A fluxing agent application mechanism and solder strip handling apparatus

Abstract

The application provides a flux coating mechanism and a solder strip processing device, comprising a mounting frame, a liquid tank, a sponge and a pressing assembly, wherein the liquid tank is used for containing the flux; the sponge is located in the liquid tank and absorbs the flux, and a plurality of strip-shaped sponge heads are arranged on the top of the sponge; the pressing assembly comprises a driving part and a pressing plate, the pressing plate is connected to a movable part of the driving part, and the driving part is used for driving the pressing plate to ascend and descend between an avoiding station and a coating station; when the driving part drives the pressing plate to ascend to the avoiding station, an avoiding space for N solder strips to pass through is formed between the pressing plate and the sponge heads; when the driving part drives the pressing plate to descend to the coating station, the pressing plate extrudes each sponge head, so that the corresponding part of each solder strip is coated with the flux. The flux coating mechanism provided by the application can automatically and intermittently coat the flux to a plurality of target parts of the solder strip, and meets the local coating requirement of the flux.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of photovoltaic cell production, specifically a flux coating mechanism and a solder ribbon processing device. Background Technology

[0002] Before soldering the solder strips onto the solar cells, flux needs to be applied to the solder strips during the feeding process. A common flux application method is to pull the solder strips out of the solder strip roll, set up a flux bath along the traction path of the solder strips, and let the solder strips pass through the flux in the flux bath during the traction process to apply the flux to the surface of the solder strips. Then, the solder strips coated with flux are cut and soldered to the solar cells.

[0003] However, the above flux coating method can only achieve flux coating on the entire solder strip, and cannot achieve targeted coating on several specific parts of the solder strip that are spaced apart along the length direction. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a flux coating mechanism, the detailed technical solution of which is as follows: A flux coating mechanism includes a mounting bracket, a liquid tank, a sponge, and a pressing assembly, wherein: The flux tank is mounted on the mounting bracket and is used to hold the flux. The sponge is located in the liquid tank and absorbs flux. The top of the sponge is provided with several strip-shaped sponge heads arranged at intervals along the first direction. The sponge heads extend along the second direction, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The pressing assembly includes a drive unit and a pressure plate. The drive unit is mounted on a mounting frame, and the pressure plate is connected to a movable part of the drive unit. The drive unit is used to drive the pressure plate to move up and down between a clearance station and a coating station, with the clearance station being higher than the coating station. When the drive unit drives the pressure plate to rise to the clearance position, a clearance space is formed between the pressure plate and the sponge head for N welding strips to pass through in the first direction. The N welding strips are arranged at intervals in the second direction, and N≥2. When the drive unit drives the pressure plate to descend to the coating station, the pressure plate squeezes each sponge head, so that the part of each solder strip corresponding to each sponge head is coated with flux.

[0005] The flux coating mechanism provided in this application has several strip-shaped sponge heads on the sponge. When the solder strip to be coated with flux enters the clearance space, each sponge head corresponds to a target area on the solder strip that needs to be coated with flux. Thus, when the drive unit drives the pressure plate to descend, the pressure plate can press each target area on the solder strip into the sponge head one by one, thereby automatically coating the flux at intervals onto multiple target areas of the solder strip, satisfying the local flux coating needs of the solder strip under specific conditions.

[0006] In some embodiments, the flux coating mechanism includes two sponges spaced apart along a first direction, each sponge having a sponge head; when the driving unit drives the pressure plate to descend to the coating station, the pressure plate simultaneously squeezes the two sponges, so that the sponge head on one sponge applies flux to the front half of the N solder strips at intervals, and the sponge head on the other sponge applies flux to the rear half of the N solder strips at intervals. The front half and the rear half of the N solder strips are respectively to be connected to a battery cell, and the middle section of the N solder strips located between the front half and the rear half is located in the gap between the two sponges.

[0007] During the stringing process of solar cells, adjacent solar cells are connected by a set of welding strips. The first half of each welding strip is welded to the positive electrode of one solar cell, and the second half of each welding strip is welded to the negative electrode of another solar cell.

[0008] By placing two sponges at intervals, flux can be applied to several target areas on the front half of the solder ribbon (such as the area corresponding to the solder pad on one cell) and several target areas on the back half of the solder ribbon (such as the area corresponding to the solder pad on another cell), thereby improving the welding effect between the solder ribbon and the cell.

[0009] In some embodiments, the sponge head includes two first sponge heads disposed at opposite ends of the sponge along a first direction.

[0010] To reduce production costs, solder pads can be placed only at both ends of the solder ribbon laying path on the battery cell. By setting the sponge head to include only two first sponge heads, and placing the two first sponge heads at opposite ends of the sponge, flux can be applied to the target areas of the solder ribbon corresponding to the two solder pads.

[0011] In some embodiments, the sponge head further includes a plurality of second sponge heads located between and spaced apart from the two first sponge heads, wherein the width of the second sponge heads along the first direction is smaller than the width of the first sponge heads along the first direction.

[0012] By setting several second sponge heads at intervals between two first sponge heads, flux coating is achieved on several other parts of the solder ribbon opposite to the second sponge heads. During the process of welding cells into strings, these parts of the solder ribbon coated with flux can be welded to the grid lines on the cells, thereby further improving the conductivity between the solder ribbon and the cells.

[0013] In some embodiments, the drive unit includes a first lifting drive component, an adjusting plate, a mounting plate, and at least three leveling bolts, wherein: the first lifting drive component is disposed on the mounting frame; the adjusting plate is connected to the drive end of the first lifting drive component; the mounting plate is connected below the adjusting plate via at least three leveling bolts, the leveling bolts being used to adjust the horizontal position of the mounting plate; and a pressure plate is fixedly installed on the lower surface of the mounting plate.

[0014] The pressure plate is leveled, ensuring that it can press each sponge head horizontally, thus improving the uniformity of flux coating on the welding strip.

[0015] In some embodiments, the flux coating mechanism further includes a heating component disposed at the bottom and / or sidewall of the liquid tank, the heating component being used to heat the flux in the liquid tank.

[0016] This allows for heating of the flux in the liquid bath, preventing the flux from solidifying.

[0017] In some embodiments, the heating assembly includes a heat-conducting plate, a heating rod, and a thermocouple. The heat-conducting plate is fixed to the bottom and / or sidewall of the liquid tank. The heating rod and the thermocouple are installed inside the heat-conducting plate. The heating rod is used to heat the heat-conducting plate, and the thermocouple is electrically connected to the heating rod.

[0018] The heating rod heats the heat-conducting plate, enabling the heat-conducting plate to uniformly heat the flux in the liquid bath. The thermocouple is used to monitor the temperature of the heat-conducting plate in real time, ultimately ensuring that the temperature of the flux in the liquid bath is maintained within the predetermined temperature range, thus achieving precise temperature control.

[0019] In some embodiments, the flux coating mechanism further includes a lifting adjustment assembly disposed on a mounting frame; a liquid tank is connected to a movable part of the lifting adjustment assembly; the lifting adjustment assembly is used to drive the liquid tank to move up or down, so as to move the sponge in the liquid tank closer to or away from the solder strip.

[0020] By setting up a lifting and adjusting component, the sponge can move towards the solder strip to apply flux. During the coating process, since both the sponge and the pressure plate can be close to the solder strip, the solder strip can always maintain a constant height position, avoiding the solder strip from being bent or deformed.

[0021] In some embodiments, the lifting adjustment assembly includes a second lifting drive and a connecting plate, wherein: the second lifting drive is disposed on a mounting bracket; the connecting plate is connected to the drive end of the second lifting drive, and the connecting plate or liquid tank is provided with an oblong hole extending in a first direction, and the liquid tank is adjustablely connected to the connecting plate in the first direction via a bolt passing through the oblong hole.

[0022] This allows for flexible adjustment of the sponge's installation position in the first direction, ultimately ensuring that each sponge head can be aligned with the area on the solder strip where flux needs to be applied.

[0023] This application also provides a solder strip processing apparatus, which includes a solder strip traction mechanism and a flux coating mechanism as described in any of the above claims, wherein: the solder strip traction mechanism is used to pull N solder strips out of the solder strip roll along a first direction, and the flux coating mechanism is located on the travel path of the N solder strips; the solder strip traction mechanism pulls a predetermined length of solder strip into the flux coating mechanism each time, and the flux coating mechanism is used to apply flux to the N solder strips located between the pressure plate and the sponge.

[0024] It enables continuous flux coating of solder strips pulled from the coil, thus improving flux coating efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flux coating mechanism of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a sponge in one embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a sponge in another embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell.

[0026] Figures 1 to 4 Includes: Mounting bracket 1; Liquid tank 2; Sponge 3: Sponge head 31, first sponge head 31a, second sponge head 31b; Downward pressing assembly 4: drive unit 41, pressure plate 42, first lifting drive component 411, adjusting plate 412, mounting plate 413, leveling bolt 414; Heating component 5; Lifting and adjusting assembly 6: Second lifting drive component 61, connecting plate 62, oblong hole 63; 100 solder strips, 200 solar cells, 300 solder pads, 400 grid lines. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flux coating mechanism of this application. Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the structure of a sponge in one embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a sponge in another embodiment of this application is shown.

[0029] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the flux coating mechanism provided in this application includes a mounting frame 1, a liquid tank 2, a sponge 3, and a pressing assembly 4, wherein: The liquid tank 2 is mounted on the mounting bracket 1 and is used to hold the flux.

[0030] The sponge 3 is located in the liquid tank 2 and absorbs flux. The top of the sponge 3 is provided with several strip-shaped sponge heads 31 arranged at intervals along a first direction (such as the X direction). The sponge heads 31 extend along a second direction (such as the Y direction), wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0031] The pressing assembly 4 includes a drive unit 41 and a pressure plate 42. The drive unit 41 is mounted on the mounting frame 1, and the pressure plate 42 is connected to the movable part of the drive unit 41. The drive unit 41 is used to drive the pressure plate 42 to move up and down between the clearance station and the coating station, with the clearance station being higher than the coating station.

[0032] When the drive unit 41 drives the pressure plate 42 to rise to the clearance position, a clearance space is formed between the pressure plate 42 and the sponge head for N welding strips 100 to pass through in the first direction. The N welding strips 100 are arranged at intervals in the second direction, and N≥2.

[0033] When the drive unit 41 drives the pressure plate 42 to descend to the coating station, the pressure plate 42 squeezes each sponge head 31, so that the part of each welding strip 100 corresponding to each sponge head is coated with flux.

[0034] The flux coating mechanism provided in this application has several strip-shaped sponge heads 31 on the sponge 3. When the solder ribbon 100 to be coated with flux enters the clearance space, each sponge head 31 is opposite to a target part on the solder ribbon that needs to be coated with flux.

[0035] Thus, when the drive unit 41 drives the pressure plate 42 to descend, the pressure plate 42 can press each target part on the solder ribbon 100 into the sponge head 31 one by one, thereby automatically applying flux to multiple target parts of the solder ribbon 100 at intervals. The strip-shaped sponge head 31 can also apply flux to multiple solder ribbons at the same time, improving the flux application efficiency.

[0036] During the stringing process of solar cells, adjacent cells are welded together using a set of solder ribbons. The first half of each solder ribbon is welded to the positive electrode of one cell, while the second half is welded to the negative electrode of the other cell. To enhance the connection strength between the solder ribbons and the positive and negative electrodes of the cells, several pads made of silver paste are typically spaced along each solder ribbon's laying path. Each solder ribbon is laid on its corresponding path and welded to the pads to achieve a strong bond with the positive and negative electrodes of the cell. The middle section of each solder ribbon is located in the gap between two cells.

[0037] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the flux coating mechanism of this application includes two sponges 3 spaced apart along a first direction, each sponge 3 having a sponge head 31. When the drive unit 41 drives the pressure plate 42 to descend to the coating station, the pressure plate 42 simultaneously squeezes the two sponges 3, so that the sponge head 31 on one sponge 3 applies flux to the front half of N (two are shown in the figure) solder ribbons 100 at intervals, and the sponge head 31 on the other sponge 3 applies flux to the rear half of the N solder ribbons 100 at intervals. The front half and the rear half of the N solder ribbons 100 are respectively to be connected to a battery cell, and the middle section of the N solder ribbons 100 located between the front half and the rear half is located in the gap between the two sponges 3.

[0038] By setting two sponges 3 at intervals, flux can be applied to several target areas (such as the area corresponding to the solder pad on a battery cell) on the front half of the solder ribbon 100 that enters the clearance space and several target areas (such as the area corresponding to the solder pad on another battery cell) on the rear half of the solder ribbon, thereby improving the welding effect between the solder ribbon and the battery cell.

[0039] In order to reduce production costs, such as Figure 4 As shown, solder pads 300 can be placed only at both ends of each solder ribbon laying path on the cell 200. This allows for targeted flux coating of the target areas on the solder ribbon 100 corresponding to the two solder pads 300. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the sponge head 3 includes two first sponge heads 31a, which are disposed at opposite ends of the sponge 3 along the first direction.

[0040] When the drive unit 41 drives the pressure plate 42 to descend to the coating station, the pressure plate 42 presses the two target parts of the solder ribbon 100 into the two first sponge heads 31a respectively, thereby applying flux to the two target parts of the solder ribbon 100 in a targeted manner.

[0041] like Figure 3As shown, in some embodiments, the sponge head 3 further includes a plurality of second sponge heads 31b located between and spaced apart from the two first sponge heads 31a, wherein the width of the second sponge head 31b along the first direction is smaller than the width of the first sponge head 31a along the first direction.

[0042] By spaced between two first sponge heads 31a, a plurality of second sponge heads 31b are provided, enabling flux coating on several other portions of the solder ribbon 100 opposite to the second sponge heads 31b. Thus, as... Figure 4 As shown, during the process of welding cells into strings, the flux-coated parts of the solder ribbon 100 can be soldered onto the grid lines 400 on the cell 200, thereby further improving the conductivity between the solder ribbon 100 and the cell.

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the drive unit 41 includes a first lifting drive member 411, an adjusting plate 412, a mounting plate 413, and at least three leveling bolts 414, wherein: the first lifting drive member 411 is disposed on the mounting bracket 1. The adjusting plate 412 is connected to the drive end of the first lifting drive member 411. The mounting plate 413 is connected to the underside of the adjusting plate 412 via at least three leveling bolts 414, the leveling bolts 414 being used to adjust the horizontal position of the mounting plate 413. A pressure plate 42 is fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the mounting plate 413.

[0044] By tightening one or more leveling bolts 414, the pressure plate 42 can be leveled, thereby ensuring that the pressure plate 42 can press each sponge head 31 in a horizontal state, improving the uniformity of flux coating on the welding strip 100.

[0045] The first lifting drive component 411 can be a drive device such as a cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the flux coating mechanism of this application further includes a heating component 5, which is disposed at the bottom and / or side wall of the liquid tank 2. The heating component 5 is used to heat the flux in the liquid tank 2 to prevent the flux from solidifying.

[0047] In some embodiments, the heating assembly 5 includes a heat-conducting plate, a heating rod, and a thermocouple, wherein the heat-conducting plate is fixed to the bottom and / or side wall of the liquid tank 2, the heating rod and the thermocouple are installed inside the heat-conducting plate, the heating rod is used to heat the heat-conducting plate, and the thermocouple is electrically connected to the heating rod.

[0048] The heating rod heats the heat-conducting plate, enabling the heat-conducting plate to uniformly heat the flux in the liquid tank 2. The thermocouple is used to monitor the temperature of the heat-conducting plate in real time, ultimately ensuring that the temperature of the flux in the liquid tank 2 is maintained within the predetermined temperature range, thus achieving precise temperature control.

[0049] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the flux coating mechanism of this application further includes a lifting adjustment assembly 6, which is mounted on the mounting frame 1. The liquid tank 2 is connected to the movable part of the lifting adjustment assembly 6. The lifting adjustment assembly 6 is used to drive the liquid tank 2 to move up and down, so as to move the sponge 3 in the liquid tank 2 closer to or away from the solder strip.

[0050] By setting up the lifting adjustment component 6, the sponge 3 can move toward the solder strip to apply flux. Thus, during the coating process, since both the sponge 3 and the pressure plate 42 can be close to the solder strip, the solder strip can always maintain a constant height position, avoiding the solder strip from being bent or deformed.

[0051] like Figure 1 As shown, in order to improve the smoothness of the lifting of the liquid tank 2, two lifting adjustment components 6 are set. The two ends of the liquid tank 2 are respectively connected to the moving parts of the two lifting adjustment components 6. The two lifting adjustment components 6 drive the liquid tank 2 to lift and lower synchronously from both ends.

[0052] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the lifting adjustment assembly 6 includes a second lifting drive 61 and a connecting plate 62, wherein: the second lifting drive 61 is disposed on the mounting bracket 1. The connecting plate 62 is connected to the driving end of the second lifting drive 61, and the liquid tank 2 or the connecting plate 62 is provided with an oblong hole 63 extending in a first direction, and the liquid tank 2 is adjustablely connected to the connecting plate 62 in the first direction via bolts passing through the oblong hole 63.

[0053] Before applying flux, loosen the bolts and push the liquid tank 2 in the first direction to adjust its installation position. After adjustment, tighten the bolts again to ensure that each sponge head 31 is aligned with the area on the solder ribbon to be coated with flux.

[0054] The second lifting drive component 61 can be a drive device such as a cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0055] This application also provides a solder strip processing apparatus, which includes a solder strip traction mechanism and a flux coating mechanism provided in any of the above embodiments, wherein: the solder strip traction mechanism is used to pull N solder strips out of the solder strip roll along a first direction, and the flux coating mechanism is located on the travel path of the N solder strips. The solder strip traction mechanism pulls a predetermined length of solder strip into the flux coating mechanism each time, and the flux coating mechanism is used to apply flux to the N solder strips located between the pressure plate 42 and the sponge 3.

[0056] The solder strip processing apparatus provided in this application enables continuous flux coating of solder strips pulled from the coil, thereby improving flux coating efficiency.

[0057] This application provides a sufficiently detailed and specific description. Those skilled in the art should understand that the descriptions in the embodiments are merely exemplary, and all changes made without departing from the true spirit and scope of this application should fall within its protection scope. The scope of protection claimed in this application is defined by the claims, not by the above descriptions in the embodiments. Without contradiction, some optional components in one embodiment can also be used in another embodiment, and some preferred structures of the same component in one embodiment are also applicable to another embodiment. Furthermore, there may be slight differences in the wording of the names of certain components in different embodiments; these slight differences will not affect the understanding of the technical solution of the present invention by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A flux coating mechanism, characterized in that, The flux coating mechanism includes a mounting bracket, a liquid tank, a sponge, and a pressing assembly, wherein: The liquid tank is disposed on the mounting bracket and is used to contain flux; The sponge is located in the liquid tank and absorbs flux. The top of the sponge is provided with a plurality of strip-shaped sponge heads arranged at intervals along a first direction. The sponge heads extend along a second direction, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The pressing assembly includes a drive unit and a pressure plate. The drive unit is disposed on the mounting frame, and the pressure plate is connected to the movable part of the drive unit. The drive unit is used to drive the pressure plate to move up and down between a clearance station and a coating station. The clearance station is higher than the coating station. When the driving unit drives the pressure plate to rise to the clearance position, a clearance space is formed between the pressure plate and the sponge head for N welding strips to pass through along the first direction. The N welding strips are arranged at intervals along the second direction, and N≥2. When the driving unit drives the pressure plate to descend to the coating station, the pressure plate squeezes each of the sponge heads, so that the part of each solder strip corresponding to each of the sponge heads is coated with flux.

2. The flux coating mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flux coating mechanism includes two sponges spaced apart along the first direction, and each sponge is provided with a sponge head; When the driving unit drives the pressure plate to descend to the coating station, the pressure plate simultaneously squeezes the two sponges, so that the sponge head on one of the sponges applies flux to the front half of the N solder strips at intervals, and the sponge head on the other sponge applies flux to the rear half of the N solder strips at intervals. The front half and the rear half of the N solder strips are respectively to be connected to a battery cell, and the middle section of the N solder strips located between the front half and the rear half is located in the gap between the two sponges.

3. The flux coating mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sponge head includes two first sponge heads, which are disposed at opposite ends of the sponge along the first direction.

4. The flux coating mechanism as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The sponge head also includes a plurality of second sponge heads located between and spaced apart from the two first sponge heads, wherein the width of the second sponge head along the first direction is smaller than the width of the first sponge head along the first direction.

5. The flux coating mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The drive unit includes a first lifting drive component, an adjusting plate, a mounting plate, and at least three leveling bolts, wherein: The first lifting drive component is mounted on the mounting bracket; The adjusting plate is connected to the drive end of the first lifting drive component; The mounting plate is connected to the underside of the leveling plate by at least three leveling bolts, which are used to adjust the horizontal position of the mounting plate. The pressure plate is fixedly installed on the lower surface of the mounting plate.

6. The flux coating mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flux coating mechanism further includes a heating component disposed at the bottom and / or side wall of the liquid tank, the heating component being used to heat the flux in the liquid tank.

7. The flux coating mechanism as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The heating assembly includes a heat-conducting plate, a heating rod, and a thermocouple. The heat-conducting plate is fixed to the bottom and / or side wall of the liquid tank. The heating rod and the thermocouple are installed inside the heat-conducting plate. The heating rod is used to heat the heat-conducting plate, and the thermocouple is electrically connected to the heating rod.

8. The flux coating mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The flux coating mechanism further includes a lifting and adjusting component, which is mounted on the mounting frame. The liquid tank is connected to the movable part of the lifting and adjusting assembly; The lifting and adjusting assembly is used to drive the liquid tank to rise and fall, so as to move the sponge in the liquid tank closer to or away from the welding strip.

9. The flux coating mechanism as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The lifting and adjusting assembly includes a second lifting drive component and a connecting plate, wherein: The second lifting drive component is mounted on the mounting bracket; The connecting plate is connected to the driving end of the second lifting drive component. The connecting plate or liquid tank is provided with a waist-shaped hole extending along the first direction. The liquid tank is adjustablely connected to the connecting plate along the first direction by a bolt passing through the waist-shaped hole.

10. A welding strip processing device, characterized in that, The welding strip processing device includes a welding strip traction mechanism and a flux coating mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The welding strip traction mechanism is used to pull N welding strips out of the welding strip roll along the first direction, and the flux coating mechanism is located on the travel path of the N welding strips. The welding strip traction mechanism pulls a predetermined length of welding strip into the flux coating mechanism each time. The flux coating mechanism is used to apply flux to N welding strips located between the pressure plate and the sponge.

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