Patent Application
20110175618
1. Field of the Invention
The embodiment(s) of the present invention relates to an inspection apparatus which is employed to inspect general performance of a photovoltaic devices, such as a photovoltaic cell, a photovoltaic string which is formed by connecting the photovoltaic cells in series, a photovoltaic devices panel which is formed by disposing a plurality of photovoltaic strings in parallel, and the like. And the embodiment(s) of the present invention relates to an transport apparatus which is employed for the inspection apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that silicon photovoltaic devices are employed to harness solar energy. In the manufacture of the photovoltaic devices, it is important to evaluate whether the photovoltaic devices have predetermined power generation capacity. The evaluation is usually performed by measuring the output characteristics thereof.
The output characteristics are photovoltaic conversion characteristics evaluated by measuring the current-voltage characteristics of the photovoltaic devices under light irradiation. As a light source, it is desirable to use solar light. However, since the intensity of the solar light varies with weather, a solar simulator is employed. In the solar simulator, a xenon lamp, a metal halide lamp or the like is employed as an alternative to the solar light. If the aforementioned light source has been lit for a long time, the temperature thereof rises, leading to a variation on the light intensity thereof. Based on data collected using flash light of such a lamp, the output characteristic curves of the photovoltaic devices can be plotted by designating voltage as the horizontal axis and current as the vertical axis (for an instance, refer to Patent Document 1).
Another method different from the above-described method using a solar simulator is disclosed in Patent Document 2. In this method, a voltage is applied to a polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic cell in a forward direction so as to emit electroluminescence light (hereinafter referred to simply as “EL light”). By inspection the EL light emitted from the photovoltaic cell, the current density distribution of the photovoltaic cell can be obtained, and the defects of the photovoltaic devices elements can be determined based on the unevenness of the current density distribution. That is, the part which emits no EL light in the photovoltaic cell are determined as defective parts, and if the area of the defective parts is smaller than a predetermined amount, the photovoltaic cell is determined to have a predetermined power generation capacity.
The darkroom 11 is provided with a window 11a where a finder 12a of the CCD camera 12 is disposed, and thus an image photographed by the CCD camera 12 can be confirmed by viewing through the finder 12a. A computer is employed as the image processing apparatus 15.
Patent Document 1: JP-2007-088419A
Patent Document 2: WO/2006/059615
In the inspection apparatus 10 illustrated in
However, in the case where the inspection-object is a photovoltaic devices, the size thereof is about 2 m×1 m. Therefore, the darkroom 11 needs to have a dimension capable of accommodating inspection-object. In addition, the photovoltaic devices as the inspection-object has to be disposed inside the darkroom so as to be photographed by the CCD camera 12. Therefore, the darkroom should be provided with a door through which the photovoltaic devices can be transported into the darkroom or carried out from the darkroom. If the inspection apparatus is configured for the photovoltaic devices to be transported into the darkroom, the shading effect has to be secured when the door is closed. It is also necessary that the inspection apparatus is provided with a positioning member and a guide member for transporting the photovoltaic devices inside the darkroom. Furthermore, it is also necessary that the inspection apparatus is provided with an electrifying means for applying a current to the photovoltaic devices in the darkroom. Thereby, the inspection apparatus becomes complicated in structure and expensive in price.
In addition, the following problems are caused when such an inspection apparatus is incorporated as a part of a production line to manufacture photovoltaic devices. It is needed to set up a long distance between the photovoltaic devices and the camera due to the large-scale of the photovoltaic devices, in case where the entire photovoltaic devices is inspected by photographing with the camera and the camera is disposed below the photovoltaic devices. Therefore, it is need to dig out the ground of the factory, which corresponds to the place that the inspection apparatus is disposed, if it is intended to unify a pass-line of the photovoltaic devices in the production line, which is defined as a distance from the ground of the factory to a position that the photovoltaic devices panel is transported. Accordingly, an extra expense to adopt the inspection apparatus becomes higher.
Moreover, the following demands exist in case of incorporating such an inspection apparatus as a constituent unit of production line for a photovoltaic devices. It is desired that the stacks of transparent substrates, photovoltaic cells (in the following description, the term “photovoltaic cell” encompasses strings which is formed by connecting photovoltaic cells in series, as well as panels which is formed by connecting the plural columns of strings), filling members, and back side members, which constitute photovoltaic devices to be inspection-objects, are transported to the inspection apparatus and inspected there in a pre-laminated state. The photovoltaic devices have become increasingly large to such a degree that the sizes thereof are 2 m×1 m or more. As described later, in a pre-laminated inspection-object, the back side member at the uppermost surface covers the transparent substrate at the lowermost surface, photovoltaic cells, and filling members. Also, the back side member is stacked in such a manner that the back side member sticks out of the transparent substrate. Thus, if the back side member touches a constituent member of the inspection apparatus during transportation to the inspection apparatus, a positional deviation occurs among the stacked constituent members of the photovoltaic devices. Such a problem during transportation causes positional deviation among strings and cells constituting a photovoltaic devices panel, and impedes accurate defect inspection of the photovoltaic cells, resulting in hindrance of the lamination process at a post-process.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a cheap and simply-structured inspection apparatus of photovoltaic devices, which is configured to emit EL light by applying a current to the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction. A second object of the present invention is to provide a transport apparatus for transporting stacked constituent members of the photovoltaic devices to the inspection apparatus in a pre-laminated state without the positional deviation among the constituent members of the photovoltaic devices during transporting.
In order to achieve the foregoing objects, an inspection apparatus for a photovoltaic devices according to the present invention includes: a darkroom having an opening in an upper surface thereof; supporting means provided on the upper surface of the darkroom and on which a photovoltaic devices as an inspection-object is disposed thereon; a camera provided inside the darkroom; and a shading cover that prevents light from entering the darkroom from the opening and from a gap in a boundary between the opening and the photovoltaic devices disposed on the supporting means.
Further, in order to achieve the foregoing objects, an inspection apparatus for a photovoltaic devices according to the present invention includes: a darkroom having a flat upper surface; a transparent plate provided on the upper surface of the darkroom and on which a photovoltaic devices as an inspection-object is disposed thereon; a camera provided inside the darkroom; and a shading cover that prevents light from entering the darkroom from the transparent plate and from a gap in a boundary between the transparent plate and the photovoltaic devices placed on the transparent plate.
The shading cover of the inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices may be so configured as to include openably closable doors in side surfaces thereof for transporting the photovoltaic devices as an inspection-object into and carrying out the photovoltaic devices therefrom. The shading cover may also be so configured as to include an openably closable door in an upper surface thereof.
The inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices may be so configured as to include a mechanism for moving the photographing camera. The inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices may also be so configured as to include a reflector plate disposed inside the darkroom obliquely to the upper surface of the darkroom.
In order to achieve the foregoing objects, in a photovoltaic devices inspection apparatus including a darkroom having a flat upper surface, a transparent plate provided on the upper surface of the darkroom and on which a photovoltaic devices as an inspection-object is disposed thereon, and a camera for photographing an image of the inspection-object, the transport apparatus for the inspection apparatus according to the present invention transports stacked constituent members of a photovoltaic devices to the inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices in a pre-laminated state. The transport apparatus for the inspection apparatus includes a pair (two rows) of transport guide portions provided symmetrically relative to a direction of transportation. The pair of transport guide portions includes a plurality of endlessly connected transport members having wall portions lower than a thickness dimension of a transparent substrate that is a constituent member of a photovoltaic devices to be transported. The transparent substrate is guided with the wall portion and transported.
The transport apparatus for the inspection apparatus may also be configured as follows. A pair (two rows) of transport guide portions is provided symmetrically relative to a direction of transportation. The each transport guide portions include an endless belt-like member having a wall portion lower than a thickness dimension of a transparent substrate that is constituent member of a photovoltaic devices to be transported. The transparent substrate is guided with the wall portions and he transported.
Further, the transport apparatus for the inspection apparatus may be configured such that the wall portions of the transport members or the belt-like members of the transport guide portions of the transport apparatus are positionally variable according to a width dimension of the transparent substrate that is a constituent member of a photovoltaic devices to be transported.
According to the inspection apparatus for photovoltaic devices of the present invention, in case of disposing a photovoltaic devices as an inspection-object onto the transparent plate at the upper surface of the darkroom from the outside of the darkroom, the shading cover prevents light from entering the darkroom from a gap in the boundary between the upper surface of the darkroom and the photovoltaic devices as the inspection-object, and the camera disposed in the darkroom can thus photograph the inspection-object. Since a current is applied to the photovoltaic devices during photographing, the photovoltaic devices emit EL light. Photographing the state of emitting EL light of the photovoltaic devices and analyzing the image photographed by the camera through the image processing apparatus which is connected to the camera enable determining whether the photovoltaic devices is defective or not.
Since an openably closable door is provided on the upper surface of the shading cover of the inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices according to the present invention, connectors are easily connected to electrodes of a photovoltaic devices for applying current in a forward direction to the photovoltaic cells. Moreover, since openably closable doors are provided in side surfaces of the shading cover of the present inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices, a photovoltaic devices, i.e., an inspection-object, is easily transported into the apparatus and carried out therefrom.
In case of installing the inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices according to the present invention in a production line for photovoltaic devices, the shading cover of the inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices facilitates automation of operations of transporting inspection-objects into, of carrying them out of the apparatus, and of connecting connectors to the electrodes of photovoltaic devices.
It is possible to inspect the photovoltaic devices by disposing it on the upper surface of the darkroom from the outside of the darkroom. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a door for the photovoltaic devices as the inspection-object to be transported into the darkroom or carried out from the darkroom. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the structure of the darkroom, thereby, enabling miniaturization thereof.
In particular, it is possible to dispose the camera on a side surface of the darkroom, since the reflector is obliquely disposed with respect to the transparent panel. Therefore, the height of the darkroom can be lowered, even if the photovoltaic devices panel as an inspection-object becomes larger. Accordingly, the pass-line of the production line can be unified with the pre-process or the post-process of the inspection apparatus of the present invention.
Further, in the case where the inspection-object is the photovoltaic devices, the photovoltaic devices is transported in a production line (manufacturing apparatus, such as a laminating apparatus) in a state that a light receiving surface is directed downward. Therefore, it is possible to dispose the photovoltaic devices on the inspection apparatus without inversing it, since the inspection apparatus of the present invention is provided with a transparent plate on an upper surface of the darkroom.
According to the transport apparatus for the inspection apparatus according to the present invention, constituent members of photovoltaic devices in a pre-laminated stacked state do not touch other members of the transport apparatus for the inspection apparatus. The positional deviation among the constituent members dose not occur while being transported to the inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices.
Thus, defects in the photovoltaic cells are inspected without problems even before the laminating process, and besides the lamination process at a post-process is performed without any disturbance.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate similar or identical parts throughout the several views thereof.
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In so doing, specific terminology is employed solely for the sake of clarity, and the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. It is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner and achieve a similar result.
<1> Inspection-Object (Photovoltaic Devices)
First, the description will be given of an example of an inspection-object 200 which is inspected by an inspection apparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention.
As illustrated in the planar view of
The photovoltaic devices as the inspection-object 200 may be formed with a single photovoltaic cell 28 only, or may be formed with the string 25 in which the plural photovoltaic cells 28 are straightly connected, or may be a photovoltaic devices panel 30 in which the plural columns of strings 25 are disposed in parallel and the photovoltaic cells 28 are disposed in matrix.
As illustrated in
The back side member 22 is formed of, for example, polyethylene resin or a fluoro resin or the like. The filling members 23 and 24 are formed of, for example, EVA resin (polyethylene vinyl acetate resin) or the like. As described above, the string is formed by connecting the photovoltaic cells 28 with lead wires 29 between electrodes 26 and 27.
Such a photovoltaic devices panel is obtained by stacking the aforementioned constituent members and laminating. The laminating process is performed by pressing with force under heating in vacuum to cross-link the EVA resin with a laminator or the like.
Moreover, a kind of photovoltaic devices, which is generally called as a thin film-type, may be employed as the inspection-object 200.
For example, a typical structure of this kind of thin film-type photovoltaic devices is obtained in the following way of: depositing a power generating element comprised of a transparent electrode, a semiconductor and a rear back electrode in advance via vacuum evaporation on the transparent cover glass disposed at the lower side; disposing the transparent cover glass at the lower side; covering the photovoltaic devices elements deposited on the glass with the filling members; covering the filling members with the back side member; and laminating the stacked members with a laminator.
Except that crystalline cells is replaced with deposition-typed power generating elements, the basic sealing structure of this kind of thin film-typed photovoltaic devices as the inspection-object 200 is the same as the case of the crystalline cells in the aforementioned description.
<222 Entire Configuration of the Inspection Apparatus
The darkroom 110 is formed of a shading material to prevent light rays from entering the darkroom 110, except the opening (the transparent plate) 112 of the upper surface 111 thereof. Notwithstanding, it is also possible to make the entire upper surface 111 of the opening (the transparent plate) if the photovoltaic devices as the inspection-object 200 is disposed on the upper surface 111 and then the entire upper surface 111 including the inspection-object 200 is covered with the shading means. Except the upper surface, the four side surfaces and the bottom surface are formed of shading material.
In case where no transparent plate is provided in the opening 112 in the upper surface 111 of the darkroom, means for supporting photovoltaic devices, i.e., inspection-objects, is provided. The supporting means may be, as described later, a transport guide mechanism for the inspection-objects. Alternatively, the supporting means may be members for supporting two ends or four corners of a photovoltaic as an inspection-object.
<3> Transporting and Positioning of Inspection-Object
A transport apparatus 220 is provided on the top of the upper surface 111 so as to transport an inspection-object 200 into the present inspection apparatus and to load and unload the inspection-object from a pre-process and to a post-process. The transport apparatus may use a chain conveyor or a belt conveyor that is actuated by an electric motor. The transport apparatus 220 is provided with transport guide portions 221R/L with a function of transporting and guiding inspection-objects 200. The distance in-between the transportation guide members 221R and 221L is configured so as to adjust in accordance with the size of the inspection-objection 200.
When a photovoltaic devices, i.e., an inspection-object, is transported from the pre-process of the inspection apparatus of the present invention, a transporting-in conveyor 210 of the present inspection apparatus transports the photovoltaic devices in the direction indicated by the black painted arrow in
The transport guide portions 221R/L have at their side surfaces positioning metal members that are capable of being protruded and withdrawn by, e.g., an actuator. The inspection-object 200 transported is positioned in the direction in which the inspection-objects are transported, by the positioning metal members protruded. The positioning metal members may be so configured as to ascend or descend from upper portions of the transport guide members 221R/L or to rotatingly descend from the guide members, instead of being protruded and withdrawn from the side surfaces of the guide members.
Upon completion of positioning of the inspection-object, the conveyor apparatus stops to start the inspection. The inspection method is described later. At the completion of inspection, the conveyor apparatus 220 is actuated and the inspection-object 200 is transferred to a carrying-out conveyor 230 (in the direction indicated by the black painted arrow in
The means for transporting the photovoltaic devices, i.e., the inspection-objects, may have the configuration as illustrated in
<4> Photographing Camera
The EL light emitted from the inspection-object 200 is a weak light ray of wavelength between 1,000 nm and 1,300 nm, is emitted in the darkroom 110 and the weak light ray is photographed by using the photographing camera 120. Therefore, it is necessary to use a CCD camera which has high sensitivity to weak light ray as the photographing camera 120.
Although a camera moving mechanism is not illustrated in
<5> Moving Mechanism for the Camera in the Darkroom
The y-axis guide portion 130 is supported at its both ends with x-axis guide portions 140. A motor 142 and timing belts 144 provided on both sides thereof allow the y-axis guide portion 130 to move back and forth along the x-axis direction over the x-axis guide portions. In the configuration described above, the x-axis guide portions 140-140, y-axis guide portion 130, motors 132-142, and timing belts 144 constitute a driving mechanism for the camera 120. The x-axis guide portions 140 and the y-axis guide portion 130 may use various linear actuators. Ball screws and motors are employed in the present embodiment.
The rotation of the motors 132 and 142 of the driving mechanism is controlled, such that the camera 120 is moved to arbitrary position within the x-y plane to photograph the entire surface of the inspection-object 200.
The driving system is not limited to the above embodiment using motors and ball screws and various linear actuators may be employed.
<6> A Reflector Plate within the Darkroom
The present inspection apparatus may be configured such that, in the darkroom, a reflector plate 190 is obliquely disposed to the upper surface 111 of the darkroom.
In
<7> The Other Instruments
In addition to the aforementioned means, although not illustrated in the drawings, the inspection apparatus 100 of the present invention is provided with the power source 14 and the image processing apparatus 15 as illustrated in the conventional embodiment of
<8> Usage of the Inspection Apparatus
A description is given of the usage of the inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices of the present invention in the embodiment in which the photovoltaic devices is employed as the inspection-object 200.
After the photovoltaic devices manufactured by a laminator or the like is carried out, it is transported in front of the inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices of the present invention by the transporting-in conveyor 210. The transported photovoltaic devices is guided between the pair of guide members 221R and 221L, and transported. The photovoltaic devices reaches above the darkroom 110. Thereafter, photovoltaic devices is positioned in the direction of transporting by protruding the positioning member 119 disposed at the inner side of the guide members 221L and 221L in a manner that the positioning member 119 is protruded and withdrawn by an actuator or the like.
A shading cover 240 is provided to prevent light from entering the darkroom 110 from, e.g., a gap between the opening (or the transparent plate) 112 at the upper surface 111 of the darkroom and the inspection-object 200.
The photovoltaic devices as the inspection-object 200 reaches a predetermined position on the upper surface 111 of the darkroom 110, then stops on the opening (the transparent plate) 112 of the darkroom 110 with the transparent glass plate disposed at the lower side and is connected with a power source not shown in drawings. Since the inspection-object 200 is smaller than the opening (the transparent plate) 112, light rays enter the darkroom from the vicinity of the inspection-object 200. Therefore, a shading cover or the like which is described hereinafter is disposed to cover the entire upper surface of the darkroom 110 from above the inspection-object 200. Thereafter, a current is applied in a forward direction from the power source to the inspection-object 200. By this electrification, the inspection-object 200 emits EL light, which is photographed by the camera 120.
In the case that the inspection apparatus 100 of the present invention is employed to photograph the entire of the inspection-object 200 and inspect the photovoltaic devices by using the obtained image, it is possible to fix the camera 120 at an approximate center position of the bottom of the darkroom 110 to photograph the inspection-object, without disposing or using the moving mechanism for the camera. In case of using a reflector plate inside the darkroom, the photographing may be performed with the camera fixed at the position of
In the case that the inspection apparatus 100 of the present invention is employed to photograph the respective photovoltaic cells 28 disposed in matrix in the photovoltaic devices panel 30 one by one and perform the inspection by using the obtained images, the moving mechanism is needed to be disposed so as to move the camera 120 in the darkroom 110 as illustrated in
The controlling device 400 drives the moving mechanism for the camera by use of the personal computer not shown in the drawings. The camera 120 photographs the photovoltaic cells 28 disposed in matrix in the photovoltaic devices panel 30 one by one, and the obtained image date is transmitted to the image processing apparatus comprised of the personal computer and the like. The image processing apparatus extracts those portions which emit no EL light from the images of the photovoltaic cells, and analyzes them to determine whether the respective photovoltaic cells 28 should be passed or not based on the obtained image data of respective photovoltaic cells. Whether the photovoltaic devices panel 30 as a whole should be passed or not is determined on the basis of the results determined whether passed or not for all photovoltaic cells.
Furthermore, respective photovoltaic cells or every few pieces of photovoltaic cells may be photographed by moving the camera and the photovoltaic devices panel 30 as a whole may be photographed by fixing the camera without moving.
<9> Shading Cover
The entire upper surface 111 of the darkroom 110 is covered by the shading cover. However, in the case of the photovoltaic devices, the back side member 22 made of resin is opaque and has sufficient shading effect. Moreover, the upper surface 111 of the darkroom 110 is comprised of members having shading effect, except the transparent plate 112. Therefore, it is sufficient to cover only the gap portion between the darkroom 110 and the inspection-object 200 with the shading cover. In the case that the inspection-object 200 is disposed in close contact with the transparent plate 112 and is larger than the transparent plate 112 and covers the entire transparent plate 112, the shading means is not necessary.
In the present embodiment, as illustrated in
Embodiments of the shading cover of the inspection apparatus of the present invention are described with reference to
As illustrated in
The doors 241 may be so configured as to be opened and closed automatically by, e.g., an air cylinder, or may be so configured as to be opened and closed manually by the operator. An inspection-object is transported from the pre-process and is transferred on the transporting-in conveyor to be transported to a position right in front of the present inspection apparatus. The door at the inlet side is opened to allow the inspection-object to be transported and located in the present inspection apparatus, and the door is closed again. Upon completion of the inspection, the door at the outlet side is opened and the inspection-object 200 is carried out. The doors for transporting the inspection-object into and carrying it out of the inspection apparatus is closed during inspection, thus preventing outside light from entering a portion where the inspection-object is placed and the inside of the darkroom.
The openably closable door 242 is provided in the upper surface of the shading cover. The door 242 may be so configured as to be opened and closed automatically by, e.g., an air cylinder, or may be so configured as to be opened and closed manually by the operator. The inspection-object is transported from the pre-process, the openably closable door 241 at the inlet side mentioned above is opened, and the inspection-object is transported into the inspection apparatus to reach a predetermined position. Then the door 242 is opened. When the door 242 is opened, the inspection-object 200 appears as illustrated in
Preferably, opening for maintenance is appropriately provided to the shading cover of the present inspection apparatus. As one example, in
In the description of the present embodiment, the shading cover 240 is configured to cover the entire upper surface of the darkroom and to be fixed to the darkroom. Meanwhile, the shading cover 240 may be movably configured to ascend and descend by an actuator.
The resinous back side members 22 of the photovoltaic devices are opaque and have a sufficient shading effect. The upper surface 111 of the darkroom 110 except the opening (transparent plate) 112 is also formed of a member with a shading effect. Thus, such a configuration may be employed that the gap portion between the opening (transparent plate) 112 of the darkroom 110 and the inspection-object 200 is covered with a shading member.
In the inspection apparatus 100 for the photovoltaic devices according to the present invention, the photovoltaic devices as the inspection-object 200 may be disposed outside the darkroom, and doors for transporting the inspection-object 200 into and carrying it out of the darkroom need not be provided. Further, the power source and wires for applying current to photovoltaic devices may be disposed outside the darkroom 110 and are not required at all inside the darkroom. Hence, the structure of the darkroom 110 is simplified.
Since an openably closable door is provided in the upper surface of the shading cover of the inspection apparatus of the present invention, connection of connectors to electrodes of a photovoltaic devices in applying current in a forward direction to the photovoltaic cells is facilitated. Moreover, since openably closable doors are provided in side surfaces of the shading cover of the present inspection apparatus, photovoltaic devices as inspection-objects can be transported in and carried out from the apparatus easily.
The shading cover of the inspection apparatus of the present invention facilitates automation of operations of transporting inspection-objects into and carrying them out of the inspection apparatus and of connecting connectors to electrodes of photovoltaic devices. The inspection apparatus of the present invention is therefore suitable for automation of production lines for a photovoltaic devices.
Particularly, the reflector plate 190 is disposed obliquely to the inspection-object 200. Therefore, installing the camera sideways inside the darkroom leads to reduction in height of the darkroom 110, and further downsizing of the apparatus is achieved. This eliminates the need of incidental works, such as digging out the ground of the portion at which the apparatus is installed, for unifying the pass-line of the production line.
The inspection apparatus 100 for the photovoltaic devices according to the present invention is installed for use in a production line of, e.g., photovoltaic devices. When the inspection apparatus is in operation, a photovoltaic devices is disposed on the upper surface 111 of the darkroom 110 with its light receiving surfaces facing down. In normal processes such as a lamination process of photovoltaic devices, since the light receiving surfaces of photovoltaic devices are faced down during transportation and inversion is not necessary for loading in the inspection apparatus 100, production processes can be simplified.
A description is given of embodiments of the transport apparatus for the inspection apparatus according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<10> Inspection-Object (a Stack of Constituent Members of a Photovoltaic Devices)
First, the description will be given of an separate example of an inspection-object 200 which is inspected by an inspection apparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention.
As illustrated in the planar view of
The photovoltaic devices as the inspection-object 200 may be formed with a single photovoltaic cell 28 only, or may be formed with the string 25 in which the plural photovoltaic cells 28 are straightly connected, or may be a photovoltaic devices panel 30 in which the plural columns of strings 25 are disposed in parallel and the photovoltaic cells 28 are disposed in matrix.
As illustrated in
For example, PET or a fluoro resin may be used for the back side member 22. Thus, the portions sticking out of the transparent substrate droop. For example, an EVA resin (ethylene vinyl acetate resin) may be used for the filling members 23 and 24. The strings 25 have a structure in which photovoltaic cells 28 are connected with lead wires 29 between electrodes 26 and 27, as aforementioned.
Regarding the inspection-object 200, a so-called thin film type photovoltaic devices described in the section <1> may be an inspection-object.
<11> Embodiment 1 of the Transport Apparatus of the Present Invention
A first embodiment of the transport apparatus for the inspection apparatus of the aforementioned <10> is described with reference to
As has been already described, since the transported inspection-object is in the pre-laminated state, the transparent substrate, photovoltaic cells, filling members, and back side member are in a stacked state. Thus, the back side member sticks out widely from the transparent substrate. The sticking-out portions of the back side member droop downward. In order to prevent the drooping portions 20 from touching any of the members of the transport apparatus, a device as described below is added to the transport guides 225. The transport guides 225 as seen in the direction of transportation have a substantially L-shape. Wall portions 227 thereof guide ends of the transparent substrate 21. The height dimension of the wall portions is possibly lower than the thickness dimension of the transparent substrate. In case where it is unavoidable for the back side member to touch a member of the transport apparatus even with the possibly lowest dimension of the wall portions, the dimension of thickness portions 228 of the transport guides is adjusted so as to prevent the drooping portions of the back side member from touching the member of the transport apparatus.
Transparent substrate supporting portions 229 of the transport guides 225 are decided according to the distance S (see
The transport portions 221R/L are so configured as to be positionally changeable according to the width dimensions of the transparent substrates of photovoltaic devices. The transport portions 221R/L may be positionally changed independently. Alternatively, the transport portions 221R/L may be equally brought close to or away from each other simultaneously by means of a screw mechanism.
<12> Embodiment 2 of the Transport Apparatus of the Present Invention
A second embodiment of the photovoltaic devices inspection apparatus transport apparatus of the aforementioned <10> employs, as illustrated in
Transport portions 321R/L each include the endless belt-like member 322, an upper belt support 323, and a lower belt support 324. The transport portions are provided in a pair (in two rows) symmetrically with respect to the direction of transportation. As illustrated in
Since the inspection-object transported in the similar manner as in Embodiment 1 is in a pre-laminated state, the transparent substrate, photovoltaic cells, filling members, and back side member are in a stacked state. Thus, the back side member sticks out widely from the transparent substrate. The sticking-out portions of the back side member droop downward. In order to prevent the drooping portions 20 from touching any of the members of the transport apparatus, a device as described below is added to the belt-like members. The belt-like members 322 as seen in the direction of transportation have a substantially L-shape. Wall portions 327 thereof guide ends of the transparent substrates 21. The height dimension of the wall portions is possibly lower than the thickness dimension of the transparent substrate. In case where it is unavoidable for the back side member to touch a member of the transport apparatus even with the possibly lowest dimension of the wall portions, the dimension of thickness portions 328 of the belt-like members is adjusted so as to prevent the drooping portions of the back side member from touching the member of the transport apparatus.
Transparent substrate supporting portions 329 of the belt-like members are decided according to the distance S (see
The transport portions 321R/L are so configured as to be positionally changed according to the width dimensions of the transparent substrates of photovoltaic devices. The transport portions 321R/L may be positionally changed independently. Alternatively, the transport portions 321R/L may be equally brought close to or away from each other simultaneously by means of a screw mechanism.
<13> A Method of Using the Present Inspection Apparatus and the Transport Apparatus of the Present Invention
A method of using the transport apparatus for the inspection apparatus is described, taking an example where stacks of constituent members of photovoltaic devices are the inspection-objects 200.
The photovoltaic devices as an inspection-object 200 is constituted by a transparent substrate, photovoltaic cells, filling members and a back side member. These members are stacked in a pre-laminated state. The inspection-object is transported to a position before the inspection apparatus for the photovoltaic devices by the transporting-in conveyor 210. The inspection-object transported thereto reaches a position above the darkroom 110 by transporting and guiding between the pair of transport guides 225 or between the pair of belt-like members 322. After that, the positioning metal members, which are provided on side surfaces of the transport apparatus so as to be protruded and withdrawn by, e.g., an actuator, are protruded, such that the photovoltaic devices is positioned in place along the direction of transportation.
Since devices are added to the transport guides and the belt-like members as described above, the drooping portions 20 of the back side member of the inspection-object do not touch a constituent member of the transport apparatus during transportation. Thus, the constituent members of the inspection-object are transported to the present inspection apparatus without positional deviation among each other.
The method of using the present inspection apparatus 100 and the transport apparatus of the present invention is as described above. Hence, a transparent substrate, photovoltaic cells, filling members, and a back side member, which are constituent members of photovoltaic devices, i.e., inspection-objects, are stacked in a pre-laminated state. The constituent members of photovoltaic devices are transported to the inspection apparatus without positional deviation among each other by employing the transport apparatus of the present invention to the present inspection apparatus. Accordingly, defect inspection can be performed normally through the above inspection method.
As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-78636 | Apr 2008 | JP | national |
| 2009-78637 | Apr 2008 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2009/056774 | 3/25/2009 | WO | 00 | 10/14/2010 |
