WO2020189418A1 - Method for manufacturing solar cell module, and apparatus for manufacturing solar cell module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a solar cell module in which defects are less likely to occur in a solar cell when connecting wiring members, and also to an apparatus for manufacturing a solar cell module that is to be used in such a method for manufacturing a solar cell module. A method for manufacturing a solar cell module having a solar cell and a wiring member, the solar cell being connected to the wiring member, wherein the solar cell has a width and extends in a predetermined direction, and the length in the predetermined direction is larger than the length in the width direction; the solar cell has a connection electrode (30) that connects the wiring member; the connection electrode (30) is provided in a range of 40% of the entire length of the solar cell from an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell; and the method comprises a placement step for forming the overlapping portion (160) by overlapping the wiring member on the connection electrode (30), and a wiring connecting step for connecting the wiring member to the connection electrode (30) by pressing at least the overlapping portion (160) with a pressing member (90).

Description

Solar cell module manufacturing method and solar cell module manufacturing equipment

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a solar cell module and a device for manufacturing a solar cell module.

In recent years, solar cell modules have been attracting attention as an energy source with a low environmental load.
A solar cell module is generally formed by sealing a plurality of solar cell cells between a glass substrate and a back sheet. For example, a crystalline silicon solar cell module has a structure in which a plurality of solar cell cells are electrically connected by wiring members such as tab wires to form a cell row, and the cell row is sealed inside.

Patent Document 1 discloses a solar cell connection device (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a connection device) that connects two tab wires to such a solar cell. The connection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of upper and lower thermocompression bonding heads, and the pair of thermocompression bonding heads can sandwich a plate-shaped solar cell from above and below.

Specifically, this connecting device connects one end side of the first tab wire to the bus bar electrode provided on the front surface side (upper side) of the solar cell, and at the same time, connects to the back surface side (lower side) of the same solar cell. It is a device capable of connecting one end side of the second tab wire to the provided back electrode.
When connecting the first tab wire and the second tab wire to the solar cell with this connection device, one end side of the first tab wire is arranged above the bus bar electrode of the solar cell in advance, and the same solar cell is used. It is assumed that one end side of the second tab line is arranged under the back electrode of the cell. At this time, each electrode and the tab wire are temporarily pressure-bonded with a conductive adhesive film arranged between them. Then, the solar cell is conveyed between two thermocompression bonding heads that stand by at positions separated from each other in the vertical direction, the two thermocompression bonding heads are brought close to the solar cell, and the solar cell is used by the two thermocompression bonding heads. The cell is sandwiched.

At this time, the two thermocompression bonding heads heat each tab wire to a predetermined temperature while pressing the tab wire with a predetermined pressure. As a result, the conductive adhesive film undergoes a thermosetting reaction, and each electrode and each tab wire are connected to each other.

Here, the connecting device of Patent Document 1 has a structure having a pair of upper and lower heat radiating heads at a position on the upstream side in the transport direction of the solar cell from the two thermocompression bonding heads. Then, when the tab wire is thermocompression bonded to the preceding downstream solar cell, the adjacent upstream solar cell is sandwiched between two heat dissipation heads to absorb and diffuse heat.

That is, when one end side of the tab wire is thermocompression bonded to the solar cell on the downstream side, heat is transferred to the other end side of the tab wire. Therefore, if the heat on the other end side of the tab wire is not absorbed and diffused, the temperature on the other end side of the tab wire that overlaps with the adjacent solar cell on the upstream side rises, and the conductivity that comes into contact with the other end side of the tab wire The sex adhesive film causes an unintended thermosetting reaction.
Therefore, in the connection device of Patent Document 1, the adjacent upstream solar cells are sandwiched between two heat radiating heads, and heat is absorbed and diffused to prevent the occurrence of such a problem.

Japanese Patent No. 5604236

Here, the solar cell in which the tab wire is connected by the connecting device of Patent Document 1 has a substantially square plate shape, and the connecting portion between the bus bar electrode and the back surface electrode connecting the tab wire is the solar cell. It extends from one end in the transport direction to the other end (or near the other end). The connection portions between the bus bar electrode and the back surface electrode are formed at two locations separated in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the solar cell.

Therefore, the thermocompression bonding heads of the above-mentioned connecting devices are separated from each other in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the solar cell from one end to the other end (or near the other end) in the same transport direction. The tab wire extending up to is heated and pressed.

However, when the tab wire is heated and pressed in this way, the heat at the time of heating is easily transferred to the entire solar cell through the tab wire, which is not preferable when considering the influence of heat on the solar cell. That is, in the above-mentioned connection device, the heat transferred to the upstream solar cell side adjacent to the downstream solar cell is radiated, but the heat transferred from the tab wire (wiring member) to the downstream solar cell. There was room for improvement from the viewpoint of reducing the influence of.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a solar cell module in which defects are unlikely to occur in the solar cell when the wiring members are connected. Further, the present invention relates to a solar cell module manufacturing apparatus used in such a solar cell module manufacturing method.

As a result of diligent studies by the present inventors in order to solve the above problems, the solar cell is formed into a shape that extends with a width in a predetermined direction, and a connection electrode for connecting a wiring member is provided on the end side thereof. I came up with a method of pressing the overlapping portion where the wiring members are overlapped.
That is, one aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is a method for manufacturing a solar cell module having a solar cell and a wiring member, and the solar cell is connected to the wiring member. The solar cell extends in a predetermined direction with a width, and the length in the predetermined direction is longer than the length in the width direction. The solar cell has a connection electrode for connecting the wiring member, and the connection electrode Is provided in a range from the end to 40% of the total length of the solar cell in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell, and is an arrangement step of superimposing the wiring member on the connection electrode to form an overlapping portion. , A method for manufacturing a solar cell module, which comprises a wiring connection step of pressing at least the superposed portion with a pressing member to connect the wiring member to the connection electrode.

According to this aspect, since the overlapping portion where the connection electrode of the solar cell and the wiring member overlap is formed only on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell, the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell is not pressed. Wiring members can be connected to the battery. Therefore, even when the superposed portion is pressed by the heated pressing member, heat is less likely to be transferred to the entire area of the solar cell, and adverse effects due to heat can be less likely to occur.
According to this aspect, it is not necessary to press the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell, and the pressing member can be miniaturized. Further, when the pressing member is heated, the amount of heat required is smaller than that when the large pressing member is heated, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

A preferred aspect is that in the wiring connection step, the superimposing portion and a portion adjacent to the superimposing portion are pressed by the pressing member to connect the wiring member to the connection electrode.

The "adjacent portion" here means an adjacent portion, and the "superimposing portion and the adjacent portion" are, for example, within 1/4 of the length in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell from the overlapping portion. The part of the range.

In a preferred aspect, the pressing member has a main pressing portion and a protruding portion, the main pressing portion has a pressing surface for pressing the overlapping portion, and the protruding portion is the pressing surface of the main pressing portion. In the wiring connection step, the pressing surface of the main pressing portion presses the wiring member of the superimposing portion, and the protruding portion is connected to the superimposing portion of the solar cell. To contact or approach a part of the cell.

A more preferable aspect is that the protruding portion has a flat surface portion having a planar spread on the end surface in the protruding direction, and in the wiring connection step, the pressing surface of the main pressing portion and the wiring member of the overlapping portion are formed. The surface contact is made, and the flat surface portion of the protruding portion and the solar cell are in contact with each other.

In a preferred aspect, the solar cell has a first main surface and a second main surface, and in the wiring connection step, the pressing member is brought close to the superimposing portion from the first main surface side to superimpose the solar cell. The portion is pressed, and the superposed portion is not pressed from the second main surface side.

A preferred aspect is a method of manufacturing a solar cell module having a second solar cell, the solar cell and the second solar cell being electrically connected by the wiring member, the second solar cell. The cell extends in a predetermined direction with a width, the length in the predetermined direction is longer than the length in the width direction, and the second solar cell has a second connection electrode for connecting the wiring member. The second connection electrode is provided in a range from the end to 40% of the total length of the second solar cell in the longitudinal direction of the second solar cell, and in the arrangement step, the second connection electrode is provided with the solar cell. , The wiring member and the second solar cell are arranged in this order, the first overlapping portion where the connection electrode of the solar cell and the wiring member overlap, and the second connection of the second solar cell. A second superimposing portion on which the electrode and the wiring member overlap is formed, and in the wiring connection step, the pressing member presses the first superimposing portion from the wiring member side and does not press from the solar cell side. Moreover, the pressing member presses the second overlapping portion from the second solar cell side and does not press the wiring member side.

A preferred aspect further comprises a transport step of transporting the solar cell and the wiring member to the vicinity of the pressing member by a transport device, which is performed prior to the wiring connection step, the transport device having flexibility. It has a transport unit, and can be transported by placing the solar cell and the wiring member on the transport unit and moving the transport unit. In the wiring connection step, the solar cell and the wiring member are mounted. The pressing member presses the solar cell and the wiring member toward the transporting portion while being mounted on the transporting portion.

A preferred aspect is a method of manufacturing a solar cell module having a second solar cell, the solar cell and the second solar cell being electrically connected by the wiring member, the second solar cell. The cell extends in a predetermined direction with a width, and the length in the predetermined direction is longer than the length in the width direction. In the arrangement step, the solar cell, the wiring member, and the second sun The battery cells are arranged in parallel in this order, and the parallel directions thereof and the longitudinal directions of the solar cell and the second solar cell are in the same direction.

In a preferred aspect, the connection electrode extends from one end side to the other end side in the width direction of the solar cell, and in the wiring connection step, the connection electrode and the wiring member are connected via a conductive adhesive. That is.

A more preferable aspect is that the pressing member has a pressing surface for pressing the overlapping portion, and includes an elastic portion at a position overlapping the pressing surface when the pressing surface is viewed in a plan view.

One aspect of the present invention is a solar cell module manufacturing apparatus having a solar cell and a wiring member, and the solar cell is connected to the wiring member, and presses the solar cell and the wiring member. The pressing member has a main pressing portion and a protruding portion, and the main pressing portion has at least a pressing surface that presses the overlapping portion of the solar cell and the wiring member. The protruding portion is a solar cell module manufacturing apparatus that protrudes in the pressing direction from the pressing surface of the main pressing portion.

According to this aspect, it can be suitably used in carrying out the above-mentioned method for manufacturing a solar cell module, and it is possible to prevent (suppress) cracks and cracks in the solar cell during pressing.

A preferred aspect is to have a transport device having a flexible transport section, wherein the transport device is pressed by placing the solar cell and the wiring member on the transport section and moving the transport section. The solar cell and the wiring member can be conveyed to the member side, and the pressing member presses the solar cell and the wiring member mounted on the conveying portion toward the conveying portion side, and the solar cell and the wiring member are pressed from the conveying portion side. It is possible to perform a pressing operation that does not press.

A more preferable aspect is that the pressing member has a pressing body portion having the main pressing portion and the protruding portion, the pressing body portion includes a laminated body in which a plurality of film-like members are laminated, and the laminated body includes a laminated body in which a plurality of film-like members are laminated. The pressing operation is performed by the pressing member pressing the solar cell and the wiring member in a state where the overlapping portion of the solar cell and the wiring member is arranged in the missing portion. is there.

A preferred aspect is that the transport device is a belt conveyor, the belt member having a suction hole, the suction device sucking from the suction hole, the solar cell and the wiring. By placing the member on the belt member and sucking the solar cell from the suction hole, the solar cell can be attracted to the belt member.

A preferred aspect is an apparatus for manufacturing a solar cell module having a second solar cell, the solar cell and the second solar cell being electrically connected by the wiring member, and the second solar cell. It has a second pressing member that presses the cell and the wiring member, and a mounting portion having elasticity. The second pressing member is integrated with or separate from the pressing member, and the second pressing member is The second solar cell has a second pressing surface that presses at least the overlapping portion of the second solar cell and the wiring member, and the solar cell is located between the wiring member and the above-mentioned mounting portion. The pressing operation can be performed with the solar cell, the wiring member, and the second solar cell placed on the pre-described solar cell so that the wiring member is located between the cell and the pre-described solar cell. In the pressing operation, the pressing surface presses the overlapping portion of the solar cell and the wiring member from the wiring member side, and the second pressing surface presses the second solar cell from the second solar cell side. It is to press the overlapping portion of the cell and the wiring member.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a solar cell module in which a trouble does not easily occur in a solar cell when a wiring member is connected. Further, it is possible to provide a solar cell module manufacturing apparatus that can be suitably used in such a solar cell module manufacturing method.

It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of using the solar cell module which concerns on embodiment of this invention as a window part of an apartment. It is a top view which shows the solar cell module of FIG. 1, and shows typically the solar cell and the wiring member. It is a partially disassembled perspective view which shows the module main body and the terminal box of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the solar cell of FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the solar cell of FIG. 2, FIG. 2A is a plan view seen from one side in the thickness direction, and FIG. 2B is a plan view seen from the other side in the thickness direction. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the AA cross section of the solar cell of FIG. It is an enlarged plan view which shows the cell row aggregate of FIG. 2 and the periphery thereof. (A) is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the cell row of FIG. 2, and (b) is a side view schematically showing a part of the cell row of (a). It is explanatory drawing which enlarges and shows typically the periphery of the 2nd interconnector which connects cell rows of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state that the adhesive addition process is carried out. It is a side view which shows typically the cell row forming apparatus, and shows the state which the solar cell and the 1st interconnector are placed on the transport apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows typically the periphery of the thermocompression bonding apparatus of FIG. 11, and the lamp heater is omitted. It is an exploded perspective view which shows typically the 1st pressing head of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the pressing body part of FIG. 13, (a) is the perspective view which made it upside down, and (b) is the BB end view of (a). It is an exploded perspective view which shows typically the pressing body part of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows typically the belt member and the suction head part of FIG. 11, and shows by cutting a part of the belt member. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of carrying out the wiring connection process schematically, and is carried out in the order of (a), (b).

Hereinafter, the solar cell module 1 and the manufacturing method thereof according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. For convenience of drawing, depending on the drawing, only a part may be coded and the other parts may be omitted.

The solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment is a see-through type solar cell module, and as shown in FIG. 1, it can be attached to an opening portion formed on a wall surface of a building or the like and used as a window. That is, the solar cell module 1 can be used as a building material (a wall material, a building material with a solar cell) that forms a wall portion that is at least a part of a building or a structure.

As shown in FIG. 2, the solar cell module 1 is formed by attaching a frame member 4 and a terminal box 5 to a module main body 3. The solar cell module 1 has a vertical plate shape as a whole, and is assumed to be used in an upright posture.

As shown in FIG. 3, the module main body 3 seals the solar cell 12 and the wiring member 13 (connecting member) which is an interconnector such as a tab wire between the first transparent substrate 10 and the second transparent substrate 11. It is formed by stopping.

The module main body 3 is laminated with a second transparent substrate 11, a sealing sheet 15a, a solar cell 12, a wiring member 13, a sealing sheet 15b, and a first transparent substrate 10 in this order from one side in the thickness direction (FIG. 3). (See), which are formed by laminating them.
The two sealing sheets 15a and 15b are heated during the laminating process and melt and flow to form one sealing layer (not shown) that adheres to each of the transparent substrates 10 and 11. That is, in the module main body 3, a sealing material (filling material) made of sealing sheets 15a and 15b is filled between the transparent substrates 10 and 11 to form a sealing layer. The solar cell 12 and the wiring member 13 are sealed by this sealing layer.

The transparent substrates 10 and 11 are transparent insulating substrates having translucency and insulating properties, and a glass substrate, a transparent resin substrate, or the like can be adopted. The transparent substrates 10 and 11 of the present embodiment employ a glass substrate.
As the sealing sheets 15a and 15b, resin sheets having adhesiveness, translucency, and insulating properties can be adopted, and in this embodiment, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin) sheet is adopted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the frame member 4 is a metal frame that covers the edge portion of the module main body 3. The frame member 4 of the present embodiment houses the edge portion of the module main body 3 and the terminal box 5 inside.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the terminal box 5 includes a main body box portion 5a and a cable 5b.

The main body box portion 5a is attached to the edge portion of the module main body 3 as shown in FIG.
The cable 5b takes out the electric power generated by the solar cell module 1 to the outside. One end of the cable 5b is drawn into the main body box portion 5a, and extends to the inside and outside of the main body box portion 5a. Here, the wiring member 13 (specifically, the first take-out wiring 50 and the second take-out wiring 51) is drawn into the main body box portion 5a. The portion located on one end side of the cable 5b and these wiring members 13 are electrically connected inside the main body box portion 5a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the solar cell 12 has a strip-shaped plate-like body having a width and extends in a predetermined direction, and the length in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the width direction.
As shown in FIG. 5, the plan view shape of the solar cell 12 is a shape including two long sides 17 located at opposite positions and a short side 18 extending in a direction intersecting the long sides 17. The solar cell 12 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular shape extending in a predetermined direction in a plan view, two long sides 17 are parallel to each other, and two short sides 18 are orthogonal to the long side 17. ..

It is preferable that the length of the long side 17 (length in the longitudinal direction) of the solar cell 12 in a plan view is larger than 5 times the length of the short side 18 (length in the width direction) and smaller than 100 times. In the solar cell 12 of the present embodiment, the length of the long side 17 is 25 times the length of the short side 18, and the plan view shape is elongated.

As shown in FIG. 6, the solar cell 12 has a pair of transparent electrode layers 20 and 21 (a pair of cell electrode layers), and the photoelectric conversion unit 22 is sandwiched between the pair of transparent electrode layers 20 and 21. ..
The photoelectric conversion unit 22 is a portion formed by including a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor layer of a reverse conductive type, and is capable of converting light energy into electrical energy.

As shown in FIG. 4, the solar cell 12 has a first main surface 25 forming one end side in the thickness direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4) and a second main surface 26 forming the other end side. There is. The thickness direction is a direction orthogonal to each of the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the solar cell 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, the solar cell 12 is provided with a first bus bar electrode 30a (connection electrode), a plurality of first finger electrodes 31a, and a plurality of first auxiliary electrodes 32a on the first main surface 25. ing. The solar cell 12 is provided with a second bus bar electrode 30b (connection electrode), a plurality of second finger electrodes 31b, and a plurality of second auxiliary electrodes 32b on the second main surface 26. The solar cell 12 of the present embodiment is provided with four finger electrodes 31a and four each.

The finger electrodes 31a and 31b both extend along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell 12, and extend from one end side to the other end side in the same longitudinal direction.
In the solar cell 12, a plurality of finger electrodes 31a and 31b are arranged in parallel on both main surfaces 25 and 26 at intervals in the lateral direction (width direction) of the solar cell 12 (a row of electrodes). Hereinafter, it is also referred to as a second electrode row).

The bus bar electrode 30a and the auxiliary electrode 32a extend in a direction (orthogonal direction) intersecting the longitudinal direction of the finger electrode 31a on the first main surface 25.
The bus bar electrode 30b and the auxiliary electrode 32b extend in a direction (orthogonal direction) intersecting the longitudinal direction of the finger electrode 31b on the second main surface 26.
The bus bar electrodes 30a and auxiliary electrodes 32a on the first main surface 25 are in contact with a plurality (4) finger electrodes 31a, and the bus bar electrodes 30b and auxiliary electrodes 32b on the second main surface 26 are in contact with a plurality (4) finger electrodes 31a. Is in contact with the finger electrode 31b.
That is, each bus bar electrode 30 and the auxiliary electrode 32 extend so as to cross a row composed of a plurality of finger electrodes 31 on both main surfaces 25 and 26.

The bus bar electrode 30 and the auxiliary electrode 32 are arranged in parallel with each other at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell 12, forming a row of electrodes (hereinafter, also referred to as a first electrode row).
The distance between the first electrode rows is wider than that of the second electrode row described above.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the first auxiliary electrode 32a is provided on the first main surface 25 at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell 12. Specifically, the first auxiliary electrode 32a is located on the first main surface 25 at a position slightly separated from one side end (left end in FIG. 5) of the solar cell 12 in the longitudinal direction toward the center (center) side. , Are formed at positions near the center (center) in the same longitudinal direction.
As shown in FIG. 5B, the second auxiliary electrode 32b is provided on the second main surface 26 at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell 12. Specifically, the second auxiliary electrode 32b is located on the second main surface 26 at a position slightly separated from the other end (right end in FIG. 5) of the solar cell 12 in the longitudinal direction toward the center (center) side. , Are formed at positions separated from the position near the center (center) in the same longitudinal direction to the other end side.
That is, each of the first auxiliary electrodes 32a on the first main surface 25 is provided at a position where it does not overlap with any of the second auxiliary electrodes 32b on the second main surface 26 in a plan view.

The first bus bar electrode 30a is provided on one end side (right end side in FIG. 5) of the solar cell 12 in the longitudinal direction, and the second bus bar electrode 30b is on the other end side (left end side in FIG. 5) in the same longitudinal direction. ) Is provided.
That is, the bus bar electrodes 30a and 30b are both provided on the end side (position from the end) in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell 12, and are located near the center (center) and the center (center) in the same longitudinal direction. It has a structure that is not formed.
The term "provided on the end side" as used herein means that the solar cell 12 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell 12 on each of the first main surface 25 and the second main surface 26 when the solar cell 12 is viewed in a plan view. It means the one provided in the region (end side region α) separated from the end portion by a predetermined distance L3.
The predetermined distance L3 is 20% or less of the total length (length in the longitudinal direction) of the solar cell 12, more preferably 15% or less, and further preferably 5% or less.

The bus bar electrodes 30 (30a, 30b) are longer (thicker) electrodes in the width direction than the finger electrodes 31 (31a, 31b) and the auxiliary electrodes 32 (32a, 32b).
The length of the auxiliary electrode 32 of the present embodiment in the width direction is the same as the length in the width direction of the finger electrode 31.
The auxiliary electrode 32 may be formed so that the length in the width direction is longer (thicker) than that of the finger electrode 31, and the length in the width direction is shorter than that of the finger electrode 31 (so that it is thicker). It may be formed (to be thinner).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the solar cell module 1 includes a first take-out wiring 50, a second take-out wiring 51, a first interconnector 52, a second interconnector 53, and a connecting wiring 54 as wiring members 13. There is.

In the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of (six in the present embodiment) solar cell 12 are arranged in a straight line, and adjacent solar cell 12s are electrically connected in series by a first interconnector 52. The cell row 60 is formed (see FIGS. 2 and 7).
Further, in the solar cell module 1, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) cell rows 60 are electrically connected in series by a second interconnector 53 to form a cell row aggregate 61 (cell group) (cell group). (See FIGS. 2 and 7).
Then, in the solar cell module 1, one electrode of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the cell row assembly 61 is electrically connected to the first take-out wiring 50 by the connecting wiring 54, and the other electrode is seconded by the connecting wiring 54. It is electrically connected to the take-out wiring 51 (see FIG. 2).

As described above, the first interconnector 52 is a member (tab) for electrically connecting two solar cells 12a and 12b arranged at adjacent positions among the solar cells 12 belonging to the cell row 60. Line).
As shown in FIG. 8, the first interconnector 52 has a plate shape (or foil shape or film shape) that bends and extends so that the overall shape is substantially Z-shaped.
The first interconnector connector 52 has a first covering portion 52a, a second covering portion 52b, and a connecting portion 52c that connects the covering portions 52a and 52b.

The first covering portion 52a is a portion that has a planar spread and covers a part of the first main surface 25 of one solar cell 12a. The first covering portion 52a is integrally connected to the first bus bar electrode 30a of one solar cell 12a via a conductive adhesive 65.
The second covering portion 52b is a portion that has a planar spread and covers a part of the second main surface 26 of the other solar cell 12b. The second covering portion 52b is a portion integrally connected to the second bus bar electrode 30b of the other solar cell 12b via the conductive adhesive 65.
At least a part of the covering portions 52a and 52b is arranged so as to overlap a part of the solar cell 12a and 12b in a plan view.

The connecting portion 52c is a portion extending in a direction including the parallel direction component of the cell row 60 (see FIGS. 7, 8, etc.) and the thickness direction component of the solar cell 12, and one end side is continuous with the first covering portion 52a. The other end side is continuous with the second covering portion 52b.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, and 9, the second interconnector 53 electrically connects one solar cell 12c belonging to one cell row 60 and one solar cell 12d belonging to the other cell row 60. It is a member (tab line) for connecting to. The second interconnector 53 is a plate-shaped (or foil-shaped or film-shaped) member extending in a substantially U-shape in a plan view with the thickness direction of the module main body 3 as the line-of-sight direction.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the second interconnector 53 includes a first covering portion 53a that covers a part of the first main surface 25 of one solar cell 12c, and a second solar cell 12d. It has a second covering portion 53b that covers a part of the two main surfaces 26, and a connecting portion 53c that connects them.
The first covering portion 53a and the second covering portion 53b extend in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the solar cell 12 (parallel direction of the cell rows 60).
The first cover portion 53a and the second cover portion 53b are the same as the first cover portion 52a and the second cover portion 52b described above (see FIG. 8B), and the first bus bar electrode 30a of one solar cell 12c is formed. And each of the second bus bar electrodes 30b of the other solar cell 12d are integrally connected to each other via a conductive adhesive 65.

In the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first take-out wiring 50, the second take-out wiring 51, and a part of the second interconnector 53 (the part corresponding to the connecting portion 53c, see FIG. 9). ) And a part of the connecting wiring 54 connected to each other are located inside the frame member 4.
That is, in the solar cell module 1, these are sealed inside the edge side of the module main body 3, and the edge end side portion of the module main body 3 is located inside the frame member 4.

In the solar cell module 1, in the central portion 3a of the module body 3 exposed to the outside of the frame member 4, the cell rows 60 are arranged side by side at intervals in a predetermined direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2). There is. At this time, a part of the second interconnector 53 or a part of the connecting wiring 54 is the same at both ends of each cell row 60 in the longitudinal direction (parallel direction of the row, left-right direction in FIG. 2). It extends along the longitudinal direction.

That is, inside the central portion 3a, the solar cell module 1 is a part of the cell row 60 and the wiring members 13 located at both ends in the parallel direction thereof (a part of the second interconnector 53 or a part of the connecting wiring 54). ), A structure extending linearly is formed. Then, this structure extends from one end side to the other end side of the central side portion 3a in the parallel direction of the cell rows 60 (left-right direction in FIG. 2).
Further, the structures are arranged in parallel at intervals in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the cell row 60 (in the present embodiment, the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction in FIG. 2). From this, when the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment is used as a window, the light shining between the structures can give a texture as if it were a blind.

Subsequently, the manufacturing method of the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

In the method for manufacturing the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment, first, a cell manufacturing process for manufacturing the solar cell 12 and a connector manufacturing process for manufacturing the first interconnector 52 are carried out.
Subsequently, the cell row forming step of forming the cell row 60 (see FIG. 7) described above is carried out.
Then, the plurality of cell rows 60 are connected by the second interconnector 53 to form the cell row aggregate 61 (see FIG. 7), and the plurality of cell row aggregates 61 are connected by the connecting wiring 54 to form the first take-out wiring 50 and the first (Ii) A cell matrix forming step of connecting to the take-out wiring 51 is carried out (see FIG. 2).
That is, in the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, a cell matrix in which a plurality of solar cell 12s are connected by a wiring member 13 is formed by the cell matrix forming step.

Then, in the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the cell matrix (plurality of solar cell 12 and wiring member 13) formed by the cell matrix forming step is sealed between the first transparent substrate 10 and the second transparent substrate 11. A module manufacturing process for manufacturing the module body 3 is carried out (see FIG. 3). Subsequently, a step of attaching the terminal box 5 to the module main body 3 and further attaching the frame member 4 is performed to form the solar cell module 1.
Hereinafter, the cell row forming step, which is a characteristic step of the present embodiment, will be described in detail.

The cell row forming step includes an adhesive addition step, a cell row arranging step (arrangement step), a transfer step, and a wiring connection step, and each of these steps is sequentially carried out.

The adhesive addition step is a step of adhering the conductive adhesive 65 to the bus bar electrode 30 of the solar cell 12 (see FIG. 8).
In the adhesive addition step, as shown in FIG. 10, a conductive adhesive film 78 is attached to the bus bar electrode 30 by a sticking device 77 provided with a transfer table 75 and a transfer block 76 and a holding means (not shown) such as a robot arm. Temporarily crimp a part of.
The conductive adhesive film 78 is a film formed by containing a thermosetting resin and conductive particles, and is a member serving as the above-mentioned conductive adhesive 65 (see FIG. 8).

Specifically, in the adhesive addition step, as shown in FIG. 10, the conductive adhesive film 78 is held on the transfer table 75 while holding the solar cell 12 by a holding means (not shown) such as a robot arm. It is assumed that a part of the bus bar electrode 30 of the solar cell 12 is overlapped with the bus bar electrode 30. Then, the transfer block 76 is moved downward so as to be in contact with the solar cell 12.

At this time, while pressing the solar cell 12 by the transfer block 76, heat is applied to the bus bar electrode 30 and the conductive adhesive film 78 via the main body portion of the solar cell 12.
As described above, in the adhesive addition step, a part of the conductive adhesive film 78 is temporarily pressure-bonded to the surface of the bus bar electrode 30, so that the conductive adhesive 65 is adhered to the bus bar electrode 30.
In the solar cell 12, bus bar electrodes 30 are formed on each of the first main surface 25 and the second main surface 26 as described above, but the other bus bar electrode 30 is also subjected to the same process. The conductive adhesive 65 is attached.

In the cell row arrangement step, a plurality of solar cell cells 12 in which the conductive adhesive 65 is attached to the bus bar electrode 30 by the adhesive addition step and the preformed first interconnector 52 are formed in the cell row shown in FIG. This is a step of arranging the device 80 (solar cell module manufacturing device) at a predetermined position in a predetermined position.

Here, the cell row forming apparatus 80 will be described prior to the detailed explanation of the cell row arrangement process, the transfer process, and the wiring connection process.

The cell row forming device 80 is a device that becomes a part of a group of devices constituting the manufacturing device of the solar cell module 1 together with the sticking device 77, the robot arm, and the like described above.
As shown in FIG. 11, the cell row forming device 80 includes a thermocompression bonding device 81, a transport device 82 (belt conveyor), and a suction device 83.

The thermocompression bonding device 81 includes two pressing heads 90 and 91 (pressing members) composed of a first pressing head 90 (first pressing member) and a second pressing head 91 (second pressing member), and a first lamp heater. It includes two lamp heaters 92 and 93 (heating members) composed of 92 and a second lamp heater 93.

The first pressing head 90 is located upstream of the second pressing head 91 in the conveying direction of the conveying device 82 (the direction from the left side to the right side in FIG. 11, hereinafter also simply referred to as the conveying direction).

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the first pressing head 90 includes a head main body portion 97 and a pressing body portion 98, and the pressing body portion 98 is provided on the lower side portion of the head main body portion 97 via the fastening element 100. Is attached and formed.

The head main body 97 is connected to a drive mechanism (which is an elevating mechanism and detailed illustration is omitted), and can move in the vertical direction. That is, the head main body 97 can move in the direction of approaching and separating from the conveying device 82 (see FIG. 12).
The head main body 97 has a rectangular flat plate shape as an outline. The head main body 97 is arranged so that the width direction is the same as the transport direction and the longitudinal direction is the same as the direction that intersects (orthogonally) the transport direction. Further, the thickness direction of the head main body 97 is arranged so as to be the same as the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 12, the pressing body portion 98 is a portion in which at least a part thereof comes into contact with the pressing object when the first pressing head 90 performs a pressing operation, and the first pressing surface portion 115 and the flat surface portion 116 have.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the pressing body portion 98 includes a base portion 105 (elastic member) and a massive protruding piece portion protruding downward (upward in FIG. 14) from the base portion 105. It has 106 and.

The base portion 105 is an elastic member having elasticity and also a heat-resistant member having heat resistance.
The base portion 105 has a shape that extends in a predetermined direction with a width. Further, the base portion 105 is in the form of a foil, a film (film), a sheet, or a plate, and in the present embodiment, it is a sheet.
The base portion 105 of the present embodiment employs a silicon sheet having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view.
The base portion 105 is provided with mounting holes 105a in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction. The mounting hole 105a is a through hole having a circular opening shape and penetrating the base portion 105 in the thickness direction (vertical direction).

As shown in FIG. 14, the protruding piece portion 106 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is partially missing. That is, the protruding piece portion 106 has a missing portion 110 that constitutes a recess recessed upward from the lower surface (downward from the upper surface in FIG. 14).

The protruding piece portion 106 is arranged between the two mounting holes 105a and 105a of the base portion 105.
Here, both the protruding piece portion 106 and the base portion 105 extend in a predetermined direction (the direction intersecting the transport direction, see FIG. 12) with a width. The protruding piece portion 106 has a shorter length in the stretching direction than the base portion 105, and has the same length in the width direction as the base portion 105 (substantially the same). The protruding piece portion 106 protrudes from the central portion of the base portion 105 in the extending direction.
The protruding piece portion 106 of the present embodiment is formed so that substantially the entire area of the protruding piece portion 106 overlaps with the base portion 105 in a plan view, but only a part thereof is formed so as to overlap in a plan view. May be good.

The missing portion 110 is open so that the side on the downstream side of the protruding piece portion 106 is connected to the outside in the transport direction (see FIGS. 12 and 14).
Therefore, the first surface exposed from the missing portion 110, that is, the first pressing surface portion 115 (pressing surface) is continuous with the lower surface of the protruding piece portion 106 via a step.
Here, if the portion of the lower surface of the protruding piece portion 106 that is adjacent to the missing portion 110 in the width direction is the second surface, that is, the flat surface portion 116 (protruding end portion), the first pressing surface portion 115 and the flat surface portion 116 Becomes a continuous surface through a step.

As shown in FIG. 15, the protruding piece portion 106 is a laminated body (three-dimensional structure) in which the first constituent piece 120, the second constituent piece 121, and the third constituent piece 122 are stacked, and the base portion 105 is formed by the mounting member 125. It is formed by attaching to.

Each of the constituent pieces 120 to 122 is in the form of a foil, a film (film), a sheet, or a plate, and is a film-like member (film-like member) in the present embodiment.
The constituent pieces 120 to 122 of this embodiment are formed by using PI tape (polyimide tape).
Therefore, each of the constituent pieces 120 to 122 is much thinner than the base portion 105, and the entire protruding piece portion 106 is also thinner than the base portion 105. However, for the convenience of drawing, in each drawing, the thickness of these base portions 105 is drawn thicker than the actual thickness, and the thickness of the base portion 105 with respect to other members is also drawn thicker than the actual thickness.

The first constituent piece 120 is a member having heat resistance and a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and extends in a predetermined direction with a width.

The second constituent piece 121 and the third constituent piece 122 are substantially rectangular members having heat resistance and partially lacking a plan view shape. The constituent pieces 121 and 122 have a substantially concave shape, and the approximate shape has a width and extends in a predetermined direction. That is, the constituent pieces 121 and 122 are provided with missing portions 121a and 122a having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view.
The constituent pieces 121 and 122 of this embodiment are members having the same shape.

As shown in FIG. 15, the missing portions 121a and 122a are central portions of the constituent pieces 121 and 122 in the longitudinal direction and are formed on one end side in the width direction. Specifically, the missing portions 121a and 122a extend from one side end portion in the width direction of the constituent pieces 121 and 122 toward the center side. Further, the missing portions 121a and 122a penetrate between the upper surface and the lower surface of the constituent pieces 121 and 122.

In the present embodiment, the constituent pieces 120 to 122 have the same length in the width direction and the length in the stretching direction (longitudinal direction). Then, in the laminated body in which the constituent pieces 120 to 122 are stacked, the entire area (substantially the entire area) of the second component piece 121 and the third component piece 122 overlaps the entire area (substantially the entire area) of the first component piece 120 in a plan view. (See FIG. 14).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the portion located around the missing portion 110 (the laminated portion of the second constituent piece 121 and the third constituent piece 122) is further below the first pressing surface portion 115 (upper side in FIG. 14). It becomes a protruding part (protruding part) that protrudes toward the surface. Therefore, the flat surface portion 116 becomes a protruding end surface in the protruding direction of the protruding portion.

The mounting member 125 is a film (adhesive tape) having heat resistance and having an adhesive portion on one main surface, and PI tape is adopted in this embodiment.
The mounting member 125 is a member in which the base portion 105 and the laminated body composed of the constituent pieces 120 to 122 are stacked and wound around the base portion 105 to integrally mount the base portion 105 and the laminated body (FIG. 13). (See FIG. 15).

In the wound state of the mounting member 125, one main surface is in contact with each of the upper surface of the base portion 105 located above and the lower surface of the laminated body (lower surface of the third component 122) located below. It will be in the state of. Further, the mounting member 125 is in a state where one main surface is in contact with the side surfaces of the base portion 105 and the laminated bodies located at both ends in the width direction.
That is, in the wound state, the mounting member 125 is in a state in which a portion extending in the width direction of the base portion 105 and the laminated body and a portion extending in the vertical direction are formed, and has a main adhesive portion. It is in a state of extending in a square ring shape or a substantially C shape (square ring shape in the present embodiment) so that the surface faces inward.

As a result, the mounting member 125 functions as a mounting member for mounting the laminated body composed of the constituent pieces 120 to 122 to the base portion 105, and is a binding member (adhesive member) for integrating the laminated body. Also works as.
A part of the lower surface (projecting end surface, upper surface in FIG. 14) of the protruding piece portion 106 is in a state of being formed by the mounting member 125.

As shown in FIG. 13, the fastening element 100 is interposed between the two members (head body portion 97, pressing body portion 98), and in principle, one member of the two members is not broken with respect to the other member. It is a member that can be attached and detached (attached in a removable state). Therefore, as an example, the fastening element 100 includes a combination of screws and bolts and nuts. In the present embodiment, as the fastening element 100, a metal screw having a substantially cylindrical head shape is used.
That is, in the first pressing head 90 of the present embodiment, the pressing body portion 98 can be attached to and detached from the head main body portion 97, and the pressing body portion 98 can be replaced when the pressing body portion 98 deteriorates over time. is there.

Next, the structure of the second pressing head 91 (see FIG. 12) will be described, but detailed description of the same portion as that of the first pressing head 90 will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 12, the second pressing head 91 includes a head main body portion 97 connected to a drive mechanism (elevating mechanism) (not shown) and a pressing body portion 130, similarly to the first pressing head 90. The pressing body portion 130 of the second pressing head 91 has a structure different from that of the pressing body portion 98 of the first pressing head 90.

The pressing body portion 130 of the second pressing head 91 is in the form of a foil, a film (film), a sheet, or a plate, and in the present embodiment, it is a sheet.
The pressing body portion 130 is an elastic member having elasticity and also a heat-resistant member having heat resistance.
Similar to the base portion 105 (see FIG. 15), the pressing body portion 130 of the present embodiment employs a silicon sheet having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and has holes for attachment in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction. have. Then, the pressing body portion 130 is attached to the head main body portion 97 via the fastening element 100, similarly to the base portion 105 (see FIG. 15).
The pressing body portion 130 may have the same thickness as the base portion 105, or may have a thickness different from that of the base portion 105 (for example, a thickness thicker than the base portion 105).
The pressing body portion 130 includes a second pressing surface portion 131 on the lower surface thereof.

As shown in FIG. 11, the first lamp heater 92 is a heater that heats the first pressing head 90, and the second lamp heater 93 is a heater that heats the second pressing head 91. The heating temperature of the lamp heaters 92 and 93 can be adjusted by adjusting the supply voltage. That is, the lamp heaters 92 and 93 can adjust the temperature after the temperature rise when the pressing heads 90 and 91 are heated.

As shown in FIG. 11, the transport device 82 is a belt conveyor and includes at least two roller members 140 and 140 and a belt member 141.

One of the two roller members 140, 140 functions as a head pulley and the other functions as a tail pulley. At least one of these is a drive roller that is coupled (or has a built-in drive) to a drive (not shown) and that rotates on the power supplied by the drive.
Then, in the transport device 82, the annular belt member 141 suspended on the two roller members 140, 140 runs as the drive roller rotates.

The roller member 140 of the present embodiment has a cylindrical or cylindrical portion, and a roller-side engaging portion 140a that engages with the belt-side engaging portion 147 of the belt member 141 is provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof. .. The roller-side engaging portion 140a is a recess recessed on the rotation shaft side, and has a shape in which the belt-side engaging portion 147, which is a protruding portion, is substantially fitted. In other words, the roller side engaging portion 140a and the belt side engaging portion 147 are paired engaging portions and can be fitted.

The belt member 141 is an elastic body, and more specifically, a rubber belt.
As shown in FIG. 16, the belt member 141 is formed with a groove portion 145 that is a portion recessed from the periphery on a part of the inner surface surface. The groove portion 145 is formed in the central portion of the belt member 141 in the width direction and extends along the longitudinal direction of the belt member 141. That is, the groove portion 145 is annularly continuous inside the belt member 141.

Of the inner surface of the belt member 141, the belt-side engaging portions 147 that are raised from the surroundings are formed on the portions located on both sides of the groove portion 145. That is, the belt-side engaging portion 147 is a protruding portion that projects further inward from the inner side surface of the belt member 141.

The belt-side engaging portion 147 has a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape and is a protruding portion extending in the width direction of the belt member 141, and the protruding end portion has a rounded shape.

In the belt member 141, a plurality of (two) belt-side engaging portions 147 are formed on both sides of the groove portion 145, and are arranged in parallel at intervals in the width direction of the belt member 141.
The belt-side engaging portions 147 are formed at positions where they overlap each other in a plan view with the width direction of the belt member 141 as the line-of-sight direction.
In the belt member 141, a set of a plurality (two) of belt-side engaging portions 147 parallel to each other in the width direction of the belt member 141 are arranged in parallel at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the belt member 141.

The groove portion 145 is formed with a plurality of suction holes 150 that penetrate from the inner side surface to the outer side surface of the belt member 141 in the thickness direction at the bottom portion.
The suction holes 150 are arranged side by side at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the belt member 141, and each opening shape is circular.

The suction device 83 includes a suction mechanism portion such as a vacuum pump (not shown) and a suction head portion 155 connected to the suction mechanism portion.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 16, the suction head portion 155 is supported inside the belt member 141 by a support means (not shown).
The suction head portion 155 is arranged between a portion traveling on the upper side of the belt member 141 (hereinafter, also referred to as an upper traveling portion 141a) and a portion traveling on the lower side (hereinafter, also referred to as a lower traveling portion 141b). There is. Specifically, the suction head portion 155 is arranged at a position from the upper side of the space formed between the upper traveling portion 141a (conveying portion) and the lower traveling portion 141b.

As shown in FIG. 11, the suction head portion 155 is arranged over substantially the entire area in the transport direction. That is, the suction head portion 155 is provided between the roller members 140 and 140 in the transport direction.

As shown in FIG. 16, a suction side engaging portion 157, which is a protruding portion protruding outward (upper side) from the periphery, is formed on the upper portion of the suction head portion 155.
The suction side engaging portion 157 has a shape that substantially fits into the groove portion 145 of the belt member 141. That is, the suction side engaging portion 157 and the groove portion 145 are paired engaging portions.
The cell row forming device 80 is in a state in which the suction side engaging portion 157 is fitted (inserted) from the lower side into a part of the groove portion 145 formed on the inner side surface of the upper traveling portion 141a.

Here, a suction hole portion 158 is formed on the upper portion (upper surface) of the suction side engaging portion 157. The suction hole portion 158 is an elongated hole extending in the longitudinal direction of the suction head portion 155 and extending along the transport direction. That is, the suction device 83 is a device capable of sucking air from the suction hole portion 158 by driving the suction mechanism portion described above.

The suction side engaging portion 157 is arranged at a position where it overlaps with the suction hole 150 formed in the upper traveling portion 141a in a plan view (vertical direction).
The plurality of suction holes 150 formed in the upper traveling portion 141a overlap with a part of the suction side engaging portion 157, and form a series of communication holes with a part of the suction hole portion 158.
Therefore, when the suction device 83 executes the suction operation, the article (solar cell 12) placed on the upper side of the upper traveling portion 141a can be attracted to the upper traveling portion 141a.

The suction head portion 155 is located on the lower side of the belt side engaging portion 147 in which the portions located on both sides of the suction side engaging portion 157 are different from each other. That is, the length of the suction head portion 155 in the width direction is the same (substantially the same) as the length of the belt member 141 in the width direction.

As shown in FIG. 11, the cell row arranging step is a step of arranging the solar cell 12 constituting the cell row 60 and the first interconnector 52 on the upper side of the belt member 141 (upper traveling portion 141a) in the transport device 82. is there. That is, in the cell row arrangement step, the solar cell 12 and the first interconnector 52 are mounted on the upper traveling portion 141a (mounting portion) of the belt member 141.

Specifically, in the cell row arrangement step, a plurality of solar cells 12 are arranged in parallel at intervals in the transport direction.
At this time, each of the solar cell 12s is arranged in such a posture that one side of the first main surface 25 and the second main surface 26 faces upward and the longitudinal direction is along the transport direction.
In the present embodiment, each of the solar cell 12 is arranged so that the first main surface 25 side faces upward.

Then, in the cell row arrangement step, as shown in FIG. 11, the first interconnector 52 arranged between the solar cells 12 arranged in parallel is provided with the solar cell 12 having one end side (hereinafter, the first solar cell). It is arranged at a position overlapping the bus bar electrode 30 (first connection electrode) on the first main surface 25 side of the battery cell (also referred to as 12A). On the other hand, in the cell row arrangement step, the first interconnector 52 is connected to the bus bar electrode 30 (hereinafter, also referred to as the second solar cell 12B) whose other end is the second main surface 26 side of the other solar cell 12 (hereinafter, also referred to as the second solar cell 12B). Place it at a position that overlaps with the second connection electrode).
Although the solar cell 12 and the first interconnector 52 are schematically shown in FIG. 11, the overlapping portion between the solar cell 12 and the first interconnector 52 is very thin, and each solar cell 12 has a very thin overlap portion. In practice, most come into contact with the top surface of the belt member 141.

From this, a part of the solar cell 12 including the portion where the bus bar electrode 30 is formed, the conductive adhesive 65 adhering to the bus bar electrode 30, and a part of the first interconnector 52 overlap in the vertical direction. Overlapping portions 160a and 160b are formed (see FIG. 17).
That is, the first overlapping portion 160a is located above the bus bar electrode 30 formed on the main surface (first main surface 25 in FIG. 17) arranged so as to face the upper side of the first solar cell 12A. This is a portion where a part of the interconnector 52 is arranged.
The upper surface of the first overlapping portion 160a is a flat portion having a planar spread.
The second superimposing portion 160b is placed below the bus bar electrode 30 formed on the other main surface (second main surface 26 in FIG. 17) arranged so as to face the lower side of the second solar cell 12B. This is a portion where a part of the first interconnector 52 is arranged.

In the present embodiment, the first superimposing portion 160a is formed on the upstream side in the transport direction and the second superimposition portion 160a is formed on the downstream side in the transport direction in the gap portion between the adjacent solar cell cells 12A and 12B at intervals and the periphery thereof. 160b is formed.

In this cell row arrangement step, the respective solar cell cells 12A and 12B are arranged at positions overlapping with one or more suction holes 150 (see FIG. 16), and the suction operation by the suction device 83 is performed. Is preferable. This makes it possible to prevent unintended misalignment of the solar cell 12 during execution of the process.

As shown in FIG. 11, the transport step is a step of transporting the solar cell 12 and the first interconnector 52 arranged in the cell row arrangement step. Specifically, it is a step of transporting the two adjacent solar cell cells 12A and 12B so that the gap portion and the first interconnector 52 located in the gap portion are located on the lower side of the thermocompression bonding device 81 (FIG. 11. See FIG. 17).
In addition, it is preferable that this transporting step also transports while performing the suction operation by the suction device 83. This makes it possible to prevent unintended misalignment of the solar cell 12 and the like during transportation.

By this transfer process, as shown in FIG. 17, the first superimposing portion 160a is located on the lower side of the first pressing head 90, and the second superimposing portion 160b is located on the lower side of the second pressing head 91. That is, the superimposing portions 160a and 160b are in a state of facing the pressing heads 90 and 91 at intervals.

The wiring connection step is a step of heating and pressing the superimposing portions 160a and 160b by the pressing heads 90 and 91.
First, in the wiring connection step, on the upstream side in the transport direction, the first pressing head 90 is heated by the first lamp heater 92 (see FIG. 11), and the first overlapping portion 160a is pressed by the heated first pressing head 90. To do. That is, the pressing direction of the pressing operation by the first pressing head 90 is a direction from the upper side to the lower side along the vertical direction. In other words, the pressing direction of the pressing operation by the first pressing head 90 is a direction approaching the transport device 82 (upper traveling portion 141a) from the upper side.

That is, in the wiring connection step, the first pressing head 90 is moved downward, and the first overlapping portion 160a is positioned inside the missing portion 110 (see FIG. 17B).
As a result, the first pressing surface portion 115 (main pressing portion), which is the first surface described above, comes into surface contact with the first overlapping portion 160a and presses the first overlapping portion 160a. At the same time, the flat surface portion 116, which is the second surface, and a part of the solar cell 12 adjacent to the upstream side in the transport direction of the first overlapping portion 160a (hereinafter, also referred to as an adjacent portion) are in contact with each other. ..

Here, in the present embodiment, the vertical length of the step formed between the first pressing surface portion 115 and the flat surface portion 116 (the vertical length of the missing portion 110) is the thickness of the first overlapping portion 160a. It has the same or substantially the same length as (vertical length).
Therefore, in the thermocompression bonding device 81, by moving the first pressing head 90 downward, the first pressing surface portion 115 presses the first overlapping portion 160a downward, and the flat surface portion 116 is the first overlapping portion. A part of the solar cell 12 adjacent to the 160a is pressed downward.

In this way, when the first overlapping portion 160a is pressed by the heated first pressing surface portion 115, the conductive adhesive 65 of the first overlapping portion 160a causes a thermosetting reaction and exerts an adhesive force. As a result, the bus bar electrode 30 and the first covering portion 52a are crimped at the first overlapping portion 160a.

In the wiring connection step, on the downstream side in the transport direction, the second pressing head 91 is heated by the second lamp heater 93 (see FIG. 11), and the second overlapping portion 160b is pressed by the raised second pressing head 91.

That is, the second pressing head 91 is moved downward to bring the second pressing surface portion 131 (second pressing surface), which is the lower surface of the pressing body portion 130, into contact with the second overlapping portion 160b, and the second overlapping portion 160b. (See FIG. 17 (b)). That is, the pressing direction of the pressing operation by the second pressing head 91 is the same as the pressing direction of the pressing operation by the first pressing head 90. Further, the second pressing surface portion 131 is a pressing surface that comes into contact with the object to be pressed (solar cell 12) when the pressing operation is performed.
As a result, heat is transferred to the conductive adhesive 65 through the main body portion of the solar cell 12 of the second overlapping portion 160b, and the conductive adhesive 65 causes a thermosetting reaction to exert an adhesive force. The bus bar electrode 30 of the overlapping portion 160b and the second covering portion 52b are crimped.

In the wiring connection step of the present embodiment, each of the overlapping portions 160a and 160b is pressed from one side (upper side) and not from the opposite side (lower side). As a result, the pressing operation of pressing the superposed portions 160a and 160b can be easily performed.

Then, after the above-mentioned pressing operation is completed, the pressing heads 90 and 91 are moved upward, and the pressing heads 90 and 91 are arranged at positions away from the solar cell 12 and the first interconnector 52.
In this state, the transport device 82 is operated to move the row composed of the solar cell 12 and the first interconnector 52 to the downstream side. As a result, the first interconnector 52 and its peripheral portion that have been connected move to the downstream side in the transport direction, and the other first interconnector 52 and its peripheral portion that have not been connected are thermocompression bonding devices 81. Move to the lower side of. Then, the other first interconnector 52 is connected to the two solar cells 12 in the same procedure as described above. By repeating this operation, all the first interconnectors 52 belonging to the row are connected to the two solar cell 12, the cell row 60 is formed, and the wiring connection step is completed.

Then, after the wiring connection step is completed, the entire cell row 60 is moved to the downstream side in the transport direction, and is moved from the transport device 82 to the outside by a holding means (not shown) such as a robot arm.

According to the manufacturing method of the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment, in the wiring connection step, the first pressing surface portion 115 of the first pressing head 90 presses the wiring member 13 of the first overlapping portion 160a, and the flat surface portion 116 It comes into contact with or is in close proximity to a part of the solar cell 12 connected to the first overlapping portion 160a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent (suppress) cracks and cracks in the solar cell 12A when the first overlapping portion 160a is pressed.

According to the manufacturing method of the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment, in the wiring connection step, the first pressing surface portion 115 of the first pressing head 90 and the wiring member 13 of the first overlapping portion 160a are in surface contact with each other and the flat surface portion. The 116 and the solar cell 12A come into contact with each other. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent (suppress) cracks and cracks in the solar cell 12A when the first overlapping portion 160a is pressed.

According to the manufacturing method of the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment, in the wiring connection step, the pressing head 90 is brought close to the first superimposing portion 160a from the first main surface 25 side to press the first superimposing portion 160a. The first overlapping portion 160a is not pressed from the second main surface 26 side. Therefore, as compared with the method of sandwiching and pressing the solar cell 12A from both main surfaces 25 and 26 with two pressing heads facing each other with the solar cell 12A sandwiched between them, the structure around the pressing head 90 in the cell row forming apparatus 80 is improved. It can be simplified and the process related to pressing can be easily executed.

According to the manufacturing method of the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment, in the arrangement step, the first solar cell 12A, the wiring member 13, and the second solar cell 12B are arranged in this order, and the first solar cell The first superimposing portion 160a on which the bus bar electrode 30 of 12A and the wiring member 13 overlap, and the second superimposing portion 160b on which the bus bar electrode 30 of the second solar cell 12B and the wiring member 13 overlap are formed. Then, in the wiring connection step, the pressing head 90 presses the first overlapping portion 160a from the wiring member 13 side, does not press the first solar cell 12A side, and the pressing head 91 presses the second overlapping portion 160b. (Ii) Press from the solar cell 12B side, and do not press from the wiring member 13 side. That is, in the wiring connection step, both the first superimposing portion 160a in which the wiring member 13 is located on the pressing head 90 side and the second superimposing portion 160b in which the solar cell 12 is located on the pressing head 91 side are pressed on one side (pressing). Press from the head 90, 91 side), and do not press from the opposite side. According to the method of pressing the different overlapping portions 160a and 160b from only one side as described above, the step related to the pressing can be easily executed.

According to the method for manufacturing the solar cell module 1 of the present embodiment, in the wiring connection step, the pressing head 90 is a solar cell with the solar cell 12 and the wiring member 13 mounted on the upper traveling portion 141a of the belt member 141. The cell 12 and the wiring member 13 are pressed toward the upper traveling portion 141a. That is, the solar cell 12 and the wiring member 13 are placed on the upper traveling portion 141a at a position away from the pressing head 90. As a result, the solar cell 12 and the wiring member 13 can be placed on the upper traveling portion 141a in a wide place where there are few members in the surroundings, so that the arrangement step can be easily executed. Further, since the solar cell 12 and the wiring member 13 on the upper traveling portion 141a are pressed as they are after being conveyed, the process related to the pressing can be easily executed.

According to the cell row forming apparatus 80 of the present embodiment, the pressing head 90 has pressing surface portions 115 and 130 for pressing the overlapping portions 160a and 160b, and when the pressing surface portions 115 and 130 are viewed in a plan view, the pressing surface portions 115, An elastic portion (base portion 105, pressing body portion 130) is included at a position overlapping the 130. Therefore, the solar cell 12 is not easily damaged when pressed.

According to the cell row forming apparatus 80 of the present embodiment, the solar cell 12 and the wiring member 13 can be placed on the upper traveling portion 141a and pressed as they are after being conveyed. Therefore, from the arrangement process to the wiring connection process. It is possible to easily carry out a series of steps up to.

According to the cell row forming apparatus 80 of the present embodiment, since the pressing head 90 is composed of a laminated body in which the protruding piece portions 106 are laminated with the constituent pieces 120 to 122 which are a plurality of film-like members, the protruding piece portion 106 Can be easily manufactured, and cracks and cracks in the solar cell 12A at the time of pressing can be prevented (suppressed).

According to the cell row forming apparatus 80 of the present embodiment, the solar cell 12 and the wiring member 13 are placed on the belt member 141, and the solar cell 12 is sucked from the suction hole 150, so that the sun is attached to the belt member 141. Since the battery cell 12 can be sucked, it is possible to prevent the solar cell 12 from being unexpectedly displaced when it is placed on the belt member 141 or when it is transported.

In the above embodiment, when the first pressing surface portion 115, which is the first surface, is in contact with the first overlapping portion 160a, the flat surface portion 116, which is the second surface, is adjacent to the first overlapping portion 160a. An example of the first pressing head 90 in contact with a part (adjacent part) of the cell 12 is shown. According to such a first pressing head 90, damage to the solar cell 12 when pressing the first overlapping portion 160a can be prevented (suppressed).

Specifically, for example, when the first overlapping portion 160a is pressed by a pressing head provided with a flat plate-shaped pressing body such as the pressing body portion 130 of the second pressing head 91, the first overlapping portion 160a is adjacent to the first overlapping portion 160a. There is a possibility that cracks will occur in the boundary part of the part. That is, only a part of the pressing body comes into contact with the first overlapping portion 160a, and by pressing the first overlapping portion 160a downward, the pressing body and the object to be pressed (solar cell 12 and the first interconnector 52). The pressing force per unit area on the contact surface of the surface becomes large. As a result, the solar cell 12 may be damaged.
On the other hand, in the first pressing head 90 described above, since the pressing body portion 98 contacts not only the first overlapping portion 160a but also the adjacent portion, the area of the contact surface between the pressing body and the pressing object becomes large. The pressing force can be dispersed. That is, it is possible to prevent damage to the solar cell 12 due to strong pressing of only a part of the elongated solar cell 12 on the end side.

However, the flat surface portion 116 does not necessarily have to be in contact with the adjacent portion when the first pressing surface portion 115 comes into contact with the first overlapping portion 160a. When the first pressing surface portion 115 comes into contact with the first overlapping portion 160a, the flat surface portion 116 may have a structure in which the flat surface portion 116 is close to the adjacent portion (opposed with a slight interval).
As such a structure, for example, the flat surface portion 116 does not come into contact with the adjacent portion during normal pressing, and the flat surface portion 116 comes into contact with the adjacent portion when the pressing force exceeds a certain level for some reason. Can be considered. That is, when a part of the elastic (flexible) base portion 105 and the first constituent piece 120 is pressed against the first overlapping portion 160a, the base portion 105 is deformed so as to shrink in the thickness direction, and as a result, the flat portion 116 Is a structure in which is in contact with an adjacent portion.
However, as described above, from the viewpoint of dispersing the pressing force, it is preferable to have a structure in which the flat surface portion 116 comes into contact with the first pressing surface portion 115 when it comes into contact with the first overlapping portion 160a.

The drive mechanism connected to the head body 97 of the first pressing head 90 and the drive mechanism connected to the head body 97 of the second pressing head 91 may be the same or separately provided. Good. Further, when moving the first pressing head 90 and the second pressing head 91, they may be moved at the same time, or they may be moved with a time lag.

In the above-described embodiment, the constituent pieces 120 to 122 are integrally laminated by the mounting member 125, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the constituent pieces 120 to 122 may be integrated by forming an adhesive portion on one main surface of each of the constituent pieces 120 to 122 and laminating them. In this case, the mounting member 125 does not necessarily have to be provided.

In the above-described embodiment, the first pressing head 90 and the second pressing head 91 are separate bodies, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first pressing head 90 and the second pressing head 91 may be integrated.

As long as the above-described embodiment is included in the technical scope of the present invention, each component can be freely replaced or added between the respective embodiments.

1 Solar cell module 12 Solar cell 13 Wiring member 25 First main surface 26 Second main surface 30 Bus bar electrode (connection electrode)
80 cell row forming device (solar cell module manufacturing device)
82 Conveyor device (belt conveyor)
90 First pressing head (pressing member)
91 Second pressing head (second pressing member)
98 Pressing body 105 Base (elastic member)
110 Missing part 115 First pressing surface part (pressing surface)
116 Flat surface (protruding end)
130 Pressing body (second pressing surface)
141 Belt member 141a Upper traveling part (conveying part, mounting part)
150 Suction hole 160 Superimposing part 160a First superimposing part 160b Second superimposing part

Claims (15)

1. A method for manufacturing a solar cell module having a solar cell and a wiring member, and the solar cell being connected to the wiring member.
   The solar cell is extended in a predetermined direction with a width, and the length in the predetermined direction is longer than the length in the width direction.
   The solar cell has a connection electrode for connecting the wiring member.
   The connection electrode is provided in the longitudinal direction of the solar cell in a range from the end to 40% of the total length of the solar cell.
   An arrangement step of superimposing the wiring member on the connection electrode to form an overlapping portion,
   A method for manufacturing a solar cell module, comprising a wiring connection step of pressing at least the superimposing portion with a pressing member to connect the wiring member to the connection electrode.
2. The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein in the wiring connection step, the superimposing portion and a portion adjacent to the superimposing portion are pressed by the pressing member to connect the wiring member to the connection electrode. ..
3. The pressing member has a main pressing portion and a protruding portion, and has a main pressing portion and a protruding portion.
   The main pressing portion has a pressing surface that presses the overlapping portion.
   The protruding portion protrudes further in the pressing direction from the pressing surface of the main pressing portion.
   In the wiring connection step, the pressing surface of the main pressing portion presses the wiring member of the superimposing portion, and the protruding portion contacts or approaches a part of the solar cell connected to the superimposing portion. The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The protruding portion has a flat portion having a planar spread on the end face in the protruding direction.
   According to claim 3, in the wiring connection step, the pressing surface of the main pressing portion and the wiring member of the superimposing portion are in surface contact with each other, and the flat surface portion of the protruding portion is in contact with the solar cell. The method for manufacturing a solar cell module described.
5. The solar cell has a first main surface and a second main surface.
   Claims 1 to 4 in the wiring connection step, wherein the pressing member is brought close to the superimposing portion from the first main surface side to press the superimposing portion, and the superimposing portion is not pressed from the second main surface side. The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to any one of the above items.
6. A method for manufacturing a solar cell module having a second solar cell and in which the solar cell and the second solar cell are electrically connected by the wiring member.
   The second solar cell is extended in a predetermined direction with a width, and the length in the predetermined direction is longer than the length in the width direction.
   The second solar cell has a second connection electrode for connecting the wiring member.
   The second connection electrode is provided in the longitudinal direction of the second solar cell in a range from the end to 40% of the total length of the second solar cell.
   In the arrangement step, the solar cell, the wiring member, and the second solar cell are arranged in this order, and the connection electrode of the solar cell and the wiring member overlap with each other. The second connecting electrode of the second solar cell and the second overlapping portion where the wiring member overlaps are formed.
   In the wiring connection step, the pressing member presses the first superimposing portion from the wiring member side and does not press from the solar cell side, and the pressing member presses the second superimposing portion on the second sun. The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the solar cell module is pressed from the battery cell side and not from the wiring member side.
7. Further including a transport step which is carried out prior to the wiring connection step and transports the solar cell and the wiring member to the vicinity of the pressing member by a transport device.
   The transport device has a flexible transport unit, and can be transported by mounting the solar cell and the wiring member on the transport unit and moving the transport unit.
   In the wiring connection step, the pressing member presses the solar cell and the wiring member toward the transporting portion while the solar cell and the wiring member are placed on the transporting portion. 6. The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to any one of 6.
8. A method for manufacturing a solar cell module having a second solar cell and in which the solar cell and the second solar cell are electrically connected by the wiring member.
   The second solar cell extends in a predetermined direction with a width, and the length in the predetermined direction is longer than the length in the width direction.
   In the arrangement step, the solar cell, the wiring member, and the second solar cell are arranged in parallel in this order, and the parallel direction thereof and the longitudinal direction of the solar cell and the second solar cell. The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the solar cells are in the same direction.
9. The connection electrode extends from one end side to the other end side in the width direction of the solar cell.
   The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in the wiring connection step, the connection electrode and the wiring member are connected via a conductive adhesive.
10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pressing member has a pressing surface for pressing the overlapping portion, and includes an elastic portion at a position overlapping the pressing surface when the pressing surface is viewed in a plan view. How to manufacture solar cell modules.
11. A device for manufacturing a solar cell module having a solar cell and a wiring member, and the solar cell being connected to the wiring member.
    It has a pressing member that presses the solar cell and the wiring member.
    The pressing member has a main pressing portion and a protruding portion, and has a main pressing portion and a protruding portion.
    The main pressing portion has at least a pressing surface that presses the overlapping portion of the solar cell and the wiring member.
    A solar cell module manufacturing apparatus in which the protruding portion protrudes in the pressing direction from the pressing surface of the main pressing portion.
12. Having a transport device with a flexible transport section,
    The transport device can transport the solar cell and the wiring member to the pressing member side by placing the solar cell and the wiring member on the transport unit and moving the transport unit.
    It is possible to execute a pressing operation in which the pressing member presses the solar cell and the wiring member mounted on the transport portion toward the transport portion side and does not press the solar cell and the wiring member from the transport portion side. The solar cell module manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11.
13. The pressing member has a pressing body portion having the main pressing portion and the protruding portion.
    The pressing body portion includes a laminated body in which a plurality of film-like members are laminated.
    The laminated body has a missing portion and has a missing portion.
    The solar cell according to claim 12, wherein the pressing operation is a state in which the overlapping portion of the solar cell and the wiring member is arranged in the missing portion, and the pressing member presses the solar cell and the wiring member. Module manufacturing equipment.
14. Has a transport device,
    The transport device is a belt conveyor and includes a belt member having a suction hole and a suction device that sucks from the suction hole.
    The solar cell and the wiring member are placed on the belt member, and the solar cell can be attracted to the belt member by sucking the solar cell from the suction hole. 13. The solar cell module manufacturing apparatus according to any one of 13.
15. A device for manufacturing a solar cell module having a second solar cell and the solar cell and the second solar cell being electrically connected by the wiring member.
    It has a second pressing member that presses the second solar cell and the wiring member, and an elastic mounting portion.
    The second pressing member is integrated with or separate from the pressing member.
    The second pressing member has at least a second pressing surface that presses the overlapping portion of the second solar cell and the wiring member.
    The solar cell is located in the preamble so that the solar cell is located between the wiring member and the preamble and the wiring member is located between the second solar cell and the preamble. The pressing operation can be performed with the cell, the wiring member, and the second solar cell mounted.
    In the pressing operation, the pressing surface presses the overlapping portion of the solar cell and the wiring member from the wiring member side, and the second pressing surface presses the second solar cell from the second solar cell side. The solar cell module manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 14, which presses the overlapping portion of the wiring members.

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