KR20170037819A - Connecting method, coating method, manufacturing method, connecting appratus, coating apparatus, and manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a technique for connecting end portions of a first base material and a second base material, and suppressing occurrence of inclination or gaps between both base materials. First, an end portion of the first base material (901) and an end portion of the second base material (902) are held while overlapping in the longitudinal direction of the base materials. Next, an overlapping portion between the end portion of the first base material (901) and the end portion of the second base material (902) is simultaneously cut along a cutting reference line extending in the width direction of the base materials. Thereafter, a tape is attached so as to cover the first base material (901) and the second base material (902) along the cutting reference line. By simultaneously cutting the first base material (901) and the second base material (902), a cut portion of the first base material (901) and a cut portion of the second base material (902) overlap with high precision. Therefore, it is possible to suppress occurrence of inclination or gaps between both the base materials (901, 902).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a connecting method, a coating method, a manufacturing method, a connecting apparatus, a coating apparatus,

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technique for connecting a first substrate and a second substrate which are successively transported in an apparatus for coating catalyst ink on a base material having a long band in which two layers of a support film and an electrolyte membrane are laminated.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] In recent years, fuel cells have attracted attention as driving power sources for automobiles and mobile phones. A fuel cell is a power generation system that generates electric power by electrochemical reaction between hydrogen (H ₂ ) contained in fuel and oxygen (O ₂ ) in the air. The fuel cell has a feature that the generation efficiency is high and the load on the environment is small as compared with other cells.

There are several types of fuel cells depending on the electrolyte used. One of them is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) using an ion exchange membrane (electrolyte membrane) as an electrolyte. The solid polymer type fuel cell can be operated at room temperature and can be reduced in size and weight, and is expected to be applied to automobiles and portable devices.

Solid polymer fuel cells generally have a structure in which a plurality of cells are stacked. One cell is formed by sandwiching both sides of a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) with a pair of separators. The membrane-electrode assembly is obtained by disposing a gas diffusion layer on both sides of a catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) in which a catalyst layer is formed on both surfaces of an electrolyte thin film (polymer electrolyte membrane). A pair of electrode layers are constituted by a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer disposed on both sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched therebetween. One of the pair of electrode layers is an anode electrode and the other is a cathode electrode. When the fuel gas containing hydrogen contacts the anode electrode and air comes into contact with the cathode electrode, electric power is generated by the electrochemical reaction.

The above-mentioned membrane / catalyst layer assembly typically comprises a catalyst ink (electrode paste) in which catalyst particles containing platinum (Pt) are dispersed in a solvent such as alcohol on the surface of the electrolyte membrane, and the catalyst ink is dried . However, the electrolyte membrane used in the solid polymer type fuel cell has a property of being easily deformed according to the humidity in the atmosphere. Therefore, at the time of producing the membrane-catalyst layer assembly, the electrolyte membrane is supplied while being adhered to the sheet-like support film.

A conventional technique for producing a membrane / catalyst layer bonded body is described in, for example, Patent Document 1 (see paragraph 0071) and Patent Document 2

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2015-58372 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-229370

In this type of coating apparatus, a base material in a long band wound in a roll form is fed out from a take-up roller. Then, when the substrate (first substrate) that has been transported is no longer present, a new roll substrate (second substrate) is set on the take-up roller. Then, the rear end of the first base material in the conveying direction and the front end of the second base material in the conveying direction are connected to restart conveyance of the base material. Thereby, catalyst ink is continuously applied to the first base material and the second base material.

However, when the first base material and the second base material are connected in an oblique manner at the time of connecting the base material, the tension applied to the base material locally becomes large when the base material and the second base material pass through the roller. As a result, the penetration of the solvent into the electrolyte membrane in the catalyst ink becomes uneven, and the electrolyte membrane may peel off from the support film.

The rear end portion of the first base material, the second base material and the front end portion are connected, for example, by affixing a tape to both sides. At this time, if there is a gap between the first base material and the second base material, the tape adhered to both surfaces is strongly adhered to each other. If such tapes are brought into close contact with each other, it becomes difficult to separate the support film from the electrolyte film.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for connecting end portions of a first base material and a second base material to each other and suppressing the occurrence of inclination or gap between both substrates do.

In order to solve the above problems, the first invention of the present application is a connection method for connecting end portions of a first base material and a second base material, which are base materials in a long band in which two layers are laminated, comprising the steps of: a) A step of holding the end portion of the second substrate in a state of being overlapped in the longitudinal direction of the base material; b) after the step a), the overlapping point of the end portion of the first base material and the end portion of the second base material, C) cutting the tape along a cutting reference line extending in the width direction of the substrate at the same time, and c) after the step b), pasting the tape so as to straddle the first substrate and the second substrate along the cutting reference line C-1) attaching the tape to one side of the first base material and one side of the second base material, c-2) attaching the first base material to the first base material, And the other surface of the second substrate To a step of the tape patch.

The second invention of the present application is the connection method of the first invention, wherein in the step a), the end portion of the first base material and the end portion of the second base material are adsorbed on the upper surface of the holding plate having a plurality of adsorption holes.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the connecting method of the second invention, the upper surface of the holding plate has a first groove extending in the width direction and a second groove extending in the width direction (A-1) holding the first base material on the upper surface of the holding plate, and (a-2) forming the first base material on the upper surface of the first base material, Cutting the substrate along the first groove; and (a-3) holding the end of the second substrate on the upper surface of the holding plate so as to overlap the end of the first substrate after the cutting, wherein in the step , And the overlap point is cut along the second groove.

The fourth invention of the present application is the connection method of the third invention, wherein in the step a-1), the upper surface of the holding plate approaches the lower surface of the horizontally disposed first base.

The fifth invention of the present application is the connection method of the third invention, wherein in the step a-1), the first base material is fixed on the downstream side of the holding plate in the carrying direction, and in the step a-3) , The second base material is fixed on the upstream side of the holding plate in the carrying direction.

The sixth invention of the present application is the connection method of the second invention, wherein in the step a-3), between the pair of positioning members disposed on both sides in the width direction of the end portion of the first base material, As shown in Fig.

The seventh invention of the present application is a coating method for coating catalytic ink on the surface of a first base material and a second base material which are base materials on a long belt in which two layers of a support film and an electrolyte film are laminated, A step of connecting the ends of the first base material and the second base material with each other by a connecting method according to any one of the first to tenth aspects of the present invention; y) a step of coating catalyst ink on the surface of the base material, .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for producing a membrane-catalyst layer assembly having a catalyst layer formed on a surface of an electrolyte membrane, the process comprising the steps of: a) providing a base material in the form of a long belt having at least two layers of a support film and an electrolyte membrane laminated, A dummy base material in a longitudinal band in which at least two layers of the second layer are laminated is used as the first base material and the actual base material is used as the second base material for each layer in the connection method of the first invention A step of forming a connection substrate in a longitudinal band in which the support film and the first layer are arranged in the longitudinal direction and the electrolyte membrane and the second layer are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and b) C) peeling off the first layer from the second layer, and then peeling off the support film from the electrolyte film, and d) And coating the catalyst material on the surface of the peeled electrolyte membrane.

The ninth invention of the present application is the method of manufacturing the membrane-catalyst bed junction body of the eighth invention, further comprising a step of hooking the dummy substrate on a transport path from the winding section to the winding section before the step a).

A tenth aspect of the present invention is a method for producing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly having a catalyst layer formed on a surface of an electrolyte membrane, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a base material on an elongated strip having at least two layers of a support film and an electrolyte membrane stacked thereon, And the dummy base material is used as the second base material for each layer by the connection method according to the first aspect of the invention, the dummy base material is used as the first base material, A step of forming a film and a connecting substrate on the long layer in which the first layer is lengthened in the longitudinal direction and the electrolyte layer and the second layer are lengthened in the longitudinal direction, and b) , C) peeling off the support film from the electrolyte film, and then peeling off the first layer from the second layer, and d) And coating the catalyst material on the surface of the peeled electrolyte membrane.

The eleventh invention of the present application is a manufacturing method of a membrane / catalyst bed junction body according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, further comprising a step of recovering the dummy substrate in a conveyance path from the winding portion to the winding portion after the step d) .

The twelfth invention of the present application is a method for producing a membrane / catalyst bed bonded body according to the ninth or eleventh aspect, wherein the length of the dummy substrate in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the transport path.

The thirteenth invention of the present application is a manufacturing method of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly of the twelfth invention, wherein the second layer has a sticking material on a surface in contact with the first layer.

The fourteenth invention of the present application is a manufacturing method of a membrane-catalyst bed junction body according to the twelfth invention, wherein the thickness of the first layer is approximately the same as the thickness of the support film, and the thickness of the second layer is a thickness of the electrolyte membrane .

The fifteenth invention of the present application is a manufacturing method of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly of the fourteenth invention, wherein the thickness of the second layer is thinner than the thickness of the first layer.

The sixteenth invention of the present application is a method for producing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly of the twelfth invention, wherein the first layer and the second layer are both PET films.

The seventeenth invention of the present application is a connecting device for connecting end portions of a first base material and a second base material which are base materials in a long band in which two layers are laminated, comprising: a holding plate having an upper surface in contact with a lower surface of the base material horizontally disposed; Wherein an upper surface of the holding plate has an arrangement region in which an end portion of the first base material and an end portion of the second base material are arranged so as to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction of the base material, Lt; / RTI >

The eighteenth invention of the present application is the connection apparatus of the seventeenth invention, wherein the upper surface of the holding plate has a plurality of suction holes.

The nineteenth invention of the present application is the connecting device of the seventeenth invention, wherein the upper surface of the holding plate has a first groove extending in the width direction and a second groove extending in the width direction And a second groove as the cutting reference line.

The twentieth invention of the present application is the connecting device of the seventeenth invention further comprising a lifting mechanism for moving the holding plate up and down.

The twenty-first invention of the present application is the connecting device according to the seventeenth invention, further comprising: a downstream-side clamp mechanism for fixing the first base member on the downstream side of the holding plate in the carrying direction; And further comprises an upstream side clamp mechanism for fixing the second substrate.

The twenty-second invention of the present application is the connection apparatus of the seventeenth invention, further comprising a cutter capable of advancing and retreating along the cutting reference line.

The twenty-third invention of the present application is a coating apparatus for coating catalytic ink on the surface of a first base material and a second base material, which are bases in a long band in which two layers of a support film and an electrolyte membrane are laminated, A connection device according to any one of claims 17 to 22 arranged on the conveyance path; a catalyst device disposed on the downstream side of the connection device on the conveyance path and coated with catalyst ink on the surface of the substrate; As shown in Fig.

The twenty-fourth invention of the present application is an apparatus for producing a membrane / catalyst layer junction body having a catalyst layer formed on a surface of an electrolyte membrane, the apparatus comprising: a base body in a longitudinal band in which at least two layers of a support film and an electrolyte membrane are stacked; A dummy substrate in which a two-layer laminated long dummy substrate is formed is characterized in that either one of the seal base material and the dummy base material is used as the first base material and the other is used as the second base material and any one of the seventeenth to twenty- A connecting portion for connecting the support film and the first layer in a longitudinal direction and forming a connection substrate in a longitudinal band in which the electrolyte membrane and the second layer are arranged in the longitudinal direction, A transfer mechanism for transferring the connecting substrate in the longitudinal direction, a peeling-off process for peeling off the first layer from the second layer, and peeling off the supporting film from the electrolyte film And, on the downstream side of the transport path than the release portion has a coating portion for coating a catalytic material on the surface of the electrolyte membrane.

According to the first to sixteenth inventions, it is possible to connect the end portions of the first base material and the second base material, and to suppress the occurrence of inclination and gaps between the two base materials.

Particularly, according to the second invention, the end portion of the first base material and the end portion of the second base material can be maintained in a stable state.

Particularly, according to the third invention, at steps a-1) and b), different points of the first substrate are cut. Thereby, after step b), it is possible to further suppress the gap left between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Particularly, according to the fourth invention, the first base material can be held on the upper surface of the holding plate without changing the height of the conveying path of the base material.

Particularly, according to the fifth invention, the positional deviation of the first base material and the second base material on the holding plate can be further suppressed.

Particularly, according to the sixth invention, the end portion of the first base material and the end portion of the second base material can be easily positioned in the width direction.

Particularly, according to the eighth aspect of the invention and the subordinate invention thereof, it is possible to reduce a portion that is not normally coated in the vicinity of the front end in the transport direction of the electrolyte membrane. Thus, the material loss of the electrolyte membrane can be reduced.

Particularly, according to the tenth invention and its subordinate invention, it is possible to reduce a portion which is not normally coated in the vicinity of the rear end in the transport direction of the electrolyte membrane. Thus, the material loss of the electrolyte membrane can be reduced.

According to the seventeenth invention to the twenty-fourth invention, both ends of the first base material and the second base material can be held on the upper surface of the holding plate, and the overlapping points can be cut to connect both substrates. This makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of inclination and gaps between both substrates.

Particularly, according to the eighteenth aspect, the end portion of the first base material and the end portion of the second base material can be maintained in a stable state.

In particular, according to the nineteenth invention, the substrate can be cut in two steps along the first groove and the second groove. This makes it possible to further suppress the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Particularly, according to the twentieth invention, the base material can be held on the upper surface of the holding plate without changing the height of the conveying path of the base material.

Particularly, according to the twenty-first invention, displacement of the first base material and the second base material on the holding plate can be further suppressed.

Particularly, according to the twenty-fourth invention, it is possible to reduce a portion which is not normally coated in the vicinity of the end portion in the carrying direction of the electrolyte membrane. Thus, the material loss of the electrolyte membrane can be reduced.

1 is a view showing a configuration of a first side coating apparatus.
2 is a control block diagram of the first side coating apparatus.
3 is a view showing a configuration of a second side coating apparatus.
4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the peeling roller.
5 is a view showing a schematic shape of a drying furnace at a cross section including the axis of the adsorption roller.
6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the lamination roller.
7 is a control block diagram of the second side coating machine.
8 is a top view of the connecting device.
9 is a side view of the connection device.
10 is a view showing the state of connection processing of base material in the connection apparatus.
11 is a view showing the state of connection processing of the base material in the connection apparatus.
Fig. 12 is a view showing the state of connection processing of base material in the connection apparatus. Fig.
13 is a view showing the state of connection processing of base material in the connection apparatus.
14 is a view showing the state of connection processing of base material in the connection apparatus.
Fig. 15 is a view showing the state of connection processing of a base material in a connection apparatus. Fig.
16 is a view showing the state of connection processing of the base material in the connection device.
17 is a view showing the state of connection processing of base material in the connection apparatus.
18 is a view showing the state of connection processing of the base material in the connection apparatus.
19 is a view showing the state of connection processing of the base material in the connection device.
20 is a partial cross-sectional view of the base material and the dummy base material in the vicinity of the front end in the carrying direction of the present invention.
21 is a partial cross-sectional view of the base material and the dummy base material in the vicinity of the rear end in the carrying direction of the present invention.
Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing the flow of conveyance of substrate.
23 is a view showing a state in which the first layer and the second layer of the dummy substrate are partially separated (a comparative example).
24 is a view showing a state in which the support film and the electrolyte membrane of the present invention are partially separated (comparative example).

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<1. Construction of First Side Coating Apparatus>

1 is a view showing a configuration of a first surface coating apparatus 1 which is an example of a coating apparatus according to the present invention. This first-side coating apparatus 1 is a method of manufacturing a membrane-catalyst bed bonded body for a solid polymer type fuel cell in which a substrate 90 in a longitudinal band is transported in the longitudinal direction, Thereby forming a catalyst layer serving as an electrode. 1, the base material 90 has a structure in which two layers of the support film 91 and the electrolyte membrane 92 are laminated. The first surface coating apparatus 1 is constructed such that a catalyst ink is applied to a surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 not covered with the support film 91 (hereinafter referred to as the &quot; first surface &quot;), Thereby forming a catalyst material layer 9a.

As the electrolyte membrane 92, for example, a fluorine-based or hydrocarbon-based polymer electrolyte membrane is used. Specific examples of the electrolyte membrane 92 include a polymer electrolyte membrane containing perfluorocarbonsulfonic acid (for example, Nafion (registered trademark) manufactured by DuPont USA, Flemion (registered trademark) manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Aciplex (registered trademark) manufactured by Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and Goreselect (registered trademark) manufactured by Gore Corporation). The film thickness of the electrolyte membrane 92 is, for example, 5 mu m to 30 mu m. The electrolyte membrane 92 is swollen by moisture in the air, and shrinks when the humidity is low. That is, the electrolyte membrane 92 has a property of being easily deformed according to the humidity in the atmosphere.

The support film 91 is a film for suppressing the deformation of the electrolyte membrane 92. As the material of the support film 91, a resin having a mechanical strength higher than that of the electrolyte film 92 and having excellent shape-retaining function is used. Specific examples of the support film 91 include films of PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The film thickness of the support film 91 is, for example, 25 mu m to 100 mu m.

1, the first surface coating apparatus 1 includes a transport mechanism 11, a coating section 12, a drying section 13, and a control section 14. As shown in Fig.

The transport mechanism 11 is a mechanism for transporting the substrate 90 in the transport direction along its longitudinal direction. The transport mechanism 11 of the present embodiment has a substrate unwinding roller 111, a plurality of transport rollers 112, and a substrate take-up roller 113. [ The base material 90 is fed out from the substrate unwinding roller 111 and conveyed along a conveyance path defined by a plurality of conveyance rollers 112. [ Each conveying roller 112 rotates about the horizontal axis to guide the base material 90 to the downstream side of the conveying path. The substrate 90 after the conveyance is returned to the substrate take-up roller 113. The position and the number of the conveying rollers 112 are not necessarily the same as those shown in Fig.

The coating portion 12 is a mechanism for coating the catalyst ink on the surface of the base material 90 conveyed by the conveying mechanism 11.

In the catalyst ink, an electrode paste in which particles containing a catalyst material (e.g., platinum (Pt)) are dispersed in a solvent such as alcohol is used. As the catalyst material, a material which causes a fuel cell reaction in an anode or a cathode of a polymer type fuel cell is used. Specifically, platinum (Pt), a platinum alloy, a platinum compound, or the like can be used as a catalyst material. Examples of the platinum alloy include at least one metal selected from the group consisting of ruthenium (Ru), palladium (Pd), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), iridium (Ir) And an alloy of platinum. Generally, platinum is used as the catalyst material for the cathode, and platinum alloy is used as the catalyst material for the anode.

The base material 90 is supported on a backup roller 114 serving also as a conveying roller on the downstream side of the conveying path and on the upstream side of the conveying path than the drying unit 13, The backup roller 114 is a cylindrical or cylindrical roller and rotates about the horizontal axis while contacting the support film 91 of the base material 90. [ The coating portion 12 has a coating nozzle 121 opposed to the surface of the base material 90 supported by the backup roller 114. A so-called slit nozzle having a slit-shaped ejection opening extending in the width direction (the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the substrate) is used as the coating nozzle 121, for example.

The coating nozzle 121 is connected to the catalyst ink supply source 123 through a liquid supply pipe 122 through a channel. An opening / closing valve 124 is interposed in the liquid level liquid pipe 122. Therefore, when the open / close valve 124 is opened, the catalyst ink is supplied from the catalyst ink supply source 123 to the coating nozzle 121 through the liquid supply pipe 122. The catalyst ink is discharged from the discharge port of the coating nozzle 121 toward the electrolyte membrane 92 of the base material 90 supported by the backup roller 114. Thereby, the catalyst ink is coated on the first surface of the electrolyte membrane 92.

In the present embodiment, the opening / closing valve 124 is opened / closed at a constant cycle to intermittently discharge the catalyst ink from the discharge port of the coating nozzle 121. Thus, the catalyst ink is intermittently coated on the first surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 at predetermined intervals in the transport direction. However, the opening / closing valve 124 may be continuously opened to continuously coat the catalyst ink on the first surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 in the carrying direction.

The coating nozzle 121 need not necessarily discharge the coating liquid onto the surface of the base material 90 supported by the back-up roller 114. The coating nozzle 121 may discharge the coating liquid to the surface of the substrate 90 which is, for example, interposed between neighboring rollers.

The drying section 13 is disposed downstream of the coating nozzle 121 in the conveyance path. The drying section 13 has a drying furnace 131 for drying the catalyst ink. In the drying furnace 131, the heated gas (hot air) is injected into the electrolyte membrane 92 of the base material 90 conveyed by the conveying mechanism 11. Then, the catalyst ink coated on the first surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 is heated, and the solvent in the catalyst ink is vaporized. Thereby, the catalyst ink is dried, and the catalyst material layer 9a is formed on the first surface of the electrolyte membrane 92. However, the method for drying the catalyst ink need not necessarily be the supply of hot air. The drying unit 13 may dry the catalyst ink by another method such as light irradiation or depressurization.

As described above, in the first surface coating apparatus 1, the substrate 90 is fed from the substrate winding roller 111, the catalyst ink is coated on the first surface of the electrolyte membrane 92, The drying process by the drying process is sequentially executed. As a result, one of the catalyst material layers 9a of the membrane-catalyst layer assembly used in the solid polymer type fuel cell is formed on the first surface of the electrolyte membrane 92. In the first-side coating apparatus 1, the electrolyte film 92 is always held on the support film 91. Thus, deformation such as swelling and shrinkage of the electrolyte membrane 92 is suppressed.

The control section 14 is a means for controlling the operation of each section in the first side coating and forming apparatus 1. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the connection between the control section 14 and each section in the first side coating and spreading apparatus 1. Fig. 2, the control unit 14 is constituted by a computer having an operation processing unit 141 such as a CPU, a memory 142 such as a RAM and a storage unit 143 such as a hard disk drive . In the storage unit 143, a computer program P1 for executing coating and drying processing is installed. 2, the control unit 14 is connected to the conveying mechanism 11, the on-off valve 124, and the drying furnace 131 so as to be communicable with each other. When the connection device 70 to be described later is mounted, the control section 14 is connected to the negative pressure generating device 715 and the plurality of air cylinders 712, 722 and 732 in the connection device 70 do.

The control unit 14 temporarily reads out the computer program P1 and the data stored in the storage unit 143 and stores the data in the memory 142 and outputs the result to the arithmetic processing unit 141 based on the computer program P1 and the data, The operation of each section in the first surface coating apparatus 1 is controlled. As a result, the coating and drying process in the first side coating apparatus 1 proceeds.

<2. Configuration of Second Surface Coating Apparatus>

3 is a view showing a configuration of the second surface coating apparatus 2 which is another example of the coating apparatus according to the present invention. This second surface coating apparatus 2 is an apparatus for producing a membrane-catalyst layer assembly used together with the first surface coating apparatus 1 in a process of manufacturing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly for a solid polymer type fuel cell. The second surface coating device 2 is a surface on the opposite side of the electrolyte membrane 92 on which the catalyst material layer 9a is formed on the first surface in the first surface coating device 1 A catalyst material layer 9b having a polarity opposite to that of the catalyst material layer 9a on the first surface is formed. That is, this second surface coating apparatus 2 is a device for producing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly for a solid polymer type fuel cell by forming a catalyst layer serving as an electrode on the surface of an electrolyte membrane 92 which is a thin film-like thin film.

As shown in Fig. 3, the second surface coating apparatus 2 includes an introduction peeling section 21, a suction roller 22, a coating section 23, a drying furnace 24, an application section 25, (26) and a control unit (27).

The introducing and separating section 21 introduces the base material 90 having two layers of the support film 91 and the electrolyte membrane 92 onto the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 22, (91). As shown in Fig. 3, the introduction peeling section 21 has a peeling roller 211, an introduction section 212, and a discharge section 213.

The peeling roller 211 is a roller that rotates about an axis extending horizontally. The peeling roller 211 has a cylindrical outer peripheral surface formed by an elastic body. The outer circumferential surface of the peeling roller 211 and the outer circumferential surface of a sucking roller 22, which will be described later, are opposed to each other with a gap through which the substrate 90 passes. The peeling roller 211 is pressed against the suction roller 22 side by an air cylinder (not shown).

The introducing portion 212 has a substrate take-up roller 31 and a first detection roller 32. [ The base-sheet unwinding roller 31 and the first detection roller 32 are all disposed in parallel with the peeling roller 211. The worker sets the roll base material 90 taken out from the base material winding roller 113 of the first side coating device 1 to the base material winding roller 31 of the second side coating device 2. The base-sheet unwinding roller 31 rotates by the power of a motor (not shown). When the substrate take-up roller 31 rotates, the substrate 90 set on the substrate take-up roller 31 is fed to the conveying path.

The base material 90 fed out from the base sheet unwinding roller 31 is changed in direction by being brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first detection roller 32 and is conveyed to the peeling roller 211 side. The first detection roller 32 detects the tension applied to the base material 90 at the inlet portion 212 by measuring the load received from the base material 90 by the load cell. The control section 27 described later controls the rotation number of the substrate take-up roller 31 so that the tension of the base material 90 detected by the first detection roller 32 becomes a preset value.

4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the peeling roller 211. Fig. 4, the base material 90 that has passed through the first detection roller 32 is introduced into the gap between the peeling roller 211 and the adsorption roller 22. As shown in Fig. At this time, the support film 91 comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the peeling roller 211, and the electrolyte film 92 comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22. The base material 90 is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22 by the pressure received from the peeling roller 211. Then, the first surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 is adsorbed on the outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22 by the negative pressure described later of the adsorption roller 22. At this time, the catalyst material layer 9a formed in the first surface coating apparatus 1 is also adsorbed on the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 22. [

The discharging portion 213 has a film winding roller 41 and a second detecting roller 42. The film take-up roller 41 and the second detection roller 42 are all disposed in parallel with the peeling roller 211. The support film 91 having passed through the gap between the peeling roller 211 and the adsorption roller 22 is conveyed in the direction of the second detection roller 42 away from the adsorption roller 22. As a result, the support film 91 is peeled from the electrolyte membrane 92. That is, in this embodiment, the peeling roller 211, the adsorption roller 22 and the discharge section 213 constitute a peeling section for peeling the support film 91 from the electrolyte membrane 92. The separated support film 91 changes its direction by contacting the outer circumferential surface of the second detection roller 42 and is conveyed to the film winding roller 41 side.

The film winding roller 41 is rotated by the power of a motor (not shown). Thereby, the supporting film 91 is wound on the film winding roller 41. The second detection roller 42 detects the tension applied to the support film 91 at the discharge portion 213 by measuring the load received from the support film 91 by the load cell. The control section 27 described later controls the rotation number of the film take-up roller 41 so that the tension of the support film 91 detected by the second detection roller 42 becomes a predetermined value.

The adsorption roller 22 is a roller that rotates while adsorbing and holding the electrolyte membrane 92 on the outer circumferential surface. The suction roller 22 has a cylindrical outer circumferential surface larger in diameter than the peeling roller 211. The diameter of the suction roller 22 is, for example, 400 mm to 1600 mm. The suction roller 22 is rotated about the axis extending horizontally (that is, parallel to the peeling roller 211) by the power of a motor (not shown). The first direction which is the rotating direction of the adsorption roller 22 and the second direction which is the rotating direction of the peeling roller 211 are opposite to each other.

As the material of the adsorption roller 22, for example, a porous material such as porous carbon or porous ceramics is used. Specific examples of the porous ceramics include sintered bodies of alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ) or silicon carbide (SiC). The pore diameter of the porous adsorption roller 22 is, for example, 5 m or less, and the porosity is, for example, 15% to 50%. The outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22 is formed with a surface roughness of, for example, Rz (maximum height) of 5 m or less. The total deviation (variation in distance from the rotation axis to the outer peripheral surface) of the suction roller 22 at the time of rotation is 10 mu m or less.

A suction port 221 is formed in the end surface of the suction roller 22. [ The suction port 221 is connected to a suction mechanism (for example, an exhaust pump) other than the drawing. When the suction mechanism is operated, a negative pressure is generated in the suction port 221 of the suction roller 22. A negative pressure is also generated on the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 22 through the pores in the adsorption roller 22. [ For example, by generating a negative pressure of 90 kPa or more in the suction port 221, a negative pressure of 10 kPa or more is generated on the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 22. The electrolyte membrane 92 is conveyed in an arc shape by the rotation of the adsorption roller 22 while being adsorbed and held on the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 22 by the negative pressure.

In addition, as shown by the broken line in Fig. 3, a plurality of the flow passages 222 are formed inside the adsorption roller 22. Cooling water that has been warmed to a predetermined temperature is supplied from the water supply mechanism not shown in the figure to the water cooling channel 222. During the operation of the second surface coating apparatus 2, the heat of the adsorption roller 22 is absorbed by the cooling water, which is a heating medium. Thereby, the adsorption roller 22 is cooled. The cooling water that has absorbed the heat is discharged to a drain mechanism outside the drawing.

The coating portion 23 is a mechanism for coating the surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 conveyed by the adsorption roller 22 with the catalyst ink. As shown in Fig. 3, the coated portion 23 has a coating nozzle 231. As shown in Fig. The coating nozzle 231 is formed on the downstream side of the peeling roller 211 in the conveying direction of the electrolyte film 92 by the attracting roller 22. The coating nozzle 231 has a discharge port opposed to the outer circumferential surface of the suction roller 22. The discharge port is an opening on the slit extending horizontally along the outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22.

Further, the catalyst ink discharged from the coating nozzle 231 may be either for the cathode or for the anode. However, the catalyst materials formed on the front and back surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 92 are catalyst materials having opposite polarities.

The coating nozzle 231 is connected to the catalyst ink supply source 233 through a supply pipe 232 via a channel. On the path of the supply pipe 232, an opening / closing valve 234 is interposed. Therefore, when the on-off valve 234 is opened, the catalyst ink is supplied from the catalyst ink supply source 233 to the paint nozzle 231 through the supply pipe 232. The catalyst ink is discharged from the discharge port of the coating nozzle 231 toward the second surface of the electrolyte membrane 92. As a result, the catalyst ink is applied to the second surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 held by the adsorption roller 22.

In the present embodiment, the opening and closing valve 234 is opened and closed at a constant cycle to intermittently discharge the catalyst ink from the discharge port of the coating nozzle 231. Thus, the catalyst ink is intermittently coated on the second surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 at a constant interval in the transport direction. However, the on-off valve 234 may be opened continuously to continuously coat the catalyst ink on the second surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 in the carrying direction.

The drying furnace 24 is a portion for drying the catalyst ink coated on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 92. The drying furnace 24 of the present embodiment is disposed on the downstream side of the coated portion 23 in the conveying direction of the electrolyte membrane 92 by the adsorption roller 22. The drying furnace 24 is formed in an arc shape along the outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22. As shown in Fig. 1, the drying furnace 24 has three hot air supply portions 241 to 243 and two heat interception portions 244 and 245. The three hot air supply units 241 to 243 jet the heated gas (hot air) toward the second surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 held by the adsorption roller 22. Then, the catalyst ink coated on the second surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 is heated, and the solvent in the catalyst ink is vaporized. Thereby, the catalyst ink is dried, and the catalyst material layer 9b is formed on the second surface of the electrolyte membrane 92. However, the method for drying the catalyst ink need not necessarily be the supply of hot air. The drying unit 13 may dry the catalyst ink by another method such as light irradiation or depressurization.

The three hot air supply units 241 to 243 differ in the temperature of hot air to be sprayed. The temperature of the hot air jetted from the three hot air supply parts 241 to 243 sequentially increases from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the transport direction of the electrolyte membrane 92 by the adsorption roller 22. [ The temperature of the hot air blown from the hot air supply portion 241 on the upstream side in the transport direction is, for example, higher than the surrounding environmental temperature and lower than 40 占 폚. The temperature of hot air blown from the second hot air supply part 242 is, for example, 40 ° C or more and 80 ° C or less. In addition, the temperature of the hot air blown from the hot air supply unit 243 on the downstream side in the carrying direction is, for example, 50 ° C or more and 100 ° C or less.

Thus, in the drying furnace 24 of the present embodiment, the temperature of the hot air jetted onto the electrolyte membrane 92 is sequentially increased toward the downstream side in the transport direction. In this way, the temperature of the electrolyte membrane 92 and the catalyst ink can be gently increased. Therefore, it is possible to suppress damage such as cracks to the catalytic material layer 9b due to abrupt drying.

The two heat shielding portions 244 and 245 are formed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the three hot air supplying portions 241 to 243 in the conveying direction of the electrolyte membrane 92 by the attracting roller 22. That is, the one heat shielding portion 244 is disposed upstream of the hot air supply portion 241 in the transport direction on the upstream side in the transport direction and the other heat shield portion 245 is located on the upstream side in the transport direction, And is disposed on the downstream side of the feeding section 243 in the carrying direction. These heat shielding portions 244 and 245 suck the gas near the outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22. Thus, the hot air jetted from the hot air supply units 241 to 243 is prevented from flowing to the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction beyond the heat interruption units 244 and 245. Also, the vapor of the solvent generated from the catalyst ink at the time of drying is prevented from flowing to the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction beyond the heat blocking portions 244 and 245.

Fig. 5 is a view showing a schematic shape of the drying furnace 24 in the section including the axis of the adsorption roller 22. Fig. As shown in Fig. 5, the drying furnace 24 of the present embodiment has a pair of suction portions 246, 247. The suction portions 246 and 247 are projected in a plate shape from the side edge portions of the hot air supply portions 241 to 243 toward the suction roller 22 side. Each of the suction portions 246 and 247 spreads in an arc shape along both side portions of the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 22. [ These suction portions 246 and 247 suck the surrounding gas. This prevents the hot air supplied from the hot air supply parts 241 to 243 and the vapor of the solvent from flowing outward beyond the suction parts 246 and 247. [

The attaching portion 25 is a portion for attaching a strip-like cover film 93 to the second surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 on which the catalyst material layer 9b is formed. The impregnated portion 25 is disposed on the downstream side of the drying furnace 24 in the conveying direction of the electrolyte membrane 92 by the adsorption roller 22. 3, the attachment 25 has a lamination roller 251, a film supply unit 252, and a bonded body recovery unit 253.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the laminate roller 251. Fig. The laminate roller 251 is a roller that rotates about an axis extending horizontally. The lamination roller 251 has a cylindrical outer circumferential surface smaller in diameter than the adsorption roller 22. The outer peripheral surface of the laminate roller 251 and the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 22 are opposed to each other with a gap through which the electrolyte film 92 and the cover film 93 pass. The laminate roller 251 is pressed against the suction roller 22 side by an air cylinder (not shown).

As the material of the lamination roller 251, for example, a metal having a high thermal conductivity is used. Inside the laminate roller 251, a heater 251a which generates heat by energization is formed. As the heater 251a, for example, a sheath heater can be used. When the heater 251a is energized, the outer peripheral surface of the laminate roller 251 is turned on at a predetermined temperature higher than the ambient temperature by the heat generated from the heater 251a. The temperature of the outer peripheral surface of the laminate roller 251 is measured using a temperature sensor such as a radiation thermometer and the output of the heater 251a is controlled so that the outer peripheral surface of the laminate roller 251 becomes a constant temperature, .

Returning to Fig. The film supply portion 252 has a film take-up roller 51 and a third detection roller 52. [ The film take-up roller 51 and the third detection roller 52 are all disposed in parallel with the lamination roller 251. [ The cover film 93 before feeding is wound around the film pulling-out roller 51. The film unwinding roller 51 is rotated by the power of a motor (not shown). When the film take-up roller 51 rotates, the cover film 93 is fed out from the film take-up roller 51.

As the material of the cover film 93, a resin having a mechanical strength higher than that of the electrolyte film 92 and excellent in shape retaining function is used. Specific examples of the cover film 93 include films of PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The cover film 93 may be the same as the support film 91. The support film 91 wound by the film winding roller 41 may be fed out from the film pulling-out roller 51 as a cover film 93.

The fed cover film 93 is changed in direction by contact with the outer peripheral surface of the third detection roller 52 and is conveyed to the laminate roller 251 side. The third detection roller 52 detects the tension applied to the cover film 93 in the film supply unit 252 by measuring the load received from the cover film 93 by the load cell. The control section 27 described later controls the rotation number of the film take-up roller 51 so that the tension of the cover film 93 detected by the third detection roller 52 becomes a predetermined value.

The cover film 93 that has passed through the third detection roller 52 is introduced between the electrolyte film 92 adsorbed and held on the outer peripheral surface of the adsorption roller 22 and the lamination roller 251. At this time, the cover film 93 is pressed against the electrolyte membrane 92 by the pressure from the lamination roller 251 and is heated by the heat of the lamination roller 251. As a result, the cover film 93 is attached to the outer surface of the electrolyte membrane 92. The catalyst material layer 9b formed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 is sandwiched between the electrolyte membrane 92 and the cover film 93. [ Thereby, a membrane-catalyst layer assembly 94 composed of the electrolyte membrane 92, the catalyst material layers 9a and 9b and the cover film 93 is formed.

The bonded body recovery section 253 has a bonded body take-up roller 61 and a fourth detection roller 62. Both the bonded body take-up roller 61 and the fourth detection roller 62 are arranged in parallel with the lamination roller 251. The membrane / catalyst layer assembly 94 passing between the adsorption roller 22 and the lamination roller 251 is separated from the adsorption roller 22 and transported in the direction of the fourth detection roller 62. Then, the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 94 changes its direction by contacting the outer circumferential surface of the fourth detection roller 62 and is transported toward the bonded body takeup roller 61 side.

The joined body winding roller 61 rotates by the power of a motor (not shown). Thus, the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 94 is wound around the bonded body takeup roller 61. The fourth detection roller 62 detects the tension applied to the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 94 in the bonded body recovery section 253 by measuring the load received from the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 94 by the load cell. The control unit 27 described later controls the number of revolutions of the bonded body take-up roller 61 so that the tension of the membrane / catalyst layer bonded body 94 detected by the fourth detection roller 62 becomes a predetermined value.

The surface cooling section 26 is a mechanism for cooling the outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22. The surface cooling portion 26 is disposed at a position opposed to an area of the outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22 where the electrolyte membrane 92 between the application portion 25 and the introduction peeling portion 21 is not held. The surface cooling section 26 ejects clean dry air at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature (for example, about 5 占 폚), for example, on the outer circumferential surface of the adsorption roller 22. The adsorption roller 22 heated by the drying furnace 24 and the lamination roller 251 is cooled by receiving the clean dry air.

As described above, in the second surface coating apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, the substrate 90 is fed out from the substrate winding roller 31, the separation of the support film 91 from the electrolyte membrane 92, 92, the drying by the drying furnace 24, and the step of attaching the cover film 93 to the electrolyte membrane 92 are sequentially carried out. Thereby, the membrane-catalyst layer assembly 94 used for the electrode of the solid polymer type fuel cell is manufactured. The electrolyte membrane 92 is always held in the support film 91, the adsorption roller 22, or the cover film 93. Thus, deformation such as swelling and shrinkage of the electrolyte membrane 92 in the second surface coating apparatus 2 is suppressed.

In this embodiment, the substrate winding roller 31, the first detecting roller 32, the peeling roller 211, the second detecting roller 42, the film winding roller 41, the adsorption roller 22, The lamination roller 251, the fourth detection roller 62, and the bonded body roll-up roller 61, which is a winding part, constitute a transport mechanism for transporting the base material along the transport path in the longitudinal direction. However, the position and the number of the rollers constituting the transport mechanism do not necessarily have to be the same as in Fig.

The control unit 27 is a means for controlling the operation of each unit in the second side coating applicator 2. [ 7 is a block diagram showing the connection between the control section 27 and each section in the second surface coating apparatus 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the control unit 27 is constituted by a computer having an operation processing unit 271 such as a CPU, a memory 272 such as a RAM, and a storage unit 273 such as a hard disk drive. In the storage unit 273, a computer program P2 for executing coating and drying processing is installed.

7, the control unit 27 controls the motor of the above-described base winding roller 31, the load cell of the first detection roller 32, the motor of the film winding roller 41, The load cell of the roller 42, the motor of the suction roller 22, the suction mechanism of the suction roller 22, the water supply mechanism of the suction roller 22, the opening and closing valve 234, the drying furnace 24 The heater 251a, the motor of the film take-up roller 51, the third detection roller 52 (the first heat roller 241, the second heat roller 252, , The motor of the bonded body roll-up roller 61, the load cell of the fourth detection roller 62, and the surface cooling section 26, respectively. When the connection device 70 to be described later is mounted, the control section 27 is connected to the negative pressure generating device 715 and the plurality of air cylinders 712, 722, and 732 in the connection device 70 do.

The control unit 27 temporarily reads out the computer program P2 and the data stored in the storage unit 273 and the data in the memory 272 and outputs it to the arithmetic processing unit 271 based on the computer program P2 and the data, The operation of each section in the second surface coating apparatus 2 is controlled. As a result, the coating and drying process in the second side coating apparatus 2 proceeds.

<3. For connection devices>

The first surface coating apparatus 1 and the second surface coating apparatus 2 can be provided with a connection apparatus 70 for connecting the substrate 90. [ When the connection device 70 is mounted on the first side coating device 1, the connection device 70 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance path and the backup roller 114, for example, (The position indicated by the broken line in Fig. 1) on the upstream side of the conveying path. When the connection device 70 is mounted on the second surface coating device 2, the connection device 70 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance path, for example, from the substrate take-up roller 31, (The position indicated by the broken line in Fig. 3) on the upstream side of the conveying path.

In either the first side coating device 1 or the second side coating device 2, the base material 90 wound in a roll form is fed out from the substrate winding rollers 111 and 31. When the substrate 90 to be conveyed first is completely discharged from the substrate take-up rollers 111 and 31, a new roll-shaped substrate 90 is set on the substrate take-up rollers 111 and 31. The connecting device 70 is a device for connecting the end portions of the base material 90 when the base material 90 is exchanged.

In the first and second surface coating apparatuses 1 and 2, in order to reduce coating defects in the vicinity of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the base material 90, A dummy substrate having the same number of layers as the substrate 90 may be connected and transported. The connection device 70 may be used to connect the end portion of such a dummy substrate and the end portion of the substrate 90. [

Hereinafter, the substrate 90 to be transported first will be referred to as a "first substrate 901" and the substrate 90 to be transported later will be referred to as a "second substrate 902". Either one of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 may be a dummy substrate.

8 is a top view of the connection device 70. Fig. Fig. 9 is a side view of the connecting device 70. Fig. 8 and 9, the connection device 70 of the present embodiment has a holding plate 71, a downstream-side clamping mechanism 72, and an upstream-side clamping mechanism 73.

The holding plate 71 is a plate-like member that holds the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 at the bottom side. The first base material 901 and the second base material 902 are transported horizontally along a transport path T indicated by a one-dot chain line in Fig. 8 and Fig. The holding plate 71 is disposed in a horizontal posture below the conveying path T. The upper surface of the holding plate 71 is a flat holding surface and is opposed to the lower surface of the substrate 90. The upper surface of the holding plate 71 is in a state in which the rear end in the carrying direction of the first base material 901 and the front end portion in the carrying direction of the second base material 902 are overlapped in the longitudinal direction of the base material 90 And has an arrangement area of sufficient width to be arranged.

8, a plurality of suction holes 711 are formed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71. As shown in Fig. The plurality of adsorption holes 711 are connected to the negative pressure generating device 715 through a flow path formed in the holding plate 71. In the negative pressure generator 715, for example, an exhaust pump is used. When the negative pressure generator 715 is operated, a negative pressure is generated in the plurality of adsorption holes 711. The lower surfaces of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 are adsorbed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 by the negative pressure of the plurality of suction holes 711. [ As a result, the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 are held on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 in a stable state.

On the upper surface of the holding plate 71, a first groove 713 and a second groove 714 are formed. The first grooves 713 and the second grooves 714 all extend in a straight line along the width direction of the substrate 90. The second groove 714 is located on the downstream side of the first groove 713 in the transport direction. The first groove 713 serves as a cutting reference line at the time of cutting the first base material 901 by itself in the connection processing described later. The second groove 714 serves as a cutting reference line at the time of cutting the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 at the same time in the connection processing described later.

To the holding plate 71, an air cylinder 712 as a lifting mechanism is connected. 9, the tip of the piston rod of the air cylinder 712 is fixed to the lower surface of the holding plate 71 in the present embodiment. When the air cylinder 712 is operated, the retaining plate 71 moves up and down between the raised position (the position of the two dotted line in Fig. 9) and the lowered position (the position of the solid line in Fig. When the retaining plate 71 is disposed at the raised position, the upper surface of the retaining plate 71 contacts the lower surface of the substrate 90. On the other hand, when the holding plate 71 is disposed at the lowered position, the upper surface of the holding plate 71 is detached from the lower surface of the substrate 90.

In this manner, the connecting device 70 of the present embodiment can move the holding plate 71 up and down. The upper surface of the holding plate 71 can be brought into contact with the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 without changing the heights of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 . It is also possible to use a mechanism other than the air cylinder as the lifting mechanism for moving the holding plate 71 up and down. For example, the holding plate 71 may be moved up and down by a mechanism using a motor and a ball screw.

The downstream side clamp mechanism 72 is a mechanism for fixing the first base material 901 on the downstream side of the holding plate 71 in the carrying direction. The downstream side clamp mechanism 72 has a pair of clamp members 721. [ An air cylinder 722 is connected to the pair of clamp members 721, respectively. When the air cylinder 722 is driven, the pair of clamp members 721 move up and down between the contact position (the position of the two dot chain line in FIG. 9) and the retreat position (the position of the solid line in FIG. When fixing the first base material 901, the pair of clamp members 721 of the downstream side clamp mechanism 72 are disposed at the contact positions. On the other hand, when releasing the fixing of the first base material 901, the pair of clamp members 721 of the downstream side clamp mechanism 72 are disposed at the retreat position.

The upstream clamping mechanism 73 is a mechanism for fixing the second base material 902 on the upstream side of the holding plate 71 in the carrying direction. The upstream-side clamping mechanism 73 has a pair of clamp members 731. An air cylinder 732 is connected to the pair of clamp members 731, respectively. When the air cylinder 732 is driven, the pair of clamp members 731 move up and down between the contact position (the position of the two dotted line in Fig. 9) and the retreat position (the position of the solid line in Fig. When the second base material 902 is fixed, a pair of clamp members 731 of the upstream side clamp mechanism 73 are disposed at the contact positions. On the other hand, when releasing the securing of the second base material 902, the pair of clamp members 731 of the upstream-side clamp mechanism 73 are disposed at the retracted position.

<4. About connection order>

Next, the procedure for connecting the rear end in the carrying direction of the first base material 901 and the front end in the carrying direction of the second base material 902 in the above-described connection device 70 will be described. Figs. 10 to 19 are views showing the state of each step of the connection process. Fig. 10 to 19 show both the top view and the side view of the connection device 70.

Prior to the start of the connection process, the first base material 901 is horizontally arranged above the holding plate 71 as shown in Fig. At this time, the upper surface of the holding plate 71 is separated from the first base material 901. The pair of clamp members 721 of the downstream side clamp mechanism 72 and the pair of clamp members 731 of the upstream side clamp mechanism 73 are both apart from the first base member 901. [

First, the negative pressure generator 715 is operated to generate negative pressure in the plurality of adsorption holes 711 of the holding plate 71 when the connection process is started. Then, the air cylinder 712 is operated to raise the holding plate 71. As a result, the upper surface of the holding plate 71 approaches the lower surface of the first base material 901. Then, as shown in Fig. 11, the first base material 901 is held on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 by the suction force of the plurality of suction holes 711. [

After the first base material 901 is adsorbed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71, the downstream side clamp mechanism 72 operates the air cylinder 722 to bring the pair of clamp members 721 close to each other. Then, the first base material 901 is held between the pair of clamp members 721 by fitting the first base material 901 therebetween. As a result, the positional deviation of the first base material 901 on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 is further suppressed.

Next, on the upper surface of the holding plate 71, the first base material 901 is cut. Here, the first base material 901 is cut in the width direction along the first groove 713 formed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 as indicated by the chain line arrow in Fig. This cutting operation is performed, for example, by an operator using a cutter. When the cutting is completed, the first base material 901 located on the upstream side of the first groove 713 in the transport direction is removed from the substrate take-up rollers 111, 31. As a result, as shown in Fig. 12, the first base material 901 is held only on the portion of the upper surface of the holding plate 71 that is downstream from the first groove 713 in the transport direction.

Subsequently, the worker sets the second base material 902 on the roll on the substrate unwinding rollers 111, 31. The front end portion of the second base material 902 in the conveying direction is fed out from the substrate winding rollers 111 and 31 and the front end portion of the second base material 902 is fed to the upper surface of the holding plate 71 And mounts it. At this time, in the present embodiment, the jig 80 is used to position the second base material 902 in the width direction. As shown in Fig. 13, the jig 80 has a pair of positioning members 81 extending in the carrying direction. The spacing of the pair of positioning members 81 in the width direction is substantially the same as the dimension in the width direction of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902. [ The jig 80 is placed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 such that a pair of positioning members 81 are arranged on both sides in the width direction of the first base material 901. [ The second base material 902 is disposed between the pair of positioning members 81. [

The front end portion of the second base material 902 in the carrying direction is placed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 in a state in which the positional deviation of the first base material 901 with respect to the inclination and the width direction is suppressed. The front end portion of the second base material 902 in the transport direction is placed on the upper surface side of the rear end portion of the first base material 901 so as to overlap in the longitudinal direction. The front end of the second base material 902 in the carrying direction is pressed against the upper surface of the holding plate 71 by the suction force of the plurality of suction holes 711 together with the rear end in the carrying direction of the first base material 901 maintain. In the side view of Fig. 13, the illustration of the jig 80 is omitted.

After the front end portion of the second base material 902 is disposed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71, the upstream side clamp mechanism 73 operates the air cylinder 732 to move the pair of clamp members 731 toward each other . Then, as shown in Fig. 14, the second base material 902 is fixed by sandwiching the second base material 902 between the pair of clamp members 731. Fig. Thus, the positional deviation of the second base material 902 on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 is further suppressed.

Next, on the upper surface of the holding plate 71, the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 are cut. Here, the overlapping point of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 is cut in the width direction along the second groove 714 formed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 as shown by the chain line arrow in Fig. 14 . That is, in this embodiment, the second groove 714 serves as a cutting reference line for cutting the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 at the same time. Thereafter, the second base material 902 located on the downstream side of the second groove 714 in the transport direction is removed from the top surface of the first base material 901. [ Thus, as shown in Fig. 15, the second base material 902 is held only in the portion of the upper surface of the holding plate 71 that is upstream of the second groove 714 in the transport direction.

As described above, in the present embodiment, after the rear end in the carrying direction of the first base material 901 and the front end in the carrying direction of the second base material 902 are overlapped in the longitudinal direction, The base material 901 and the second base material 902 are simultaneously cut. Therefore, the cutting point of the first base material 901 and the cutting point of the second base material 902 are superimposed with high accuracy. This can prevent the gap between the first base material (901) and the second base material (902) from being generated.

Particularly, in the present embodiment, first, the first base material 901 is cut along the first groove 713, and then the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 are cut into the first grooves 713 In the second groove 714, which is different from the second groove 714. Thus, by separating the first base material 901 in two steps, it is possible to further suppress the gap left between the rear end portion of the first base material 901 and the front end portion of the second base material 902.

Subsequently, the tape 82 is stuck so as to straddle the upper surface of the first base material 901 and the upper surface of the second base material 902. As shown in Fig. 16, the tape 82 is attached along the second groove 714, which is a cutting reference line. The tape 82 has an adhesive layer on its lower surface. Therefore, the upper surface side layer of the rear end portion of the first base material 901 and the upper surface side layer of the front end portion of the second base material 902 are connected via the tape 82. The tape 82 is affixed manually, for example, by an operator.

Thereafter, the negative pressure generator 715 is stopped to release the suction of the adsorption hole 711, and the air cylinder 712 is operated to lower the holding plate 71. [ As a result, the upper surface of the holding plate 71 is separated from the first base material 901 and the second base material 902. The cutting edge of the first base material 901 remaining between the first groove 713 and the second groove 714 on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 is removed.

Subsequently, the rubber mat 83 is inserted between the upper surface of the holding plate 71 and the first base material 901 and the second base material 902. Then, the air cylinder 712 is operated to raise the holding plate 71 again. As a result, the upper surface of the rubber mat 83 is brought into contact with the lower surfaces of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902, as shown in Fig. Thereafter, the operator cuts the tape 82 along both side portions of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 with a cutter as shown by a chain line arrow in Fig. As a result, both ends of the tape 82 emerging from both sides of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 are removed.

Thereafter, the air cylinder 712 is operated to lower the holding plate 71 again. As a result, the upper surface of the rubber mat 83 is separated from the first base material 901 and the second base material 902. Then, an unused tape 84 is arranged on the upper surface of the rubber mat 83. At this time, the tape 84 is placed on the upper surface of the rubber mat 83 with the adhesive layer facing the upper surface side.

Thereafter, the air cylinder 712 is operated to raise the holding plate 71 again. 18, the upper surfaces of the tape 84 and the rubber mat 83 are brought into contact with the lower surfaces of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902. Then, Then, the tape 84 is affixed to the lower surface of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902. The tape 84 is stuck to the lower surface of the first base material 901 and the lower surface of the second base material 902 along the second groove 714 as the cutting reference line. As a result, the lower surface side layer of the rear end portion of the first base material 901 and the lower surface side layer of the front end portion of the second base material 902 are connected via the tape 84.

When the application of the tape 84 is completed, the operator cuts the tape 84 along the both side portions of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 with a cutter as shown by the chain line arrow in Fig. As a result, both ends of the tape 84 emerging from both sides of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 are removed.

Thereafter, the air cylinder 712 is operated, and the holding plate 71 is lowered. Then, the rubber mat 83 placed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 is sideways pulled out. The downstream clamping mechanism 72 operates the air cylinder 722 to release the fixing of the first base material 901 by the pair of clamp members 721. [ The upstream clamping mechanism 73 operates the air cylinder 732 to release the fixing of the second base material 902 by the pair of clamp members 731. [ 19, a series of substrates in which the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 are connected by tapes 82 and 84 is formed.

<5. When using dummy substrate>

In the production apparatus of this kind, when starting the production of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly, it is necessary to first hang the base material on the transport path from the winding unit to the winding unit. At this time, the catalyst ink can not be applied to the electrolyte membrane which is disposed on the downstream side in the carrying direction than the coated portion. Therefore, a material loss occurs in the vicinity of the leading end in the transport direction of the electrolyte membrane. Further, after coating of the catalyst ink is completed, it is necessary to recover the substrate from the conveying path from the winding part to the winding part. At this time, catalyst ink can not be applied to the electrolyte membrane located on the upstream side of the coated portion in the transport direction. Therefore, a material loss also occurs in the vicinity of the rear end in the transport direction of the electrolyte membrane.

Since the electrolyte membrane used in the solid polymer type fuel cell is very expensive, it is required to reduce material loss. Hereinafter, a case of using a dummy substrate for reducing the material loss of the electrolyte membrane will be described.

In the following example, a long-strip-shaped base material 90 (hereinafter referred to as &quot; base material (hereinafter referred to as &quot; base material 90) &quot;), the dummy substrate 95 is connected and transported. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view of the present base material 90 and the dummy base material 95 in the vicinity of the front end in the carrying direction of the present base material 90. Fig. 21 is a partial cross-sectional view of the present base material 90 and the dummy base material 95 in the vicinity of the rear end in the carrying direction of the present base material 90. Fig. 20 and 21, the dummy substrate 95 is formed by laminating the same number of layers (in this embodiment, two layers of the first layer 96 and the second layer 97) And is a base material in a long band.

The first layer 96 of the dummy substrate 95 has approximately the same thickness as the support film 91 of the present substrate 90. The second layer 97 of the dummy substrate 95 has approximately the same thickness as the electrolyte membrane 92 of the present base material 90. [ Therefore, in the present embodiment, the thickness of the second layer 97 is thinner than the thickness of the first layer 96. As the material of the first layer 96 and the second layer 97, for example, a resin film such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) may be used. In addition, the second layer 97 has an adhesive material 98 on a surface contacting the first layer 96. The first layer 96 and the second layer 97 are peelably bonded to each other by the adhesive material 98.

Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing the flow of conveyance of the base material in the second surface coating apparatus 2. Fig. When starting the production of the membrane / catalyst layer assembly in this second side coating device 2, the dummy substrate 95 on the roll is first set on the substrate unwinding roller 31 (step S1). Next, the dummy substrate 95 is fed out from the substrate winding roller 31, and is hooked on the conveying path in the second surface coating apparatus 2 (step S2).

At this time, the first layer 96 of the dummy substrate 95 is hooked on the conveyance path through which the support film 91 must pass. That is, the first layer 96 is wound on the film winding roller 41 from the gap between the peeling roller 211 and the absorption roller 22, passing through the second detection roller 42. On the other hand, the second layer 97 of the dummy substrate 95 is laid over the conveyance path through which the electrolyte membrane 92 must pass. That is, the second layer 97 passes through the gap between the peeling roller 211 and the adsorption roller 22, passes through the adsorption roller 22, the lamination roller 251 and the fourth detection roller 62, (61).

The length in the longitudinal direction of the dummy substrate 95 is set to be longer than the length of the conveying path from the substrate take-up roller 31 to the film take-up roller 41 and the conveying path from the substrate take- Is longer than the length of the conveying path on the side of the conveying path. In this way, the dummy substrate 95 can be hooked over the entire transport path in the second surface coating apparatus 2 before transporting the present substrate 90.

When the dummy substrate 95 is put on the whole of the second side coating device 2, the dummy substrate 95 is cut in the connecting device 70 next. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, after holding the dummy substrate 95 as the first base material 901 on the upper surface of the holding plate 71, the dummy substrate 95 is formed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 The dummy substrate 95 is cut along the first groove 713 in the width direction. The cutting of the dummy substrate 95 may be automatically performed by a mechanism that operates based on a command from the control unit 27 or may be performed manually by a user of the second surface coating apparatus 2 do. When the cutting of the dummy substrate 95 is completed, the dummy substrate 95 on the roll remaining on the substrate take-up roller 31 is removed from the substrate take-up roller 31. Subsequently, the roll base substrate 90 is set on the substrate unwinding roller 31 (step S3). Then, the base material 90 is fed out from the base-material unwinding roller 31. Here, the dummy substrate 95 becomes the first base material 901, and the present base material 90 becomes the second base material 902. [ The connecting device 70 connects the front end portion in the carrying direction of the present base material 90 and the rear end portion in the carrying direction of the dummy substrate 95 in accordance with the above-mentioned FIGS. 13 to 19 (step S4).

In step S4, the base material 90 and the dummy base material 95 are connected to each layer. That is, the supporting film 91 of the present base material 90 and the first layer 96 of the dummy base material 95 are connected and the electrolyte membrane 92 of the present base material 90 and the second layer 96 of the dummy base material 95 are connected, Layer 97 is connected. The connection of these substrates is carried out, for example, by affixing the tapes 82 and 84 over both substrates as shown in Fig. This forms the connecting substrate 100 in a longitudinal band in which the supporting film 91 and the first layer 96 are aligned in the longitudinal direction and the electrolyte membrane 92 and the second layer 97 are aligned in the longitudinal direction .

The present base material 90 and the dummy base material 95 may be connected by means other than the tapes 82 and 84 (for example, welding or the like). The connection between the present substrate 90 and the dummy substrate 95 may be automatically performed by a mechanism that operates based on a command from the control unit 27, It may be performed manually by the user.

Subsequently, the conveyance of the connecting substrate 100 in the second surface coating apparatus 2 is started (step S5). That is to say, by rotating the substrate winding roller 31, the film winding roller 41, the suction roller 22, the film winding roller 51 and the assembly body winding roller 61, ) In the longitudinal direction.

The dummy substrate 95 first passes through the gap between the peeling roller 211 and the adsorption roller 22 after the connection substrate 100 starts to be conveyed and then the base substrate 90 passes. The first layer 96 is first peeled from the second layer 97 of the dummy substrate 95 and then the support film 91 is peeled off from the electrolyte membrane 92 of the present base member 90 Step S6). When the supporting film 91 is peeled off, the electrolyte membrane 92 is held on the adsorption roller 22 in a state in which the outer surface is exposed. Then, the electrolyte membrane 92 is transported to the coated portion 23 side by the rotation of the adsorption roller 22.

When the front end of the electrolyte membrane 92 in the carrying direction reaches the coating portion 23, the coating portion 23 starts discharging the catalyst ink (Step S7). In the present embodiment, catalyst ink is coated on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 at regular intervals in the transport direction. The electrolyte membrane 92 that has passed through the coating portion 23 is conveyed to the downstream side again by the adsorption roller 22 and enters the drying furnace 24. In the drying furnace 24, the coated catalyst ink is dried. Thereby, the catalyst material layer 9b is formed on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 92. [ Thereafter, the cover film 93 is attached to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 in the attachment 25. Then, the membrane / catalyst layer assembly 94 to which the cover film 93 is pasted is wound around the assembly body take-up roller 61.

As described above, in the second surface coating apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, the dummy substrate 95 is connected to the front end portion of the present substrate 90 in the carrying direction. Then, the dummy substrate 95 is transported before the present substrate 90. Therefore, the catalyst ink can be applied from the front end portion in the transport direction of the electrolyte membrane 92. The coating of the catalyst ink on the electrolyte membrane 92 can be started after the conveying speed of the substrate is stabilized and the condition of each processing section such as the temperature of the hot air in the drying furnace 24 is stabilized. Therefore, in the vicinity of the tip end portion of the electrolyte membrane 92, the part that is not normally coated and discarded can be reduced.

Assuming that the first layer 96 and the second layer 97 are partially separated during the transportation of the dummy substrate 95, the layer separation is stagnated at the front of the roller or the like as shown in Fig. 23, Layer separation is propagated to the rear side of the substrate 100. [ As a result, the succeeding support film 91 and the electrolyte membrane 92 of the present base material 90 may be partially separated as shown in Fig. Such layer separation may be a factor of coating failure. However, the dummy substrate 95 of the present embodiment has the adhesive material 98 between the first layer 96 and the second layer 97. As a result, the first layer 96 and the second layer 97 are partially prevented from being separated.

However, if the adhesive force of the adhesive material 98 is too strong, it becomes difficult to separate the first layer 96 and the second layer 97 after passing through the peeling roller 211. It is therefore preferable that the adhesive force of the adhesive material 98 is approximately the same as the bonding force between the support film 91 and the electrolyte membrane 92 in the present base material 90. [

When the conveyance of the base material is continued, all of the base material 90 from the base-up roller 31 is fed out. When the base material 90 of the base material unwinding roller 31 is removed, each of the rollers is stopped to stop the conveyance of the base material and stop the discharge of the catalyst ink from the coating portion 23 ( Step S8). Then, the present base material 90 is cut at the connecting device 70. [ Specifically, as shown in Figs. 10 to 12, after the main base material 90 as the first base material 901 is held on the upper surface of the holding plate 71, the base material 90 is formed on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 Along the first groove 713, the base material 90 is cut in the width direction. The cutting of the present base material 90 may be automatically performed by a mechanism that operates based on a command from the control unit 27 or may be performed manually by a user of the second surface coating apparatus 2 do.

Subsequently, the control section 27 or the user judges whether or not there is a subsequent main article 90 to be coated (step S9). If there is a subsequent base material 90 to be coated, a new base material 90 on a roll is set on the base material unwinding roller 31 (step S10). Then, a new base material 90 is fed out from the base material unwinding roller 31. Here, the original substrate 90 that has been transported first becomes the first substrate 901, and the new original substrate 90 becomes the second substrate 902. [ The connecting device 70 connects the front end of the new base material 90 in the carrying direction and the rear end of the cut base material 90 in the carrying direction with the above-described procedures of Figs. 13 to 19 S11). That is, the support films 91 of the present base material 90 are connected to each other by, for example, a tape 82, and the electrolyte films 92 are connected to each other by, for example, a tape 84.

The connection of the base materials 90 may be performed by means other than the tapes 82 and 84 (for example, welding or the like). The connection between the base materials 90 may be automatically performed by a mechanism that operates based on a command from the control unit 27, or may be performed manually by the user of the second surface coating apparatus 2 .

When the connection of the base materials 90 is completed, the second surface coating apparatus 2 restarts the conveyance of the base material 90 and resumes the discharge of the catalyst ink from the coated portion 23 ( Step S12). Thus, after the catalyst ink is applied to the remaining portion (near the rear end in the transport direction) of the present base material 90, the new base material 90 is continuously coated with the catalyst ink. Thereafter, the process returns to step S8, and the processes of steps S8 to S12 are repeated as long as there is the following main article 90 to be coated.

On the other hand, in step S9, when there is no next base material 90 to be coated, the dummy substrate 95 is set on the base material unwinding roller 31 (step S13). Then, the dummy substrate 95 is fed out from the base-material unwinding roller 31. Here, the present base material 90 becomes the first base material 901, and the dummy base material 95 becomes the second base material 902. [ The connecting device 70 connects the front end in the carrying direction of the dummy substrate 95 to the rear end in the carrying direction of the cut base substrate 90 (step S14).

In step S14, the dummy substrate 95 and the present base material 90 are connected to each other. That is, the first layer 96 of the dummy substrate 95 is connected to the supporting film 91 of the present substrate 90, and the second layer 97 of the dummy substrate 95, Of the electrolyte membrane 92 is connected. The connection of these substrates is carried out, for example, by affixing the tapes 82 and 84 over both substrates as shown in Fig. This forms a connecting substrate 100 in a longitudinal band in which the first layer 96 and the supporting film 91 are aligned in the longitudinal direction and the second layer 97 and the electrolyte membrane 92 are aligned in the longitudinal direction .

The dummy substrate 95 and the base material 90 may be connected by means other than the tapes 82 and 84 (for example, welding or the like). The connection between the dummy substrate 95 and the base substrate 90 may be automatically performed by a mechanism that operates based on a command from the control unit 27, It may be performed manually by the user.

When the connection between the dummy substrate 95 and the base substrate 90 is completed, the second surface coating apparatus 2 resumes the conveyance of the connecting substrate 100 and, at the same time, The discharge is also resumed (step S15). The connecting substrate 100 is transported in the longitudinal direction so that the dummy substrate 95 is trailing. The coating portion 23 applies catalyst ink to the remaining portion (in the vicinity of the rear end in the transport direction) of the present base material 90. Thereafter, when the front end of the dummy substrate 95 in the carrying direction reaches the coated portion 23, the coated portion 23 stops discharging the catalyst ink (Step S16). Then, the second surface coating apparatus 2 continues to convey the substrate until all the electrolyte films 92 are wound on the bonded body take-up roller 61, and then stops conveying the substrate.

Thereafter, the dummy substrate 95 is cut in the connecting device 70. [ The first layer 96 of the dummy substrate 95 hanging on the conveying path in the second surface coating apparatus 2 is recovered to the film winding roller 41 and conveyed in the second surface coating apparatus 2 The second layer 97 of the dummy substrate 95 which is staggered on the path is collected in the bonded body take-up roller 61 (step S17).

Thus, in the second surface coating machine 2 of the present embodiment, the dummy substrate 95 is connected to the rear end of the present substrate 90 in the carrying direction. Then, the dummy substrate 95 is carried after the present substrate 90. Therefore, the catalyst ink can be applied to the rear end portion of the electrolyte membrane 92 in the carrying direction. Further, after the coating of the catalyst ink on the electrolyte membrane 92 is completed, the conveying speed of the base material can be reduced. Therefore, at the vicinity of the rear end of the electrolyte membrane 92, the part that is not normally coated and discarded can be reduced.

The length in the longitudinal direction of the dummy substrate 95 set in step S13 is set to be shorter than the length of the dummy substrate 95 that is set in the step S13 from the substrate feeding roller 31 to the film winding roller 41, Is longer than the length of the conveying path on the longer side. By doing so, after the transfer of the present base material 90, the dummy substrate 95 can be hooked over the entire transport path in the second surface coating apparatus 2.

<6. Modifications>

While the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the cutter is not mounted on the connection device 70. Therefore, the operator cuts the first base material 901 and the second base material 902 held on the upper surface of the holding plate 71 with the cutter. However, a cutter may be mounted on the connecting device 70 itself. For example, a cutter capable of advancing and retreating along the first groove 713 and the second groove 714 is formed and the cutter is advanced and retracted in the width direction by the power of the motor, whereby the first substrate 901 and the second substrate (902) may be cut.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the worker has also performed the work of affixing the tapes 82, 84. The connecting device 70 may be provided with a mechanism for automatically attaching the tapes 82 and 84 to both sides of the first base material 901 and the second base material 902. [

In the above-described embodiment, the step of forming the catalyst material layer 9a on the first surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 and the step of forming the catalyst material layer 9b on the second surface of the electrolyte membrane 92 Was carried out in another apparatus. However, these two processes may be carried out continuously in one coating apparatus.

In the above embodiment, the present base material 90 has two layers of the support film 91 and the electrolyte membrane 92. Therefore, the dummy substrate 95 is also made of two layers of the first layer 96 and the second layer 97. However, the number of layers of the base material 90 may be three or more. In this case, the number of layers of the dummy substrate 95 may be the same as the number of layers of the present substrate 90. The present base material 90 and the dummy base material 95 may be connected to each layer. The layers constituting the dummy substrate 95 may be transported to the transport path through which the corresponding layer of the base substrate 90 should pass when the transport paths of the layers constituting the present substrate 90 are different.

In the above embodiment, the dummy substrate 95 and the base material 90 are separately set on the substrate drawing roller 31 in the second surface coating device 2, and they are placed on the connecting device 70 . However, the connecting substrate 100 may be formed by connecting the dummy substrate 95 and the main substrate 90 in advance at another place. For example, in the first side coating apparatus 1, the dummy substrate 95 and the present substrate 90 are connected, and the obtained connecting substrate 100 is attached to the substrate pull- (31).

In the above embodiment, the example in which the dummy substrate 95 is used in the second surface coating apparatus 2 has been described. However, in the first surface coating apparatus 1, the dummy substrate 95 may be connected before and after the present substrate 90 to carry it.

The detailed configuration of the connection device and the coating device may be different from those of the drawings of the present application. It is to be noted that the respective elements appearing in the above-described embodiments and modifications may be appropriately combined within a range in which no contradiction occurs.

1 first side coating device
2 second side coating device
9a, 9b Catalyst material layer
11 conveying mechanism
12 coating part
13 Drying section
14 Control section
21 introduction separator
22 adsorption roller
23 porcelain
24 drying furnace
25 concubines
26 surface cooling section
27 control unit
31 base take-up roller
70 connecting device
71 Retaining plate
72 downstream clamping mechanism
73 Clamping mechanism on the upstream side
80 jig
81 positioning member
82 tape
83 Rubber Mat
84 tapes
90 substrate
91 support film
92 electrolyte membrane
93 Cover film
94 membrane-catalyst layer junction body
95 dummy substrate
96 First Floor
97 Second Floor
98 Adhesive
100 connection substrate
111 Base take-up roller
711 Adsorption Balls
712 Air cylinder
713 1st Home
714 2nd Home
715 Negative Pressure Generator
721, 731 clamp member
722, 732 air cylinder
901 First Base
902 Second base

Claims (24)

A connection method for connecting end portions of a first base material and a second base material, which are base materials in a long band laminated with two layers,
a) holding the end portion of the first base material and the end portion of the second base material in a state of overlapping in the longitudinal direction of the base material;
b) cutting the overlapping points of the end portion of the first base material and the end portion of the second base material simultaneously along the cutting reference line extending in the width direction of the base material after the step a)
c) After the step b), there is a step of attaching the tape so as to straddle the first base material and the second base material along the cutting reference line,
The step c)
c-1) a step of attaching the tape so as to cover one surface of the first substrate and one surface of the second substrate;
c-2) a step of attaching the tape so as to spread over the other surface of the first substrate and the other surface of the second substrate. The method according to claim 1,
In the step a), the end portion of the first base material and the end portion of the second base material are adsorbed on the upper surface of the holding plate having a plurality of adsorption holes. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the upper surface of the holding plate
A first groove extending in the width direction,
And a second groove as the cutting reference line extending in the width direction at a position different from the first groove in the longitudinal direction,
The step a)
a-1) holding the first substrate on the upper surface of the holding plate,
a-2) cutting the first substrate along the first groove,
a-3) holding the end portion of the second base material on the upper surface of the holding plate so as to overlap the end portion of the first base material after cutting,
And in the step b), the overlapping points are cut along the second grooves. The method of claim 3,
In the step (a-1), the upper surface of the holding plate approaches the lower surface of the horizontally disposed first base. The method of claim 3,
In the step a-1), the first base material is fixed on the downstream side of the holding plate in the carrying direction,
In the step (a-3), the second base material is fixed on the upstream side of the holding plate in the transport direction. 3. The method of claim 2,
In the step (a-3), the end portions of the second base material are disposed between a pair of positioning members disposed on both sides in the width direction of the end portion of the first base material. A coating method for coating catalytic ink on the surface of a first base material and a second base material which are base materials in a long band in which two layers of a support film and an electrolyte film are laminated,
x) connecting the end portions of the first base material and the second base material by the connection method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6;
y) coating the catalytic ink on the surface of the substrate while transporting the substrate after the connection. A process for producing a membrane-catalyst layer assembly having a catalyst layer formed on the surface of an electrolyte membrane,
a) a dummy substrate on a long-striped belt in which at least two layers of a first layer and a second layer are stacked, a dummy substrate on which a dummy substrate is laminated, Wherein the support film and the first layer are arranged in a longitudinal direction and the electrolyte membrane and the second layer are laminated in the longitudinal direction by connecting the seal member and the seal member, A step of forming a connecting substrate in a longitudinal band extending in a longitudinal direction,
b) transporting the connecting substrate in the longitudinal direction with the dummy substrate as a head;
c) peeling the first layer from the second layer, then peeling the support film from the electrolyte film,
d) coating the catalyst material on the surface of the electrolyte membrane from which the support film has been peeled. 9. The method of claim 8,
The method for manufacturing a membrane / catalyst layer assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a step of holding the dummy substrate in a conveying path from the winding section to the winding section before the step a). A process for producing a membrane-catalyst layer assembly having a catalyst layer formed on the surface of an electrolyte membrane,
a) a dummy substrate in the form of an elongated strip of at least two layers of a first layer and a second layer laminated on at least two layers of a support film and an electrolyte membrane, Wherein the support film and the first layer are arranged in the longitudinal direction and the electrolyte membrane and the second layer are laminated in the longitudinal direction by connecting the dummy base material to the second base material, A step of forming a connecting substrate in a longitudinal band extending in a longitudinal direction,
b) transporting the connecting substrate in the longitudinal direction so that the dummy substrate is trailing;
c) peeling off the support film from the electrolyte membrane, and then peeling the first layer from the second layer;
d) coating the catalyst material on the surface of the electrolyte membrane from which the support film has been peeled. 11. The method of claim 10,
Further comprising the step of recovering the dummy substrate in a transport path from the winding section to the winding section after the step d). The method according to claim 9 or 11,
Wherein the length of the dummy substrate in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the transport path. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the second layer has a sticking material on a surface in contact with the first layer. 13. The method of claim 12,
The thickness of the first layer is approximately the same as the thickness of the support film,
Wherein the thickness of the second layer is substantially equal to the thickness of the electrolyte membrane. 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the thickness of the second layer is thinner than the thickness of the first layer. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the first layer and the second layer are both PET films. A connecting device for connecting end portions of a first base material and a second base material, which are base materials in a long band stacked with two layers,
And a holding plate having an upper surface contacting with a lower surface of the base horizontally disposed,
The upper surface of the holding plate has an arrangement region in which the end portion of the first base material and the end portion of the second base material are arranged so as to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction of the base material, And a reference line. 18. The method of claim 17,
And the upper surface of the holding plate has a plurality of suction holes. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the upper surface of the holding plate
A first groove extending in the width direction,
And a second groove as the cutting reference line extending in the width direction at a position different from the first groove in the longitudinal direction. 18. The method of claim 17,
Further comprising a lifting mechanism for moving the holding plate up and down. 18. The method of claim 17,
A downstream side clamp mechanism for fixing the first base material on the downstream side of the holding plate in the carrying direction,
Further comprising an upstream side clamp mechanism for fixing the second base material on an upstream side of the holding plate in the carrying direction. 18. The method of claim 17,
And a cutter capable of advancing and retreating along the cutting reference line. A coating apparatus for coating catalyst ink on the surface of a first base material and a second base material which are base materials in a long band in which two layers of a support film and an electrolyte membrane are laminated,
A transport mechanism for transporting the substrate along a transport path,
The connection device according to any one of claims 17 to 22, arranged on the conveyance path,
And a coating portion disposed on a downstream side of the connecting device on the conveyance path for coating catalyst ink on the surface of the substrate. As an apparatus for producing a membrane-catalyst layer junction body having a catalyst layer formed on the surface of an electrolyte membrane,
A dummy base material in a long belt-like band in which at least two layers of a first layer and a second layer are laminated, and a dummy base material in which a base film and an electrolyte membrane are stacked, Wherein the support film and the first layer are arranged in the longitudinal direction by connecting the first and second substrates to each other with the connecting device according to any one of claims 17 to 22, A connecting portion for forming the electrolyte membrane and the connecting substrate on the elongate band in which the second layer is arranged in the longitudinal direction,
A transport mechanism for transporting the connecting substrate in the longitudinal direction,
A peeling portion for peeling the first layer from the second layer and peeling off the support film from the electrolyte film,
And a coating portion for coating a catalyst material on the surface of the electrolyte membrane on the downstream side of the conveyance path than the peeling portion.

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