US 12,459,017 B2
Solar cell module recycling apparatus and recycling method therefor
Yao-Hsien Fu, Kaohsiung (TW); Hsueh-Pin Tai, Kaohsiung (TW); Chia-Tsung Hung, Tainan (TW); Cheng-Chen Liu, Tainan (TW); Chun-Chih Hu, Pingtung (TW); and How-Wei Ke, Kaohsiung (TW)
Assigned to NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF TAINAN, Tainan (TW)
Appl. No. 18/274,868
Filed by NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF TAINAN, Tainan (TW)
PCT Filed Oct. 28, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/059962
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 28, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/167857, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 11, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 110104260 (TW), filed on Feb. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0123479 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. B09B 3/35 (2022.01); H10F 71/00 (2025.01); B09B 101/15 (2022.01)
CPC B09B 3/35 (2022.01) [H10F 71/00 (2025.01); B09B 2101/15 (2022.01)] 2 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A recycling apparatus for a solar cell module, the solar cell module including a solar cell, and a back plate and a glass cover plate disposed on two opposite sides of the solar cell, said recycling apparatus comprising:
a platform for supporting and positioning the solar cell module;
at least one milling device disposed on said platform and including a milling member configured to contact the back plate of the solar cell module, and a casing that surrounds said milling member, that defines a chip-receiving space and that has an air inlet and a suction port communicating with said chip-receiving space; and
a drive device connected to said at least one milling device for driving said at least one milling device to move around and mill the solar cell module through said milling member;
said air inlet being configured to allow outside air to enter said chip-receiving space and contact said milling member;
said chip-receiving space being configured to receive chips produced during milling of the solar cell module by said milling member; and
said air inlet and said suction port cooperating with each other for allowing the chips to be sucked out of said chip-receiving space through said suction port;
wherein said recycling apparatus further comprises a smoothing device movable along with said at least one milling device and including a press plate that is located on said casing, and a smoothing unit that extends downward from said press plate, that is located on an outer periphery of said casing and that is configured to contact the back plate of the solar cell module;
wherein said at least one milling device includes a plurality of milling devices, said drive device including a horizontal drive mechanism, a vertical drive mechanism and a longitudinal drive mechanism connected to said milling devices, and a drive motor connected to said horizontal drive mechanism, said vertical drive mechanism and said longitudinal drive mechanism; and
wherein said recycling apparatus further comprises a measuring device that includes an optical ruler and a measuring element, said optical ruler being disposed on said vertical drive mechanism for measuring relative positions of said milling members, said measuring element being disposed on a side of said platform that is opposite to the solar cell module for measuring the thickness of the glass cover plate of the solar cell module.