First Solar, Inc.

Solar Cells, Inc.

Owens-illinois Plastic Products Inc.

Von Ardenne Anlagentechnik Gmbh

James B Foote

James F Nolan

Steven A Kaake

Peter V Meyers

James Ernest Hinkle

Benjamin L Richie, Jr

Larry G Crosser

Donald R Mapes

Ricky Charles Powell

David Jeffrey Aitchison

Hubertus Von Der Waydbrink

Georg Laimer

Siegfried Scheibe

Harold A McMaster

James A Karabedian

Gary T Faykosh

Alan J McMaster

Steven Af Kaake

A transport device and method of transporting a substrate using a rotatable shaft and baffles may be used to extend cleaning intervals for the transport device and reduce deposition of a vapor deposition material upon the transport device.

Transporting device, in particular for transporting sheet-like substrates through a coating installation

The transporting device according to the invention, in particular for transporting sheet-like substrates through a coating installation, comprises transporting rollers which are rotatably mounted on both sides and horizontally arranged transversely in relation to the transporting direction, the uppermost surface lines of the transporting rollers defining the transporting plane, and is characterized in that the end parts of the transporting rollers have a smaller diameter than the middle part of the transporting rollers and in that baffles which are mounted displaceably in the axial direction of the transporting rollers between a first position and a second position are arranged between the end parts of the transporting rollers and the transporting plane. The fact that the baffles are mounted in an axially displaceable manner has the effect of considerably extending the cleaning intervals of the transporting device. At first the baffles are arranged in a first position, in which the end of the baffle lies underneath the substrate and, in the horizontal direction, as close as possible to the middle of the transporting roller Vapor-depositing material that gets beyond the edge of the substrate hits the baffle. During operation of the transporting device, the baffles are continuously displaced from the middle part to the ends of the transporting rollers. As a result, the increase in thickness of the layer produced on the baffles is limited, since the vapor keeps hitting new portions of the baffle.

Transport device, in particular for transporting sheet-like substrates through a coating installation

A photovoltaic array includes a plurality of elongated rails and rectangular photovoltaic modules. Each rail can have an extruded resin construction and can include a lower base and an upper cap that cooperate to define a pair of grooves that open in opposite directions from each other. The elongated rails can be mounted on a support surface and extend in a spaced and parallel relationship with each other. During mounting, edges of the photovoltaic modules can be received by the grooves. In this way, the photovoltaic modules can be mounted above the support surface in a spaced relationship from the support surface.

Photovoltaic array

A chemical vapor deposition system ( ) includes a housing ( ) having an entry ( ) and an exit ( ) through which glass sheet substrates (G) to be coated are introduced and exited from a deposition chamber ( ) defined by lower and upper housing portions ( ) having a seal assembly ( ) at their horizontal junction which is higher than both the entry and the exit.

Chemical vapor deposition system

A photovoltaic array ( &prime;) includes a plurality of elongated rails ( ) each of which has a lower base ( ) and an upper cap ( ) of an extruded resin construction defining a pair of grooves ( ) that open in opposite directions from each other to receive edges of rectangular photovoltaic modules ( ) so as to provide mounting thereof on a support surface ( ). The photovoltaic modules ( ) are arranged in pairs ( ) with the modules of each pair abutting each other and with each pair of modules being spaced along the elongated lengths of the rails from each adjacent pair of modules to provide openings ( ) therebetween. Cross members ( ) extend between the lower bases ( ) of the rails to space the rails from each other and have upwardly opening shapes that receive electrical wiring ( ).

A processing system (20,20') for processing sheet glass G includes a housing (22) and at least one slit seal (38i,38i',38e,38e') constructed to permit continuous passage of sheet glass in an efficient manner without fluttering. The slit seal functions as both an ingress slit seal (38i,38i') and as an egress slit seal (38e,38e'). Each slit seal has side seals (100, 102, 112, 114) and preferably has three stages of vacuum drawn by an associated first, second and third vacuum pumps (80,82,84). The sealing method for use in processing sheet glass has particular utility in connection with depositing semiconductor materials for photovoltaics and can be performed on either discrete glass sheets (28) or a continuous glass ribbon (30).

System and method for processing sheet glass

A process and apparatus (70) for making a large area photovoltaic device (22) that is capable of generating low cost electrical power. The apparatus (70) for performing the process includes an enclosure (126) providing a controlled environment in which an oven (156) is located. At least one and preferably a plurality of deposition stations (74,76,78) provide heated vapors of semiconductor material within the oven (156) for continuous elevated temperature deposition of semiconductor material on a sheet substrate (24) including a glass sheet (26) conveyed within the oven. The sheet substrate (24) is conveyed on a roller conveyor (184) within the oven (156) and the semiconductor material whose main layer (82) is cadmium telluride is deposited on an upwardly facing surface (28) of the substrate by each deposition station from a location within the oven above the roller conveyor. A cooling station (86) rapidly cools the substrate (24) after deposition of the semiconductor material thereon to strengthen the glass sheet of the substrate.

Process for making photovoltaic devices and resultant product

Apparatus for making photovoltaic devices

A six-sided sealed carton which is formed by folding a generally rigid, unitary, die-cut blank of a composite polymeric material, in which one of the ends is provided with a reclosable pour-out spout that includes an integral part of the blank, at least some of the corners of such carton being self-sealed by webbed areas or gussets which are integral portions of such blank but which are of reduced thickness relative to the major portions of the remainder thereof, such carton being adapted to contain a particulate material which is in direct contact with the inner surfaces thereof. In a preferred embodiment the carton is formed from a die-cut sheet of a composite polymeric material, a major portion of the thickness of which is an expanded polymeric material.

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Toledo, OH, United States of America

James B Foote