JP2011230412A - Laminating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laminating apparatus capable of corresponding to multistages.SOLUTION: The laminating apparatus 10 includes an upper chamber 1 provided with a diaphragm 3, a lower chamber 2 provided with a heater board 4, a conveyance sheet 9 provided between the upper and lower chambers 1 and 2 and conveying a laminated object M, a supporting part 11 supporting the conveyance sheet 9, a lifting mechanism (a supporting plate 12, a shaft 21, a first arm 22, a bearing 23, a bearing 25, and a second arm 31) making the supporting part 11 rise or descend and a driving part (cylinder 13) provided on a side surface (a first side surface S1) of the lower chamber 2 and driving the lifting mechanism.

Description

  The present invention relates to a laminating apparatus suitable for laminating a solar cell module or the like.

  Conventionally, as a laminating apparatus for laminating a thin plate-shaped object to be laminated such as a solar cell module, a laminating apparatus including an upper chamber having a diaphragm and a lower chamber having a heater panel is known ( (See Patent Document 1).

  The laminating apparatus of Patent Document 1 is configured to perform a laminating process on a laminate by melting the filler inside the laminate and sandwiching the laminate. For example, in the laminating apparatus of Patent Document 1, the sheet to be laminated is carried into the laminating apparatus in a state where the lower surface is supported by the support portion so as not to contact the heater board. Subsequently, the laminating apparatus is brought into a sealed state by lowering the upper chamber. Next, the inside of the laminating apparatus is evacuated. Subsequently, the laminated body is brought into close contact with the heater panel by lowering the support portion. Next, air is introduced into the upper chamber and the diaphragm is expanded downward, whereby the object to be laminated is sandwiched between the heater panel and the diaphragm, and laminating is performed.

  On the other hand, in order to efficiently perform the laminating process, a method of stacking laminating apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as “multi-stage laminating apparatus”) can be considered. In order to increase the number of laminating apparatuses, it is required to make the laminating apparatus compact.

JP 2008-114549 A

  However, in the laminating apparatus of Patent Document 1, in order to raise and lower the support part, a support plate to which the support part is coupled, an elevating mechanism for raising and lowering the support plate, a drive part for driving the elevating mechanism, Is provided. The driving unit is provided on the lower surface of the lower chamber and protrudes from the laminating apparatus. Therefore, the thickness of the lower chamber increases. For this reason, the multistage of the laminating apparatus of patent document 1 was not realizable.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and it aims at providing the laminating apparatus which can respond to multistage by making a laminating apparatus compact.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, an upper chamber including a diaphragm, a lower chamber including a heater panel, and a laminated body provided between the upper chamber and the lower chamber. A conveying sheet that conveys the conveying sheet, a support unit that supports the conveying sheet, an elevating mechanism that raises or lowers the supporting unit, and a drive unit that is provided on a side surface of the lower chamber and drives the elevating mechanism. A laminating apparatus is provided.

  In the present invention, the bottom surface of the driving unit may be provided at a position higher than the lower surface of the lower chamber, and the upper surface of the driving unit may be provided at a position lower than the upper surface of the lower chamber.

  In the present invention, the elevating mechanism includes one or more first arms that respectively move the support portion in a direction of raising or lowering, and a shaft that rotates a fulcrum of the one or more first arms. The driving unit may rotationally drive the shaft.

  In the present invention, the elevating mechanism may further include a second arm that converts the driving force of the driving unit into the rotational force of the shaft.

  In the present invention, the elevating mechanism may further include a friction reducing member that is connected to a distal end portion of the first arm and reduces a friction force when the support portion is raised or lowered.

  In the present invention, the elevating mechanism includes a plurality of first arms that respectively move the support portion in a direction in which the support portion is raised or lowered, and a plurality of fulcrums that rotate the corresponding first arm among the plurality of first arms. And the drive unit may rotationally drive the plurality of shafts.

  In the present invention, the drive unit may further include a rotational force transmission member that transmits rotational force between the plurality of shafts.

  In the present invention, the drive unit may include a plurality of rotation mechanisms that are provided for each of the plurality of shafts and rotationally drive the shafts.

  According to the present invention, the laminating apparatus becomes compact. As a result, the laminating apparatus can cope with multi-stages.

Front sectional drawing of the laminating apparatus 10 which concerns on this embodiment. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the broken-line part A of FIG. Sectional drawing of the broken line BB of FIG. Schematic of the cylinder 13 of FIG. Schematic which shows the process of the lamination process which concerns on this embodiment. Schematic which shows multistage | verticalization of the perpendicular direction (Y direction) of the laminating apparatus 10 which concerns on this embodiment. The enlarged view of the raising / lowering mechanism which concerns on the modification of this embodiment. The side view of the laminating apparatus 10 which concerns on the modification of this embodiment. The side view of the laminating apparatus 10 which concerns on the modification of this embodiment. Front sectional drawing of the conventional laminating apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The configuration of the laminating apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a laminating apparatus 10 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a broken line portion A in FIG. 1. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along broken line BB in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the cylinder 13 of FIG.

  A laminating apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 is an apparatus that performs laminating on a solar cell module or the like. For example, the solar cell module includes constituent members such as a cover glass, a filler, a solar cell, and a back material. Each constituent member is bonded by melting the filler inside the solar cell module and sandwiching the solar cell module. Thereby, the lamination process is performed on the solar cell module.

  The laminating apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 includes an upper chamber 1 and a lower chamber 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper chamber 1 is provided with a diaphragm 3. The diaphragm 3 crosses the upper chamber 1 in the horizontal direction (X direction). The diaphragm 3 is configured to press the laminated body M. For example, the diaphragm 3 is formed of a compound containing silicon or butyl.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lower chamber 2 is provided with a plurality of support columns 5 and a shaft 21. Each column 5 is provided to extend in the vertical direction (Y direction). The shaft 21 is provided so as to extend in the horizontal direction (X direction).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a heater panel 4 is provided on each column 5. Thereby, the heater panel 4 is fixed to the lower chamber 2. For example, the heater panel 4 includes an aluminum metal plate and a heat source covered with the metal plate.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the shaft 21 penetrates the side surface of the lower chamber 2. A second arm 31 is provided at the first end E1 of the shaft 21. The second arm 31 is provided with a cylinder (drive unit) 13 as a rotation mechanism. A bearing 25 for the shaft 21 is provided on the first side surface S1 and the second side surface S2 of the lower chamber 2. A seal 24 such as an O-ring is provided between the shaft 21 and the lower chamber 2 to prevent air from flowing into the laminating apparatus 10. A plurality of first arms 22 are provided on the shaft 21 at predetermined intervals. Each first arm 22 is configured to move the support portion 11 in the direction of raising or lowering. A bearing (friction reducing member) 23 such as a cam follower is provided at the tip of each first arm 22. The bearing 23 is in contact with the lower surface of the horizontal support plate 12. The weight of the support plate 12 is about 100 [kg]. The bearing 23 reduces the frictional force when raising or lowering the support portion 11. A plurality of support portions 11 are provided on the upper surface of the support plate 12 at predetermined intervals. The upper end of each support portion 11 is in contact with the lower surface of the transport sheet 9. That is, the conveyance sheet 9 is supported by each support portion 11. The conveying sheet 9 is configured to convey the laminated body M in the horizontal direction (X direction) in order to carry the laminated body M into or out of the laminating apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom surface of the cylinder 13 is provided at a position higher than the lower surface of the lower chamber 2. The upper surface of the cylinder 13 is provided at a position lower than the upper surface of the lower chamber 2. That is, the size of the cylinder 13 in the vertical direction (Y direction) is smaller than the size of the first side surface S1 of the lower chamber 2 in the vertical direction (Y direction). In other words, the cylinder 13 does not protrude from the lower chamber 2 in the vertical direction (Y direction). Further, the second arm 31, the bearing 25, and the shaft 21 do not protrude from the lower chamber 2 in the vertical direction (Y direction). Therefore, the cylinder 13, the second arm 31, the bearing 25, and the shaft 21 do not affect the vertical size (Y direction) of the laminating apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first arm 22 is provided with a shaft 21 and a bearing 23. The shaft 21 penetrates a position separated from the center of the first arm 22 by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction (X direction). The shaft 21 rotates the fulcrum of the first arm 22. Therefore, when the shaft 21 rotates, the position of the bearing 23 moves in the vertical direction (Y direction). Thereby, the support plate 12 moves in the vertical direction (Y direction). That is, the support plate 12 moves up and down according to the rotation direction of the shaft 21. For example, in FIG. 3, when the shaft 21 rotates counterclockwise, the support plate 12 rises, and when the shaft 21 rotates clockwise, the support plate 12 descends in the vertical direction (Y direction). The ascending width and the descending width of the support plate 12 are about 3 to 4 [mm].

  The cylinder 13 in FIG. 4 is a pneumatic type. A second arm 31 is provided on the cylinder rod 32. The second arm 31 converts the driving force of the cylinder 13 into the rotational force of the shaft 21. The cylinder 13 is provided with an electromagnetic valve 14. The electromagnetic valve 14 is configured to switch the passage of compressed air sent to extend and contract the cylinder rod 32 of the cylinder 13.

  When the cylinder rod 32 extends in the Z1 direction by the electromagnetic valve 14 in FIG. 4, the second arm 31 moves in the Z1 direction. Thereby, the shaft 21 rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the support plate 12 rises in the vertical direction (Y direction) (see FIG. 3).

  Next, when the cylinder rod 32 is contracted in the Z2 direction by the electromagnetic valve 14 of FIG. 4, the second arm 31 moves in the Z2 direction. Thereby, the shaft 21 rotates clockwise. As a result, the support plate 12 descends in the vertical direction (Y direction) (see FIG. 3).

  In the extending direction of the cylinder rod 32 in FIG. 4, a stopper 16 for limiting the extending amount of the cylinder rod 32 is provided. By adjusting the position of the stopper 16, the extension amount of the cylinder rod 32 can be controlled. That is, by adjusting the position of the stopper 16, the rising amount of the support plate 12 in FIG. 1 can be controlled.

  In addition, the number of the support | pillar 5, the support part 11, the 1st arm 22, and the bearing 23 of FIG. Further, the bearing 25 of FIG. 1 may be provided on the inner wall of the lower chamber 2 in order to maintain the rigidity of the shaft 21.

  The laminating process according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a laminating process according to this embodiment. In FIG. 5, a to-be-laminated body M1 is a solar cell module that is first laminated, and a to-be-laminated body M2 is a solar cell module that is laminated next to the to-be-laminated body M1.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the object to be laminated M1 is carried into the laminating apparatus 10, the cylinder rod 32 is extended in the Z1 direction by the electromagnetic valve 14 in FIG. 4, and the shaft 21 is rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle. Only rotate. 3 is raised in the vertical direction (Y direction), and the conveying sheet 9 is also raised in the vertical direction (Y direction). As a result, the distance between the transport sheet 9 and the heater panel 4 is D. For example, D is about 3 to 4 [mm]. That is, the laminated body M1 is not in contact with the heater panel 4.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the object to be laminated M1 is carried into the laminating apparatus 10 by the conveyance sheet 9 while the distance between the conveyance sheet 9 and the heater panel 4 is maintained at D, and the conveyance sheet 9 stops and the upper chamber 1 of FIG. 1 descends in the vertical direction (Y direction). Thereby, the laminating apparatus 10 is sealed. Next, the inside of the laminating apparatus 10 is evacuated. At this time, on the conveyance sheet 9 outside the laminating apparatus 10, the laminated body M2 is waiting.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the cylinder rod 32 is contracted in the Z2 direction by the electromagnetic valve 14 in FIG. 4, and the shaft 21 rotates clockwise by a predetermined angle. 3 is lowered in the vertical direction (Y direction), and the conveying sheet 9 is also lowered in the vertical direction (Y direction). As a result, the conveyance sheet 9 comes into contact with the heater panel 4 (that is, the distance between the conveyance sheet 9 and the heater panel 4 becomes 0). Next, air is introduced into the upper chamber 1 of FIG. 1 and the diaphragm 3 is expanded downward, whereby the laminate M1 is sandwiched between the heater panel 4 and the diaphragm 3, and the filler inside the laminate M1 is filled. Is melted, and the laminated body M1 is laminated.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, the upper chamber 1 is opened, the cylinder rod 32 extends in the Z1 direction by the electromagnetic valve 14 in FIG. 4, and the shaft 21 rotates counterclockwise by a predetermined angle. 3 is raised in the vertical direction (Y direction), and the conveying sheet 9 is also raised in the vertical direction (Y direction). As a result, the distance between the transport sheet 9 and the heater panel 4 is D. At this time, the laminates M1 and M2 are not in contact with the heater panel 4. Next, while the distance between the conveying sheet 9 and the heater panel 4 is kept at D, the laminated body M1 subjected to the laminating process is carried out from the laminating apparatus 10 by the conveying sheet 9, and the laminated body M2 is It is carried into the laminating apparatus 10.

  Thereafter, the processes shown in FIGS. 5B to 5D are repeated until the laminating process for all the objects to be laminated M placed on the conveyance sheet 9 is completed.

  The distance between the transport sheet 9 and the heater panel 4 when the transport sheet 9 moves up and down in the vertical direction (Y direction) is determined based on the rotation angle of the shaft 21. That is, the distance can be controlled by adjusting the rotation angle of the shaft 21. For example, the distance increases as the extension of the cylinder rod 32 of the cylinder 13 increases.

(Comparative example)
A comparative example of the laminating apparatus 10 according to this embodiment and a conventional laminating apparatus will be described. FIG. 10 is a front sectional view of a conventional laminating apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the conventional laminating apparatus, the cylinder 13 is provided on the lower surface U of the lower chamber 2 so as to protrude in the vertical direction (Y direction) from the lower chamber 2. That is, in the conventional laminating apparatus, the cylinder 13 becomes a protrusion in the vertical direction (Y direction).

  On the other hand, a laminating apparatus 10 according to this embodiment is provided between an upper chamber 1 having a diaphragm 3, a lower chamber 2 having a heater panel 4, and an upper chamber 1 and a lower chamber 2. Conveying sheet 9 to be conveyed, supporting part 11 for supporting conveying sheet 9, and elevating mechanism for raising or lowering supporting part 11 (support plate 12, shaft 21, first arm 22, bearing 23, bearing 25, and second Arm 31) and a drive unit (cylinder 13) that is provided on the side surface (first side surface S1) of the lower chamber 2 and drives the lifting mechanism. Thereby, the cylinder 13 does not become a protrusion in the vertical direction (Y direction). That is, the laminating apparatus 10 is smaller in the vertical direction (Y direction) than the laminating apparatus of FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the laminating apparatus 10 can cope with multi-stages in the vertical direction (Y direction).

  In the present embodiment, the bottom surface of the drive unit (cylinder 13) is provided at a position higher than the lower surface of the lower chamber 2, and the upper surface of the drive unit (cylinder 13) is lower than the upper surface of the lower chamber 2. Provided in position. Since the bottom surface of the drive unit (cylinder 13) is higher than the lower surface of the lower chamber 2, the laminating apparatus 10 can cope with multi-stages in the vertical direction (Y direction). Moreover, since the upper surface of the drive unit (cylinder 13) is lower than the upper surface of the lower chamber 2, the drive unit (cylinder 13) does not interfere with the user's work (for example, maintenance).

  In the present embodiment, the elevating mechanism includes one or more first arms 22 that move the support portion 11 in the direction of ascending or descending, and a shaft 21 that rotates the starting point of the one or more first arms 22. The drive unit (cylinder 13) may rotationally drive the shaft 21. Thereby, the deflection of the support plate 12 can be prevented. In addition, since the weight of the support plate 12 is distributed to the plurality of first arms 22, each first arm 22 can be made compact, and a drive unit (cylinder 13) that drives the first arm 22. Can also be made compact.

  In the present embodiment, the elevating mechanism may further include a second arm 31 that converts the driving force of the driving unit (cylinder 13) into the rotational force of the shaft 21. Thereby, a raising / lowering mechanism is realizable using a simple structure.

  In the present embodiment, the elevating mechanism further includes a friction reducing member (bearing 23) that is connected to the distal end portion of the first arm 22 and reduces the friction force when the support portion 11 is raised or lowered. good. Thereby, abrasion of the support part 11 and the 1st arm 22 can be prevented.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the elevating mechanism has a plurality of first arms 22 that respectively move the support portion 11 in the direction in which the support portion 11 is raised or lowered, and a fulcrum of the corresponding first arm 22 among the plurality of first arms 22. And a plurality of shafts 21 to be rotated, and the drive unit (cylinder 13) may rotationally drive the plurality of shafts 21. Thereby, the support part 11 can be raised or lowered smoothly. Further, various parts such as the cylinder 13 and the friction reducing member (bearing 23) can be made compact.

  In the present embodiment, the drive unit (cylinder 13) may be provided for each of the plurality of shafts 21, and may include a plurality of rotation mechanisms that rotationally drive each shaft 21. Thereby, each drive part (cylinder 13) can be made compact, and the support part 11 can be raised or lowered smoothly.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the lifting mechanism is realized by the support plate 12, the shaft 21, the first arm 22, the bearing 23, the bearing 25, and the second arm 31 has been described. The range of is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lifting mechanism may be realized by the support plate 12, the shaft 21, and the cam 26. The shaft 21 penetrates a position separated from the center of the cam 26 by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction. That is, the center of the shaft 21 and the center of the cam 26 are shifted by a predetermined distance. Therefore, when the shaft 21 rotates, the cam 26 rotates about the shaft 21. Thereby, the support plate 12 moves in the vertical direction (Y direction). That is, the support plate 12 moves up and down according to the rotation direction of the shaft 21. For example, in FIG. 7, when the shaft 21 rotates counterclockwise, the support plate 12 rises, and when the shaft 21 rotates clockwise, the support plate 12 descends in the vertical direction (Y direction).

  Moreover, although this embodiment demonstrated the example provided with 1 set of raising / lowering mechanisms and the cylinder 13, the range of this invention is not restricted to this.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the laminating apparatus 10 includes a plurality of lifting mechanisms (support plate 12, shaft 21, first arm 22, bearing 23, bearing 25, and second arm 31) and cylinder 13. Also good. Thereby, each drive part (cylinder 13) can be made compact, and the support part 11 can be raised or lowered smoothly.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the laminating apparatus 10 combines a plurality of sets of lifting mechanisms (not shown) and cylinders 13, and each set of lifting mechanisms and cylinders 13, and provides rotational force between the plurality of shafts 21. A link 33 (rotational force transmission member) for transmission may be provided. In this case, when one shaft of the plurality of lifting mechanisms rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the shafts of the other lifting mechanisms by the link 33. That is, each set of lifting mechanisms is linked. Therefore, the rotation amounts of the shafts of the lifting mechanisms in each set are equal to each other. As a result, the first arms of the lifting mechanisms of each set rotate simultaneously. Thereby, even if the number of drive parts (cylinder 13) is smaller than the number of raising / lowering mechanisms, the support plate 12 raises / lowers smoothly in a perpendicular direction (Y direction), without inclining. The number of driving units (cylinders 13) may be any number.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the drive unit is the pneumatic cylinder 13 has been described, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. The cylinder 13 may be a hydraulic type. The driving unit may be a rotary actuator or an electric motor.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It deform | transforms and implements a component in the range which does not deviate from the summary. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, you may delete a some component from all the components shown by embodiment mentioned above. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper chamber 2 Lower chamber 3 Diaphragm 4 Heater board 5 Support | pillar 9 Conveyance sheet 10 Laminating apparatus 11 Support part 12 Support plate 13 Cylinder 14 Electromagnetic valve 16 Stopper 21 Shaft 22 1st arm 23 Bearing 24 Seal 25 Bearing 26 Cam 31 2nd arm 32 Cylinder rod 33 Link M Laminated body S1 1st side S2 2nd side

Claims (8)

An upper chamber with a diaphragm;
A lower chamber with a heater panel;
A conveyance sheet that is provided between the upper chamber and the lower chamber and conveys a laminate;
A support portion for supporting the transport sheet;
An elevating mechanism for raising or lowering the support part;
A drive unit provided on a side surface of the lower chamber and driving the lifting mechanism;
A laminating apparatus characterized by that.   The laminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the driving unit is provided at a position higher than a lower surface of the lower chamber, and an upper surface of the driving unit is provided at a position lower than the upper surface of the lower chamber. The elevating mechanism includes one or more first arms that respectively move the support portion in a direction of raising or lowering, and a shaft that rotates a fulcrum of the one or more first arms,
The drive unit rotationally drives the shaft;
The laminating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The elevating mechanism further includes a second arm that converts a driving force of the driving unit into a rotational force of the shaft.
The laminating apparatus according to claim 3. The elevating mechanism further includes a friction reducing member that is connected to a distal end portion of the first arm and reduces a friction force when the support portion is raised or lowered.
The laminating apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. The elevating mechanism includes a plurality of first arms that respectively move the support portion in a direction in which the support portion is raised or lowered, and a plurality of shafts that respectively rotate fulcrums of corresponding first arms among the plurality of first arms. Prepared,
The drive unit rotationally drives the plurality of shafts;
The laminating apparatus according to claim 1.   The laminating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the driving unit further includes a rotational force transmitting member that transmits rotational force between the plurality of shafts.   The laminating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the drive unit is provided for each of the plurality of shafts and includes a plurality of rotation mechanisms that rotationally drive the shafts.

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