JP5374825B2 - Fuel cell manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a manufacturing ZoSo location of the fuel cell.

  As one of the countermeasures for environmental problems and resource problems, an electrochemical reaction using an oxidizing gas such as oxygen or air and a reducing gas such as hydrogen or methane (fuel gas) or a liquid fuel such as methanol as raw materials A fuel cell that generates electric power by converting chemical energy into electric energy has attracted attention.

  2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a fuel cell such as a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell is configured by stacking a plurality of fuel cell cells each having a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) sandwiched between separators. A membrane-electrode assembly in a fuel cell has a structure in which a hydrogen electrode (anode electrode) and an air electrode (cathode electrode) are respectively provided on both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane made of a polymer ion exchange membrane. Each of the hydrogen electrode (anode electrode) and the air electrode (cathode electrode) includes a catalyst layer formed on the polymer electrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer formed thereon. That is, the membrane-electrode assembly has a structure in which the polymer electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between the catalyst layers and further sandwiched between the gas diffusion layers.

  By the way, about the manufacturing method of the fuel cell of such a structure, there exists a thing of the following patent document 1, for example. In Patent Document 1, while providing a transport hole that is sequentially engaged with a feed protrusion of a transport roller, at least one edge portion of an electrolyte membrane that is developed into a sheet shape together with a protective sheet and is supplied to a fuel cell manufacturing apparatus, Similarly, a transport film that transports the gas diffusion layer (or separator) supplied to the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus is provided with a transport hole that sequentially engages the feed protrusion of the transport roller, and the gas is measured with reference to both transport holes. A technique is disclosed in which a diffusion layer (or separator) and an MEA film (for example, a film having a catalyst layer on both sides of an electrolyte membrane) are positioned, assembled, and bonded.

  Further, when the gas diffusion layer is placed on the gas diffusion layer transport pallet and supplied to the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus, one by one using the adsorption pad from the plurality of gas diffusion layers supplied together in a stacked state. A transfer device for mounting on a gas diffusion layer transport pallet is disclosed. In this transfer device, the gas diffusion layers are adsorbed and held one by one by a suction pad and transported to the gas diffusion layer transport pallet one by one. A technique of placing on a gas diffusion layer transport pallet is applied.

JP 2005-183182 A

  However, in the above prior art, when only one uppermost gas diffusion layer is taken out from a plurality of gas diffusion layers in a stacked state by an adsorption pad and transported, the gas diffusion layer is permeable, so that The lower gas diffusion layer may be adsorbed at the same time, that is, a plurality of gas diffusion layers may be adsorbed, held, and transported.

  When such a situation occurs, by removing a plurality of sheets where only one sheet should be taken out, the production apparatus stops due to occurrence of an abnormality in the production apparatus for the fuel cell, or an extra adsorbed part Due to the extra work time required to remove the gas diffusion layer, there arises a problem that the productivity of the fuel cell decreases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing ZoSo location of the fuel cell to be conveyed one by one reliably base material constituting the MEA and (MEA Yomotozai) such as a gas diffusion layer.

Apparatus for producing a fuel cell according to the present invention includes an electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layer as MEA substrate for to send transportable a laminated MEA substrate for holding one not a One adsorption, in a predetermined position The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus is a hollow structure suction hand that sucks the MEA base material, and the bottom surface of the hollow structure has a plurality of suction holes and is bent vertically by pressing. a suction hand as an elastic plate elastically deforms useless, for suppressing fouling means from MEA substrate for several sheets double is Ru is adsorbed, while adsorbing the MEA for a substrate by suction hand, the elastic plate MEA A pressing means for pressing the elastic plate in the downward direction of the hollow structure and the MEA sucked and held by the suction hand so as to be deformed downwardly toward the base material side and drop the next MEA base material to the stacking position The weight of the base material for A load sensor for measuring whether one or the weight of the MEA substrate for you, comprising the.

Moreover, it is good to provide the spraying means which sprays a medium on the outer edge of the base material for MEA adsorbed by the adsorption | suction hand as said adsorption | suction suppression means.

In addition, a plurality of suction holes are provided on the mounting surface of the base material set base for setting the MEA base material, and a suction force larger than the suction force generated in the suction hand is generated on the mounting surface and should not be transported. It is preferable to provide a mounting surface adsorbing means for adsorbing the base material for use at a position where the MEA base material is laminated.

  According to the present invention, the MEA base material such as the gas diffusion layer can be reliably conveyed one by one.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a fuel cell manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a substrate set base 10, a conveying unit 20, a substrate position detecting unit 30, a positioning lamination stage 40, a hot-pressing unit 50, and a joined body extraction stage 60. In addition, the operation of each unit such as the conveying unit 20, the base material position detecting unit 30, and the hot press unit 50 is controlled by a control device (not shown).

  The base material set stand 10 includes an MEA base material for one fuel cell, that is, an electrolyte membrane having catalyst layers on both sides (hereinafter simply referred to as “electrolyte membrane”), and a positive gas diffusion layer. And the negative electrode gas diffusion layer are placed on each other while being roughly positioned. The worker M sets, for example, the positive electrode gas diffusion layer, the electrolyte membrane having the catalyst layers on both surfaces, and the negative electrode gas diffusion layer in the order of being stacked one by one on the base material set base 10.

  The transport means 20 is, for example, a robot arm having a suction hand 22 that can hold each MEA base material by suction. The detailed configuration of the suction hand 22 will be described later. The suction hand 22 can be reciprocated in the Y-axis direction of FIG. 1 by controlling the movement of the transport means body 24 along the guide rail 26 in the Y-axis direction of FIG. In addition, by applying a structure (for example, a cylinder piston structure) that can be expanded and contracted in the X-axis direction to the arm part 23 that couples the conveying means main body 24 and the suction hand 22, the reciprocating movement is also performed in the X-axis direction of FIG. 1. It is possible. Furthermore, by applying a structure (for example, a cylinder piston structure) that can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) as viewed from the operator M to the connecting portion 25 between the arm portion 23 and the suction hand 22, the suction hand 22. Can be reciprocated also in the Z-axis direction of FIG. Thus, the suction hand 22 in the transport unit 20 is configured to be freely movable in the XYZ directions. The transport means 20 having such a configuration sucks and holds the MEA base material for one fuel cell set on the base material set base 10 by the suction hand 22, from the base material set base 10 to the base material. One by one is conveyed to the position detection means 30 and the positioning lamination stage 40.

  The base material position detection means 30 is a means having an image processing device (not shown) for detecting the position of each MEA base material held by the suction hand 22 of the transport means 20. The base material position detection means 30 detects the position of each MEA base material held by the suction hand 22 by using the image obtained by the image processing device every time the transport means 20 transports the MEA base material. Then, the positional information of the obtained MEA base material is output to the control device.

  Then, the control device controls the conveying means 20 based on the position information of the MEA base material being transported, and accurately positions the MEA base material being transported held by the suction hand 22 while correcting the displacement. It is conveyed and placed on the positioning lamination stage 40.

  The MEA base material (electrolyte membrane, positive electrode gas diffusion layer and negative electrode gas diffusion layer) for one fuel battery cell roughly set on the base material set base 10 in this way is accurately positioned on the positioning lamination stage 40, respectively. Laminated. For example, when the positive electrode gas diffusion layer, the electrolyte membrane, and the negative electrode gas diffusion layer are roughly set on the base material set base 10 in this order, the negative electrode is operated by the operation of the transport means 20 and the base material position detection means 30 as described above. The gas diffusion layer, the electrolyte membrane, and the positive electrode gas diffusion layer are transported to the positioning stacking stage 40 in a state where the gas diffusion layer, the electrolyte membrane, and the positive electrode gas diffusion layer are accurately positioned, and are sequentially stacked.

  The positioning stacking stage 40 is a stage on which the MEA base material for one fuel cell is stacked in a state where the positioning stacking stage is accurately positioned as described above. The positioning lamination stage 40 is a stage having a movable press face plate 42 that can reciprocate between the hot-pressing means 50. The pressing surface plate 42 can be reciprocated between the positioning lamination stage 40 and the hot-pressing means 50 by, for example, a slider (not shown). The reciprocating movement of the press face plate 42 is controlled by a control device. Thus, the MEA base material for one fuel cell positioned and stacked on the press face plate 42 is transported to the press position of the hot press means 50 as the press face plate 42 moves (see FIG. 1 is in a state indicated by reference numeral 42 'indicated by a dotted line in FIG.

  The hot-pressing means 50 is means for producing an MEA by hot-pressing the MEA base material for one stacked fuel battery cell in the vertical direction. When the MEA base material for one fuel battery cell positioned and stacked as described above is conveyed, the hot-pressing means 50 moves the MEA base material for one fuel battery cell up and down. It is hot-pressed by sandwiching from the direction and heat-bonded. Specifically, the press face plate 42 plays the role of a lower press mold, and the upper press mold provided in the hot press means 50 is lowered to perform the hot press. In this manner, an MEA that is thermally bonded to each other with the electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the positive electrode gas diffusion layer and the negative electrode gas diffusion layer is manufactured. Then, when the MEA is manufactured, the press face plate 42 ′ at the press position moves to the positioning lamination stage 40 (becomes a state of reference numeral 42), and the MEA manufactured in accordance with this moves from the hot press means 50. It is carried out to the positioning lamination stage 40.

  The joined body take-out stage 60 is a stage for taking out the MEA carried out from the hot press means 50. The MEA carried out to the positioning stacking stage 40 as described above is held by the suction hand 22 by, for example, the carrying means 20 and is carried to the joined body take-out stage 60. As a result, the worker M can take out the MEA at the joined body take-out stage 60. Then, the MEA is joined with a separator in a later step, thereby completing one fuel cell.

  Here, the suction hand 22 of the conveying means in the present embodiment has a hollow structure as shown in FIG. 2, for example, and the lower surface forming the suction surface with each MEA base material is moved up and down by pressing described later. The elastic plate 22a is elastically deformed so as to bend. A plurality of suction holes (not shown) are formed in the elastic plate 22a. For example, a thin stainless plate is used as the elastic plate 22a.

  The suction hand 22 (specifically, the internal space of the suction hand 22 having a hollow structure) is connected to a vacuum means (not shown) such as a vacuum pump. Thus, when the internal space of the suction hand 22 is evacuated by the vacuum means in a state where the suction surface and the MEA base material are in contact, the MEA base material is vacuum-sucked on the suction surface (that is, the elastic plate 22a). The

  The suction hand 22 is provided with pressing means 22b that pushes the elastic plate 22a from the inside toward the outside (downward in the figure), whereby the elastic plate 22a forming the suction surface is sucked. It is deformed in a convex shape toward the MEA base material (downward in the figure).

  In the suction hand 22 having the above-described configuration, the pressing means 22b is controlled to be deformed in a convex shape toward the MEA base material to be suctioned in a state where the MEA base material is vacuum-sucked. .

  In this embodiment, this control is effective, for example, when transporting the gas diffusion layer 72 laminated on the uppermost portion (that is, on the electrolyte membrane 74). In this case, when the electrolyte membrane 74 is adsorbed in addition to the gas diffusion layer 72 where only one gas diffusion layer 72 should be adsorbed (see FIG. 2A), the pressing means 22b described above. According to the control, only the excessively adsorbed electrolyte membrane 74 falls, and only one gas diffusion layer can be reliably adsorbed and transported (see FIG. 2B). This is because the electrolyte membrane 74 generally has a larger area than the gas diffusion layer 72, and a peeling force is likely to be generated by the restoring force due to the elasticity of the electrolyte membrane 74. Due to this peeling force, as shown in FIG. 2B, the excess electrolyte membrane 74 changes from the state indicated by the dotted line to the state indicated by the solid line and falls.

  In addition, as a suction suppression means for suppressing a plurality of MEA base materials from adsorbing, that is, preventing an extra MEA base material from adsorbing, the suction hand 22 is configured as described above, for example, a base material. The same effect can be obtained by applying means having the following configuration to the set table 10 side.

  For example, air jetting means 12 for blowing a medium (for example, air) toward the outer edge of the MEA base material sucked and held by the suction hand 22 is provided on the base material set stand 10 side (see FIG. 3). According to this, the MEA base material adsorbed excessively can be peeled off by blowing air. In other words, it becomes possible to drop the excessively adsorbed MEA base material and reliably adsorb only one MEA base material.

  This technique is also effective when, for example, the gas diffusion layer 72 laminated on the uppermost portion (that is, on the electrolyte membrane 74) is transported. In this case, when only one gas diffusion layer 72 is originally adsorbed, when the electrolyte membrane 74 is also adsorbed in addition to the gas diffusion layer 72, according to the control of the air ejection means 12, an extra amount is required. Since the adsorbed electrolyte membrane 74 is peeled off and dropped by the forced peeling force by air, only one gas diffusion layer 72 can be reliably adsorbed and transported. This is because the electrolyte membrane 74 generally has a larger area than the gas diffusion layer 72, and the gap between the outer edge of the adsorbed gas diffusion layer and the outer edge of the electrolyte membrane is caused by the outer edge of the electrolyte membrane hanging downward or the like. This is because forced peeling force is generated by blowing air into the gap. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the pressing control by the pressing means 22b is performed when air is blown, a peeling force is generated by the restoring force due to the elasticity of the electrolyte membrane 74 and the air is blown by the pressing control. Since the forced peeling force is generated, it becomes easier to peel off the excess electrolyte membrane 74.

  Further, a plurality of suction holes (not shown) connected to a vacuum means (not shown) may be provided on the mounting surface of the base material set base 10 (see FIG. 3). In this case, a suction force larger than the suction force generated in the suction hand 22 is generated on the placement surface of the base material set base 10. Specifically, for example, when only the gas diffusion layer 72 stacked on the uppermost portion (that is, on the electrolyte membrane 74) is transported, only the gas diffusion layer 72 on the lowermost portion (that is, below the electrolyte membrane 74) is transferred. In addition, an adsorption force enough to adsorb the electrolyte membrane 74 thereon is generated on the mounting surface of the base material set base 10.

  By doing so, an adsorption force to the substrate set base 10 is generated in the MEA base material that should not be transported, so that it is possible to suppress the extra MEA base material from adsorbing to the suction hand 22. That is, it becomes possible to reliably adsorb only one MEA substrate to be transported.

  In addition, according to FIG. 3, the structure which combined the convex-shaped deformation | transformation technique of the suction surface by said press means 22b, the air blowing technique by the air ejection means 12, and the suction force generation technique by the base-material set stand 10 is shown. However, it is effective even if each is used alone. It is also effective to combine any two of these three types of technologies. However, as shown in FIG. 3, it is most effective to appropriately combine these techniques.

  Further, a load sensor 14 is provided on the base material set base 10 in the present embodiment, and an MEA base material that should not be transported is adsorbed to the suction hand 22 based on weight information detected by the load sensor 14. You may make it detect whether it exists.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in which the load sensor 14 is provided on the base material set base 10. The load sensor 14 is raised by the cylinder 16 during measurement. Further, in the load sensor 14, the contact surface with the MEA base material that is roughly set on the base material setting base 10 is formed in a cross shape as shown in FIG. 4, for example. In addition, the dotted line in Fig.4 (a) shows the position of the base material for MEA mounted on the base-material set stand 10. FIG.

  And the detection by the load sensor 14 is performed in the following procedures.

  First, the worker M sets the MEA base material on the base material setting table 10 (see FIG. 5A), and then raises the load sensor 14 by the cylinder 16 to correspond to one set fuel cell. The total weight of the MEA base material is measured (see FIG. 5B) and output to the control device.

  Next, the load sensor 14 is once lowered, and then the suction holding operation of the MEA base material by the suction hand 22 is performed (see FIG. 5C), and then the load sensor 14 is lifted again to set the base material. The weight of the MEA base material remaining on the table 10 is measured (see FIG. 5D) and output to the control device.

  Then, the control device calculates the difference in weight before and after the adsorption holding operation of the MEA base material by the suction hand 22, and is obtained by calculating the weight of each MEA base material registered in advance in the control device. Compare the difference value.

  As a result of this comparison, when the difference value is substantially the same as the weight of the registered MEA base material, it can be determined by the suction hand 22 that only one MEA base material has been sucked and held.

  When the difference value is smaller than the weight of the registered MEA base material, it can be determined that the MEA base material to be held by the suction hand 22 is not sucked and held.

  Further, when the difference value is larger than the weight of the registered MEA base material, it can be determined that the extra MEA base material that should not be held by the suction hand 22 is also sucked and held (in FIG. 5D). State).

  As described above, whenever the suction holding operation of the MEA base material by the suction hand 22 is performed, the load sensor 14 is used to check whether the MEA base material that should not be transported is excessively sucked by the suction hand 22. By detecting based on the weight information, it is possible to prevent a holding state abnormality (the MEA substrate to be held is not sucked and held, or an extra MEA substrate that should not be held is also sucked and held), It is further possible to reliably adsorb only one MEA substrate.

  Here, when it is determined that the holding state is abnormal based on the weight information from the load sensor 14, the operator M is notified by warning means such as a warning, or the control device notifies the conveying means 20 to the suction hand. Control such as retrying the adsorption holding operation of the MEA base material by 22 may be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where one MEA base material for one fuel cell is transported one by one is described as an example. However, the technology of the present invention is not limited to this case and may be used in other cases. It is also applicable to. For example, when only one uppermost gas diffusion layer is taken out from a plurality of stacked gas diffusion layers and transported, only one uppermost transported object is picked up from the same type of transported objects stacked. It can be sufficiently applied to the case of transporting.

It is the schematic which shows an example of a structure of the manufacturing apparatus of the fuel cell concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the adsorption | suction hand of the conveyance means in the manufacturing apparatus of the fuel cell of FIG. 1, Fig.2 (a) shows the state after adsorption surface deformation | transformation, FIG.2 (b) shows the state after adsorption surface deformation | transformation. . It is a figure which shows an example of the structure which applied the other suction suppression means in addition to the suction hand of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the base-material set stand in the manufacturing apparatus of the fuel cell of FIG. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the base-material set stand of FIG. 4, Fig.5 (a) is the time of the base-material set for MEA, FIG.5 (b) is the time of the total weight measurement of the base material for MEA, FIG.5 (c) is FIG. FIG. 5D shows a state at the time of weight measurement of the MEA base material after the suction holding operation during the suction holding operation.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel cell manufacturing apparatus, 10 base material set stand, 12 air ejection means, 20 conveyance means, 22 adsorption | suction hand, 22a elastic plate, 22b press means, 23 arm part, 24 conveyance means main-body part, 25 connection part, 26 Guide rail, 30 Substrate position detection means, 40 Positioning lamination stage, 42, 42 'Press face plate, 50 Hot-pressing means, 60 Joined body extraction stage, 72 Gas diffusion layer, 74 Electrolyte membrane.

Claims (3)

Comprising an electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layer as MEA substrate for to send transportable a laminated MEA substrate for holding one not a One adsorption, in the manufacturing apparatus for a fuel cell cell to be assembled at a predetermined position There ,
A suction hand having a hollow structure for sucking the MEA base material, the suction hand being an elastic plate that has a plurality of suction holes and is elastically deformed so as to bend vertically by pressing;
As suppressing fouling it means that the number of sheets of MEA substrate for double is Ru is adsorbed, while adsorbing the MEA for a substrate by suction hand, deformed into the downward convex towards the elastic plate to the MEA for the substrate side Pressing means for pressing the elastic plate in the downward direction of the hollow structure so as to drop the next MEA substrate to the lamination position ;
A load sensor for measuring whether or not the weight of the MEA substrate sucked and held by the suction hand is the weight of one MEA substrate;
An apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell, comprising: In the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,
The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus, further comprising: an ejection unit that sprays a medium on the outer edge of the MEA base material adsorbed by the adsorption hand as the adsorption suppression unit. In the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,
An MEA base that should not be transported by providing a plurality of suction holes on the mounting surface of the base material setting table for setting the MEA base material and generating a suction force larger than the suction force generated by the suction hand on the mounting surface. An apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell, comprising a mounting surface adsorbing means for adsorbing a material at a position where the MEA base material is laminated.

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