the alignment step.

Abstract: A method of detecting the alignment of a substrate during a sequence of printing steps, comprises detecting in a detection unit a position of at least one printing track that forms a printed pattern onto a surface of the substrate in a first printing station, determining a reference point in at least a portion of the printing track, comparing the actual position of the reference point with an expected or previously detected position of the reference point, determining an offset between the actual position and the expected or previously detected position of the reference point, adjusting the reciprocal position between the printing head of a second printing station and the substrate to account for the determined offset, and then printing a second pattern over the first pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may provide a method of printing one or more print tracks on a print support, or substrate, comprising two or more printing steps in each of which a layer of material is deposited on the print support according to a predetermined print profile. In each printing step, subsequent to the first step, each layer of material is deposited at least partially on top of the layer of material printed in the preceding printing step, so that each layer of printed material has an identical or different print profile with respect to at least a layer of material underneath. The method may further comprise depositing material in each printing step that is equivalent to or different from the material deposited in at least one of other the print layers.

Abstract: An apparatus for screen printing a surface of a substrate includes a screen printing net, a print extremity element, and a supporting structure supporting the print extremity element. The supporting structure includes a slider coupled to the print extremity element and adapted to guide the movement of the print extremity element in a first direction, a support frame having a housing that is associated with a portion of the slider so as to allow movement of the slider relative to the support frame, and an actuation member coupled to the slider. The print extremity element urges a print material through the screen printing net onto the surface of the substrate. The actuation member positions the print extremity element relative to the screen printing net in the first direction, and includes magnets disposed within the housing of the support frame, and an electric coil disposed proximate to the magnets.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate includes an inspection system disposed in a first position to detect the location and orientation of the substrate supported on a supporting surface of a processing nest positioned in the first position and one or more processing heads disposed in the second and third positions and configured to perform a first and a second process on the substrate when the processing nest is moved to the second and third positions by an actuator assembly. A method for processing a substrate includes detecting the location and orientation of the substrate disposed on the processing nest which is positioned in the first position and aligning one or more processing heads to the substrate when the processing nest is positioned in the second and third positions and under the processing heads using data detected by an inspection system positioned in the first position.

Abstract: A method for depositing a material on a surface of a substrate includes depositing a first print material and a second print material on the surface of the substrate using a printing apparatus, and depositing a marker element on a portion of the substrate surface. The deposited first print material forms a plurality of first print tracks in a pattern and the deposited second print material forms one or more second print tracks on the surface of the substrate. In addition, the second print tracks includes a centering feature, where there is no second print material within the centering feature and at least a portion of the centering feature is disposed on the portion of the surface of the substrate having the marker element. Further, at least a portion of the second print tracks cover at least a portion of the plurality of first print tracks.