Dismantling method and dismantling device

Abstract

Provided is a dismantling device capable of easily peeling a glass layer of a photoelectric conversion panel. This dismantling device has: a bending guide (120) that bends a photoelectric conversion panel including a photoelectric conversion element (21) and a glass layer (23); and a first blade (130) that applies external force for peeling the glass layer (23) of the photoelectric conversion panel bent along the bending guide (120).

Description

Dismantling method and dismantling device

[0001] The present invention relates to a dismantling method and a dismantling device for dismantling photoelectric conversion panels such as solar cell panels.

[0002] In recent years, technologies for recycling used materials as resources have been attracting attention from the perspectives of resource utilization and environmental protection. For example, photovoltaic conversion panels (solar panels) installed on the roofs of buildings such as homes have become increasingly popular in recent years. Therefore, progress in recycling technologies for photovoltaic conversion panels is desired.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a method for recycling photovoltaic conversion panels. The recycling method described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a photovoltaic conversion panel including a cover glass, a battery layer, and a sealant that tightly adheres these together. This recycling method involves heating the interface between the cover glass and the sealant to a predetermined temperature range, and then applying force to the sealant from the side of the photovoltaic conversion panel with the cutting edge of a blade, thereby peeling off the sealant and battery layer from the interface. This is said to enable the glass material to be effectively recycled.

[0004] The following Patent Document 2 discloses a method for recycling photovoltaic conversion panels. In the recycling method described in Patent Document 2, after the photovoltaic conversion panel is heat-treated, the photovoltaic conversion panel (workpiece) is sent to a peeling device. The photovoltaic conversion panel is conveyed in the peeling device while being sandwiched between a bend guide roller and a bend roller. When the workpiece is wrapped around the bend roller, the workpiece is curved with the glass side facing inward, and shear stress acts on the inside of the workpiece along the circumferential direction of the bend roller. This shear stress is said to peel the glass from the photovoltaic conversion panel and backsheet.

[0005] International Publication No. 2019 / 203026 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-006839

[0006] Typically, a frame is attached to the edge of a photovoltaic conversion panel. When the frame is removed from the photovoltaic conversion panel, the cover glass may break. If the cover glass breaks, it separates into multiple glass fragments on the cell layer (photovoltaic conversion element). It is difficult to peel these multiple glass fragments from the cell layer using the method described in Patent Document 1, i.e., the method of using the cutting edge of a blade while the photovoltaic conversion panel is placed on a flat stage.

[0007] In the method described in Patent Document 2, a bend guide roller and a bend roller are used to apply shear stress to peel the glass layer from the photoelectric conversion element. However, there is a limit to how much friction (shear stress) of the rollers can peel off the numerous broken glass pieces that are in close contact with the sealing material.

[0008] Therefore, an improved disassembly device and method capable of separating the glass layer of a photovoltaic conversion panel is desired.

[0009] A dismantling device according to one embodiment includes a bending guide that bends a photoelectric conversion panel including a photoelectric conversion element and a glass layer, and a first blade that applies an external force to peel off the glass layer of the photoelectric conversion panel that has been bent along the bending guide.

[0010] A disassembly method according to one embodiment includes a peeling step of bending a photoelectric conversion panel including a photoelectric conversion element and a glass layer and applying an external force to peel off the glass layer of the curved photoelectric conversion panel.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a photoelectric conversion module according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a disassembly device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the disassembly device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged view of region R1 in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a disassembly method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged view of the curved guide and the first blade vicinity of a disassembly device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a disassembly device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation of a peeling step in a disassembly method according to a third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation following FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation following FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation following FIG. 10.

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratios of the dimensions may differ from those of the actual parts.

[0013] [Configuration of Photovoltaic Conversion Module] First, an example of the configuration of a photovoltaic conversion module that can be recycled will be described. Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a photovoltaic conversion module according to one embodiment.

[0014] 1 , the photovoltaic conversion module 10 includes a photovoltaic conversion panel 20 and a frame 30 that surrounds the outer edge of the photovoltaic conversion panel 20. A junction box and an output cable (not shown) that serve as power outlets may be attached to the rear surface of the photovoltaic conversion module 10.

[0015] Furthermore, the sealing material 40 may be provided between the photoelectric conversion panel 20 and the frame 30. The material constituting the sealing material 40 is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include polyethylene resin, fluorine resin, polystyrene resin, polyolefin resin, silicone resin, and butyl rubber.

[0016] The photoelectric conversion panel 20 may include a photoelectric conversion element 21, a rear protective layer 22, a cover glass 23, a first sealing layer 24, and a second sealing layer 25. The cover glass 23 may be, for example, a transparent or translucent glass layer. The glass layer may be, for example, tempered glass.

[0017] The first sealing layer 24 is disposed between the photoelectric conversion element 21 and the cover glass 23. Examples of materials that can be used to form the first sealing layer 24 include ethylene vinyl acetate resin, polyethylene resin, fluorine resin, polystyrene resin, polyolefin resin, silicone resin, and butyl rubber.

[0018] The second sealing layer 25 is provided between the photoelectric conversion element 21 and the back-side protective layer 22. The material constituting the second sealing layer 25 is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include ethylene vinyl acetate resin, polyethylene resin, fluorine resin, polystyrene resin, polyolefin resin, silicone resin, and butyl rubber.

[0019] The rear protective layer 22 is a protective layer that covers the rear surface of the photovoltaic conversion panel 20. The rear protective layer 22 is provided on the rear surface of the second sealing layer 25. The material constituting the rear protective layer 22 may be, for example, a PET resin, a PVF (polyvinyl fluoride) resin, a PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) resin, a nylon resin, a polyamide resin, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the rear protective layer 22 may be made of a metal sheet.

[0020] The photoelectric conversion element 21 is an element that converts light energy into electrical energy. The photoelectric conversion element 21 may have any configuration that is capable of converting light energy into electrical energy. Examples of such elements include crystalline photoelectric conversion elements and thin-film CIS-type photoelectric conversion elements. Most crystalline photoelectric conversion elements have a structure in which semiconductor silicon is used as a substrate. Specifically, a crystalline silicon-based photoelectric conversion element has multiple battery cell units made of a silicon substrate.

[0021] The thin-film CIS photoelectric conversion element may include, for example, a substrate, a first electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a second electrode layer in this order. The substrate may be a member that serves as the base of the stack that constitutes the photoelectric conversion element 21. The substrate may be, for example, a glass layer. The first electrode layer may be formed of a metal such as molybdenum, titanium, chromium, or silver. The second electrode layer may be formed of, for example, zinc oxide (ZnO) doped with a Group III element or indium tin oxide (ITO). In the thin-film CIS photoelectric conversion module, the photoelectric conversion layer may be formed of, for example, a compound semiconductor containing a Group I element (Cu, Ag, Au, etc.), a Group III element (Al, Ga, In, etc.), and a Group VI element (O, S, Se, Te, etc.).

[0022] [First embodiment] Next, a dismantling device according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the dismantling device according to the first embodiment. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the conveying unit, curved guide, and first blade vicinity that constitute the dismantling device according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a schematic enlarged view of region R1 in Figure 3.

[0023] The dismantling device 100 can be used to dismantle the above-described photovoltaic conversion panels. Preferably, the dismantling device 100 can be used as a dismantling device for recycling the components or materials that constitute the photovoltaic conversion panels. The dismantling device 100 can handle the photovoltaic conversion panels 20 in a state where the frame 30, a junction box (not shown), and the like have been removed from the photovoltaic conversion module 10. The dismantling device 100 is used to peel off the glass layer that constitutes the photovoltaic conversion panel 20. This glass layer may be the cover glass 23 described above. In the following description, the cover glass 23 will be used as an example of the glass layer to be peeled off. However, it should be noted that the glass layer to be peeled off is not limited to the cover glass 23.

[0024] The cover glass 23 of the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 handled by the disassembly device 100 may be broken in advance. The cover glass 23 may be broken, for example, when the photovoltaic conversion module 10 is collected after use or when the frame 30 or a junction box (not shown) is removed. However, if possible, the cover glass 23 does not have to be broken.

[0025] Dismantling device 100 may include conveying unit 110, curved guide 120, first blade 130, heater 140, striking unit 150, and control unit 190. Control unit 190 is configured to perform various controls of the units constituting dismantling device 100, such as conveying unit 110, curved guide 120, first blade 130, heater 140, and / or striking unit 150.

[0026] The striking unit 150 may be provided as needed. The striking unit 150 is preferably used when the cover glass 23 of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 to be processed by the dismantling device 100 is not broken. The striking unit 150 applies an impact to the cover glass 23 constituting the photoelectric conversion panel 20 to break the cover glass 23. The striking unit 150 may have any configuration as long as it can break the cover glass 23 of the photoelectric conversion panel 20. By using the striking unit 150, photoelectric conversion panels 20 with broken cover glass 23 and photoelectric conversion panels 20 with unbroken cover glass 23 can be handled by the same dismantling device 100.

[0027] The transport unit 110 is a unit that transports the photoelectric conversion panel 20. Specifically, the transport unit 110 only needs to be able to transport the photoelectric conversion panel 20 from which the frame 30 has been removed from the photoelectric conversion module 10.

[0028] The transport unit 110 may have, for example, a pair of first rollers 112 and 113 and a pair of second rollers 114 and 115. One roller 112 of the pair of first rollers may be a roller that can rotate in response to a control command from the control unit 190. The other roller 113 of the pair of first rollers may be a driven roller that can rotate in accordance with the rotation of roller 112.

[0029] One roller 114 of the pair of second rollers may be a roller that can rotate in response to a control command from the control unit 190. The other roller 115 of the pair of second rollers may be a driven roller that can rotate in accordance with the rotation of roller 114.

[0030] The pair of first rollers 112, 113 and the pair of second rollers 114, 115 sandwich the photoelectric conversion panel 20 and transport the photoelectric conversion panel 20. In the first embodiment, the transport unit 110 is configured to be able to transport the photoelectric conversion panel 20 in at least one direction (first direction) D1.

[0031] The curved guide 120 may be provided between the pair of first rollers 112, 113 and the pair of second rollers 114, 115 in the flow direction of the photoelectric conversion panel 20. The curved guide 120 is configured to curve the photoelectric conversion panel 20 being transported by the transport unit 110.

[0032] Specifically, the photoelectric conversion panel 20 sent out from the pair of first rollers 112, 113 is curved along the surface of the curved guide 120 and is transported toward the pair of second rollers 114, 115 (see FIG. 3). Here, the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is sandwiched between the pair of first rollers 112, 113 and the pair of second rollers 114, 115, and is therefore bent along the surface of the curved guide 120.

[0033] The curved guide 120 may be a non-rotatable guide or a rotatable roller. When the curved guide 120 is a rotatable roller, the curved guide 120 may be a roller that can automatically rotate in response to a control command from the control unit 190, or may be a driven roller that rotates in accordance with the automatically rotatable roller in response to a control command from the control unit 190. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the curved guide 120 is constituted by a driven roller and is configured to rotate in accordance with the automatic rotation of the adjacent roller 122.

[0034] When the curved guide 120 is a rotatable roller, friction between the photoelectric conversion panel 20 and the curved guide 120 is reduced. This prevents unnecessary load from being applied to the curved guide 120 and reduces the force required to transport the photoelectric conversion panel 20.

[0035] On the other hand, if the curved guide 120 is a non-rotatable guide, there is no need for a mechanism to rotate the curved guide 120, which simplifies the dismantling device 100. Furthermore, there is no need for a drive mechanism to rotate the curved guide 120, so there is no possibility that peeled glass powder or the like will adversely affect the drive mechanism.

[0036] The first blade 130 is configured to apply an external force to peel off the cover glass 23, preferably a broken cover glass 23, of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 curved along the curved guide 120. The first blade 130 may be configured to be movable between a state in which the cutting edge is close to the curved guide 120 and a state in which the cutting edge is retracted from the curved guide 120. In this case, it is preferable that the first blade 130 moves in response to a control command from, for example, the control unit 190. Alternatively, the first blade 130 may be moved manually.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 4, the transport unit 110 transports the photoelectric conversion panel 20 having the broken cover glass 23. The photoelectric conversion panel 20 is curved along the curved guide 120. At this time, the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is curved by the curved guide 120 so that the cover glass 23 faces the front side. In other words, the cover glass 23 faces the opposite side of the curved guide 120 with respect to the photoelectric conversion element 21.

[0038] Here, it is preferable that the first blade 130 is positioned so as to be inclined downstream in the conveying direction of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 while the glass piece 23a is being peeled off from a line L2 perpendicular to the tangent line L1 of the curved guide 120 at the position where the cutting edge is close to the curved guide 120 (see Figure 4).

[0039] The photoelectric conversion element 21 and the surrounding sealing materials 24, 25 are softer than the cover glass 23. The photoelectric conversion element 21 and the sealing materials 24, 25 bend along the bending guide 120. On the other hand, the cover glass 23 is hard and therefore does not easily bend in accordance with the bending of the photoelectric conversion element 21 and the sealing materials 24, 25. Therefore, as the photoelectric conversion element 21 and the sealing materials 24, 25 bend, a force acts in the direction of peeling at the edge of the lower surface of the cover glass 23, specifically at the edge of the lower surface of the broken glass piece 23a, or a gap G is created (see FIG. 4 ).

[0040] If a force in the direction of peeling is acting on the edge of the underside of the broken glass fragment 23a, the glass fragment 23a will be easily peeled off from the photoelectric conversion element 21 and the sealing materials 24, 25 even if the force applied to the glass fragment 23a by the first blade 130 is relatively weak. Furthermore, if a gap G is formed at the edge of the underside of the broken glass fragment 23a, the first blade 130 will be inserted into the gap G. This allows the glass fragment 23a to be easily peeled off from the photoelectric conversion element 21 and the sealing materials 24, 25.

[0041] In this embodiment, while the glass fragments 23 a are being peeled off, the first blade 130 does not move, and the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is moved by the transport unit 110. This causes the first blade 130 to apply a force that peels off the glass fragments 23 a, which are the broken cover glass 23.

[0042] From the viewpoint of easily peeling off the cover glass 23 or a broken cover glass 23, it is preferable that the radius of curvature of the curved guide 120, which corresponds to the position of the tip of the first blade 130 when an external force for peeling off the cover glass 23 is being applied, be as small as possible. From this viewpoint, the radius of curvature may be, for example, 10 cm or less, preferably 7 cm or less, and more preferably 4 cm or less.

[0043] The cover glass 23 may be broken by bending it with the bending guide 120. In this case, the above-described striking unit 150 is not necessary.

[0044] Disassembly device 100 may have heater 140 capable of heating photoelectric conversion panel 20. Heater 140 may be configured to heat photoelectric conversion panel 20 in an area different from the area where transport unit 110 is provided, or may be configured to heat photoelectric conversion panel 20 being transported by transport unit 110.

[0045] In the first embodiment, the heater 140 is configured to be able to heat the entire area where the transport unit 110 is provided. This allows the heater 140 to heat the photoelectric conversion panel 20 during transport or while the cover glass 23 is being peeled off.

[0046] Heating the photovoltaic panel 20 with the heater 140 softens and / or melts the sealants 24, 25, making it easier to peel off the cover glass 23 with the first blade 130. The heater 140 preferably heats the photovoltaic panel 20, more specifically the sealants 24, 25 of the photovoltaic panel 20, to a temperature of, for example, 80°C to 220°C, preferably 100°C to 200°C, and more preferably 120°C to 180°C.

[0047] Next, a method for disassembling a photoelectric conversion module will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart of the disassembly method according to the first embodiment.

[0048] (Step S1) First, the photovoltaic conversion module 10 described above is prepared. Then, the frame 30 and a junction box (not shown) are removed from the photovoltaic conversion module 10. This allows the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 of the photovoltaic conversion module 10 to be removed. Here, the cover glass 23 may be broken when the photovoltaic conversion module 10 to be processed is prepared, for example, when the photovoltaic conversion module 10 is collected after use. The cover glass 23 may already be broken.

[0049] (Impact Step S2) Next, if necessary, before the peeling step described below, an impact step S2 is performed to break the cover glass 23 of the photovoltaic conversion panel 20. The step of breaking the cover glass 23 is preferably performed if the cover glass 23 has not been broken in step S1 or any time before.

[0050] The striking step S2 may be performed by the striking unit 150 of the dismantling device 100 described above, or may be performed by an operator using striking means such as a hammer.

[0051] The cover glass 23 of the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 is often made of tempered glass. If a strong impact is applied to one spot, the entire tempered glass will break into many small glass fragments.

[0052] (Heating Step S3) The disassembly method according to this embodiment also includes a heating step S3 of heating the photoelectric conversion panel 20. The heating step S3 is performed before or during the peeling step described below. The heating step S3 may be performed continuously before or after the striking step S2 described above.

[0053] In the heating step S3, the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 is heated by the heater 140 to soften and / or melt the sealing materials 24, 25. In the heating step S3, the sealing materials 24, 25 are preferably heated to, for example, 80°C to 220°C, preferably 100°C to 200°C, and more preferably 120°C to 180°C.

[0054] (Peeling Step S4) Next, a peeling step S4 is performed in which the photoelectric conversion panel 20 including the photoelectric conversion elements 21 and the cover glass 23 is bent while an external force is applied to peel off the cover glass 23 (broken glass pieces 23a) of the bent photoelectric conversion panel 20. The peeling step S4 is preferably performed while the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is transported in the first direction D1 in a bent state.

[0055] The peeling step S4 can be performed using the above-described conveying unit 110, curved guide 120, and first blade 130 (see also FIG. 4). The peeling of the cover glass 23 (broken glass pieces 23a) has already been described using FIG. 4, so its description will be omitted.

[0056] The peeled cover glass 23, specifically the glass pieces 23a, can be recycled as glass cullet raw material.

[0057] (Step S5) After the peeling step S4, various materials may be separated. For example, after the peeling step S4, the rear protective layer 22 may be separated from the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 as needed. The rear protective layer 22 can be recycled in sheet form. After the peeling step S4, a laminated structure is obtained from the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 with the cover glass 23, or the cover glass 23 and the rear protective layer 22 removed.

[0058] The laminated structure may be pulverized and separated into individual materials such as silicon material, resin material, and / or metal material. Metal materials can be separated from other materials by, for example, dissolving them in a solvent. Resin materials can be separated from other materials by, for example, utilizing differences in specific gravity or particle size.

[0059] Second Embodiment Next, a dismantling device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a schematic enlarged view of the curved guide and the first blade of the dismantling device according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, the description of the same components as those in the first embodiment may be omitted.

[0060] In the second embodiment, the heater 140 is provided on the curved guide 120. This allows the heater 140 to heat the photoelectric conversion panel 20 during the peeling step S4 described above. The heating temperature is as described in the first embodiment.

[0061] Alternatively, the heater 140 may be provided on the pair of first rollers 112, 113 and / or the pair of second rollers 114, 115 that make up the transport unit 110. In this case, the heater 140 can heat the photoelectric conversion panel 20 while transporting the photoelectric conversion panel 20. The heating temperature is as described in the first embodiment.

[0062] [Third Embodiment] Next, a dismantling device and a dismantling method according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 11. Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the dismantling device according to the third embodiment. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing one state of the peeling step in the dismantling method according to the third embodiment. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing one state following Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing one state following Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing one state following Fig. 10.

[0063] In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first and / or second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components as those in the first and / or second embodiment may be omitted.

[0064] In the third embodiment, the transport unit 110 is configured to be able to move the photoelectric conversion panel 20 in both a first direction D1 and a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1. Therefore, the pair of first rollers 112, 113 and the pair of second rollers 114, 115 may be configured to be able to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions.

[0065] In the third embodiment, the dismantling device 100 has a first blade 130 and a second blade 132. The first blade 130 is configured to apply an external force to peel off the cover glass 23 of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 while the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is being moved in the first direction D1. The second blade 132 is configured to apply an external force to peel off the cover glass 23 of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 while the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is being moved in the second direction D2.

[0066] Therefore, while the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 is moving in the first direction D1, the first blade 130 is close to the curved guide 120, and the second blade 132 is retracted from the curved guide 120 ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ). While the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 is moving in the second direction D2, the first blade 130 is retracted from the curved guide 120, and the second blade 132 is close to the curved guide 120 ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ).

[0067] It is preferable that the first blade 130 is positioned so as to be inclined downstream in the conveying direction (first direction D1) of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 while the glass piece 23a is being peeled off from a line L2 perpendicular to the tangent L1 of the curved guide 120 at a position where the cutting edge of the first blade 130 is close to the curved guide 120 (see Figure 8).

[0068] It is preferable that the second blade 132 is positioned so as to be inclined downstream in the conveying direction (second direction D2) of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 while the glass piece 23a is being peeled off from a line L2 perpendicular to the tangent L1 of the curved guide 120 at a position where the cutting edge of the second blade 132 is close to the curved guide 120 (see Figure 10).

[0069] As a result, the dismantling device 100 according to the third embodiment can apply external forces to peel off the cover glass 23 from both directions using the first blade 130 and the second blade 132. The other configurations of the dismantling device 100 are the same as those of the first and / or second embodiments, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0070] Next, a disassembly method according to the third embodiment will be described. The above-mentioned steps S1, Striking S2, Heating S3, and S5 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore their description will be omitted. The peeling step S4 according to the third embodiment will be described below.

[0071] In the peeling step S4 according to the third embodiment, first, while the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 is in a curved state, an external force is applied to peel off the cover glass 23 (glass piece 23 a) while the photovoltaic conversion panel 20 is being transported in a first direction (see FIGS. 8 and 9 ). This external force can be applied by the first blade 130 described above.

[0072] Here, it may be difficult for the first blade 130 to peel off the glass pieces 23a located on the edges of the photoelectric conversion panel 20. Therefore, the first blade 130 may start to contact the glass pieces 23a near the center of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 in the first direction D1 while transporting the photoelectric conversion panel 20 in the first direction D1 (see FIG. 8 ). In this case, the glass pieces 23a near the end of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 on the upstream side in the transport direction will remain on the photoelectric conversion panel 20.

[0073] Further, while the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is transported in the first direction D1, the first blade 130 peels off up to the glass piece 23a located at the upstream end of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 in the first direction D1 (see FIG. 9).

[0074] Then, the conveying direction of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is reversed, and the photoelectric conversion panel 20 begins to be conveyed in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1. As the conveying direction is reversed, the first blade 130 is retracted from the curved guide 120, and the second blade 132 is brought closer to the curved guide 120 (see FIG. 10 ). In this state, the photoelectric conversion panel 20 continues to be conveyed in the second direction D2. This allows the glass pieces 23a remaining after peeling by the first blade 130 to be peeled off (see FIG. 11 ).

[0075] As described above, by conveying the photoelectric conversion panel 20 in a curved state in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1 while applying an external force to peel off the cover glass 23, the glass piece 23a can be peeled off more firmly.

[0076] Furthermore, the reversal of the transport direction of the photoelectric conversion panel 20 and the accompanying alternation of use of the first blade 130 and the second blade 132 may be repeated. This makes it possible to peel off even glass pieces 23 a that could not be completely peeled off during one round trip of transport of the photoelectric conversion panel 20.

[0077] As described above, the contents of the present invention have been disclosed through the embodiments, but the descriptions and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be understood to limit the present invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples, and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the inventive features of the claims that can be reasonably understood from the above description.

[0078] In the above-described embodiment, the cover glass 23 serving as a glass layer is peeled off while the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is being transported. Alternatively, the cover glass 23 may be peeled off while the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is stationary. In this case, an external force for peeling off the cover glass 23 may be applied by moving the first blade 130 and / or the second blade 132 laterally while the photoelectric conversion panel 20 is bent along the bending guide.

[0079] In the above-described embodiment, the glass layer peeled off in the peeling step is the cover glass 23. However, the glass layer peeled off in the peeling step is not limited to this, and may be any glass layer other than the cover glass 23, preferably a broken glass layer.

[0080] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-189943, filed on November 24, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A disassembling device comprising a bending guide for bending a photoelectric conversion panel including a photoelectric conversion element and a glass layer, and a first blade for applying an external force to peel off the glass layer of the bent photoelectric conversion panel along the bending guide.

2. The disassembling device according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the bending guide corresponding to the position of the tip of the first blade in a state where an external force for peeling off the glass layer is applied is 10 cm or less.

3. The disassembling device according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying unit capable of conveying the photoelectric conversion panel at least in a first direction.

4. The disassembling device according to claim 3, wherein the conveying unit is configured to be movable in both the first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction.

5. Having a second blade, the first blade is configured to apply an external force for peeling off the glass layer while moving the photoelectric conversion panel in the first direction, and the second blade is configured to apply an external force for peeling off the glass layer while moving the photoelectric conversion panel in the second direction.

6. The disassembling device according to claim 1, further comprising a heater capable of heating the photoelectric conversion panel.

7. The disassembling device according to claim 1, further comprising a striking unit for cutting the glass layer.

8. A disassembling method comprising a peeling step of applying an external force for peeling off the glass layer of the bent photoelectric conversion panel while bending the photoelectric conversion panel including the photoelectric conversion element and the glass layer.

9. The disassembling method according to claim 8, wherein the peeling step is performed while conveying the photoelectric conversion panel in a first direction in a state where the photoelectric conversion panel is bent.

10. The disassembling method according to claim 9, further comprising applying an external force for peeling off the glass layer while conveying the photoelectric conversion panel in a second direction opposite to the first direction in a state where the photoelectric conversion panel is bent.

11. The disassembling method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of heating the photoelectric conversion panel before or during the peeling step.

12. The disassembling method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of cutting the glass layer before the peeling step. ​