Apparatus for processing waste solar panel

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a waste solar panel, and more specifically, relates to an apparatus for processing a waste solar panel, with an improved structure to effectively peel apart tempered glass and solar cell scraps of the waste solar panel, which have different heights on a transfer line.

Description

Waste solar panel processing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste solar panel processing device, and more particularly, to a waste solar panel processing device having an improved structure that can effectively separate tempered glass and solar cell scraps of waste solar panels having different heights on a transport line.

[0002] With the depletion of fossil fuels like oil and coal, there is a growing global demand for alternative energy sources, and the development of environmentally friendly green energy sources is increasing due to the environmental pollution caused by fossil fuel use. Consequently, the development of various types of eco-friendly energy technologies is rapidly progressing. Among these various eco-friendly energy sources, the development of technologies utilizing solar energy is particularly active.

[0003] Solar panels, the core of solar power generation facilities, have a lifespan of approximately 20 to 30 years, making the disposal of discarded solar panels a critical issue worldwide. However, technologies for efficiently integrating, processing, and recycling solar power generation equipment that has reached end-of-life and is now considered waste are still under-researched. Solar panels are modularized within a robust aluminum frame to protect them from external impacts and adverse weather conditions. They consist of a backsheet, an EVA adhesive layer, solar cells, an EVA adhesive layer, tempered glass, and solar cell scrap.

[0004] Conventional waste solar panel processing devices heat adhesives above their melting point and then use sharp blades to peel the solar cell components (backsheet, EVA adhesive layer, solar cell, and EVA adhesive layer) from the tempered glass. This conventional technology has the advantage of separating the tempered glass and solar cell components without destroying them, thereby increasing the recycling rate.

[0005] However, the conventional technology has the problem of making it difficult to precisely peel the solar cell portion of a solar panel having different heights from tempered glass on a transport line due to the working environment and foreign substances in the solar cell portion, and increasing the working time.

[0006] As for prior art, there is Japanese registered patent No. 5938309.

[0007] The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and provides a waste solar panel processing device that can precisely peel solar cell scraps of solar panels having different heights on a transport line due to the working environment and foreign substances in the solar cell portion, from tempered glass, and that enables shortening of the working time for the peeling process.

[0008] The problems solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a waste solar panel processing device comprising: a moving block configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of a heated solar panel; a cutting blade installed on the moving block to support a front end of the solar panel upward and to cut a portion of cell scrap from the solar panel while moving in the perpendicular direction; a first peeling blade installed on the moving block to move in the perpendicular direction and to peel a portion of the cut cell scrap from tempered glass; a first sensing unit for detecting each solar panel approaching the cutting blade so as to determine the position of the cell scrap; and a first controlling means for enabling the elevation of the moving block based on a detection signal from the first sensing unit and for causing the front end of the first peeling blade to be positioned between the tempered glass of the solar panel and the cell scrap; And a second peeling blade which is installed facing the direction of movement of the solar panel and has a tip disposed between the partially peeled cell scrap and the tempered glass so as to peel the remaining cell scrap from the tempered glass during movement of the solar panel, a second sensing unit which detects the solar panel so as to determine the position of the cell scrap in each solar panel approaching the second peeling blade, and a second peeling unit which has a second adjusting means for elevating the second peeling blade based on a detection signal from the second sensing unit and positioning the tip of the second peeling blade between the tempered glass and the cell scrap.

[0010] The moving block of the first peeling section may include a guide rod formed long in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the solar panel and arranged on the lower side of the transported solar panel; a moving member having a through hole at the center side for allowing the guide rod to be arranged in a penetrating state, and moving along the guide rod when power is applied; and an elevating member on which the cutting blade and the first peeling blade are installed, and which is elevated with respect to the moving member by a first adjusting means provided between the cutting blade and the first peeling blade.

[0011] It is preferable that the first adjusting means of the first peeling section include a pair of guide rods, one side of which is connected to the movable member and the other side thereof extends toward the elevating member, and which are introduced into and extracted from a pair of rod grooves formed in the elevating member to guide the elevation of the elevating member; and a cylinder body having a cylinder rod, one side of which is connected to the movable member and the other side thereof extends along the longitudinal direction of the guide rod, and which is provided on the elevating member and receives the other side of the cylinder rod, and which receives power to withdraw or introduce the other side of the cylinder rod to enable the elevation of the elevating member.

[0012] The second adjusting means of the second peeling section may include an elevating rod having one end connected to the second peeling blade and the other end extending from the one end toward the floor; and an elevating driving unit that receives the other end of the elevating rod and is driven by applying power to elevate the elevating rod.

[0013] The device for processing waste solar panels according to the present invention having the configuration described above, based on a detection signal from a first sensing unit of a first peeling unit, a first controlling means elevates a moving block to enable the first peeling blade to be elevated, and the first peeling blade and the cutting blade peel off a portion of cell scrap at various heights, and based on a detection signal from a second sensing unit of a second peeling unit, the second peeling blade can be elevated and continuously moved along a transport line to peel off the remaining cell scrap of solar panels having various thicknesses, thereby enabling the solar cell scrap of solar panels having different heights (thicknesses) on the transport line to be precisely peeled from tempered glass due to the working environment and foreign substances in the solar cell portion, and has the effect of enabling a shortening of the working time for the peeling process.

[0014] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a waste solar panel processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 is a partially enlarged view of part II of Figure 1.

[0017] Figure 3 is a drawing for explaining the first peeling part employed in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figures 4 and 5 are drawings for explaining the operating state of the first peeling unit employed in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 6 is a drawing for explaining the first adjusting means of the first peeling section employed in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 7 is a drawing for explaining a second peeling part employed in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 8 is a drawing for explaining the second adjusting means of the second peeling section employed in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] To ensure a clear understanding of the present invention, descriptions of known techniques related to the features of the present invention will be omitted in the following description. The following examples are provided as detailed descriptions to aid understanding of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Therefore, equivalent inventions that perform the same functions as the present invention will also fall within the scope of the invention.

[0023] In the following description, identical identifiers denote identical configurations, and unnecessary redundant descriptions and descriptions of known technologies will be omitted. Furthermore, descriptions of each embodiment of the present invention below that overlap with the description of the technology underlying the invention will also be omitted.

[0024] Hereinafter, a waste solar panel processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a waste solar panel processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of part II of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining a first peeling unit employed in an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 4 and 5 are drawings for explaining an operating state of the first peeling unit employed in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining a first adjusting means of the first peeling unit employed in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a drawing for explaining a second peeling unit employed in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a drawing for explaining a second adjusting means of the second peeling unit employed in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] As shown in these drawings, a waste solar panel processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first peeling unit (200) and a second peeling unit (400).

[0027] The above first peeling unit (200) is configured to peel cell scrap (12) from the tempered glass in the solar panel (10) of the waste solar panel as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and includes a moving block, a cutting blade (240), a first peeling blade (250), a first sensing unit (260), and a first adjusting means (270).

[0028] The above-mentioned moving block includes a guide rod (220), a moving member (230), and an elevating member (231) to be described later, and is provided so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of a heated solar panel (10) during the process of being transported by the first transport unit (100), and the cutting blade (240) and the first peeling blade (250) are arranged so as to be movable on the lower side of the transported solar panel (10).

[0029]

[0030] *The above moving block is configured to be able to be raised and lowered by the first adjusting means (270), and by allowing the cutting blade (240) and the first peeling blade (250) to be raised and lowered, the positions of the cutting blade (240) and the first peeling blade (250) can be adjusted according to the height of the cell scrap (12) of the solar panel on the transport line due to the working environment or foreign substances.

[0031] Here, the first transport unit (100) includes a first transport unit frame (110), a roller (120), and a heating member (130) to enable the solar panel (10) to be transported to the first peeling unit (200), as illustrated in FIG. 1. The first transport unit frame (110) of the first transport unit (100) is installed in a work space and enables the movement of the solar panel (10) along a transport line (TL) to the first peeling unit (200).

[0032] The rollers (120) of the first transport unit (110) are provided in multiple numbers on the first transport unit frame (110) along the transport line (TL), and are arranged spaced apart from each other while forming a gap. The rollers (120) of the first transport unit (110) are composed of a lower roller (122) and an upper roller (124) that face each other vertically but form a space between them that allows the passage of the solar panel (10). The lower roller (122) and the upper roller (124) of the roller (120) rotate in opposite directions to enable the transport of the solar panel (10) along the transport line (TL).

[0033] The heating member (130) of the first transport unit (110) is installed in the first transport unit frame (110) and is provided between each roller (120) to heat the solar panel transported along the transport line and reduce the bonding force of the cell scrap (120) to the tempered glass to enable easy peeling.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cutting blade (240) of the first peeling unit (200) is installed on a movable block movably installed on the first peeling unit frame (210) and moves in a direction perpendicular to the transport line of the solar panel (10) together with the movable block, and supports the tip of the solar panel (10) upward. The cutting blade (240) cuts a portion of the cell scrap (12) of the solar panel (10) during the process of moving in the perpendicular direction.

[0035] The first peeling blade (250) of the first peeling unit (200) is installed together with the cutting blade (240) on the moving block, and when moved in the orthogonal direction together with the cutting blade (240), a portion of the cut cell scrap (12) is peeled from the tempered glass (14). The first peeling blade (250) is raised and lowered together with the moving block, so as to peel a portion of the cell scrap (12), and its tip is positioned between the tempered glass (14) and the cell scrap (12).

[0036] The first sensing unit (260) of the first peeling unit (200) can be installed in the first peeling unit frame (210) and detects the solar panel (10) approaching the cutting blade (240) while being transported along the transport line (TL), thereby enabling the position of the cell scrap in each solar panel to be determined. The first sensing unit (260) transmits a detection signal according to the detection of the solar panel (10) to a control unit (not shown), and the control unit controls the first adjusting means according to the position of the cell scrap based on the detection signal, thereby enabling the position of the first peeling blade (250) and the cutting blade (240) to be adjusted.

[0037] The above control unit compares the cell scrap height of the solar panel preset on the transport line with the cell scrap height of the detected waste solar panel, and raises the moving block by the amount of the cell scrap height of the waste solar panel that has increased in height due to foreign substances, etc., so as to raise the first peeling blade, and allows the first peeling blade to be positioned between the tempered glass of the waste solar panel and the cell scrap. Here, the height of the cell scrap refers to the thickness of the cell scrap on the transport line, and may be preset based on data input through an input means.

[0038] The first adjusting means (270) of the first peeling unit (200) is installed in the moving block as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and enables the moving block to be raised and lowered based on a detection signal from the first sensing unit (260), and raises and lowers the first peeling blade (250) and the cutting blade (240) so that the tip of the first peeling blade is positioned between the tempered glass of the solar panel (10) and the cell scrap. The first adjusting means (270) may include a control unit, and may be driven according to a control signal based on a detection signal from the control unit.

[0039] The second peeling unit (400) receives the solar panel from the second conveying unit (300) provided between the first peeling unit (200) and enables peeling the remaining cell scrap (12) from the tempered glass in the solar panel. Here, the second conveying unit (300) includes a second conveying unit frame (310) and a roller (320). The second conveying unit frame (310) is provided between the first peeling unit (200) and the second peeling unit (400), and enables installation of the roller (320) so that the solar panel, from which a portion of the cell scrap (12) has been peeled, can be continuously transported along the conveying line.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the roller (320) of the second transport section (300) is provided in multiple numbers along the transport line (TL) and is arranged spaced apart from each other, and includes a lower roller (322) and an upper roller (324), and forms an interspace between the lower roller and the upper roller for movement of the solar panel (10).

[0041] The second peeling unit (400) includes a second peeling blade (430), a second sensing unit (460), and a second adjusting means (450) so as to peel off the remaining cell scrap from the solar panel (10) that continues to move after passing between the lower roller and the upper roller of the second transport unit, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The second peeling blade (430) of the second peeling unit (400) is installed on the second peeling unit frame (410) so as to face the transport direction of the solar panel (10), and has its tip positioned between the partially peeled cell scrap (12) and the tempered glass (14), thereby peeling off the remaining cell scrap (12) from the tempered glass during movement of the solar panel.

[0042] The second peeling unit (400) may be equipped with a roller (420) to continuously transport the solar panel (10) toward the second peeling blade (430). The roller (420) includes a lower roller (422) and an upper roller (424), and forms a space between the lower roller and the upper roller for movement of the solar panel (10).

[0043] The second sensing unit (460) of the second peeling unit (400) is installed in the second peeling unit frame (410) and detects the approaching solar panels so as to determine the position of the cell scrap (12) in each solar panel approaching the second peeling blade (430). The second adjusting means (450) of the second peeling unit (400) elevates the second peeling blade (430) based on the detection signal from the second sensing unit, and positions the tip of the second peeling blade (430) between the tempered glass and the cell scrap (12).

[0044] The second control means (450) of the second peeling unit (400) may include a control unit like the first control means of the first peeling unit (200) described above, and may be driven according to a control signal of the control unit based on a detection signal. The height determination of the cell scrap (12) by the second peeling unit (400) may be performed in the same manner as the determination method by the control unit of the first peeling unit (200).

[0045] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a waste solar panel processing device having such a configuration enables the first peeling blade (250) to be elevated by the first control means (270) based on a detection signal from the first sensing unit (260) of the first peeling unit (200), and allows the first peeling blade (250) and the cutting blade (240) to peel off a portion of the cell scrap (12) at various heights, and allows the second peeling blade (430) to be elevated based on a detection signal from the second sensing unit (460) of the second peeling unit (400) and to continuously move along the transport line to peel off the remaining cell scrap of the solar panel having various thicknesses, thereby enabling the solar cell scrap of the solar panel having different heights (thicknesses) on the transport line to be precisely peeled from the tempered glass due to the working environment and foreign substances in the solar cell portion, and has the effect of enabling a shortening of the working time for the peeling process.

[0046] Meanwhile, the second peeling part (400) may further include an anti-rolling member (440), as illustrated in FIG. 7. The anti-rolling member (440) is disposed between the second peeling blade (430) and the roller (420), and has one side disposed on the lower roller (422) side of the roller (420), and the other side extended downwardly of the lower roller (422) in a folded state, thereby preventing the remaining cell scrap (12) peeled by the second peeling blade (430) from being rolled toward the lower roller (422) during the movement of the solar panel, and enabling the cell scrap (12) to be moved downwardly of the lower roller.

[0047] As described above, the moving block of the first peeling unit (200) employed in this embodiment is preferably configured to include a guide rod (220), a moving member (230), and an elevating member (231) so that it can move back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the solar panel (100) and can be raised and lowered by the first adjusting means (270).

[0048] The guide rod (220) of the above-described moving block can be installed in the first peeling frame (210) of the first peeling unit as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and guides the moving member (230) so that the moving member (230) can reciprocate in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the solar panel. The moving member (230) of the above-described moving block has a through hole at the center side through which the guide rod (230) is positioned to pass, and receives power from a motor or the like that is driven according to a control signal to move along the guide rod (230), thereby enabling the movement of the lifting member (231), the first peeling blade (250), the cutting blade (240), and the first adjusting means (270).

[0049] In addition, a sensor (not shown) capable of measuring the pressure applied to the cutting blade (240) and the first peeling blade (250) may be installed in the movable member (230). The cutting blade (240) and the first peeling blade (250) configured in this manner may be driven to rise or fall by the elevating member from the movable member (230) according to the pressure measured when they come into contact with the solar panel (10) to peel the cell scrap (12) so as to have a set pressure value.

[0050] The elevating member (231) of the above-described movable block is installed to be able to be elevated on the movable member (230) by the first adjusting means (270), and allows the cutting blade (240) and the first peeling blade (250) to be installed toward the lower portion of the solar panel (10). The elevating member (231) is elevated by the first adjusting means driven according to a control signal based on a detection signal by the first sensing unit (260), thereby elevating the cutting blade (240) and the first peeling blade (250), and thereby enables peeling off a portion of the cell scrap from solar panels of various thicknesses.

[0051] The first adjusting means (270) of the first peeling section (200) is installed between the moving member (230) of the moving block and the lifting member (231), as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, to enable the lifting member (231) to be raised and lowered, and includes a guide rod (271) and a cylinder (272).

[0052] The above guide rod (271) is formed as a pair, one side of which is connected to each of the moving members (230), and the other side extends toward the elevating member (231) and is introduced into and withdrawn from a pair of rod grooves (271a) formed in the elevating member (231), thereby guiding the elevation of the elevating member.

[0053] The cylinder (272) of the first control means (270) is configured to raise and lower the lifting member (231) by applying power by hydraulic or pneumatic pressure, and is composed of a cylinder rod (272a) and a cylinder body (272b). One side of the cylinder rod (272a) is connected to the moving member (230), and the other side is formed to extend from one side along the longitudinal direction of the guide rod.

[0054] The cylinder body (272b) of the cylinder (272) is provided on the lifting member (231), accommodates the other side of the cylinder rod (272a), and receives power to withdraw or retract the other side of the cylinder rod, thereby enabling the lifting member to be lifted or lowered relative to the movable member. The cylinder may be driven based on a detection signal from the first sensing unit (260) as described above. It is preferable that the cylinder (272) be placed between a pair of guide rods (271) for stable lifting of the lifting member (231).

[0055] Meanwhile, the cutting blade (240) of the first peeling unit (200) is configured to perform the role of cutting the cell scrap (12) portion and supporting the solar panel (10) upwards, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, and may have an overall circular shape and be provided in a needle shape so as to perform the function of a blade along the edge. When viewed from the front, the cutting blade (240) has a curved connecting line between the uppermost end (T1) and the leading end (F1), so that even if the leading end contacts the bent solar panel (10), the lower part of the stretched solar panel (10) follows the curved line of the cutting blade (240) and becomes positioned at the uppermost end (T1), and the cutting operation through the cutting blade (240) can be started in a state where the lower part of the solar panel (10) is positioned at the uppermost end (T1) of the cutting blade (240).

[0056] The second adjusting means (450) of the second peeling unit (400) employed in this embodiment may include an elevating rod (451) and an elevating driving unit (452), as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The elevating rod (451) of the second adjusting means (450) has one end connected to the second peeling blade (430) and the other end extending from that end toward the floor. In addition, the elevating driving unit (452) of the second adjusting means (450) receives the other end of the elevating rod (451), and receives power according to a control signal based on the detection signal to elevate the elevating rod (451), thereby enabling the second peeling blade (430) to elevate and precisely peel cell scraps of various heights. The above-mentioned lifting drive unit (452) can be driven by receiving power from a motor, and can raise and lower the lifting rod by hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure.

[0057] The lifting rod (451) of the second adjusting means (450) may be formed in a screw shape, and the lifting drive unit (452) may be screw-connected to the lifting rod and may be able to rotate the lifting rod by applying power to raise and lower it. The first adjusting means and the second adjusting means may be formed in a ball screw shape.

[0058] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments and the drawings attached to the present specification only clearly show a part of the technical idea included in the present invention, and it will be obvious that all modified examples and specific embodiments that can be easily inferred by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea included in the specification and drawings of the present invention are included in the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims

1. A first peeling unit comprising a moving block that is provided to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of a heated solar panel, a cutting blade installed on the moving block to support the tip of the solar panel upward and to cut a portion of cell scrap from the solar panel while moving in the perpendicular direction, a first peeling blade installed on the moving block to move in the perpendicular direction and to peel a portion of the cut cell scrap from tempered glass, a first sensing unit that detects the solar panel so as to be able to determine the position of the cell scrap in each solar panel approaching the cutting blade, and a first controlling means that enables the elevation of the moving block based on a detection signal from the first sensing unit and allows the tip of the first peeling blade to be placed between the tempered glass of the solar panel and the cell scrap; and A waste solar panel processing device comprising: a second peeling blade, which is installed facing the direction of movement of the solar panel and has a tip positioned between the partially peeled cell scrap and the tempered glass to peel the remaining cell scrap from the tempered glass during movement of the solar panel; a second sensing unit that detects the solar panel so as to determine the position of the cell scrap in each solar panel approaching the second peeling blade; and a second controlling means that elevates the second peeling blade based on a detection signal from the second sensing unit and positions the tip of the second peeling blade between the tempered glass and the cell scrap.

2. In paragraph 1, The moving block of the first peeling section above is, A guide rod formed long and arranged on the lower side of the solar panel, which is transported in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the solar panel; A moving member having a through hole on the center side to allow the guide rod to be positioned through, and moving along the guide rod when power is applied; and A waste solar panel processing device including an elevating member that is installed with the above-mentioned cutting blade and the first peeling blade and is elevated with respect to the movable member by a first adjusting means provided between the above-mentioned cutting blade and the first peeling blade.

3. In paragraph 2, The first adjusting means of the first peeling section is: A guide rod that is formed as a pair, one side of which is connected to each of the movable members, and the other side of which extends toward the lifting member, and is introduced into and extracted from a pair of rod grooves formed in the lifting member to guide the lifting of the lifting member; and A waste solar panel processing device comprising a cylinder having a cylinder rod, one end of which is connected to the movable member and the other end of which is extended along the length of the guide rod, and a cylinder body provided on the elevating member and accommodating the other end of the cylinder rod, and which receives power to withdraw or retract the other end of the cylinder rod to enable the elevating member to be raised or lowered.

4. In paragraph 1, The second adjusting means of the second peeling section is: An elevator rod having one side connected to the second detachable blade and the other side extending from that side toward the floor; and A waste solar panel processing device including an elevator drive unit that receives the other side of the elevator rod and is driven by power to elevate the elevator rod.

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