Method and apparatus for manufacturing solar cell modules

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements in the technical field of solar module manufacturing. For this purpose, in particular a method for manufacturing a solar module (2) is proposed, in which at least two or more strings (4) of a plurality of solar cells (3) are presented together for mounting in the solar module (2).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a solar cell module.

[0002] Such methods and devices are already known from practical use, in which a number of solar cells are combined to form strings, which are electrically connected to one another to form a solar module.

[0003] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a corresponding device for manufacturing solar modules that facilitates efficient production of solar modules.

[0004] To achieve this goal, a method is proposed having the measures and features of the first independent claim, which is directed to a method for manufacturing a solar module. In particular, to achieve this goal, it is therefore proposed to provide the method described at the beginning with at least two rows, which are then subjected together to mounting on a solar module.

[0005] By providing at least two or more rows together, especially simultaneously, the loading of the solar cell module can be carried out in a shorter time, which facilitates more efficient manufacturing of the solar cell module.

[0006] At least two rows may be fed together to the attachment to the solar module by a motor-driven transfer unit, for example a tray and / or a tray and / or a negative pressure table and / or a belt conveyor. The use of a motor-driven transfer unit can facilitate a fully or even fully automated production of the solar module.

[0007] In order to mount the rows on the solar module without changing the arrangement of the solar cells in the row formed during row construction, it is advantageous if the relative orientation of the solar cells within one row and / or two different rows remains maintained at the time of supply.

[0008] In the completed solar module, a voltage level can be applied within each individual row of solar cells, so that no voltage rise occurs across the solar cells of a single row in the longitudinal direction of the row. In the completed solar module, a voltage rise can occur across electrically connected rows, and thus across or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the row.

[0009] Thus, according to the method, a plurality of solar cells may be combined to form a plurality of strings, and a voltage level may be applied within each individual string of solar cells. In this case, a solar cell module may be formed from a plurality of electrically connected strings, and in this solar cell module, a voltage rise occurs across the electrically connected strings, and thus a voltage rise occurs transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the strings.

[0010] Therefore, in the sense of the claimed invention, a column can be distinguished from a conventional string of solar cells, in which the solar cells are electrically connected to one another in such a way that there is a voltage rise over the electrically connected solar cells of the string in the longitudinal direction of the string.

[0011] An electrically conductive adhesive may be applied to the solar cells in order to electrically connect the solar cells within one row and / or the solar cells in different, in particular adjacent, rows.

[0012] To prevent adhesive bead tearing when applying conductive adhesive to a row of solar cells, it may be advantageous to adjust the number of rows fed together to the application speed of the conductive adhesive. In particular, when solar cells are arranged in at least two rows by a transfer unit, the maximum feed or transport speed at which these rows are fed together for attachment to a solar module may be limited by the cycle time of the transfer unit when arranging the solar cells.

[0013] The more rows that are fed together, the lower the supply or transport speed at which at least two rows can be provided for installation. Therefore, if it is desired to apply conductive adhesive to at least two rows of solar cells during their provision for installation in a solar module, for example by moving the rows relative to a providing unit that provides the adhesive during their provision for installation in a solar module, it may be advantageous to adjust the number of rows that are fed together to the application speed of the conductive adhesive in order to ensure process reliability in the application of the conductive adhesive.

[0014] If the rate of dispensing the conductive adhesive is itself variable, the rate of dispensing the conductive adhesive may be adjusted to the number of rows being fed together.

[0015] In one embodiment of the method, a first group of rows that are fed together is provided in a first cycle segment at a first vertical spacing relative to the conductive adhesive dispensing unit, and then a second group of rows that are fed together is provided at a second vertical spacing relative to the dispensing unit that is different from the first vertical spacing. Thus, in this embodiment of the method, there may be two transfer planes that provide different groups of rows that are fed together for attachment to the solar module. These transfer planes may be arranged vertically one above the other, so that the transfer planes have different vertical spacings relative to the dispensing points, e.g., the dispensing units, for the conductive adhesive for the rows that are fed together.

[0016] To facilitate interconnection between adjacent columns, the conductive adhesive may be applied to one column of solar cells with a lateral offset relative to the central longitudinal axis of the column, thereby allowing two adjacent columns to overlap and be bonded to one another.

[0017] Furthermore, in order to solve the problem, a method is proposed having the features of the second independent claim directed to a method for manufacturing a solar cell module in the manner described at the beginning. Therefore, in order to solve the problem, it is proposed in the method defined at the beginning to use offset pieces in particular when constructing the rows to create an offset between adjacent rows.

[0018] The offset between adjacent rows may be advantageous to create a mechanically secure and stable connection between adjacent rows within the solar module.

[0019] The use of relatively offset rows of solar cells in a solar module provides the possibility of electrically connecting one solar cell in one row to multiple solar cells in the same and / or adjacent rows that surround it in the solar module, thereby allowing a solar module configured in this way to provide high power output even when individual or multiple solar cells of the solar module are shaded.

[0020] If the misalignment of adjacent rows with respect to each other is already generated during the construction of the rows of solar cells before they are mounted in a solar module, the handling of the rows during mounting in the solar module can be significantly simplified, which can significantly increase the efficiency of the method for manufacturing solar modules.

[0021] It should be mentioned here just in case that the use of such an offset piece may also be advantageous in the method described above as characterized by the features of the first independent claim 1.

[0022] As an offset piece, for example, a solar cell may be used that has a shorter length and / or a different geometry compared to another solar cell in a row.

[0023] In one embodiment of the method, it may be specified that at least two rows offset from one another are submitted to mounting together.

[0024] The solar cells that are combined to form a plurality of rows may be so-called solar cell shingles.

[0025] In one embodiment of the method, groups of at least two rows are arranged to be subjected to the loading together in parallel time, so that the number of rows subjected together can be increased by scaling the method.

[0026] To achieve the object, an apparatus is also proposed having the means features of the independent claims directed to an apparatus for manufacturing photovoltaic modules.To achieve the object, it is therefore proposed that the apparatus as defined at the outset, in particular, comprises means adapted to carry out a method according to one of the claims directed to a method for manufacturing photovoltaic modules.

[0027] In one embodiment of the device, it may be specified that the device has a motor-driven transport unit that can bring at least two rows of solar cells together for attachment to a solar module to be manufactured.

[0028] As a motor-driven transport unit, for example, a tray (tray), a transport table, in particular a negative pressure table, in particular a belt conveyor and / or a negative pressure table, can be used. The negative pressure table allows the solar cells arranged in rows on the negative pressure table to be fixed in position by negative pressure during installation. Fixing the solar cells by negative pressure is particularly gentle and can help to reduce or even completely avoid rejects during the production of solar modules.

[0029] The motorized transfer unit may be configured to move the string of solar cells from a loading point to an unloading point where the string of solar cells is removed from the transfer unit for installation into a solar module.

[0030] The transfer unit may be formed with and / or defined with at least two placement locations for one row of solar cells each, thereby enabling the transfer unit to provide at least two rows of solar cells together for installation into a solar module.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the device, the transfer unit may have at least one row of suction openings for each of the mounting locations, so that rows of solar cells arranged in at least two mounting locations of the transfer unit can be fixed in position on the transfer unit by negative pressure.

[0032] The device may have a negative pressure generating unit that can fix the rows of solar cells in the transfer unit by negative pressure, in particular during the presentation of at least two rows together for mounting in a solar module. As already mentioned above, the use of negative pressure for fixing the rows allows a particularly gentle and therefore efficient fixation of the solar cells in the transfer unit during the supply of the solar cells.

[0033] The negative pressure generating unit may be connected to the suction opening of the transfer unit, via which the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generating unit can be transmitted to the row of solar cells.

[0034] The apparatus may further include a providing unit for providing the conductive adhesive to the row of solar cells. The providing unit may be arranged to be able to provide the conductive adhesive to the row of solar cells arranged on the transfer unit. The providing unit may be arranged, for example, between a loading point where the solar cells are arranged to form the row on the transfer unit and an unloading point where the row is unloaded from the transfer unit. In this way, the conductive adhesive can be applied to the row of solar cells using the providing unit by relative movement between the providing unit and the transfer unit. Thus, the conductive adhesive can be applied to the row during transfer between the loading point and the unloading point. In some cases, the relative movement may be a transport movement of the row.

[0035] The dispensing unit may have a number of dispensing nozzles corresponding to the number of placement locations for rows of solar cells on the transfer unit, thereby making it possible to dispense conductive adhesive to all rows of solar cells placed on the transfer unit during transfer.

[0036] In one embodiment of the device, it is specified that a dispenser unit, capable of dispensing conductive adhesive onto a row of solar cells, in particular at least one dispenser nozzle of this dispenser unit, is movable in the longitudinal direction of the placement location of the transfer unit for the row and thus in the longitudinal direction of the row arranged on the transfer unit. This makes it possible to dispense conductive adhesive onto the row of solar cells that is being subjected to mounting by the transfer unit. In this case, the transfer unit performs a transport movement that is oriented transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the row of solar cells arranged on the transfer unit. In this case, the movement of the dispenser unit, in particular its dispenser nozzle, can be oriented transversely or correspondingly perpendicularly to the transport movement of the transfer unit.

[0037] The apparatus may have a magazine for preparing the solar cells, which may, for example, comprise a conveying means, such as a conveyor belt, by which a stock of solar cells and / or offset pieces can be moved to a removal position, thereby facilitating a particularly efficient and substantially uninterrupted preparation of solar cells for producing solar modules.

[0038] The apparatus may further comprise a transfer unit, in particular equipped with a handling robot, for example a swivel arm robot, which can place the solar cells in a row on the transfer unit.

[0039] By means of the delivery unit, the solar cells and / or offset pieces can be removed, for example, from the magazines already mentioned above.

[0040] The transfer unit, in particular the aforementioned handling robot, may have at least one suction gripper, by means of which the solar cell can be caught particularly gently and can also be released again.

[0041] To inspect the solar cells, the apparatus may have an inspection unit. This inspection unit may comprise at least one optical inspection means, for example a camera. In one embodiment of the apparatus, the inspection unit is provided between a magazine for preparing the solar cells and the transport unit, in particular between the magazine for preparing the solar cells and a transfer unit of the apparatus already described above, which can remove the solar cells from the magazine and arrange them in a row on the transport unit. This makes it possible to inspect the solar cells removed from the magazine before arranging them in a row on the transport unit.

[0042] The magazine may comprise at least one belt conveyor capable of bringing the solar cells to a removal position.

[0043] The apparatus may further comprise a mounting unit, in particular with at least one gripper, preferably at least one suction gripper, which may be configured to receive at least one, several or all rows of solar cells prepared by the transfer unit at the unloading point and / or to transfer them to a subsequent processing and / or handling step, in particular to a transport unit arranged downstream of the apparatus. The mounting unit allows the rows of solar cells prepared by the transfer unit to be mounted on a solar module.

[0044] The apparatus may have a transport unit downstream of the transfer unit. This transport unit can provide at least one solar module with rows of solar cells attached to a downstream processing station. The downstream processing station can be, for example, an oven for fully curing an electrically conductive adhesive that can be used to connect the rows of solar cells of the module to one another. The downstream processing station can also be, for example, a packaging and / or loading station. For example, a layup that can be configured for matrix transposition can be used as the packaging and / or loading station.

[0045] In one embodiment of the device, it is specified that the transport movement of the transport unit is directed transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction of the loading area for the row of solar cells on the transport unit, or directed in the longitudinal direction of the loading area for the row on the transport unit.

[0046] In one embodiment of the device, it is specified that the transport movement of the transfer unit is directed transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the transport movement of the transport unit. In another embodiment of the device, it is specified that the transport movement of the transfer unit is directed in the direction of the transport movement of the transport unit. In this embodiment of the device, it may be advantageous if the aforementioned application unit, at least one application nozzle of which can apply conductive adhesive to the row of solar cells, can be moved relative to the transfer unit and in the longitudinal direction of the placement location for the row and thus the longitudinal direction of the row of solar cells arranged on the transport unit and / or relative to the transfer unit and transversely or perpendicularly to the placement location and / or the row of solar cells.

[0047] The apparatus may further comprise a control unit configured to carry out the method according to any one of the method claims.

[0048] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of several exemplary embodiments, but the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Further embodiments will become apparent by combining the features of individual or several claims with one another and / or by combining individual or several features of the exemplary embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0049] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing solar cell modules, the apparatus having a transfer unit in the form of a movable negative pressure table, sometimes called a tray, by means of which a total of three rows of solar cells can be transferred to an unloading position and mounted together in a solar cell module. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing solar cell modules, the apparatus having a transfer unit in the form of a movable negative pressure table, sometimes called a tray, by means of which a total of three rows of solar cells can be transferred to an unloading position and mounted together in a solar cell module. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing solar cell modules, in which the transfer unit capable of subjecting three rows of solar cells together to mounting in a solar cell module is formed as a belt conveyor. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing solar cell modules, in which the transfer unit capable of subjecting three rows of solar cells together to mounting in a solar cell module is formed as a belt conveyor. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing solar cell modules, which also has a transfer unit in the form of a belt conveyor, but the transfer movement of the transfer unit is directed transversely, i.e. perpendicularly, to the orientation of the rows of solar cells arranged on the transfer unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing solar cell modules, which also has a transfer unit in the form of a belt conveyor, but the transfer movement of the transfer unit is directed transversely, i.e. perpendicularly, to the orientation of the rows of solar cells arranged on the transfer unit.

[0050] In the following description of different embodiments of the invention, elements that are identical in terms of function are provided with the same reference numerals, even if they are differently constructed or given different forms.

[0051] All figures show an apparatus, generally designated 1, for manufacturing solar cell modules 2.

[0052] Each device 1 comprises means configured to carry out the method for manufacturing a solar module 2 described below.

[0053] A plurality of solar cells 3 are combined to form a plurality of strings 4, and the solar cell module 2 is later constructed from the strings electrically connected to each other.

[0054] The method specifies that at least two strings 4, in the example shown in the drawings at least three strings 4, are constructed and then these strings 4 are submitted together for attachment to the solar cell module 2.

[0055] In all embodiments of the device 1 shown in the drawings, the rows 4 are each brought together for attachment to the photovoltaic modules 2 by one motor-driven transport unit 5 .

[0056] In the embodiment of such an apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vacuum table is used as the transfer unit 5, which is movable between a loading point 8 and an unloading point 9.

[0057] The device 1 shown in Figures 3 and 4 has a belt conveyor as a transport unit 5. By means of the transport movement of this belt conveyor, the rows 4 arranged on the belt conveyor can be brought together for attachment to the photovoltaic modules 2.

[0058] The device 1 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is likewise equipped with a transport unit 5 configured as a belt conveyor.

[0059] In the device 1 shown in Figures 3 and 4, the transport movement of the transport unit 5 is performed in the longitudinal direction of the rows 4 arranged in the transport unit 5, whereas the transport movement of the transport unit 5 of the device 1 shown in Figures 5 and 6 is directed transversely, i.e., perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction of the rows 4 of solar cell elements 3 arranged in the transport unit 5.

[0060] In a method that can be implemented in all three embodiments of the illustrated device 1, it is specified that the relative orientation of the solar cells 3 within a row 4 and within the rows 4 arranged in the transfer unit 5 remains maintained at the time of supply.

[0061] The number of rows 4 provided together is adjusted to the application speed of the conductive adhesive. The conductive adhesive is applied to the rows 4 of solar cells 3, thereby mechanically and electrically connecting the solar cell elements 3 to each other and the rows 4 to each other. The application of the conductive adhesive to one row 4 of solar cells 3 may be performed with a lateral offset relative to the longitudinal central axis of each row 4.

[0062] Each of the devices 1 shown in the drawings has a negative pressure generating unit 6 that can at least temporarily fix the respective row 4 of solar cells 3 in position on the respective transfer unit 5 by means of negative pressure. This negative pressure generating unit 6 is only shown very diagrammatically in the drawings.

[0063] Each of the illustrated devices 1 further comprises a dispensing unit 7 for dispensing conductive adhesive onto the rows 4 of solar cells 3 arranged on the transfer unit 5 .

[0064] The dispense units 7 of the device 1 are respectively arranged in the rows 4 between the already mentioned loading points 8 and the also mentioned unloading points 9 .

[0065] The application unit 7 of the apparatus 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 has a plurality of application nozzles 10. The number of these application nozzles 10 corresponds to the number of placement locations 11 for the rows 4 of the solar cells 3 in the transfer unit 5. Consequently, each application unit 7 of the apparatus 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4 has three application nozzles 10. The shadows of these application nozzles 10 projected perpendicularly onto the placement locations 11 for the solar cells 3 in the transfer unit 5, which are at least temporarily arranged below them, may be offset laterally with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the placement locations 11. This allows the application of the conductive adhesive to the rows 4 to be offset laterally with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the row 4.

[0066] The negative pressure generating unit 6 of the device 1 is connected to the suction openings 23 of each of the transfer units 5. Each of the transfer units 5 has at least one row 24 of such suction openings 23 for each of its placement locations 11. In this way, the row 4 of the solar cells 3 can be reliably fixed in position on the transfer unit 5 during feeding.

[0067] 5 and 6, the application unit 7 has one application nozzle 10 that is movable in the longitudinal direction of the row 4 of solar cells 3 that is arranged on the transfer unit 5. By moving this application nozzle 10 along the row 4 that is arranged on the transfer unit 5, the conductive adhesive can be at least temporarily applied to the row 4 that is at least temporarily arranged below the application unit 7. The trajectory that the application nozzle 10 can follow while applying the conductive adhesive can involve a lateral offset relative to the central longitudinal axis of the row 4 to which the conductive adhesive is applied.

[0068] During the application of the conductive adhesive, the position of the application nozzle 10 may be kept constant transversely to the longitudinal extension of the row 4 to which the conductive adhesive is applied. In this connection, it may be specified that the application nozzle 10 is movable synchronously with the transfer unit 5 in the direction of the transfer movement of the transfer unit 5.

[0069] In all of the devices 1 shown in the drawings, offset pieces 12 are used when constructing the rows 4, so that the offset between adjacent rows 4 is first generated in each transfer unit 5 and then also in the finished solar cell module 2 after installation.

[0070] The offset piece 12 is a solar cell having a shorter length compared to another solar cell that is not formed as an offset piece 12 and is designated by the reference numeral 3 in the drawings.

[0071] The drawing shows that at least two, even three or more, rows 4 offset from one another are provided together for mounting to the solar module 2 .

[0072] In one embodiment of the method, groups of at least two rows 4 may be arranged in parallel time, which are subjected together to a joint loading. For this purpose, one of the transfer units 5 shown in the drawings may also be used.

[0073] To prepare the solar cells 3 and the offset pieces 12, each of the devices 1 shown in the drawings has a magazine 13. The offset pieces 12 and solar cells 3 stored and prepared in each magazine 13 can be removed by a transfer unit 14 having a handling robot 15, i.e. a swivel-arm robot, and placed in rows 4 on each of the transfer units 5. Each magazine 13 has a total of two conveyor belts 16. On one of these conveyor belts, the offset pieces 12 are stored, and on the other, regular solar cells 3, which are somewhat longer in comparison to the offset pieces 12, are stored, arranged in a stack.

[0074] To inspect the solar cells 3 and the offset pieces 12, each apparatus 1 has an inspection unit 17. This inspection unit 17 is arranged between the magazine 13 and the transfer unit 14 of each apparatus 1 and each comprises at least one optical inspection means, for example a camera 18.

[0075] A handling robot 15 of the transfer unit 14 provides the solar cells 3 and / or offset pieces 12 removed from the magazines 13 to a camera 18 of an inspection unit 17, which allows the solar cells 3 and offset pieces 12 to be inspected before being placed in the respective transfer units 5. Arranged downstream of each transfer unit 5 and unloading point 9, each apparatus 1 has a mounting unit 19. Each mounting unit 19 is equipped with a number of grippers 20 formed as suction grippers.

[0076] The mounting unit 19 is configured to receive one or more or all rows 4 of solar cells 3 provided at the unloading point 9 from each transfer unit 5 and transfer them to a downstream transport unit 21 of each apparatus 1. Each transport unit 21 serves to supply at least one solar cell module 2 fitted with rows 4 of solar cells 3, 12 to a downstream processing station, for example a furnace.

[0077] As already mentioned above, the transport movement of the transport unit 5 of the device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is directed in the longitudinal direction of the placement locations 11 on the transport unit 5 and thus also in the longitudinal direction of the rows 4.

[0078] In the embodiment of the device 1 shown in Figures 5 and 6, the transport movement of the transport unit 5 is directed transversely, i.e. perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction of the loading location 11 and thus transversely, i.e. perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction of the rows 4 arranged at the loading location 11 of the transport unit 5.

[0079] The transport movement of the transport unit 5 of the device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is directed transversely, i.e. perpendicularly, to the transport movement of each of the transport units 21 that follow it.

[0080] In the embodiment of the device 1 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the transport movement of the transport unit 5 is directed in the direction of the transport movement of the transport unit 21 used in this embodiment.

[0081] The transport unit 21 of the device 1 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is configured as a belt conveyor, just like the transfer unit 5.

[0082] In order to carry out the above-described method, each device 1 shown in the figures further comprises a control unit 22. By means of this control unit 22, the above-described functional units of each device 1 can be controlled so that the method is carried out.

[0083] The present invention relates to improvements in the technical field of manufacturing solar modules. To this end, a method for manufacturing a solar module 2 is proposed, in particular, in which at least two or more strings 4 of a plurality of solar cells 3 are brought together for mounting in the solar module 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 device 2. Solar cell modules 3 Solar Cells 4 columns 5 Transport Unit 6 Negative pressure generating unit 7 units provided 8 Loading Points 9 Unloading Point 10 Providing Nozzles 11 Placement location 12 offset pieces 13 Magazine 14 Delivery Unit 15 Handling robot 16 Conveyor Belt 17 Inspection Unit 18 Camera 19 Mounting unit 20 Gripper 21 Transport unit 22 Control Unit 23 Intake opening Column 24 23

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a solar cell module (2), comprising combining a plurality of solar cells (3) to form a plurality of strings (4), and constructing the solar cell module (2) from the strings (4) electrically connected to each other, comprising:

1. A method for connecting solar cells (3) in two adjacent rows (4) by forming at least two rows (4) offset from one another, and then attaching the at least two rows (4) together to the solar cell module (2), using offset pieces (12) during the formation of the rows (4) to form an offset between adjacent rows (4), applying a conductive adhesive to one row (4) of solar cells (3) with a lateral offset relative to the longitudinal central axis of the row (4) to connect the adjacent rows (4) of solar cells (3), and then bonding the two adjacent rows (4) to one another while overlapping each other.

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two rows (4) are brought together for attachment to the solar module (2) by a motor-driven transfer unit (5), the motor-driven transfer unit (5) comprising at least one of a tray and a table, a belt conveyor and a negative pressure table.

3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the relative orientation of the solar cells (3) within one row (4) and / or two different rows (4) remains maintained at the time of supply.

4. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the number of rows (4) applied together is adjusted to the application speed of the conductive adhesive and / or the application speed of the conductive adhesive is adjusted to the number of rows applied together.

5. 5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising forming groups of at least two rows (4) which are subjected to the mounting together in parallel time.

6. 1. An apparatus (1) for manufacturing a solar cell module (2), comprising means configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, namely a motor-driven transfer unit (5) capable of simultaneously subjecting at least two rows (4) of solar cells (3) to attachment to a solar cell module (2) to be manufactured, a providing unit (7) for providing conductive adhesive to the rows (4) of solar cells (3), and a control unit (22) configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The apparatus (1) according to claim 6, further comprising a motor-driven transfer unit (5) configured to move the solar cells (3) of the row (4) from a loading point (8) to an unloading point (9), the motor-driven transfer unit (5) including at least one of a tray and a table, a belt conveyor, and a negative pressure table.

8. 8. The device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the transfer unit (5) has at least two placement locations (11) for rows (4) of solar cells (3), and the transfer unit has at least one row (24) of suction openings (23) for each placement location (11).

9. The device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a negative pressure generating unit (6) capable of fixing the row (4) of solar cells (3) in position on the transfer unit (5) by negative pressure, the negative pressure generating unit (6) being connected to an intake opening (23) of the transfer unit (5).

10. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the providing unit (7) of the apparatus (1) is a providing unit (7) for providing conductive adhesive to a row (4) of solar cells (3) arranged on the transfer unit (5), and / or the providing unit (7) is arranged relative to the row (4) between a loading point (8) and an unloading point (9) of the apparatus (1).

11. 11. The device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the supply unit (7) has a number of supply nozzles (10) corresponding to the number of placement locations (11) for the rows (4) of solar cells (3) on the transfer unit (5), and / or the supply unit (7) is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rows (4) arranged on the transfer unit (5).

12. The device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the device (1) has a magazine (13) for preparing the solar cells (3) and a transfer unit (14), the transfer unit (14) being capable of removing the solar cells (3) from the magazine (13) and / or placing them in a row (4) on the transport unit (5).

13. The device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the device (1) has an inspection unit (17) for inspecting the solar cell (3), the inspection unit (17) comprising at least one optical inspection means.

14. 14. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises a mounting unit (19) with at least one gripper (20), which is configured to receive at least one, several or all rows (4) of solar cells (3) prepared at the unloading point (9) by the transport unit (5) and to transfer them to subsequent processing and / or handling steps.

15. 15. The apparatus (1) according to claim 6, further comprising a transport unit (21) arranged downstream of the transfer unit (5) and capable of delivering at least one solar cell module (2) fitted with a row (4) of solar cells (3, 12) to a downstream processing station.

16. 16. The device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 15, wherein the transport movement of the transport unit (5) is directed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the placement place (11) for the row (4) on the transport unit (5) or in the longitudinal direction of the placement place (11) for the row (4) on the transport unit (5).

17. 17. The device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 16, wherein the transport movement of the transport unit (5) is directed transversely to the transport movement of the conveying unit (21) or in the direction of the transport movement of the conveying unit (21).

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