SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, LOADING AND PACKING DEVICE, SUPPORTING BASE PLATE, AND PACKING METHOD

Abstract

A supporting structure (2) that stacks and supports solar cell modules in the horizontal state includes a base portion (23) stacked in the up-and-down direction, a reception portion (28) that supports the corner portions of the solar cell module that are projectingly formed in the lateral direction from the inner side wall surface (23c) of the base portion (23), an engaging convex portion (25) formed on the upper end surface of the base portion (23) and engaged with one of supporting structures adjacently arranged up and down, and an engaging concave portion (26) formed on the lower end surface (23b) of the base portion (23) and engaged with the engaging convex portion of the other of supporting structures adjacently arranged up and down, and wherein the engaging concave portion (26) is opened on the external side wall surface (23d) of the base portion (23).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to supporting structures on which the corner portions of solar cell modules are placed in such a manner as to support the solar cell modules in a horizontal state, a loading and packing device that packs the solar cell modules, a supporting base plate on which the supporting structures are placed in such a manner as to support the solar cell modules in the horizontal state, and a packing method of the solar cell modules.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there have been known supporting structures, by which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in the horizontal state, an insertion system (for example, see Patent Literature 1), and a loading and packing device (for example, see Patent Literature 2).

In Patent Literature 1, the insertion system has been disclosed that includes a molded member formed in such a manner that supporting profile members, on which the corner portions of a photovoltaic module are placed, are protruded on the inner side. On the molded member, a tenon (protrusion) is formed on the upper side, and a mortice is formed on the lower side. In the insertion system, four sets of molded members respectively support four corner portions of a set of photovoltaic module. Also, the tenon of the molded member is inserted into the mortice of another molded member arranged above the molded member. That is, in the insertion system, adjacent molded members are joined by means of the tenon-mortice structure of the molded members, whereby the molded members are stacked in the vertical direction, and the photovoltaic modules are supported by the molded members stacked.

Also, in Patent Literature 2, a packing device has been disclosed that includes a frame, a plurality of corner supporting members stacked in the up-and-down direction at four corners of the frame, a lower portion supporting member to support the corner supporting members on the frame, a side wall body that surrounds the layered body of a rectangular panel member (solar cell module), and a lid body. The corner supporting member includes an orthogonal wall abutted on the corner portion of the panel member and a load reception portion horizontally extended from the orthogonal wall, whereby the corner portion of the panel member is placed on the load reception portion. The orthogonal wall includes an inner fitting groove on the inner side thereof and an outward fitting piece on the external side thereof. The outward fitting piece of the orthogonal wall of another corner supporting member arranged above the corner supporting member is fitted into the inner fitting groove of the orthogonal wall. That is, the outward fitting piece is fitted with the inner fitting groove, whereby the corner supporting members adjoined in the up-and-down direction are stacked.

Accordingly, this allows the corner portions of the panel member to be placed on the load reception portion of the corner supporting members stacked, and the corner supporting members are stacked in the up-and-down direction, whereby the rectangular panel members (solar cell modules) can be stacked and packed in the horizontal state.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

• PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-32978
• PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-178449

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, with the above-mentioned conventional constitution, there is a problem in that, when a loading and packing device in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed is conveyed, the solar cell modules are shifted in position or damaged due to vibration or the like at the time of conveyance.

The present invention has been achieved in view of the above circumstances to solve the problem described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a supporting structure, a loading and packing device, and a packing method of the solar cell modules, thereby safely conveying the solar cell modules.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a supporting structure of the present invention is characterized in that corner portions of a solar cell module are placed to support the solar cell module in a horizontal state, and the supporting structure may include a base portion configured to be stacked in an up-and-down direction, a supporting portion configured to support the corner portions of the solar cell module that are projectingly formed in a lateral direction from a lateral surface on an inner side of the base portion, an engaging convex portion configured to be formed on an upper end surface of the base portion and configured to engage with one of supporting structures adjacently arranged up and down; and an engaging concave portion configured to be formed on a lower end surface of the base portion and configured to be engaged with the engaging convex portion of the other of supporting structures adjacently arranged up and down, and wherein the engaging concave portion is opened on a lateral surface side on an external side of the base portion.

Thus, the engaging concave portion has the structure in which the lateral surface side on external side of the base portion is opened, so that the engaging state can be directly verified by visual observation. Also, the engaging convex portion can be fitted and engaged with the engaging concave portion not only from the upper direction but also from the lateral direction or the obliquely-upper direction, which facilitates engaging operations.

Also, a packing method of the present invention may include stacking the solar cell modules in multiple stages in the horizontal state by use of the supporting structure having the above-mentioned constitution, and packing the solar cell modules.

According to the packing method of the present invention, when the supporting structures are engaged with each other up and down, the engaging state can be directly verified by visual observation, which facilitates packing operations.

Also, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a loading and packing device of the present invention is characterized in that solar cell modules are stacked and packed in a horizontal state in an up-and-down direction, and the loading and packing device may include a base plate portion, supporting structures configured to be erected on an upper surface of the base plate portion and configured to support respective corner portions of the solar cell modules stacked in the horizontal state, and shock absorber members configured to fit edge portions of the solar cell modules horizontally stacked, from a lateral direction and configured to hold the solar cell modules.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the edge portions of the solar cell modules horizontally stacked are fitted with the shock absorber members from the lateral direction, thereby fixing the solar cell modules from the bilateral sides by means of the shock absorber members. Accordingly, the solar cell modules stacked in the horizontal state are not bent by vibration and the like during transportation, so that contact or collision between the solar cell modules disposed adjacently in the up-and-down direction can be prevented, and the movement of the solar cell modules in the horizontal direction, which is attributed to the vibration and the like during transportation, can be restrained.

Also, a loading and packing method of the present invention may include stacking and packing the solar cell modules in multiple stages in the horizontal state by use of the loading and packing device having the above-mentioned constitution.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a sufficient gap between the solar cell modules stacked in the up-and-down direction can be provided, and the posture of the solar cell modules can be fixed by means of the shock absorber members attached on the bilateral edges of the solar cell modules. Contact or collision between the solar cell modules stacked in the up-and-down direction, which is attributed to the vibration and the like during transportation, can be prevented by means of the above-mentioned packing, and the movement of the solar cell modules stacked in the horizontal direction can be restrained.

Also, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a supporting base plate of the present invention is characterized in that supporting structures configured to support corner portions of a solar cell module are placed, and the supporting base plate configured to support the solar cell module in a horizontal state may include a fitting convex portion configured to be formed on an upper surface of the supporting base plate and configured to be fitted with a fitting concave portion formed on a lower surface of the supporting structure.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the fitting convex portion fitted with the fitting concave portion formed on the lower surface of the supporting structure is formed on the upper surface of the supporting base plate, so that the lateral slippage of the supporting structure placed on the supporting base plate can be prevented. That is, the lateral slippage of the solar cell module with respect to the supporting base plate can be prevented.

Also, a packing method of the present invention may include stacking and packing the solar cell modules in multiple stages in the horizontal state by use of the supporting base plate having the above-mentioned constitution and the supporting structures.

According to the packing method of the present invention, the supporting structure at the lowermost stage can be fitted and fixed with the engaging convex portion of the supporting base plate, so that the solar cell modules can be stably packed in multiple stages without the lateral slippage.

Also, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a loading and packing device of the present invention is characterized in that solar cell modules are stacked and packed in a horizontal state, and the loading and packing device may include a base plate portion, supporting structures configured to be arranged on an upper surface of the base plate portion and placed by corner portions of the solar cell modules and configured to support the solar cell modules in the horizontal state, and spacer members configured to be arranged between the base plate portion and the supporting structures.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the spacer member is arranged between the base plate portion and the supporting structure, so that a sufficient gap between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module supported by the supporting structure at the lowermost stage can be provided. Accordingly, even when the solar cell module at the lowermost stage is bent by vibration and the like during transportation, contact or collision between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module can be prevented.

Also, a packing method of the present invention may include stacking and packing the solar cell modules in multiple stages in the horizontal state by use of the loading and packing device having the above-mentioned constitution.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a sufficient gap between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module supported by the supporting structure at the lowermost stage is provided, whereby the solar cell modules can be stacked in multiple stages and packed. With the above-mentioned packing, even when the solar cell module at the lowermost stage is bent by vibration and the like during transportation, contact or collision between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module can be prevented.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, the engaging concave portion has the structure in which the lateral surface side on external side of the base portion is opened, so that the engaging state can be directly verified by visual observation. Also, the engaging convex portion can be fitted and engaged with the engaging concave portion not only from the upper direction but also from the lateral direction or the obliquely-upper direction, which facilitates engaging operations. Accordingly, the packing operation of the solar cell modules is facilitated by use of the supporting structures of the present invention.

Also, according to another aspect of the present invention, the solar cell modules stacked in the horizontal state are not bent by vibration and the like during transportation, so that contact or collision between the solar cell modules disposed adjacently in the up-and-down direction can be prevented, and the movement of the solar cell modules in the horizontal direction, which is attributed to the vibration and the like during transportation, can be restrained.

Also, according to another aspect of the present invention, the fitting convex portion fitted with the fitting concave portion formed on the lower surface of the supporting structure is formed on at the four corners on the upper surface of the supporting base plate, so that the lateral slippage of the supporting structure placed on the supporting base plate can be prevented, that is, the lateral slippage of the solar cell module with respect to the supporting base plate can be prevented.

Also, according to another aspect of the present invention, the spacer member is arranged between the base plate portion and the supporting structure, so that a sufficient gap between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module supported by the supporting structure at the lowermost stage can be provided. Accordingly, even when the solar cell module at the lowermost stage is bent by vibration and the like during transportation, contact or collision between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state before solar cell modules are finally packed by use of supporting structures according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the supporting structure viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the supporting structure viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating another constitution of the supporting structure viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating another constitution of the supporting structure viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating a situation in which the engaging convex portions of the supporting structure on a lower side is engaged with the engaging concave portions of the supporting structure arranged on an upper side.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating a procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting structures according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting structures according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting structures according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting structures according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting structures according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a shock absorber member.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting structures according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting structures according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting structures according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of the supporting structure viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 16B is a perspective view of the supporting structure viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 17A is a perspective view illustrating another constitution of the supporting structure viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 17B is a perspective view illustrating another constitution of the supporting structure viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the shock absorber member viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another shock absorber member viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of another shock absorber member viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view illustrating a procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of a loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of a loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of a loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of a loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view illustrating a state before the solar cell modules are finally packed by use of a loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory view illustrating a procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of another loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 28A is a perspective view of a spacer member viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 28B is a perspective view of the spacer member viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the loading and packing device taken along a line B-B, in which the spacer members are used, with respect to the loading and packing device illustrated in FIG. 25.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the loading and packing device taken along a line C-C, in which another shock absorber members are used, with respect to the loading and packing device illustrated in FIG. 25.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the loading and packing device taken along the line C-C, in which another shock absorber members are used, with respect to the loading and packing device illustrated in FIG. 25.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the loading and packing device taken along the line C-C, in which another shock absorber members are used, with respect to the loading and packing device illustrated in FIG. 25.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the loading and packing device taken along the line C-C, in which another shock absorber members are used, with respect to the loading and packing device illustrated in FIG. 25.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory view illustrating a procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the solar cell modules are stacked in multiple stages by use of a supporting base plate according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is a plan view of the supporting base plate.

FIG. 41 is a front view of the supporting base plate viewed from the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 42 is a side view of the supporting base plate viewed from the lateral direction.

FIG. 43 is an enlarged plan view of the corner portion of the supporting base plate.

FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 43.

FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 43.

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of the supporting base plate.

FIG. 47A is a perspective view of a receiving member viewed from the upper side.

FIG. 47B is a perspective view of the receiving member viewed from the lower side (bottom surface side).

FIG. 48 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 47A.

FIG. 49 is an explanatory view illustrating a procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of a supporting base plate according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 50 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting base plate according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 51 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting base plate according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 52 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting base plate according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 53 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting base plate according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 54 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E of FIG. 53.

FIG. 55 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting base plate according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 56 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting base plate according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 57 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting base plate according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 58 is a perspective view illustrating a state before the solar cell modules are finally packed by use of a loading and packing device A according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 58 (however, an upper portion is not illustrated).

FIG. 60 is an exploded perspective view of the loading and packing device A illustrated in FIG. 58.

FIG. 61 is s an explanatory view illustrating a procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of a loading and packing device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 62 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 63 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 64 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 65 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 66 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 67 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 66 (however, an upper portion is not illustrated).

FIG. 68 is an explanatory view illustrating the procedure in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 69A is a perspective view of the spacer member according to another constitution of the example 1.

FIG. 69B is a perspective view of the spacer member according to another constitution of the example 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described referring to drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state before solar cell modules are finally packed by use of supporting structures 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1.

The supporting structures 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are the component member of a loading and packing device in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in the horizontal state. When roughly classified, the loading and packing device is constituted to include a rectangular base plate portion (hereinafter, also referred to as a pallet) 1 and the supporting structures 2 that are each arranged at the four corners of the upper surface of the base plate portion 1 and placed by the corner portions 100a of the solar cell modules 100, thereby supporting the solar cell modules 100 in the horizontal state.

The supporting structures 2 are constituted in such a manner that the solar cell modules 100 are stacked and packed in the horizontal state. Four sets of supporting structures 2 are attached on the upper surface of the pallet 1. The four sets of supporting structures 2 are positioned with respect to the pallet 1. The four sets of supporting structures 2 each support the four corner portions (corner portion) 100a of the rectangular solar cell modules 100.

Also, a plurality of supporting structures 2 (eight sets in the example of FIG. 1) are stacked in the vertical direction Z on the four sets of supporting structures 2 attached on the upper surface of the pallet 1. Then, a unit of solar cell module 100 is supported by the supporting structures 2 that are made up of a group of four sets. That is, in the example of FIG. 1, eight units of solar cell modules 100 are stacked in the horizontal state on the pallet 1.

It is noted that the solar cell modules 100 stacked on the pallet 1 are conveyed in a state where the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 disposed at the uppermost stage is covered by a top plate 6 described later, and the solar cell modules 100 are wound round the pallet 1 by means of a binding band 7, for example, a PP (polypropylene) band as a binding member.

Also, the solar cell modules 100 supported by the supporting structures 2 are frameless. That is, the frameless solar cell modules 100 can be loaded in multiple stages by the supporting structures 2 and packed.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the supporting structure 2 viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the supporting structure 2 viewed obliquely from below.

The supporting structure 2 has a structure in which the corner portion 100a of the solar cell module 100 is sustained from blow and includes a base portion 23 that is bent and formed in an L-shape in a plane view, and a square reception portion (supporting portion) 28 that is extended from the lower end portion of the inner side wall surface (side surface on the inner side) 23c of the base portion 23 in the direction orthogonal to the inner side wall surface.

The reception portion 28 is formed in such a manner as to sustain the corner portion 100a of the solar cell module 100 from below, and the entire shape of the supporting structure 2 is formed in an approximately L-shape in the longitudinal cross-section.

The lower surface of the reception portion 28 is flush with the lower end surface 23b of the base portion 23. Thus, the lower surface of the supporting structure 2 is constituted by the lower surface of the reception portion 28 and the lower end surface 23b of the base portion 23, so that when the supporting structure 2 is placed on the pallet 1, both the lower surface of the reception portion 28 and the lower end surface 23b of the base portion 23 of the supporting structure 2 are brought into contact with the pallet 1, whereby the supporting structure 2 can be placed on the pallet 1 in a more stable state.

On the lower surface of the reception portion 28, there is formed a fitting concave portion 29 that fits a fitting convex portion 1a formed on the upper surface of the pallet 1.

Thus, the fitting convex portion 1a is formed on the upper surface of the pallet 1, and the fitting concave portion 29 is formed on the lower surface of the reception portion 28 of the supporting structure 2, so that when the supporting structure 2 is placed on the pallet 1, the lateral slippage of the supporting structure 2 can be prevented by the fitting structure.

The base portion 23 is constituted in such a manner as to be stacked in the vertical direction Z. Accordingly, on the upper end surface 23a and the lower end surface 23b of the base portion 23, there are respectively provided an engaging convex portion 25 and an engaging concave portion 26 that are sequentially fitted and engaged with the base portion 23 of the another supporting structure 2 adjacently arranged up and down. One engaging convex portion 25 is provided on the upper end surface 23a of each piece of the base portion 23, so that two engaging convex portions 25 are provided in total. One engaging concave portion 26 is provided on the lower end surface 23b of each piece of the base portion 23, so that two engaging concave portions 26 are provided in total. However, the number of engaging convex portions 25 and engaging concave portions 26 to be formed is not limited thereto.

For example, as is illustrated in the example of another constitution in FIGS. 4A and 4B, it may be constituted such that respective two engaging convex portions 25 are provided on the upper end surface 23a of each piece of the base portion 23, whereby four engaging convex portions 25 are provided in total, and respective two engaging concave portions 26 are provided on the lower end surface 23b of each piece of the base portion 23, whereby four engaging concave portions 26 are provided in total. Moreover, for example, constitution is conceivable, in which one engaging convex portion 25 and one engaging concave portion 26, each of which has an L-shape, are respectively provided on the upper end surface 23a and the lower end surface 23b of the base portion 23, in such a manner as to provide two sets of portions in total. With this engaging structure, the supporting structures 2 can be stacked in multiple stages while the lateral slippage is prevented.

Herein, in the present embodiment, the engaging concave portion 26 has a structure in which the external side wall surface (side surface on the external side) 23d side of the base portion 23 is opened. Thus, the engaging concave portion 26 has the structure in which the external side wall surface 23d side of the base portion 23 is opened, so that the engaging state of the supporting structures 2 adjacently arranged up and down can be directly verified by visual observation.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the engaging convex portion 25 of the supporting structure 2 on the lower side is engaged with the engaging concave portion 26 of the supporting structure 2 arranged on the upper side, the engaging convex portion 25 can be fitted and engaged with the engaging concave portion 26 not only from an upper direction d1 but also from a lateral direction d3 or an obliquely-upper direction d2, which facilitates engaging operations.

Also, the external side wall surface (side surface on the external side) 25a of the engaging convex portion 25 is formed flush with the external side wall surface 23d of the base portion 23 in a continuous manner. Thus, the external side wall surface 25a of the engaging convex portion 25 is formed flush with the external side wall surface 23d of the base portion 23, so that when the engaging convex portion 25 of the supporting structure 2 on the lower side is engaged with the engaging concave portion 26 of the supporting structure 2 arranged on the upper side, the external side wall surface 25a of the engaging convex portion 25 of the supporting structure 2 on the lower side is flush with the external side wall surface 23d of the base portion 23 of the supporting structure 2 on the upper side. Accordingly, the flushness is verified by visual observation, so that the secure engagement with the supporting structure 2 on the lower side and the supporting structure 2 on the upper side can be easily confirmed.

The supporting structure 2 having the structure described above is formed by injection molding of resin, for example, such as PP (polypropylene) and ABS (acrylonitride, butadiene, styrene copolymer).

Also, when the pallet 1 is made of wood, the fitting convex portion 1a is formed by the machining of pallet 1 itself or formed of a wooden piece and the like, and the wooden piece only needs to be adhered on the pallet 1 and rigidly fixed with screws, nails, and the like. When the pallet 1 is made of iron, the fitting convex portion may be formed by means of burring processing in which, after a hole is formed by the burring processing, and machining is applied in such a manner as to press the periphery of the hole upwardly.

Also, the base plate portion 1 has a two-layer structure in which an upper side base plate 11 and a lower side base plate 12 are supported by a plurality of horizontal bars 13, and a gap between the upper side base plate 11 and the lower side base plate 12 serves as a hole in which the binding band 7 described later is passed through, and, a hole in which the fork of a forklift is inserted at the time of being loaded on shipping containers or the like.

Next, a packing method, in which the solar cell modules 100 are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting structures 2 having the structure described above, will be described referring to FIGS. 6 to 15. It is noted that the packing method below, for example, is performed by an automatic machine.

First, as is illustrated in FIG. 6, each fitting convex portion 1a at the four sections of the base plate portion 1 is fitted with the fitting concave portion 29 formed on the lower surface of the reception portion 28 of the first-stage supporting structure 2, whereby the first-stage supporting structures 2 are arranged at the four corners of the base plate portion 1. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 7, the corner portions 100a at the four corners of the first-stage solar cell module 100 are placed on the first-stage supporting structures 2 in such a manner as to be mounted. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 8, the engaging convex portions 25 of the first-stage supporting structures 2 are respectively fitted and engaged with the engaging concave portions 26 of the second-stage supporting structures 2. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 9, the corner portions 100a at the four corners of the second-stage solar cell module 100 are placed on the second-stage supporting structures 2 in such a manner as to be mounted. Hereinafter, the procedures illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 are repeated a predetermined number of times, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, a predetermined number of solar cell modules 100 are loaded in multiple stages on the base plate portion 1.

It is noted that, in the embodiment, the corner portions 100a of the solar cell module 100 are constituted to be sandwiched between the upper surface of the reception portion 28 of the supporting structure 2 that supports the corner portions 100a of the solar cell module 100 and the lower surface of the reception portion 28 of the supporting structure 2 arranged at its upper stage. Accordingly, this can prevent the individual solar cell module 100 from rattling upward and downward (vertical direction Z).

Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 10, shock absorber members 5, which prevent the up-and-down bending of the solar cell module 100 and prevent the up-and-down rattling of the solar cell module 100 due to vibration and the like during transportation, are fitted with each other and arranged in the central portion of bilateral edge portions 100b along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell modules 100 stacked on top of another.

As is illustrated in FIG. 11, the shock absorber member 5 is formed approximately in a U-shape in a side view. As is illustrated in FIG. 12, the shock absorber members 5 are fitted with the edge portions 100b of each solar cell module 100, whereby the shock absorber members 5 vertically stacked are arranged without a gap.

Also, in the shock absorber member 5, there is formed a concave groove portion 53 that allows the binding band 7, as a binding member described later, to pass through the external side surface in such a manner as to vertically penetrate the shock absorber member 5.

Accordingly, as is illustrated in FIG. 13, in this state, the binding band 7 is stretched from the base plate portion 1 (more specifically, the upper side base plate 11) to the solar cell module 100 at the uppermost stage in such a manner as to pass through the concave groove portions 53 of the shock absorber members 5, thereby the solar cell modules 100 being integrally bound.

Thus, the concave groove portion 53 that passes through the binding band 7 on the external side surface of the shock absorber member 5 is formed, so that the shock absorber member 5 can be prevented from being shifted in the lateral direction after being bound.

Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 14, for example, the top plate 6 made up of a corrugated cardboard, the width of which is formed wider than the width of the solar cell module 100, is arranged as a shock absorber on the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 at the uppermost stage.

The top plate 6 includes bending portions 61 which are bent along a straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces of the supporting structure 2 arranged at the corner portion 100a on the bilateral sides of the edge portion 100b along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell module 100.

Then, as is illustrated in FIG. 15, the bending portions 61 on the bilateral sides of the longitudinal direction of the top plate 6 are bent downward along the straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces of the supporting structure 2.

Then, in this state, the binding band 7 is stretched from the base plate portion 1 (more specifically, the upper side base plate 11) to the top plate 6 at two sections corresponding to about one third of the length of the top plate 6 from the bilateral ends of the longitudinal direction, thereby the solar cell modules being integrally bound.

Subsequently, although its diagram is omitted, the whole assembly is wrapped by film sheet (wrap and the like), thereby producing a solar cell module packing body. Then, the solar cell module packing body produced in the above-mentioned manner is loaded in the shipping container by means of the forklift and transported to its destination.

As is described above, the supporting structure according to the first embodiment is characterized in that corner portions of a solar cell module are placed to support the solar cell module in a horizontal state, and the supporting structure includes a base portion configured to be stacked in an up-and-down direction, a supporting portion configured to support the corner portions of the solar cell module that are projectingly formed in a lateral direction from a lateral surface on an inner side of the base portion, an engaging convex portion configured to be formed on an upper end surface of the base portion and configured to engage with one of supporting structures adjacently arranged up and down, and an engaging concave portion configured to be formed on a lower end surface of the base portion and configured to be engaged with the engaging convex portion of the other of supporting structures adjacently arranged up and down, and wherein the engaging concave portion is opened on a lateral surface side on an external side of the base portion.

Thus, the engaging concave portion has a structure in which the lateral surface side on the external side of the base portion is opened, so that the engaging state can be directly verified by visual observation. Also, the engaging convex portion can be fitted and engaged with the engaging concave portion not only from the upper direction but also from the lateral direction or the obliquely-upper direction, which facilitates engaging operations.

Also, according to the supporting structure, it may be constituted that a lateral surface on an external side of the engaging convex portion is formed flush with the lateral surface on the external side of the base portion in a continuous manner.

Thus, the lateral surface on the external side of the engaging convex portion is formed flush with the lateral surface on the external side of the base portion in the continuous manner, so that when the engaging convex portion of the supporting structure on the lower side is engaged with the engaging concave portion of the supporting structure arranged on the upper side, the lateral surface on the external side of the engaging convex portion of the supporting structure on the lower side is flush with the lateral surface on the external side of the base portion of the supporting structure on the upper side. Accordingly, the flushness is verified by visual observation, so that the secure engagement with the supporting structure on the lower side and the supporting structure on the upper side can be easily confirmed.

Also, according to the supporting structure, it may be constituted that the base portion is formed in an L-shape in a plane view in such a manner that one base piece is provided orthogonal to the other base piece, and the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are formed on each base piece. Thus, the base portion is formed in the L-shape, so that the corner portions of the solar cell module can be supported from the two directions, that is, the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction, and the slippage in the two directions inclusive of the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction can be prevented.

Also, according to the supporting structure, it may be constituted that a plurality of engaging convex portions and engaging concave portions are formed on each base piece. Thus, the plurality of engaging convex portions and engaging concave portions are provided on each base piece, so that when the engaging convex portions and the engaging concave portions are engaged, the engaging state can be stabilized, and slippage and rattling can be restrained.

Also, according to the supporting structure, it may be constituted that the base portion is placed on a base plate portion configured to support the solar cell module in a stacked manner in the horizontal state, and a fitting concave portion that fits with a fitting convex portion formed on an upper surface of the base plate portion is formed on a lower surface of the supporting portion. With this constitution, when the supporting structure is placed on the base plate portion, the supporting structure can be securely placed and fixed on a predetermined position on the base plate portion by means of the fitting structure, thereby preventing the lateral slippage. Accordingly, after the supporting structure is placed on the base plate portion, the corner portions of the solar cell module that are placed on the supporting portions of the supporting structure do not come off the supporting portions.

Also, a packing method according to the first embodiment is characterized in that the packing method includes stacking the solar cell modules in multiple stages in the horizontal state by use of the supporting structure having the above-mentioned constitution, and packing the solar cell modules.

According to the packing method, when the supporting structures are engaged with each other up and down, the engaging state can be directly verified by visual observation, which facilitates packing operations.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 25 is a perspective view illustrating a state before the solar cell modules are finally packed by use of a loading and packing device A according to the embodiment of the present invention. The outline of the loading and packing device A prior to the final packing will be described referring to FIG. 25.

The loading and packing device A illustrated in FIG. 25 is a loading and packing device by which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in the horizontal state. When roughly classified, the loading and packing device A is constituted to include a rectangular base plate portion 1, supporting structures 2 that are each erected at the four sections of the upper surface of the base plate portion 1 and support the corner portions 100a (hereinafter, also referred to as corner portions) of the solar cell modules 100 horizontally stacked, and shock absorber members 5 that each fit a pair of opposing edge portions 100b of the solar cell modules 100 horizontally stacked, from the lateral direction so as to hold the solar cell modules 100.

Thus, the pair of opposing edge portions 100b of the solar cell modules 100 is fitted with the shock absorber members 5 from the lateral direction, so that the edge portions 100b of the solar cell modules 100 can be fixed from the bilateral sides by means of a pair of shock absorber members 5. Accordingly, the solar cell modules 100 stacked in the horizontal state are not bent by vibration and the like during transportation, so that contact or collision between the solar cell modules 100 disposed adjacently in the up-and-down direction can be prevented, and the movement of the solar cell modules 100 in the horizontal direction, which is attributed to the vibration and the like during transportation, can be restrained.

Also, the base plate portion 1 (hereinafter, also referred to as the pallet) has a two-layer structure in which an upper side base plate 11 and a lower side base plate 12 are supported by a plurality of horizontal bars 13, and a gap between the upper side base plate 11 and the lower side base plate 12 serves as a hole in which a binding member 7 (hereinafter, also referred to as a binding band) described later is passed through, and, a hole in which the fork of a forklift is inserted at the time of being loaded on shipping containers or the like. Also, as is illustrated in FIG. 21 described later, fitting convex portions 1a are formed at four corners on the upper surface of the upper side base plate 11.

The supporting structures 2 are constituted in such a manner that the solar cell modules 100 are stacked and packed in the horizontal state. Four sets of supporting structures 2 are attached on the upper surface of the upper side base plate 11 (hereinafter also referred to as the upper surface of the pallet). The four sets of supporting structures 2 are fitted with the fitting convex portions 1a of the pallet 1 and positioned. The four sets of supporting structures 2 each support the four corner portions 100a (corner portion) of the rectangular solar cell modules 100.

Also, a plurality of supporting structures 2 (nine sets in the example of FIG. 25) are further stacked in the vertical direction Z on the four sets of supporting structures 2 attached on the upper surface of the pallet 1. Then, a unit of solar cell module 100 is supported by the supporting structures 2 that are made up of a group of four sets. That is, in the example of FIG. 25, ten units of solar cell modules 100 are stacked in the horizontal state on the pallet 1.

It is noted that the solar cell modules 100 stacked on the pallet 1 are conveyed in a state where the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 disposed at the uppermost stage is covered by the top plate 6 described later, and the solar cell modules 100 are wound round the pallet 1 by means of a binding band 7, for example, a PP (polypropylene) band as a binding member.

Also, the solar cell modules 100 supported by the supporting structures 2 are frameless. That is, the frameless solar cell modules 100 can be loaded in multiple stages by the supporting structures 2 and packed.

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of the supporting structure 2 viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 16B is a perspective view of the supporting structure 2 viewed obliquely from below.

The supporting structure 2 has a structure in which the corner portion 100a of the solar cell module 100 is sustained from blow and includes a base portion 23 that is bent and formed in an L-shape in a plane view, and a square reception portion 28 (supporting portion) that is extended from the lower end portion of the inner side wall surface of the base portion 23 in the direction orthogonal to the inner side wall surface.

The reception portion 28 is formed in such a manner as to sustain the corner portion 100a of the solar cell module 100 from below, and the entire shape of the supporting structure 2 is formed in an approximately L-shape in the longitudinal cross-section.

On the lower surface of the reception portion 28, there is formed a fitting concave portion 29 that fits a fitting convex portion 1a formed on the upper surface of the pallet 1.

Thus, the fitting convex portion 1a is formed on the upper surface of the pallet 1, and the fitting concave portion 29 is formed on the lower surface of the reception portion 28 of the supporting structure 2, so that when the supporting structure 2 is placed on the pallet 1, the lateral slippage of the supporting structure 2 can be prevented by the fitting structure.

The base portion 23 is constituted in such a manner as to be stacked in the vertical direction Z. Accordingly, on the upper end surface 23a and the lower end surface 23b of the base portion 23, there are respectively provided an engaging convex portion 25 and an engaging concave portion 26 that are sequentially fitted and engaged with the base portion 23 of the another supporting structure 2 adjacently arranged up and down. One engaging convex portion 25 is provided on the upper end surface 23a of each piece of the base portion 23, so that two engaging convex portions 25 are provided in total. One engaging concave portion 26 is provided on the lower end surface 23b of each piece of the base portion 23, so that two engaging concave portions 26 are provided in total. However, the number of engaging convex portions 25 and engaging concave portions 26 to be formed is not limited thereto.

For example, as is illustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17B, it may be constituted such that respective two engaging convex portions 25 are provided on the upper end surface 23a of each piece of the base portion 23, whereby four engaging convex portions 25 are provided in total, and respective two engaging concave portions 26 are provided on the lower end surface 23b of each piece of the base portion 23, whereby four engaging concave portions 26 are provided in total. With this engaging structure, the supporting structures 2 can be stacked in multiple stages while the lateral slippage is prevented.

The supporting structure 2 having the structure described above is formed by injection molding of resin, for example, such as PP (polypropylene) and ABS (acrylonitride, butadiene, styrene copolymer).

Also, the supporting structure 2 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B or the supporting structure 2 illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B may be applied to the supporting structure 2 of the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the shock absorber member 5 viewed obliquely from above.

The shock absorber member 5 is formed approximately in a U-shape in a side view and includes an opening portion 54 (opening groove portion) formed in the U-shape. The opening portion 54 (opening groove portion) is formed in such a manner as to fit the edge portion 100b of the solar cell module 100. Also, the upper surface 55 and the lower surface 56 of the shock absorber member 5 are flat. Accordingly, a plurality of shock absorber members 5 can be stacked in the up-and-down direction, and the upper surface of the shock absorber member 5 and the lower surface of another shock absorber member 5 can be adhered by use of adhesive agent, adhesive tapes, and the like. Also, a concave groove portion 53 that is vertically penetrated is formed on the side surface (external side surface) on the side opposite to the opening portion 54. Accordingly, this allows the binding band 7 (binding member) described later to pass through the concave groove portion 53 on the external side surface of the shock absorber member 5, and the lateral slippage of the shock absorber member 5 after binding can be prevented. Note that, it is preferable that the binding band 7 is passed though based on the formation of the concave groove portion 53, but it may be such that the concave groove portion 53 is not formed.

The shock absorber member 5 having the above-mentioned shape is formed of, for example, expanded plastic or urethane foam.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another shock absorber member 5 viewed obliquely from above.

The shock absorber member 5 includes a plurality of opening portions 54 (opening groove portions) at regular intervals apart in the up-and-down direction. Each opening portion 54 is formed in such a manner as to fit the edge portion 100b of the solar cell module 100, and in the example illustrated, two sets of opening portions 54 are provided. Accordingly, the plurality of solar cell modules 100 stacked on top of one another can be held with a set of shock absorber member 5. Also, the number of shock absorber members 5 that are adhered to each other is reduced, compared with the shock absorber member 5 in which one opening portion 54 is formed, so that the number of times in terms of adhesion between the shock absorber members 5 can be reduced, thereby achieving the improvement of the intensity of the shock absorber members 5.

Furthermore, FIG. 20 is a perspective view of another shock absorber member 5 viewed obliquely from above.

In the shock absorber member 5, a tapered surface to guide the edge portion 100b of the solar cell module 100 is formed at an opening tip end portion 57 of the opening portion 54 (opening groove portion) of the shock absorber member 5 illustrated in FIG. 18. Accordingly, the solar cell module 100 can be efficiently guided to the opening portion 54 with the tapered surface provided at the opening tip end portion 57 of the opening portion 54.

Next, a packing method, in which the solar cell modules 100 are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device A having the structure described above, will be described referring to FIGS. 21 to 33. It is noted that the packing method below, for example, is performed by an automatic machine.

First, as is illustrated in FIG. 21, each fitting convex portion 1a at the four sections of the base plate portion 1, that is, the fitting convex portion 1a formed on the upper surface of the pallet 1 is fitted with the fitting concave portion 29 formed on the lower surface of the reception portion 28 of the first-stage supporting structure 2, whereby the first-stage supporting structure 2 is arranged.

Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 22, the corner portions 100a at the four corners of the first-stage solar cell module 100 are placed on the first-stage supporting structures 2 in such a manner as to be mounted. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 23, the engaging convex portions 25 of the first-stage supporting structures 2 are respectively fitted and engaged with the engaging concave portions 26 of the second-stage supporting structures 2. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 24, the corner portions 100a at the four corners of the second-stage solar cell module 100 are placed on the second-stage supporting structures 2 in such a manner as to be mounted. Hereinafter, the procedures illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24 are repeated a predetermined number of times, a predetermined number of solar cell modules 100 are loaded in multiple stages on the pallet 1.

Subsequently, in order to prevent the up-and-down bending of the solar cell module 100 and prevent the up-and-down rattling of the solar cell module 100 due to vibration and the like during transportation, the shock absorber members 5 are fitted with the central portion of bilateral edge portions 100b along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell modules 100 stacked on top of another, from the lateral direction of the solar cell modules 100 so as to hold the solar cell modules 100 (see FIG. 25).

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 25. In order that the shock absorber members 5 are fitted from the lateral direction with the opposing edge portions 100b of the entire solar cell modules 100 stacked in the horizontal state in the up-and-down direction, the necessary number of shock absorber members 5 are prepared in such a manner that the number of solar cell modules 100 corresponds to the number of opening portions 54 in advance, and the shock absorber members 5 are divided into two groups and stacked in such a manner that the number of opening portions 54 corresponds to the number of solar cell modules 100. Then, the upper surface and the lower surface of the adjacent shock absorber members 5 stacked in the up-and-down direction are adhered by use of adhesive agent, adhesive tapes, and the like, and in this state, the shock absorber members 5 stacked and integrally formed are fitted with the opposing edge portions 100b from the lateral direction of the solar cell modules 100, thereby holding the opposing edge portions 100b of the solar cell modules 100 from the bilateral sides.

In this time, the solar cell module 100 can be efficiently guided to the opening portion 54 with the tapered surface provided at the opening tip end portion 57 of the opening portion 54 of the shock absorber member 5.

After the shock absorber members 5 stacked in the up-and-down direction and integrally formed are each fitted with the opposing edge portions 100b from the lateral direction of the solar cell modules 100, the binding band 7 (binding member) passes through the concave groove portion 53 on the external side surface of the shock absorber member 5, and the binding band 7 is stretched from the base plate portion 1 (more specifically, the upper side base plate 11) to the solar cell module 100 at the uppermost stage, thereby the solar cell modules being integrally bound.

Thus, the concave groove portion 53 through which the binding band 7 (binding member) passes is formed on the external side surface of the shock absorber member 5, so that the lateral slippage of the shock absorber member after binding can be prevented.

It is noted that the shape of the shock absorber member 5a disposed at the lowermost stage is different from the shape of another shock absorber member 5 and formed in a shape in such a manner as to be abutted on the upper surface of the pallet 1.

For example, the loading and packing device A will be described in a case (see FIG. 27) where a spacer member 3, not the supporting structure 2, is placed on the fitting convex portion 1a at the four sections of the pallet 1 described above. It is noted that the constitution of the loading and packing device A, in which the spacer member 3 is used, will be described in detail in a fourth embodiment described later. Herein, the spacer member 3 is formed in a cubic shape as illustrated in FIGS. 28A and 28B, and a fitting concave portion 31, which fits the fitting convex portion 1a formed at the four corners on the upper surface of the pallet 1, is formed on the lower surface of the spacer member 3 placed on the pallet 1, and a fitting convex portion 32 that fits and fixes the supporting structure 2 is formed on the upper surface of the spacer member 3.

After the spacer members 3 are each arranged on the fitting convex portions 1a at the four sections of the pallet 1, the supporting structures 2 are stacked on the spacer members 3 at the four corners, and the corner portions 100a of the solar cell module 100 are placed on the supporting structures 2 at the four corners in such a manner as to be mounted. Hereinafter, the supporting structures 2 and the solar cell modules 100 are repeatedly stacked and placed a predetermined number of times, a predetermined number of solar cell modules 100 is loaded in multiple stages on the pallet 1. At this time, regarding a gap between the lowermost-stage solar cell module 100 and the upper surface of the pallet 1, as is illustrated in FIG. 29, an interval between the lowermost-stage solar cell module 100 and the upper surface of the pallet 1 is wider than intervals between the solar cell modules 100 adjacently disposed up and down, because the spacer members 3 are attached on the upper surface of the pallet 1. It is noted that FIG. 29 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the solar cell modules 100, the supporting structures 2, and the spacer members 3.

Accordingly, as is illustrated in FIG. 30, the shock absorber member 5a at the lowermost stage is different from another shock absorber member 5 arranged at the upper stage, and the thickness T1 on the lower portion side below the opening portion 54 of the shock absorber member 5a is thicker than the thickness of the T2 on the lower portion side below the opening portion 54 of another shock absorber member 5. Accordingly, the shock absorber member 5 formed in a shape in such a manner as to be abutted on the upper surface of the pallet 1 is fitted, and the upper surface of the pallet 1 and the lower surface of the lowermost-stage solar cell module 100 are both abutted on the shock absorber member 5a, and the solar cell module 100 is fitted with the shock absorber member 5a, so that contact or collision between the lowermost-stage solar cell module 100 and the upper surface of the pallet 1 can be prevented. It is noted that FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the solar cell modules 100 and the shock absorber members 5.

Also, the shape of the uppermost-stage shock absorber member 5b is designed in such a manner that the height ranging from the upper surface of the pallet 1 to the upper surface of the uppermost-stage shock absorber member 5b becomes equal to the height ranging from the upper surface of the pallet 1 to the upper surface of the uppermost-stage supporting structure 2. That is, a height T11 ranging from the upper surface of the uppermost-stage solar cell module to the upper surface 55 of the uppermost-stage shock absorber member 5 (see FIG. 30) is equal to the height T11 ranging from the upper surface of the uppermost-stage solar cell module to the upper surface of the uppermost-stage supporting structure 2 (that is, the height up to the engaging convex portion 25) (see FIG. 29), so that the shape of the uppermost-stage shock absorber member 5b is different from the shape of another shock absorber member 5.

It is noted that the shape of the uppermost-stage shock absorber member 5b and the shape of another shock absorber member 5 may be equally formed. In this case, the height T11 (see FIG. 29) ranging from the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 at each stage to the engaging convex portion 25 of the supporting structure 2 becomes equal to a height S (see FIG. 30) from the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 at each stage to the upper surface of the shock absorber member 5.

Accordingly, the height ranging from the upper surface of the pallet 1 to the upper surface of the uppermost-stage shock absorber member 5b becomes equal to the height ranging from the upper surface of the pallet 1 to the upper surface of the uppermost-stage supporting structure 2, so that even when the top plate 6 described later is placed on the upper surface of the shock absorber member 5b and the upper surface of the supporting structure 2, the top plate 6 can be horizontally maintained.

Herein, one example of stacking the shock absorber members 5 will be described referring to FIGS. 30 to 33. Regarding the shock absorber members 5 to be stacked, the shock absorber members 5 that include one opening portion 54 (opening groove portion) may be stacked in the up-and-down direction (see FIG. 30), or the shock absorber members 5 that include the plurality of opening portions 54 may be stacked (see FIG. 31). Also, the shock absorber members 5 may be stacked based on the combination of the shock absorber members 5 that include one opening portion 54 and the shock absorber members 5 that include the plurality of opening portions 54 (see FIG. 32). Also, the shock absorber members 5 of different types may be used on both edges of the solar cell module 100 (see FIG. 33).

Accordingly, the desired number of solar cell modules 100 can be stacked and hold in the horizontal state in the up-and-down direction by means of the shock absorber members.

Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 34, for example, the top plate 6 made up of a corrugated cardboard, the width of which is formed wider than the width of the solar cell module 100, is arranged as a shock absorber on the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 at the uppermost stage.

The top plate 6 includes bending portions 61 which are bent along a straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces of the supporting structure 2 stacked in the up-and-down direction and arranged at the corner portion 100a on the bilateral sides of the edge portion 100b along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell module 100. In the state where the top plate 6 is arranged on the upper surface of the uppermost-stage solar cell module 100, as is illustrated in FIG. 35, the bending portions 61 on the bilateral sides of the longitudinal direction of the top plate 6 are bent downward along the straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces of the supporting structure 2.

Then, in this state, the binding band 7 is stretched from the base plate portion 1 (more specifically, the upper side base plate 11) to the top plate 6 at two sections corresponding to about one third of the length of the top plate 6 from the bilateral ends of the longitudinal direction, thereby the solar cell modules being integrally bound.

Subsequently, although its diagram is omitted, the whole assembly is wrapped by film sheet (wrap and the like), thereby producing a solar cell module packing body. Then, the solar cell module packing body produced in the above-mentioned manner is loaded in the shipping container by means of the forklift and transported to its destination.

(Description of Example of Another Constitution of Top Plate 6)

FIG. 36 illustrates the example of another constitution of the top plate 6.

The top plate 6 includes the bending portions 61 which are bent along a straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces (that is, external side wall surface of the base portion 23) of the supporting structures 2 arranged at the corner portions 100a on the bilateral sides of the edge portion 100b along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell module 100, and a pair of notches 62 corresponding to the intervals of the width facing the shock absorber member 5 is formed on the bending portions 61.

Thus, as is illustrated in FIG. 37, the bending portions 61 of the top plate 6, in which the notches are formed, are bent downward along the straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces of the supporting structures 2.

In this time, as is illustrated in FIG. 37, the bending portions 61a between the notches 62 can be bent downward along the external side edge portion 100b of the shock absorber member 5, and the bending portions 61 on the bilateral sides can be bent along the straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces of the supporting structures 2. That is, even when the external side edge portion 100b of the shock absorber member 5 protrudes on the external side from the straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces of the supporting structures 2, each of the bending portions 61a and 61b of the top plate 6 can be separately adhered and bent along the straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces of the supporting structures 2 and the edge portion 100b of the shock absorber member 5.

As is described above, the loading and packing device according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in the horizontal state in the up-and-down direction, and the loading and packing device includes the base plate portion, the supporting structures configured to be erected on an upper surface of the base plate portion and configured to support respective corner portions of the solar cell modules stacked in the horizontal state, and the shock absorber members configured to fit edge portions of the solar cell modules horizontally stacked, from a lateral direction and configured to hold the solar cell modules.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the edge portions of the solar cell modules horizontally stacked are fitted with the shock absorber members from the lateral direction, thereby fixing the solar cell modules from the bilateral sides by means of the shock absorber members. Accordingly, the solar cell modules stacked in the horizontal state are not bent by vibration and the like during transportation, so that contact or collision between the solar cell modules disposed adjacently in the up-and-down direction can be prevented, and the movement of the solar cell modules in the horizontal direction, which is attributed to the vibration and the like during transportation, can be restrained.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the opening groove portion fitted with the edge portion of the solar cell module is formed on the inner side surface of the shock absorber member facing the edge portion of the solar cell module.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the opening groove portion is fitted with the edge portion of the solar cell module, thereby fixing the solar cell module in the horizontal state and holding the solar cell module by means of the shock absorber member.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the plurality of opening groove portions are provided at regular intervals apart in the up-and-down direction of the inner side surface of the shock absorber member.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the edge portions of the solar cell modules are each fitted with the plurality of opening groove portions formed in the shock absorber member, so that the plurality of solar cell modules can be held by means of one shock absorber member. Also, the number of shock absorber members that are adhered to each other is reduced, compared with the shock absorber member in which one opening portion is formed, so that the number of times in terms of adhesion between the shock absorber members can be reduced, thereby achieving the improvement of the intensity of the shock absorber members.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that a tapered surface configured to guide the edge portion of the solar cell module is formed at an opening tip end portion of the opening groove portion.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the solar cell modules can be efficiently guided to the opening groove portion with the tapered surface provided at the opening tip end of the opening groove portion.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the concave groove portion configured to allow the binding member to pass through is formed on the external side surface of the shock absorber member.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the concave groove portion through which the binding member passes is formed on the external side surface of the shock absorber member, so that the lateral slippage of the shock absorber member after binding can be prevented.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the plurality of shock absorber members adjacently disposed up and down are stacked in the up-and-down direction in such a manner be adhered to each other.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the desired number of solar cell modules can be stacked and packed in the horizontal state in the up-and-down direction based on the combination of the shock absorber members that include one opening groove portion and the shock absorber members that include the plurality of opening groove portions.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the shock absorber member at the lowermost stage is abutted on the upper surface of the base plate portion.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the upper surface of the base plate portion is abutted on the shock absorber member at the lowermost stage, and the solar cell module at the lowermost stage is fitted with the shock absorber member at the lowermost stage, so that contact or collision between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the solar cell module at the lowermost stage can be prevented by means of the shock absorber member.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that a height ranging from the upper surface of the base plate portion to the upper surface of the shock absorber member at the uppermost stage is equal to a height ranging from the upper surface of the base plate portion to the upper surface of the supporting structure at the uppermost stage.

With the above-mentioned constitution, even when the top plate is placed on the upper surface of the shock absorber member and the upper surface of the supporting structure, the height ranging from the upper surface of the base plate portion to the upper surface of the shock absorber member at the uppermost stage is equal to the height ranging from the upper surface of the base plate portion to the upper surface of the supporting structure at the uppermost stage, so that the top plate can be maintained in the horizontal state.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the loading and packing device includes a top plate configured to be arranged on the solar cell module at the uppermost stage stacked in the up-and-down direction; and a binding member configured to wind from the base plate portion to the top plate in such a manner as to be integrally bound.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the binding member can wind the solar cell modules from the base plate portion to the top plate in such a manner as to be integrally bound, so that the solar cell modules stacked in the up-and-down direction can be packed.

Also, the loading and packing method according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the loading and packing method includes stacking and packing the solar cell modules in multiple stages in the horizontal state by use of the loading and packing device having the above-mentioned constitution.

With the above-mentioned constitution, a sufficient gap between the solar cell modules stacked in the up-and-down direction can be provided, and the posture of the solar cell modules can be fixed by means of the shock absorber members attached on the bilateral edges of the solar cell modules. Contact or collision between the solar cell modules stacked in the up-and-down direction, which is attributed to the vibration and the like during transportation, can be prevented by means of the above-mentioned packing, and the movement of the solar cell modules stacked in the horizontal direction can be restrained.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 38 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the solar cell modules are stacked in multiple stages by use of a supporting base plate 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 38.

The supporting base plate 1 illustrated in FIGS. 38 and 39 is the component member of the loading and packing device in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in the horizontal state. When roughly classified, the loading and packing device is constituted to include the rectangular supporting base plate (hereinafter, also referred to as the pallet) 1 and the supporting structures 2 that are each arranged at the four corners on the upper surface of the supporting base plate 1 and placed by the corner portions 100a of the solar cell modules 100, thereby supporting the solar cell modules 100 in the horizontal state.

The supporting structures 2 are constituted in such a manner that the solar cell modules 100 are stacked and packed in the horizontal state. Four sets of supporting structures 2 are attached on the upper surface of the pallet 1. The four sets of supporting structures 2 are positioned with respect to the pallet 1. The four sets of supporting structures 2 each support the four corner portions (corner portion) 100a of the rectangular solar cell modules 100.

Also, a plurality of supporting structures 2 (ten sets in the example of FIG. 38) are stacked in the vertical direction Z on the four sets of supporting structures 2 arranged on the upper surface of the pallet 1. Then, a unit of solar cell module 100 is supported by the supporting structures 2 that are made up of a group of four sets. That is, in the example of FIG. 38, ten units of solar cell modules 100 are stacked in the horizontal state on the pallet 1.

It is noted that the solar cell modules 100 stacked on the pallet 1 are packed and conveyed in a state where the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 disposed at the uppermost stage is covered by the top plate 6 described later, and the solar cell modules 100 are wound round the pallet 1 by means of the binding band 7, for example, a PP (polypropylene) band as a binding member.

Also, the solar cell modules 100 supported by the supporting structures 2 are frameless. That is, the frameless solar cell modules 100 can be loaded in multiple stages by the supporting structures 2 and packed.

The supporting structure 2 illustrated in FIGS. 16A, 16B, 17A, 17B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B can be applied as the supporting structure 2 for the third embodiment.

Fitting convex portions 82 are formed on the upper surface of the pallet 1, and the fitting concave portions 29 of the supporting structures 2 are fitted with the fitting convex portions 82. Accordingly, when the supporting structures 2 are placed on the pallet 1, the lateral slippage of the supporting structures 2 can be prevented by the fitting structure.

FIG. 40 is a plan view of the supporting base plate 1. FIG. 41 is a front view of the supporting base plate 1 viewed from the longitudinal direction. FIG. 42 is a side view of the supporting base plate 1 viewed from the lateral direction. FIG. 43 is an enlarged plan view of the corner portion of the supporting base plate 1. FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 43. FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 43. Also, FIG. 46 is a perspective view of the supporting base plate 1.

The supporting base plate 1 made of iron is exemplified in the present embodiment.

The supporting base plate 1 has a rectangular frame structure and includes two sets of long side frame bodies 101 facing the edge portions 100b on the long-side side of the solar cell modules 100 and two sets of short side frame bodies 102 facing the edge portions 100c on the short-side side of the solar cell modules 100. On the bilateral end portions 101a of the long side frame body 101, a receiving member 8, on which the fitting convex portion 82 fitted with the fitting concave portion 29 formed on the lower surface of the supporting structure 2 is formed, is provided. Thus, the supporting base plate 1 has the frame structure, whereby reduction in weight can be achieved. Also, the receiving member 8 and the long side frame body 101 are each constituted as a separate member, so that the position of the receiving member 8 to be attached can be adjusted.

As is illustrated in FIG. 44, the long side frame body 101 is constituted such that long corrugated plates 111, which include a groove portion 111a having a rectangular cross section along the longitudinal direction (in the vertical direction with respect to the sheet of FIG. 44), are vertically arranged opposite to each other and are supported by a pair of supporting legs 112 as a plate-shaped member, each of which is disposed between the corrugated plates 111. Also, an auxiliary leg 113 is provided between the supporting legs 112 facing each other, in order to reinforce the intensity of the supporting legs 112 themselves. The auxiliary leg 113 is arranged in such a manner that its upper end edge is abutted on the bottom surface of the groove portion 111a of the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side, and its lower end edge is abutted on the bottom surface (the upper surface in FIG. 44 due to the inversion of the up-and-down direction) of the groove portion 111a of the corrugated plate 111 on the lower side. That is, the supporting legs 112 and the auxiliary leg are formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the lateral cross section.

As is illustrated in FIG. 41, the supporting legs 112 and the auxiliary leg 113 are arranged on the bilateral end portions of the long side frame bodies 101, and another two sets of supporting legs 112 and the auxiliary leg 113 are arranged at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction (left-and-right direction in FIG. 41) between the bilateral end portions. The two sets of supporting legs 112 and the auxiliary leg 113 at the central section are provided in order to reinforce the intensity of the corrugated plates 111 disposed up and down.

Also, a rectangular auxiliary frame body 114 having a flat cross section is provided at the edge portion in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side, over the entire length in the longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, the short side frame body 102 is a frame body having the same constitution as that of the auxiliary frame body 114. It is constituted such that the end portion of the short side frame body 102 is placed on the end portion of the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side of the long side frame body 101 and abutted and arranged on the side surface of the end portion of the auxiliary frame body 114.

Also, another two sets of short side frame bodies 102 are arranged in parallel at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction between the short side frame bodies 102 arranged at the bilateral end portions of the long side frame body 101. The two sets of short side frame bodies 102 are provided in order to further reinforce the intensity of the supporting base plate 1.

The long side frame body 101 and the short side frame body 102 having the above-mentioned constitution are integrally mounted by appropriately welding the butting portion therebetween.

The receiving member 8 is placed on the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side, with respect to the butting portion between the auxiliary frame body 114 and the short side frame body 102.

FIG. 47A is a perspective view of the receiving member 8 viewed from the upper side. FIG. 47B is a perspective view of the receiving member 8 viewed from the lower side (bottom surface side). FIG. 48 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 47A.

The receiving member 8 includes a main body portion 81 formed in an approximately cubic shape (formed in a rectangular shape in a plane view) as a whole, and the fitting convex portion 82 having in a rectangular shape in a plane view is formed on the upper surface of the main body portion 81.

The external circumferential surface of the upper portion of the fitting convex portion 82 is formed on an inclined plane 82a that is gradually expanded from the upper portion side to the upper surface side of the main body portion 81. The external circumferential surface of the upper portion is formed on the inclined plane 82a, so that the fitting concave portion 29 formed on the lower surface of the supporting structure 2 can be easily fitted, which facilitates operability.

Also, the external circumferential surface of the lower portion of the fitting convex portion 82 is formed on a vertical surface 82b contiguous to the inclined plane 82a. The external circumferential surface of the lower portion is formed on the vertical surface 82b, so that the lateral slippage of the fitting concave portion 29 of the supporting structure 2 fitted with the fitting convex portion 82, that is, the lateral slippage of the supporting structure 2 can be prevented.

Also, a rib piece 83 is formed on the peripheral edge portion on the upper surface of the main body portion 81 in such a manner as to surround the fitting convex portion 82. In the present embodiment, the rib piece 83 is formed on the edge portion on another two sides out of the peripheral edge portions on the upper surface of the main body portion 81, except for the corner portion of the supporting base plate 1 (that is, except for the edge portions adjacent to the auxiliary frame body 114 and the short side frame body 102). The rib piece 83 is provided in such a manner as to be abutted on the external circumferential portion of the supporting structure 2 (more specifically, the side surface portion of the supporting portion 28) when the fitting concave portion 29 of the supporting structure 2 is fitted with the fitting convex portion 82 and placed.

The rib piece 83 is formed in the above-mentioned manner, thereby enhancing the preventive effect of the lateral slippage of the supporting structure 2 arranged and fitted with the corner portion of the supporting base plate 1, in particular, the preventive effect of slippage in the central direction of the supporting base plate 1. That is, the receiving member 8 of the present embodiment includes the fitting convex portion 82 and the rib piece 83, whereby dual-purpose slippage preventive functions are provided.

Also, the height of the rib piece 83 is slightly lower than the height of the fitting convex portion 82. For example, the height of the fitting convex portion 82 is 11 mm, and the height of the rib piece is 8 mm. Thus, the height of the rib piece 83 is slightly lower than the height of the fitting convex portion 82. This is because when the supporting structures 2 are installed on the supporting base plate 1, it is necessary to prevent the lower surface of the supporting structures 2 from interfering with the rib piece 83. That is, in a case where the supporting structures 2 are horizontally lowered and placed on the supporting base plate 1, there is a possibility that the lower surface of the supporting structures 2 is interfered with the rib piece 83 when a target position of the supporting structures 2 to be placed is shifted from the corner position to the center. However, the height of the rib piece 83 is lower than the height of the fitting convex portion 82, so that the position of installation is corrected by fitting the fitting concave portion 29 of the supporting structure 2 with the fitting convex portion 82 prior to the occurrence of the interference between the lower surface of the supporting structures 2 and the rib piece 83, thereby providing a structure in which the interference is prevented.

Also, an engaging portion 86 is provided on the bottom surface 85 of the main body portion 81 in such a manner as to protrude on the end portion side of the long side frame body 101. The engaging portion 86 is constituted by a support rod 86a that is extended from the lower end edge of the one side surface 81a of the main body portion 81 in the horizontal direction, and an engaging piece 86b that is bent downward from the tip end portion of the support rod 86a. When the receiving member 8 is placed on the end portion of the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side, the receiving member 8 is provided in such a manner that the support rod 86a projectingly formed on the bottom surface 85 of the main body portion 81 is fitted with the groove portion 111a of the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side, and the engaging piece 86b of the tip end portion is engaged with the end edge portion (end edge portion of the bottom surface) of the groove portion 111a of the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side. Thus, the engaging piece 86b is engaged with the end edge portion of the groove portion 111a of the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side, so that the receiving member 8 attached to the long side frame body 101 can be prevented from being shifted to the other end portion side of the long side frame body 101.

Also, a throughhole 88 penetrated from the upper surface to the lower surface of the main body portion 81 is formed in the receiving member 8. The throughhole 88 has a large diameter formed on the upper portion side thereof and a small diameter formed on the lower portion side thereof. In the central portion of the throughhole, there is provided a stepped portion 88a between the large diameter and the small diameter serves as a receiving portion to receive the head of a screw member 90 which is inserted from the large diameter side.

That is, regarding the receiving portion 8, as is illustrated in FIGS. 44 and 45, the screw member 90 is inserted from the large diameter side into the throughhole 88, which is a screw insertion hole, and screwed into the bottom surface of the groove portion 111a of the corrugated plate 111, thereby being fixed on the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side.

The receiving member 8 having the structure described above is formed by injection molding of resin, for example, such as PP (polypropylene) and ABS (acrylonitride, butadiene, styrene copolymer).

It is noted that a gap between the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side and the corrugated plate 111 on the lower side serves as a hole in which a binding band 7 described later is passed through, and, a hole in which the fork of a forklift is inserted at the time of being loaded on shipping containers or the like.

As is described above, the supporting base plate 1 of the embodiment of the present invention has been described.

Next, a packing method, in which the solar cell modules 100 are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the supporting base plate 1 having the structure described above, will be described referring to FIGS. 49 to 57. It is noted that the packing method below, for example, is performed by an automatic machine.

First, as is illustrated in FIG. 49, each fitting convex portion 82 of the receiving members 8, which are arranged at the four sections of the corner portions of the supporting base plate 1, is fitted with the fitting concave portion 29 formed on the lower surface of the supporting portion 28 of the first-stage supporting structure 2, whereby the first-stage supporting structures 2 are arranged at the four corners of the supporting base plate 1. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 50, the corner portions 100a at the four corners of the first-stage solar cell module 100 are placed on the first-stage supporting structures 2 in such a manner as to be mounted. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 51, the engaging convex portions 25 of the first-stage supporting structures 2 are respectively fitted and engaged with the engaging concave portions 26 of the second-stage supporting structures 2. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 52, the corner portions 100a at the four corners of the second-stage solar cell module 100 are placed on the second-stage supporting structures 2 in such a manner as to be mounted. Hereinafter, the procedures illustrated in FIGS. 51 and 52 are repeated a predetermined number of times, a predetermined number of solar cell modules 100 are loaded in multiple stages on the supporting base plate 1, as is illustrated in FIG. 38.

It is noted that, in the embodiment, the corner portions 100a of the solar cell module 100 are constituted to be sandwiched between the upper surface of the supporting portion 28 of the supporting structure 2 that supports the corner portions 100a of the solar cell module 100 and the lower surface of the supporting portion 28 of the supporting structure 2 arranged at its upper stage. Accordingly, this can prevent the individual solar cell module 100 from rattling upward and downward (vertical direction Z).

Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 53, shock absorber members 5, which prevent the up-and-down bending of the solar cell module 100 and prevent the up-and-down rattling of the solar cell module 100 due to vibration and the like during transportation, are fitted with each other and arranged in the central portion of bilateral edge portions 100b along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell modules 100 stacked on top of another.

For example, the shock absorber member 5 as illustrated in FIG. 11 can be used. As is illustrated in FIG. 54, the shock absorber members 5 are fitted with the edge portions 100b of each solar cell module 100, whereby the shock absorber members 5 stacked above and below are arranged without a gap.

Accordingly, as is illustrated in FIG. 55, in this state, the binding band 7 is stretched from the supporting base plate 1 (more specifically, the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side) to the solar cell module 100 at the uppermost stage in such a manner as to pass through the concave groove portion 53 of the shock absorber member 5, thereby the solar cell modules being integrally bound.

Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 56, for example, the top plate 6 made up of a corrugated cardboard, the width of which is formed wider than the width of the solar cell module 100, is arranged as a shock absorber on the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 at the uppermost stage.

The top plate 6 includes the bending portions 61 which are bent along a straight line L connecting the external side wall surfaces of the supporting structure 2 arranged at the four corners of the supporting base plate 1.

Then, as is illustrated in FIG. 57, the bending portions 61 on the bilateral sides of the longitudinal direction of the top plate 6 are bent downward along the straight line L.

Then, in this state, the binding band 7 is stretched from the supporting base plate 1 (more specifically, the corrugated plate 111 on the upper side) to the top plate 6 at two sections corresponding to about one third of the length of the top plate 6 from the bilateral ends of the longitudinal direction, thereby the solar cell modules being integrally bound.

Subsequently, although its diagram is omitted, the whole assembly is wrapped by film sheet (wrap and the like), thereby producing a solar cell module packing body. Then, the solar cell module packing body produced in the above-mentioned manner is loaded in the shipping container by means of the forklift and transported to its destination.

As is described above, the supporting base plate according to the third embodiment is characterized in that the supporting base plate, on which the supporting structures that support the corner portions of the solar cell module are placed, is configured to support the solar cell module in the horizontal state, and wherein the fitting convex portion fitted with the fitting concave portion formed on the lower surface of the supporting structure is formed on the upper surface of the supporting base plate.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the fitting convex portion fitted with the fitting concave portion formed on the lower surface of the supporting structure is formed on the upper surface of the supporting base plate, so that the lateral slippage of the supporting structure placed on the supporting base plate can be prevented. That is, the lateral slippage of the solar cell module with respect to the supporting base plate can be prevented.

Also, according to the supporting base plate, it may be constituted that an external circumferential surface of an upper portion of the fitting convex portion is formed on an inclined plane that is gradually expanded from an upper portion side to an upper surface side of the supporting base plate. With the above-mentioned constitution, the external circumferential surface of the upper portion is formed on the inclined plane, so that the fitting concave portion formed on the lower surface of the supporting structure can be easily fitted, which facilitates operability.

Also, according to the supporting base plate, it may be constituted that the external circumferential surface of the lower portion of the fitting convex portion is formed on the vertical surface contiguous to the inclined plane. With the above-mentioned constitution, the external circumferential surface of the lower portion is formed on the vertical surface, so that the lateral slippage of the fitting concave portion of the supporting structure fitted with the fitting convex portion, that is, the lateral slippage of the supporting structure can be prevented.

Also, according to the supporting base plate, it may be constituted that the rib piece configured to be abutted on the external circumferential portion of the supporting structure and configured to prevent slippage in the lateral direction is formed at the periphery of the fitting convex portion on the upper surface of the supporting base plate. With the above-mentioned constitution, the preventive effect of the lateral slippage of the supporting base plate arranged and fitted with the corner portions of the supporting base plate can be further enhanced.

Also, according to the supporting base plate, it may be constituted that the external circumferential portion of the supporting structure is formed in the rectangular shape in a plane view, and the rib piece is formed except for portions facing two sides of the corner portions of the supporting base plate, out of the periphery of the fitting convex portion. Thus, the rib piece is formed except for portions facing two sides of the corner portions of the supporting base plate, out of the periphery of the fitting convex portion, so that the preventive effect of the lateral slippage of the supporting structure arranged and fitted with the corner portion of the supporting base plate, in particular, the preventive effect of slippage in the central direction of the supporting base plate can be enhanced.

Also, according to the supporting base plate, it may be constituted that the supporting base plate has a rectangular frame structure and includes two sets of long side frame bodies facing an edge portion on the long-side side of the solar cell module, and two sets of short side frame bodies facing an edge portion on the short-side side of the solar cell module, and a receiving member on which the fitting convex portion is formed is provided on bilateral end portions of the long side frame bodies.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the supporting base plate has the frame structure, whereby reduction in weight can be achieved. Also, the receiving member and the long side frame body are each constituted as a separate member, so that the position of the receiving member to be attached can be adjusted in advance.

Also, according to the supporting base plate, it may be constituted that the receiving member includes a main body portion formed in a rectangular shape in a plane view, and the fitting convex portion is formed on the central portion on the upper surface of the main body portion.

Also, according to the supporting base plate, it may be constituted that the rib piece is formed at a peripheral edge portion on the upper surface of the main body portion. Also, it may be constituted that the main body portion includes an engaging portion that protrudes on the end portion side of the long side frame bodies, and the engaging portion is engaged with the end portion of the long side frame bodies.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the engaging portion is engaged with the end portion of the long side frame body, so that the receiving member attached to the long side frame body can be prevented from being shifted to the other end portion side of the long side frame body.

Also, the packing method according to the third embodiment is characterized in that the packing method includes: stacking and packing the solar cell modules in multiple stages in the horizontal state by use of the supporting base plate having the above-mentioned structure and the supporting structures.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the supporting structure at the lowermost stage can be fitted and fixed with the engaging convex portion of the supporting base plate, so that the solar cell modules can be stably packed in multiple stages without the lateral slippage.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 58 is a perspective view illustrating a state before the solar cell modules are finally packed by use of the loading and packing device A according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 58. FIG. 60 is an exploded perspective view of the loading and packing device A illustrated in FIG. 58. The outline of the loading and packing device A prior to the final packing will be described referring to FIGS. 58 to 60.

The loading and packing device A illustrated in FIGS. 58 and 59 is a loading and packing device in which the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in the horizontal state. When roughly classified, the loading and packing device A is constituted to include the rectangular base plate portion 1, the supporting structures 2 that are each arranged at the four corners on the upper surface of the base plate portion 1 and placed by the corner portions 100a of the solar cell modules 100, thereby supporting the solar cell modules 100 in the horizontal state, and spacer members 3 each arranged between the base plate portion 1 and the supporting structures 2 at the lowermost stage.

Thus, the spacer members 3 are arranged between the base plate portion 1 and the supporting structures 2, so that a sufficient gap between the upper surface of the base plate portion 1 and the lower surface of the solar cell module 100 supported by the supporting structure 2 at the lowermost stage can be provided. Accordingly, even when the solar cell module 100 at the lowermost stage is bent by vibration and the like during transportation, contact or collision between the upper surface of the base plate portion 1 and the lower surface of the solar cell module 100 can be prevented.

The base plate portion (hereinafter, also referred to as the pallet) 1 has a two-layer structure in which an upper side base plate 11 and a lower side base plate 12 are supported by a plurality of horizontal bars 13, and a gap between the upper side base plate 11 and the lower side base plate 12 serves as a hole in which a binding band 7 described later is passed through, and, a hole in which the fork of a forklift is inserted at the time of being loaded on shipping containers or the like.

The supporting structures 2 are constituted in such a manner that the solar cell modules 100 are stacked and packed in the horizontal state. Four sets of supporting structures 2 are attached on the upper surface of the upper side base plate 11 (hereinafter, referred to as the upper surface of the pallet 1) via four sets of spacer members 3. The four sets of spacer members 3 are positioned with respect to the pallet 1, and the four sets of supporting structures 2 are positioned with respect to the spacer members 3. The four sets of supporting structures 2 each support the four corner portions (corner portion) 100a of the rectangular solar cell modules 100.

Also, the plurality of supporting structures 2 (ten sets in the example of FIG. 58) are stacked in the vertical direction Z on the four sets of supporting structures 2 attached on the upper surface of the pallet 1 via the spacer members 3. Then, a unit of solar cell module 100 is supported by the supporting structures 2 that are made up of a group of four sets. That is, in the example of FIG. 58, ten units of solar cell modules 100 are stacked in the horizontal state on the pallet 1.

It is noted that the solar cell modules 100 stacked on the pallet 1 are conveyed in a state where the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 disposed at the uppermost stage is covered by the top plate 6 described later, and the solar cell modules 100 are wound round the pallet 1 by means of the binding band 7, for example, a PP (polypropylene) band as a binding member.

Also, the solar cell modules 100 supported by the supporting structures 2 are frameless. That is, the frameless solar cell modules 100 can be loaded in multiple stages by the supporting structures 2 and packed.

Regarding the spacer member 3, the spacer member 3 formed in a shape as illustrated in FIGS. 28A and 28B can be used. That is, the spacer member 3 is formed in an approximately cubic shape, and the fitting concave portion 31, which is fitted with the fitting convex portion 1a (see FIGS. 59 and 60) formed at the four corners on the upper surface of the pallet 1, is formed on the lower surface of the spacer member 3 placed on the pallet 1, and the fitting convex portion 32 that fits and fixes the supporting structure 2 is formed on the upper surface of the spacer member 3. Thus, the fitting convex portion 1a is formed on the upper surface of the base plate portion 1, and the fitting concave portion 31 is formed on the lower surface of the spacer member 3, so that when the spacer members 3 are placed on the base plate portion 1, the lateral slippage of the spacer members 3 can be prevented by the fitting structure.

The spacer members 3 having the structure described above may be formed by injection molding of resin, for example, such as PP (polypropylene) and ABS (acrylonitride, butadiene, styrene copolymer). However, if it is required to take account of the intensity, the spacer members 3 may be formed of metallic materials such as iron and stainless steel.

Also, when the pallet 1 is made of wood, the fitting convex portion 1a is formed by the machining of pallet 1 itself or formed of a wooden piece and the like, and the wooden piece only needs to be adhered on the pallet 1 and rigidly fixed with screws, nails, and the like. When the pallet 1 is made of iron, the fitting convex portion may be formed by means of burring processing in which, after a hole is formed by the burring processing, and machining is applied in such a manner as to press the periphery of the hole upwardly.

However, the spacer members 3 may be directly fixed on the four corners of the pallet 1 by means of screws, in place of the above-mentioned fitting structure. In this case, it is not necessary to form the fitting convex portion 1a on the upper surface of the pallet 1.

The supporting structures 2 illustrated in FIGS. 16A, 16B, 17A, 17B, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B can be applied to the supporting structure 2 for the fourth embodiment. The fitting convex portion 32 is formed on the upper surface of the spacer member 3, and the fitting concave portion 29 is formed on the lower surface of the reception portion 28 of the supporting structure 2, so that when the supporting structures 2 are placed on the spacer members 3, the lateral slippage of the supporting structures 2 can be prevented by the fitting structure.

Next, a packing method, in which the solar cell modules 100 are stacked and packed in multiple stages by use of the loading and packing device A having the structure described above, will be described referring to FIGS. 61 to 68. It is noted that the packing method below, for example, is performed by an automatic machine.

First, as is illustrated in FIG. 61, each fitting convex portions 1a arranged at the four sections of the base plate portion 1 are fitted with the fitting concave portions 31 of the spacer members 3, whereby the spacer members 3 are arranged at the four corners of the base plate portion 1. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 62, the fitting concave portions 29 formed on the lower surface of the reception portions 28 of the supporting structures 2 at the first stage are fitted with the fitting convex portions 32 formed on the upper surface of the spacer members 3, whereby the first-stage supporting structures 2 are arranged. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 63, the corner portions 100a at the four corners of the first-stage solar cell module 100 are placed on the first-stage supporting structures 2 in such a manner as to be mounted. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 64, the engaging convex portions 25 of the first-stage supporting structures 2 are respectively fitted and engaged with the engaging concave portions 26 of the second-stage supporting structures 2. Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 65, the corner portions 100a at the four corners of the second-stage solar cell module 100 are placed on the second-stage supporting structures 2 in such a manner as to be mounted. Hereinafter, the procedures illustrated in FIGS. 64 and 65 are repeated a predetermined number of times, a predetermined number of solar cell modules 100 are loaded in multiple stages on the base plate portion 1, as is illustrated in FIG. 58.

It is noted that, in the embodiment, as is illustrated in FIG. 59, the corner portions 100a of the solar cell module 100 are constituted to be sandwiched between the upper surface of the reception portion 28 of the supporting structure 2 that supports the corner portions 100a of the solar cell module 100 and the lower surface of the reception portion 28 of the supporting structure 2 arranged at its upper stage. Accordingly, this can prevent the individual solar cell module 100 from rattling upward and downward (vertical direction Z).

Subsequently, as is illustrated in FIG. 66, the shock absorber members 5, which prevent the up-and-down bending of the solar cell module 100 and prevent the up-and-down rattling of the solar cell module 100 due to vibration and the like during transportation, are fitted with each other and arranged in the central portion of bilateral edge portions 100b along the longitudinal direction of the solar cell modules 100 stacked on top of another.

Regarding shock absorber member 5, the shock absorber member 5 illustrated in FIG. 11 can be applied. As is illustrated in FIG. 67, the shock absorber members 5 are fitted with the edge portions 100b of each solar cell modules 100, whereby the shock absorber members 5 stacked above and below are arranged without a gap. Also, the shock absorber member 5 (5a) at the lowermost stage comes into contact with the upper surface 1b of the base plate portion 1 and is arranged in such a manner that there is no gap between the base plate portion 1 and the shock absorber member 5. That is, regarding the shock absorber member 5a at the lowermost stage, the thickness of a lower-side side portion 52 is increased by the thickness of the spacer member 3, compared with the thickness of an upper-side side portion 51. Thus, the thickness of the shock absorber member 5a at the lowermost stage is increased by the thickness of the spacer member 3, so that the shock absorber member 5a at the lowermost stage can be stably placed on the base plate portion 1.

Accordingly, as is illustrated in FIG. 68, in this state, the binding band 7 is stretched from the base plate portion 1 (more specifically, the upper side base plate 11) to the solar cell module 100 at the uppermost stage in such a manner as to pass through the concave groove portion 53 of the shock absorber member 5, thereby the solar cell modules 100 being integrally bound.

Lastly, the top plate 6 made up of, for example, a corrugated cardboard, the width of which is formed wider than the width of the solar cell module 100, is arranged as a shock absorber on the upper surface of the solar cell module 100 at the uppermost stage, and the solar cell modules 100 are bound together by means of the binding band 7, for example, a PP (polypropylene) band as a binding member. The above-mentioned method described in FIGS. 34 and 35 or the above-mentioned method described in FIGS. 36 and 37 can be applied as the method described herein.

(Description of Example of Another Constitution of Spacer Member 3)

FIG. 69A is a perspective view illustrating the example 1 of another constitution of the spacer member 3.

The spacer member 3 according to the example 1 of another constitution is arranged along the peripheral edge portion on the upper surface of the base plate portion 1 and formed in a frame shape, wherein the fitting concave portion 31 (however, not illustrated in FIG. 69A) opposite to the fitting convex portion 1a of the base plate portion 1 is formed on the lower surface of each corner portion, and the fitting convex portion 32 fitted with the fitting concave portion 29 of the supporting structure 2 is formed on the upper surface of each corner portion. Thus, the spacer member 3 is formed in the frame shape, so that the intensity is reinforced at the periphery of the base plate portion 1, and the arrangement operation of the spacer member 3 on the base plate portion 1 is facilitated.

FIG. 69B is a perspective view illustrating the example 2 of another constitution of the spacer member 3.

The spacer member 3 according to the example 2 of another constitution is arranged along the edge portion of opposing two sides (two sides on the long-side side in FIG. 69B), out of the peripheral edge portions on the upper surface of the base plate portion 1, and is provided as a long member, wherein the fitting concave portion 31 (however, not illustrated in FIG. 69B) opposite to the fitting convex portion 1a of the base plate portion 1 is formed on the lower surface of the bilateral end portions, and the fitting convex portion 32 fitted with the fitting concave portion 29 of the supporting structure 2 is formed on the upper surface of the bilateral end portions. It is noted that the spacer member 3 described above may be configured to be arranged on the two sides on the short-side side. Thus, the spacer member 3 is provided as the long member, so that the intensity is reinforced at the periphery of the base plate portion 1, and the arrangement operation of the spacer member 3 on the base plate portion 1 is facilitated.

Note that, in the embodiment described above, it has been described that the spacer member 3 and the supporting structure 2 are separately constituted, but the supporting structure 2 at the lowermost stage may be used as the spacer member 3. That is, it is constituted such that the solar cell module 100 is not placed on the supporting structure 2 at the lowermost stage, but placed on the supporting structure 2 from the second stage onward. In this case, the supporting structure 2 used as the spacer member 3 may be directly fixed on the base plate portion 1 by means of screws, nails, or the like.

Accordingly, a sufficient gap between the lower surface of the solar cell module 100 at the lowermost stage (that is, the solar cell module supported by the second-stage supporting structure 2) and the upper surface of the base plate portion 1 (more specifically, the upper surface of the upper side base plate 11) can be provided, so that even when the solar cell module 100 at the lowermost stage is bent by vibration and the like during transportation, contact or collision between the lower surface of the solar cell module 100 and the upper surface of the base plate portion 1 can be prevented.

As is described above, the loading and packing device according to the fourth embodiment is characterized in that the solar cell modules are stacked and packed in the horizontal state, and the loading and packing device includes a base plate portion, the supporting structures configured to be arranged on the upper surface of the base plate portion and placed by corner portions of the solar cell modules and configured to support the solar cell modules in the horizontal state, and the spacer members configured to be arranged between the base plate portion and the supporting structures.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the spacer member is arranged between the base plate portion and the supporting structure, so that a sufficient gap between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module supported by the supporting structure at the lowermost stage can be provided. Accordingly, even when the solar cell module at the lowermost stage is bent by vibration and the like during transportation, contact or collision between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module can be prevented.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the fitting convex portion is formed on the upper surface of the spacer member, and the fitting concave portion fitted with the fitting convex portion is formed on the lower surface of the supporting structure.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the fitting convex portion is formed on the upper surface of the spacer member, and the fitting concave portion is formed on the lower surface of the supporting structure 2, so that when the supporting structures are placed on the spacer members, the lateral slippage of the supporting structures can be prevented by the fitting structure.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the supporting structure includes a base portion configured to be stacked in a vertical direction, a supporting portion configured to be formed in such a manner as to protrude from a side surface of the base portion in a horizontal direction, an engaging convex portion configured to be formed on an upper end surface of the base portion and configured to be engaged with one of the supporting members adjacently disposed up and down, and an engaging concave portion configured to be formed on a lower end surface of the base portion and configured to be engaged with the engaging concave portion of the other of the supporting structures adjacently disposed up and down, and wherein the fitting concave portion is formed on the lower surface of the supporting portion. With the above-mentioned constitution, the supporting structures can be stacked in multiple stages while the lateral slippage is prevented.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the fitting convex portion is formed on the upper surface of the base plate portion, and the fitting concave portion fitted with the fitting convex portion is formed on the lower surface of the spacer member. Thus, the fitting convex portion is formed on the upper surface of the base plate portion, and the fitting concave portion is formed on the lower surface of the spacer member, so that when the spacer members are placed on the base plate portion, the lateral slippage of the spacer members can be prevented by the fitting structure.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the spacer members are arranged on the upper surface of the base plate portion.

With the above-mentioned constitution, the spacer members are configured to be arranged on the upper surface of the base plate portion, so that the spacer members can be reduced in size, and the material costs can be reduced.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the supporting structures disposed at the lowermost stage and placed on the base plate portion are used as the spacer members, that is, the supporting structures can serve as dual purpose. The supporting structures are used as the spacer members, which eliminates the necessity of separately producing the spacer members, so that the number of components as the loading and packing device can be reduced. In this case, the solar cell module is not placed on the supporting structures at the lowermost stage, which are persistently used as the spacer members.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the loading and packing device further includes the shock absorber members configured to fit edge portions of the solar cell modules horizontally stacked, from a lateral direction and configured to hold the solar cell modules, the top plate configured to be arranged on the solar cell module stacked at an uppermost stage, and the binding member configured to wind from the base plate portion to the top plate in such a manner as to be integrally bound, and wherein the shock absorber member at the lowermost stage is formed in such a manner that a thickness of a height direction is increased by a thickness of the spacer member. The thickness of the shock absorber member at the lowermost stage is increased by the thickness of the spacer member, so that the shock absorber member at the lowermost stage can be stably placed on the base plate portion.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the concave groove portion, through which the binding member is passed, is formed on the external side surface in the shock absorber member. The concave groove portion through which the binding member passes is formed on the external side surface of the shock absorber member, so that the lateral slippage of the shock absorber member after binding can be prevented.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the spacer members are arranged along the peripheral edge portion on the upper surface of the base plate portion and formed in a frame shape. The spacer member is formed in the frame shape, so that while the entire intensity is hold, the arrangement operation of the spacer member on the base plate portion can be facilitated.

Also, according to the loading and packing device, it may be constituted that the spacer members are arranged along edge portions of opposing two sides, out of peripheral edge portions on the upper surface of the base plate portion, and provided as long members. The spacer member is provided as the long member, so that while the entire intensity is hold, the arrangement operation of the spacer member on the base plate portion can be facilitated.

Also, the packing method according to the fourth embodiment is characterized in that the packing method includes stacking and packing the solar cell modules in multiple stages in the horizontal state by use of the loading and packing device having the above-mentioned constitution.

With the above-mentioned constitution, a sufficient gap between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module supported by the supporting structure at the lowermost stage is provided, whereby the solar cell modules can be stacked in multiple stages and packed. With the above-mentioned packing, even when the solar cell module at the lowermost stage is bent by vibration and the like during transportation, contact or collision between the upper surface of the base plate portion and the lower surface of the solar cell module can be prevented.

It is noted that the embodiments disclosed above are exemplification in all the aspects, but shall not be regarded as the basis of limitative interpretation. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention shall not be interpreted only based on the above-mentioned embodiments but defined based on the description of Claims. Also, all the modifications are included within the scope and meanings of the equivalents to Claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

• • A Loading and packing device
  • 1 Base plate portion (Supporting base plate, Pallet)
  • 1a Fitting convex portion
  • 2 Supporting structure
  • 3 Spacer member
  • 5 Shock absorber member
  • 5a Shock absorber member at the lowermost stage
  • 5b Shock absorber member at the uppermost stage
  • 6 Top plate
  • 7 Binding band (binding member)
  • 8 Receiving member
  • 11 Upper side base plate
  • 12 Lower side base plate
  • 13 Horizontal bar
  • 23 Base portion
  • 23a Upper end surface
  • 23b Lower end surface
  • 23c Inner side wall surface (side surface on the inner side)
  • 23d External side wall surface (side surface on the external side)
  • 25 Engaging convex portion
  • 25a External side wall surface (side surface on the external side)
  • 26 Engaging concave portion
  • 28 Reception portion (Supporting portion)
  • 29 Fitting concave portion
  • 31 Fitting concave portion
  • 32 Fitting convex portion
  • 51 Upper-side side portion
  • 52 Lower-side side portion
  • 53 Concave groove portion
  • 61, 61a, 61b Bending portion
  • 62 Notch
  • 81 Main body portion
  • 82 Fitting convex portion
  • 82a Inclined plane
  • 82b Cylindrical surface
  • 83 Rib piece
  • 85 Bottom surface
  • 86 Engaging portion
  • 86a Support rod
  • 86b Engaging piece
  • 88 Throughhole
  • 90 Screw member
  • 100 Solar cell module
  • 100a Corner portion
  • 100b Edge portion
  • 101 Long side frame body
  • 102 Short side frame body
  • 111 Corrugated plate
  • 111a Groove portion
  • 112 Supporting leg
  • 113 Auxiliary leg
  • 114 Auxiliary frame body

Claims

1-38. (canceled)

39. A loading and packing device by which solar cell modules are stacked and packed in a horizontal state in an up-and-down direction, the loading and packing device comprising:

a base plate portion;

supporting structures configured to be erected on an upper surface of the base plate portion and configured to support respective corner portions of the solar cell modules stacked in the horizontal state; and

shock absorber members configured to fit edge portions of the solar cell modules horizontally stacked, from a lateral direction and configured to hold the solar cell modules.

40. The loading and packing device according to claim 39, wherein an opening groove portion fitted with the edge portion of the solar cell module is formed on an inner side surface of the shock absorber member facing the edge portion of the solar cell module.

41. The loading and packing device according to claim 40, wherein the plurality of opening groove portions are provided at regular intervals apart in the up-and-down direction of the inner side surface of the shock absorber member.

42. The loading and packing device according to claim 40, wherein a tapered surface configured to guide the edge portion of the solar cell module is formed at an opening tip end portion of the opening groove portion.

43. The loading and packing device according to claim 39, wherein a concave groove portion configured to allow a binding member to pass through is formed on an external side surface of the shock absorber member.

44. The loading and packing device according to claim 39, wherein the plurality of shock absorber members adjacently disposed up and down are stacked in the up-and-down direction in such a manner be adhered to each other.

45. The loading and packing device according to claim 39, wherein the shock absorber member at a lowermost stage is abutted on the upper surface of the base plate portion.

46. The loading and packing device according to claim 39, wherein a height ranging from the upper surface of the base plate portion to an upper surface of the shock absorber member at an uppermost stage is equal to a height ranging from the upper surface of the base plate portion to an upper surface of the supporting structure at the uppermost stage.

47. The loading and packing device according to claim 39, further comprising:

a top plate configured to be arranged on the solar cell module at the uppermost stage, stacked in the up-and-down direction; and

a binding member configured to wind from the base plate portion to the top plate in such a manner as to be integrally bound.

48. A loading and packing method, comprising:

stacking and packing the solar cell modules in multiple stages in the horizontal state by use of the loading and packing device according to any one of claim 39.

49. A supporting base plate on which supporting structures configured to support corner portions of a solar cell module are placed, the supporting base plate configured to support the solar cell module in a horizontal state, comprising:

a fitting convex portion configured to be formed on an upper surface of the supporting base plate, and configured to be fitted with a fitting concave portion formed on a lower surface of the supporting structure.

50. The supporting base plate according to claim 49, wherein a rib piece configured to be abutted on an external circumferential portion of the supporting structure and configured to prevent slippage in a lateral direction is formed at a periphery of the fitting convex portion on the upper surface of the supporting base plate.

51. The supporting base plate according to claim 50,

wherein the external circumferential portion of the supporting structure is formed in a rectangular shape in a plane view, and

wherein the rib piece is formed except for portions facing two sides of the corner portions of the supporting base plate, out of the periphery of the fitting convex portion.

52. The supporting base plate according to claim 49,

wherein the supporting base plate has a rectangular frame structure and includes two sets of long side frame bodies facing an edge portion on a long-side side of the solar cell module, and two sets of short side frame bodies facing an edge portion on a short-side of the solar cell module, and

wherein a receiving member on which the fitting convex portion is formed is provided on bilateral end portions of the long side frame bodies.

53. The supporting base plate according to claim 52,

wherein the receiving member includes a main body portion formed in a rectangular shape in a plane view, and

wherein the fitting convex portion is formed on a central portion on an upper surface of the main body portion.

54. The supporting base plate according to claim 53, wherein the rib piece is formed at a peripheral edge portion on the upper surface of the main body portion.

55. The supporting base plate according to claim 53,

wherein the main body portion includes an engaging portion that protrudes on an end portion side of the long side frame bodies, and

wherein the engaging portion is engaged with the end portion of the long side frame bodies.

56. A loading and packing device by which solar cell modules are stacked and packed in a horizontal state, the loading and packing device comprising:

a base plate portion;

supporting members configured to be arranged on an upper surface of the base plate portion and placed by corner portions of the solar cell modules and configured to support the solar cell modules in the horizontal state; and

spacer members configured to be arranged between the base plate portion and the supporting members, and

wherein a fitting convex portion is formed on an upper surface of the spacer members, and a fitting concave portion fitted with the fitting convex portion is formed on a lower surface of the supporting members.

57. The loading and packing device according to claim 56, wherein the fitting convex portion is formed on the upper surface of the base plate portion, and the fitting concave portion fitted with the fitting convex portion is formed on a lower surface of the spacer members.

58. The loading and packing device according to claim 56, wherein the spacer members are arranged on the upper surface of the base plate portion, and

wherein the supporting member disposed at a lowermost stage and placed on the base plate portion is used as the spacer members.