Cover glass removing device and removing method

Abstract

Provided is a cover glass removing device which is for a solar panel and can evenly remove a cover glass of the solar panel at an inexpensive equipment cost.　This cover glass removing device for removing a cover glass from a sealing sheet includes: a granular body injection device for causing a plurality of hard granular bodies to collide with a surface of the cover glass; an injection part moving device for moving an injection part; and a panel moving device for moving a solar panel. When the injection part reaches the other end part of the solar panel by means of the injection part moving device, the panel moving device moves the solar panel such that a non-crushed cover glass part is in range.

Description

Apparatus and method for removing coverslips

[0001] The present invention relates to a removal device and a removal method for breaking and removing the cover glass of a solar panel.

[0002] Solar panels are the basis of photovoltaic power generation systems, which aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which are believed to be the cause of global warming and abnormal weather. For this reason, they have become widely used in recent years. However, solar panels have a lifespan due to deterioration over time, and they must be replaced with new ones. In order to make effective use of resources when replacing them, advances in recycling technology are needed to reuse usable parts.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes the removal of transparent covers by projecting blasting material using a shot blaster. This shot blaster is equipped with a rotor with multiple radially extending blades arranged circumferentially. The rotor rotates around its axis, and blasting material supplied near the axis is projected along the blades by centrifugal force. The solar panel is passed under two lined-up shot blasters to remove the transparent cover across the entire width of the solar panel.

[0004] Patent Publication No. 2019-209219

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, two shot blasters are used to crush the transparent cover (cover glass) across the entire width of the solar panel, which requires large shot blasting equipment. Furthermore, a large amount of blast material is required, which necessitates a large blast material supply device, resulting in high equipment costs.

[0006] Furthermore, there are areas where the blasting material strikes the cover glass strongly and areas where it strikes weakly, which is a drawback in that the cover glass is not crushed and removed evenly.

[0007] The present invention was made in consideration of these conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a solar panel removal device and removal method that can evenly crush and remove the cover glass of a solar panel with low equipment costs.

[0008] A cover glass removal device of a first aspect of the present invention is a cover glass removal device that crushes and removes the cover glass from an encapsulating sheet included in a solar panel, the encapsulating sheet having a cover glass attached to one side and a back sheet laminated on the other side.

[0009] The system is equipped with an injection unit, a granular material injection device, an injection unit moving device, and a panel moving device, and the injection unit is arranged opposite the surface of the cover glass. The granular material injection device injects a plurality of granular materials harder than the cover glass from the injection unit, causing them to collide with the surface of the cover glass and form a range, thereby shattering the cover glass. The injection unit moving device moves the injection unit from one end of the stationary solar panel to the other end along one direction parallel to the surface of the cover glass, and moves the injection unit in a direction opposite to the one direction so that the range follows the edge of the area of ​​the shattered cover glass.

[0010] Then, the panel moving device moves the solar panel in a direction along the surface of the cover glass and in a direction that intersects with the one direction, and when the ejection section reaches the other end of the solar panel, the solar panel is moved so that the unshattered portion of the cover glass is included in the range of the ejection section.

[0011] According to this, when the ejector reaches the other end of the solar panel, the panel moving device moves the solar panel so that the unbroken cover glass portion is included in the range of the ejector, and then moves the ejector in the opposite direction so that the range of the ejector is along the edge of the area of ​​the shattered cover glass.

[0012] In this way, the spraying unit can be moved vertically and horizontally relative to the cover glass, thereby evenly removing the cover glass. The granular material spraying device can be small, inexpensive, and has a narrow range, which reduces equipment costs.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the cover glass removal device of the first aspect of the present invention, a glass suction device is further provided for suctioning and removing the crushed cover glass, thereby enabling quick and easy cleaning after the removal operation.

[0014] According to a third aspect of the cover glass remover of the second aspect of the present invention, the granular material harder than the cover glass is granular stainless steel balls or iron balls, which have different physical properties from crushed glass, and can be separated by utilizing the difference in physical properties.

[0015] For example, a magnet can be used to separate ferritic or martensitic stainless steel balls and iron balls from crushed glass pieces.

[0016] For example, large glass fragments can be separated from the austenitic stainless steel balls and glass powder using a sieve, and the austenitic stainless steel balls and glass powder can be separated by blowing them away with wind.

[0017] In this way, by separating the granular stainless steel balls or iron balls from the crushed glass, the stainless steel balls and iron balls can be reused.

[0018] According to the fourth aspect of the cover glass removal device of the present invention, in the cover glass removal device of the third aspect, the glass suction device is provided on the injection unit moving device and sucks up the cover glass that is crushed when the injection unit injects the granular stainless steel balls or iron balls.

[0019] With this, the cover glass is removed by being sucked up by a glass suction device that moves together with the injection part immediately after being crushed, so that a good working environment can be maintained and accurate removal work can be continued.

[0020] According to the fifth aspect of the cover glass removal device of the present invention, in the cover glass removal device of the fourth aspect, the glass suction device moves in accordance with the ejection part and sucks up the granular stainless steel balls or iron balls discharged from the ejection part.

[0021] This allows the granular stainless steel balls or iron balls used in the spraying to be sucked and removed, making it possible to quickly clean up during and after work and to quickly reuse the recovered stainless steel balls and iron balls.

[0022] According to a sixth aspect of the cover glass removal device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the glass suction device faces the cover glass before it is crushed, thereby enabling accurate and efficient removal of glass powder and dust adhering to the surface of the cover glass before it is crushed.

[0023] According to the seventh aspect of the cover glass removal device of the present invention, in the cover glass removal device of the first aspect, the direction in which the injection unit injects the granular material, which is harder than the cover glass, intersects with the vertical direction of the surface of the cover glass in the opposite direction to the movement direction of the solar panel, and the injection unit moving device moves the injection unit in the area of ​​the crushed cover glass on the solar panel.

[0024] This allows the ejection section to be moved so that the range of impact includes the boundary between the fractured area and the non-fractured area.

[0025] According to an eighth aspect of the cover glass removal device of the first aspect, the injection port of the injection unit is surrounded by a first surrounding member that surrounds the injection unit from the front and rear in the direction of movement, the left and right in the direction of movement, and above, so that the crushed glass and granular material do not scatter from the narrow space surrounded by the first surrounding member, but fall below where not surrounded by the surrounding member.

[0026] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the cover glass removal device of the second aspect, the injection port of the injection unit and the suction port of the glass suction device are surrounded by a second enclosing member that surrounds the two openings of the injection port and the suction port from the front, back, left, right, and top. This allows most of the crushed glass and granular material to be sucked up through the opening of the glass suction device without scattering in the narrow space surrounded by the second enclosing member.

[0027] According to a tenth aspect of the cover glass removal method of the present invention, a cover glass removal device is provided that crushes and removes the cover glass from an encapsulating sheet that has a cover glass attached to one side and a back sheet laminated to the other side and is included in a solar panel, the cover glass removal method using the cover glass removal device that includes an ejection unit, a granular material ejection device, an ejection unit moving device, and a panel moving device, and the ejection unit is positioned opposite the surface of the cover glass.

[0028] Then, the granular material injection device is caused to inject a plurality of granular materials harder than the cover glass from the injection unit, causing them to collide with the surface of the cover glass and form a range, thereby shattering the cover glass, and the injection unit moving device is caused to move the injection unit along one direction parallel to the surface of the cover glass from one end to the other end of the stationary solar panel, and to move the injection unit in a direction opposite to the one direction so that the range follows the edge of the area of ​​the shattered cover glass.

[0029] Then, the panel moving device moves the solar panel in a direction along the surface of the cover glass and in a direction that intersects with the one direction, and when the ejection section reaches the other end of the solar panel, the solar panel is moved so that the unshattered portion of the cover glass is included in the range of the ejection section.

[0030] According to this, when the ejector reaches the other end of the solar panel, the panel moving device moves the solar panel so that the unbroken cover glass portion is included in the new range, and then moves the ejector in the opposite direction so that the new range is along the edge of the range of the shattered cover glass.

[0031] In this way, by moving the spraying part vertically and horizontally relative to the cover glass, the cover glass can be removed evenly. The granular material spraying device can be small, inexpensive, and has a narrow range, which reduces equipment costs.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view mainly showing the relationship between a solar panel and a particulate material spraying device in a cover glass removal device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operating process of the cover glass removal device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the spray unit moving device and the panel moving device and the solar panel. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another example in which the solar panel is trapezoidal. FIG. 5 is a plan view mainly showing the spray unit moving device. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the particulate material spraying device, glass suction device and spray unit moving device, partially in cross section.

[0033] (Embodiment) An embodiment of a cover glass remover according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs.

[0034] 1, the horizontal direction extending from side to side is referred to as the X-axis direction, and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction is referred to as the Y-axis direction. If a tangible object has an imaginary center line, the side closer to the center line is referred to as the "inside" and the side farther from the center line is referred to as the "outside." When an object is being transported or moved, the starting point of the transport or movement is referred to as the "upstream" or "rear," and the end point of the transport or movement is referred to as the "downstream" or "front."

[0035] First, a brief description will be given below of the solar panel SP from which the cover glass CG is removed in the present invention. The solar panel SP from which the cover glass CG is removed has the frame and junction box removed in advance, and is equipped with the cover glass CG, solar cells SC, a sealing sheet SS, and a back sheet BS.

[0036] The frame is a component that surrounds and houses the multiple components used in a module (a module in which the required number of cells are arranged and packaged for outdoor use). The frame is made of metal materials such as aluminum or stainless steel. The junction box is a protective box that houses the terminals and ends used to join, branch, and relay electrical wires between modules.

[0037] The cover glass CG is made of, for example, tempered glass and is coated with, for example, a water-repellent material. The solar cell SC is made of a thin silicon plate with an anti-reflective coating and a conductive wire on top. When exposed to sunlight, it generates electricity.

[0038] The encapsulating sheet SS sandwiches the solar cells SC to provide adhesive protection. It is made of, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate. The back sheet BS protects the back surface of the module. The back sheet BS is made of, for example, multiple laminated polymer films.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the cover glass removal device 1 in this embodiment includes a particulate material injection device 2, an injection unit moving device 3, a panel moving device 4, and a glass suction device 5.

[0040] (Granular Material Injection Device) The granular material injection device 2 uses compressed air to push out, for example, granular stainless steel balls (granular material harder than the cover glass CG) SSB, and crushes the cover glass CG by colliding them with the surface of the cover glass CG. Ferritic stainless steel such as SUS430 is used as the stainless steel. The particle size is, for example, about 1 to 2 mm.

[0041] The granular material spraying device 2 includes a spraying unit (nozzle) 21 and a pressurized tank (not shown). In this embodiment, for example, a direct pressure air blast is used as the granular material spraying device 2. In the direct pressure air blast, compressed air is poured into a pressurized tank containing granular material, the pressure is increased, and the air is sprayed all at once from the spraying unit 21. As the direct pressure air blast is a known technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0042] (Jet-unit moving device) The jet-unit moving device 3 moves the jet unit 21 (nozzle) linearly from one end of the solar panel SP to the other end. In this embodiment, the one end is the lower end of the solar panel SP in FIG. 2 , and the other end is the upper end of the solar panel SP.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 3 , the sprayer moving device 3 includes an electric motor 31 , a driving sprocket 32 ​​, a driven sprocket 33 , a roller chain 34 , a guide rail 35 , a holder guide 36 , and a nozzle holder 37 .

[0044] (Electric Motor) The electric motor 31 may be, for example, a variable-speed reversible motor that can change speed and rotate forward and reverse. However, the electric motor 31 is not limited to a reversible motor. For example, the electric motor 31 may be a three-phase induction motor that can rotate forward and reverse by switching any two wires.

[0045] A drive sprocket 32 ​​is attached to the output shaft of the electric motor 31 so as to be interlocked with the output shaft and not rotate relative to the electric motor 31. The output shaft of the electric motor 31, which is the rotation shaft of the drive sprocket 32, extends in the X-axis direction. A guide rail 35 is provided along a linear direction from one end of the solar panel SP to the other end.

[0046] (Guide Rail) As shown in Figure 3, the guide rail 35 is provided on a not-shown stand erected on the floor surface so as to extend along the Y-axis direction. The guide rail 35 is, for example, made of iron and formed into a rod shape with a vertically long rectangular cross section. A sub-rail 351 with a pointed tip and a pentagonal cross section is provided on the upper end surface. A grooved wheel 360, which will be described later, engages with and rolls on the sub-rail 351.

[0047] A driven sprocket 33 is provided on one end side of the guide rail 35 (the front side in FIG. 3), and an electric motor 31 and a drive sprocket 32 ​​are arranged on the other end side of the guide rail 35.

[0048] (Drive Sprocket, Driven Sprocket) The driven sprocket 33 has a rotating shaft rotatably mounted on a bearing of a base (not shown).

[0049] As shown in Figure 5, a roller chain 34 is stretched between the drive sprocket 32 ​​and the driven sprocket 33. This roller chain 34 is not an endless track type, but has both ends connected to holder guides 36, which will be described later. When the roller chain 34 is rotated, the holder guide 36 moves on the guide rail 35 in accordance with the circular movement of the roller chain 34.

[0050] (Holder Guide) The holder guide 36 is attached to the guide rail 35 and moves along the guide rail 35 while supporting a nozzle holder 37 (described later).

[0051] As shown in Figure 6, the holder guide 36 includes a holder guide main body 36a, a roller chain connecting portion 36b, a grooved wheel support portion 36c, a first side roller support portion 36d, a second side roller support portion 36e, a bottom roller support portion 36f, and a nozzle holder connecting portion 36g.

[0052] The holder guide body 36a is formed, for example, by bending a rectangular iron plate into a generally L-shape, with the roller chain connecting portion 36b attached to the outside of the upper end. Directly below the roller chain connecting portion 36b, as shown in Figure 5, the sheave support portion 36c extends a predetermined length in the Y-axis direction. Sheaves 360, each with a rotation axis extending in the X-axis direction, are rotatably mounted on both ends of the sheave support portion 36c.

[0053] The holder guide main body 36a has an L-shaped vertical wall portion provided on the inside (left side in FIG. 6 ) of the guide rail 35. On the outside of the guide rail 35, the vertical wall portion is provided with an upper first side roller support portion 36dU at the upper part, which protrudes outward and is bent downward by one step in a staircase-like manner. A lower first side roller support portion 36dD is provided at the lower part, which protrudes outward and is bent upward by one step in a staircase-like manner.

[0054] Each first side roller support portion 36d rotatably supports a first side roller 361, which is supported on a rotation shaft extending in the vertical direction. The first side rollers 361 are arranged vertically in the Y-axis direction by the upper and lower first side roller support portions 36dU and 36dD so as to abut against the outer sides of the guide rail 35, and a total of four first side rollers 361 are provided.

[0055] A second side roller support portion 36e is provided at the lower part of the vertical wall portion, and a second side roller 362 is provided at the second side roller support portion 36e so as to abut against the inside of the guide rail 35. The second side roller 362 is provided at a position opposite the first side roller 361 at the bottom.

[0056] The first side roller 361 and the second side roller 362 roll while sandwiching the side surfaces of the guide rail 35 .

[0057] As shown in Figure 6, a bottom roller support portion 36f is provided below the second side roller 362 on the vertical wall portion, and a bottom roller 363 is provided on the bottom roller support portion 36f. The bottom roller 363 contacts the bottom surface of the guide rail 35. A pair of bottom rollers 363 are provided side by side in the Y-axis direction. The bottom roller 363 and the grooved wheel 360 roll while sandwiching the guide rail 35 from above and below.

[0058] A nozzle holder connecting portion 36g extends inward in the X-axis direction from the L-shaped bottom wall portion of the holder guide main body 36a, and a nozzle holder 37 is attached to the nozzle holder connecting portion 36g with, for example, bolts and nuts.

[0059] 6, the nozzle holder 37 includes a connecting base 37a, an angle adjustment joint 37b, a spray unit holder 37c, a dust collection holder 37d, and a holding frame 37e. The nozzle holder 37 of this embodiment holds the spray unit 21 (nozzle).

[0060] The spray angle of the held spray part 21 toward the solar panel SP of the granular stainless steel balls SSB can be changed. As shown in Figure 5, the connecting base 37a is formed in a flat rectangular plate shape, and its base end is connected to the nozzle holder connecting part 36g as described above. A pair of protrusions 37aa extending in the X-axis direction are provided on both ends of the tip of the connecting base 37a in the Y-axis direction. The protrusions 37aa have connecting holes through which the connecting shaft 38 passes.

[0061] The base end 37ca side of the ejector holder 37c is fitted onto the connecting shaft 38, and the base end 37ea of ​​the holding frame 37e is provided so as to sandwich the base end 37ca of the ejector holder 37c.

[0062] The protrusion 37aa of the nozzle holder 37, the connecting shaft 38, and the base end 37ca of the spray holder 37c function as an angle adjustment joint 37b, which allows the angle to be changed and fixed at the changed angle. Similarly, the angle of the base end 37ea of ​​the holding frame 37e relative to the nozzle holder connecting part 36g (connecting base 37a) can also be adjusted.

[0063] 5, the nozzle holder 37 is provided with two twin sensors TS arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction. These twin sensors TS detect the presence or absence of the solar panel SP below the nozzle holder 37, and use, for example, a non-contact sensor such as an optical sensor. The signal detected by the twin sensors TS is sent to a control device (not shown).

[0064] For example, when one of the two twin sensors TS detects that the solar panel SP is not present, the control device recognizes that the moving ejection part 21 has reached the other end of the solar panel SP.

[0065] Next, the control device drives the panel moving device 4 to move the solar panel SP downstream by one pitch (the diameter of the range RG in the X-axis direction). One pitch is set according to the range RG, and the solar panel is moved so that no part remains to be removed and so that a new range RG that has not been crushed is included.

[0066] When two of the two twin sensors TS detect that the solar panel SP is not present, the control device recognizes that the ejection unit 21 has reached the end of the solar panel SP being fed along the X-axis direction.

[0067] (Injector Holder) The ejector holder 37c has a gripping portion that grips the ejector 21, and changes the angle of the gripping portion to change the ejection angle of the ejector 21. The ejection angle is changed by the angle adjustment joint 37b described above.

[0068] (Dust Collection Holder) As shown in FIG. 6, the dust collection holder 37d holds the crushed glass pieces and granular stainless steel balls SSB so that the glass suction device 5 can suck them.

[0069] The glass suction device 5 includes, for example, a pipe and a hopper 5a formed in a trumpet shape with an opening that gradually increases toward the tip. The pressure inside the pipe is reduced by rotating blades that send air in the suction direction, for example, using an electric motor (not shown). The decompressed pipe sucks up crushed glass powder and granular stainless steel balls (SSB). The dust collection holder 37d holds the tip of the pipe and fixes it at a predetermined angle.

[0070] (Panel Moving Device) The panel moving device 4 moves the solar panel SP in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the ejector 21 moves by the ejector moving device 3. In Fig. 3 , it moves the solar panel SP to the right along the X-axis direction. The panel moving device 4 includes a roller support member (not shown), a roller 41, a drive roller 42, and a side roller 43.

[0071] The roller support members extend in pairs parallel to the X-axis direction and are fixed to a not-shown frame fixed to the floor surface. The distance between the paired roller support members is set to a length that can accommodate the solar panel SP. The roller support members are formed, for example, from long steel members with a rectangular cross section. A plurality of bearings are provided on the opposing inner sides, aligned in the X-axis direction. The rotation shaft of the roller 41 is rotatably supported by each bearing.

[0072] (Rollers) The rollers 41 are made of, for example, iron and formed into an elongated cylindrical shape extending in the Y-axis direction, and a plurality of rollers 41 are lined up along the X-axis direction as shown in Fig. 3. A drive roller 42 is provided at an intermediate position on the downstream side of the lined up rollers 41 (the fifth roller from the downstream end in Fig. 3).

[0073] 2, the drive roller 42 includes an electric motor 421, a rotary shaft 422 connected to the output shaft of the electric motor 421, and a disk-shaped roller 423 connected to the rotary shaft 422 so as not to rotate relative to the rotary shaft 422. The disk-shaped roller 423 is made of iron, for example, and formed into a disk shape, and is provided at four locations, two on each end, as shown in FIG.

[0074] As shown in Fig. 3, a pressure roller 424 is provided above and facing the disk-shaped roller 423. The pressure roller 424 presses the solar panel SP from above using, for example, a spring material. The pressure roller 424, together with the disk-shaped roller 423, holds the solar panel SP in place to prevent the drive roller 42 from spinning freely. The solar panel SP is intermittently moved by the drive roller 42 from the upstream side on the left side to the downstream side on the right side in Fig. 1 by one pitch at a time (the diameter length in the X-axis direction of the range RG).

[0075] (Side Rollers) The side rollers 43 come into contact with both ends of the solar panel SP in the Y-axis direction and guide the solar panel SP so that it is not transported deviating from the X-axis direction. The side rollers 43 are supported on a rotation shaft extending in the vertical direction, and multiple side rollers 43 (three pairs in this embodiment) are provided.

[0076] (Control Device) The control device controls the driving of the granular material spraying device 2, the electric motor 31 of the spraying unit moving device 3, the electric motor 421 of the panel moving device 4, and the glass suction device 5. For the spraying unit moving device 3, the driving of the electric motor 31 is controlled based on the detection signal of the twin sensor TS. For the panel moving device 4, the driving of the electric motor 421 is controlled based on the detection signal of the twin sensor TS.

[0077] (Operation) The operation of the cover glass removal method using the cover glass removal device 1 configured as above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0078] First, the downstream end of the solar panel SP in the X-axis direction is positioned at position "K." The ejector 21 starts ejecting from a position where the range RG is at one end of position "a" (the lower right end in FIG. 2).

[0079] 1, the control device moves the jetting unit 21 from the right end of the solar panel SP in the X-axis direction along the Y-axis direction using the jetting unit moving device 3. For example, the moving speed of the jetting unit 21 is set to a speed of 3 m / min to 10 m / min.

[0080] During movement, granular stainless steel balls SSB are sprayed together with compressed air from the spray unit 21. The spray angle of the spray unit 21 is tilted to the right in Figure 1 from the vertical direction of the cover glass CG. Specifically, it is set in the range of 10 to 25 degrees, for example. In addition, the distance between the spray unit 21 and the solar panel SP is set to, for example, 120 to 240 mm.

[0081] In this way, the moving speed of the spray unit 21, the spray angle of the spray unit 21, and the distance between the spray unit 21 and the solar panel SP are set according to the solar panel SP being worked on, so that the cover glass CG is crushed and removed evenly and the sealing sheet SS is not damaged.

[0082] With the above settings as a premise, the system operates as follows: The control device drives the sprayer movement device 3 to move the range RG of the sprayer 21 along the Y-axis line indicated by "a" in Fig. 2 from one end (the lower end in Fig. 2) to the other end (the upper end in Fig. 2) (corresponding to moving the sprayer 21 in one direction). During the movement, the stainless steel balls SSB are sprayed within the range RG (corresponding to spraying granular material and crushing the cover glass CG).

[0083] Because the spray angle of the spray section 21 is inclined, the crushed glass (glass fragments and glass powder) and stainless steel balls SSB scatter to the left side in Figure 1 (upstream of the solar panel SP) and are sucked up by the hopper 5a of the glass suction device 5.

[0084] The sucked glass and stainless steel balls (SSB) fall into a bucket conveyor (not shown) and are separated into glass fragments, glass powder and stainless steel balls (SSB) by, for example, a magnetic separator (not shown), and the stainless steel balls (SSB) are reused.

[0085] The fact that the ejection unit 21 has reached the other end of the solar panel SP is detected by one of the two twin sensors TS being detached from the solar panel SP.

[0086] When the control device detects that the sprayer 21 has reached the other end of the solar panel SP, it stops driving the sprayer moving device 3 and stops the spraying of the stainless steel balls SSB by the sprayer 21. Note that the spraying of the stainless steel balls SSB by the sprayer 21 may continue.

[0087] Next, the control device drives the panel moving device 4 to move the solar panel SP downstream by one pitch (corresponding to moving the solar panel SP). In Figure 2, the boundary between the removed area and the unremoved area (corresponding to the edge of the area of ​​the crushed cover glass CG) is positioned at "L".

[0088] By positioning the solar panel SP at position "L" in this way, the range RG of the ejector 21 can move along the line in the Y-axis direction indicated by "b." The range RG of the ejector 21 is positioned so as to include the boundary "L." This prevents any part of the cover glass CG from being left unremoved.

[0089] Next, while the injection unit 21 is injecting the stainless steel balls SSB, the control device moves the range RG of the injection unit 21 along the line in the Y-axis direction indicated by "b" (equivalent to moving the injection unit 21 in the opposite direction to one direction). Next, when the range RG of the injection unit 21 reaches one end of "b", the control device moves the solar panel SP so that it is positioned at "M".

[0090] Similarly, the spray unit 21 is alternately moved "c," "d," "e," etc., and the solar panel SP is moved "N," "O," etc., and when the solar panel SP is moved and both twin sensors TS no longer detect the solar panel SP, it is determined that removal of the cover glass CG is complete, and the work ends. This is because it is considered that the spray unit 21 has reached the downstream end of the solar panel SP.

[0091] As is clear from the above configuration, the cover glass removal device 1 for a solar panel SP of this embodiment is a cover glass removal device 1 that crushes and removes the cover glass CG from the sealing sheet SS in a solar panel SP that is formed by stacking a sealing sheet SS and a back sheet BS sandwiching a cover glass CG and a solar cell SC therebetween.

[0092] The apparatus comprises a granular material injection device 2 that forms a range RG by causing a plurality of granular stainless steel balls SSB injected from an injection unit 21 provided opposite the cover glass CG to collide with the surface of the cover glass CG, thereby crushing the cover glass CG; an injection unit moving device 3 that moves the injection unit 21 from one end to the other end of a stationary solar panel SP along one direction parallel to the surface of the cover glass CG; and a panel moving device 4 that moves the solar panel SP along a direction along the surface of the cover glass CG that intersects with the one direction.

[0093] When the ejection unit 21 reaches the other end of the solar panel SP by the ejection unit moving device 3, the panel moving device 4 moves the solar panel SP so that the unbroken cover glass CG portion is included in the range RG, and the ejection unit moving device 3 moves the ejection unit 21 in the opposite direction to the one direction so that the range RG is along the edge of the range of the broken cover glass CG.

[0094] According to this, when the ejection unit 21 reaches the other end of the solar panel SP, the panel moving device 4 moves the solar panel SP so that the unbroken portion of the cover glass CG is included in the range RG. Then, the ejection unit 21 is moved in the opposite direction to the one direction so that the range RG is along the edge of the range of the broken cover glass CG.

[0095] In this way, the spray unit 21 can be moved vertically and horizontally relative to the cover glass CG to remove the cover glass CG evenly. The granular material spray device 2 can be made small and inexpensive with a narrow range RG, thereby reducing equipment costs.

[0096] The cover glass removal device 1 is further provided with a glass suction device 5 that sucks and removes the crushed cover glass CG. With this, the glass (glass fragments, glass powder) resulting from the crushed cover glass CG is sucked and removed, making it possible to quickly and easily clean up after the removal work.

[0097] Furthermore, the granular materials harder than the cover glass CG are granular stainless steel balls SSB or iron balls. According to this, the granular stainless steel balls SSB and iron balls have different physical properties from the crushed glass, and therefore, these differences can be utilized to separate them.

[0098] For example, a magnet can be used to separate ferritic or martensitic stainless steel balls SSB and iron balls from crushed glass pieces.

[0099] Alternatively, for example, large glass fragments can be separated from the austenitic stainless steel balls and glass powder using a sieve, and the austenitic stainless steel balls and glass powder can be separated, for example, by blowing them away with wind.

[0100] In this way, by separating the granular stainless steel balls SSB or iron balls from the crushed glass, the stainless steel balls SSB and iron balls can be reused.

[0101] The glass suction device 5 is provided on the sprayer moving device 3 and sucks up the cover glass CG that is crushed when the granular stainless steel balls SSB are sprayed by the sprayer 21. In this way, the cover glass CG is sucked into the glass suction device 5 and removed immediately after being crushed, so that a good working environment can always be maintained and accurate removal work can be continued.

[0102] The glass suction device 5 moves following the spraying unit 21 and sucks up the granular stainless steel balls SSB discharged from the spraying unit 21. This allows the granular stainless steel balls SSB used in the spraying to be sucked up and removed, allowing for quick cleaning during and after work.

[0103] The glass suction device 5 faces the cover glass CG before it is crushed. This allows glass powder and dust adhering to the surface of the cover glass CG before it is crushed to be removed accurately and efficiently.

[0104] The direction in which the spray unit 21 sprays the granular stainless steel balls SSB intersects with the vertical direction of the cover glass CG in the opposite direction to the movement direction of the solar panel SP, and the spray unit movement device 3 moves the spray unit 21 in the area of ​​the shattered cover glass CG on the solar panel SP. This allows the spray unit 21 to be moved so that the range RG includes the boundary between the shattered area and the unshattered area.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the reaching of the ejector 21 to the end is detected only by the twin sensor TS, but this is not limiting. For example, a contact sensor S as shown in FIG. 5 may be used to detect the overrun of the ejector 21 and stop the ejector moving device 3.

[0106] Furthermore, although the solar panel SP has a rectangular plate shape, the shape is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the solar panel SP may have a trapezoidal plate shape with one corner of the rectangle removed. In this case, too, the spray unit 21 can be moved from one end of the solar panel to the other, thereby removing the cover glass CG evenly and efficiently.

[0107] 6, the nozzle 21a of the spray unit 21 and the suction port 5b of the glass suction device 5 may be enclosed from the front, rear, left, right, and top using a holding frame 37e, for example, by a 3 mm thick transparent urethane sheet US (corresponding to a second enclosing member). Here, "left and right" refers to the arrangement of the spray unit 21 and the glass suction device 5 in a direction intersecting the direction of movement (front-to-back). In this way, most of the crushed glass and granular material (granular stainless steel balls SSB) can be sucked up through the suction port 5b of the glass suction device 5 without scattering from the narrow space enclosed by the transparent urethane sheet US.

[0108] Furthermore, the glass suction device 5 is not necessarily required. In this case, for example, the crushed glass and granular material in the narrow space surrounded by the transparent urethane sheet US (corresponding to the first surrounding member) falls downward from a lower opening not surrounded by the transparent urethane sheet US. The fallen crushed glass and granular material are transported to the next sorting process by, for example, a hopper and conveyor provided below the transparent urethane sheet US.

[0109] Furthermore, although the granular material sprayed from the spraying unit 21 is stainless steel balls SSB, this is not intended to be limiting. For example, iron balls may also be used. Furthermore, although the spraying unit 21 sprays the granular material using air, this is not intended to be limiting. For example, the granular material may be sprayed using high-pressure water.

[0110] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments shown in the drawings, but can be modified appropriately within the scope of the present invention.

[0111] 1: Cover glass removal device, 2: Granular material injection device, 21: Injection unit, 21a: Injection nozzle, 3: Injection unit moving device, 37: Nozzle holder, 37e: Holding frame, 4: Panel moving device, 5: Glass suction device, 5b: Suction port, CG: Cover glass, RG: Range, SC: Solar cell, SP: Solar panel, SS: Sealing sheet, SSB: Stainless steel ball, TS: Twin sensor, US: Urethane sheet (second enclosing member).

Claims

1. A cover glass removal device for crushing and removing an encapsulating sheet included in a solar panel, the cover glass being an encapsulating sheet having a cover glass attached to one side and a back sheet laminated on the other side, the device comprising: a spray unit, a granular material spraying device, a spray unit moving device, and a panel moving device; the spray unit is disposed opposite to the surface of the cover glass; the granular material spraying device sprays a plurality of granular materials harder than the cover glass from the spray unit to collide with the surface of the cover glass to form a range of impact, thereby crushing the cover glass; the spray unit moving device moves the spray unit along one direction parallel to the surface of the cover glass from one end to the other end of the solar panel in a stationary state; the spray unit moves in a direction opposite to the one direction so that the range of impact follows the edge of the range of the crushed cover glass; the panel moving device moves the solar panel in a direction along the surface of the cover glass and intersecting the one direction; a cover glass removal device that, when the ejection unit reaches the other end of the solar panel, moves the solar panel so that an unbroken portion of the cover glass is included in the range of impact.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a glass suction device for removing the crushed cover glass by suction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the granular material harder than the cover glass is a granular stainless steel ball or iron ball.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the glass suction device is provided on the spray unit moving device and sucks up the cover glass that is crushed when the spray unit sprays the granular stainless steel balls or iron balls.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the glass suction device moves following the jetting portion and sucks up the granular stainless steel balls or iron balls discharged from the jetting portion.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the glass suction device faces the cover glass before it is crushed.

7. The device described in claim 1, wherein the direction in which the spray unit sprays the granular material harder than the cover glass intersects with the vertical direction of the surface of the cover glass in the opposite direction to the movement direction of the solar panel, and the spray unit moving device moves the spray unit in the area of ​​the shattered cover glass on the solar panel.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle of the jetting unit is surrounded by a first surrounding member that surrounds the jetting unit from the front and rear in the direction of movement, the left and right in the direction of movement, and above.

9. The device described in claim 2, wherein the injection port of the injection unit and the suction port of the glass suction device are surrounded by a second enclosing member that encloses the two openings of the injection port and the suction port from the front and back in the direction of movement of the injection unit, the left and right in the direction of movement, and above.

10. A cover glass removal device for crushing and removing a cover glass from an encapsulating sheet included in a solar panel, the cover glass being an encapsulating sheet having a cover glass attached to one side and a back sheet laminated on the other side, the cover glass removal method using the cover glass removal device comprising: a spray unit, a granular material spraying device, a spray unit moving device, and a panel moving device, the spray unit being disposed opposite to the surface of the cover glass, the method comprising: causing the granular material spraying device to spray a plurality of granular materials harder than the cover glass from the spray unit to collide with the surface of the cover glass to form a range of impact, thereby crushing the cover glass; causing the spray unit moving device to move the spray unit from one end to the other end of the solar panel in a stationary state along one direction parallel to the surface of the cover glass; moving the spray unit in a direction opposite to the one direction so that the range of impact follows the edge of the range of the crushed cover glass; causing the panel moving device to move the solar panel in a direction along the surface of the cover glass and intersecting the one direction; a cover glass removal method, wherein when the ejection unit reaches the other end of the solar panel, the solar panel is moved so that an unbroken portion of the cover glass is included in the range of the ejection unit.