JP2020098736A - Manufacturing apparatus for fuel cell electrode body - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a manufacturing apparatus for a fuel cell electrode body, the manufacturing apparatus inhibiting a back sheet from being deformed in transferring a catalyst layer formed on the back sheet to an electrolyte film to enable the back sheet to be reused.SOLUTION: A manufacturing apparatus 10 for a fuel cell electrode body comprises: a first winding-off part 12 for winding off a back sheet W having a front surface on which a catalyst layer 4 is formed; a second winding-off part 14 for winding off a sheet-like diffusion layer 3 having a front surface on which an electrolyte film 2 is formed; a transfer part 16 for transferring the catalyst layer 4 from the front surface of the back sheet W to the electrolyte film 2 of the diffusion layer 3; a first winding part 13 for winding the back sheet W after the transfer; and a second winding part 15 for winding an electrode body 1 formed by the catalyst layer 4 transferred to the electrolyte film 2. The back sheet W is formed from porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The transfer part 16 comprises an air nozzle 75 that ejects air from a back surface side of the back sheet W to the catalyst layer 4 on the front surface to transfer the catalyst layer 4 on the front surface to the electrolyte film 2 of the diffusion layer 3 using pressure of a jet of the ejected air.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell electrode body, which is formed by transferring a catalyst layer to an electrolyte membrane.

As a manufacturing apparatus of this type of fuel cell electrode body, the catalyst layer formed on the back sheet is brought into contact with the electrolyte membrane and passed between a pair of heating rollers, thereby adhering the catalyst layer to the electrolyte membrane and back sheet. Discloses a method of transferring a catalyst layer to an electrolyte membrane (see Patent Document 1). In a conventional apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell electrode body, a fuel cell electrode body in which a catalyst layer is bonded to one surface of an electrolyte membrane is manufactured. The back sheet is made of a thermoplastic resin sheet which is preferable in terms of resistance to deterioration when heated by a pair of heating rollers and heat resistance, and has a porous layer on the front and back surfaces of the sheet.

JP, 2008-89961, A

As the thermoplastic resin sheet, a sheet made of polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as PTFE) is generally used. Since the catalyst layer is required to have a uniform thickness, it is not directly applied to the diffusion layer, but the catalyst layer is applied to the back sheet by the application head of the catalyst transfer sheet producing apparatus as shown in FIG. 9(a). A backsheet with a catalyst layer is formed. When such a back sheet is used, the ink affinity with which the catalyst ink can be applied to the back sheet and the releasability that easily peels off when transferring the catalyst layer to the electrolyte membrane after drying, Conflicting properties are required, and PTFE having both ink affinity and releasability is used.

However, in the conventional fuel cell electrode manufacturing apparatus, when the backsheet is made of PTFE, PTFE has a relatively large thermal expansion and a high flexibility, so that FIG. As shown in, when the catalyst layer is transferred to the electrolyte membrane formed in the diffusion layer, the backsheet expands and contracts due to heat and pressure or tension of the pair of transfer rollers, causing deformation such as thinning. However, there is a problem that it cannot be reused.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the back sheet is not deformed when the catalyst layer formed on the back sheet is transferred to the electrolyte membrane, and the back sheet can be reused. An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing apparatus of a fuel cell electrode body capable of performing the above.

The apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell electrode body according to the present invention unwinds a first unwinding part that unwinds a backsheet having a catalyst layer formed on its surface, and a sheet-like diffusion layer having an electrolyte membrane formed on its surface. A second unwinding part, a transfer part for transferring the catalyst layer from the surface of the backsheet to the electrolyte membrane of the diffusion layer, a first winding part for winding the backsheet after transfer, and the electrolyte membrane A fuel cell electrode body manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a second winding unit that winds up an electrode body formed by transferring the catalyst layer, wherein the backsheet is made of porous polytetrafluoroethylene ( The transfer section injects air from the back surface side of the back sheet toward the catalyst layer on the front surface, and the pressure of the injected air causes the transfer layer to transfer the catalyst layer on the front surface to the diffusion layer. It is characterized in that it is provided with a nozzle for transferring to the electrolyte membrane.

In the fuel cell electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the back sheet is made of porous PTFE, and the transfer portion is provided with a nozzle for injecting air. In the fuel cell electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, when the catalyst layer formed on the backsheet is transferred to the electrolyte membrane, the backsheet is directed from the back surface of the backsheet toward the catalyst layer on the front surface. Air is jetted from the nozzle. When air is jetted from the nozzle, the pressure of the jetted air causes the catalyst layer on the surface to be peeled off from the back sheet and fixed to the electrolyte membrane of the diffusion layer. As a result, the transfer is performed without heat being applied to the PTFE back sheet, so that the pressure of the heating roller is not applied to the back sheet, the back sheet is not deformed, and the back sheet is reused. can do.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell electrode body, which allows the back sheet to be reused without causing deformation in the back sheet when transferring the catalyst layer formed on the back sheet to the electrolyte membrane. can do.

It is a figure of an electrode body manufactured by a manufacturing device of a fuel cell electrode body concerning an embodiment of the present invention, Drawing 1 (a) shows an exploded perspective view of an electrode body, and Drawing 1 (b) shows an electrode. Shows a sectional view of the body. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the manufacturing apparatus of the electrode body for fuel cells which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a catalyst transfer sheet production unit that forms a catalyst layer on a back sheet in the manufacturing apparatus for a fuel cell electrode body according to the embodiment of the present invention. The partial top view showing a part of surface of the back sheet in the manufacturing device of the fuel cell electrode object concerning the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of a transfer portion of the manufacturing apparatus for a fuel cell electrode body according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a catalyst transfer sheet and a laminate sheet in which air is jetted from a nozzle of a fuel cell electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention toward a catalyst layer formed on a surface of a back sheet. The perspective view of the manufacturing device of the electrode object for fuel cells concerning the modification of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure of the plate-like body in the manufacturing apparatus of the fuel cell electrode body which concerns on the modification of embodiment of this invention, FIG.8(a) shows the perspective view of a plate-like body, and FIG.8(b) is FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the plate-shaped body cut along AA in FIG. It is a figure of the manufacturing device of the conventional fuel cell electrode body, FIG.9(a) shows the perspective view of the catalyst transfer sheet preparation part which forms a catalyst layer in a back sheet, and FIG.9(b) shows pressurization. And a partial cross-sectional view of a diffusion layer in which a back sheet coated with a catalyst layer in a heated state and an electrolyte membrane are laminated.

A fuel cell electrode body manufacturing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment to which a fuel cell electrode body manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, a fuel cell electrode body (hereinafter, simply referred to as an electrode body) 1 manufactured by the fuel cell electrode body manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrode body 1 is composed of an electrolyte membrane 2, a diffusion layer 3, and a catalyst layer 4. A catalyst layer, a diffusion layer, and a pair of separators (not shown) are further stacked on the electrode body 1 to manufacture a fuel cell, and a plurality of the manufactured fuel cells are stacked to form a fuel for a fuel cell (not shown). A battery stack is manufactured.

The electrolyte membrane 2 is formed of a polymer electrolyte resin that is a solid polymer material such as perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer, and is an ion exchange membrane using a polymer membrane having ion conductivity as an electrolyte. The electrolyte membrane 2 has the functions of blocking the flow of electrons and gas and moving protons.

The diffusion layer 3 is formed of a material having gas permeability and conductivity, for example, a carbon fiber such as carbon paper or a porous fiber base material such as graphite fiber. The diffusion layer 3 has a function of diffusing the gas flowing in the fuel cell unit.

The catalyst layer 4 is made of a conductive carrier that supports a catalyst such as platinum or a platinum alloy, and is formed, for example, by coating carbon particles such as catalyst-supporting carbon particles with an ionomer having proton conductivity. Consists of. The ionomer is made of a polymer electrolyte resin which is a solid polymer material such as a fluororesin having the same quality as that of the electrolyte membrane 2 and has proton conductivity due to an ion exchange group.

Next, a manufacturing apparatus 10 for a fuel cell electrode body according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a catalyst transfer sheet producing unit 11, a laminate sheet producing unit (not shown), a first unwinding unit 12, a first winding unit 13, and a second winding unit 13. The unwinding unit 14, the second winding unit 15, and the transfer unit 16 are included. In the manufacturing apparatus 10, the sheet-shaped electrode body 1 is manufactured. Then, the sheet-shaped electrode body 1 is cut into a sheet shape to form the electrode body 1 shown in FIG.

The first unwinding unit 12, the first unwinding unit 13, the second unwinding unit 14, the second unwinding unit 15, and the transfer unit 16 in the manufacturing apparatus 10 for a fuel cell electrode assembly according to the embodiment are the same. The manufacturing apparatus of the fuel cell electrode body according to the present invention is configured.

As shown in FIG. 3, the catalyst transfer sheet production section 11 includes a back sheet unwinding roller 21, guide rollers 22 and 23, a coating die head 24, and a catalyst transfer sheet winding roller 25. The catalyst transfer sheet production unit 11 has a configuration for producing a catalyst transfer sheet T from a long back sheet W.

A long backsheet W is wound around the unwinding roller 21. The unwinding roller 21 is rotatably supported by a support shaft (not shown), and the backsheet W is unwound toward the coating die head 24.

The back sheet W is made of porous PTFE having both ink affinity and releasability, and has a long sheet shape having a predetermined width (mm) and thickness (mm). The back sheet W has a property of easily transmitting air, water repellency, and impermeability of water. The releasability of the backsheet W is obtained due to the water-repellent property and the impermeability of water. As shown in FIG. 4, the backsheet W is formed of a solid substance having a large number of pores, and has excellent air permeability and excellent chemical resistance.

The backsheet W may be a sheet of reinforcing material such as glass fiber adhered to a sheet of porous PTFE, or a sheet of woven glass cloth coated with porous PTFE to improve the transport tension resistance (N). It may be made to be. The backsheet W may be made of a material other than porous PTFE as long as it has excellent air permeability and excellent chemical resistance. Examples of materials other than porous PTFE include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the like.

The guide roller 22 is configured to guide the backsheet W unwound from the unwinding roller 21 toward the coating die head 24 located on the downstream side in the transport direction of the backsheet W indicated by the arrow a. .. The guide rollers 22 are rotatably supported by a support shaft (not shown), and are provided in pairs so that the backsheet W can pass therethrough.

The guide roller 23 is configured to guide the catalyst transfer sheet T toward the catalyst transfer sheet take-up roller 25 located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the back sheet W. Like the guide roller 22, the guide roller 23 is rotatably supported by a support shaft (not shown), and is provided in a pair so that the backsheet W can pass therethrough.

The coating die head 24 is located between the pair of guide rollers 22 and the pair of guide rollers 23, and has a configuration for coating the surface of the backsheet W being conveyed with the catalyst ink. The coating die head 24 has a nozzle that is formed in a predetermined length (mm) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the back sheet W and has a plurality of ejection openings or slit-shaped ejection openings. The coating die head 24 discharges the catalyst ink from the nozzle toward the surface of the back sheet W, and forms the catalyst layer 4 on the surface of the back sheet W.

The coating die head 24 is connected to a supply unit that supplies catalyst ink (not shown), discharges the catalyst ink from a nozzle, and has a predetermined width (mm), a predetermined length (mm) and a predetermined thickness (mm). The so-called intermittent coating, in which the catalyst layer having the above is coated at regular intervals, is performed.

The catalyst transfer sheet take-up roller 25 is for taking up the catalyst transfer sheet T, is rotatably supported by a support shaft (not shown), and the support shaft is connected to a drive unit (not shown). The support shaft of the catalyst transfer sheet take-up roller 25 is rotated by the drive unit so that the catalyst transfer sheet T is placed at a position where each catalyst layer faces the axis of the roller, that is, each catalyst layer is placed inside the roller. Can be wound into a roll.

The laminate sheet preparation unit has a predetermined width (mm) and a thickness (mm), and is an elongated electrolyte sheet made of an electrolyte membrane similar to the electrolyte membrane 2, and a predetermined width (mm) and thickness (mm). 2) and a long diffusion layer sheet made of the same diffusion layer as the diffusion layer 3 is laminated to produce a long laminate sheet S.

The produced laminate sheet S is wound into a roll by being wound around a roller so that the diffusion layer sheet faces the axial center of the roller, that is, the diffusion layer sheet is located inside the roller.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first unwinding unit 12 includes an unwinding roller 31 and a support shaft (not shown) that rotatably supports the unwinding roller 31. The first unwinding unit 12 unwinds the roll-shaped catalyst transfer sheet T produced by the catalyst transfer sheet producing unit 11, and transfers the catalyst layer 4 along the horizontal direction so that the catalyst layer 4 is on the lower side in the gravity direction. It is supposed to be sent to 16.

The first winding unit 13 includes a winding roller 41 and a support shaft (not shown) that rotatably supports the winding roller 41. The support shaft is connected to a drive unit (not shown), and is rotated by the drive unit to rotate the take-up roller 41. The first winding unit 13 can wind up the back sheet W that has passed through the transfer unit 16 and transferred. The backsheet W wound by the first winding unit 13 is reused in the catalyst transfer sheet production unit 11.

The second unwinding portion 14 is composed of an unwinding roller 51 and a support shaft (not shown) that rotatably supports the unwinding roller 51. The second unwinding unit 14 unwinds the roll-shaped laminate sheet S produced in the laminate sheet producing unit, and horizontally conveys it to the transfer unit 16 so that the electrolyte membrane 2 is on the upper side in the direction of gravity. I am supposed to send it.

The second winding unit 15 includes a winding roller 61 and a support shaft (not shown) that rotatably supports the winding roller 61. The support shaft is connected to a drive unit (not shown), and is rotated by the drive unit to rotate the take-up roller 61. The second winding unit 15 can wind up the long electrode body 1 that has passed through the transfer unit 16 and has the catalyst layer 4 transferred to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 of the laminate sheet S. The long electrode body 1 wound by the second winding unit 15 is sent to the next step.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the transfer unit 16 guides the catalyst transfer sheet T unwound from the first unwinding unit 12 on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the guide roller 71. It has a guide roller 72 that is located on the downstream side in the transport direction and that guides the transport of the backsheet W on which the transfer has been performed.

The transfer unit 16 is located on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the guide roller 73 that guides the laminated sheet S unwound from the second unwinding unit 14 on the downstream side in the transport direction. The guide roller 74 that guides the conveyance of the elongated electrode body 1 having the catalyst layer 4 bonded to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 of the laminate sheet S that has been transferred. The guide rollers 71 to 74 guide the catalyst transfer sheet T and the laminated sheet S so that they are superposed on each other.

Then, the transfer section 16 injects air from the back surface side of the catalyst transfer sheet T toward the catalyst layer 4 on the front surface, and the pressure of the injected air causes the catalyst layer 4 on the front surface to be the electrolyte membrane of the laminate sheet S. An air nozzle 75 for transferring to No. 2 is provided. The air nozzle 75 is located between the guide rollers 71 and 72, is orthogonal to the transport direction of the catalyst transfer sheet T to be transported, and is disposed so as to face a position separated from the upper surface of the catalyst transfer sheet T. There is. The air nozzle 75 is formed with a predetermined width (mm) and a predetermined length (mm), and has a plurality of ejection ports.

The air nozzle 75 in the manufacturing apparatus 10 for a fuel cell electrode body according to the present embodiment corresponds to the nozzle of the manufacturing apparatus for a fuel cell electrode body according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the air nozzle 75 vigorously injects air from each ejection port from the back surface side of the catalyst transfer sheet T toward the catalyst layer 4 on the front surface, and transmits the back sheet W constituting the catalyst transfer sheet T through the air. It is configured so that the pressure (MPa) of the air jet is applied to the catalyst layer 4 of the catalyst transfer sheet T by allowing it to vaporize. When air pressure (MPa) is applied to the catalyst layer 4 of the catalyst transfer sheet T, the catalyst layer 4 is separated from the catalyst transfer sheet T and bonded to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 of the laminate sheet S.

The operation of the fuel cell electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment configured as described above will be briefly described.

First, the backsheet W is set in the catalyst transfer sheet production unit 11 shown in FIG. 3, the backsheet W is unwound from the unwinding roller 21, and is conveyed in the direction of arrow a. The catalyst ink is ejected from the nozzle of the coating die head 24 onto the surface of the back sheet W being conveyed, and the catalyst transfer sheet T having the catalyst layer 4 formed on the surface of the back sheet W is produced. It is rolled up by the roller 25 to form a roll.

In addition, by a laminate sheet preparation unit (not shown), an elongated electrolyte sheet made of an electrolyte membrane similar to the electrolyte membrane 2 shown in FIG. 1 and an elongated electrolyte sheet made of a diffusion layer similar to the diffusion layer 3 shown in FIG. A long laminate sheet S in which the above diffusion layer sheet is laminated is produced.

The manufactured roll-shaped catalyst transfer sheet T is applied to the unwinding roller 31 of the first unwinding unit 12, the guide rollers 71 and 72 of the transfer unit 16 and the winding roller 41 of the first winding unit 13 shown in FIG. Is set. The produced laminate sheet S is set on the unwinding roller 51 of the second unwinding unit 14, the guide rollers 73 and 74 of the transfer unit 16, and the winding roller 61 of the second winding unit 15.

The take-up roller 41 of the first take-up unit 13 is driven, and the catalyst transfer sheet T is conveyed at a predetermined conveying speed (m/sec). Simultaneously with the driving of the take-up roller 41 of the first take-up unit 13, the take-up roller 61 of the second take-up unit 15 is driven, and the laminate sheet S has the same transport speed (m/sec) as the catalyst transfer sheet T. It is transported at the transport speed.

When the catalyst transfer sheet T and the laminated sheet S are conveyed, during the conveyance of the catalyst transfer sheet T and the laminated sheet S, from the ejection ports of the air nozzles 75 of the transfer section 16 toward the back surface side of the catalyst transfer sheet T. Air is jetted. The injected air becomes an air jet, passes through the back sheet W, reaches the catalyst layer 4 on the surface of the catalyst transfer sheet T, and pressurizes the catalyst layer 4, as shown in FIG.

The catalyst layer 4 is also porous, that is, porous, but porous PTFE allows air to pass through better, so that air pressure can be applied to the catalyst layer 4. Further, when the air is ejected from each ejection port of the air nozzle 75 toward the back surface side of the catalyst transfer sheet T, the conveyance of the catalyst transfer sheet T and the laminate sheet S is stopped, or the air nozzle 75 is moved during the conveyance. The catalyst transfer sheet T and the laminate sheet S may be moved from the downstream side to the upstream side indicated by the arrow in the conveying direction.

When the catalyst layer 4 is pressed by the air passing through the back sheet W, the catalyst layer 4 is peeled from the back sheet W and pressed against the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 of the laminate sheet S, so that the catalyst layer 4 is formed. The long electrode body 1 is manufactured by transferring and bonding to 2.

The produced electrode body 1 is wound by the winding roller 61 of the second winding portion 15 into a roll shape, and is fed until the unwinding of the long catalyst transfer sheet T and the laminate sheet S is completed. Be seen. When the next transfer is required after the unwinding of the long catalyst transfer sheet T and the laminate sheet S is completed, the transfer is performed by the new long catalyst transfer sheet T and the laminate sheet S. ..

The effects of the fuel cell electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described.

In the fuel cell electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the back sheet W is formed of porous PTFE, and the transfer section 16 includes the air nozzle 75 that injects air. In the fuel cell electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the catalyst layer 4 of the catalyst transfer sheet T is transferred to the electrolyte membrane 2 of the laminate sheet S, the catalyst transfer sheet T is configured in the transfer section 16. Air is jetted from the air nozzle 75 from the back surface side of the back sheet W toward the catalyst layer 4 on the front surface.

When air is ejected from the air nozzle 75, the pressure of the ejected air causes the catalyst layer 4 on the surface of the catalyst transfer sheet T to be transferred to the electrolyte 2 of the laminate sheet S. Therefore, in the manufacturing apparatus 10 for the fuel cell electrode assembly according to the present embodiment, the transfer is performed without heating the PTFE to the back sheet, which has been performed in the conventional manufacturing apparatus. The effect that pressure is not applied is obtained. As a result, the backsheet W is not deformed and the backsheet W can be reused. The reuse of the backsheet W has an effect of reducing the production cost of the electrode body 1.

Further, in the fuel cell electrode body manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, a change in the size of the catalyst layer 4 due to expansion and contraction of PTFE due to heating and pressurization at the time of transfer performed in the conventional manufacturing apparatus is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect that the dimensional accuracy of the electrode body 1 can be improved. Further, when the back sheet is not a porous PTFE sheet but a solid PTFE sheet, there is a problem that the catalyst ink is repelled when the catalyst ink is applied, and good coating cannot be performed. In the fuel cell electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the backsheet W is made of a porous PTFE sheet having ink affinity, and thus it is possible to solve such a coating problem. The effect is obtained.

In addition, in order to solve the coating problem when the backsheet is a solid PTFE sheet, it is possible to make a two-layer backsheet by laminating a porous PTFE sheet to a solid PTFE sheet. To be However, in the conventional manufacturing apparatus, since the two-layer backsheet is heated and pressed, the problem that the backsheet is deformed and cannot be reused cannot be solved. Therefore, the production cost of the electrode body cannot be reduced.

In the fuel cell electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the catalyst layer 4 coated on the elongated backsheet W is applied to the electrolyte membrane 2 laminated on the elongated diffusion layer 3. The case where the structure is configured to transfer has been described. However, in the fuel cell electrode body manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the catalyst layer 4 coated on the elongated backsheet W is transferred to the electrolyte membrane 2 laminated on the elongated diffusion layer 3. The structure may be different from the structure.

Hereinafter, a structure in which the catalyst layer 4 applied to the elongated backsheet W in the apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to the present embodiment is transferred to the electrolyte membrane 2 laminated on the elongated diffusion layer 3. A manufacturing apparatus 10A for a fuel cell electrode body according to a modified example having a structure other than that will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, when the structure of the manufacturing apparatus 10A of the fuel cell electrode body according to the modified example and the structure of the manufacturing apparatus 10 of the fuel cell electrode body according to the embodiment are the same, the same reference numerals are given and mainly different. The configuration will be described.

(Modification)
In the fuel cell electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10A according to the modified example, as shown in FIG. 7, a sheet-shaped plate-shaped body WB having a predetermined thickness is used instead of the elongated back sheet W. .. The plate-shaped body WB is formed of porous PTFE like the back sheet W of the manufacturing apparatus 10 for a fuel cell electrode body according to the embodiment.

The fuel cell electrode body manufacturing apparatus 10A includes a coating unit 100, a plate-shaped member transfer unit (not shown), a laminate transfer unit (not shown), a transfer unit (not shown), and an air nozzle 101. ..

The coating unit 100 is configured to coat the catalyst layer 4 on the upper surface of the sheet-shaped plate-shaped body WB. The plate-shaped body transporting unit is configured such that the sheet-shaped plate-shaped body WB and the sheet-shaped plate-shaped body WB coated with the catalyst layer 4 are positioned above the catalyst layer 4 at a predetermined speed (m/sec). It is configured to be transported in the horizontal direction.

In addition, when the plate-shaped body transport unit moves the plate-shaped body WB coated with the catalyst layer 4 from the horizontal transport to the gravity direction and transports it to the transfer unit, the catalyst layer 4 of the plate-shaped body WB is It is configured so that it is turned upside down and conveyed.

The laminated body transporting unit is a plate-shaped body having the catalyst layer 4 on the lower surface in the transfer unit when transporting the single-wafer-shaped laminate SA in which the single-wafer-shaped diffusion layer 3 and the electrolyte membrane 2 are laminated to the transfer unit. The stacked body SA is transported to the lower side of the WB so that the stacked body SA is positioned below the plate-shaped body WB.

Similar to the air nozzle 75 of the embodiment, the air nozzle 101 vigorously ejects air from a plurality of ejection ports in a state where the stacked body SA is located below the plate-shaped body WB in the transfer portion, and the plate-shaped body WB is The air jet is made to permeate from the upper surface toward the catalyst layer 4 on the lower surface, and air pressure (MPa) is applied to the catalyst layer 4 of the plate-shaped body WB. When air pressure (MPa) is applied to the catalyst layer 4 of the plate body WB, the catalyst layer 4 is peeled from the plate body WB, transferred to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 2 of the laminated body SA and bonded to form a single-wafer electrode. Body 1 is manufactured.

The plate-shaped body WB after the transfer is performed by the transfer unit is horizontally conveyed by the conveyance unit, and when further moved in the gravity direction and conveyed to the coating unit 100, the plate-shaped body WB is inverted. Be transported.

Note that, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the plate-shaped member WB may be formed with a recess having a depth of about 80 μm for receiving the catalyst ink of a size required for the catalyst layer 4. Good. By providing such a depression, it is possible to suppress the shape variation and error of the catalyst ink, so that it is possible to expand the power generation area by reducing the design dimensional error setting.

The manufacturing apparatus 10A for a fuel cell electrode body according to the modification of the embodiment has the same effects as the effects of the manufacturing apparatus 10 for a fuel cell electrode body according to the embodiment. That is, the plate-shaped member WB is made of porous PTFE and has the air nozzle 101 for injecting air. In the fuel cell electrode body manufacturing apparatus 10A according to the modified example of the present embodiment, when the catalyst layer 4 of the plate-shaped body WB is transferred to the electrolyte membrane 2 of the laminated body SA, the plate-shaped body WB is transferred from the upper surface side. Air is ejected from the air nozzle 101 toward the catalyst layer 4 on the lower surface.

When air is jetted from the air nozzle 101, the jetted air becomes an air jet, and the pressure (MPa) thereof transfers the catalyst layer 4 on the lower surface of the plate-shaped body WB to the electrolyte 2 of the stacked body SA. As a result, since the transfer is performed without applying heat to the porous PTFE plate WB, it is possible to obtain the effect that the pressure of the heating roller is not applied to the plate WB. As a result, the plate-shaped body WB is not deformed, and the plate-shaped body WB can be reused. By reusing the plate-shaped body WB, an effect that the production cost of the electrode body 1 can be reduced can be obtained.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various designs can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims. You can make changes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Electrode body (fuel cell electrode body), 2... Electrolyte membrane, 3... Diffusion layer, 4... Catalyst layer, 10, 10A... Manufacturing apparatus, 11... Catalyst transfer Sheet preparation unit, 12... First unwinding unit, 13... First unwinding unit, 14... Second unwinding unit, 15... Second unwinding unit, 16... Transfer unit , 21... Backsheet unwinding roller, 22, 23, 71, 72, 73, 74... Guide roller, 24... Coating die head, 25... Catalyst transfer sheet winding roller, 31, 51 ... Unwinding roller, 41, 61... Winding roller, 75, 101... Air nozzle (nozzle), 100... Coating section, S... Laminate sheet, T... Catalyst transfer Sheet, W... Backsheet, WB... Plate

Claims (1)

A first unwinding part for unwinding a backsheet having a catalyst layer formed on its surface;
A second unwinding part for unwinding a sheet-shaped diffusion layer having an electrolyte membrane formed on the surface thereof;
A transfer portion for transferring the catalyst layer from the surface of the back sheet to the electrolyte membrane of the diffusion layer,
A first winding unit for winding the back sheet after transfer,
A second winding section for winding the electrode body formed by transferring the catalyst layer onto the electrolyte membrane;
A manufacturing apparatus of an electrode body for a fuel cell, comprising:
The back sheet is made of porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
The transfer portion injects air from the back surface side of the back sheet toward the catalyst layer on the surface, and transfers the catalyst layer on the surface to the electrolyte membrane of the diffusion layer by the pressure of the injected air. An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode body for a fuel cell, which is equipped with a nozzle.