JP2001135840A - Trimming method of photoelectric conversion module and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a solar cell module triming device which can raise the productivity and quality of a solar cell module. SOLUTION: Surplus parts 5a and 6a of a sealing member 4 protruded on the periphery of a glass substrate 1 of a solar cell module M of a structure, wherein, the module M is provided with a trimming base 12 and a cutting unit 13 installed near this trimming base 12 and the surface in one side of the surface of the glass substrate 1 is sealed with the sealing member 4, are cut-off. The sealed module M is detachably held on the upper surface of the trimming base 12. The unit 13 has an elastically deformable band saw 31 and this saw 31 is extended in the thickness direction of the module M on one side 1a of the substrate 1, is made to intersect with the one side 1a and is moved from the side of the member 4 of the module M toward the side of the substrate 1 on the side of the rear of the member 4. The saw 31 is moved by the one side 1a in the direction of extension of this one side 1a in a state that the saw 31 is pressed to the one side 1a and is elastically deformed to cut-off the surplus parts 5a and 6a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion module such as a solar cell module, in which a surplus portion of a sealing member attached to a module substrate of the module protrudes around the substrate. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for trimming a photoelectric conversion module to be removed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A solar cell module having an amorphous photoelectric conversion element such as amorphous silicon is provided on a surface of a rectangular module substrate made of a transparent insulating substrate, for example, transparent glass or the like, opposite to the light incident surface. A configuration is provided in which a conversion element and an electrode for extracting power obtained by the element are provided, and a sealing member that protects the photoelectric conversion element and the electrode is attached.

The photoelectric conversion element includes a transparent electrode layer laminated on the opposite surface of the module substrate, a photovoltaic layer (cell) made of an amorphous semiconductor laminated on the electrode layer, A back electrode layer laminated on the photovoltaic layer, separated into a plurality of regions, each region is electrically connected in series or in parallel, and both ends of the photoelectric conversion element are electrically connected to each other. It is connected to the electrode.

A sealing member formed larger than the module body has a first sealing portion having an adhesive property and a sheet-like sealing member attached to the surface of the sealing portion for improving weather resistance. There are known a two-layer structure having two sealing portions and a one-layer structure having only the first sealing portion. Silicon and ethylene vinyl acetate (EV)
A), a transparent synthetic resin such as polyvinyl butyral is used. The second sealing portion is known to have a single-sheet structure and a laminated structure. A sheet made of a fluorine resin such as Tedlar, polyethylene terephthalate, or the like is used as the second sealing portion having a single sheet structure, and the fluorine resin, polyethylene terephthalate, or the like is used as the second sealing portion having a laminated structure. A laminated sheet in which a metal film such as aluminum or a thin film such as SiO ₂ is laminated on one surface of a sheet material made of, a laminated sheet in which EVA is laminated on both surfaces of an aluminum alloy thin film, or an EVA laminated in PET There are known laminated sheets and the like.

After the sealing member is laminated on the side opposite to the light incident surface of the module substrate, the first sealing portion is melted by being heated at a predetermined temperature under a predetermined pressure by a laminator. And is laminated in a predetermined shape while being adhered to the opposite surface side. Then, in the sealing member having the second sealing portion, the second sealing portion is bonded to the first sealing portion.

The crystalline solar cell module is provided with a photoelectric conversion element and an electrode for extracting electric power obtained by the element on the light incident surface side of a rectangular module substrate made of metal or transparent glass. And a sealing member for protecting the photoelectric conversion element and the electrode. The photoelectric conversion element is formed by electrically connecting cell electrodes individually provided in a large number of photovoltaic layers (cells) made of crystalline semiconductors in series or in parallel with a lead wire or the like. Both ends are respectively connected to the electrodes.

The sealing member of this module is made of silicon,
It is made of a transparent and adhesive synthetic resin such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyvinyl butyral, and forms a light incident surface. After the sealing member is laminated on the light incident side of the module substrate, the sealing member is heated at a predetermined temperature under a predetermined pressure by a laminator to be melted and adhered to the light incident surface side in a predetermined shape. Are laminated.

As described above, in any type of solar cell module, when the sealing member is melted by the laminator and pressurized at a predetermined pressure in the lamination of the sealing member, a part thereof is partially removed. It protrudes around the module substrate. This state is typically shown in FIG. 19 for the amorphous solar cell module M that has been subjected to the sealing process.
In this figure, 1 is a transparent glass substrate as a module substrate,
2 is a photoelectric conversion element, 3 is an electrode, 4 is a sealing member, 5 is a first sealing portion of the sealing member 4, 6 is a second sealing portion of the sealing member 4, 5
a is the first sealing portion 5 protruding around the transparent glass substrate 1
The surplus portion 6b indicates the surplus portion of the second sealing portion 6 protruding around the transparent glass substrate 1.

The transparent glass substrate 1 has a square shape with a vertical and horizontal dimension of (910 × 910) mm. At present, a rectangular glass substrate is mainly used, and its thickness is 1.0 mm to 8.0.
The size of the vertical and horizontal dimensions is (455 x 277) mm, (300
X 400) mm and (910 x 455) mm. These transparent glass substrates 1 include blue plate glass,
White plate glass, tempered glass, laminated glass and the like are used.

When the transparent glass substrate 1 of (910 × 455) mm whose dimensional accuracy is specified by (1/300 to 1/500) mm is manufactured with the dimensional accuracy of 1/500 mm, for example, As shown in FIG. 18, there is a dimensional tolerance A (variation) of ± 1.82 mm in the vertical dimension, and a dimensional intersection B (variation) of ± 0.91 mm in the horizontal dimension. In addition, 4 of the transparent glass substrate 1
A C-plane as shown in FIG. 18A is formed at a corner formed by sides 1a to 1d and one surface 1e of substrate 1 and a corner formed by sides 1a to 1d and another surface 1f of substrate 1. 1g or FIG.
An R surface 1h as shown in (B) is provided.

In view of the above circumstances, in the manufacture of the solar cell module M, a trimming operation for removing the surplus portions 5a and 6a after sealing is required, but this operation is conventionally performed manually using a cutter knife. Had been

More specifically, in the conventional trimming operation, the surplus portion 6a of the second sealing portion 6 is placed on a workbench with the solar cell module placed in a horizontal position in which the sealing member 4 is in contact with the upper surface of the workbench. A first step of cutting a large part of the solar cell module M with a dedicated cutter knife, and supporting the solar cell module M after the first step by hand in an upright position on a work table, Using a knife, for each side of the transparent glass substrate 1, the surplus portion 5a of the first sealing portion 5 adhering to the side and the surplus portion 6a of the second sealing portion 6 laminated thereon are removed. This is performed through a second step of simultaneously cutting and a third step of trimming the four corners of the solar cell module with the separate dedicated knife.

The first step involves a first handling operation in which the solar cell module M is turned on a worktable to change its orientation so as to be suitable for a cutting operation.
Both processes involve a second handling operation for turning the four sides of the solar cell module upward. Further, in the second step, the special knife is pressed against the side of the module substrate from the side opposite to the side where the sealing member of the transparent glass substrate 1 is located, and is moved along the side, whereby the surplus portion is formed. 5a and 6a are cut off. This is because the position where the dedicated knife is pressed is easily determined. For the crystalline solar cell module, only the trimming operation corresponding to at least the second step of the second and third steps is performed.

Conventionally, since the surplus portion is manually trimmed as described above, the work efficiency is poor and the work time is long. In particular, in the case where the module substrate is made of glass, a large-sized module having a vertical and horizontal dimension of, for example, 1 m and weighing more than 15 kg becomes more troublesome to handle, and the above problem becomes more remarkable. Also, the work time required for trimming varies greatly due to individual differences, and the state of the finished surface after the trimming also varies greatly, and it is difficult to manage the trimming process due to these variations. Further, when the module board is accidentally dropped on the work table during the handling work on the work table, it is conceivable that the worker may be injured with the module board, and the module board may be damaged. If it is made of glass, the substrate may be damaged.

[0015] In an artificial trimming operation, the knife moved along the side of the module substrate always tends to escape from the side. Irregularities such as striking tend to occur. If there are such irregularities, the sealing member may be easily peeled off the module substrate by a load acting on the projections in the subsequent handling or the like, though slightly.

In addition, as described above, the work is performed by pressing the dedicated knife from the module substrate side to the sealing member and against the side of the module substrate, so that a load acting to peel off the sealing member acts on the sealing member. However, there is a possibility that the sealing member is likely to be slightly peeled off from the module substrate due to such a load.

If the above-described peeling occurs, the sealing performance of the sealing member may be impaired. Therefore, it is used outdoors for several decades, for example, on a roof or as a roof material. In solar cell modules, considerations have been required to prevent this.

[0018]

An object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectric conversion module trimming method and apparatus capable of improving the productivity and quality of the photoelectric conversion module.

[0019]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for forming a rectangular module substrate, a photoelectric conversion element provided on one surface of the substrate for photoelectric conversion, and the photoelectric conversion element provided on one surface of the substrate. An electrode for extracting the power obtained by the conversion element,
For a photoelectric conversion module including a sealing member that is attached to the one surface side and protects the photoelectric conversion element and the electrodes, a trimming method for cutting off an excess part of the sealing member that protrudes around the module substrate is premised. And

The photoelectric conversion module according to this premise is that the photoelectric conversion element is an amorphous type having an amorphous semiconductor, or the photoelectric conversion element is a crystalline type having a single crystal semiconductor or a polycrystalline semiconductor. In particular, in the case of an amorphous photoelectric conversion module, the amorphous semiconductor forming the photovoltaic layer includes amorphous amorphous silicon (a-S
i) hydrogenated amorphous amorphous silicon (a-Si:
H), hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC:
H), amorphous silicon nitride or the like, or an amorphous or microcrystal of an amorphous silicon-based semiconductor made of an alloy of silicon and another element such as carbon, germanium, tin, etc.
A semiconductor synthesized into a type, a nip type, a ni type, a pn type, a MIS type, a heterojunction type, a homojunction type, a Schottky barrier type, or a combination thereof can be used. In addition, the semiconductor constituting the photovoltaic layer may be CdS-based, GaAs-based, In-based, or the like.
Further, a transparent glass substrate or a metal substrate or the like can be used for the module substrate, and a single-layer structure or a multilayer structure described in the section of the related art can be used for the sealing member.
The photoelectric conversion module can be used not only as a solar cell module but also as a power generation module that obtains electric power using light other than sunlight.

[0021] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a method according to the first aspect of the present invention is directed to a cutting method, comprising: holding the photoelectric conversion module after sealing on a trimming table; While moving at least one of the cutting means and the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table along one side of the module substrate of the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table in a direction in which this side extends, The surplus portion is cut off by applying a cutting action by the cutting means from the sealing member side of the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table toward the module substrate side.

In the present invention, the cutting means may be a band saw (an endless annular band saw that forms a band saw, a band saw that is not endless, or a band saw that is not endless) or a circular saw as described in claims 4 and 5. It may or may not have flexibility.), Wire cutter, dicing cutter, shearing cutter, straight blade cutter with continuous blade, YA
G laser, CO ₂ laser, cutter using hot wire,
An ultrasonic cutter, a water jet cutter, or the like can be used. Further, in order to relatively move the cutting means and the photoelectric conversion module, the photoelectric conversion module may be stopped at a predetermined position and the cutting means may be moved.
Further, the photoelectric conversion module may be moved while the cutting means is stopped at a predetermined position, or both the cutting means and the photoelectric conversion module may be moved in opposite directions. Further, the method of the present invention can be applied to a case where the surplus portion of the sealing member protruding from each side of the module substrate is trimmed simultaneously on one side or on each side such as both sides parallel to each other. Is superior in that the processing capability of trimming can be further improved.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, while holding the sealed photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table, the cutting means of the cutting device is attached to the module in a direction in which the side extends along one side of the module. The cutting means automatically cuts off the surplus portion of the sealing member that has protruded around the module substrate of the module.

Such automatic trimming eliminates the need for various manual operations, such as the trouble of handling the module in various postures and the trouble of operating the cutter knife, so that labor can be saved and the trimming processing capacity can be reduced. In addition, the time required for the automatic trimming does not vary and the processing time becomes constant, so that the process management becomes easy.

Further, in the automatic trimming, the trimming is performed by applying the cutting action of the cutting means from the sealing member side to the module substrate side, so that the sealing member is peeled from the module substrate with the cutting. There is no power to do so. Moreover, in the automatic trimming, there is no variation in the cutting action by the cutting means, so that the trimming traces on each side of the photoelectric conversion module are prevented from waving and uneven, and the finished state is beautiful, The reproducibility can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for forming a rectangular module substrate, a photoelectric conversion element provided on one surface side of the substrate to perform photoelectric conversion, and a power obtained by the photoelectric conversion element provided on the one surface side. With respect to a photoelectric conversion module including an electrode for extracting the light and a sealing member attached to the one surface side to protect the photoelectric conversion element and the electrode, an excess portion of the sealing member protruding around the module substrate is cut off. A trimming method is assumed. The various conditions and the like under this premise are the same as those of the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of the present invention, comprising: holding a photoelectric conversion module after sealing on a trimming table; The module substrate of the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table while moving the substantially elastically deformable cutting means from the sealing member side of the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table to the module substrate side. While intersecting with the one side so as to extend in the thickness direction of the module on one side, and relatively pressing against the one side with substantial elastic deformation, the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table and the cutting means By moving at least one of them along the one side in a direction in which the side extends. In that it said excising the excess portion.

The cutting means in the present invention may be a band saw made of a material which is elastically deformed by being pressed relatively to one side of the module substrate, or may be stretched by being pressed relatively to said one side, When the relative pressing force is reduced, the degree of tension is slightly relaxed, but the pressing state on the one side can be maintained relatively, whereby a wire cutter or the like that exerts substantially the same function as the elastic deformation can be provided. Can be used. Further, in the present invention, the intersection angle between the cutting means and one side of the module substrate (in other words, the intersection angle between the cutting surface and the plate surface of the photoelectric conversion module) may be a right angle, an acute angle or an obtuse angle,
In addition to being arbitrarily set, when the cutting unit is a band saw, the posture of the cutting unit with respect to one side of the module substrate at the intersection may be such that the cutting device is parallel or obliquely abuts the one side. . Further, in order to relatively move the cutting means and the photoelectric conversion module, the photoelectric conversion module may be stopped at a predetermined position and the cutting means may be moved. The module may be moved, or both the cutting means and the photoelectric conversion module may be moved in opposite directions. Further, the method of the present invention can be applied to a case where the surplus portion of the sealing member protruding from each side of the module substrate is trimmed simultaneously on one side or on each side such as both sides parallel to each other. Is superior in that the processing capability of trimming can be further improved.

In the method according to the second aspect of the present invention, while holding the sealed photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table, the cutting means of the cutting device which intersects one side of the module substrate of the photoelectric conversion module is provided in the longitudinal direction. While moving in the direction, the cutting means is pressed relatively to one side of the module substrate and substantially elastically deformed (including elastically deformed and stretched state), and the module substrate is moved relative to the module. By relatively moving along the one side in the direction in which the side extends, the sealing member protruding around the module substrate is brought into contact with the cutting means, and the surplus portion of the sealing member is moved by the movement of the cutting means. Remove automatically.

By such automatic trimming, various manual operations such as troublesome handling of the module in various postures and operation of the cutter knife are not required, so that labor saving can be achieved and the trimming processing capacity can be reduced as compared with the conventional one. In addition, the time required for the automatic trimming does not vary, and the processing time is constant, so that the process management is facilitated.

Further, in the automatic trimming, since the trimming is performed by applying the cutting action of the cutting means in contact with the surplus portion from the sealing member side to the module substrate side, the trimming is performed while contacting the sealing member. With this cutting, no force is applied to the sealing member to peel it off from the module substrate. Moreover, in the automatic trimming that is performed while pressing the cutting unit against the one side as described above, there is no variation in the cutting action of the cutting unit, so that the trimming traces on each side of the photoelectric conversion module are wavy. Is prevented, the finished state is clean, and the reproducibility can be obtained.

In addition, regardless of the variation in the dimensional accuracy of the module substrate, the above-described automatic trimming can be executed by absorbing the variation. That is, as described above, since the cutting means pressed across the one side is elastically deformed or substantially elastically deformed, the elastic deformation of the cutting means is large when the dimensional variation of the module substrate is large. When the variation in the size of the module substrate is small, the elastic deformation of the cutting means is relaxed. Thereby, the above trimming can be performed while maintaining the elastic pressing state against the one side while absorbing the dimensional variation. As described above, the variation in the dimensional accuracy of the module substrate is absorbed by the substantial elastic deformation of the cutting means, and the trimming can be performed while reliably pressing the cutting means against one side of the module substrate. This is excellent in that it can be implemented simply and easily without the need for a troublesome measure such as detecting the movement of the cutting means based on the detection by the sensor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rectangular module substrate, a photoelectric conversion element provided on one surface side of the substrate for photoelectric conversion, and a power obtained by the photoelectric conversion element provided on the one surface side. With respect to a photoelectric conversion module including an electrode for extracting the light and a sealing member attached to the one surface side to protect the photoelectric conversion element and the electrode, an excess portion of the sealing member protruding around the module substrate is cut off. It is assumed that a trimming device is used. The various conditions and the like under this premise are the same as those of the second aspect.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trimming table having module holding means for detachably holding the sealed photoelectric conversion module by the holding means. The trimming table is provided near the trimming table, and is provided so as to extend in the thickness direction of the module and intersect with the one side on one side of the module substrate of the photoelectric conversion module held on the trimming table. A cutting device having elastically deformable cutting means moved from the sealing member side of the upper photoelectric conversion module toward the module substrate side, and one of the trimming table or the cutting means is provided. Provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the direction of coming and going with each other, at least one of the trimming table or the cutting means, Serial side is characterized by providing for reciprocal movement in a direction extending the.

The cutting means in the present invention may be elastically deformed by being pressed relatively to one side of the module substrate, and when the relative pressing force is reduced, the degree of elastic deformation is somewhat relaxed. A band saw or the like that can maintain a relatively pressed state can be used. Further, as the module holding means in the present invention, a pair of clamps sandwiching two parallel sides of the photoelectric conversion module after sealing, a suction head for vacuum suctioning the module substrate, or the like can be used. Further, the angle of intersection between the cutting means and one side of the module substrate, the posture of the cutting means with respect to the one side, and various other conditions such as the manner of relative movement are the same as those of the second aspect of the present invention. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the method of the second aspect can be implemented. That is, while holding the photoelectric conversion module after sealing by the module holding means on the trimming table, while moving the cutting means of the cutting device that intersects one side of the module substrate of the photoelectric conversion module in the longitudinal direction, In a state where the cutting means is relatively pressed against one side of the photoelectric conversion module and elastically deformed, the cutting means is moved relative to the module in a direction in which the side extends along the one side, so that the periphery of the module substrate is The protruding sealing member is brought into contact with the cutting means, and the surplus portion of the sealing member is automatically cut off by the movement of the cutting means.

By such automatic trimming, various manual operations such as labor for handling the module in various postures and operation of a cutter knife can be eliminated, so that labor can be saved and the trimming processing capacity can be reduced as compared with the conventional one. In addition, the time required for the automatic trimming does not vary, and the processing time is constant, so that the process management is facilitated.

Further, in the automatic trimming, since the trimming is performed by applying the cutting action of the cutting means in contact with the surplus portion from the sealing member side to the module substrate side, the trimming is performed while contacting the sealing member. With this cutting, no force is applied to the sealing member to peel it off from the module substrate. Moreover, in the automatic trimming that is performed while pressing the cutting unit against the one side as described above, there is no variation in the cutting action of the cutting unit, so that the trimming traces on each side of the photoelectric conversion module are wavy. Is prevented, the finished state is clean, and its realism can be obtained.

In addition, regardless of the variation in the dimensional accuracy of the module substrate, the above trimming can be executed by absorbing the variation. That is, as described above, since the cutting means pressed to cross the one side is elastically deformed, the elastic deformation of the cutting means is strengthened when the dimensional variation of the module substrate is large, and conversely. When the dimensional variation of the module substrate is small, the elastic deformation of the cutting means is relaxed. Thereby, the above trimming can be performed while maintaining the elastic pressing state against the one side while absorbing the dimensional variation. As described above, the variation in the dimensional accuracy of the module substrate is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the cutting means, and the trimming can be performed while reliably pressing the cutting means against one side of the module substrate. It is excellent in that it can be implemented simply and easily without any troublesome measures such as detecting and controlling the movement of the cutting means based on the detection.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the cutting means comprises:
It is a band saw having teeth formed on one side edge of a quenched steel plate. In the present invention, the band saw may or may not have an edge on the body opposite to the teeth parallel to the row of teeth, and the band saw may form an endless annular band.
It may be an endless annular band having a considerable length, or a relatively short flat plate.

The band saw made of a quenched steel plate used in the present invention can be elastically deformed, and its teeth protrude to the periphery of the module substrate and are cut off while scraping off the surplus portion of the attached sealing member. Because it can be used, it is suitable for use in the cutting mechanism according to the third aspect of the present invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the teeth of the band saw are:
At least one of the side surfaces of the saw that contacts the photoelectric conversion module has no tilt. The band saw of the present invention may be obtained by removing the jaw portions of the teeth of the existing band saw (portions projecting obliquely on both sides from the thickness of the band saw body) by grinding, or have no tilt beforehand. It can also be obtained by forming teeth as described above.

In the present invention, when the band saw cuts the surplus portion while intersecting with one side of the photoelectric conversion module and relatively moving along the one side in a direction in which the side extends, the teeth are attached to the one side. Since this one side is not moved in the cross direction so as to cut into, the trimming traces on each side of the photoelectric conversion module can be finished more clearly, and especially when the module substrate is made of glass, It is excellent in that there is no risk of causing loss due to tooth tilt.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the cutting device comprises:
It has posture regulating portions arranged on both sides in the thickness direction of the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table, and with these regulating portions,
The posture of the cutting means is regulated so that the cutting means is pressed obliquely to the one side. In the present invention, the angle formed by the one side and the side surface of the cutting means opposed to the one side may be a relatively small acute angle of about several tens of degrees, so that while ensuring the following scraper operation, This is advantageous in that the cutting means can be smoothly moved along the direction in which the cutting means extends, and the teeth of the cutting means can be reliably pressed and held on the one side.

In the present invention, the cutting means is pressed in a posture oblique to one side of the photoelectric conversion module by the posture regulation by the posture regulating unit, so that the teeth of the cutting means are prevented from escaping away from the one side. While pressing, it can be reliably pressed against the one side. Moreover, the portion cut by the cutting means can be guided away from the one side according to the inclination of the cutting means from the side to be cut. Therefore, even if the cut portion of the thermoplastic sealing member may be melted by the heat generated by the cutting due to the scraper action, reattachment due to the melting can be prevented, and the trimming can be reliably performed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the module mounting portion of the trimming table is provided so as to be rotatable around its vertical center axis, and at least one cutting device is installed on each side of the trimming table. The moving direction of the cutting means of each cutting device with respect to two parallel sides of the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table is the same.

In the present invention, the photoelectric conversion module held by the module mounting portion is rotated by 90 ° or 180 ° with respect to the two cutting devices, and two parallel sides of the module are rotated. Since trimming is performed by these cutting devices in correspondence with the two cutting devices,
Trimming on two sides parallel to each other can be performed simultaneously,
The trimming processing time can be shortened. In addition, since the moving directions of the cutting means of the two cutting devices are the same in the trimming operation, the portion left after trimming by one of the cutting devices has the photoelectric conversion module turned 180 ° from the position of the one cutting device. In the state, it is arranged at a position where it can be trimmed by the other cutting device, and is trimmed by the cutting means of the other cutting device. Therefore, the trimming operation can be performed on all sides of the photoelectric conversion module by repeatedly performing the above-described trimming operation for each of two parallel sides of the photoelectric conversion module with the two cutting devices. The number of devices and the installation space can be reduced as compared with the case where trimming devices are arranged for each side or two sides parallel to each other, and trimming is performed on all sides of the photoelectric conversion module. Is excellent.

[0048]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 and FIGS. In addition, although the solar cell module as a photoelectric conversion module adopted in the present embodiment is a square type, in the following description, the configuration of the solar cell module representatively described with reference to FIGS. To adopt.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a trimming device according to the first embodiment. The trimming device indicated by the reference numeral 11 in the figure includes one trimming table 12 and this table 1.
And a pair of cutting devices 13 individually disposed on at least one of the front and rear sides of the two, for example, on both sides. Also, a temporary loading table 14 and a temporary loading table 15 are separately installed on both left and right sides of the trimming table 12, and these temporary tables 14, 15 and the trimming table 12 are arranged in a straight line. I have.

The solar cell module M, which has been sealed through a laminator (not shown),
The module M is appropriately supplied by a manual or automatic machine in a posture in which the sealing member 4 is turned to the front side (in this embodiment, an upward posture), and the module M is placed on the temporary placing table 14 by a positioning means (not shown). The solar cell module M in the x and z directions in FIG.
Is positioned so that the center of gravity of the trimming table 12 is in a carrying-in posture fixed to a substantially central portion of the trimming table 12. This temporary table 14
The upper solar cell module M has a handling tool for handling two parallel sides of the module M, and a loading means having a loading head that is reciprocated a predetermined distance between the temporary placing table 14 and the trimming table 12. 16
As a result, the wafer is carried onto the trimming table 12 while maintaining the proper posture.

The solar cell module M that has been automatically trimmed by the trimming device 11 is supplied onto the temporary storage table 14 for unloading, and post-processing steps as necessary, such as framing the outer periphery of the module M, are performed. Then, the solar cell module M on the table 14 is carried out by a manual or automatic machine. The trimmed solar cell module M has a handling tool for handling two parallel sides of the module M, and the temporary placing table 15 and the trimming table 1
The unloading means 17 having an unloading head which is reciprocated a predetermined distance between the trimming table 12 and the unloading temporary placing table 15 is carried out.

The trimming table 12 has an upwardly facing module mounting portion 21. The upper surface of the mounting portion 21 is formed smaller than the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the solar cell module M. Thereby, the solar cell module M is mounted on the mounting portion 21 in a horizontal posture, with all four peripheral portions protruding from the upper surface of the mounting portion 21. Further, the module mounting portion 21 is rotatably provided around a vertical center axis 22 by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown). However, it does not move in any of the x direction (the direction connecting the two temporary placing tables 14 and 15), the y direction (the vertical direction), and the z direction (the direction connecting the two cutting devices 13).

The module mounting part 21 is provided with a plurality of suction means, for example, as a module holding means for preventing the solar cell module M mounted on the upper surface from being inadvertently moved with respect to the mounting part 21. A head 23 is provided. These heads 23 are connected to a vacuum suction source (not shown). Negative pressure is applied to the inside of each suction head 23 by a balance between opening and closing of an electromagnetic on-off valve arranged in the middle of a communication pipe connecting the suction source and each suction head 23 and driving and stopping of the vacuum suction source. The head 23 absorbs the transparent glass substrate 1 in contact therewith, holds the solar cell module M on the module mounting part 21 in an appropriate posture, and releases the negative pressure in each suction head 23 after trimming.

In the above arrangement, each suction head 2
3 cannot move in the y direction. Alternatively, each suction head 23 may be provided so as to be movable in the y direction. In such a case, when trimming the solar cell module M smaller than the module mounting portion 21, each central suction head 23 disposed on the central portion side of the module mounting portion 21 is pushed upward and , Module mounting part 2
The peripheral suction heads 23 which are arranged on the periphery of the solar cell module M and do not contribute to the suction of the solar cell module M in relation to the size of the solar cell module M are retracted downward, so that these peripheral suction heads 23 and the later described By eliminating interference with the cutting unit 45, the small-sized solar cell module M can be trimmed without any trouble.

The pair of cutting devices 13 have the same structure and are arranged in line symmetry with the trimming table 12 as a boundary. These cutting devices 13 are provided with endless annular band saws 31 as cutting means that can be elastically deformed, and are configured so that the saws 31 can be moved in any of the three-dimensional directions of x, y, and z.

That is, reference numeral 32 in FIG. 1 denotes a fixed base, on which an elevating base 34 which is reciprocated in the y-direction by one or more elevating means 33 such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is provided. ing. Reference numeral 35 in FIG. 1 denotes a vertical guide shaft for guiding the four corners of the lifting base 34. A left and right slide base 36 that slides in the x direction along a guide (not shown) of the base 34 is supported on the elevating base 34. This slide base 3
6 can be reciprocated in the x direction by a feed screw rod 39 rotated by a forward / reverse rotatable motor 38. A front-rear slide base 40 that slides in the z-direction along a guide (not shown) of the base 36 is provided on the left-right slide base 36. This slide base 40
Is reciprocally movable in the z-direction by a feed screw rod 42 rotated by a motor 41 capable of rotating forward and reverse. And
One or more, preferably a plurality of, for example, two cutting mechanism units 45 are mounted on the front and rear slide base 40. Therefore, these units 45 can be moved in the three-dimensional directions of x, y and z by the respective moving means.

The structure of the cutting mechanism unit 45 is shown in FIG. The unit 45 includes the band saw 31 and the first
To fourth guide rollers 46 to 49, a driving device 50,
And a tension applying mechanism 51.

The first and second guide rollers 46 and 47 are arranged at a position higher than the upper surface of the module mounting portion 21, and the third and fourth guide rollers 48 and 49 are arranged on the upper surface of the module mounting portion 21. The band saw 31 is wound around the guide rollers 46 to 49 in a stretched state.

A driving device 50 is provided between the second and fourth guide rollers 47 and 49 disposed so as to oppose each other in the vertical direction.
Is arranged, and the band saw 31 is driven endlessly by a plurality of drive rollers 50a of the device 50. The driving device 50 drives the band saw 31 so that the cut portion 31a (cut portion) between the first and third guide rollers 46 and 48 moves downward.

The first and third guide rollers 46 and 48 disposed closer to the trimming table 12 than the second and fourth guide rollers 47 and 49 are both used as posture restricting portions of the band saw 31. One of them, for example, the third guide roller 48 is supported by the tension applying mechanism 51.

The tension applying mechanism 51 includes a pair of mechanism fixing portions 5.
2, a movable shaft 54 is mounted on the shaft 53 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and the guide shaft 53 is wound between the movable table 54 and each mechanism fixing portion 52. The coil springs 55 to be mounted are individually provided. Each of the coil springs 55 is in a compressed state, and the movable guide 54 rotatably supports a third guide roller 48.

As shown in FIG. 3, the band saw 31 is a band saw having teeth 31b formed on one side edge of a quenched steel plate, and an edge opposite to the teeth 31b is, for example, parallel to the teeth 31b. . Since the band saw 31 is made of a quenched steel plate, it is rich in elastic deformation. Then, as shown in FIG.
Are formed into straight teeth without tilt on both sides. Such a straight tooth 31b can be obtained by subjecting an existing band saw to a process of shaving the jaw portion of the existing band saw.

The first and third guide rollers 46 and 48 are
A part of the strip 31 extending between them, that is, a cut portion 31a which is elastically deformed as described later is guided, and is inclined with respect to the z direction.
a is twisted. As a result, in the trimming operation, as shown in FIGS.
The teeth 31b guide the traveling (movement in the longitudinal direction) of the band saw 31 while regulating the posture of the cut portion 31a so that the teeth 31b are obliquely pressed against one side of the sealed solar cell module M. I have. In this case, the abutment angle α formed by the cut portion 31a and one side of the module M may be in the range of several tens of degrees, and as a result of an experiment, if the contact angle is set to approximately 25 °, the surplus portions 5a and 6a are cut Performance was found to be better.

In order to adjust the abutment angle α, the rollers 46, 48 may be mounted so that the inclination of the guide rollers 46, 48 can be changed. When the abutment angle α is not changed by the rollers 46 and 48, an angle adjustment mechanism that enables the cutting unit 45 to be rotated around the y-axis is provided, thereby automatically or manually changing the direction of the entire cutting unit 45. The abutment angle α between the cut portion 31a and one side of the solar cell module M may be adjusted according to the type of the solar cell module M and other trimming conditions.

Further, the first and third guide rollers 46, 4
8 is provided at the same position or shifted in the x direction. In the present embodiment, the first guide roller 46 is moved toward the unloading means 17 side, and the third guide roller 48 is relatively They are respectively arranged near the means 16 side. Therefore, the cut portion 31a is inclined with respect to the plate surface of the module M (the angle of the cut portion 31a with respect to the plate surface is referred to as an intersection angle and is indicated by β in FIGS. 6 to 10 and the like). , Its attitude is regulated. This intersection angle β may be 90 °.

As described above, the pair of cutting devices 13 are provided in a line-symmetric arrangement with the trimming table 12 as described above. Therefore, the pair of cutting devices 13 extend along two parallel sides of the module M during trimming. The moving direction of each band saw 31 moved in the direction in which these sides extend is the same (moves toward the unloading means 17 side in this embodiment).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 18 denotes a control device with a display, which rotates the module mounting portion 21 of the trimming table 12, sucks and releases the suction head 23, and the three-dimensional direction of the cutting device 13. It is responsible for the movement, the driving of the band saw 31, the operation of the carrying-in means 16 and the carrying-out means 17, and the like.
The initial value such as the size of the three-dimensional direction and the corresponding amount of movement in the three-dimensional direction are provided to the control device 18 in advance by an input device 19 such as a keyboard.

Next, a description will be given of an automatic trimming removal operation for the solar cell module M already sealed with a laminator (not shown).

The sealed solar cell module M already supplied on the carry-in temporary placing stand 14 and positioned in a proper posture.
Is loaded onto the module mounting portion 21 of the trimming table 12 via the loading means 16 while maintaining the proper posture.
With this loading, the module M brings the transparent glass substrate 1 into contact with the suction head 23 and the module mounting portion 2
1 is placed horizontally on top. Thereafter, the interior of each suction head 23 is evacuated to a vacuum, and the transparent glass substrate 21 is sucked to these heads 23, thereby holding the module M on the module mounting portion 21 so as not to move.

In this holding state, two parallel sides (for example, 1a and 1c) of the transparent glass substrate 1 are parallel to the x direction. At this time, a pair of front and rear cutting devices 13 individually facing the two sides 1a and 1c are in a standby state, and a pair of cutting mechanism units 45 included in these cutting devices 13 respectively.
The band saw 31 of the unit 45 on the side of the loading temporary storage table 14 is located at an initial position slightly shifted from the position of exactly half the length of the opposite side (1a or 1c) to the loading temporary storage table 14 side. Waiting at.

Next, the pair of front and rear cutting devices 13 are driven synchronously, and the sealing member 4 protruding from the two sides 1 a and 1 c of the module M on the module mounting portion 21.
The trimming operation for automatically cutting off the surplus portions 5a and 6a of the above is performed as exemplified below.

First, the lifting / lowering means 33 of both cutting devices 13
Is operated to adjust and hold the height of the module M on the module mounting portion 21 and the height of the central portion of the cut portion 31b of the band saw 31 in the vertical direction exactly 1/2. This is performed based on the initial value input by the input device 19 only when the thickness of the transparent glass substrate 1 changes, and is not normally performed. Note that such height adjustment is more preferable in order to easily and sufficiently perform the elastic deformation of the cut portion 31a of the band saw 31, but it may be omitted.

Next, the respective driving devices 50 of the respective cutting mechanism units 45 start operating in synchronization with each other, and the band saw 31 is driven so as to run endlessly in the longitudinal direction. Arrow E in FIG.
Indicates the running direction of the band saw 31. After this, the motor 3
8 and the left and right slide base 36 is moved rightward in FIG.
Direction) and the motor 41 is driven to move the front and rear slide base 40 toward the trimming table 12 (z direction).
Move closer to. As a result, the cut portion 31a of the band plate 31 is maintained at the abutment angle α while maintaining the oblique posture.
Are formed to approach both sides 1a and 1c of the module M on the module mounting portion 21.

As a result, first, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cut portion 31a of the strip 31 intersects with the surplus portion 6a of the second sealing portion 6 and cuts into the surplus portion 6a. Is performed. In this case, the cutting portion 31a cuts the surplus portion 6a while moving from the upper side to the lower side. As the cutting progresses, the teeth 31b of the cut portion 31a of the strip 31 reach the side 1a or 1c of the module M, and the cut is completed, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4B. In FIGS. 4 (C) and 4 (B), F is a cut mark. Due to this cut, an abutment angle α is formed between the cut portion 31a and the side 1a or 1c of the module M.

The movement in the z direction is continued after the completion of the cutting, whereby the cutting portion 31a of the band saw 31
At the side 1a or 1c of the module M on the module mounting portion 21, the side 1a or 1c intersects with the side 1a or 1c so as to extend in the thickness direction of the module M. It is pressed. In this case, the movable table 54 of the tension applying mechanism 51 is displaced in accordance with the degree of the pressing, and the pressing force accompanied by the elastic deformation is maintained by the reaction force of the coil spring 55 compressed accordingly. The movement in the z direction that causes the cut portion 31a to elastically deform as described above is performed by the control device 1
8 is controlled by a predetermined time by a timer or the like.

The cut portion 31a is elastically deformed and the side 1a
Alternatively, the state pressed against 1c is shown in FIG. Note that the elastic deformation amount (deflection amount) G of the cut portion 31a is preferably set to 5 mm to 50 mm. In the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (B), the cut portions 31a are elastically deformed above and below the module M, respectively. However, the cut portions 31a may be elastically deformed at least above the module M (on the side of the sealing member 4). In this case, it can be realized by appropriately selecting the position in the z direction of the first guide roller 46 located above the sealing member 4.

Then, the cut portion 3 is elastically cut as described above.
Since the feed in the x direction along the side is performed while the side 1a is pressed against the side 1a or 1c, the cut portion 31a that moves from the upper side to the lower side with respect to the module M, in other words, The surplus portions 5a and 6a protruding and adhering to the side 1a or 1c can be simultaneously cut off by the cut portion 31a which moves from the sealing member 4 side of the module M to the transparent glass substrate 1 located on the back surface thereof. In this case, the surplus portion 5a has the teeth 3 on the cut portion 31a.
1b is removed so as to be cut off and stripped off.

In the above-described trimming operation, as described above, the cut portion 31a is in the oblique posture and the side 1a or 1
c, it is easy to prevent the teeth 31b from escaping away from the side 1a or 1c, and the cut portion 31a can be securely connected to the side 1a or 1c. And it can be elastically pressed. Therefore, since the teeth 31b do not escape, the surplus portion 5
a and 6a have good cutting performance.

Further, since the cut portion 31a is in an oblique posture, the portion cut by the cut portion 31a can be guided away from the side 1a or 1c according to the inclination of the cut portion 31a from the side to be cut. . Therefore, even if the cut portion of the thermoplastic first sealing portion 5 may be melted by the heat generated by the scraping due to the scraper action, reattachment due to the melting is prevented, and the surplus portions 5a, 6a are prevented. Can be reliably performed at the same time. FIGS. 4D and 4E show the scraper action by the cut portion 31a. As described above, since the cut portion 31a is elastically deformed, the cut portion 31a is moved to the corner 1 of the transparent glass substrate 1 in the final stage of cutting.
After passing i, the cutting is completed while drawing an oblique cutting locus.

As described above, the surplus portions 5a and 6a of the parallel side 1a or 1c of the solar cell module M, which are slightly more than half of the length thereof, from the state of FIG. It is excised as shown in B).

Next, after returning the pair of cutting devices 13 to the initial position again, the module mounting portion 2 of the trimming table 12 is returned.
1 is rotated 180 °. And a pair of cutting devices 13
Are operated in synchronization with each other as described above, so that the cut portion 31
5C, the cutting is performed with the elastic deformation of the cutting portion 31a following the cutting, so that the solar cell module M in the state of FIG. 5C remains on the side 1a or 1c. Excess portions 5a and 6a are cut off. By this resection, as shown in FIG. 5D, the trimming of the entire two sides 1a and 1c of the module M is completed.

Then, after returning the pair of cutting devices 13 to the initial position again, the module mounting portion 21 of the trimming table 12 is rotated by 90 °. Thereby, the attitude of the solar cell module M on the module mounting portion 21 is as shown in FIG. Then, in this position, the pair of cutting devices 13 are operated in synchronization with each other as described above, so that the above-described incision by the cutting portion 31a and the subsequent cutting portion 3 are performed.
By performing the cutting with the elastic deformation of 1a, the surplus portion 5a of the sealing member 4 protruding from the remaining two sides 1b and 1d with respect to the solar cell module M in the state of FIG. , 6a, a portion slightly more than half of the length is cut off as shown in FIG.

Finally, after returning the pair of cutting devices 13 to the initial position, the module mounting portion 21 of the trimming table 12 is rotated by 180 °. Thereby, the attitude of the solar cell module M on the module mounting portion 21 is as shown in FIG.
become that way. Then, by operating the pair of cutting devices 13 in synchronization with each other as described above, by performing the above-described incision by the cutting portion 31a and the subsequent cutting with the elastic deformation of the cutting portion 31a, With respect to the solar cell module M in the state of FIG.
Excess portions 5a and 6a remaining in d are cut off. By this cutting, the trimming of the other two sides 1b and 1d of the module M parallel to each other is completed as shown in FIG.

That is, the automatic trimming for each of the four sides 1a to 1d of the sealed solar cell module M is completed as described above. Then, after the trimming, the suction holding of the solar cell module M by the suction head 23 is released, and the processed solar cell module M is unloaded from the unloading unit 1.
7 and is carried out to the temporary carrying-out stand 15.

In the trimming apparatus 11 having the above-described structure, while holding the sealed solar cell module M on the trimming table 12 as described above, the cutting device 11 intersects one side of the transparent glass substrate 1 of the module M. Band saw 31 of device 13
Is moved in the longitudinal direction thereof, and the cutting portion 31a of the band saw 31 is pressed against the side by the movement of the cutting device 13 in the z direction to be elastically deformed. By moving in a direction in which this side extends along one side, the cut portion 31a is brought into contact with the surplus portions 5a and 6a of the sealing member 4 protruding around the transparent glass substrate 1, and is moved in the longitudinal direction of the cut portion 31a. The surplus portions 5a and 6a can be automatically cut off by the above motion to perform automatic trimming.

Therefore, in removing the surplus portions 5a and 6a, various manual operations such as the trouble of handling the sealed solar cell module M in various postures and the trouble of operating the cutter knife are unnecessary. Can be.
Therefore, labor saving can be achieved, and the trimming processing capability can be greatly improved as compared with the conventional one. In addition, the time required for the automatic trimming does not vary and the processing time becomes constant, thereby facilitating the process management. Therefore, it is easy to grasp the processing time of the trimming step, and the productivity can be improved.

In particular, in this embodiment, the two cutting devices 1
3, the surplus portions 5a and 6a on two sides parallel to each other of the solar cell module M are trimmed at the same time, so that the trimming processing time can be further shortened. Not only that, since each of the cutting devices 13 has a plurality of cutting mechanism units 45, and the surplus portions 5a and 6a on the same side of the solar cell module M are simultaneously trimmed by the cutting portions 31a of the band saws 31, The trimming processing time can be further reduced. Moreover, the surplus portions 5a, 6a of two parallel sides
Are simultaneously trimmed, the pressing force of the band saw 31 against the solar cell module M can be offset, the holding force of the solar cell module M on the module mounting portion 21 of the trimming table 12 can be reduced, and the holding structure can be simplified. It is possible to

Further, the trimming device 11 having the above-described structure causes the cutting action of the band saw 31 operated to cross the surplus portions 5a and 6a to move from the sealing member 4 side of the solar cell module M to the transparent glass substrate 1 side. As a result, the band saw 31 exerts a force on the sealing member 4 to peel it from the transparent glass substrate 1 with the trimming operation performed on the surplus portion 5 a of the sealing member 4. Never give. In addition, as described above, since the band saw 31 is elastically pressed against the side of the module M to perform automatic trimming, there is no variation in the cutting action by the cut portion 31a of the band saw 31.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the trimming marks on each side of the module M from becoming wavy and uneven, so that the finished state can be made clear and its reproducibility can be obtained. Therefore, the quality of the trimmed solar cell module M can be improved.

In addition, in the trimming operation,
Regardless of the variation in the dimensional accuracy of the transparent glass substrate 1 as representatively shown in FIG. 18A, the above-described trimming can be executed by absorbing the variation. That is, as described above, the cut portion 31a of the band saw 31 is
In order to cut off the surplus portions 5a and 6a while being elastically deformed while being pressed across one side of the transparent glass substrate 1 of
When the variation in the dimensions of the transparent glass substrate 1 is large within the range of the bending amount G, the elastic deformation of the cut portion 31a is strengthened. On the contrary, when the variation in the dimensions of the substrate 1 is small, the cut portion 31a is small. The elastic deformation of 31a is relaxed. Thereby, while absorbing the dimensional variation,
The above-described automatic trimming can be performed while maintaining the elastic pressing state on the one side.

As described above, the variation in the dimensional accuracy of the transparent glass substrate 1 is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the cutting means 31a of the band saw 31, and the trimming can be executed while reliably pressing the cut portion 31a against one side of the substrate 1. This eliminates the need for a troublesome measure such as detecting the variation in the dimensional accuracy of the substrate 1 with a sensor and controlling the position of the band saw 31 based on the detection, so that it can be implemented simply and easily.

Since the band saw 31 for cutting off the surplus portions 5a and 6a is a straight tooth whose teeth 31b have no tilt on both sides, the band saw 31 is used for cutting the surplus portions 5a and 6a. Since the teeth 31b are not moved in the cross direction while biting into the side of the transparent glass substrate 1,
The trimming trace on each side of the transparent glass substrate 1 can be finished more finely, and there is no possibility of causing a defect on each side of the transparent glass substrate 1 which is harder than the band saw 31. Therefore, also in these points, the quality of the trimmed solar cell module M can be improved.

As described above, the trimming device 11
Solar cell module M held on trimming table 12
Is rotated by a required angle, and the two parallel sides of the transparent glass substrate 1 are trimmed in the same direction by the two cutting devices 13, so that the transparent glass substrate 1 faces the transparent glass substrate 1 as described above. By repeatedly performing the above-described trimming for each of the two sides with the two cutting devices 13, the trimming can be performed for all the sides of the module M. For this reason, the trimming device 11 is disposed for each side of the transparent glass substrate 1 or for each two sides parallel to each other, and the trimming device 11 is compared with a case where the trimming is performed on all sides of the module. The number and installation space can be reduced. In the trimming device 11, the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12 is rotated every 90 °, and in each case, two cutting devices 13 rotate in the same direction on two sides parallel to each other. By repeating trimming toward the required number of times, trimming can be performed on all sides of the module M.

FIGS. 6 to 10 show a trimming device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Since the device of the second embodiment is basically the same as the trimming device of the first embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment. A description thereof will be omitted, and only the cutting mechanism unit having a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described below.

The cutting mechanism unit 145 in the second embodiment
Are a band saw 131, a pair of driving devices 150, first to fourth guide rollers 46 to 49, and a pair of tension applying mechanisms 5.
1 is provided.

One of the driving devices 150 is attached to the sealed solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12.
Is arranged on the upper side, and the other driving device 150 is arranged on the lower side. These drive devices 150 have one drive roller 150a that is rotated forward and backward by a motor or the like. The drive pulleys 150a of both drive devices 150 are rotated in synchronization with each other in opposite directions.

A first guide roller 4 is attached to the sealed solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12.
6 is arranged on the upper side, and the third guide roller 48 is arranged on the lower side. Moreover, these upper and lower guide rollers 4
6 and 48 are sides (for example, 1) of the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12.
With respect to a or 1c), they are arranged slightly closer to the inside of the module M. The second guide roller 47 is disposed above the first guide roller 46 and the fourth guide roller 4
9 is arranged below the third guide roller 48, and these rollers 47, 49 are both sides (for example, 1a or 1a) of the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12. 1c), the first and third guide rollers 46, 48 are provided closer to the outside than the first and third guide rollers 46, 48.

One of the pair of tension applying mechanisms 51
Solar cell module M held on trimming table 12
, And a second guide roller 47 is rotatably supported on the movable table 54. The other tension applying mechanism 51 is disposed below the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12, and the movable table 54 supports a fourth guide roller 49 rotatably.

The band saw 131 is a long band that is not endless, and the other configuration is the same as the band saw of the first embodiment. The belt 131 has one end fixed to the driving roller 150a of one (upper) driving device 150 and the other end fixed to the driving roller 150a of the other (lower) driving device 150. At the same time, the intermediate portion is wound around each of the first to fourth guide rollers 46 to 49 so as to be stretched. The ends of the band saw 131 are wound around driving rollers 150a of the upper and lower driving devices 150, respectively. The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment, including the configuration not shown in FIGS.

The trimming device 111 of the second embodiment
Is a surplus portion 5a of the sealing member 4 protruding from the side of the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12,
When automatically trimming 6a, the upper and lower driving devices 150
The drive rollers 150a are repeatedly driven in the opposite directions in synchronization with each other, and the surplus portions 5a and 6a are simultaneously cut off while vibrating (reciprocating) the band saw 131 in the vertical direction. Even when the band saw 131 vibrates, the cutting is actually performed when the band saw 131 moves from the sealing member 4 side to the transparent glass substrate 1 side, and the cutting is performed when the band saw 131 rises. Absent.

Also in this cutting, as in the first embodiment, the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12 so as not to move.
The cutting portion 31a of the band saw 131 intersects one side, and the cutting portion 31a is pressed obliquely against the one side, and the cut portion 31a is pressed against the one side to be elastically deformed. By moving 31a in the direction in which this side extends along the one side with respect to the module M while moving the module 31a in the longitudinal direction,
Since the surplus portions 5a and 6a of the sealing member 4 are automatically and simultaneously cut off, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the problem of the present invention can be solved.

In the second embodiment, the automatic trimming can be performed by repeating the cutting cycle involving the movement of the band saw 131 shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, or FIG. it can.

In the example of the cutting cycle shown in FIG. 8, the band saw 13 forms an intersection angle β with the plate surface of the solar cell module M held immovably on the trimming table 12.
By moving the cut portion 31a of FIG. 1 vertically downward as shown by the arrow a from the state of FIG.
Then, the band saw 131 is vertically raised as shown by the arrow b in the same figure (C), and then the band saw 131 is moved forward as shown by the arrow c in the same figure (D). The translation is performed, and the process proceeds to the next cutting cycle. The lifting and lowering operation of the band saw 131 is performed by a synchronous operation of a pair of upper and lower drive devices 150, and the movement of the band saw 131 in the forward direction is x.
This is performed by driving the direction motor 38.

In the example of the cutting cycle shown in FIG. 9, the band saw 13 forms an intersection angle β with the plate surface of the solar cell module M held immovably on the trimming table 12.
By moving the cut portion 31a of FIG. 1 vertically downward as shown by the arrow a from the state of FIG.
Then, the band saw 131 is moved obliquely upward as shown by an arrow b in FIG. 3C to obtain the state shown in FIG. Move to The lowering operation of the band saw 131 is performed by the synchronous operation of the pair of upper and lower driving devices 150, and the movement of the band saw 131 obliquely upward is performed by the synchronous operation of the pair of upper and lower driving devices 150 while driving the x-direction motor 38. This is performed by raising the band saw 131. According to this cutting cycle,
One cutting cycle is completed in a shorter time than in the case of FIG. 8, and the trimming processing time can be reduced.

In the example of the cutting cycle shown in FIG. 10, the band saw 1 forms an intersection angle β with the plate surface of the solar cell module M held immovably on the trimming table 12.
The cut portion 31a of FIG. 31 is changed from the state shown in FIG.
(B) by making a diagonal downward movement as shown by (2), and then making a cut as shown in (B) of FIG.
The band saw 131 is moved obliquely upward as indicated by the middle arrow b to obtain the state shown in FIG. The operation of the band saw 131 obliquely downward is as follows.
This is performed by lowering the band saw 131 by the synchronous operation of the pair of upper and lower driving devices 150 while driving the x-direction motor 38, and the obliquely upward movement of the band saw 131 is performed while driving the motor 38 in the x-direction. This is performed by raising the band saw 131 by the synchronous operation of the driving device 150.

According to the cutting cycle shown in FIG.
One trimming cycle can be completed in a shorter time than in the case of FIG. 8, and the trimming processing time can be reduced. In addition, the cutting amount per cutting cycle (the reference character H in FIGS. 8 and 9) can be used as compared with the case of FIGS. , The symbol I in FIG. 10 indicates the amount of cut, respectively.), So that the trimming processing time can be further reduced.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a trimming device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Since the device of the third embodiment is basically the same as the trimming device of the second embodiment, the same components as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the second embodiment. A description thereof will be omitted, and only a trimming table having a configuration different from that of the second embodiment will be described below.

In the third embodiment, the trimming table 112
A base body 112 that slides on the fixed base 112a in the x-direction along a guide (not shown) of the base 112a.
b. The base body 112b is a feed screw rod 1 that is rotated by a motor 112c that can rotate forward and reverse.
It can be moved in the x direction by 12d. Also, the base body 1
A module mounting portion 21 is provided in 12b. The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the second embodiment, including the configuration not shown in FIG. 11 and FIG.

In the third embodiment, too, as in the second embodiment, the excess portion 5a of the sealing member 4 is
The problem of the present invention can be solved because 6a is automatically cut off. In addition, by holding the base body 112b of the trimming base 112 in a stationary state, it is possible to select any one of the cutting cycles already described with reference to FIGS. The base body 112b is x
The automatic trimming can be performed in the cutting cycle shown in FIG.

In the cutting cycle shown in FIG. 12, the band saw 131 forms an intersection angle β with the plate surface of the solar cell module M held so as not to move on the trimming table 12.
12A is moved vertically downward from the state of FIG.
By driving the base body 112b in the direction of the arrow x1 by the drive of (1), a cut is made as shown in FIG. 3 (B), and thereafter, the driving of the motor 112c is temporarily performed only for the time required for the band saw 113 to reverse the moving direction. Then, the base body 112b is moved in the x1 direction again while vertically raising the band saw 131 as indicated by an arrow b in FIG. 9C, and the process proceeds to the next cutting cycle.

According to this cutting cycle, the base body 112
By cutting while moving b in the x-direction toward the band saw 113, the cutting amount per cutting cycle (the symbol J in FIG. 12 indicates the cutting amount) as compared with the case of FIGS. ) As well as the base body 1
Since the band saw 113 is raised to the initial position while moving 12b, one cutting cycle can be completed in a shorter time than in the case of FIGS. 8 and 9, and the trimming processing time can be reduced.

FIG. 13 shows a trimming device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Since the device of the fourth embodiment is basically the same as the trimming device of the first embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment. A description thereof will be omitted, and only the cutting means of the cutting mechanism unit and the driving device thereof, which are different from the first embodiment, will be described below.

In the fourth embodiment, the first means is used as the cutting means.
To the fourth guide rollers 46 to 49 are used in a stretched state. The driving device 250 disposed between the second and fourth guide rollers 47 and 49 has a driving roller 250a around which the wire cutter 231 is wound a plurality of times.
0a can be rotated forward and backward. The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment, including the configuration not shown in FIG.

In the fourth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12 so as not to move.
In a state where the cut portion 31a of the wire cutter 231 intersects with one side and the cut portion 31a is substantially elastically deformed by being pressed against the one side to give tension.
By moving the cut portion 31a in the longitudinal direction while moving the cut portion 31a in the direction in which this side extends along the one side with respect to the module M, the surplus portion 5 of the sealing member 4
Since a and 6a are cut off automatically and simultaneously, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained (it does not have a function as a scraper), and the problem of the present invention can be solved.

FIG. 14 shows a trimming device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Since the device of the fifth embodiment is basically the same as the trimming device of the first embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment. A description thereof will be omitted, and only the cutting means of the cutting mechanism unit having a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described below.

In the fifth embodiment, the first means is used as the cutting means.
The endless annular band-shaped cutter 331 wound around the fourth to fourth guide rollers 46 to 49 in a stretched state is used. As shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, the cutter 331 has a blade 3 continuous with one side edge of a band-shaped hardened steel plate.
31b is provided to form an endless ring. The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment, including the configuration not shown in FIG.

In the fifth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12 so as not to move.
The cutting portion 31a of the band-shaped cutter 331 crosses one side of the module M, and the cutting portion 31a is pressed against the one side and elastically deformed. The surplus portions 5a and 6a of the sealing member 4 are automatically and simultaneously cut off by moving the side along the one side in a direction in which the side extends, so that the same effect as in the first embodiment is obtained and the object of the present invention is achieved. Solvable.

FIG. 15 shows a trimming device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Since the device of the sixth embodiment is basically the same as the trimming device of the first embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment. A description thereof will be omitted, and only a cutting device having a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described below.

In the sixth embodiment, the cutting device 413
Is one or more, for example, a plurality of cutting mechanism units 401 (only one is shown), and this unit 401 is x, y, z
And first, second, and third moving means 402 to 404 that individually reciprocate in the respective directions.

The cutting mechanism unit 401 includes a disk cutter 405 and a cutter driving unit 406 such as a motor for detachably supporting and rotating the cutter 405. The unit 401 is disposed on the sealing member 4 side of the sealed solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12. As shown in FIG. 15 (B), a circular band saw 4 as cutting means having teeth 405a continuous on the periphery of a circular hardened steel plate is provided on the disk cutter 405.
As shown in FIG. 15 or FIG. 15C, a so-called dicing cutter in which diamond particles 405b are attached innumerably to the periphery of a circular cutter substrate can be used.

The first moving means 402 includes the unit 40
1 is moved to one side of the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M of the trimming table 12 along the direction in which this side extends (x direction), and the rotating disk cutter 405 is rotated.
, The surplus portions 5a and 6a are simultaneously removed. The second moving unit 403 moves the unit 401 in the thickness direction (y direction) of the solar cell module M, for example, in the vertical direction, and seals the cut of the disk cutter 405 in the thickness direction of the surplus portions 5a and 6a with a sealing member. Perform from 4 side. The third moving means 404 moves the unit 401 in a direction (z direction) connecting two parallel sides of the solar cell module M, for example, in the front-rear direction, and arranges the disk cutter 405 at the cutting position. An edge sensor 407 in FIG. 15 detects the edge E of the transparent glass substrate 1 from the transparent glass substrate 1 side in a non-contact manner.
This detects the edge E prior to the disk cutter 405. This detection is performed on the uncut portion by moving in the x-direction together with the disc cutter 405 before or during the start of cutting by the disc cutter 405.
The control device 18 to which the detection signal of the edge sensor 407 is supplied calculates the position of one side 1a of the transparent glass substrate 1 based on the signal and adds a predetermined clearance (about 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm) thereto. An operation is performed, and the third moving means 404 performs the operation on the one side 1 according to the operation result.
Cutting is performed while controlling the position of the disk cutter 405 with respect to a in the z direction. This makes it possible to perform appropriate trimming while preventing the transparent glass substrate 1 from being cut by the disk cutter 405, which is particularly composed of a dicing cutter. The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment, including the configuration not shown in FIG.

In the sixth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12 so as not to move.
Is cut from one side of the sealing member 4 so as to intersect the disk cutter 405 that has been driven to rotate, and the disk cutter 405 is moved in the x direction along the one side, whereby the sealing member Since the surplus parts 5a and 6a of the fourth part can be automatically cut off, the problem of the present invention can be solved similarly to the first embodiment.

In the sixth embodiment, the cutting mechanism unit 401 reciprocates in each of the x, y, and z directions.
1 is immovably stopped and the trimming table 12
The solar cell module M held above can be configured to be reciprocated in each of the x, y, and z directions by the first to third moving mechanisms, and can be implemented.
The movement in each direction of z can be carried out by appropriately sharing between the cutting mechanism unit 401 side and the solar cell module M side held on the trimming table 12.

FIG. 16 shows a trimming device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Since the device of the seventh embodiment is basically the same as the trimming device of the first embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment. A description thereof will be omitted, and only a cutting device having a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described below.

In the seventh embodiment, the cutting device 513
Is one cutting mechanism unit 501 and this unit 5
The first and second moving means 502 and 503 for individually reciprocating the Y. 01 in both the y and z directions are provided. The cutting mechanism unit 501 includes the sealed solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12 as shown in FIG.
A shearing cutter 5 as a cutting means having an obliquely continuous blade 504a at the tip of a cutter substrate longer than each side of
04 and a cutter support 505 for detachably supporting the same.
Are formed. The unit 501 is provided on the sealing member 4 side of the sealed solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12. First moving means 50
2 is a shear cutter 5 that reciprocates in the thickness direction of the module M by moving the unit 501 in the thickness direction (y direction), for example, the vertical direction of the solar cell module M.
04 causes the surplus portions 5a and 6a to be cut simultaneously from the sealing member 4 side. The second moving means 503 is provided in the unit 5
01 is moved in a direction (z direction) connecting two parallel sides of the solar cell module M, for example, in the front-rear direction, and the shear cutter 504 is arranged on the cutting position. 507 in FIG.
Is an edge sensor for detecting the edge E from the transparent glass substrate 1 side in a non-contact manner.
, The edge E is detected. This detection is performed by moving in the x direction before cutting by the shear cutter 504 is started. The control device 18 to which the detection signal of the edge sensor 407 is supplied calculates the position of one side 1a of the transparent glass substrate 1 based on the signal and adds a predetermined clearance (about 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm) thereto. The calculation is performed, and the second moving means 50 is
3, the cutting is performed while the shear cutter 504 is positioned in the z direction with respect to the one side 1a. Thus, it is possible to perform appropriate trimming while preventing interference between the shear cutter 504 and the transparent glass substrate 1. The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment, including the configuration not shown in FIG.

Also in the seventh embodiment, the shear cutter 504 has its blade 504a obliquely crossing one side of the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M held on the trimming table 12 so as not to move. As described above, by moving the shear cutter 504 to perform cutting from the sealing member 4 side, the surplus portion 5 of the sealing member 4 can be cut.
Since a and 6a can be automatically and simultaneously removed, the problem of the present invention can be solved similarly to the first embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a trimming device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. Since the device of the eighth embodiment is basically the same as the trimming device of the first embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment. A description thereof will be omitted, and only a cutting device having a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described below.

In the eighth embodiment, the cutting device 613 is used.
Has one cutter head 601 as cutting means,
First to third moving means 602 to 604 for individually reciprocating the head 601 in the x, y, and z directions are provided.

The cutter head 601 is mounted on the trimming table 1
It is arranged on the sealing member 4 side of the sealed solar cell module M held on 2. The head 601 includes a laser emitting head of a YAG laser device or a carbon dioxide laser device that emits a laser beam as a cutting element, a water jet emitting head of a water jet device that emits a water stream at a high pressure as a cutting element, and a high-energy A heat emitting head of a heat emitting device that emits infrared rays, an ultrasonic emitting head of an ultrasonic emitting device that emits high-energy ultrasonic waves as a cutting element, and the like can be used.

The first moving means 602 includes the cutter head 6
01 is moved to one side of the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M of the trimming table 12 along the direction in which this side extends (x direction), and the surplus portions 5a and 6a due to the cutting elements emitted from the cutter head 601 are removed. Have the excision performed. The second moving unit 603 moves the cutter head 601 in the thickness direction (y direction), for example, the vertical direction of the solar cell module M, so that the cutting element is effective from the sealing member 4 side so as to be adapted to the thickness of the module M. And adjusts the position of the cutter head 601 so as to affect the position. The third moving means 604 moves the cutter head 601 in a direction (z direction) connecting two parallel sides of the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M, for example, in the front-rear direction, and arranges the cutter head 601 at the cutting position. Responsible for z-direction position adjustment. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 607 denotes an edge sensor for detecting the edge E from the transparent glass substrate 1 side in a non-contact manner.
Is detected. This detection is performed by moving in the x direction together with the cutter head 601 before or during the cutting by the cutter head 601. The control device 18 to which the detection signal of the edge sensor 607 is supplied
Calculates the position of one side 1a of the transparent glass substrate 1 on the basis of the signal, adds a predetermined clearance (about 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm) to the calculated position, and calculates the position by the third moving means 604 according to the calculation result. Cutting is performed while positioning the cutter head 601 in the z direction with respect to the one side 1a. Thereby, the cutter head 60
1, the appropriate trimming can be performed while preventing the transparent glass substrate 1 from being cut. In addition, the configuration other than the above point includes the first configuration including the configuration not shown in FIG.
This is the same as the embodiment.

Also in the eighth embodiment, the cutter head positioned on the sealing member 4 side with respect to one side of the transparent glass substrate 1 of the solar cell module M held so as not to move on the trimming table 12. By emitting the cutting element from 601 and moving the cutter head 601 in the x direction along the one side, the surplus portions 5a and 6a of the sealing member 4 can be cut off automatically and simultaneously. The object of the present invention can be solved similarly to the first embodiment.

When a laser emitting head that emits a YAG laser beam is used as the cutter head 601, a high-output YAG laser device is required, and a laser emitting head that emits a carbon dioxide laser beam is used. In this case, it is suitable for cutting the sealing member 4 having no metal film. In addition, when a water flow emitting head that emits a high-pressure water flow is adopted as the cutter head 601, it is only necessary to provide a collecting tank that receives and collects the emitted water flow, and the cutting by the water jet is performed.
Since the cut portion can be cooled by the emitted water flow, the first
It is excellent in that the sealing portion 5 can be cut without melting and reattaching. In addition, when a heat emitting head that emits high-energy infrared rays is employed as the cutter head 601,
It is suitable for cutting the sealing member 4 having no metal film. When an ultrasonic emission head that emits high-energy ultrasonic waves is used as the cutter head 601, the ultrasonic waves are directly applied to the surplus portions 5 a and 6 a and vibrated to be converted into heat to be converted into heat. , 6a and the surplus portion 5
The ultrasonic wave is applied to the cutting blades in contact with the cutting blades a and 6a, and the cutting blades are vibrated to cut the surplus portions 5a and 6a.

Also in this eighth embodiment, instead of reciprocating the cutter head 601 in the x direction, the cutter head 601 is immovably stopped in the x direction and is held on the trimming table 12. The first solar cell module M can be reciprocated in the x direction by the first moving mechanism 602. Also, the eighth
In the embodiment, when the cutter head 601 is a head that emits a high-output carbon dioxide laser beam, or in the case of a water jet head, it is difficult at present to move them at a high speed, so these cutter heads 601 are fixed, It is preferable to perform the trimming by moving the solar cell module M. In such a case, the processing time required for the trimming is shortened, which is advantageous in that the working efficiency can be improved.

Although each of the above embodiments is configured as described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a photoelectric conversion module such as a solar cell module may be held in a diagonal or vertical posture with respect to a trimming table, instead of a horizontal posture. When the module has a rectangular shape, the module may be held on a trimming table with its longitudinal direction parallel to the x direction, or the module may be held on the trimming table with the longitudinal direction parallel to the z direction. You may.

Further, as described above, in the case of a cutting means such as a band saw or a cutter which comes in contact with and cuts off the surplus portion of the sealing member, the cut portion and the other portions are provided with water. Cooling the cutting means by exposing it to a cooling element by blowing air (including a cooled one) or the like can suppress the possibility that the first sealing material is melted and re-attached with the cutting. desirable.

By arranging a surplus portion removing head, which blows air or applies a vacuum suction force, to the surplus portion cut off along with the cutting in the vicinity of the cutting portion, the surplus portion is actively removed. It is excellent in that it can be detached from the module substrate.

Further, when the cutting direction is set to the front, a rotating brush, a polishing brush, or a static eliminator is disposed as a trimming surface shaping means behind the cut portion, and the trimming is automatically performed by these. Applying the shaping action of the surface to the side is excellent in that the trimmed surface can be neatly formed immediately after trimming.

In the first to third embodiments,
For example, when using a band saw having teeth that face upward, contrary to the first to third embodiments, the first to third directions are used.
By moving the band saw from the module substrate toward the sealing member in a manner opposite to that of the embodiment, it is possible to automatically trim an excess portion of the sealing member. Similarly, the fourth
In the embodiment, the surplus portion of the sealing member can be automatically trimmed by moving the wire cutter in a direction opposite to that of the fourth embodiment.

[0139]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above and has the following effects.

According to the trimming method of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the trimming processing ability for cutting off the surplus portion of the sealing member protruding around the module substrate, and to make the processing time constant and easy for process management. Because there is
This can contribute to improving the productivity of the photoelectric conversion module. Furthermore,
Trimming can be performed without giving a force to peel off the sealing member from the module substrate, and the finished state of trimming marks on each side of the photoelectric conversion module is clear and reproducible, so that the quality of the produced photoelectric conversion module can be improved. .

According to the trimming method and apparatus according to the second, third, and fourth aspects of the present invention, the trimming processing capability for cutting off the surplus portion of the sealing member protruding around the module substrate can be improved, and the processing time can be kept constant. Therefore, the process management is easy, which can contribute to the improvement of the productivity of the photoelectric conversion module. Furthermore, trimming can be performed without giving the sealing member a force to peel off from the module substrate, and the finished state of the trimming marks on each side of the photoelectric conversion module is clear and reproducible. Can be improved. Moreover, while absorbing the variation in the dimensional accuracy of the module substrate by the elastic deformation of the cutting means,
This is excellent in that the trimming can be performed while the cutting means is securely pressed against one side of the module substrate.

According to the trimming device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the finished state of the trimming marks on each side of the photoelectric conversion module can be made clearer, and when the module substrate is made of glass, no defect is caused on each side. Can be trimmed.

According to the trimming device of the present invention, the teeth of the cutting means can be reliably pressed against the photoelectric conversion module, and the surplus portion cut by the cutting means can be quickly separated from the photoelectric conversion module. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the surplus portion from re-adhering based on heat generated by cutting, and to perform trimming reliably.

According to the trimming device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, trimming is performed simultaneously on two sides of the photoelectric conversion module which are parallel to each other, so that the trimming processing time can be further shortened and the photoelectric conversion module can be reduced by one trimming device. Since trimming can be performed on all sides, the number of devices and the installation space can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a first embodiment of a trimming apparatus for performing first and second invention methods of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a trimming device in a trimming standby state along a line ZZ in FIG. 1; FIG. 2B is a schematic sectional view showing the trimming device in a trimming state along the line ZZ in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a front view showing a part of a band saw included in the trimming device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2B is a side view showing a part of the band saw provided in the trimming device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a trimming start state by a band saw provided in the trimming device of FIG. 1; (B) is FIG.
The top view showing the state of (A). FIG. 2C is a perspective view showing a state in which trimming is being performed by a band saw provided in the trimming device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4D is a plan view showing the state of FIG. (E) is a perspective view showing a trimming end state by a band saw provided in the trimming device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4F is a plan view showing the state of FIG.

FIGS. 5A to 5H are schematic plan views sequentially showing the progress of trimming on each side of the solar cell module by the trimming device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a second embodiment of a trimming device for performing the first and second invention methods of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing the trimming device in a trimming state along the line YY in FIG. 6;

8 (A) to 8 (D) are diagrams sequentially illustrating an example of the movement of the band saw with respect to the solar cell module during the trimming operation by the trimming device of FIG.

9A to 9C are diagrams sequentially illustrating other examples of the movement of the band saw with respect to the solar cell module during the trimming operation by the trimming device in FIG. 6;

FIGS. 10A to 10C are diagrams sequentially illustrating still another example of the movement of the band saw with respect to the solar cell module during the trimming operation by the trimming device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a third embodiment of a trimming device for performing the first and second invention methods of the present invention.

12A to 12C are diagrams sequentially illustrating still another example of the movement of the band saw with respect to the solar cell module during the trimming operation by the trimming device in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 (B) showing a fourth embodiment of a trimming apparatus for carrying out the first and second invention methods of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 14A is a schematic sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2B, showing a fifth embodiment of a trimming device for carrying out the first and second invention methods of the present invention. (B) is a side view which shows some band-shaped cutters used in 5th Embodiment. (C) is sectional drawing which shows some band-shaped cutters used in 5th Embodiment.

FIG. 15A is a schematic diagram showing a sixth embodiment of the trimming apparatus for performing the first invention method of the present invention.
(B) is a side view which shows an example of the disk cutter used in 6th Embodiment. (C) is a side view which shows the other example of the disk cutter used in 6th Embodiment.

FIG. 16A is a schematic diagram showing a seventh embodiment of a trimming device for performing the first invention method of the present invention.
(B) is an arrow view as seen from the arrow X direction in FIG. 16 (A).

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an eighth embodiment of a trimming device for performing the first invention method of the present invention.

FIG. 18A is a plan view showing a transparent glass substrate of a solar cell module. FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view showing the edge of the transparent glass substrate along line WW in FIG. (C) is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the structure of the edge part of a transparent glass substrate.

FIG. 19A is a plan view showing a sealed solar cell module viewed from its transparent glass substrate side. (B) is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 19 (A). (C) is FIG.
(A) Sectional drawing along line UU.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M: solar cell module (photoelectric conversion module) 1: transparent glass substrate (module substrate) 1a to 1d: each side of transparent glass substrate (module substrate) 2: photoelectric conversion element 3: electrode 4: sealing member 5: first Sealing part 6: Second sealing part 5a, 6a: Surplus part 11, 111: Trimming device 12, 112: Trimming table 13, 413, 513, 613: Cutting device 21: Module mounting part 22: Center axis of module 23 suction head (module holding means) 31, 131 band saw (cutting means) 31a band cutting portion 31b band saw teeth 45, 145, 401 cutting mechanism unit 46 first guide roller (posture regulating section) 47 ... Second guide roller 48... Third guide roller (posture regulating portion) 49. Fourth guide roller 50, 150, 250. Application mechanism 231: wire cutter (cutting means) 231a: cut portion of wire cutter (cutting means) 331: band-shaped cutter (cutting means) 331a: cut portion of band-shaped cutter (cutting means) 405: disk cutter (cutting means) 601 ... Cutter head (cutting means) α ... Abutment angle

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Joru Kondo 2-1-1 Hieitsuji, Otsu-shi, Shiga Kanebuchi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. Shiga Plant F-term (reference) 5F051 AA05 AA07 CB28 EA20 GA03 JA20

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A quadrangular module substrate, a photoelectric conversion element provided on one surface side of the substrate for photoelectric conversion, an electrode provided on the one surface side for taking out power obtained by the photoelectric conversion element, and the one surface For a photoelectric conversion module comprising a sealing member attached to a side and protecting the photoelectric conversion element and the electrode, a trimming method for cutting off an excess portion of the sealing member protruding around the module substrate, After holding the photoelectric conversion module after sealing on a trimming table, at least one of a cutting unit provided in a cutting device installed near the trimming table and the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table, While moving relatively along one side of the module substrate of the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table in a direction in which the side extends, the cutting hand Wherein the sealing member side exerts toward the module substrate, trimming method of a photoelectric conversion module, wherein the excising the excess portion of the cutting action photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table by. 2. A rectangular module substrate, a photoelectric conversion element provided on one surface side of the substrate for photoelectric conversion, an electrode provided on the one surface side for taking out power obtained by the photoelectric conversion element, and the one surface For a photoelectric conversion module comprising a sealing member attached to a side and protecting the photoelectric conversion element and the electrode, a trimming method for cutting off an excess portion of the sealing member protruding around the module substrate, After holding the photoelectric conversion module after sealing on a trimming table, a cutting device capable of being substantially elastically deformed provided by a cutting device installed near the trimming table is used for the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table. One side of the module substrate of the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table while moving from the sealing member side to the module substrate side While intersecting with the one side so as to extend in the thickness direction of the module, and relatively pressing against the one side with substantial elastic deformation, the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table and the cutting means The trimming method for a photoelectric conversion module, characterized in that at least one of the two is relatively moved along the one side in a direction in which the side extends, so that the surplus portion is cut off by the cutting means. 3. A rectangular module substrate, a photoelectric conversion element provided on one surface side of the substrate for photoelectric conversion, an electrode provided on the one surface side for taking out power obtained by the photoelectric conversion element, and the one surface For a photoelectric conversion module comprising a sealing member attached to a side and protecting the photoelectric conversion element and the electrode, a trimming device for cutting off an excess portion of the sealing member protruding around the module substrate, A trimming table having module holding means for detachably holding the photoelectric conversion module sealed by the holding means; and the photoelectric conversion module installed near the trimming table and held on the trimming table The module is provided so as to extend in the thickness direction of the module on one side of the module substrate and intersect with the one side, A cutting device having elastically deformable cutting means moved from the sealing member side of the photoelectric conversion module on the mounting table to the module substrate side, wherein the trimming table or the cutting means With one provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the direction of coming and going one another, at least one of the trimming table or the cutting means,
A trimming device for a photoelectric conversion module, wherein the trimming device is provided so as to be able to reciprocate in a direction in which the one side extends. 4. The cutting means is a band saw having teeth formed on one side edge of a quenched steel plate.
5. The trimming device for a photoelectric conversion module according to claim 1. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the teeth of the band saw do not have a tilt at least on a side surface of the saw that contacts the photoelectric conversion module. 6. The cutting device has posture regulating portions disposed on both sides in the thickness direction of the photoelectric conversion module on the trimming table, and the cutting unit is obliquely pressed against the one side by these regulating portions. The trimming device for a photoelectric conversion module according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the posture of the cutting means is regulated as described above. 7. A module mounting portion of the trimming table is provided rotatably around its vertical center axis, and at least one cutting device is installed on each side of the trimming table. The trimming device for a photoelectric conversion module according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the moving direction of the cutting means of each of the cutting devices with respect to two parallel sides of the conversion module is the same.