3m Innovative Properties Company

Mark J Votava

Jiaying Ma

Paul J Cobian

Waldo L Lopez

Dagny M Joffre

A system for converting and attaching material strips to a substrate includes a dispenser configured to advance an elongated tape having length land width wwith l&#x3e;wrelative to a surface of a substrate. A cutting tool cuts the elongated tape transversely along the width wof the tape to produce a strip having length land width w. During the cutting, a portion of the cutting Stool pushes a first surface of the strip against a gripper while cutting the tape. The gripper holds the first surface of the strip against the gripper while moving to position an opposing, second surface of the strip over the surface of the substrate. The gripper releases the strip after positioning the strip.

Conversion and application of material strips

An automated photovoltaic (PV) subassembly manufacturing method involves in-line cutting of material strips. A tape is cut longitudinally into multiple strips. The strips are separated and guided into spaced apart positions relative to a surface of the PV cell subassembly comprising one or more PV cells. The multiple strips remain attached to the tape while the strips are guided to the spaced apart positions. The multiple strips are positioned at attachment locations on the surface of a PV cell subassembly.

Growing community of inventors

Stillwater, MN, United States of America

Mark J Votava