JP2018046198A - String manufacturing method and string manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a string manufacturing method and a string manufacturing apparatus capable of preventing breakdown of solar cell.SOLUTION: A laminate 10 laminating a solar cell 1 and wiring material 2 via flux is transported on a transport table 31. The transported laminate 10 is heated in a heating section 4 and after the bonding layer of the wiring material 2 is melted, the laminate 10 is cooled thus bonding the solar cell 1 and wiring material 2 (bonding step). After the solar cell 1 and wiring material 2 are bonded, the laminate 10 is separated from the transport table 31 (separation step). The laminate 10 separated from the transport table 31 is placed again on the transport table 31 and transported (placement step). In the separation step, the laminate 10 is separated from the transport table 31 in a temperature range lower than the melt temperature of the bonding layer, and higher than the solidification temperature of the non-volatile component of flux. In the placement step, the laminate 10 having a temperature lower than the solidification temperature of the non-volatile component of flux is placed on the transport table 31 again and transported.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a string by connecting a plurality of solar cells via a wiring material.

  Since the solar cell used for photovoltaic power generation has a small output per sheet, a string is manufactured by connecting a plurality of solar cells in series via wiring materials called tab wires or interconnectors. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 to 3 below). The wiring material is connected by soldering to the electrodes provided on the light receiving surface and the back surface of each solar battery cell.

  A flux is applied to the surface of each solar cell electrode or wiring material in order to promote soldering. And in the state which the electrode and wiring material of each photovoltaic cell were laminated | stacked via the flux, it was conveyed on a conveyance stand as a laminated body, and the laminated body was heated in the conveyance process, and the joining layer (solder of wiring material) Layer) melts. Thereafter, by cooling the laminate, the bonding layer of the wiring material is fixed to the electrode, and the solar battery cell and the wiring material are bonded.

  By sequentially performing the above-described steps on a plurality of solar cells, a string in which the plurality of solar cells are connected via a wiring material can be manufactured. Then, the manufactured string is transferred from the transport table and sent to the next step.

JP 2008-192980 A Japanese Patent No. 4358651 International Publication No. 2005/096396

  During the manufacture of the string, the non-volatile component of the flux may solidify and adhere to the transport table. In particular, when the string is repeatedly manufactured over a long period of time, the amount of the non-volatile component of the flux that adheres to the transport table increases.

  The non-volatile component of the flux adhering to the transport table reaches the melting point when the laminate is heated and melts, and then solidifies by being cooled. Therefore, the carrier and the laminate are fixed via the nonvolatile component of the flux, and when the manufactured string is transferred from the carrier, the solar cells constituting the laminate may be damaged. is there.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, and it aims at providing the string manufacturing method and string manufacturing apparatus which can prevent the failure | damage of a photovoltaic cell.

  A string manufacturing method according to the present invention is a method of manufacturing a string by connecting a plurality of solar cells via a wiring material, and includes a transporting process, a joining process, a separating process, and a placing process. Including. In the transporting step, the stacked body in which the solar battery cells and the wiring material are stacked via a flux is transported on a transport base. In the joining step, the laminated body to be conveyed is heated to melt the joining layer of the wiring member, and then the laminated body is cooled to join the solar battery cell and the wiring member. In the separation step, the stacked body after the solar battery cell and the wiring member are joined is separated from the carrier. In the placing step, the stacked body separated from the transport table is again placed on the transport table and transported. In the separation step, the laminated body is separated from the transport table within a temperature range lower than the melting temperature of the bonding layer and higher than the temperature at which the nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified. In the placing step, the laminated body that has reached a temperature equal to or lower than a temperature at which the nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified is placed on the transporting table again and transported.

  The string manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus that manufactures a string by connecting a plurality of solar cells via a wiring material, and includes a transport mechanism and a heating unit. The said conveyance mechanism conveys the laminated body on which the said photovoltaic cell and the said wiring material were laminated | stacked via the flux on a conveyance stand. The said heating part heats the said laminated body conveyed, and fuses the joining layer of the said wiring material. The transport mechanism has a temperature lower than a melting temperature of the bonding layer after the solar battery cell and the wiring material are bonded by cooling the stacked body, and the nonvolatile component of the flux is The laminate is separated from the transport table within a temperature range higher than the temperature at which it solidifies, and the laminate that has reached a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature at which the non-volatile component of the flux solidifies is placed on the transport table again. To transport.

  According to the present invention, after the solar battery cell and the wiring material are joined by cooling the heated laminate, the temperature is lower than the melting temperature of the joining layer and the non-volatile component of the flux is solidified. In addition, since the stacked body is separated from the transport table within a high temperature range, the transport table and the stacked body are not fixed via the nonvolatile component of the flux. Therefore, when transferring the manufactured string from a conveyance stand, it can prevent that a photovoltaic cell is damaged.

It is the schematic side view which showed the structural example of the string manufacturing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view of the string manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1A. It is the schematic side view which showed the structural example of the string manufacturing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view of the string manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 2A. It is the schematic side view which showed the structural example of the string manufacturing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view of the string manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is the schematic side view which showed the structural example of the string manufacturing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view of the string manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 4A.

1. First Embodiment FIG. 1A is a schematic side view showing a configuration example of a string manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a schematic plan view of the string manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1A. The string manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus for manufacturing a string extending in a straight line by connecting a plurality of solar cells 1 in series with a wiring member 2. In this example, a case where nine solar cells 1 are connected by the wiring member 2 will be described. However, the number of solar cells 1 may be eight or less, or may be ten or more. .

  The several photovoltaic cell 1 is conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 3 along the conveyance direction D extended on a straight line by planar view. The plurality of solar cells 1 are connected to each other via the wiring member 2 in the process of being transported by the transport mechanism 3, and a string extending in a straight line along the transport direction D is manufactured.

  The photovoltaic cell 1 is formed in a plate shape, and one surface thereof constitutes a light receiving surface. Electrodes (not shown) are respectively provided on the light receiving surface and the back surface of the solar battery cell 1, and the electrodes of the adjacent solar battery cells 1 are electrically connected to each other through the wiring member 2. More specifically, the solar cells 1 adjacent to each other connect the electrode on the light receiving surface of one solar cell 1 and the electrode on the back surface of the other solar cell 1 with the wiring member 2. The wiring members 2 are connected to each other.

  The wiring member 2 is composed of a metal wire called a tab wire or an interconnector. A plurality of wiring members 2 (two in this example) are connected to the light receiving surface and the back surface of each solar cell 1. Each wiring member 2 extends along the transport direction D in plan view. Each wiring member 2 is individually connected to the light receiving surface and the back electrode of each solar cell 1 by soldering.

  A flux is applied in advance to a contact surface of each wiring member 2 with respect to the solar battery cell 1 or a contact surface of each electrode of the solar battery cell 1 with respect to the wiring member 2. The flux is a flux added to facilitate melting of the substance, and includes a volatile component and a nonvolatile component, and has a function of promoting soldering. Thereby, the photovoltaic cell 1 and the wiring material 2 are conveyed on the conveyance stand 31 comprised by the conveyance mechanism 3 as the laminated body 10 laminated | stacked via the flux (conveyance process), and the sun is in the conveyance process. The battery cell 1 and the wiring material 2 are soldered.

  The transport mechanism 3 includes an endless transport belt 33 that is wound around a plurality of rotating rollers 32. In the present embodiment, a plurality of conveyor belts 33 are wound around the rotation rollers 32 extending in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction D so as to extend in the conveyance direction D. Thus, the plurality of conveyor belts 33 are arranged in parallel in a plan view, and the surface (outer peripheral surface) of each conveyor belt 33 constitutes the conveyor table 31.

  At least one of the plurality of rotating rollers 32 is a driving roller that is rotationally driven, and each of the conveyor belts 33 is rotated along with the rotation of the driving roller, whereby the stacked body 10 on the conveyor table 31 is conveyed in the conveying direction D. It is conveyed along. The transport of the laminate 10 by the transport mechanism 3 may be performed continuously or intermittently.

  In the present embodiment, among the plurality of transport belts 33, some of the transport belts (first belts) 33 directly support and transport the solar cells 1, and the remaining transport belts (second belts) 33 are wiring members. The solar battery cell 1 is supported and conveyed via 2. That is, the conveyance stand 31 constituted by a plurality of conveyance belts 33 includes a conveyance stand 31A that contacts the solar cells 1 formed on the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the first belt, and the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the second belt. And the carrier 31 </ b> B that contacts the wiring member 2 formed in the above and does not contact the solar battery cell 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, a heating unit 4 for heating the stacked body 10 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction D of the transport mechanism 3. The heating unit 4 is configured to include a heater, for example, and heats the stacked body 10 transported on the transport base 31. The heating unit 4 heats the stacked body 10 at a temperature at which the bonding layer (solder layer) formed on the outer surface of the wiring member 2 can be melted. The bonding layer of the wiring material 2 melted by the heating of the heating unit 4 is then cooled and solidified, so that the wiring material 2 is fixed to the electrode of the solar battery cell 1.

  As described above, after the bonding layer of the wiring material 2 is melted by the heating unit 4, the bonding step of cooling the stacked body 10 and bonding the solar battery cell 1 and the wiring material 2 is conveyed on the conveyance table 31. It carries out sequentially with respect to the some laminated body 10 (refer FIG. 1A). In the present embodiment, the laminated body 10 is configured to be naturally cooled. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the laminated body after the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 is melted by the heating unit 4 is a fan or the like. It may be configured to be used and forcibly cooled.

  In the present embodiment, in order to separate the stacked body 10 after the joining process from the transport table 31, a part of the transport table 31 is recessed downward. Specifically, among the plurality of transport belts 33, a part of the transport belt 33 constituting the transport base 31 </ b> B that contacts the wiring member 2 is pushed downward by the tension roller 34. Thereby, as shown to FIG. 1A, the non-contact part 35 which does not contact the laminated body 10 is formed in the conveyance stand 31B.

  The laminated body 10 after the solar battery cell 1 and the wiring member 2 are joined by the joining step is separated from the carrier 31B by being conveyed without being in contact with the non-contact portion 35 (a separation step). At this time, the carrier 31 </ b> A in contact with the solar battery cell 1 remains in contact with the solar battery cell 1. Therefore, during the separation step, the stacked body 10 is transported in the transport direction D by the transport base 31 </ b> A that contacts the solar battery cell 1, and the transport base 31 </ b> B is not in contact with the wiring material 2 during that time.

  After passing the upper part of the non-contact part 35, the laminated body 10 contacts the whole conveyance stand 31 (the conveyance stand 31A and the conveyance stand 31B) again. Thus, the laminated body 10 is stably conveyed by placing and conveying the laminated body 10 on the conveyance stand 31B again (placement process). A string is manufactured by performing a joining process, a separation process, and a mounting process for all the laminated bodies 10 constituting the string, and the manufactured string is transferred from the transport table 31 to another position.

  In the separation step, the laminated body 10 is separated from the transport base 31B within a temperature range lower than the melting temperature of the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 and higher than the temperature at which the nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified. Therefore, when moving from the bonding step to the separation step, the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 is solidified and fixed to the electrode of the solar battery cell 1, but the nonvolatile component of the flux is not solidified. Yes. The melting temperature of the bonding layer (solder layer) of the wiring member 2 is, for example, about 200 to 300 ° C. Moreover, the said temperature range (The temperature range when separating the laminated body 10 from the conveyance stand 31B) is 80-200 degreeC, for example, More preferably, it is 150-200 degreeC.

  During the separation step, the stacked body 10 is cooled. Thereafter, when moving from the separation step to the placement step, the laminated body 10 having a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature at which the non-volatile component of the flux is solidified is again placed on the carriage 31B and conveyed. Therefore, the non-volatile component of the flux is solidified during the separation step, and the transport table 31B and the laminate 10 (wiring material 2) are not fixed via the non-volatile component of the flux. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the solar battery cell 1 from being damaged when the manufactured string is transferred from the transport base 31.

  In particular, in this embodiment, a part of the conveyance belt 33 pushed down by the tension roller 34 is gradually depressed to form a non-contact portion 35 as shown in FIG. 1A. That is, the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the conveyor belt 33 at the start portion of the non-contact portion 35 is a tapered surface 351 inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Thereby, since it can peel gradually from the conveyance stand 31B when moving to a separation | spacing process from a joining process, it can prevent effectively that the photovoltaic cell 1 is damaged.

  The distance in the conveyance direction D while the laminated body 10 is separated from the conveyance table 31B is not particularly limited as long as the nonvolatile component of the flux can be solidified during the separation process. However, for example, it is preferable that the distance is longer than the width of one solar cell 1 and shorter than the width of three. More specifically, the distance may be approximately the same as the width of two solar cells 1. In this case, the distance is 20 to 30 cm, and the conveyance time is about 5 seconds.

2. Second Embodiment FIG. 2A is a schematic side view showing a configuration example of a string manufacturing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a schematic plan view of the string manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 2A. In the present embodiment, only the configuration of the transport mechanism 3 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the configuration of the stacked body 10 (solar cell 1 and wiring member 2) is the same as that of the first embodiment. About the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to a figure and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the transport mechanism 3 in the present embodiment, a plurality of transport belts 33 arranged in parallel in a plan view are divided into two belts along the transport direction D, respectively. Thereby, the group of transport belts 33 located on the upstream side in the transport direction D and the group of transport belts 33 located on the downstream side in the transport direction D are provided separately. The transport belts 33 of each group are wound around a plurality of rotating rollers 32 extending in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction D.

  Each rotating roller 32 is configured to rotate in synchronization, and the upstream and downstream transport belts 33 in the transport direction D transport the stacked body 10 in the transport direction D at the same speed. The transport of the laminate 10 by the transport mechanism 3 may be performed continuously or intermittently.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 2A, the transport table 31 including the plurality of transport belts 33 includes the first transport surface 311 formed on the surface (outer peripheral surface) of each upstream transport belt 33 and the downstream side. And a second transport surface 312 formed on the surface (outer peripheral surface) of each transport belt 33. The 1st conveyance surface 311 and the 2nd conveyance surface 312 are mutually spaced apart along the conveyance direction D of the laminated body 10, and the space S is formed in between.

  The heating unit 4 is provided on the upstream side of the first transport surface 311 and heats the stacked body 10 transported on the first transport surface 311. The heating unit 4 heats the stacked body 10 at a temperature at which the bonding layer (solder layer) formed on the outer surface of the wiring member 2 can be melted. The bonding layer of the wiring material 2 melted by the heating of the heating unit 4 is then cooled and solidified in the process of being transported on the first transport surface 311 so that the wiring material 2 is fixed to the electrode of the solar battery cell 1. Is done.

  As described above, after the bonding layer of the wiring material 2 is melted by the heating unit 4, the bonding process of cooling the stacked body 10 and bonding the solar battery cell 1 and the wiring material 2 is carried on the first conveyance surface 311. It carries out sequentially with respect to the several laminated body 10 (refer FIG. 2A). In the present embodiment, the laminated body 10 is configured to be naturally cooled. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the laminated body after the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 is melted by the heating unit 4 is a fan or the like. It may be configured to be used and forcibly cooled.

  The stacked body 10 after the solar battery cell 1 and the wiring member 2 are joined by the joining process is sent from the first transport surface 311 to the second transport surface 312. The length of the space S along the transport direction D is shorter than the width of one solar cell 1, for example. The stacked body 10 is separated from the conveyance table 31 by being conveyed in the space S between the first conveyance surface 311 and the second conveyance surface 312 (a separation step).

  The laminated body 10 contacts the second transport surface 312 after passing over the space S. In this way, the stacked body 10 is stably transported by placing the stacked body 10 on the transport table 31 again and transporting the stacked body 10 (mounting process). A string is manufactured by performing a joining process, a separation process, and a placing process for all the laminated bodies 10 constituting the string, and the manufactured string is located at a different position from the transfer table 31 (on the second transfer surface 312). To be transferred.

  In the separation step, the laminate 10 is separated from the first transport surface 311 within a temperature range lower than the melting temperature of the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 and higher than the temperature at which the nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified. Therefore, when moving from the bonding step to the separation step, the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 is solidified and fixed to the electrode of the solar battery cell 1, but the nonvolatile component of the flux is not solidified. Yes. The melting temperature of the bonding layer (solder layer) of the wiring member 2 is, for example, about 200 to 300 ° C. Moreover, the said temperature range (The temperature range when separating the laminated body 10 from the 1st conveyance surface 311) is 80-200 degreeC, for example, More preferably, it is 150-200 degreeC.

  During the separation step, the stacked body 10 is cooled. Thereafter, when moving from the separation step to the placement step, the laminate 10 having a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature at which the non-volatile component of the flux is solidified is again placed on the second transport surface 312 and transported. Therefore, the nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified during the separation step, and the transport table 31 and the laminate 10 (wiring member 2) are not fixed via the nonvolatile component of the flux. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the solar battery cell 1 from being damaged when the manufactured string is transferred from the transport base 31.

3. Third Embodiment FIG. 3A is a schematic side view showing a configuration example of a string manufacturing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a schematic plan view of the string manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 3A. In the present embodiment, only the configuration of the transport mechanism 3 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the configuration of the stacked body 10 (solar cell 1 and wiring member 2) is the same as that of the first embodiment. About the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to a figure and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the transport mechanism 3 in this embodiment, a part of the transport belt 33 is not pushed down by the tension roller 34 as in the first embodiment, and a flat transport base 31 is formed from the upstream side to the downstream side. The transport of the laminate 10 by the transport mechanism 3 may be performed continuously or intermittently.

  In the present embodiment, a support body 36 that pushes up the laminated body 10 from below is provided in order to separate the laminated body 10 after the joining process from the transport base 31. The support 36 is provided in a gap between the plurality of transport belts 33, and the upper surface thereof protrudes upward from the transport base 31.

  The heating unit 4 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction D in the transport mechanism 3 and heats the stacked body 10 transported on the transport base 31. The heating unit 4 heats the stacked body 10 at a temperature at which the bonding layer (solder layer) formed on the outer surface of the wiring member 2 can be melted. The bonding layer of the wiring member 2 melted by the heating of the heating unit 4 is cooled and solidified in the process of being conveyed to the support 36 thereafter, whereby the wiring member 2 is fixed to the electrode of the solar battery cell 1.

  As described above, after the bonding layer of the wiring material 2 is melted by the heating unit 4, the bonding step of cooling the stacked body 10 and bonding the solar battery cell 1 and the wiring material 2 is conveyed on the conveyance table 31. The process is sequentially performed on the plurality of stacked bodies 10 (see FIG. 3A). In the present embodiment, the laminated body 10 is configured to be naturally cooled. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the laminated body after the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 is melted by the heating unit 4 is a fan or the like. It may be configured to be used and forcibly cooled.

  The laminated body 10 after the solar battery cell 1 and the wiring member 2 are joined by the joining step is separated from the carrier 31 by being conveyed along the upper surface of the support 36 (separation step). At this time, the upper surface of the support 36 directly supports the solar battery cell 1 from below and does not contact the wiring member 2. Therefore, during the separation step, the stacked body 10 is transported in the transport direction D by the support 36 that is in contact with the solar battery cell 1, and during that time, the transport base 31 is not in contact with the wiring member 2.

  After the laminated body 10 is conveyed along the upper surface of the support 36, it comes into contact with the conveyance table 31 again. In this way, the stacked body 10 is stably transported by placing the stacked body 10 on the transport table 31 again and transporting the stacked body 10 (mounting process). A string is manufactured by performing a joining process, a separation process, and a mounting process for all the laminated bodies 10 constituting the string, and the manufactured string is transferred from the transport table 31 to another position. The upstream end and the downstream end on the upper surface of the support 36 smoothly carry the laminate 10 from the joining process to the separating process and the laminate 10 from the separating process to the placing process. Thus, it is preferable that each is formed by a tapered surface.

  In the separation step, the stacked body 10 is separated from the transport base 31 within a temperature range lower than the melting temperature of the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 and higher than the temperature at which the nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified. Therefore, when moving from the bonding step to the separation step, the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 is solidified and fixed to the electrode of the solar battery cell 1, but the nonvolatile component of the flux is not solidified. Yes. The melting temperature of the bonding layer (solder layer) of the wiring member 2 is, for example, about 200 to 300 ° C. Moreover, the said temperature range (The temperature range when separating the laminated body 10 from the conveyance stand 31) is 80-200 degreeC, for example, More preferably, it is 150-200 degreeC.

  During the separation step, the stacked body 10 is cooled. Thereafter, when moving from the separation step to the placement step, the laminate 10 having a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature at which the non-volatile component of the flux is solidified is again placed on the carriage 31 and conveyed. Therefore, the nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified during the separation step, and the transport table 31 and the laminate 10 (wiring member 2) are not fixed via the nonvolatile component of the flux. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the solar battery cell 1 from being damaged when the manufactured string is transferred from the transport base 31.

  The distance in the conveyance direction D while the laminate 10 is separated from the conveyance table 31 is not particularly limited as long as the non-volatile component of the flux can be solidified during the separation process. However, for example, it is preferable that the distance is longer than the width of one solar cell 1 and shorter than the width of three. More specifically, the distance may be approximately the same as the width of two solar cells 1. In this case, the distance is 20 to 30 cm, and the conveyance time is about 5 seconds.

4). Fourth Embodiment FIG. 4A is a schematic side view showing a configuration example of a string manufacturing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view of the string manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 4A. In the present embodiment, only the configuration of the transport mechanism 3 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the configuration of the stacked body 10 (solar cell 1 and wiring member 2) is the same as that of the first embodiment. About the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to a figure and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the transport mechanism 3 in this embodiment, a part of the transport belt 33 is not pushed down by the tension roller 34 as in the first embodiment, and a flat transport base 31 is formed from the upstream side to the downstream side. The stack 10 is transported intermittently by the transport mechanism 3.

  In the present embodiment, an adsorption mechanism 37 that adsorbs and lifts the laminated body 10 from above is provided in order to separate the laminated body 10 after the joining process from the transport base 31. The suction mechanism 37 is positioned above the transport table 31 on the downstream side of the heating unit 4, and individually sucks each stacked body 10 and lifts it above the transport table 31. After the movement, the stacked bodies 10 can be sequentially placed on the transport table 31 to release the suction. Such adsorption, movement, and release of the stacked body 10 by the suction mechanism 37 are repeatedly performed in a section from a predetermined start position to an end position on the transport base 31, so that the stack 10 is transported within the section. It will be in the state separated from 31.

  The heating unit 4 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction D in the transport mechanism 3 and heats the stacked body 10 transported on the transport base 31. The heating unit 4 heats the stacked body 10 at a temperature at which the bonding layer (solder layer) formed on the outer surface of the wiring member 2 can be melted. The bonding layer of the wiring member 2 melted by the heating of the heating unit 4 is cooled and solidified in the process until it is subsequently lifted by the adsorption mechanism 37, so that the wiring member 2 is fixed to the electrode of the solar battery cell 1. .

  As described above, after the bonding layer of the wiring material 2 is melted by the heating unit 4, the bonding step of cooling the stacked body 10 and bonding the solar battery cell 1 and the wiring material 2 is conveyed on the conveyance table 31. It carries out sequentially with respect to the several laminated body 10 (refer FIG. 4A). In the present embodiment, the laminated body 10 is configured to be naturally cooled. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the laminated body after the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 is melted by the heating unit 4 is a fan or the like. It may be configured to be used and forcibly cooled.

  The stacked body 10 after the solar battery cell 1 and the wiring member 2 are joined by the joining process is separated from the transport base 31 by being attracted and lifted by the adsorption mechanism 37 (separation process). During the separation process, the stacked body 10 is transported to the downstream side while being lifted by the suction mechanism 37, so that the transport base 31 is not in contact with the wiring member 2.

  The stacked body 10 is transported to the downstream side while being lifted by the suction mechanism 37 and then placed on the transport base 31 again, and the suction by the suction mechanism 37 is released. In this way, the stacked body 10 is stably transported by placing the stacked body 10 on the transport table 31 again and transporting the stacked body 10 (mounting process). A string is manufactured by performing a joining process, a separation process, and a mounting process for all the laminated bodies 10 constituting the string, and the manufactured string is transferred from the transport table 31 to another position.

  In the separation step, the stacked body 10 is separated from the transport base 31 within a temperature range lower than the melting temperature of the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 and higher than the temperature at which the nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified. Therefore, when moving from the bonding step to the separation step, the bonding layer of the wiring member 2 is solidified and fixed to the electrode of the solar battery cell 1, but the nonvolatile component of the flux is not solidified. Yes. The melting temperature of the bonding layer (solder layer) of the wiring member 2 is, for example, about 200 to 300 ° C. Moreover, the said temperature range (The temperature range when separating the laminated body 10 from the conveyance stand 31) is 80-200 degreeC, for example, More preferably, it is 150-200 degreeC.

  During the separation step, the stacked body 10 is cooled. Thereafter, when moving from the separation step to the placement step, the laminate 10 having a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature at which the non-volatile component of the flux is solidified is again placed on the carriage 31 and conveyed. Therefore, the nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified during the separation step, and the transport table 31 and the laminate 10 (wiring member 2) are not fixed via the nonvolatile component of the flux. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the solar battery cell 1 from being damaged when the manufactured string is transferred from the transport base 31.

  The distance in the conveyance direction D while the laminate 10 is separated from the conveyance table 31 is not particularly limited as long as the non-volatile component of the flux can be solidified during the separation process. However, for example, it is preferable that the distance is longer than the width of one solar cell 1 and shorter than the width of three. More specifically, the distance may be approximately the same as the width of two solar cells 1. In this case, the distance is 20 to 30 cm, and the conveyance time is about 5 seconds.

5. Modified Example In the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the fourth embodiment, the configuration in which a plurality of conveying belts 33 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction D has been described as in the first embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the belts 33 may be configured as one endless belt by integrally forming the conveyance belts 33 extending in parallel with each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Solar cell 2 Wiring material 3 Conveyance mechanism 4 Heating part 10 Laminated body 31,31A, 31B Conveyance stand 32 Rotating roller 33 Conveyor belt 34 Tension roller 35 Non-contact part 36 Support body 37 Adsorption mechanism 311 1st conveyance surface 312 2nd Conveying surface 351 Tapered surface

Claims (8)

A method of manufacturing a string by connecting a plurality of solar cells via a wiring material,
A transporting step of transporting a stacked body in which the solar battery cell and the wiring material are stacked via a flux on a transporting platform;
After the laminated body to be conveyed is heated to melt the bonding layer of the wiring material, by cooling the laminated body, the bonding step of bonding the solar cell and the wiring material,
A separation step of separating the stacked body after the solar battery cell and the wiring member are joined from the carrier;
Including a placing step of placing and transporting the stacked body separated from the carrying table again on the carrying table,
In the separation step, the laminated body is separated from the transport table within a temperature range lower than a melting temperature of the bonding layer and higher than a temperature at which a nonvolatile component of the flux is solidified,
In the placing step, the string manufacturing method is characterized in that the laminated body having a temperature equal to or lower than a temperature at which the non-volatile component of the flux is solidified is placed on the transporting table again and transported.   The said temperature range is 80-200 degreeC, The string manufacturing method of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The transport table is constituted by the surface of a rotating endless transport belt, and a non-contact portion that does not contact the laminate is formed by pressing down a part of the transport belt,
3. The string manufacturing according to claim 1, wherein in the separation step, the stacked body is separated from the transport table by being transported in a state where the stacked body is not in contact with the non-contact portion. Method. The conveyor belt includes a first belt that contacts the solar battery cell and a second belt that contacts the wiring member,
The string manufacturing method according to claim 3, wherein the non-contact portion is formed on the second belt. The transport table has a first transport surface and a second transport surface that are separated from each other along the transport direction of the laminate,
The said separation process WHEREIN: The said laminated body is spaced apart from the said conveyance stand by the said laminated body being conveyed in the space between a said 1st conveyance surface and a said 2nd conveyance surface. 3. The string manufacturing method according to 1 or 2.   3. The string manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein in the separation step, the stacked body is separated from the transport table by being pushed up from below.   3. The string manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein in the separation step, the stacked body is separated from the transport table by being attracted and lifted from above. An apparatus for manufacturing a string by connecting a plurality of solar cells via a wiring material,
A transport mechanism for transporting a stacked body in which the solar battery cell and the wiring material are stacked via a flux on a transport base;
A heating unit that heats the transported laminate and melts the bonding layer of the wiring member,
The transport mechanism has a temperature lower than a melting temperature of the bonding layer after the solar battery cell and the wiring material are bonded by cooling the stacked body, and the nonvolatile component of the flux is The laminate is separated from the transport table within a temperature range higher than the temperature at which it solidifies, and the laminate that has reached a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature at which the non-volatile component of the flux solidifies is placed on the transport table again. A string manufacturing apparatus characterized by being conveyed.

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