Patent ID: 7799182

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a metal layer on a flexible solar cell substrate, comprising: a first processing chamber comprising: an electrode that is in electrical communication with a power supply; a flexible substrate assembly comprising: a support that is adapted to retain a portion of a flexible substrate; and an actuator that is connected to the support and is adapted to position a metallized surface of the flexible substrate in a desired position proximate to the electrode; a contact that is in communication with the power supply; and a thrust plate that is adapted to urge the metallized surface of the flexible substrate against the contact; and a second processing chamber comprising: an actuator that is configured to urge a region of an interconnect roll against a region of the metallized surface, wherein the region of interconnect roll comprises a conductive metal layer; and a thrust plate containing at least one heating element that is configured to deliver energy to the regions of the interconnect roll and the metallized surface.