KR20190076548A - Apparatus for Carrying the Membrane-Electrode Assembly of Fuel Cell - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a transfer device of a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, and more particularly, to a device for transferring an assembly line including a membrane electrode assembly formed by stacking first and second gasket sheets on both surfaces of a membrane sheet. The transfer device of the present invention comprises: a first operation unit having a fixed support of a predetermined length disposed in parallel along both side edges of an assembly line, and a first slider assembled on an upper surface of the fixed support to be slidable, and reciprocating the first slider in a transfer direction of the assembly line by a driving force of a first actuator; a second operation unit having a second slider having a to-be-guided unit slidably assembled with a guide unit formed on an upper surface of the first slider, and a second actuator fixedly installed in a first bracket extending from the first slider, and reciprocating the second slider in a direction perpendicular to the assembly line by the second actuator having an operating end connected to a second bracket extending from the second slider; and a third operation unit having a third actuator fixedly installed in the second slider, and upper and lower grippers to be widened or narrowed at an operating end of the third actuator, and clamping or unclamping the assembly line by widening or narrowing the upper and lower grippers facing both side edges of the assembly line by the third actuator.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly transfer device for a fuel cell,

The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell.

Generally, a fuel cell is a power generation system that converts chemical energy possessed by hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction.

That is, the chemical energy generated due to the oxidation of the fuel is directly converted into electric energy, and the reduction reaction of oxygen is performed in the cathode and the oxidation reaction of hydrogen in the anode proceeds electrochemically.

The reaction of the whole fuel cell is the reverse reaction of the electrolysis of water. In this process, three products such as electricity, heat and water are produced.

The fuel cell includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, an electrode (anode, cathode), a gas diffusion layer (GDL), and a separator.

On the other hand, since the conversion into electric energy is performed in a membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly is a key component that determines the performance of the fuel cell.

The stack internal structure of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane and a membrane electrode assembly composed of a pair of electrode catalyst layers, which are electrode materials formed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane.

A gas diffusion layer (GDL) is disposed on each of both surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly so as to support the membrane electrode assembly. The gas diffusion layer is connected to the outside of the gas diffusion layer, a pair of separators formed with flow fields are disposed.

Therefore, the unit fuel cell is composed of one membrane electrode assembly, two gas diffusion layers and two separators, and these unit cells are stacked to form a stacked cell.

(Patent Document 1) KR10-2008-0008855 A

Patent Document 1 discloses a membrane unwinder for supplying a membrane of a tape shape, a film unwinder for supplying a film coated with a catalyst layer at regular intervals on the surface facing the membrane to upper and lower portions of the membrane, A film rewinder for recovering the film from which the catalyst layer has been removed, a diffusion layer supply / compression unit for supplying and pressing the diffusion layer unit to the surface of the catalyst layer, And a membrane rewinder for separating the membranes from which the diffusion layer is compressed to a predetermined size and separating the membranes into membrane electrode assemblies, and a membrane rewinder for recovering the membrane from which the membrane electrode assemblies are separated.

However, the sheet stacked body to be fed in one direction by the roll-to-roll system is temporarily stopped in the crimping portion and the cutter, the compression and cutting steps are performed, and then the sheet stacked body is retransferred in one direction by the pulling force of the rewinder The stretch occurs in the sheet stacked body to be conveyed while forming the pass line in the process of repeating the operation of the sheet stacked body. This causes the sheet stacked body to be in a pressed position and inferior pressure bonding and cutting failure,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to solve the above- To provide a membrane electrode assembly transfer device for a fuel cell which can precisely control the position of a line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell capable of precisely controlling the position of a bonding material line which is repeatedly fed and stopped in a process of thermocompression bonding in a cutting machine to cut the bonding material line forming the membrane electrode assembly, To provide a membrane electrode assembly transfer device.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, unless further departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be possible.

As a specific means for achieving the above object, an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for transferring a bonded body line including a membrane electrode assembly in which first and second gasket sheets are laminated on both sides of a membrane sheet, And a first slider having a fixed length of a fixed support arranged parallel to both sides of the line and being slidably mounted on the upper surface of the fixed support so that the first slider is moved in the conveying direction of the assembly line by the driving force of the first actuator A first actuating part for reciprocating the first slider; A second slider provided on a lower surface of the first slider so as to be slidably engaged with a guide formed on an upper surface of the first slider and a second actuator fixedly installed on the first bracket extending from the first slider, A second actuating part for reciprocally moving the second slider in a direction perpendicular to the joined body line by a second actuator having a second bracket extending from the second slider and connected to the actuating end; And a third actuator fixedly mounted on the second slider and having upper and lower grippers that are opened or pivoted at an operating end of the third actuator, the upper and lower grippers being opposed to both sides of the assembly line by the third actuator, A third actuating part for clamping or unclamping the assembly line by opening or closing the lower gripper; The present invention provides a membrane electrode assembly transfer device for a fuel cell.

Preferably, the operation end of the second actuator may include a ring-annular groove which is engaged with the semicircular groove recessed at the upper end of the second bracket.

The operation end of the third actuator may include an upper chuck coupled to the upper gripper and a lower chuck connected to the lower gripper.

 Preferably, the lower surface of the upper gripper and the upper surface of the lower gripper may include upper and lower contact members, respectively, so as to prevent damage to both side edges of the assembly line clamped at the time of clamping.

The present invention as described above has the following effects.

In the process of thermocompression bonding of the gasket sheet laminated on both sides of the membrane sheet, the position control of the junction body line which repeats transferring and stopping is carried out by the gripper and actuator by the gripper and the actuator So that it is possible to stably perform the thermocompression bonding process on the planarized bonded body line, thereby preventing the product failure.

In the process of cutting the junction line forming the membrane electrode junction body in the extruder, the position control of the junction body line which repeats the transfer and stop in the process of transferring the junction body line in the roll-to-roll method is performed by the grip and actuator So that it is possible to stably perform the cutting process on the planarized junction body line, thereby preventing the defective product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a process diagram showing a process for producing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell; FIG.
2 is a schematic view showing a membrane electrode assembly transfer device for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which a membrane electrode assembly transfer device for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to an installation.
4 is an overall perspective view showing a membrane electrode assembly transfer device for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5A and 5B are perspective views illustrating second and third actuating parts applied to a membrane electrode assembly transfer device for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating a second operation unit applied to the membrane electrode assembly shipment apparatus for a fuel cell according to the embodiment of the present invention.
7A and 7B are perspective views illustrating a third operation unit applied to a membrane electrode assembly transfer apparatus for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

The same reference numerals are used for portions having similar functions and functions throughout the drawings.

In addition, in the entire specification, when a part is referred to as being 'connected' to another part, it may be referred to as 'indirectly connected' not only with 'directly connected' . Also, to include an element does not exclude other elements unless specifically stated otherwise, but may also include other elements.

FIGS. 1A to 1E are a whole process flow chart for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly to be applied to a fuel cell. The membrane electrode assembly is manufactured by a coating process, a transfer process, a gasketing process, a hot pressing process, a cutting process, .

1A, first and second electrodes 13 and 14 are coated with a paste, which is a conductive material, on one surface of the first and second sheets 11 and 12 by an unillustrated coating apparatus, Are continuously formed at regular intervals.

At this time, the first and second electrodes on which the first and second electrodes are formed may be covered with protective paper to protect the first and second electrodes before the transfer process.

1B, the sheet stack 10 having the membrane sheet 15 sandwiched between the first and second sheets 11 and 12 is thermally pressed and heated by the thermal lamination, By separating the 1,2 sheets from the membrane sheet, the first and second electrodes are transferred to form a one-to-one correspondence with each other on both sides of the membrane sheet.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the gasket joining step is performed by joining the first and second gasket sheets 1 and 2 formed by passing through the first and second openings 23 and 24 corresponding to the first and second electrodes 13 and 14, The first and second gasket sheets are bonded to both sides of the membrane sheet so that the first and second electrodes are exposed to the outside through the first and second openings by heating the joint body 20 in which the first and second openings 21 and 22 are laminated on the membrane sheet 15, And to fix the joint.

1D, the first and second gasket sheets 21 and 22 having first and second openings for externally exposing the first and second electrodes are formed on both sides of the membrane sheet 15, And the upper and lower molds 31 and 32 corresponding to the joined body 20 to which the first and second gasket sheets are joined are thermally bonded to each other to completely integrate the membrane sheet and the first and second gasket sheets.

As shown in FIGS. 1E and 1F, the cutting process and the gas diffusion layer bonding process are performed by a rubbing machine, such as a membrane sheet 15 including the first and second electrodes 11 and 12, The gasket sheets 21 and 22 are formed in a substantially rectangular shape to separate the membrane electrode assembly 50 by unit and then the first and second gas diffusion sheets 21 and 22, (41, 42) are laminated and adhered via an adhesive agent, thereby finally manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a membrane electrode assembly transfer device for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to a facility. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a membrane electrode assembly transfer device for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention It is the state of use.

2 and 3, a membrane electrode assembly (membrane electrode assembly) 100 for fuel cells according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly 20 (first membrane electrode assembly) 20 formed by laminating first and second gasket sheets on both surfaces of a membrane sheet ) To perform a hot pressing process in a process of advancing the bonded body line 20a from the unwinding roll 101 to the take-up roll 102 side in one direction or a device such as a rudder for performing a cutting process The transfer device 100 includes a first actuating part 110, a second actuating part 120 and a third actuating part 130 so as to stop the bonding object line to be processed in the thermocompressor or the extruder And the conveying operation are repeatedly performed.

The first actuating part 110 is provided with a fixed supporting body 111 having a predetermined length arranged at regular intervals along both side edges of the joined body line 20a and has a pair of right and left Each of the upper surfaces of the fixed support 111 may include a first slider 112 of a substantially rectangular plate shape which is slidably assembled.

The first actuator 113 is composed of a motor member for rotating a screw shaft disposed in an inner space of the fixed support 111. The first slider 122 is screwed with the screw shaft, And a moving member connected to the moving body reciprocating in the space and being slidably mounted on the upper surface of the fixed supporting body.

Accordingly, the driving force of the first actuator 113 causes the first slider 122 to reciprocate in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the joined body line along with the second operating portion and the third operating portion, The distance may be adjusted by the rotational driving force of the first actuator.

Here, the pair of left and right fixed supports 111 coupled with the first actuator are fixedly installed on the upper portion of the fixed frame 105 so as to have a bilateral symmetrical structure, and the fixed frame 102 is connected to the junction body 20 And the upper and lower molds 103 and 104. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be installed in a thermocompressor having upper and lower molds for performing a hot pressing process.

4 to 6B, the second actuating part 120 includes a guiding part 121a formed on the upper surface of the first slider 112 and a guiding part 121b which is slidably assembled to the guiding part 121a, And a second slider 122 having a substantially rectangular plate-like shape and provided on a lower surface thereof.

Here, the guide portion 121a may be a rail formed on the upper surface of the first slider 112, and the sloped portion 121b may be provided with a rail groove corresponding to the rail, And can be provided opposite to each other.

The second slider 122 includes a second actuator 123, such as an air cylinder, which is connected to the input / output air line and reciprocally operated at the tip of the rod. One end of the body of the second actuator 123 is connected to the first slider The operation end 123a of the rod 122 of the second actuator 123 is fixed to the first bracket 124 extending at a right angle from the second slider 122 by a second bracket 124 extending from the second slider 122 at a right angle, (125).

The first and second brackets 124 and 125 may be formed of a vertical plate coupled to a first edge of the first slider and a first edge of the second slider by a fastening member.

In this case, the operation end 123a of the second actuator 123 may include a ring-annular groove formed by being hung on a semicircular groove formed in the upper end of the second bracket 125.

Accordingly, when the operation end 123a of the second actuator 123 provided on the first slider is operated, the second slider 122, which is slidably mounted on the first slider, And is reciprocally moved in a direction orthogonal to a direction orthogonal to the junction body line 20a together with the third actuating part by engagement between the operation end and the second bracket.

Accordingly, the third actuating part 130 provided on the second slider can be moved back and forth to move toward or away from the edges of the joined body 20.

In order to control the reciprocating movement of the second slider 122 in one side of the first slider 112 and in the width direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the first slider, And a stopper bracket 127a having a stopper bar 127 at the tip thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B and 7A and 7B, the third actuating part 130 is provided on a second slider reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to the assembly line by the second actuator And a third actuator 133 fixedly installed on the fixing bracket.

The operation end 133a of the third actuator 133 is provided with upper and lower grippers 135 and 136 which are opened or closed to operate the third actuator 133 connected to the air supply line, The upper and lower grippers 135, 136 positioned to face the rim are opened or closed to clamp or unclamp both side edges of the assembly line.

The operation end of the third actuator 133 may include an upper chuck coupled to the upper gripper 135 and a lower chuck connected to the lower gripper 136, The upper and lower grippers can be opened or closed by operation of the third actuator.

The lower surface of the upper gripper 135 and the upper surface of the lower gripper 136 are formed with rubber plates or resin plates to prevent damages on both side edges of the assembly line clamped by the operation of the third actuator Upper and lower contact members 135a and 136b are preferably replaceable.

Accordingly, when the upper and lower grippers 135 and 136 are turned to the closed state by the operation of the third actuator 133, both side edges of the joined body line are clamped and fixed, and the upper and lower grippers 135 and 136 When returning to the open state, both sides of the bonded body line are unclamped to release the constraint.

The membrane electrode assembly transfer apparatus 100 for a fuel cell having the above-described configuration is configured such that a connection body line 20a including a membrane electrode assembly 20 in which first and second gasket sheets are laminated on both sides of a membrane sheet, After the thermocompression bonding process is performed, the substrate is re-transported in the transport direction, or the bonding body line 20a is temporarily stopped at the rubbers to cut the membrane electrode assembly in units of units, and then transported again in the transport direction .

That is, when the assembly line 20a, which travels in one direction between the unloading roll and the winding roll, is temporarily stopped in the facility such as the thermocompressor or the extruder, the second actuator 122 provided in the second operation unit 120, Since the second slider 122, which is slidably movably assembled to the first slider 112 by the operation of the first slider 112, is moved in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the bonded body line, (135, 136) close to both side edges of the joined body line in the open state.

Then, when the upper and lower grippers in the open state are switched to the pinch state by the third actuator 133 and both side edges of the joined body line are crimped, both side edges of the joined body line are clamped by the upper and lower grippers And is fixed.

In this state, the membrane electrode assembly 20, in which the first and second gasket sheets are laminated on both sides of the membrane sheet by the combined operation of the upper and lower molds provided as hot plates in the thermocompressor, The gasket sheet is integrally joined or the membrane electrode assembly subjected to the thermocompression bonding is cut by unit by the combined operation of the upper and lower dies provided as cutting blades in the rubbing machine, thereby forming the perforations 20b in the assembly body line.

At this time, before the membrane electrode assembly is thermocompression-bonded or the thermocompression-bonded membrane electrode assembly is cut by a unit, both side edges of the assembly line 20a are clamped and fixed, When the lower grippers 135 and 136 are spaced apart from each other by a returning operation of the second actuator by a certain distance in the direction away from the joined body line, the flatness of the joined body line clamped by the upper and lower grippers can be secured, A stable horizontal line perpendicular to the vertical axis can be obtained.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent a product failure that may occur while the hot press process by the upper and lower molds of the thermocompressor and the cutting process by the upper and lower molds of the rasterizer are performed in an irregular and uneven body assembly line.

When the first slider 112 is moved in the same direction as the conveying direction of the bonded body by the operation of the first actuator while the thermocompression process by the thermocompressor and the cutting process by the puncturer are completed, The second actuating part moves along with the feeding of the first slider together with the upper and lower grippers clamping and fixing both side edges of the joined body line.

At this time, the joint body line is moved by the rotary drive of the roll-to-roll type unwinding roll and the take-up roll by the moving distance of the first slider by the operation of the first actuator, and the next step is continuously performed.

Then, the upper and lower grippers, which are clamped on both side edges of the joined body line by the operation of the third actuator, are switched to the open state. Then, the second slider is moved to the open state by the operation of the third actuator, Are moved away from the opposite sides of the joined body line.

In this state, when the first slider is returned to the releasing roll side while the first actuator is returned to operation, the third actuating part having the upper and lower grippers switched to the open state has the second actuating part having the second slider And is returned to the initial position so as to perform a subsequent thermocompression process or a cutting process, thereby preparing a subsequent process.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

11, 12:
13, 14: first and second electrodes
20:
21, 22: first and second gasket sheets
23, 24:
110: first operating portion
111:
112: first slider
113: first actuator
120: second operating portion
122: a second slider
123: second actuator
124: First bracket
125: second bracket
130: Third operating part
133: Third actuator
135, 136: upper and lower grippers
135a, 136a: upper and lower contact members

Claims (4)

An apparatus for transferring a bonded body line including a membrane electrode assembly in which first and second gasket sheets are laminated on both sides of a membrane sheet,
And a first slider having a fixed support having a predetermined length arranged in parallel along both side edges of the assembly line and being slidably mounted on an upper surface of the fixed support, A first actuating part for reciprocating the first slider in the direction of the first slider;
A second slider provided on a lower surface of the first slider so as to be slidably engaged with a guide formed on an upper surface of the first slider and a second actuator fixedly installed on the first bracket extending from the first slider, A second actuating part for reciprocally moving the second slider in a direction perpendicular to the joined body line by a second actuator having a second bracket extending from the second slider and connected to the actuating end; And
And a third actuator fixedly mounted on the second slider and having upper and lower grippers which are opened or closed at an operation end of the third actuator, A third actuating part for clamping or unclamping the assembly line by opening or closing the lower gripper; Wherein the membrane electrode assembly is disposed on the membrane electrode assembly. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the operation end of the second actuator includes a ring-annular groove that is engaged with and disposed on a semicircular groove recessed at an upper end of the second bracket. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the operation end of the third actuator includes a vertical chuck and a lower chuck assembled to be vertically guided in the vertical guide groove and connected to the upper gripper and a lower chuck connected to the lower gripper. Device. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the upper gripper and the lower gripper respectively include upper and lower contact members for preventing damage to both sides of a joined body line clamped at the time of clamping, Device.

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