• Schunk Intec India Private Limited

Gripper For Solar Cells

Schunk has developed a high-speed Gripper for Solar Cells, an effective module for more efficiency in the solar industry, which will be showcased at the Automatica in Munich, Germany. This can handle wafers and finished cells sizing 156 x 156 or 125 x 125 mm extremely fast and process reliable. A transportation cycle of 550 mm including in-spection with a camera sytem and the way back is carried out in a cycle time of less than 1 second. Suitable for use with new and exisiting facilities, the SZG is based on the Bernoulli principle. A low-pressure at the gripping surface has the effect that wafers made of cristalline silicium with a thickness of 110 microns, are gripped gently, but with a high holding force. Special silencers at the gripper bottom side, a polyurethane friction lining and a large support face provide a stress-free and safe grip, where even occurring shearing forces can be absorpt reliably. Integrated micro valves shorten the way of the compressed air, allow an extremely short response time and wafers can be blown out while they are deposited. With the combination of this function enormous cylce times are achieved. Compared with conventional suction or edge grippers, the wafers are gripped much more gently with the Schunk solution. A large area of the cell surface can be already mounted at a distance of about 7 mm. Thereby the air flow automatically removes possible dust particles from the wafer. Due to the integrated micro valves, the solar cell gripper SZG achieves much shorter cycle times than the con-ventional Bernoulli gripper. It is an economic yet gentle alternative. Because the cell is located above the gripper, it is possible that a vision system reliably inspect the complete wafer edge, which increases process quality and reliability in solar cell manufacturing. In order to control the complete process reliably with a vision sensor, the 140 x 140 mm big base plate can be designed transparently. With a transmitted light the wafer surface can be also inspected for cracks. SZG is suitable for every robot or gantry system used in solar cell manufacturing. It is actuated with compressed air of 6 bar.