Flexible pressing roller and usage method therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible pressing roller and a usage method therefor. The flexible pressing roller comprises an inner roller, wherein a flexible sleeve is provided on the periphery of the inner roller, two ends of the flexible sleeve are sealingly connected to the inner roller by means of sealing rings, and the interior of the flexible sleeve is filled with a liquid medium; the inner roller is a rigid solid round rod or a rigid tube, or comprises a solid round rod and a rigid tube, and the material of the inner roller comprises metal, plastic or rigid carbon fiber. The present invention enables flexible contact with the surface of solar cells, thereby greatly reducing the breakage rate of the solar cells in various horizontal chain-type wet process apparatuses. Further, the present invention applied in a horizontal roller chain-type electroplating apparatus ensures full contact with the upper surface of solar cells having uneven thickness, thereby enabling good conductive contact between the lower surface of the solar cells and a cathode roller.

Description

Flexible press wheel and method of using the same TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of photovoltaic technology. It relates to a flexible press wheel and a method of using the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] Horizontal roller chain type wet process equipment plays an important role in the production of solar cell. For example, back etching equipment and horizontal plating equipment in the production of solar cell both belong to horizontal roller chain type wet process equipment.

[0003] Specifically, in the horizontal roller chain type wet process equipment, there are generally steps of cleaning the surface of the silicon wafer and solar cell with deionized water and drying the surface of the silicon wafer and solar cell. In order to avoid the irregular jumping of the silicon wafer and solar cell caused by the uneven water pressure and air flow disturbance, thereby increasing the risk of the silicon wafer and solar cell breaking, an upper press wheel is generally used to fix the silicon wafer and solar cell.

[0004] Further, in the horizontal chain type plating equipment, an upper press wheel is needed to press the solar cell on the cathode roller. Because in the horizontal chain type plating equipment, all rollers, cathode rollers and insulating rollers cannot be completely kept in a straight line, so there is a risk that the lower surface of the solar cell cannot contact the cathode roller during the transmission of these rollers. When the lower surface of the solar cell cannot contact the cathode roller, the plating process on the surface of the solar cell stops. In order to solve the above problems, an upper press wheel roller is generally placed on the cathode roller, which is to press the solar cell on the cathode roller.

[0005] At present, all the upper press wheels used on the wet process equipment are rigid rollers. With the continuous thinning of the silicon wafer and solar cell, the risk of the silicon wafer and solar cell breaking caused by the rigid roller is getting bigger and bigger. Further, for the horizontal chain type plating equipment, because the thickness of the solar cell on both sides is also not equal, if the solar cell is clamped between the rigid upper roller and the lower roller, the solar cell clamped between the upper and lower rollers cannot tightly adhere to the outer diameter surface of the cathode roller, thereby causing the solar cell to not have good conductive contact with the cathode roller. SUMMARY

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a flexible press wheel and a method of using the same, which can solve the above problems.

[0007] According to the technical scheme provided by the invention: a flexible press wheel, the flexible press wheel comprises an inner roller, a flexible sleeve is arranged on the outer periphery of the inner roller, the two ends of the flexible sleeve are sealingly connected with the inner roller through sealing rings, and the flexible sleeve is filled with a liquid medium.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present application, the inner roller is a rigid solid round bar or a rigid tube, or comprises a solid round bar and a rigid tube.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present application, the material of the inner roller comprises metal, plastic or hard carbon fiber.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present application, the flexible sleeve is a single-layer flexible sleeve, and the single-layer flexible sleeve is provided with sealing rings at both ends.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present application, the material of the flexible sleeve comprises flexible plastic, or flexible rubber, or other flexible material.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present application, the sealing rings comprise metal or non-metal.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present application, a protective sleeve is arranged between the inner roller and the flexible sleeve, and the material of the protective sleeve comprises metal or non-metal.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present application, a spacer ring is arranged between the sealing rings at both ends of the inner roller.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present application, the liquid medium comprises water or other liquid compound.

[0016] A method for using the flexible roller, which comprises pressing any of the above flexible rollers on a silicon wafer or a solar cell wafer.

[0017] The positive progress effect of the present application is that:

[0018] The present application can be in soft contact with the surface of a solar cell, thereby greatly reducing the breakage rate of the solar cell in various horizontal chain wet process equipment. Further, the present application is used in horizontal roller chain plating equipment, which can ensure sufficient contact on the upper surface of a solar cell wafer with uneven thickness, thereby making the lower surface of the solar cell wafer have good conductive contact with the cathode roller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Fig. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the present application.

[0020] Figs. 2a-2 are schematic diagrams of sagging of the flexible sleeve in the present application.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of the present application in which the inner roller is provided with a protective sleeve.

[0022] Fig. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the present application in which the inner roller is provided with a spacer ring.

[0023] Fig. 5a-5 are structural schematic diagrams of the first embodiment of the method for using the flexible roller of the present application.

[0024] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a method for using the flexible compression wheel of the present application.

[0025] Figures 7-9 are structural schematic diagrams of a third embodiment of a method for using the flexible compression wheel of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict. The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with the embodiments.

[0027] In order for those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, not all. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0028] It should be noted that the terms "second", "second" and the like in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data thus used can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, so that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented. In addition, "including" and "having" and similar terms mean that in addition to those listed in "including" and "having", other contents not yet listed can also be "including" and "having"; for example, a process, method, system, product or device that can include a series of steps or units does not necessarily limit to those steps or units that have been clearly listed, but can include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0029] Due to the angle of the drawing, some parts may not be drawn, but their positions and connection relationships can be understood according to the textual expression part.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1, the present application is a flexible compression wheel, the flexible compression wheel of the present application comprises an inner roller 1, a flexible sleeve 2, a sealing ring 3, and a liquid medium 4.

[0031] The inner roller 1 is a rigid solid round bar or a rigid pipe, or includes a solid round bar and a rigid pipe. The material of the inner roller 1 includes metal, plastic or hard carbon fiber.

[0032] There are sealing rings 3 at both ends of the inner roller 1, and the sealing rings 3 seal the liquid medium 4 between the inner roller 1 and the flexible sleeve 2.

[0033] Flexible sleeve 2 is made of a flexible plastic or rubber material that will sag under the weight of liquid medium 4, i.e. under the weight of the liquid medium inside flexible sleeve 2, as shown in Figures 2a-2.

[0034] As shown in Figure 3, to avoid corrosion of inner roller 1 by liquid medium 4, or for other special needs, a protective sleeve 5 can be placed over inner roller 1.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, the flexible roller of the present invention can be used in other applications by placing a number of spacer rings 16 between the two end seals 3 of the flexible roller. The sag of the flexible roller can be adjusted by changing the diameter of spacer rings 16.

[0036] Liquid medium 4 can be water, or any other liquid.

[0037] The following examples illustrate the use of a flexible roller of the present invention.

[0038] Example 1, as shown in Figures 5a-5, a silicon wafer or solar cell 6 is horizontally transported between lower roller 7 and the flexible roller.

[0039] Referring to Figure 5, the flexible roller of the present invention is mainly composed of flexible sleeve 2, inner roller 1 and liquid medium 4. Flexible sleeve 2 is a flexible single layer structure. Inner roller 1 of the present invention can be of various forms, for example, it can be a rigid solid rod, or a rigid tube. Inner roller 1 of the present invention can be made of various rigid materials, for example, plastic, metal and carbon fiber, etc.

[0040] Outside inner roller 1, there can be liquid medium 4 directly, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. In some applications of the present invention, there is an additional protective sleeve 5 outside inner roller 1, as shown in Figure 3. Protective sleeve 5 can serve to reduce the surface tension of contact with liquid 3, or to protect inner roller 1 from corrosion, or for other special purposes.

[0041] Liquid medium 4 of the present invention can be any liquid according to different applications. For example, in general applications, it can be water. If there are strict requirements that the process cannot be contaminated, the liquid can be the same as the liquid used in the wet process. Further, if it is desired to have a larger sag of the flexible roller of the present invention, a liquid with a larger specific gravity can be chosen.

[0042] The outermost layer of the flexible roller of the present invention is flexible sleeve 2. The material of flexible sleeve 2 can be flexible plastic and flexible rubber, or any other material that can sag under the action of liquid medium 4 of the present invention (as shown in Figures 2a-2).

[0043] As shown in Figure 4, the sag of the flexible roller of the present invention can be controlled by changing the diameter of spacer rings 16.

[0044] In this embodiment, the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 is transported from left to right between the lower roller 7 and the flexible roller. As shown in Figure 5a, because the flexible roller of the present invention has a downward sinking feature, the contact area of the flexible roller with the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 is optimized from a straight line of the rigid roller to a flat surface 9. The increased contact area with the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 not only improves the stability of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 during the transportation, but more importantly, because the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 is in contact with a flexible material, the risk of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 being broken is greatly reduced.

[0045] Further, as shown in Figure 5a-5, the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 is being transported from left to right between the lower roller 7 and the flexible roller, and at the same time, the upper surface and the lower surface of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 is being treated by various media 8. For example, if the media 8 is a chemical liquid, the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 is being chemically treated, if the media 8 is water, the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 is being washed by water, and further, if the media 8 is a gas, such as compressed air or nitrogen, the surface of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 is being dried.

[0046] The flexible roller of the present invention is installed above the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 and in contact with the upper surface of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6. As shown in Figure 5a-5, the flexible roller of the present invention can be installed above the lower roller 7. In other applications, as long as the flexible roller of the present invention is in contact with the upper surface of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6, it can be installed in other locations.

[0047] Embodiment 2, as shown in Figure 6.

[0048] In this embodiment, the flexible roller of the present invention is used to remove a portion of the liquid on the surface of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6. In some processes of wet processing, in order to reduce the usage of chemicals or to reduce the discharge of waste water, a step is often required to remove a portion of the liquid on the surface of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6. The flexible roller of the present invention has a particularly good effect in removing a portion of the liquid on the surface of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6.

[0049] As shown in Figure 6, the upper surface of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 has a relatively thick layer of liquid 10 before it enters the flexible roller of the present invention. However, after passing through the flexible roller of the present invention, most of the liquid 10 is squeezed out of the upper surface of the silicon wafer or solar cell wafer 6 by the flexible roller of the present invention.

[0050] Embodiment 3, as shown in Fig. 7, a flexible pressing wheel using method, in the process of using, the flexible pressing wheel is pressed on the cathode roller 13, the solar cell 6 is clamped between the flexible pressing wheel and the cathode roller 13, the cathode roller 13 is outside the cathode groove 11, the periphery of the cathode groove 11 is the electroplating liquid 12, the cathode groove 11 is used to ensure that the cathode roller 13 is not soaked in the electroplating liquid 12.

[0051] Generally, the thickness of the solar cell 6 is about 0.1 mm, due to the wear of the cutting line in the slicing process, one side of the solar cell 6 is about 0.02 mm thicker than the other side. Therefore, if the upper roller 14 is also rigid, there will be a gap between the solar cell 6 and the upper roller 14 and the cathode roller 13, as shown in Fig. 8. Due to the softness of the flexible pressing wheel of the present application, as shown in Fig. 9, it can fully contact the upper surface of the solar cell 6 with uneven thickness, and the lower surface of the solar cell 6 can also fully contact the outer end of the cathode roller 13, ensuring that the entire surface of the solar cell 6 can be contacted with the upper soft pressing wheel 14 and the lower cathode roller 13 at the same time, so that the contact area between the solar cell 6 and the lower cathode roller 13 is increased, thereby making the lower surface of the solar cell 6 have good conductive contact with the cathode roller 13.

[0052] It can be understood that the above embodiment is only an exemplary embodiment adopted to illustrate the principle of the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and essence of the present application, and these modifications and improvements are also considered to be within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A flexible compression wheel, characterized in that, The flexible roller comprises an inner roller (1), the outer periphery of which is provided with a flexible sleeve (2), the two ends of the flexible sleeve (2) are sealedly connected with the inner roller (1) through sealing rings (3), and the flexible sleeve (2) is filled with a liquid medium (4).

2. The flexible squeegee of claim 1, wherein, The inner roller (1) is a rigid solid round bar or a rigid tube, or comprises a solid round bar and a rigid tube.

3. The flexible squeegee of claim 1, wherein, The material of the inner roller (1) comprises metal, plastic or hard carbon fiber.

4. The flexible squeegee of claim 1, wherein, The flexible sleeve (2) adopts a single-layer flexible sleeve (2), and the two ends of the single-layer flexible sleeve (2) are sealing rings (3).

5. The flexible squeegee of claim 4, wherein, The material of the flexible sleeve (2) comprises flexible plastic, or flexible rubber, or other flexible materials.

6. The flexible squeegee of claim 1, wherein, The sealing ring (3) comprises metal or non-metal.

7. The flexible squeegee of claim 1, wherein, There is a protective sleeve (5) between the inner roller (1) and the flexible sleeve (2), and the material of the protective sleeve (5) comprises metal or non-metal.

8. The flexible squeegee of claim 1, wherein, There is a partition ring (16) between the sealing rings (3) at the two ends of the inner roller (1).

9. The flexible squeegee of claim 1, wherein, The liquid medium (4) comprises water or other liquid compounds.

10. A method of using a flexible squeegee, characterized by, The use method is to press the flexible roller in any of claims 1-9 above on a silicon wafer or a solar cell wafer (6).

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