The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 29, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 15, 2009
Max William Reed, Niwot, CO (US);
Mark Jeffrey Pavol, Arvada, CO (US);
Christopher Rathweg, Louisville, CO (US);
Max William Reed, Niwot, CO (US);
Mark Jeffrey Pavol, Arvada, CO (US);
Christopher Rathweg, Louisville, CO (US);
PrimeStar Solar, Inc., Arvada, CO (US);
Abstract
A conveyor assembly for use in a vapor deposition apparatus wherein a sublimed source material is deposited as a thin film on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate. The assembly includes a conveyor movable in an endless loop path that includes an upper leg that moves in a conveyance direction to carry a substrate through a deposition area of the vapor deposition apparatus. A heat source is disposed relative to the endless loop path so as to heat the conveyor at a location generally after the point where substrates leave the conveyor. The heat source heats the conveyor to a temperature effective for sublimating source material from the conveyor. A cold trap is disposed relative to the endless loop path downstream of the heat source in a direction of movement of the conveyor and is maintained at a temperature effective for causing sublimated source material generated from heating the conveyor to plate out onto a collection member configured with the cold trap. An associated process for reclamation of source material from conveyor components is also provided.