Auto-bonding robot for space solar cells

Abstract

An auto-bonding robot (ABR) that consists of the mechanism of adhesive dispensing and auto-bonding, a pneumatic system and a control system, is presented in this paper. It is designed for the bonding operation of cover-glasses and space solar cells using adhesives. An adhesive dispensing method is proposed to control the thickness and position of the adhesive layer on solar cells and to provide a satisfactory bonding accuracy. The bubble-free bonding process is realized by the leaning mechanism of a pneumatic sucker. Experimental comparison of the manual and automatic bonding methods showed that there are no fragment and air bubbles between the cover-glass and the space solar cell, and no outflow adhesive on the surface by the automatic bonding process in a non-vacuum condition. The novel automatic bonding robot greatly improved the lightweight space solar cells bonding quality and production rate.

Automatic coating and fastening robot of space solar module to solar panel substrate

“…After the silicon cell or the multi-junction cell's being produced, the silver connector is soldered to form the interconnect cell (IC). Then, an anti-irradiation coverglass is bonded by coating adhesives on the surface of the IC to protect the cell from the irradiation of the high-energy particles in space (Fu et al, 2005). The coating is an adhesive layer to the solar cell, whose spectral reflectivity characteristics are required to minimize reflection at the solar cell assembly (SCA).…”

An industrial robot for thin‐type space solar cells bonding

“…And the adhesive used in the bonding process is volatile and irritant, so it is very harmful to the workers' health. In order to solve these problems, the lab which the authors work in has dealt with the research on the SSC auto‐bonding process since 2003 (Yang, 2004; Fu and Zhao, 2005), it has developed an experimental prototype (shown in Figure 2), which proved the feasibility of auto‐bonding process for the thin‐type SSC. But in use process, the experimental prototype arose some problems:The shape of coating determines the shape of adhesive distributed between SSC and glass cover after bonding, the experimental prototype proposed a zigzag path (Yang, 2004; Fu and Zhao, 2005) (Figure 3), which was fit for the rectangular shape of the solar cell, but restricted.Temperature is one of the most important elements that affect the physical property of adhesive, it is not considered in the experimental prototype.In addition with the development of the semiconductor materials, the next‐generation light thin‐type solar cells are used for space applications.…”

“…The shape of coating determines the shape of adhesive distributed between SSC and glass cover after bonding, the experimental prototype proposed a zigzag path (Yang, 2004; Fu and Zhao, 2005) (Figure 3), which was fit for the rectangular shape of the solar cell, but restricted.…”

Auto-laydown robot for space solar module

“…ABR is developed for automated bonding, which has been presented in refs. [1]- [3]. After the bonding process, the laydown process of solar modules can be implemented by ALR.…”