Panel, method for producing panel, solar cell module, printing apparatus, and printing method

Abstract

A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing section configured to print ink on a surface of a substrate. The printing section prints conductive ink containing a conductive material by offset printing and prints conductive ink containing a conductive material different from the conductive material on the conductive ink by offset printing. Preferably, the printing apparatus further includes a conveyor configured to convey the substrate. Further, the printing section preferably includes a first printing machine configured to print first conductive ink and a second printing machine configured to print second conductive ink.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A printing apparatus comprising a printing section configured to form a first electrode by performing printing, the first electrode having a layered structure including a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, wherein
 the printing section
 forms the first conductive layer by performing printing using a first conductive ink, and 
 form the second conductive layer on the first conductive ink by performing printing using a second conductive ink so that the second conductive ink is in contact with the first conductive ink and a side surface of the first conductive ink is exposed, and 
   in forming the first and second conductive layers, the printing section performs printing using the first and second conductive inks so that the first electrode has a section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the first electrode, a sectional area of the section decreasing in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         2 . The printing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the printing section includes:
 a first printing machine configured to perform printing using the first conductive ink; and 
 a second printing machine configured to perform printing using the second conductive ink, 
   the first printing machine includes:
 a first transfer section configured to print using the first conductive ink, and 
 a first intaglio printing section having a recess and configured to attach the first conductive ink to the first transfer section, and 
   the second printing machine includes:
 a second transfer section configured to print using the second conducive ink; and 
 a second intaglio printing section having a recess and configured to attach the second conductive ink to the second transfer section. 
   
     
     
         3 . The printing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 in forming the first and second conductive layers, the printing section performs printing using the first and second conductive inks so that the number of layers at a first portion of the first electrode is smaller than the number of layers at a second portion of the first electrode, the first portion having a smallest sectional area in the first electrode, the second portion having a largest sectional area in the first electrode.   
     
     
         4 . The printing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the printing section performs printing using the first and second conductive inks so that the first conductive layer has a wider width than the second conducive layer when the first electrode is viewed in a normal direction of a surface of a substrate on which the first electrode is formed.   
     
     
         5 . The printing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the printing section performs printing using the first and second conductive inks so that the first conductive layer has a length in the longitudinal direction that is longer than a length of the second conductive layer in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         6 . The printing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the printing section performs printing using the first and second conductive inks so that the first electrode has a width that continuously decreases in the longitudinal direction when the first electrode is viewed in a normal direction of a surface of a substrate on which the first electrode is formed.   
     
     
         7 . The printing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the printing machine forms a second electrode by performing printing and forms the first electrode by performing printing so that the first electrode extends from the second electrode, and   in forming the first electrode, the printing section performs printing using the first and second conductive inks so that the sectional area of the first electrode decreases in a direction away from the second electrode.   
     
     
         8 . The printing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first conductive ink contains a first conductive material,   the second conductive ink contains a second conductive material, and   the first conductive material is different from the second conductive material.   
     
     
         9 . The printing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first conductive ink contains a first conductive material,   the second conductive ink contains a second conductive material, and   the first conductive material is the same as the second conductive material.   
     
     
         10 . A printing method comprising performing printing to form a first electrode having a layered structure including a first conducive layer and a second conductive layer, wherein
 the performing printing includes:
 forming the first conductive layer by performing printing using a first conductive ink; and 
 forming the second conductive layer on the first conductive ink by performing printing using a second conductive ink so that the second conductive ink is in contact with the first conducive ink and a side surface of the first conductive ink is exposed, and 
   in the performing printing, the printing is performed using the first and second conductive ink so that the first electrode has a section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the first electrode, a sectional area of the section decreasing in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         11 . The printing method of  claim 10 , wherein
 in the forming the first conductive layer, a first printing machine performs printing using the first conductive ink,   in the forming the second conductive layer, a second printing machine performs printing using the second conductive ink,   the first printing machine includes:
 a first transfer section configured to print using the first conductive ink, and 
 a first intaglio printing section having a recess and configured to attach the first conductive ink to the first transfer section, and 
   the second printing machine includes:
 a second transfer section configured to print using the second conducive ink; and 
 a second printing intaglio section having a recess and configured to attach the second conductive ink to the second transfer section. 
   
     
     
         12 . The printing method of  claim 10 , wherein
 in the performing printing, the printing is performed using the first and second conductive inks so that the number of layers at a first portion of the first electrode is smaller than the number of layers at a second portion of the first electrode, the first portion having a smallest sectional area in the first electrode, the second portion having a largest sectional area in the first electrode.   
     
     
         13 . The printing method of  claim 10 , wherein
 in the performing printing, the printing is performed using the first and second conductive inks so that the first conductive layer has a wider width than the second conducive layer when the first electrode is viewed in a normal direction of a surface of a substrate on which the first electrode is formed.   
     
     
         14 . The printing method of  claim 10 , wherein
 in the performing printing, the printing is performed using the first and second conductive inks so that the first conductive layer has a length in the longitudinal direction that is longer than a length of the second conductive layer in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         15 . The printing method of  claim 10 , wherein
 in the performing printing, the printing is performed using the first and second conductive inks so that the first electrode has a width that continuously decreases in the longitudinal direction when the first electrode is viewed in a normal direction of a surface of a substrate on which the first electrode is formed.   
     
     
         16 . The printing method of  claim 10 , wherein
 the performing printing includes performing printing to form a second electrode and performing printing to form the first electrode so that the first electrode extends from the second electrode, and   in the performing printing to form the first electrode, the printing is performed using the first and second conductive inks so that the sectional area of the first electrode decreases in a direction away from the second electrode.   
     
     
         17 . The printing method of  claim 10 , wherein
 the first conductive ink contains a first conductive material,   the second conductive ink contains a second conductive material, and   the first conductive material is different from the second conductive material.   
     
     
         18 . The printing method of  claim 10 , wherein
 the first conductive ink contains a first conductive material,   the second conductive ink contains a second conductive material, and   the first conductive material is the same as the second conductive material.