JP2013233553A - Wiring material connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wiring material connection device in which a solar cell string is prevented from damage when a wiring material is connected with a bus bar electrode of a solar battery cell to make the solar cell string.SOLUTION: A wiring material connection device 1 includes: a conveyance mechanism 5 that supports to convey the vicinity of two opposing sides of two or more solar battery cells 2 arranged in a predetermined direction; a bus bar electrode 3 of one light receiving surface side of two adjoining solar battery cells 2 among the two or more solar battery cells 2; a wiring material connection part 6 that connects a wiring material with a bus bar electrode 3 of the other non-light receiving surface side; and a support member 7 that is disposed under the wiring material connection part 6, can move in a vertical direction, ascends and comes in contact with two solar battery cells 2 to which the wiring material is connected when the wiring material connection part 6 connects the bus bar electrode 3 and the wiring material, and descends to a position out of contact with the two or more solar battery cells 2 while the conveyance mechanism 5 conveys the two or more solar battery cells 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiring material connecting apparatus for connecting a wiring material to a bus bar electrode of a solar battery cell.

  Since the output per solar cell is only about several watts, a solar cell module in which a solar cell string in which a plurality of solar cells are connected in series is sealed with a cover glass is generally used as a solar cell. The solar battery string repeatedly performs a process of electrically connecting the bus bar electrode formed on the light receiving surface of the solar battery cell and the bus bar electrode formed on the non-light receiving surface of the adjacent solar battery cell using a wiring material. Thus, a plurality of solar cells are connected in series.

  The electrical connection between the bus bar electrode and the wiring material is usually performed by applying flux to the light receiving surface and non-light receiving surface of the solar cell on the bus bar electrode, and placing the solder coated wiring material on the conveyor along the bus bar electrode. After that, the wiring material is heated and soldered to the bus bar electrode. As the heating means, hot air, electromagnetic induction heating, an infrared lamp or the like can be used. The conveyor is made of steel or a belt conveyor with a Teflon processed surface.

Japanese Patent No. 4240587

  However, since soldering between the bus bar electrode and the wiring material is performed on a conveyor, when a certain time has elapsed after soldering, the solar cell string is formed by the flux applied around the bus bar electrode on the non-light-receiving surface of the solar cell string. There is a problem of sticking to the conveyor. Further, when the solar cell string attached to the conveyor is peeled off, the solar cell string may be damaged.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a wiring material connecting device that prevents a solar cell string from being damaged when a wiring material is connected to a bus bar electrode of a solar cell to produce a solar cell string. To do.

In order to solve the above problems, in one aspect of the present invention, a transport mechanism that supports and transports the vicinity of two opposing sides of a plurality of solar cells arranged in a predetermined direction;
Of the plurality of solar cells, a wiring material connecting portion for connecting a wiring material to the bus bar electrode on one light receiving surface side of the two adjacent solar cells and the bus bar electrode on the other non-light receiving surface side;
The second wiring member is disposed below the wiring member connecting portion and is movable in the vertical direction, and is raised when the wiring member connecting portion connects the bus bar electrode and the wiring member. A support member that contacts one solar cell and descends to a position that does not contact the plurality of solar cells while the transport mechanism is transporting the plurality of solar cells. A wiring material connecting device is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when connecting a wiring material to the bus-bar electrode of a photovoltaic cell and producing a photovoltaic cell string, damage to a photovoltaic cell string can be prevented.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the wiring material connection apparatus 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing of the AA line of Fig.1 (a). The top view of a photovoltaic cell. (A) is sectional drawing of the solar cell string which connected the wiring material 4 to the bus-bar electrode 3, (b) is a top view. The figure which shows the example which made the width | variety of the longitudinal direction of the supporting member 7 into the length for four pieces of the photovoltaic cells. The flowchart which shows an example of a wiring material connection process. Sectional drawing of the wiring material connection apparatus 1 which made the upper surface of the adsorption | suction member the inclined surface.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wiring material connecting apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 (a) is a top view and FIG. 1 (b) is an AA line in FIG. 1 (a). FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, a plurality of solar cells 2 are arranged along the conveyance direction indicated by the arrow X. For example, three bus bar electrodes 3 are formed on the non-light-receiving surface side opposite to the light-receiving surface side of each solar battery cell 2 as shown in FIG. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a large number of finger electrodes are formed on the light receiving surface and the non-light receiving surface of the solar battery cell 2 in a direction perpendicular to the bus bar electrodes 3. The flowing current is collected on the bus bar electrode 3. The number of bus bar electrodes 3 is not necessarily three.

  The wiring material connection device 1 according to the present embodiment performs a process of connecting the wiring material 4 to the bus bar electrode 3. If there are three bus bar electrodes 3, separate wiring members 4 are attached to each. By connecting the wiring members 4 to the bus bar electrodes 3 of two adjacent solar cells among n (n is an integer of 2 or more) solar cells arranged along the transport direction, n A solar cell string 10 in which a plurality of solar cells are connected in series is produced.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the wiring material connection device 1 according to this embodiment includes a transport mechanism 5, a wiring material connection unit 6, a support member 7, and a support member vertical mechanism 8.

  The transport mechanism 5 supports and transports the vicinity of two opposing sides of the plurality of solar cells 2 arranged in a predetermined direction (X direction in FIG. 1A). The transport mechanism 5 includes two belts 11 that support the vicinity of two opposing sides of the plurality of solar cells 2, an adsorbing member 12 that adsorbs these belts 11, and controls that move these belts 11 (not shown). Power mechanism.

  Each belt 11 is annularly arranged along the conveying direction, and both belts 11 move in the same direction at the same speed. In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 (b), the cross-sectional shape of the belt 11 is shown in two places, top, bottom, left and right. The width of each belt 11 is 15 mm, for example.

  Conventional examples of supporting solar cells 2 with three or more belts 11 are known, but this embodiment supports the vicinity of two opposite sides of solar cells 2 with a minimum of two belts 11. To do. By supporting the solar battery cell 2 in the vicinity of the two opposing sides, the solar battery cell 2 is less likely to be displaced in the Y direction in FIG.

  Further, if a separate belt 11 is disposed between the two belts 11, there is a risk of contact with the support member 7 that moves up and down, as will be described later. It is not preferable to provide a separate belt 11 between the other belts 11.

  Further, when the belt 11 is provided on the inner side of the vicinity of the two opposing sides of the solar battery cell 2, the flux on the surface of the bus bar electrode 3 is reduced when the wiring member 4 is soldered to the bus bar electrode 3 as described later. There is a possibility that the belt 11 will adhere to the belt 11, and maintenance costs such as cleaning or replacement of the belt 11 will be required.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the two belts 11 support the vicinity of two opposing sides of the solar cell.

  The length between two opposing sides of the solar battery cell 2 is not necessarily the same, and there are typical lengths of 5 inches and 6 inches. In this embodiment, the distance between the belts 11 is set so that it can correspond to any of the plurality of solar cells 2 having different lengths between the two opposing sides. For example, when the distance between the belts 11 is set so that the belt 11 comes into contact with the vicinity of two sides of the solar battery cell 2 when the 5-inch solar battery cell 2 is supported by the two belts 11, 6 inches. When the solar battery cell 2 is supported by the two belts 11, the belt 11 supports the solar battery cell 2 on the inner side of the vicinity of the two sides, but there is no particular problem in operation. As described above, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the distance between the belts 11 is fixed, but the distance between the belts 11 may be adjusted according to the size of the solar battery cell 2.

  The belt 11 moves while being attracted to the upper surface of the adsorption member 12 by the adsorption member 12. A plurality of suction holes are provided on the upper surface of the suction member 12 at regular intervals. Since the adsorption member 12 generates an adsorption force that presses the belt 11 against the upper surface of the adsorption member 12 when the belt 11 moves, the positional deviation of the belt 11 is suppressed. The adsorbing member 12 generates an adsorbing force by sucking air with a vacuum pump (not shown) or the like.

  The wiring member connecting portion 6 is connected to the bus bar electrode 3 on one light receiving surface side and the bus bar electrode 3 on the other non-light receiving surface side of two adjacent solar cells 2 among the plurality of solar cells 2. Connect. Solder is used to connect the bus bar electrode 3 and the wiring member 4. The solder is coated on the surface of the wiring material 4 in advance. Further, a flux is applied to the surface of the bus bar electrode 3 so as to be easily soldered.

  In order to solder the bus bar electrode 3 and the wiring material 4, the solder on the surface of the wiring material 4 must be melted. For this reason, the wiring material connection part 6 has a heating means (not shown). This heating means is provided above the transport mechanism 5. When performing soldering, the heating means is disposed near the wiring material 4 to melt the solder on the surface of the wiring material 4, so that the bus bar electrode 3 and the wiring are connected. The material 4 is soldered. As the heating means, known heating means such as hot air, electromagnetic induction heating, and an infrared lamp can be used.

  3A is a cross-sectional view of the solar cell string 10 in which the wiring member 4 is connected to the bus bar electrode 3, and FIG. 3B is a top view. As shown in the figure, the wiring member 4 is bent, one end is connected to the bus bar electrode 3 on the light receiving surface side of one solar battery cell 2, and the other end is on the non-light receiving surface side of the adjacent solar battery cell 2. Connected to the bus bar electrode 3. The bending process of the wiring member 4 is performed before the wiring member 4 is placed on the support member 7.

  The support member 7 is disposed below the wiring member connection portion 6 and can be moved in the vertical direction by the support member vertical mechanism 8. The support member 7 rises when the wiring member 4 is connected at the wiring member connecting portion 6 and comes into contact with the solar battery cell 2 to which the wiring member 4 is connected. Further, the support member 7 is lowered to a position where it does not contact the plurality of solar cells 2 while the transport mechanism 5 is transporting the plurality of solar cells 2. The moving distance in the vertical direction of the support member 7 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 2 to 5 mm.

  Three bus bar electrodes 3 are formed on the back surface side of the solar battery cell 2 in contact with the support member 7. The first contact with the upper surface of the support member 7 that has risen is the three on the back surface side. The wiring member 4 is arranged so as to be in contact with the bus bar electrode 3. However, since the wiring material 4 and the bus bar electrode 3 are thin, most of the back side of the solar battery cell 2 actually contacts the upper surface of the support member 7.

  The width of the support member 7 in the short direction (the Y direction length in FIG. 1A) is a length that fits in the interval between the two belts 11. Thereby, even if the support member 7 moves up and down, there is no possibility of contacting the belt 11. Further, the width of the support member 7 in the short direction is naturally larger than the width of the bus bar electrode 3.

  In addition, the width in the longitudinal direction of the support member 7 (the length in the X direction in FIG. 1A) is such that when the wiring member 4 is soldered, the wiring member connecting portion 6 connects the wiring member 4. The required length, more specifically, the length of one solar cell 2 or more.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the width of the support member 7 in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) is set to the length of four solar cells 2. The reason for the length of four pieces is that the solar cell 2 is preheated by one cell on the left end side of the support member 7, the wiring material 4 is soldered by the next one cell, and the next This is because the first heat insulation is performed for one cell and the second heat insulation is performed for one cell on the right end side. The reason why the temperature is maintained for two cells is to gradually lower the temperature of the solar battery cell 2 after soldering, and the second temperature is set lower than the first temperature. Note that the width of the support member 7 in FIG. 4 is an example, and the width is not necessarily limited to four.

  The support member 7 is moved in the vertical direction (vertical direction) by the support member vertical mechanism 8. As shown in FIG. 1B, the support member vertical mechanism 8 includes a vertical movement member 13, an air cylinder 14, an air tube 15, and an air cylinder support base 16. The vertical movement member 13 moves up and down with the support member 7 placed thereon. The air cylinder 14 generates driving force that moves the vertical movement member 13 up and down by taking air in and out of the air pipe 15. The air cylinder support 16 is a table on which the air cylinder 14 is placed, and is fixed without moving up and down. The air cylinder support 16 is U-shaped as shown in the figure, and the belt 11 passes through the air cylinder support 16.

  The shape of the air cylinder support 16 may be a structure that allows the belt 11 to pass through the inside thereof, and does not necessarily have a U shape, and may be, for example, an annular shape.

  When connecting the wiring member 4 at the wiring member connecting portion 6, the support member 7 is brought into contact with the solar battery cell 2, so that the flux applied to the bus bar electrode 3 on the solar battery cell 2 is applied to the support member 7. There is a risk of adhering to the upper surface. For this reason, in FIG.1 (b), the supporting member 7 is comprised with the support stand 7a which mounts the photovoltaic cell 2, and the support base 7b to which this support stand 7a is attached so that attachment or detachment is possible. Thereby, when a flux etc. have adhered to the upper surface of the support stand 7a, the support stand 7a can be replaced as needed, and it becomes difficult to receive the influence of flux adhesion.

  It is not essential that the support member 7 is composed of the support base 7a and the support base 7b so that the support base 7a is detachable. The support member 7 may be integrated and the upper surface of the support member 7 may be periodically cleaned. Cleaning may be performed manually or a cleaning member may be provided.

  Next, the wiring material connection process by the wiring material connection device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in order. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the wiring material connecting step.

  First, in a state where the support member 7 is raised by the support member up-and-down mechanism 8, the wiring member 4 for connecting to the bus bar electrode 3 of the leading solar cell 2 is disposed at a predetermined position on the support member 7 (process). S1).

  Next, it is transported from a rack in which a large number of solar cells are stacked with the light receiving surface of the first solar cell 2 adsorbed by a suction pad of a robot (not shown). The bus bar electrode 3 on the surface side is brought into contact with the already arranged wiring material 4 (step S2).

  Next, another wiring member 4 is brought into contact with the bus bar electrode 3 on the light receiving surface side of the solar battery cell 2 conveyed in the step S2 (step S3).

  Next, the wiring member 4 and the bus bar electrode 3 are soldered by bringing the heating means closer to the wiring member 4 on the light-receiving surface side and the non-light-receiving surface side of the solar battery cell 2 conveyed in step S2 (step S4).

  When the soldering of the wiring member 4 and the bus bar electrode 3 is completed, the support member 7 is lowered by the support member vertical mechanism 8 (step S5). When the supporting member 7 is lowered, the solar battery cell 2 is supported by only the two belts 11, and the risk of the solar battery cell 2 sticking to the supporting member 7 via a flux or the like can be avoided. At the time when the support member 7 starts to descend, the flux is not yet completely solidified. Therefore, even if the flux adheres to the support member 7, the solar battery cell 2 is attached to the support member 7 when the support member 7 is lowered. There is no possibility of descending with the support member 7 in the attached state.

  When the lowering of the support member 7 is completed, the transport mechanism 5 next moves the two belts 11 in the transport direction. The moving distance is the same as the length of the solar cell 2 in the carrying direction, and here, the wired solar cell 2 is moved by one cell (step S6).

  While the transport mechanism 5 is transporting the solar battery cell 2, the support member 7 is lowered. Therefore, the solar battery cell 2 is supported only by the two belts 11, and flux or the like is applied to the support member 7. There is no possibility that the solar battery cell 2 adheres and sticks to the support member 7. Further, since the flux and the solder are solidified during the transportation, even if the support member 7 comes into contact with the solar battery cell 2 after that, the solar battery cell 2 is not attached to the support member 7. Damage can be prevented.

  When the transportation of one solar cell 2 is completed in the above-described step S6, the support member 7 is raised by the support member up-and-down mechanism 8, and the support member 7 is brought into contact with the wired solar cell 2. (Step S7).

  Then, the process of process S2-S7 is repeated n times (n is an integer greater than or equal to 2) which is the number of the photovoltaic cells 2 which comprise the solar cell string 10 (process S8).

  After performing the n-th step S7, the wiring member 4 is brought into contact with the bus bar electrode 3 on the light receiving surface side of the last solar battery cell 2 of the solar battery string 10, and soldering is performed by a heating means, and thereafter The support member 7 is lowered (step S9). The solar cell string 10 is completed through the above steps.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (a), in this embodiment, solar cells 2 are supported between two belts 11 in order to support the vicinity of two opposing sides of the solar cells 2 with two belts 11. 2 may warp downward. Although the magnitude of the warpage depends on the film thickness and material of the solar battery cell 2, when warpage becomes a problem, the upper surface of the adsorption member 12 on which the two belts 11 are placed is shown in FIG. Thus, by making the inclined surface the height continuously lowering from the inner side to the outer side where the solar cells 2 are arranged, the two belts 11 come to pull the solar cells 2 and warp. Can be reduced.

  Thus, in this embodiment, when connecting the wiring member 4 to the bus bar electrode 3 of the solar battery cell 2, the support member 7 is brought into contact with the solar battery cell 2 to solder the bus bar electrode 3 and the wiring member 4. When the soldering is completed, the support member 7 is lowered, and then the solar cell 2 is transported, so that the solar cell 2 is supported via the flux that has melted from the surface of the bus bar electrode 3 during the soldering. There is no risk of sticking to the member 7. Thereby, the damage of the photovoltaic cell 2 at the time of connection of the wiring material 4 can be prevented.

  The aspect of the present invention is not limited to the individual embodiments described above, and includes various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to the contents described above. That is, various additions, modifications, and partial deletions can be made without departing from the concept and spirit of the present invention derived from the contents defined in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wiring material connection apparatus, 2 Solar cell, 3 Bus-bar electrode, 4 Wiring material, 5 Conveyance mechanism, 6 Wiring material connection part, 7 Support member, 8 Support member vertical mechanism, 10 Solar cell string, 11 Belt, 12 Adsorption member , 13 Vertical movement member, 14 Air cylinder, 15 Air pipe, 16 Air cylinder support

Claims (9)

A transport mechanism that supports and transports the vicinity of two opposing sides of a plurality of solar cells arranged in a predetermined direction;
Of the plurality of solar cells, a wiring material connecting portion for connecting a wiring material to the bus bar electrode on one light receiving surface side of the two adjacent solar cells and the bus bar electrode on the other non-light receiving surface side;
The second wiring member is disposed below the wiring member connecting portion and is movable in the vertical direction, and is raised when the wiring member connecting portion connects the bus bar electrode and the wiring member. A support member that contacts one solar cell and descends to a position that does not contact the plurality of solar cells while the transport mechanism is transporting the plurality of solar cells. Wiring material connection device. The transport mechanism has two belts that support the vicinity of two opposing sides of the plurality of solar cells,
2. The wiring member connection device according to claim 1, wherein the bus bar electrode included in each of the plurality of solar cells is disposed inside the vicinity of the two sides supported by the two belts. .   While the transport mechanism is transporting the plurality of solar cells, the bus bar electrode and the wiring member do not contact the transport mechanism, and the plurality of solar cells are supported by the two belts. The wiring material connecting device according to claim 2, wherein the wiring material connecting device is conveyed.   While the transport mechanism is transporting the plurality of solar cells, the bus bar electrode and the wiring member do not contact either the transport mechanism or the support member, and the plurality of solar cells. The wiring material connecting device according to claim 3, wherein the wiring material is supported and conveyed only by the two belts.   5. The wiring according to claim 2, wherein the support member has a width narrower than an interval between the two belts so as not to come into contact with the two belts even when the support member is raised. Material connection device. An adsorbing member that generates an adsorbing force that adsorbs the two belts placed on the upper surface to the upper surface;
The upper surface of the adsorption member is an inclined surface whose height continuously decreases from the inner side to the outer side where the plurality of solar cells are arranged. Wiring material connection device.   The said support member has a support stand of the magnitude | size which can mount the 1 or more said photovoltaic cell which the said wiring material connection part connects the said wiring material, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Wiring material connecting device described in 1.   The wiring member connecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the support base has a size capable of supporting four or more solar cells.   The wiring member connecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the support member has a support base to which the support base is detachably attached.

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