JP2011166075A - Method and apparatus for manufacturing solar cell module, and roll-shaped solar cell module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve manufacturing efficiency of a thin film solar cell module. <P>SOLUTION: A method for manufacturing a solar cell module in which a plurality of band-like solar cells are connected in series includes: a supply process for feeding and supplying a thin film solar cell 100 having a power generation layer held between two electrode layers from an unwinding roll 11; a cutting process for cutting off the thin film solar cell 100 supplied by the supply process approximately in parallel with a carrying direction to form a plurality of band-like solar cells 200; a pressure-bonding process in which, while overlapping a part of a first electrode layer of a first band-like solar cell to a part of a second electrode layer of an adjacent second band-like solar cell so that the plurality of band-like solar cells 200 formed by the cutting process is inclined in the carrying direction at a predetermined angle and the plurality of band-like solar cells 200 are connected in series, respective band-like solar cells are pressed onto a flexible base to integrally form the plurality of band-like solar cells; and a take-up process for continuously taking up a connected body of the plurality of band-like solar cells pressure-bonded onto the flexible base by the pressure-bonding process around a take-up roll 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a solar cell module manufacturing method, a solar cell module manufacturing apparatus, and a rolled solar cell module.

  Conventionally, a thin-film solar cell employs a manufacturing method in which a plurality of solar cells are dividedly formed on a substrate by patterning and an integrated structure is formed by connecting them in series. In recent years, a thin film solar cell in which a plurality of strip solar cells are connected in series has been reported (see Patent Document 1). In this thin-film solar cell, a narrow strip-shaped solar cell is wound in a spiral shape so that the edge overlaps on an insulating thin film wound around the surface of a cylindrical body, and a conductive resin is interposed in the overlapping portion. Then, it is manufactured by incision and separation from the cylindrical body.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-244772

By the way, the conventional manufacturing method of a thin film solar cell has the problem which should be improved further. For example, 1) After forming a narrow strip solar cell, a step of winding it is necessary. 2) A certain amount of time is required for the step of winding a single band-shaped solar cell around the surface of the cylindrical body, and the productivity is low. 3) To manufacture a single thin film solar cell, a strip-like solar cell having a certain length is required, which increases the cost. 4) Every time a single thin film solar cell is manufactured, a step of cutting and separating from the cylindrical body is required. 5) Since the thin film solar cell is cut to a predetermined length, the productivity in the subsequent process is not improved.
The objective of this invention is improving the manufacturing efficiency of a thin film solar cell module.

Thus, the inventions according to the following [1] to [6] are provided.
[1] A method for manufacturing a solar cell module in which a plurality of band-like solar cells are connected in series, and a supply step of feeding a thin-film solar cell having a power generation layer sandwiched between two electrode layers from an unwinding roll; A cutting step of cutting the thin-film solar cells supplied in the supplying step substantially parallel to the transport direction to form a plurality of strip solar cells, and a plurality of the strip solar cells formed by the cutting step in the transport direction The second of the second strip solar cells adjacent to a part of the first electrode layer of the first strip solar cell so that the plurality of the strip solar cells are connected in series with each other at a predetermined angle. A crimping step in which a part of the electrode layer is overlaid and crimped onto a flexible substrate and integrally formed; and a plurality of strip-shaped solar cell connectors crimped onto the flexible substrate in the crimping step Continuously wound on a roll Method of manufacturing a solar cell module comprising: the winding step that, a.
[2] The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to [1], wherein the power generation layer of the thin film solar cell includes any one selected from a group IB element, a group IIIB element, and a group VIB element. .
[3] The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to [1] or [2], wherein the power generation layer includes a Cu—In—Se based semiconductor having a chalcopyrite structure.

[4] Supply means for pulling out and supplying the thin-film solar cell from an unwinding roll in which a thin-film solar cell having a power generation layer sandwiched between two electrode layers is wound in a roll shape, and the supply from the supply means Cutting means for cutting a thin film solar cell with a blade part substantially parallel to the transport direction of the thin film solar cell to form a plurality of strip solar cells, and the plurality of strip solar cells cut by the cutting means are connected in series. Pressure bonding means for pressure-bonding on a flexible substrate while overlapping a part of the first electrode layer of the first band-shaped solar cell and a part of the second electrode layer of the adjacent second band-shaped solar cell And a winding means for continuously winding a plurality of strip-shaped solar cell connectors integrally formed by the crimping means on a winding roll.
[5] The crimping means supplies an inclined guide roll group for inclining each of the plurality of strip-like solar cells formed by the cutting means at a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction, and an adhesive sheet coated with an adhesive. The apparatus for manufacturing a solar cell module according to [4], including an adhesive sheet roll and a pair of pressure-bonding rolls that press-bond a plurality of the strip-shaped solar cells to the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet.
[6] A rolled solar cell module, wherein the solar cell module manufactured by the method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to any one of [1] to [3] is wound around a winding roll.

According to this invention, compared with the conventional manufacturing method, the manufacturing efficiency of a thin film solar cell module is improved.
Specifically, 1) After the thin film solar cell is cut into a plurality of narrow strip-like solar cells, a part of the width direction is overlapped, and the thin film solar cell can be pressure-bonded to the adhesive sheet without being wound on a reel. 2) The integrated module can be manufactured at a speed about 100 times that of the manufacturing method using one tape-like solar cell. 3) Compared with the manufacturing method using one tape-like solar cell, the amount of scrap material which becomes unnecessary in manufacturing is reduced. 4) Compared with the manufacturing method in which one tape-like solar cell is wound around a roll to which an adhesive sheet is attached, there is no need for a step of once removing the integrated module wound around the surface of the cylindrical body from the cylindrical body. The thin film solar cell module can be manufactured. 5) The long thin film solar cell module obtained by the present invention can be handled as a roll shape wound around a winding roll, and, for example, operability in a subsequent process such as bonding with tempered glass is improved. .

It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram explaining an example of the manufacturing apparatus of the solar cell module to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a schematic perspective view explaining an example of the manufacturing apparatus of the solar cell module to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure explaining an inclination guide roll group. It is a figure explaining the structure of a solar cell module.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. The drawings used are for explaining the present embodiment and do not represent the actual size.

<Solar cell module manufacturing equipment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a solar cell module manufacturing apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied. The solar cell module manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a supply unit 1 to which a web-like thin film solar cell 100 is supplied and a thin film solar cell 100 conveyed from the supply unit 1 into a plurality of narrow strip solar cells 200. The cutting part 2 to be cut, the plurality of band-like solar cells 200 cut by the cutting part 2 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 300 are pressure-bonded and integrally formed, and the solar cell is integrally formed with the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 300 by the pressure-bonding part 3 It is comprised from the winding-up part 4 which winds up the module 400 continuously. Here, the thin film solar cell 100 has a power generation layer sandwiched between two electrode layers.

  The supply unit 1 includes, as supply means, an unwinding roll 11 in which the thin film solar cell 100 is wound in a roll shape, and a transport roll 12 that pulls out and transports the thin film solar cell 100 from the unwinding roll 11. The cutting part 2 has a blade part (slitter) 20 composed of a rotary blade 21 and a rotary receiving blade 22 as a cutting means for cutting the thin film solar cell 100 into a plurality of narrow strip solar cells 200. Yes. In the thin film solar cell 100, the unwinding roll 11 rotates in the direction of arrow A, and is transported in the direction of arrow B by the transport roll 12.

  The crimping section 3 is coated with an inclined guide roll group 30 that tilts each of the plurality of narrow strip solar cells 200 formed by the blade section 20 at a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction as a crimping means, and an adhesive. An adhesive sheet roll 31 for supplying the adhesive sheet 300 and a pressure-bonding roll 32 composed of a pair of rolls 321 and 322 for integrally forming a plurality of narrow strip solar cells on the adhesive sheet 300 by pressing.

  The winding unit 4 includes a winding roll 40 that continuously winds the solar cell module 400 integrally formed with the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 300 by the crimping unit 3 as a winding unit. The winding roll 40 rotates in the direction of arrow C and continuously winds the solar cell module 400.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a solar cell module manufacturing apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied.
As shown in FIG. 2, the blade part 20 (slitter) of the cutting part 2 that cuts the thin film solar cell 100 drawn out from the unwinding roll 11 is a plurality of thin disk-shaped rotating blades 21 and receiving blades that are driven to rotate. It comprises a plurality of rotary blades 22 formed in a roller shape. The wide thin-film solar cell 100 is cut into a plurality of narrow strip solar cells 200 when passing between the pair of upper and lower rotary blades 21 and the rotary receiving blade 22. Although the space | interval (pitch) of the blade | wing which comprises the rotary blade 21 and the rotary receiving blade 22 is not specifically limited, In this Embodiment, it selects suitably in the range of 4 mm-10 mm.

  The inclined guide roll group 30 of the crimping section 3 inclines a plurality of narrow strip solar cells 200 at a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction, and also has side edges (edges) in the width direction between adjacent strip solar cells 200. The interval is narrowed so that a part of each overlaps. The pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet roll 31 supplies a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 300 obtained by applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive material to the surface of a flexible sheet as a flexible substrate so that the pressure-sensitive adhesive material faces the first electrode layer side of the belt-like solar cell 200. . When the pressure-bonding roll 32 passes between the pair of rolls 321 and 322, the plurality of strip-like solar cells 200 and the adhesive sheet 300, which are partially overlapped by the inclined guide roll group 30, in the width direction. Crimped to.

<Inclined guide roll group 30>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the inclined guide roll group 30. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of the inclined guide roll group 30. FIG. 3B is a schematic view of the inclined guide roll group 30 in FIG. 2 viewed from the direction of the arrow 3b.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the inclined guide roll group 30 includes a common support shaft 304 and a plurality of rotation shafts 303 (303 ₁ ,... Formed so as to form a predetermined angle with respect to the support shaft 304. 303 _i ) and a plurality of inclined guide rolls 301 (301 ₁ ,... 301 _i ) attached to the respective rotary shafts 303. Inclined guide roll _{301 (301 1, ··· 301 i} ) at both ends in guide _{302 (302 1, ··· 302 i} ) are provided. A bearing or the like may be provided inside the inclined guide roll 301.

As shown in FIG. 3B, each of the plurality of strip-like solar cells 200 (200 ₁ ,... 200 _i ) cut by the blade part 20 is conveyed by the inclined guide roll 301 of the inclined guide roll group 30. While being inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction, the interval between adjacent belt-like solar cells 200 is narrowed. The connection section _{210 (210 1, ··· 210 i} ) that part of the side edge portions overlap each other is formed.
The connecting portions 210 (210 ₁ ,... 210 _i ) where the side edge portions of the adjacent strip solar cells 200 overlap each other have a strip solar cell having two electrode layers and a power generation layer sandwiched between them, as will be described later. in 200, a portion of the second belt-like solar cell 200 ₂ of the second electrode layer adjacent a portion of the first strip solar cell 200 ₁ of the first electrode layer are stacked.

<Method for Manufacturing Solar Cell Module 400>
Next, a method for manufacturing a solar cell module using a solar cell module manufacturing apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) will be described.
First, the thin film solar cell 100 is unwound from the unwinding roll 11 wound in a roll shape, and is supplied to the blade part 20 (supply process). Here, in the thin film solar cell 100 used in the present embodiment, generally, a semiconductor layer constituting a power generation layer is formed on a sheet-like conductive substrate serving as a first electrode layer, and the semiconductor layer is formed on the semiconductor layer. This is a wide web in which a transparent electrode layer or the like is formed as a second electrode layer. The full width dimension of the web-like thin film solar cell 100 is 50 cm to 100 cm, and the length is not particularly limited, but is usually 10,000 m or less. In the present embodiment, thin film solar cell 100 is wound around unwinding roll 11 so that the second electrode layer such as a transparent electrode layer is on the surface. Specific examples of the first electrode layer, the semiconductor layer, and the second electrode layer will be described later.

  Next, when the thin film solar cell supplied from the unwinding roll 11 passes between the pair of upper and lower rotary blades 21 and the rotary receiving blade 22 in the blade portion 20, it is cut substantially parallel to the transport direction, A plurality of narrow strip solar cells 200 are formed (cutting step).

Subsequently, each of the formed strip-shaped solar cells 200 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction by the inclined guide roll group 30. The band-shaped solar cells 200 that have passed through the inclined guide roll group 30 have connecting portions 210 (210 ₁ ,... 210 _i ) in which the intervals between adjacent band-shaped solar cells 200 are narrowed and the side edge portions overlap each other. It is formed. Next, the plurality of band-like solar cells 200 with part of the side edges overlapped with the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 300 supplied from the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet roll 31 are integrally formed by pressure bonding with the pressure-bonding roll 32 to form the solar cell module 400. (Crimping process). The solar cell module 400 is formed as a connection body in which a plurality of strip solar cells 200 are connected in series.

  Finally, the solar cell module 400 integrally formed with the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 300 is continuously wound around a winding roll (winding step).

<Structure of Solar Cell Module 400>
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the solar cell module 400. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the solar cell module 400, which is a cross-section taken along the line 4a-4a in FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram of the roll-shaped solar cell module 500 wound around the take-up roll 40.
A solar cell module 400 shown in FIG. 4A is applied to the surface of the flexible film 310 and the flexible film 310 constituting the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 300 supplied from the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet roll 31 (see FIG. 1). The adhesive layer 320 and a plurality of strip-like solar cells 200 that are pressure-bonded to the flexible film 310 by the adhesive layer 320.

Each of the plurality of strip-shaped solar cells 200 includes a back electrode layer 211 as a first electrode layer on the adhesive material layer 320 side, a semiconductor layer 212 as a power generation layer formed on the back electrode layer 211, and a surface side And a transparent electrode layer 213 as a second electrode layer formed on the substrate. Figure 4 (a), the plurality of strip-like solar cell 200, a portion is overlapped connection portion 210 of the transparent electrode layer 213 of the belt-like solar cell 200 and the adjacent portion of the back electrode layer 211 (210 ₁ ,... 210 _i ). As a result, a plurality of narrow strip solar cells 200 are connected in series via the connecting portion 210, and a wide solar cell module 400 is formed.

  Here, the material of the flexible film 310 as the flexible substrate constituting the adhesive sheet 300 is desirably a plastic film excellent in weather resistance and moisture resistance in the present embodiment, and is not particularly limited. Specifically, for example, a general solar cell backsheet in which a fluororesin material is coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a base material, a laminate type film in which a plurality of films are laminated, and the like can be given. Here, as a film used for a laminate type film, a PET film, an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) film, a polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film, a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film, etc. are mentioned, for example.

Examples of the material for the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 320 constituting the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 300 include silicone-based, EVA-based, and fluorine-based adhesives. In this Embodiment, the adhesive sheet 300 uses what was previously commercialized as an adhesive roll sheet, the strip | belt-shaped solar cell 200 and the adhesive sheet 300 are crimped | bonded by the crimping | compression-bonding roll 32, and these are integrally molded.
Moreover, when using things other than the product pressure-sensitive adhesive roll sheet, for example, an adhesive is applied to the surface of a predetermined back sheet or the like immediately before the pressure-bonding roll 32, and these and the strip solar cell 200 are attached. Crimping can also be performed by the crimping roll 32. This method is effective when it is necessary to reduce the viscosity of the adhesive material in order to improve the adhesion between the adhesive material layer 320 and the flexible film 310 and the back electrode layer 211 of the belt-like solar cell 200. .

In the present embodiment, the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 300 is pressure-bonded only to one side of the band-shaped solar cell 200 (that is, the back electrode layer 211 side), but the transparent front sheet is used as the surface side of the solar cell module 400 (that is, transparent). It is also possible to pressure-bond to the electrode layer 213 side). In this case, it is important to use a plastic film having excellent weather resistance and moisture resistance as the front sheet. Furthermore, since it arrange | positions on the surface of the solar cell module 400 as a front sheet | seat, transparency, impact resistance, and antifouling property become important. Specific examples of the front sheet include, for example, a laminate type film in which a plurality of films excellent in these performances are laminated. Here, examples of the plurality of laminated films include a polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film and a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film. In order to improve moisture resistance, an inorganic material thin film such as SiO ₂ or a glass thin film may be vacuum-formed in a laminate film.

Although the width W of the one strip | belt-shaped solar cell 200 which comprises the solar cell module 400 is not specifically limited, In this Embodiment, it is the range of 4 mm-30 mm. When the width W is excessively wide, the number of the strip solar cells 200 can be reduced, but the series resistance component tends to increase.
Although the width w of the connection part 210 of the adjacent strip | belt-shaped solar cells 200 is not specifically limited, In this Embodiment, it is the range of 0.05 mm-1 mm. When the width w is moderately wide, the interconnect resistance at the connecting portion 210 is reduced, and accuracy is not required when the strip solar cells 200 are overlapped. However, since the connecting portion 210 does not contribute to power generation, the material cost per unit power generation tends to increase. Moreover, since the weight of the whole solar cell module 400 will also rise, in order to reduce weight, it is better to make the width w of the connection part 210 as narrow as possible.

Electrons present in the transparent electrode layer 213 of the belt-like solar cell 200 over _1, by contact with the back surface electrode 211 of the adjacent strip solar cell 200 ₂ is transmitted to the belt-like solar cell 200 ₂ adjacent. Here, typically, the electrical resistance of the transparent electrode layer 213, for several orders of magnitude higher than the electrical resistance of the back electrode layer 211, before the electrons in a band solar cell 200 ₂ adjacent is transmitted, the transparent electrode layer 213 There is a problem of loss within. In order to solve this problem, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a current collecting electrode may be formed on the belt-like solar cell 200 in advance.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the solar cell module 400 manufactured in the present embodiment is obtained as a roll-shaped solar cell module 500 wound around the take-up roll 40. Thereby, the solar cell module 400 integrated by connecting a plurality of narrow strip solar cells 200 in series can be handled as a roll. Although the width | variety M of the roll-shaped solar cell module 500 is not specifically limited, In this Embodiment, it is the range of 10 cm-100 cm. Although the length of the solar cell module 400 wound around the winding roll 40 is not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, it is in the range of 100 m to 10,000 m.

The manufacturing method of the solar cell module to which the present invention is applied can be applied to the case where solar cells generally classified as thin film solar cells are used. Examples of such a thin film solar cell include a thin film silicon type solar cell using hydrogenated amorphous silicon, a HIT solar cell combining amorphous and single crystal silicon, and a dye sensitized solar cell having a semiconductor layer carrying a sensitizing dye. And a compound solar cell using a compound semiconductor.
Among these, examples of the compound solar cell include a GaAs-based solar cell, a CIS-based (chalcopyrite) solar cell, a Cu ₂ ZnSnS ₄ (CZTS) solar cell, and a CdTe-CdS-based solar cell.

In particular, a CIS (chalcopyrite) solar cell is a IB-IIIB-VIB group called a chalcopyrite system made of Cu, In, Ga, Al, Se, S, etc., instead of silicon, as a material of the light absorption layer. Use compounds. Typical examples include Cu (In, Ga) Se ₂ , Cu (In, Ga) (Se, S) ₂ , CuInS _{2 and the} like, which are abbreviated as CIGS, CIGSS, and CIS, respectively.
CIS-based (chalcopyrite-based) solar cells have abundant manufacturing methods and combinations of materials, and are polycrystalline, so that they are suitable for large area and mass production, and flexible products are easily obtained. Hereinafter, the solar cell module 400 is obtained by cutting the thin film solar cell 100 and the thin film solar cell 100 (see FIG. 1) when a CIS (chalcopyrite) solar cell, which is one of the thin film solar cells, is used. The components of the narrow strip solar cell 200 will be described.

<Constituent Elements of Strip Solar Cell 200>
The material constituting the back electrode layer 211 as the first electrode layer is preferably a metal, for example, at least one metal selected from Mo, Ti, Cr, Al, Ag, Au, Cu and Pt, or these metals An alloy is mentioned. In the present embodiment, back electrode layer 211 is a metal thin film having a thickness of about 0.3 μm. The back electrode layer 211 is formed on a predetermined substrate by, for example, a vapor deposition method, a sputtering method, a CVD method (Chemical Vapor Deposition), and then divided by patterning as will be described later. .

  Examples of the semiconductor layer 212 as the power generation layer include a chalcopyrite type compound semiconductor containing elements of the periodic table IB group, IIIB group, and VIB group. In this embodiment mode, it is preferably formed using a Cu—In—Se semiconductor material having a chalcopyrite structure including copper (Cu), indium (In), and selenium (Se). In the present embodiment, the thickness of the semiconductor layer 212 is in the range of 0.3 μm to 5 μm.

The metal material constituting the transparent electrode layer 213 as the second electrode layer is not particularly limited. For example, an indium oxide-based metal material such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) in which Sn is added to In ₂ O ₃ as a dopant; SnO _{2 and} other tin oxide-based metal materials with addition of Zn; AZO with addition of Al as a dopant to ZnO, GZO with addition of Ga as a dopant to ZnO, and zinc oxide-based metal materials such as IZO with addition of In to ZnO as a dopant, etc. Is mentioned. In this embodiment, it is preferable to use a metal material containing at least one selected from ITO, SnO ₂ , and ZnO and form the film by sputtering or evaporation. The thickness of the transparent electrode layer 213 is about 0.6 μm in the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, a buffer layer as a dielectric layer can be provided between the semiconductor layer 212 and the transparent electrode layer 213. In this case, the material constituting the buffer layer is not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, it is preferable to use a InS 3, sulfides such as _ZnS. By providing a buffer layer between the semiconductor layer 212 and the transparent electrode layer 213, defects generated at the interface between the semiconductor layer 212 and the transparent electrode layer 213 can be suppressed.

The back electrode layer 211 is usually continuously formed by sputtering on a substrate made of a metal film or the like, for example, and then the semiconductor layer 212 is formed on the back electrode layer 211, and then the semiconductor layer A transparent electrode layer 213 is formed on 212 and prepared.
In this embodiment mode, the semiconductor layer 212 is preferably formed by stacking a plurality of p-type semiconductor formation precursor layers and n-type semiconductor formation precursor layers. That is, in this embodiment, a Cu-In-Se-based semiconductor material is used as the compound semiconductor, and a precursor for forming a p-type semiconductor made of a mixture of Cu and Se that easily forms a p-type semiconductor on the back electrode layer 211 side. It is preferable to form a body layer, and then form an n-type semiconductor forming precursor layer made of a mixture of In and Se that easily forms an n-type semiconductor on the transparent electrode layer 213 side. The p-type semiconductor forming precursor layer and the n-type semiconductor forming precursor layer melt and diffuse to each other in the heat treatment process, thereby generating a semiconductor layer 212 made of a semiconductor having good crystallinity, and a pn junction. Can be formed.

In addition, the above description is only an example for demonstrating embodiment of this invention, and this invention is not limited to this embodiment.
The present invention can be applied to a photovoltaic device including a semiconductor layer composed of a plurality of elements and two electrode layers sandwiching the semiconductor layer, and a method for manufacturing a photovoltaic device having such a structure. For example, a III-V group semiconductor typified by a Cd-Te system, an I-III-VI group semiconductor typified by a Cu-In-Se system, and an I-II typified by a Cu-Zn-Sn-S system compound The present invention can also be applied to an IV group semiconductor composed of two or more elements such as an -IV-VI group semiconductor, an II-IV-V group semiconductor, and a Si-Ge group.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Supply part, 2 ... Cutting part, 3 ... Crimp part, 4 ... Winding part, 11 ... Unwinding roll, 12 ... Conveyance roll, 20 ... Cutlery part (slitter), 21 ... Rotary blade, 22 ... Rotating blade 30 ... Inclined guide roll group, 31 ... Adhesive sheet roll, 32 ... Crimp roll, 40 ... Winding roll, 100 ... Thin film solar cell, 200 ... Strip solar cell, 210 ... Connection part, 211 ... Back electrode layer, 212 ... Semiconductor layer, 213 ... Transparent electrode layer, 300 ... Adhesive sheet, 301 ... Inclined guide roll, 400 ... Solar cell module, 500 ... Rolled solar cell module

Claims (6)

A method for manufacturing a solar cell module in which a plurality of strip solar cells are connected in series,
A supply step of feeding a thin film solar cell having a power generation layer sandwiched between two electrode layers from an unwinding roll;
A cutting step of cutting the thin-film solar cell supplied by the supplying step substantially parallel to the transport direction to form a plurality of strip-shaped solar cells;
The first of the first strip solar cells is configured such that the plurality of strip solar cells formed by the cutting step are inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction, and the plurality of strip solar cells are connected in series. A crimping step in which a part of the electrode layer and a part of the second electrode layer of the second strip-shaped solar cell adjacent to each other are stacked and integrally formed on the flexible substrate;
A winding step of continuously winding a plurality of strip-shaped solar cell connectors bonded on the flexible substrate by the crimping step onto a winding roll;
The manufacturing method of the solar cell module characterized by having.   2. The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the power generation layer of the thin-film solar cell includes any one selected from a group IB element, a group IIIB element, and a group VIB element.   The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the power generation layer includes a Cu—In—Se based semiconductor having a chalcopyrite structure. Supply means for drawing and supplying the thin film solar cell from an unwinding roll in which a thin film solar cell having a power generation layer sandwiched between two electrode layers is wound in a roll;
Cutting means for cutting the thin film solar cell supplied from the supply means by a blade part substantially parallel to the transport direction of the thin film solar cell to form a plurality of strip solar cells;
The second electrode of the second strip solar cell adjacent to a part of the first electrode layer of the first strip solar cell so that the plurality of strip solar cells cut by the cutting means are connected in series. A pressure-bonding means for pressure-bonding on a flexible substrate while overlapping a part of the layer;
Winding means for continuously winding a plurality of strip-shaped solar cell connectors bonded onto the flexible substrate by the pressure bonding means, on a winding roll;
An apparatus for manufacturing a solar cell module, comprising:   The pressure-bonding means is a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet roll for supplying a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet and a group of inclined guide rolls that incline each of the plurality of strip-shaped solar cells formed by the cutting means at a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction. And a pair of pressure-bonding rolls for pressure-bonding the plurality of strip-shaped solar cells to the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet. The solar cell module manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4.   The roll-shaped solar cell module characterized by the solar cell module manufactured by the manufacturing method of the solar cell module of any one of the said Claims 1 thru | or 3 being wound by the winding roll.

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