IP Library Granted Patent US 9,862,006
Granted Patent B2
US 9,862,006 · App. 14/983,316 · Granted Jan 9, 2018

Systems for levitating a metallic tray

Inventors: Ben Chung (San Rafael, CA); Pablo Gonzalez (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
B08B3/022B65G13/02B65G39/08H01L21/67051H01L21/67709H01L31/1876
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,862,006
App. No.
14/983,316
Granted
Jan 9, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for processing solar cells is disclosed which includes a separation module for separating a processing frame from solar cells that are fed along a conveyance line. The processing frame can be separated without requiring manual lifting of the processing frame by feeding the processing frame and solar cells into a magnetic roller system. The magnetic roller system can gradually lift the processing frame away from the solar cells and divert the processing frame to a separate roller system. The solar cells can remain on the main conveyance line for further processing.

Claims (13)

1. A system for processing solar cells, the system comprising:

a roller frame comprising a first frame portion a second frame portion;

a plurality of rollers arranged between and along the first frame portion and the second frame portion, the plurality of rollers for transferring a processing frame and a plurality of solar cells arranged within the processing frame, the plurality of rollers comprising:

a plurality of lower rollers;

a plurality of upper rollers arranged above a first portion of the plurality of lower rollers;

a plurality of magnetic rollers arranged above a second portion of the plurality of lower rollers and adjacent to the plurality of upper rollers; and

a plurality of separation rollers arranged above a third portion of the plurality of lower rollers and below a portion of the plurality of magnetic rollers.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lower rollers and the plurality of upper rollers transfer the processing frame between them.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of magnetic rollers are arranged to incrementally increase in distance from the lower rollers for lifting the processing frame off of the lower rollers, and thereby separating the processing frame from the solar cells.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of lower rollers are arranged to carry the separated plurality of solar cells underneath the plurality of separation rollers.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the separation rollers are arranged to receive the processing frame after it has been separated from the plurality of solar cells.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising rinsing devices arranged above the upper rollers for rinsing the processing frame and plurality of solar cells.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each first and second frame portion carries a plurality of gears for driving the plurality of rollers.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2021
From: SOLARCITY CORPORATION
To: TESLA, INC.
Reel/Frame 056172/0062 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2016
From: CHUNG, BEN; GONZALEZ, PABLO
To: SOLARCITY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037789/0307 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170182521A1 · Jun 29, 2017