Method and apparatus for manufacturing lead wire for solar cell

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a lead wire for a solar cell includes heating a wire material by a direct resistance heating or by an induction heating to reduce a 0.2% proof stress of the wire material while conveying the wire material and plating the wire material that is in a heated condition obtained by the direct resistance heating or by the induction heating while further conveying the wire material. An apparatus is configured to implement the method, and includes a plating bath, a conveyor mechanism configured to convey the wire material, a heater configured to heat the wire material, and a controller configured to control the conveyor mechanism and the heater.

1 . A method of manufacturing a lead wire for a solar cell, the method comprising:
 heating a wire material by a direct resistance heating or by an induction heating to reduce a 0.2% proof stress of the wire material while conveying the wire material; and   plating the wire material that is in a heated condition obtained by the direct resistance heating or by the induction heating while further conveying the wire material.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a heating temperature during the heating is higher than a plating temperature during the plating. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating to reduce the 0.2% proof stress is completed within 5 seconds after starting the heating of the wire material. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating by the direct resistance heating or by the induction heating to reduce the 0.2% proof stress is completed within 5 seconds after starting the heating of the wire material. 
     
     
         5 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating to reduce the 0.2% proof stress is completed within 5 seconds after starting the heating of the wire material.