JP5874676B2 - Joining apparatus and joining method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for conveying a band-shaped member, which is an elastic body, along a conveyance path and bonding a bonding member to the band-shaped member.

  Conventionally, when a fuel cell is manufactured, a fuel cell constituent member such as a gas diffusion layer is continuously joined to a band-shaped membrane electrode assembly. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a plurality of fuel cell components are arranged on a membrane electrode assembly at predetermined intervals while the membrane electrode assembly wound in a roll shape is drawn out and conveyed by a nip roll. A technique for pressing and joining battery constituent materials substantially simultaneously has been proposed.

JP 2010-251136 A

  The electrolyte membrane, which is a main component of the membrane / electrode assembly, is an elastic body having a specific elastic coefficient, and is also an elastic body as a whole. In the prior art described in Patent Document 1, the membrane electrode assembly, which is an elastic body, is drawn out and conveyed by a nip roll. When the tension by the nip roll fluctuates, the membrane electrode assembly expands and contracts, There was a problem that the joining position of the fuel cell constituent members was shifted. In addition, in the conventional bonding apparatus, it has been desired to reduce the size, to reduce the cost, to save resources, to facilitate manufacturing, to improve the efficiency of bonding, and the like.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms.

(1) One embodiment of the present invention is a joining device that transports a belt-shaped member that is an elastic body along a transport path and joins the joint member to the belt-shaped member at a predetermined joining position. The joining device includes: a first drive roller provided in the transport path; a second drive roller disposed on the downstream side of the first drive roller in the transport path; and the second drive roller in the transport path. A third driving roller disposed at the joining position downstream of the driving roller; provided between the second driving roller and the third driving roller in the transport path; A tension sensor for detecting the tension; and a control amount corresponding to a deviation between the detected tension and the target tension so that the tension detected by the tension sensor matches the target tension. A second drive roller control unit that controls the rotation speed of the second drive roller by feeding back to the rotation speed; and the second drive determined by the second drive roller control unit. A first drive roller controller for controlling the rotation speed of the first drive roller based on the rotation speed of the roller and the rotation speed ratio between the first drive roller and the second drive roller And comprising;

  According to the joining apparatus of this embodiment, since the belt-like member is an elastic body, the section (hereinafter referred to as “first section”) between the first drive roller and the second drive roller in the belt-like member. The strain generated by the tension is transmitted to a section between the second drive roller and the third drive roller (hereinafter referred to as “second section”), and as a result, the tension in the first section is the second. Propagate to the interval. For this purpose, the second driving roller control unit controls the rotation speed of the second driving roller based on the tension detected by the tension sensor, so that the tension in the second section matches the target tension. it can. Therefore, since the expansion and contraction of the band-shaped member in the second section can be suppressed, the displacement of the bonding position of the bonding member with respect to the band-shaped member can be suppressed.

(2) In the joining apparatus according to the aspect described above, the first drive roller control unit may determine the rotation speed ratio based on a control amount by the feedback control. According to the joining device having this configuration, the displacement of the joining position of the joining member with respect to the belt-like member can be improved with high stability and responsiveness.

(3) In the joining device according to the aspect described above, the first drive roller control unit may obtain a moving average of the control amount and determine the rotation speed ratio based on the value of the moving average. According to the joining apparatus having this configuration, the rotational speed ratio can be stably corrected by performing a moving average on the control amount with respect to a rapid fluctuation in tension generated when the joining member is put into the joining position. it can. Therefore, according to the joining apparatus of this form, the shift | offset | difference of the joining position of the joining member with respect to a strip-shaped member can be suppressed more reliably.

(4) In the joining device of the above aspect, the first driving roller is paired with a pressure roller arranged in parallel and sandwiches the belt-like member; the second driving roller is arranged in parallel The belt-shaped member is sandwiched between a pair of pressure rollers; the third driving roller may be configured to function as a pair of joining rollers for the joining. According to the joining device having this configuration, the displacement of the joining position of the joining member with respect to the belt-like member can be more reliably suppressed.

(5) In the joining device of the above aspect, the band-shaped member may be a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, and the joining member may be a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell. According to the joining device having this configuration, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the joining position of the gas diffusion layer with respect to the membrane electrode assembly when manufacturing the fuel cell.

(6) Another embodiment of the present invention is a joining method in which a belt-shaped member that is an elastic body is transported along a transport path, and the joint member is joined to the belt-shaped member at a predetermined joining position. This joining method includes a first drive roller provided in the conveyance path, a second drive roller disposed downstream of the first drive roller, and the downstream of the second drive roller. The belt-like member is conveyed by a third driving roller disposed at the joining position; the belt-like member is applied to the belt-like member at a predetermined position between the second driving roller and the third driving roller in the conveyance path. Detecting a tension; and feeding back a control amount corresponding to a deviation between the detected tension and the target tension to the rotational speed of the second driving roller so as to make the detected tension coincide with the target tension. , Controlling the rotational speed of the second drive roller; the rotational speed of the second drive roller determined by the control, and between the first drive roller and the second drive roller Based on the rolling speed ratio, it controls the rotational speed of the first driving roller. The joining method of this form produces the effect which can suppress the shift | offset | difference of the joining position of the joining member with respect to a strip | belt-shaped member similarly to the joining apparatus of the said form.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms other than the joining device and the joining method. For example, a fuel cell manufacturing apparatus including the joining device, a fuel cell manufacturing method including the steps of the joining method, a computer program for causing a computer to execute the steps of the joining method, and not a temporary recording of the computer program It can be realized in the form of a recording medium or the like.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the joining apparatus as 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows a strip | belt-shaped member. It is explanatory drawing which shows how each tension | tensile_strength of a 1st and 2nd tension area is controlled in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the function of the dancer which is a prior art. It is explanatory drawing which shows the problem of the prior art which comprised the joining apparatus without using a dancer. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the joining apparatus as 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the change of the detected value of the tension sensor according to the conveyance distance of a strip-shaped member. It is a graph which shows the tension | tensile_strength change of the 1st tension area according to the elapsed time when changing only a draw ratio in order.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
A. First embodiment:
A-1. The configuration of the strip member and the entire device:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bonding apparatus 100 as a first embodiment of the present invention. The joining device 100 is used in a manufacturing process of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (hereinafter simply referred to as “fuel cell”). In the joining device 100, the gas diffusion layer 7 is continuously aligned with the position of the catalyst electrode layer 3 with respect to the strip-shaped member 5r in which the membrane electrode assembly, which is a power generator constituting the fuel cell, is continuous in a strip shape. Join.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the belt-like member 5r. FIG. 2A is a plan view showing a surface of the belt-like member 5r on the second catalyst electrode layer 3 side. FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the belt-like member 5r. FIG. 2C shows a configuration of the membrane electrode assembly 5 (hereinafter also referred to as “membrane electrode assembly 5G with a diffusion layer”) to which the gas diffusion layer 7 is joined after being cut out from the belt-like member 5r. It is a schematic sectional drawing shown. In FIG. 2A, an arrow PD indicating the conveyance direction of the belt-like member 5r is shown. 2 (A) and 2 (B), the region GA where the gas diffusion layer 7 is disposed is indicated by a broken line, and the cutting is performed when the membrane electrode assembly 5G with the diffusion layer is cut out from the band-shaped member 5r. The line CL is illustrated by a one-dot chain line.

  The band-shaped member 5r is arranged so that the first catalyst electrode layer 2 covers the entire surface on one surface of the band-shaped electrolyte membrane 1 constituting the main body portion, and a plurality of second electrodes are disposed on the other surface. The catalyst electrode layers 3 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction (FIGS. 2A and 2B). The electrolyte membrane 1 is a solid polymer thin film showing good proton conductivity in a wet state, and is made of, for example, a fluorine ion exchange resin such as Nafion (registered trademark).

  The first and second catalyst electrode layers 2 and 3 are gas diffusible electrodes that function as anodes (fuel electrodes) or cathodes (oxidant electrodes) when supplied with a reaction gas. The first and second catalyst electrode layers 2 and 3 disperse conductive particles (for example, platinum-supported carbon) supporting a catalyst that promotes a fuel cell reaction and an electrolyte that is the same as or similar to the electrolyte membrane 1. It is formed as a dry coating film of the catalyst ink which is a dispersed solution. The band-shaped member 5r having such a configuration is an elastic body.

  In the joining apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the gas diffusion layer 7 is joined to the first catalyst electrode layer 2 in accordance with the arrangement position of the second catalyst electrode layer 3 in the belt-like member 5r. The gas diffusion layer 7 may be composed of a porous member having gas diffusibility and conductivity, or may be composed of a conductive fiber substrate such as carbon paper or carbon cloth.

  By the way, in the membrane electrode assembly 5G with diffusion layer of this embodiment (FIG. 2C), the position of the outer peripheral end of the first catalyst electrode layer 2 is substantially aligned with the position of the outer peripheral end of the electrolyte membrane 1. On the other hand, the position of the outer peripheral end of the second catalyst electrode layer 3 is located inside the outer peripheral end of the electrolyte membrane 1. That is, in the membrane electrode assembly 5G with the diffusion layer of the present embodiment, the outer peripheral ends of the first and second catalyst electrode layers 2 and 3 are separated from each other via the outer peripheral edge of the electrolyte membrane 1. As a result, it is possible to suppress so-called cross leak, in which unreacted reaction gas flows between the end portions of the two catalyst electrode layers 2 and 3 during power generation.

  In the membrane electrode assembly 5G with a diffusion layer of the present embodiment, the outer peripheral end of the gas diffusion layer 7 is located between the outer peripheral ends of the first and second catalyst electrode layers 2 and 3, It is not in direct contact with the electrolyte membrane 1. With this configuration, the fluff and burrs of the fibers existing at the outer peripheral end of the gas diffusion layer 7 are suppressed from piercing the surface of the electrolyte membrane 1. Further, with this configuration, even when hydrogen peroxide radicals are generated in the gas diffusion layer 7 during power generation of the fuel cell, the hydrogen peroxide radicals must be first before the electrolyte membrane 1 is reached. The catalyst electrode layer 2 is passed through. Therefore, the hydrogen peroxide radical generated in the gas diffusion layer 7 can be eliminated by the catalytic action of the first catalyst electrode layer 2, and the deterioration of the electrolyte membrane 1 due to the hydrogen peroxide radical can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the joining apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes an interleaf separating unit 110, a tension adjusting unit 120, a gas diffusion layer transport unit 140, a joining unit 150, an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as “ECU”). 170). The slip sheet peeling unit 110, the tension adjusting unit 120, and the joining unit 150 form a transport path for transporting the belt-like member 5r, and the slip sheet peeling section 110 and the tension from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport path. The adjustment unit 120 and the bonding unit 150 are arranged in this order.

  ECU 170 is configured by a microcomputer including a central processing unit and a main storage device. The ECU 170 controls the conveyance of the belt-shaped member 5r from the interleaf separating portion 110 to the joining portion 150. Further, the ECU 170 controls the transport of the gas diffusion layer 7 by the gas diffusion layer transport unit 140.

  The bonding apparatus 100 receives the supply of the strip-shaped member 5r from the membrane electrode assembly supply section (illustration and detailed description is omitted). Paper 6 is affixed. The interleaving paper peeling unit 110 peels the interleaving paper 6 from the belt-like member 5r while conveying the belt-like member 5r in the longitudinal direction. The slip sheet peeling unit 110 includes a drive roller 111, a pressure roller 112, a slip sheet transport roller 113, and a drive roller control unit 114. Hereinafter, the driving roller 111 included in the slip sheet peeling unit 110 is referred to as a “first driving roller 111”, and the driving roller control unit 114 is referred to as a “first driving roller control unit 114”.

  The first drive roller 111 is connected to a motor (not shown) and is driven to rotate at a rotation speed according to a command from the first drive roller control unit 114. The operation principle of the first drive roller control unit 114 will be described in detail later. The pressure roller 112 and the interleaf transport roller 113 are arranged in parallel at positions adjacent to the first drive roller 111 so as to rotate following the first drive roller 111. The pressure roller 112 is disposed on the upstream side, and the interleaf transport roller 113 is disposed on the downstream side thereof.

  The belt-like member 5r to which the interleaf paper 6 is attached is first fed between the first drive roller 111 and the pressure roller 112 and conveyed so that the interleaf paper 6 comes into contact with the pressure roller 112. The pressure roller 112 presses the belt-shaped member 5r toward the first drive roller 111, and applies pressure to the belt-shaped member 5r. The belt-like member 5 r pressed by the pressure roller 112 is conveyed as it is along the side surface of the first drive roller 111, and is conveyed between the first drive roller 111 and the interleaf transport roller 113. The interleaf transport roller 113 rotates while adsorbing the interleaf 6, thereby peeling the interleaf 6 from the belt-shaped member 5 r. Note that the slip sheet 6 peeled off from the belt-like member 5r is collected and discarded by a slip sheet collecting section (not shown). The first driving roller 111 and the pressure roller 112 constitute a so-called nip roller that sandwiches and conveys the belt-like member 5r.

  The tension adjusting unit 120 adjusts the tension (tension) applied to the belt-like member 5r while conveying the belt-like member 5r in the subsequent stage of the slip sheet peeling unit 110. The tension adjusting unit 120 includes a driving roller 121, a pressure roller 122, a tension sensor 125, and a driving roller control unit 126. Hereinafter, the driving roller 121 included in the tension adjusting unit 120 is referred to as a “second driving roller 121”, and the driving roller control unit 126 is referred to as a “second driving roller control unit 126”.

  The second drive roller 121 is connected to a motor (not shown), and is driven to rotate at a rotation speed according to a command from the second drive roller control unit 126. The operation principle of the second drive roller control unit 126 will be described in detail later. The pressure roller 122 is arranged in parallel at a position adjacent to the second drive roller 121 so as to be driven to rotate following the second drive roller 121.

  In the belt-like member 5r conveyed from the interleaf separating part 110, the surface on the first catalyst electrode layer 2 side is the second drive roller 121 side, and the surface on the second catalyst electrode layer 3 side is the pressure roller 122 side. The second drive roller 121 and the pressure roller 122 are fed so that The belt-like member 5r is conveyed by the rotational driving force of the second driving roller 121 while being applied with pressure from the pressure roller 112. The second drive roller 121 and the pressure roller 122 constitute a so-called nip roller that sandwiches and conveys the belt-like member 5r.

  The tension sensor 125 detects the tension of the belt-like member 5r sent out by the second drive roller 121 and the pressure roller 122. The tension sensor 125 includes a rotating roller 125r that rotates according to the conveyance of the belt-like member 5r while pressing the belt-like member 5r to apply tension. The tension sensor 125 detects the tension of the belt-like member 5r based on the reaction force that the rotating roller 125r receives from the belt-like member 5r. The tension sensor 125 outputs the detected tension to the second drive roller control unit 126.

  Based on the detection signal from the tension sensor 125, the second drive roller control unit 126 controls the rotational speed of the second drive roller 121 so that the tension of the band-shaped member 5r is maintained at the target tension, and The tension of the belt-like member 5r before reaching is adjusted. The configuration of the second drive roller control unit 126 will be described in detail later.

  The gas diffusion layer transport unit 140 performs a transport process for transporting the gas diffusion layer 7 to the pressure point PP of the joining roller 152 of the joining unit 150 in accordance with a command from the ECU 170. The pressurization point PP corresponds to the “joining position” described in the “Summary of Invention” column. A catalyst layer sensor 130 is provided at a predetermined position (hereinafter referred to as “detection point DP”) on the downstream side of the rotation roller 125r in the transport path of the belt-shaped member 5r, and transport processing by the gas diffusion layer transport section 140 is performed. Is determined based on the detection signal of the catalyst layer sensor 130.

  The catalyst layer sensor 130 is configured by an optical sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, for example. The catalyst layer sensor 130 detects the passage of the second catalyst electrode layer 3 at the detection point DP, and outputs a detection signal to the ECU 170. The ECU 170 detects the passage of the tip portion 3e of the second catalyst electrode layer 3 from the detection signal of the catalyst layer sensor 130, and at the time of detection, starts execution of the gas diffusion layer 7 conveyance process by the gas diffusion layer conveyance unit 140. To do. Here, the “tip portion” is a downstream end portion in the transport direction.

  The gas diffusion layer transport unit 140 includes a transfer 141, a drive motor 142, and a drive shaft 143. The transfer 141 is attached to the drive shaft 143, and in a predetermined section (between the base end position SP and the end position EP) along the axial direction of the drive shaft 143 according to the rotation of the drive shaft 143. Move back and forth. The drive shaft 143 is connected to the drive motor 142 and is rotated by the rotational driving force of the drive motor 142.

  The transfer 141 is supplied one by one from the storage (not shown) of the gas diffusion layer 7 at the base end position SP. The transfer 141 holds the gas diffusion layer 7 in parallel with the moving direction by vacuum adsorption, and moves linearly from the base end position SP to the terminal end position EP in the vicinity of the joint 150, whereby the gas diffusion layer 7 is transferred. Are joined to the belt-like member 5r. The transfer 141 repeats reciprocating movement between the base end position SP and the terminal end position EP every time the gas diffusion layer 7 is joined.

  The joining part 150 joins the gas diffusion layer 7 on the 1st catalyst electrode layer 2 of the strip | belt-shaped member 5r by pressure press. The joining unit 150 includes a conveyance roller 151 and a pair of joining rollers 152. The conveyance roller 151 changes the conveyance angle of the band-shaped member 5r so that the conveyance angle of the band-shaped member 5r is an acute angle with respect to the conveyance angle of the gas diffusion layer 7, and the belt-shaped member 5r is pressed to the pressure point PP of the joining roller 152. Guide to.

  The joining roller 152 receives the rotational speed command value N3 from the ECU 170, and rotates at a constant speed according to the rotational speed command value N3. The belt-like member 5r and the gas diffusion layer 7 merge at the pressing point PP of the joining roller 152 and are pressed. The band-like member 5r to which the gas diffusion layer 7 is bonded is sent to a cutting portion (illustration and detailed description are omitted) in order to cut out the membrane electrode assembly 5G with a diffusion layer. The joining roller 152 corresponds to the “third driving roller” described in the “Summary of Invention” column.

A-2. Configuration of first and second drive roller control unit:
Next, the configuration of the second drive roller control unit 126 provided in the tension adjusting unit 120 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the second drive roller control unit 126 includes a subtraction unit 210, a PID control unit 220, and an addition unit 230. The subtraction unit 210 inputs the target tension Tt sent from the ECU 170 and the tension Tr detected by the tension sensor 125, and outputs a deviation D obtained by subtracting the tension Tr from the target tension Tt. The target tension Tt is a predetermined value stored in advance in the ROM of the ECU 170.

  The PID control unit 220 performs the PID control with the deviation D as an input, and thereby sets a control amount u corresponding to the deviation D as a control target so that the tension Tr detected by the tension sensor 125 matches the target tension Tt. Feedback is given to the rotational speed of a certain second drive roller 121. That is, the PID control unit 220 obtains a control amount (correction amount) u of the rotation speed of the second drive roller 121 for making the tension Tr detected by the tension sensor 125 coincide with the target tension Tt. The unit of the control amount u is the same [mm / sec] as the rotation speed of the second drive roller 121. The PID control unit 220 includes various feedback control units such as a P control unit that performs P control only for proportional control, a PI control unit that performs PI control for proportional integral control, and a PD control unit that performs PD control for proportional differential control. Can be replaced. Furthermore, any control unit can be used as long as the control unit performs control to make the deviation D coincide with the value 0.

  The adding unit 230 receives the rotational speed command value N3 for the joining roller 152 sent from the ECU 170 and the control amount u that is an output signal of the PID control unit 220, and adds the sum of them to the second driving roller 121. Is output as a rotation speed command value N2. The rotation speed command value N2 is sent to the second drive roller 121 and also sent to the first drive roller control unit 114. The operation principle of the second drive roller control unit 126 having such a configuration will be described in detail later.

  The first drive roller control unit 114 provided in the tension adjustment unit 120 includes a draw ratio setting unit 310 and a multiplication unit 320. The draw ratio setting unit 310 outputs a predetermined value (a constant value) set in advance as the draw ratio K. The “draw ratio” is a rotation speed ratio between the first drive roller 111 and the second drive roller 121, and here, a ratio of the rotation speed of the first drive roller 111 to the rotation speed of the second drive roller 121. As shown. The predetermined value as the draw ratio K is obtained in advance experimentally or by simulation.

  The multiplication unit 320 inputs the rotational speed command value N2 sent from the second drive roller control unit 126 and the draw ratio K sent from the draw ratio setting unit 310, and sets the draw ratio K to the control amount u. The multiplication result is output to the first drive roller control unit 114 as the rotation speed command value N1. According to the first drive roller control unit 114 having such a configuration, the first drive roller 111 can be controlled at a rotation speed determined by the draw ratio K with the rotation speed of the second drive roller 121 as a reference.

  In the present embodiment, the first and second drive roller control units 114 and 126 are configured by discrete electronic circuits, but may be configured as one of the functions realized by the ECU 170 instead. .

A-3. Principle and effect of embodiment for suppressing strain change:
In the present embodiment, the transport mechanism constituted by the interleaf separating portion 110, the tension adjusting portion 120, and the joining portion 150 sandwiches and conveys the belt-like member 5r by a so-called nip roller such as a driving roller and a pressure roller or a joining roller. Is. For this reason, each of the section T1 between the first drive roller 111 and the second drive roller 121 and the section T2 between the second drive roller 121 and the joining roller 152 has an individual constant tension within each section. Have The section T1 between the first drive roller 111 and the second drive roller 121 is hereinafter referred to as “first tension section T1”, and the section T2 between the second drive roller 121 and the joining roller 152 is hereinafter referred to as “second tension”. This is called “section T2”.

  According to the web handling technology in which the belt-shaped member is sandwiched and conveyed by the nip roller, it is generally considered that the tension in the tension section is divided by the nip roller and does not propagate to the tension section on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. On the other hand, the inventor of the present application finds that the transport mechanism of the present embodiment has the following characteristics (i) and (ii), and tension is applied from the first tension section T1 to the second tension section T2. Confirmed that there was propagation.

(I) The belt-shaped member 5r is an elastic body as described above, but the elastic band-shaped member 5r has a spring-like characteristic in the generated strain. In other words, the elastic band member 5r exerts a force to shrink when it is stretched within a range in which it can be elastically deformed.
(Ii) At the time of transporting the belt-like member 5r, the strain generated in the belt-like member 5r in the tension section is propagated to the downstream tension section without being divided by the tension section. That is, the strain generated in the first tension section T1 is propagated to the second tension section T2.

  When strain is propagated according to the above characteristics (i) and (ii), the strain tends to return to the original size, and as a result, tension is propagated to the downstream tension section. Accordingly, the inventors of the present application have conceived the configurations of the first drive roller control unit 114 and the second drive roller control unit 126. That is, first, a rotation speed command value N3 is commanded to the joining roller 152 which is a line master, and the joining roller 152 is rotated at a constant speed. Based on the rotational speed of the joining roller 152 and the tension Tr detected by the tension sensor 125 provided between the second tension sections T2, feedback control is performed by the second drive roller control unit 126. On the other hand, in the first tension section T <b> 1, the first driving roller control unit 114 applies tension by providing a rotational speed difference between the first driving roller 111 and the second driving roller 121.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how the tensions in the first and second tension sections T1 and T2 are controlled by the above control. The strain generated by the tension in the first tension section T1 is transmitted to the second tension section T2, and as a result, the tension in the first tension section T1 is transmitted to the second tension section T2. As a result, a pre-tension section called a first tension section T1 is provided for the second tension section T2, and the control amount u for tension correction in the second tension section T2 can be kept small. The small amount of control means that the expansion and contraction of the belt-like member 5r is small, and the positional deviation of the belt-like member 5r at the pressing point PP of the joining roller 152 can be prevented.

  Conventional web handling equipment transport control is based on the idea of keeping the tension constant within a range delimited by tension sections. The tension section is a section divided by nip rollers, and the tension is stored in the tension section. In order to make the tension constant, a roller called a dancer is generally used.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the function of the dancer. As shown in the figure, when the belt-like member A4 is conveyed by the first to third driving rollers A1, A2, A3, the dancer is disposed above the conveying path between the first driving roller A1 and the second driving roller A2. A5 is provided. The dancer A5 presses the belt-like member A4 between the first drive roller A1 and the second drive roller A2 with a constant pressure. Thereby, a constant tension can be applied to the belt-like member A4 in the section between the second drive roller A2 and the third drive roller A3. However, in the conventional technique using the dancer A5, since the pressing portion A6 of the dancer A5 moves up and down, the belt-like member A4 is displaced at the position of the third drive roller A3.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the problems of the prior art in which the joining device is configured without using a dancer. If a joining device is to be configured without using a dancer, when the belt-like member B4 conveyed by the first to third driving rollers B1, B2, B3 is an elastic body, the second driving roller B2 and the third driving roller B2 When the tension varies in the section between the driving roller B3, the belt-like member B4 expands and contracts. For this reason, the positional deviation of the belt-like member B4 occurred at the position of the third drive roller B3 (pressure point B5). Therefore, there is a problem that the position of the joining member B6 with respect to the belt-like member B4 is shifted at the position of the third driving roller B3.

  In contrast to these conventional techniques, according to the joining apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, as described above, it is possible to prevent the positional deviation of the belt-like member 5r at the pressing point PP of the joining roller 152. Therefore, the joining apparatus 100 of 1st Embodiment has the effect that the shift | offset | difference of the joining position of the gas diffusion layer 7 with respect to the strip | belt-shaped member 5r can be suppressed.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bonding apparatus 100X as the second embodiment of the present invention. The joining device 100X differs from the joining device 100 in the first embodiment in the configuration of the first drive roller control unit 114X. Since the other configuration of the bonding apparatus 100X in the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the bonding apparatus 100 in the first embodiment, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. The description is omitted.

  The draw ratio setting unit 310 (FIG. 1) provided in the first drive roller control unit 114 in the first embodiment is configured to output a draw ratio K that is a constant value, but in contrast to this, the second embodiment. The first drive roller control unit 114X includes a draw ratio setting unit 310X that receives a control amount u that is an output signal of the PID control unit 220 and outputs a draw ratio K2 that is varied based on the control amount u. In the second embodiment, the sign of the draw ratio is “K2”. The draw ratio K2 is sent to the multiplication unit 320 as in the first embodiment.

  In the draw ratio setting unit 310X, the calculation for changing the draw ratio K2 based on the control amount u is based on the following idea. As described above, the tension in the first tension section T1 is propagated to the second tension section T2. Therefore, when the tension application in the first tension section T1 is too large, the control amount u increases to the negative side, and when the tension application in the first tension section T1 is too small, the control amount u increases to the positive side. Become. From this, it is considered that when the control amount u is small, the tension application in the first tension section T1 is appropriate, and the draw ratio is an optimum value. Considering this, the draw ratio K2 corresponding to the control amount u is obtained by the following equation (1).

  However, Ko and Kp are predetermined values. A lower limit value and an upper limit value are determined in advance for K2 obtained by Expression (1), and can be changed in a range from the lower limit value to the upper limit value. For this reason, Kp is a predetermined value in consideration of the lower limit value and the upper limit value. On the other hand, Ko is obtained in advance experimentally or by simulation, and is, for example, a predetermined value determined as the draw ratio K in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, according to the first drive roller control unit 114X including the draw ratio setting unit 310X that performs the calculation of Expression (1), the draw ratio K2 appropriately changed by the control amount u is used to adjust the second drive roller 121. The rotational speed of the first drive roller 111 based on the rotational speed is obtained. As a result, according to the joining apparatus 100X of the second embodiment, the displacement of the joining position of the gas diffusion layer 7 with respect to the belt-like member 5r can be suppressed as in the joining apparatus 100 of the first embodiment. In particular, in this second embodiment, since the draw ratio is also varied so that the controlled variable u becomes small, the displacement of the bonding position of the gas diffusion layer 7 with respect to the belt-like member 5r is suppressed with good stability and responsiveness. Can do.

C. Third embodiment:
Next, a joining apparatus as a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The joining apparatus of 3rd Embodiment differs in the structure of the draw ratio setting part with which a 1st drive roller control part is equipped compared with the joining apparatus 100X of 2nd Embodiment. The other structure of the joining apparatus in 3rd Embodiment is the same as the structure of the joining apparatus 100X in 2nd Embodiment, The description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The draw ratio setting unit 310X of the second embodiment is configured to perform the arithmetic processing according to the above-described equation (1). On the other hand, the draw ratio setting unit of the third embodiment has the following equation (2). The arithmetic processing according to is performed. In the third embodiment, the sign of the required draw ratio is “K3”.

  However, Ko, Kp, and Ki are predetermined values. Ko and Kp are the same as the formula (1) in the second embodiment. v is a conveyance speed. According to Equation (2), it is possible to smooth the draw ratio K3 obtained by taking the moving average of the control amount u.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing changes in the detection value of the tension sensor 125 according to the transport distance of the belt-like member 5r. A range AR1 surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in the drawing is when the gas diffusion layer 7 of the single wafer is put into the pressurization point PP, and the waveform changes greatly like a pulse. A range AR2 surrounded by a two-dot chain line in the figure is a time when the gas diffusion layer 7 of the single wafer has passed (disengaged) the pressurization point PP, and the pulse shape waveform change is smaller than the waveform change in the range AR1. There is. Tz in the figure is the interval between the gas diffusion layers 7 of the single wafer.

  When the detection value of the tension sensor 125 greatly fluctuates, the control amount u that is an output signal of the PID control unit 220 also fluctuates greatly. However, in the draw ratio setting unit of the third embodiment, the movement of the control amount u as described above. Since the average draws the draw ratio K3, the draw ratio K3 can be changed smoothly. As a result, even when a disturbance such as a pulse occurs in the tension of the belt-like member 5 r when the gas diffusion layer 7 of the single wafer is introduced, the second tension between the second drive roller 121 and the joining roller 152 is generated. Variations in the tension of the belt-like member 5r in the section T2 can be suppressed. Therefore, according to the joining apparatus of 3rd Embodiment, the shift | offset | difference of the joining position of the gas diffusion layer 7 with respect to the strip | belt-shaped member 5r can be suppressed further.

D. Variations:
・ Modification 1:
The predetermined value as the draw ratio K in the first embodiment, the predetermined value K0 in the equation (1) in the second embodiment, and the predetermined value K0 in the equation (2) in the third embodiment are obtained in advance experimentally or by simulation. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the draw ratio is tuned by the following method. First, experimentally, in the first embodiment (which may be the second embodiment or the third embodiment), the feedback gain is set to 0, the control amount u is set to 0, only the draw ratio K is changed in order, and the elapsed time is set. A change in tension applied to the belt-like member 5r in the first tension section T1 according to the above is measured.

  FIG. 8 is a graph showing the tension change in the first tension section T1 according to the elapsed time when only the draw ratio K is changed in order. When the first driving roller 111 is earlier than the second driving roller 121, the tension applied to the belt-like member 5r becomes small as shown by the two-dot chain line in the graph, and the belt-like member 5r in the first tension section T1 is slack. It becomes a state. On the other hand, when the first driving roller 111 is slower than the second driving roller 121, the tension applied to the belt-like member 5r increases as shown by the one-dot chain line in the graph, and the belt-like member 5r in the first tension section T1 becomes There was a risk of breaking due to tension. Therefore, as shown by the solid line in the graph, the value of the draw ratio K when the vertical fluctuation is repeated around the middle of the two-dot chain line and the one-dot chain line is the predetermined value as the draw ratio K in the first embodiment, the third The predetermined value K0 in the embodiment and the predetermined value K0 in the second embodiment are determined. By determining the predetermined value K0 of the draw ratio as described above, the optimum draw ratio can be set with good stability and responsiveness.

Modification 2
The joining device of each of the above-described embodiments and Modification 1 is used in a fuel cell manufacturing process, and the gas diffusion layer 7 is joined to the belt-like member 5r in which the membrane electrode assembly 5 for the fuel cell is an elastic body. Was. However, the joining device of each embodiment and Modification 1 may not be used in the fuel cell manufacturing process. The joining apparatus of each embodiment may convey the belt-like member which is another elastic body instead of the belt-like member 5r, and may join a joint member other than the gas diffusion layer 7 to the belt-like member.

・ Modification 3:
In each of the above embodiments and modifications, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is adopted as the fuel cell. However, the fuel cell is applied to various fuel cells such as a phosphoric acid fuel cell, a molten carbonate fuel cell, and a solid oxide fuel cell. The present invention may be applied.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, examples, and modifications, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments, examples, and modifications corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary section of the invention are to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or In order to achieve part or all of the above effects, replacement or combination can be performed as appropriate. Moreover, elements other than the elements described in the independent claims among the constituent elements in the above-described embodiments and modifications are additional elements and can be omitted as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrolyte membrane 2 ... 1st catalyst electrode layer 3 ... 2nd catalyst electrode layer 5 ... Membrane electrode assembly 5G ... Membrane electrode assembly 5d with a diffusion layer 5 ... Strip-shaped member 6 ... Interleaf 7 ... Gas diffusion layer 100, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100X ... Joining device 110 ... Interleaving paper peeling part 111 ... 1st drive roller 112 ... Pressure roller 113 ... Interleaf paper conveyance roller 114, 114X ... 1st drive roller control part 120 ... Tension adjustment part 121 ... 2nd drive roller 122 ... Pressure roller 125 ... Tension sensor 125r ... Rotary roller 126 ... Second drive roller control unit 130 ... Catalyst layer sensor 140 ... Gas diffusion layer transport unit 141 ... Transfer 142 ... Drive motor 143 ... Drive shaft 150 ... Joint portion 152 ... Joint roller (Third drive roller)
170 ... ECU
210 ... Subtracting unit 220 ... PID control unit 230 ... Adding unit 310, 310X ... Draw ratio setting unit 320 ... Multiplying unit D ... Deviation u ... Control amount K, K2, K3 ... Draw ratio N1, N2, N3 ... Rotational speed command value T1 ... First tension section T2 ... Second tension section PP ... Pressure point DP ... Detection point Tr ... Tension Tt ... Target tension

Claims (6)

A joining device that transports a belt-like member that is an elastic body along a transport path, and joins the joining member to the belt-like member at a predetermined joining position,
A first drive roller provided in the transport path;
A second drive roller disposed downstream of the first drive roller in the transport path;
A third drive roller disposed at the joining position on the downstream side of the second drive roller in the transport path;
A tension sensor that is provided between the second drive roller and the third drive roller in the conveyance path and detects a tension applied to the belt-shaped member;
By feeding back a control amount corresponding to the deviation between the detected tension and the target tension to the rotational speed of the second drive roller so that the tension detected by the tension sensor matches the target tension, A second drive roller controller for controlling the rotational speed of the second drive roller;
The first drive based on the rotation speed of the second drive roller determined by the second drive roller controller and the rotation speed ratio between the first drive roller and the second drive roller. A first drive roller controller that controls the rotational speed of the roller;
A joining apparatus comprising: The joining device according to claim 1,
The first drive roller controller is
The joining apparatus which determines the said rotational speed ratio based on the control amount by the said feedback control. The joining device according to claim 2,
The first drive roller controller is
The joining apparatus which calculates | requires the moving average of the said controlled variable, and determines the said rotational speed ratio based on the value of the said moving average. It is a joining device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The first drive roller is paired with a pressure roller arranged in parallel and sandwiches the belt-shaped member,
The second driving roller is paired with a pressure roller arranged in parallel and sandwiches the band-shaped member,
The third drive roller is a joining device that functions as a joining roller for the joining as a pair. It is a joining device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The band-shaped member is a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell,
The joining device, wherein the joining member is a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell. It is a joining method for transporting a belt-shaped member that is an elastic body along a transport path, and joining the joint member to the belt-shaped member at a predetermined joining position,
The first driving roller provided in the conveyance path, the second driving roller disposed downstream of the first driving roller, and the joining position downstream of the second driving roller. The third driving roller conveys the belt-shaped member,
Detecting a tension applied to the belt-like member at a predetermined position between the second drive roller and the third drive roller in the conveyance path;
By feeding back a control amount corresponding to the deviation between the detected tension and the target tension to the rotational speed of the second drive roller so as to make the detected tension coincide with the target tension, Control the rotation speed of the drive roller,
Based on the rotation speed of the second drive roller determined by the control and the rotation speed ratio between the first drive roller and the second drive roller, the rotation speed of the first drive roller is determined. The bonding method to control.

Images