Abstract: A method of forming a solar battery assembly. The method includes the steps of: providing a plurality of spherically-shaped cells, each having a semiconductor layer and an outer electrode layer; forming a solder layer between the plurality of spherically-shaped cells so as to maintain the plurality of spherically-shaped cells in a desired relationship; removing a part of the outer electrode layer to expose a part of the semiconductor layer; and placing an inner electrode in contact with the exposed part of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a solar battery assembly. The method includes the steps of: providing a plurality of spherically-shaped cells, each having a semiconductor layer and an outer electrode layer; forming a solder layer between the plurality of spherically-shaped cells so as to maintain the plurality of spherically-shaped cells in a desired relationship; removing a part of the outer electrode layer to expose a part of the semiconductor layer; and placing an inner electrode in contact with the exposed part of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A particulate object conveying apparatus for conveying particulate objects of indefinite shape, e.g., particulate polycrystalline silicon, one by one, comprises: a stagnating portion for stagnating particulate objects; a rotor having a plural number of grooves formed in and equidistantly arrayed on its outer circumference surface, when ascending, the grooves passing the stagnating portion; and object driving-out means for driving the particulate object out of each groove of the rotor.

Abstract: A particulate object conveying device is provided, and the conveying device includes a stagnating portion. A rotor has an outer circumference having a plurality of grooves formed equidistantly about the outer circumference, the grooves being of a size and shape to hold a single one of the particles of predetermined size. The rotor rotates within the stagnating portion. A discharge path is provided for discharging the particles from the rotor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for conveying spherical articles at high speed between sequential processes having different protective atmospheres, where the leakage of the atmospheres, which must be converted between the sequential processes, is prevented. The device includes a structure incorporating a rotary relay having a plurality of spherical-article accommodating chambers formed at predetermined intervals, a support container closely mounted on the rotary relay, and having a spherical-article receiving passage and a discharge passage. An atmosphere discharge pipe communicates with the spherical-article accommodating chambers of the rotary relay, and an atmosphere supply pipe is disposed adjacent to the spherical-article discharge portion of the rotary relay and communicates with the accommodating chambers.

Abstract: A spherical body grinding and polishing apparatus comprises: a rotary shaft having a spiral path groove in the outer cylindrical surface along which spherical bodies to be processed are moved, the rotary shaft being vertically movable and rotatable; and a housing having grinding and polishing surfaces on which the spherical surfaces of the spherical bodies moving along the path groove are slid. When spherical bodies such as silicon spherical bodies are supplied to the apparatus, the spherical bodies are rolled and moved along the spiral path groove formed in the outer cylindrical surface of the rotary shaft while sliding on the inner surface of the housing, so that the outer surfaces of the spherical bodies are ground and polished until the spherical bodies become high in sphericity.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel carrying apparatus for carrying spherical objects such as spherical semiconductors of silicon in which the spherical objects are not contacted with an inner surface of a pipe-shaped body while they are being carried in the pipe-shaped body. The carrying apparatus for carrying spherical objects is provided with a spiral current generating means for generating a spiral current of fluid, and the spiral current generated by the spiral current generating means is introduced into a passage of the spherical objects. The spiral current generating means includes a rotary shaft 3 in which a carrying passage 2 is formed in a direction of the central axis and a spiral groove 3b is formed at a predetermined position on the outer circumferential surface. Further, in the rotary shaft 3, a jet pipe 3a connecting the carrying passage 2 with the spiral groove 3b is formed.

Abstract: A apparatus for carrying spherical objects is adopted, which comprises: a housing 1; a cylindrical rotor 6 arranged in the housing, including a plurality of recess grooves 11 which are open to the outer circumferential surface, the plurality of recess grooves being arranged radially from the center of the rotor 6; a guide ring arranged in the housing, the guide ring 3 including an inner hole 5, the section of which is elliptical, in which the cylindrical rotor 6 is accommodated; a vane 12 slidably arranged in each recess groove 11; a first carrier atmosphere feeding pipe 16 connected with a converting section of the guide ring 3 in which the inner hole 5 is changed from a small diameter section to a large diameter section; a first carrier atmosphere discharging pipe 17 connected with a converting section of the guide ring 3 in which the inner hole 5 is changed from a large diameter section to a small diameter section; a second carrier atmosphere feeding pipe 18 connected with a converting section of the guide