The present invention generally relates to an actuatable punch assembly.
Conventional actuatable punch assemblies are used in manufacturing processes to produce a hole in an article made from, for example, plastics and textiles. Generally, the actuatable punch assembly includes an actuator operatable between a contact and spaced position. The actuator may have a head with cutting devices disposed thereon for forming a hole in an article. The cutting devices on the head are arranged in a set pattern, which corresponds to a certain size and/or shape of the hole. When a hole of a different size and/or shape is desired, then the head has to be completely removed and the replaced with a different head having the cutting devices arranged in a different pattern. The required replacement of the head results in a significant amount of down time to allow for proper change out of the head every time the hole of a different and/or shape is desired. Therefore, the use of conventional actuatable punch assemblies limits the ability to vary the size and/or location of the hole to be formed in the article. Therefore, at great cost, multiple heads having cutting devices in various patterns must be purchased and employed with each of the heads set up to meet the requirements of a specific end user.
This invention provides an actuatable punch assembly for forming a hole within an article. The actuatable punch assembly comprises an actuator operational between a cutting position and a spaced position. The actuatable punch assembly also comprises a base plate coupled to the actuator. At least one segment block is adjustably coupled to the base plate with at least one cutting device coupled to the segment block. The cutting device is coupled to the segment block for forming the hole within the article. In operation, each of the base plate, the segment block, and the cutting device move with the actuator between the cutting position and the spaced position. The cutting device pierces the article for forming the hole within the article in the cutting position. Alternatively, the cutting device is spaced apart from the article in the spaced position.
The segment block is adjustable relative to the base plate. The cutting device is coupled to the segment block and is also adjustable relative to the base plate. The cutting device is adjustable relative to the base plate for varying a position of the cutting device relative to the article to vary a size/shape of the hole formed in the article.
This invention also provides a method of using the actuatable punch assembly.
Other aspects of the present invention may be understood by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, an actuatable punch assembly is generally shown at 20. Generally, the actuatable punch assembly 20 is used to form at least one hole 22 within an article 24. The article may comprise any material, such as metal, plastic, or textile.
In one embodiment of the invention, the article 24 is a backing layer 26 of a solar cell laminate 28. The actuatable punch assembly 20 may be incorporated into an assembly line or may be a stand-alone device. Furthermore, the actuatable punch assembly 20 may be manually operated or automatically operated.
The actuatable punch assembly 20 includes an actuator 30 operational between a spaced position, as shown in
Referring to
The base plate 34, the segment block 36, and the cutting device 38 move with the actuator 30 between the cutting position and the spaced position. The cutting device 38 is coupled to the base plate 34 via the segment block 36 and therefore the cutting device 38 and the segment block 36 move with the base plate 34 as the actuator 30 moves between the spaced position and the cutting position.
As shown in
The coupling of the cutting device 38 to the segment block 36 and the coupling of the segment block 36 to the base plate 34 results in the cutting device 38 presenting a pattern. The pattern may have any shape. The pattern of the cutting device 38 depends on a size and/or shape of the hole 22 to be formed in the article 24. Said differently, the hole 22 formed in the article 24 takes a similar configuration to the pattern of the cutting device 38. For example, if the cutting device 38 has a rectangular pattern, then the hole 22 formed in the article 24 by the actuatable punch assembly 20 will have a rectangular configuration, as shown in
The size and/or shape of the hole 22 to be formed in the article 24 depends on an end user's intended application of the article 24. Different end users may desire (e.g., require) different sizes and/or shapes for the hole 22 to be formed in the article 24. As such, the segment block 36 and the cutting device 38 are adjustable relative to the base plate 34 for adjusting the pattern presented by the cutting device 38 relative to the article 24. Allowing the pattern presented by the cutting device 38 coupled to the segment block 36 to be varied allows the actuatable punch assembly 20 to form the hole 22 with different sizes and/or shapes to accommodate different end users without having to completely change to a non-adjustable base plate, which has cutting devices having a set non-adjustable pattern. Said differently, the pattern of the cutting device 38 is adjustable depending on the size and/or shape desired by the end user.
The pattern of the cutting device 38 can be varied in other ways besides adjusting either the segment block 36 or the cutting device 38. For example, the base plate 34 may include multiple segment blocks 36 and that each segment block 36 may include multiple cutting devices 38, as shown in
The location of the hole 22 relative to the article 24 can be varied by adjusting the segment block 36. For example, if a position of the article 24 relative to the base plate 34 remains constant, adjusting the segment block 36, which has the cutting device 38 coupled thereto, can result in the location of the hole 22 to be formed in the article 24 to be moved to a different location. This is beneficial in continuous manufacturing processes where the pattern of the cutting device 38 can be varied quickly and easily for producing multiple articles 24 having the hole 22 in different locations depending on a particular end user's desired size and/or shape.
Referring to
Referring to
The actuatable punch assembly 20 may include an automated cutting device adjuster, such as a robotic arm, for adjusting the position of the cutting device 38 relative to the segment block 36 to adjust the pattern presented by the cutting device 38. The automated cutting device adjuster can adjust the position of the segment block 36 relative to the base plate 34 to adjust the position of the cutting device 38 relative to the article 24.
A method of forming the hole 22 within the article 24 using the actuatable punch assembly 20 is described below. The method includes the step of positioning the article 24 relative to the actuatable punch assembly 20. The article 24 can be positioned relative to the actuatable punch assembly 20 such that the location on the article 24 where the hole 22 is to be formed can be changed by moving the article 24. Alternatively, the actuatable punch assembly 20 can be moved relative to the article 24 for changing the location on the article 24 where the hole 22 is to be formed.
The method also includes the steps of selecting the size of the hole 22 to be formed within the article 24 and adjusting the cutting device 38 in accordance with the size selected for the hole 22 to be formed within the article 24. When there is more than one cutting device 38 present, the step of adjusting the cutting device 38 may be further defined as adjusting at least one of the cutting devices 38. The step of adjusting the cutting device 38 may be further defined as adjusting the position of the cutting device 38 relative to the segment block 36 and/or adjusting the position of the segment block 36 relative to the base plate 34 based on the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the article 24. The step of forming the hole 22 in the article 24 may be further defined as piercing the article 24 to form the foldable flap 42 in the article 24. As such, the method may include the step of folding the flap 42 back upon the article 24 to gain access to the hole 22.
The method further includes the step of forming the hole 22 in the article 24 by moving the actuatable punch assembly 20 from the spaced position to the cutting position such that the cutting device 38 pierces the article 24. The method may include the step of identifying a location to form the hole 22 in the article 24. As such, the method may include the step of adjusting the segment block 36 relative to the base plate 34 based on the location identified to form the hole 22 in the article 24.
When the actuatable punch assembly 20 includes the automated cutting device adjuster, the method may include the step of selecting the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the article 24 may be further defined as entering an article 24 identifier into the automated cutting device adjuster to automatically adjust the position of the cutting device 38 relative to the segment block 36 and/or to automatically adjust the position of the segment block 36 relative to the base plate 34 based on the article 24 identifier.
The use of the actuatable punch assembly 20 may be incorporated into an automated process. In such an embodiment, the article 24 may be further defined as a first article 24 and a second article 24. Generally, the hole 22 is formed in the first article 24 and the hole 22 in the second article 24 is subsequently formed. Therefore, the method of forming the hole 22 in the first and second article 24s would include the steps of positioning the second article 24 relative to the actuatable punch assembly 20, selecting the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the second article 24, adjusting the cutting device 38 in accordance with the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the second article 24, and forming the second hole 22 in the second article 24 by moving the actuatable punch assembly 20 from the spaced position to the cutting position such that the cutting device 38 pierces the second article 24.
The size of the hole 22 to be formed in the second article 24 may be different than the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the first article 24. For example, different end users may desire different sizes, or even different locations, for the hole 22s in the article 24. In such an embodiment, a second article 24 identifier is entered into the automated cutting device adjuster to automatically adjust the position of the cutting device 38 relative to the segment block 36 and/or to automatically adjust the position of the segment block 36 relative to the base plate 34 based on the second article 24 identifier.
Referring to
The solar cell matrix 54 has at least one lead 56. More typically, the solar cell matrix 54 has a pair of leads 56 coupled to and extending from the solar cell matrix 54. The leads 56 are coupled to the ribbon 46. The solar cell laminate 28 also has a gel layer 58, typically comprising silicone, encapsulating the solar matrix. The leads 56 extend through the gel layer 58 for providing access to electricity created by the solar cell matrix 54. A superstrate layer 60, typically comprising glass, may be disposed on the gel layer 58 opposite the leads 56 extending through the gel layer 58. The backing layer 26 is disposed on the gel layer 58 opposite the superstrate layer 60.
Referring to
A location of the leads 56 relative to the solar cell matrix 54 depends on requirements of the end user. Different end users may have different location requirements for the leads 56. As such, the size and/or shape of the hole 22 in the backing layer 26 is dependent on the location of the leads 56. Ideally, the hole 22 formed in the backing layer 26 is as small as possible to minimize potential entry points for hazards, such as weather elements, into the solar cell laminate 28 that can damage the solar cell matrix 54 thereby preventing the solar cell matrix 54 from generating electricity. Furthermore, it is beneficial to form the hole 22 in the backing layer 26 with the flap 42, as shown in
The actuatable punch assembly 20, and, more specifically, the cutting device 38 can be used to pierce the backing layer 26 of the solar cell matrix 54 for forming the hole 22 in the backing layer 26 to provide access to the leads 56 extending through the solar cell laminate 28. Because a location of the leads 56 of the solar cell laminate 28 vary based on the desire of the end user, a size and/or location of the hole 22 relative to the backing layer 26 may need to be adjusted for each end user. The leads 56 may be spaced apart from one another such that more than one hole 22 needs to be formed in the backing layer 26.
As described above, the segment block 36 allow for quick adjustment of the cutting device 38 for varying the size and/or location of the hole 22. Segment blocks 36 may be added to the base plate 34 for forming another hole 22 in the backing layer 26 to accommodate leads 56 that are spaced apart such that the size of the hole 22 in the backing layer 26 becomes too large that it is undesirable to create a single hole 22 of that size in the backing layer 26.
The actuatable punch assembly 20 may be used in a method of manufacturing the solar cell laminate 28. A schematic of a continuous manufacturing apparatus 62 for producing the solar cell laminate 28 is shown in
The method of manufacturing the solar cell laminate 28 includes the steps of positioning the backing layer 26 of the solar cell laminate 28 relative to the actuatable punch assembly 20, selecting the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the backing layer 26 to allow the lead 56 to be disposed through the backing layer 26, adjusting the cutting device 38 in accordance with the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the backing layer 26, forming the hole 22 in the backing layer 26 by moving the actuatable punch assembly 20 from the spaced position to the cutting position, and applying the backing layer 26 to the gel layer 58 with the leads 56 extending from the solar cell matrix 54 through the hole 22 formed in the backing layer 26 thereby forming the solar cell laminate 28.
The method of manufacturing the solar cell laminate 28 may include the step of adjusting at least one of the cutting devices 38. The method may include the step of positioning the leads 56 through the hole 22 formed in the backing layer 26. For example, the leads 56 may be pulled through the hole 22 of the backing layer 26. Alternatively, the leads 56 may be bent at the ribbon 46. The leads 56 may be a portion of the ribbon 46, which is bent to form the leads 56. Said differently, the leads 56 may be integral with the ribbon 46.
Similar to the method of forming a hole 22 in the article 24, the method of manufacturing the solar cell laminate 28 may include the steps of piercing the backing layer 26 with the cutting device 38 to form the foldable flap 42 coving the hole 22 in the backing layer 26, and folding the flap 42 back upon the backing layer 26. Folding the flap 42 back upon the backing layer 26 allows the leads 56 to be positioned through the backing layer 26.
Once the backing layer 26 is coupled to the gel layer 58 of the solar cell laminate 28 and the leads 56 are positioned through the backing layer 26, the leads 56 can be coupled to the junction box 61. The flap 42 is unfolded to cover the hole 22 once the leads 56 are positioned through the backing layer 26. The leads 56 are then coupled to the junction box 61 and the junction box 61 is coupled to the solar cell laminate 28.
The method of manufacturing the solar cell laminate 28 may further include the steps of identifying the location to form the hole 22 in the backing layer 26 and adjusting the segment block 36 relative to the base plate 34 based on the location identified to form the hole 22 in the backing layer 26. The step of adjusting the cutting device 38 may be further defined as adjusting the position of the cutting device 38 relative to the segment block 36 and/or adjusting the position of the segment block 36 relative to the base plate 34 based on the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the backing layer 26. When the actuatable punch assembly 20 includes the automated cutting device adjuster a solar cell identifier is entered into the automated cutting device adjuster to automatically adjust the position of the cutting device 38 relative to the segment block 36 and/or to automatically adjust the position of the segment block 36 relative to the base plate 34 based on the solar cell identifier.
The actuatable punch assembly 20 may be employed in a continuous method of manufacturing the solar cell laminate 28. In such a method, the backing layer 26 may be further defined as a first backing layer 26 and a second backing layer 26 and the solar cell laminate 28 may be further defined as a first solar cell laminate 28 and a second solar cell laminate 28. As such, the method of manufacturing the solar cell laminate 28 may further include the steps of positioning the second backing layer 26 relative to the actuatable punch assembly 20, selecting the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the second backing layer 26, adjusting the cutting device 38 in accordance with the size of the hole 22 to be formed in the second backing layer 26, forming the second hole 22 in the second backing layer 26 by moving the actuatable punch assembly 20 from the spaced position to the cutting position such that the cutting device 38 pierces the second backing layer 26, and applying the second backing layer 26 to a second gel layer 58 of the second solar cell laminate 28 with the leads 56 extending through the hole 22 formed in the second backing layer 26 thereby forming the second solar cell laminate 28.
The desired size or even the location of the hole 22 in the second backing layer 26 may be different than the size and or location of the hole 22 to be formed in the first backing layer 26. As such, the actuatable punch assembly 20 may include the automated cutting device adjuster and a second solar cell identifier may be entered into the automated cutting device adjuster to automatically adjust the position of the cutting device 38 relative to the segment block 36 and/or to automatically adjust the position of the segment block 36 relative to the base plate 34 based on the second solar cell identifier.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards; thus, the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention may only be determined by studying the following claims.
This application claims priority to and all advantages of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/538,256, which was filed on Sep. 23, 2011, the entire specification of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61538256 | Sep 2011 | US |