Press processing device and press processing method

Abstract

The invention provides a press processing device and a press processing method capable of maintaining high precision. A press processing device includes a fixed die, a movable die, and a plurality of punching portions. The plurality of blanking parts comprise a first blanking part and a second blanking part. The first punching part forms a first part of the separator by punching a first part of the raw material. The second punching portion forms a second portion in the separator by punching the second portion of the raw material. The press processing device is configured such that a first portion of the raw material is punched by the first punching unit during mold clamping, and a second portion of the raw material is punched by the second punching unit during mold clamping thereafter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a stamping device and a stamping method. Background Art

[0002] A fuel cell stack is formed by overlapping single cells in the thickness direction. A single cell is formed by sandwiching a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly with a separator. The separator is manufactured, for example, by a stamping device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-78336. The stamping device includes a fixed die and a movable die that repeatedly perform mold clamping and mold opening. A raw material for forming the separator is conveyed between the fixed die and the movable die of the stamping device. Then, by mold clamping of the stamping device, shape processing is performed on a part of the forming area of the separator in the raw material, blanking is performed on a part of the forming area, or the separator is cut off from the raw material. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Among them, in the separator, there are parts that need to be formed with high precision and parts that do not need to be so in the parts formed by blanking the raw material during mold clamping. For example, there is a case where the first part of the separator is formed by blanking the first part of the raw material, and the second part that needs to be formed with higher precision than the first part of the separator is formed by blanking the second part of the raw material.

[0005] In this case, if the first part and the second part are blanked separately during one mold clamping, the following situation will occur. That is, after blanking the first part and the second part in the raw material, shrinkage accompanied by stamping deformation caused by the blanking occurs in the raw material. Moreover, due to the influence of this shrinkage, it spreads to the periphery of the second part in the raw material, in other words, the second part in the separator, and thus it is difficult to maintain the high precision when forming the second part.

[0006] Solutions to the Problems

[0007] A stamping device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a fixed die and a movable die configured to repeatedly perform die closing and die opening; and a plurality of blanking parts provided at opposing portions of the fixed die and the movable die. The stamping device is configured such that when forming a separator for a fuel cell from a raw material by stamping using repeated die closing and die opening, a part of the raw material is blanked using the blanking parts during die closing. The plurality of blanking parts include a first blanking part and a second blanking part. The first blanking part forms a first part of the separator by blanking a first part of the raw material, and the second blanking part forms a second part of the separator that needs to be formed with higher precision than the first part by blanking a second part of the raw material provided separately from the first part. The stamping device is configured such that the first blanking part blanks the first part of the raw material during die closing, and the second blanking part blanks the second part of the raw material during a subsequent die closing.

[0008] A stamping method according to an aspect of the present disclosure, when forming a separator for a fuel cell from a raw material by stamping using repeated die closing and die opening between a fixed die and a movable die, blanks a part of the raw material using a plurality of blanking parts provided at opposing portions of the fixed die and the movable die during die closing. The plurality of blanking parts include a first blanking part and a second blanking part. The first blanking part forms a first part of the separator by blanking a first part of the raw material, and the second blanking part forms a second part of the separator that needs to be formed with higher precision than the first part by blanking a second part of the raw material provided separately from the first part. The stamping method includes: blanking the first part of the raw material using the first blanking part during die closing, and blanking the second part of the raw material using the second blanking part during a subsequent die closing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a single cell.

[0010] Figure 2 is a front view showing a separator installed in Figure 1 the single cell.

[0011] Figure 3 briefly shows a side view of a stamping device for manufacturing Figure 2 the separator.

[0012] Figure 4 briefly shows Figure 3Top view of the first blanking section, second blanking section, and cutting section in a stamping device.

[0013] Figure 5 It is Figure 4 Cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the punch of the first blanking section.

[0014] Figure 6 It is Figure 4 Cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the punch of the second blanking section and the punch of the cutting section.

[0015] Figure 7 Cross-sectional view showing another example of the punch of the first blanking section.

[0016] Figure 8 Cross-sectional view showing another example of the punch of the second blanking section and the punch of the cutting section. Detailed implementation mode

[0017] [First implementation mode]

[0018] Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 1 to 6 The first implementation mode of the stamping device and the stamping method will be described.

[0019] Figure 1 A single cell 11 for forming a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell is shown. The single cell 11 includes a resin plate 12, a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer laminate 13, and a separator 14. The resin plate 12 is formed in a rectangular frame shape. The outer edge of the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer laminate 13 is joined to the resin plate 12. Further, the resin plate 12 and the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer laminate 13 are clamped from both sides in their thickness directions by the separator 14.

[0020] By laminating such single cells 11 in the thickness direction, a fuel cell stack is formed. Holes 16 to 21 are formed in the resin plate 12 and the pair of separators 14 of the single cell 11. The holes 16 to 21 are located at both ends in the long side direction of the fuel cell unit 11. The holes 16 to 21 are used to form passages for fluids such as fuel gas (hydrogen, etc.), oxidation gas (air, etc.), and refrigerant (cooling water, etc.) to flow into or out of the fuel cell stack.

[0021] Moreover, the fuel gas and oxidation gas flowing into the fuel cell stack of the single cell 11 are supplied to the anode side and cathode side of the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer laminate 13, and power generation is performed based on the reaction of the fuel gas and oxidation gas in the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer laminate 13. The fuel gas and oxidation gas that have passed through the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer laminate 13 flow out of the fuel cell stack as described above. In addition, the refrigerant flowing into the fuel cell stack flows between the separators 14 of adjacent single cells 11. As a result, the fuel cell stack is cooled.

[0022] <Details of the separator 14>

[0023] As Figure 2 shown, the separator 14 is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The holes 16 to 21 are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the separator 14. In the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the separator 14, a plurality of grooves 22 are formed so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the separator 14. The grooves 22 are used for supplying fuel gas to the anode side of the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly 13 or supplying oxidation gas to the cathode side of the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly 13.

[0024] The four corners 14a of the separator 14 are formed in a rounded shape and are connected to the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14. Recessed portions 23 are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the separator 14 and are recessed inward from the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14. The recessed portions 23 have an opening edge portion 23a for defining an opening for the short side 14b. The opening edge portion 23a is formed in a rounded shape and is connected to the short side 14b. The short side 14b in the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 serves as a first portion, and the recessed portion 23 serves as a second portion that needs to be formed with higher precision than the first portion.

[0025] Reference holes 24 are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the separator 14. In addition, a terminal portion 26 is formed in the separator 14 and is recessed inward from the long side 14c of the outer peripheral surface thereof. The terminal portion 26 has an opening edge portion 26a for defining an opening for the long side 14c. The opening edge portion 26a is formed in a rounded shape and is connected to the long side 14c. As Figure 1 shown, in the resin plate 12, recessed portions 23, reference holes 24, and terminal portions 26 are also formed at positions corresponding to the recessed portion 23, the reference hole 24, and the terminal portion 26 of the separator 14, respectively.

[0026] In the separator 14, the above-mentioned first portion further includes the holes 16 to 21. In addition, in the separator 14, the above-mentioned second portion further includes the reference hole 24 and the terminal portion 26.

[0027] <Reference hole 24, recessed portion 23, terminal portion 26>

[0028] The reference holes 24 of the separator 14 and the resin plate 12 are used to set the relative positions between the separator 14, the resin plate 12, and the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly 13 in the single cell 11 to appropriate positions. That is, when manufacturing the single cell 11, with the positioning pins passing through the reference holes 24 of the separator 14 and the resin plate 12, the separator 14 clamps the resin plate 12 and the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly 13 from both sides in the thickness direction. Further, the separators 14 on both sides in the thickness direction of the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly 13 are joined to the resin plate 12 while being in contact with the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly 13. Thus, the fuel cell unit 11 is manufactured while setting the relative positions between the separator 14, the resin plate 12, and the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly 13 to appropriate positions.

[0029] The concave portions 23 of the separator 14 and the resin plate 12 are used to suppress the occurrence of positional deviation of the stacked single cells 11 when the single cells 11 are stacked in the thickness direction to form a battery stack. That is, by stacking the single cells 11 in such a way that the positioning rails pass through the concave portions 23 of each single cell 11, a battery stack is formed without positional deviation of each single cell 11. The opening edge portions 23a of the concave portions 23 in each single cell 11 are formed in the above-mentioned rounded shape so that the above-mentioned positioning rails can be smoothly inserted into the concave portions 23.

[0030] The rail-shaped terminals for extracting power from the battery stack pass through the terminal portions 26 of the separator 14 and the resin plate 12. The terminals are insulated from the separator 14 of the single cell 11 and are electrically connected to the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly 13 via the circuit formed in the resin plate 12 of the single cell 11. The opening edge portions 26a of the terminal portions 26 in each single cell 11 are formed in the above-mentioned rounded shape so that the above-mentioned rail-shaped terminals can be smoothly inserted into the terminal portions 26.

[0031] It can be seen from the above respective functions that the concave portions 23, the reference holes 24, and the terminal portions 26 need to be formed with high precision.

[0032] <Stamping device>

[0033] Next, a stamping device for manufacturing the separator 14 will be described.

[0034] Figure 3 The shown stamping device performs progressive stamping on the raw material 27 for forming the separator 14. The separator 14 is manufactured by such progressive stamping. The stamping device includes a fixed die 28 and a movable die 29 configured to repeatedly perform die closing and die opening. When the stamping device opens the die, the movable die 29 moves away from the fixed die 28, and on the other hand, when closing the die, the movable die 29 moves closer to the fixed die 28.

[0035] AsFigure 4 As shown, the raw material 27 is in a strip shape. In the raw material 27, rectangular formation regions 30 where the partition members 14 are to be formed are arranged along the length direction of the raw material 27. As Figure 3 shown, the raw material 27 is disposed between the fixed die 28 and the movable die 29 of the stamping device. Each time the fixed die 28 and the movable die 29 are opened and closed during the opening process, the raw material 27 is conveyed along the length direction of the raw material 27 at intervals corresponding to the distances between adjacent formation regions 30 in the raw material 27 towards Figure 3 and Figure 4 the right side.

[0036] The stamping device includes a forming portion 31, a first blanking portion 32, a second blanking portion 33, and a cutting portion 34 provided at the opposing portions of the fixed die 28 and the movable die 29. Specifically, at the opposing portions of the fixed die 28 and the movable die 29 in the stamping device, from the rear side in the conveying direction of the raw material 27 towards the front side, that is, from Figure 3 and Figure 4 the left side towards the right side, the forming portion 31, the first blanking portion 32, the second blanking portion 33, and the cutting portion 34 are provided. The above-mentioned forming portion 31, first blanking portion 32, second blanking portion 33, and cutting portion 34 perform stamping on the formation region 30 of the raw material 27 and its periphery during each closing. The partition member 14 is formed through such stamping.

[0037] Next, the details of the forming portion 31, the first blanking portion 32, the second blanking portion 33, and the cutting portion 34 in the stamping device will be described separately.

[0038] <Forming Portion 31>

[0039] The forming portion 31 forms the contour of the partition member 14 and the contours of the holes 16 - 21, the recess 23, the reference hole 24, and the terminal portion 26 in the formation region 30 of the raw material 27 during closing, and the forming portion 31 has a forming surface 35 for forming the groove 22 of the partition member 14. The forming portion 31 performs shape processing on a part of the formation region 30 by using the forming surface 35 during closing, thereby forming the above-mentioned various contours and the groove 22 in the formation region 30 of the raw material 27 as Figure 4 shown.

[0040] <First Blanking Portion 32>

[0041] Figure 3 The first blanking portion 32 shown includes punches 36, 37 and a die 38 for blanking a specified portion of the raw material 27 during closing. As Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the punch 36 punches the first part 39 of the raw material 27. In addition, the punch 37 punches the parts in the forming area 30 of the raw material 27 corresponding to the holes 16-21 of the partition member 14.

[0042] The first part 39 is located outside the forming area 30 in the raw material 27, that is, outside the position corresponding to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14. The first part 39 has a short side part 40 and a protruding part 41. The short side part 40 is located outside the forming area 30 in the raw material 27 in the long side direction, and extends along the short side direction of the forming area 30. The protruding part 41 extends from both ends in the length direction of the short side part 40 toward the space between adjacent forming areas 30 with a gap from the long sides of the forming area 30.

[0043] The punch 36 is provided with a shape corresponding to the short side part 40 and the protruding part 41 of the first part 39 in order to punch the first part 39 of such a shape. As a result, the shape of the punch 36 becomes a shape along the position corresponding to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14 in the raw material 27. Moreover, at the time of mold clamping, the first part 39 of the raw material 27 is punched by the punch 36, and the parts in the forming area 30 of the raw material 27 corresponding to the holes 16-21 are punched by the punch 37, thereby forming the first part of the partition member 14.

[0044] <Second punching part 33>

[0045] Figure 3 The second punching part 33 shown is provided with punches 42-44 and a die 45 for punching a specified part of the forming area 30 in the raw material 27 at the time of mold clamping. As Figure 4 and Figure 6 shown, the punch 42 punches the second part 46 provided separately from the first part 39 in the raw material 27. In addition, the punches 43 and 44 punch the parts in the forming area 30 of the raw material 27 corresponding to the reference hole 24 and the terminal part 26.

[0046] The second part 46 is adjacent to the first part 39 in the raw material 27 and is located inside the position corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14 in the raw material 27. Specifically, the second part 46 is located at the part corresponding to the concave part 23 of the partition member 14 in the raw material 27. Moreover, the punch 42 for punching the second part 46 of the raw material 27 is set to a shape that does not overlap with the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14 and corresponds to the concave part 23 of the partition member 14. By punching the second part 46 of the raw material 27 with this punch 42, the concave part 23 of the partition member 14 is formed.

[0047] Moreover, during mold clamping, the second part 46 of the raw material 27 is blanked by using the punch 42, and the parts corresponding to the reference holes 24 and the terminal parts 26 within the forming area 30 in the raw material 27 are blanked by using the punches 43 and 44, thereby forming the second part of the separator 14.

[0048] <Cutting portion 34>

[0049] Figure 3 The cutting portion 34 shown is provided with a punch 47 and a die 48 for blanking the forming area 30 from the raw material 27 to form the separator 14 during mold clamping. As Figure 4 and Figure 6 shown, the punch 47 is used to blank between adjacent forming areas 30 in the raw material 27 along the long side of the forming area 30, and is shaped to be able to perform such blanking. By using this punch 47 to blank between adjacent forming areas 30 in the raw material 27, the separator 14 is blanked out from the raw material 27.

[0050] Next, the operation of the stamping device of the present embodiment and the stamping method implemented based on this operation will be described.

[0051] As Figure 3 shown, the strip-shaped raw material 27 is disposed between the fixed die 28 and the movable die 29 of the stamping device. When the stamping device performs mold clamping, by means of the forming portion 31, as Figure 4 shown, the contour of the separator 14 and the contours of the holes 16 - 21, the recess 23, the reference hole 24, and the terminal portion 26 are formed in the forming area 30 of the raw material 27, and the groove 22 of the separator 14 is formed. During the subsequent mold opening, the raw material 27 is conveyed to the right side of Figure 3 and Figure 4 at the above-mentioned interval.

[0052] When the stamping device performs mold clamping for the next time, by means of the first blanking portion 32, as Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, the punch 36 blanks the short side portion 40 and the protruding portion 41 of the first part 39 in the raw material 27. Thereby, the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 is formed. Furthermore, at this time, the punch 37 also blanks the portion of the raw material 27 corresponding to the holes 16 - 21. Thereby, the holes 16 - 21 of the separator 14 are formed. During the subsequent mold opening, the raw material 27 is conveyed to the right side of Figure 3 and Figure 4 at the above-mentioned interval.

[0053] When the stamping device performs mold clamping for the next time, by means of the second blanking portion 33, as Figure 4 and Figure 6As shown, the punch 42 punches the second part 46 in the forming area 30 of the raw material 27. Thereby, the concave part 23 of the partition member 14 is formed. Further, at this time, the punch 43 also punches the part corresponding to the reference hole 24 in the forming area 30 and the punch 44 punches the part corresponding to the terminal part 26 in the forming area 30. Thereby, the reference hole 24 and the terminal part 26 of the partition member 14 are formed. When the mold is opened after that, the raw material 27 is conveyed to the right side of Figure 3 and Figure 4 at the above-mentioned interval.

[0054] When the next stamping device closes the mold, by means of the cutting part 34, as Figure 4 and Figure 6 shown, the punch 47 punches the area between adjacent forming areas 30 in the raw material 27. Thereby, the partition member 14 is cut off from the raw material 27. In this way, a plurality of partition members 14 are manufactured from the strip-shaped raw material 27.

[0055] According to the present embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0056] (1-1) When the stamping device closes the mold, the punch 36 of the first punching part 32 punches the first part 39 in the raw material 27. When the mold is closed later, the punch 42 of the second punching part 33 punches the second part 46 in the raw material 27. Specifically, the stamping device is configured to manufacture the partition member 14 by progressive stamping. Moreover, in such a progressive stamping process, after the punch 36 of the first punching part 32 punches the first part 39 in the raw material 27, the punch 42 of the second punching part 33 punches the second part 46 in the raw material 27.

[0057] When punching the first part 39 in the raw material 27, stamping deformation caused by the above punching and the accompanying shrinkage will occur in the raw material 27. According to the above stamping device, after the above shrinkage occurs in the raw material 27, the second part 46 in the raw material 27 is punched. Therefore, when forming the concave part 23 of the partition member 14 by punching the second part 46 in the raw material 27, it will not be affected by the above shrinkage accompanying the punching of the first part 39 in the raw material 27. In this way, the above shrinkage accompanying the punching of the first part 39 in the raw material will not affect the formation of the concave part 23 in the partition member 14. Therefore, high precision can be maintained when forming the concave part 23 in the partition member 14.

[0058] (1-2) As Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the first part 39 is located at a position in the raw material 27 that is outside the position corresponding to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 in the long side direction of the separator 14. As Figure 4 and Figure 6 shown, the second part 46 is located at a position in the raw material 27 corresponding to the concave portion 23 of the separator 14 that is recessed inward from the position corresponding to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14. The opening edge portion 23a of the concave portion 23 of the separator 14 is Figure 6 shown as a rounded shape and is connected to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14. Therefore, Figure 5 the second part 46 in the raw material 27 shown also has a shape corresponding to the concave portion 23 of the separator 14.

[0059] After the punch 36 of the first punching portion 32 punches the first part 39 of the raw material 27 to form the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 as the first part, the punch 42 of the second punching portion 33 punches the second part 46 of the raw material 27. The punch 42 of the second punching portion 33 is shaped so as not to overlap with the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 in the raw material 27 and corresponds to the concave portion 23 of the separator 14. Therefore, the punch 42 punches the second part 46 of the raw material 27 without overlapping with the position in the raw material 27 corresponding to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14, that is, the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 as the first part. Thereby, the concave portion 23 of the separator 14 as the second part is formed.

[0060] Therefore, when the punch 42 of the second punching portion 33 punches the second part 46 corresponding to the concave portion 23 having a rounded shape at the opening edge portion 23a, the punch 42 of the second punching portion 33 does not rub against the portion of the raw material 27 that has been punched by the punch 36 of the first punching portion 32, that is, the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 as the first part. Therefore, it is possible to suppress burrs and the like generated by rubbing of the punch 42 against the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface.

[0061] (1 - 3) As Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, the first part 39 of the raw material 27 has a short side portion 40 and a protruding portion 41. The short side portion 40 is located outside the long side direction of the forming region 30 in the raw material 27 and extends along a position corresponding to the short side. The protruding portion 41 extends from both end portions in the length direction of the short side portion 40 toward between adjacent forming regions 30 with a gap from the long sides of the forming regions 30. And the first punching portion 32 is Figure 3There is a punch 36 and a die 38 for blanking the short side portion 40 and the protruding portion 41 of the first portion 39. The punch 36 is set to a shape corresponding to the short side portion 40 and the protruding portion 41 of the first portion 39.

[0062] When blanking the raw material 27 using the punch 36 and the die 38 of the first blanking portion 32 Figure 5 When blanking the short side portion 40 and the protruding portion 41 of the first portion 39 shown, the waste material blanked off becomes a shape corresponding to the first portion 39. Therefore, the detachment of the waste material generated by the above blanking from the die 38 is suppressed because the portion of the waste material corresponding to the protruding portion 41 gets caught on the die 38. Thus, when blanking the first portion 39 of the raw material 27, there is no need to take countermeasures against the detachment of the waste material generated by this blanking from the die 38.

[0063] (1-4) Figure 5 There is a gap between the protruding portion 41 of the first portion 39 shown and the long side of the forming area 30 in the raw material 27. Therefore, when blanking the first portion 39 of the raw material 27 using the punch 36 of the first blanking portion 32, at the position on the long side of the forming area 30 corresponding to the protruding portion 41, the raw material 27 is in a state of protruding outward from the long side. Therefore, when the four corners of the separator 14 are rounded, the punch 36 of the first blanking portion 32 can blank the raw material 27 along the rounded shape without blanking along the long side of the forming area 30 in the raw material 27.

[0064] Moreover, as Figure 6 shown, when the punch 47 of the cutting portion 34 blanks between adjacent forming areas 30 in the raw material 27 along the long side of the forming area 30, at the same time, the portion of the raw material 27 that protrudes from the long side of the forming area 30 after the punch 36 blanks the first portion 39 is blanked off. Thus, when the punch 47 of the cutting portion 34 blanks between adjacent forming areas 30 in the raw material 27, it is possible to suppress the punch 47 of the cutting portion 34 from rubbing against the blanked portion of the raw material 27 at the long side of the forming area 30 in the raw material 27. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of burrs and the like due to the punch 47 of the cutting portion 34 rubbing against the blanked portion of the raw material 27.

[0065] (1-5) The first portion of the separator 14 includes not only the short side 14b on the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 but also the holes 16 - 21 for fluid flow. Therefore, since a large amount of blanking of the raw material 27 is performed using the punches 36 and 37 of the first blanking portion 32, the shrinkage of the raw material 27 associated with the stamping deformation during this blanking is likely to become larger.

[0066] In addition, the second part of the separator 14 includes not only the concave portion 23, but also the reference hole 24 and the terminal portion 26. When the number of the second parts in the separator 14 increases, if the punches 36 and 37 of the first punching section 32 and the punches 42 to 44 of the second punching section 33 simultaneously punch the raw material 27, the following situation will occur. That is, the significant shrinkage of the raw material 27 described above will affect the formation of the second part achieved by punching the raw material 27 with the punches 42 to 44 of the second punching section 33.

[0067] However, in the stamping device, after punching the raw material 27 with the punches 36 and 37 of the first punching section 32 shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5 , punching of the raw material 27 with the punches 42 to 44 of the second punching section 33 shown in Figure 4 and Figure 6 is performed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the significant shrinkage of the raw material 27 described above from affecting the formation of the second part.

[0068] (1 - 6) The second punching section 33 not only punches the second part 46 of the raw material 27 with the punch 42, but also punches the portion of the raw material 27 corresponding to the terminal portion 26 with the punch 44. The terminal portion 26 has an opening edge portion 26a for defining an opening of the long side 14c of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14. The opening edge portion 26a of the terminal portion 26 becomes a rounded shape and is connected to the long side 14c of the outer peripheral surface. As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 6 , the punch 44 for punching the portion of the raw material 27 corresponding to the terminal portion 26 is shaped so as not to overlap with the position of the raw material 27 corresponding to the long side 14c of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14. Therefore, after the punch 44 of the second punching section 33 punches the raw material 27, when the punch 47 of the cutting section 34 punches between the adjacent formed regions 30 in the raw material 27, the portion of the raw material 27 punched by the punch 44 of the second punching section 33 will not be rubbed by the punch 47 of the cutting section 34. Therefore, it is possible to suppress burrs and the like associated with the portion of the raw material 27 punched by the punch 44 of the second punching section 33 being rubbed by the punch 47 of the cutting section 34.

[0069] [Second Embodiment]

[0070] Next, a second embodiment of the stamping device and the stamping method will be described with reference to Figure 7 and Figure 8 .

[0071] The stamping device of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in the structure of forming the concave portion 23 and the terminal portion 26 in the partition member 14, in other words, in the first blanking portion 32, the second blanking portion 33, and the cutting portion 34.

[0072] The punch 36 of the first blanking portion 32 is shaped as follows. That is, as Figure 7 shown, the shape of the punch 36 is set to be along not only the position corresponding to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14 in the raw material 27 but also the position corresponding to the opening edge portion 23a of the concave portion 23 of the partition member 14 as Figure 8 shown. Therefore, the first portion 39 of the raw material 27 in this embodiment is not only located outside the forming area 30 in the raw material 27, that is, at a position outside the position corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14, but also at a position corresponding to the opening edge portion 23a of the concave portion 23 in the partition member 14.

[0073] The shapes of the punches 42 and 44 of the second blanking portion 33 are respectively set as follows. That is, as Figure 8 shown, the punch 42 is shaped so as not to overlap with the position in the raw material 27 corresponding to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14 and the opening edge portion 23a of the concave portion 23. Further, the shape of the punch 42 is also set to correspond to the portion inside the raw material 27 that is closer to the inside than the opening edge portion 23a of the concave portion 23 of the partition member 14. Therefore, the second portion 46 of the raw material 27 in this embodiment is adjacent to the first portion 39 as Figure 7 shown, and is located at a portion closer to the inside than the opening edge portion 23a in a manner that is closer to the inside than the position corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14 in the raw material 27 and does not overlap with the opening edge portion 23a of the concave portion 23.

[0074] The punch 44 is shaped as Figure 8 shown so as not to overlap with the position in the raw material 27 corresponding to the long side 14c of the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14 and the opening edge portion 26a of the terminal portion 26. Further, the punch 44 is shaped to correspond to the portion inside the raw material 27 that is closer to the inside than the opening edge portion 26a of the terminal portion 26 of the partition member 14.

[0075] The punch 47 of the cutting portion 34 is shaped to achieve the following when punching between adjacent forming areas 30 in the raw material 27 along the long side of the forming area 30. That is, the shape of the punch 47 is set to not overlap with the portion inside the partition member 14 that is closer to the inside than the opening edge portion 26a of the terminal portion 26 and to correspond to the opening edge portion 26a of the terminal portion 26.

[0076] Next, the operation of the stamping device of the present embodiment and the stamping method implemented based on this operation will be described.

[0077] When the stamping device closes the mold, by means of the first blanking part 32, as Figure 7 shown, the blanking of the first part 39 of the raw material 27 by the punch 36 and the blanking of the parts of the raw material 27 corresponding to the holes 16 - 21 by the punch 37 are carried out. Thereby, the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 is formed, and the holes 16 - 21 of the separator 14 are formed. During the mold opening after that, the raw material 27 is conveyed to the right side of Figure 7 at the above-mentioned interval.

[0078] When the stamping device closes the mold next time, by means of the second blanking part 33, the Figure 8 blanking of the second part 46 in the forming area 30 of the raw material 27 by the punch 42 as shown is carried out. Thereby, the concave part 23 of the separator 14 is formed. Further, at this time, the blanking of the part corresponding to the reference hole 24 in the above-mentioned forming area 30 by the punch 43 and the blanking of the part corresponding to the terminal part 26 in the above-mentioned forming area 30 by the punch 44 are also carried out. Moreover, by the blanking of the part corresponding to the reference hole 24 in the above-mentioned forming area 30 by the punch 43, the reference hole 24 of the separator 14 is formed. During the mold opening after that, the raw material 27 is conveyed to the right side of Figure 8 at the above-mentioned interval.

[0079] When the stamping device closes the mold next time, by means of the cutting part 34, the Figure 8 blanking of the punch 47 between the adjacent forming areas 30 in the raw material 27 as shown is carried out. At this time, the punch 47 also blanks the part corresponding to the opening edge part 26a in such a way that it does not overlap with the part of the terminal part 26 of the separator 14 that is closer to the inside than the opening edge part 26a. By such blanking of the raw material 27 by the punch 47, the terminal part 26 of the separator 14 is formed, and the separator 14 is cut off from the raw material 27. In this way, a plurality of separators 14 are manufactured from the strip-shaped raw material 27.

[0080] According to the present embodiment described in detail above, in addition to the effects shown in (1 - 1), (1 - 3), (1 - 4) and (1 - 5) of the first embodiment, the following effects can also be obtained.

[0081] (2 - 1) As Figure 7As shown, the first part 39 is located at a position outside the position corresponding to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 in the raw material 27, and is located at a position corresponding to the opening edge 23a of the recess 23. On the other hand, the second part 46 is located at a position in the raw material 27 corresponding to a part inside the opening edge 23a of the recess 23 of the separator 14.

[0082] The punch 36 of the first blanking part 32 punches the first part 39 of the raw material 27, thereby forming the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface as the first part in the separator 14 and the opening edge 23a of the recess 23 in the separator 14. After that, Figure 8 The punch 42 of the second blanking part 33 shown punches the second part 46 of the raw material 27 as follows. That is, the punch 42 punches a part inside the opening edge 23a of the recess 23 of the separator 14 in the raw material 27 that is inside the opening edge 23a of the recess 23 without overlapping with the opening edge 23a of the recess 23 of the separator 14 in the raw material 27. Thereby, the recess 23 as the second part in the separator 14 is formed.

[0083] Therefore, when the punch 42 of the second blanking part 33 punches the second part 46, the punch 42 of the second blanking part 33 does not rub against the part of the raw material 27 that has been punched by the punch 36 of the first blanking part 32, that is, the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 and the opening edge 23a of the recess 23. Therefore, it is possible to suppress burrs and the like generated by rubbing of the punch 42 against the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface and the opening edge 23a of the recess 23.

[0084] (2-2) As Figure 8 shown, the second blanking part 33 not only punches the second part 46 with the punch 42, but also punches a part inside the opening edge 26a of the terminal part 26 with the punch 44. The punch 44 is shaped so as not to overlap with the long side 14c of the outer peripheral surface of the separator 14 and the opening edge 26a of the terminal part 26 in the raw material 27. Moreover, after the punch 44 of the second blanking part 33 punches the raw material 27, the punch 47 of the cutting part 34 punches between adjacent forming areas 30 in the raw material 27 along the long side of the forming area 30, and punches the part corresponding to the opening edge 26a of the terminal part 26 in such a way as not to overlap with the part inside the opening edge 26a of the terminal part 26. As a result, the part of the raw material 27 that has been punched by the punch 44 of the second blanking part 33 is not rubbed by the punch 47 of the cutting part 34. Therefore, it is possible to suppress burrs and the like generated by rubbing of the part of the raw material 27 that has been punched by the punch 44 of the second blanking part 33 by the punch 47 of the cutting part 34.

[0085] [Other embodiments]

[0086] In addition, the above-described embodiments can be modified as follows, for example. The above-described embodiments and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a range where there is no technical contradiction.

[0087] · In the first embodiment, the opening edge portion 23a of the recess 23 in the partition member 14 does not necessarily need to be a rounded shape. For example, the inner side surface of the opening edge portion 23a may be orthogonal to the short side 14b of the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14.

[0088] · In the first embodiment, the opening edge portion 26a of the terminal portion 26 in the partition member 14 does not necessarily need to be a rounded shape. For example, the inner side surface of the opening edge portion 26a may be orthogonal to the long side 14c of the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 14.

[0089] · In the first and second embodiments, the four corners of the partition member 14 do not necessarily need to be rounded.

[0090] · In the first and second embodiments, the first portion 39 does not necessarily need to have the protruding portion 41. In this case, the punch 36 of the first blanking portion 32 is set to a shape corresponding to the above-described first portion 39.

[0091] · Instead of the reference hole 24, a recess such as the recess 23 may be formed, and this recess may have the function of the reference hole 24.

[0092] · The punching of the raw material 27 by the punches 42 to 44 of the second blanking portion 33 does not necessarily need to be performed in the same die closing. For example, the punches 42 to 44 are distributed to a plurality of second blanking portions 33. Further, the plurality of second blanking portions 33 are arranged adjacent to each other at intervals corresponding to the above-described interval in the conveying direction of the raw material 27. In this case, as the raw material 27 is conveyed at the above-described interval each time the die is closed, the punches 42 to 44 punch the portions corresponding to different forming regions 30 in the raw material 27 each time the die is closed.

[0093] · As the stamping apparatus and stamping method of the first and second embodiments, an apparatus and method for performing progressive stamping are illustrated, but they can also be applied to stamping apparatuses and stamping methods for performing stamping other than progressive stamping such as multi-station stamping and tandem stamping.

Claims

1. A stamping device, wherein: The stamping processing device comprises: A fixed mold and a movable mold configured to repeatedly close and open the mold; and A plurality of punching parts are provided at the positions where the fixed die and the movable die face each other. The press working device is configured to perform a punching of a portion of the raw material by the punching section during the die closing when forming a separator for a fuel cell from a raw material by a press working process based on repeated die closing and die opening. The plurality of blanking portions include a first blanking portion and a second blanking portion, The first punching portion forms a first portion of the separator by punching a first portion of the raw material. The second punching portion punches out a second portion of the raw material that is provided separately from the first portion, thereby forming a second portion of the separator that needs to be formed with higher precision than the first portion. The press working device is configured such that the first punching section punches the first portion of the material during mold closing, and the second punching section punches the second portion of the material during subsequent mold closing.

2. The punching processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The raw material is formed into a strip extending between the fixed mold and the movable mold and having forming areas for forming the partition arranged along the length direction, and the raw material is conveyed along the length direction between the fixed mold and the movable mold at a pitch corresponding to the distance between the adjacent forming areas each time the mold is opened. A forming portion, the first punching portion, the second punching portion, and a cutting portion are sequentially provided at the opposing portions of the fixed die and the movable die along the length direction of the raw material. When the fixed mold and the movable mold are clamped, the forming part performs shape processing on a portion of the corresponding forming area in the raw material, the first punching part punches the first part of the raw material, the second punching part punches the second part of the raw material, and the cutting part cuts the corresponding forming area from the raw material to form the partition.

3. The punching device according to claim 2, wherein: The first portion of the separator includes an outer peripheral surface of the separator, The second portion of the separator includes a recessed portion recessed inward from the outer peripheral surface of the separator, The recess has an opening edge for defining an opening to the outer peripheral surface, and the opening edge is rounded and connected to the outer peripheral surface of the separator. The first portion of the raw material is located outside a portion of the raw material corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the separator. The second portion of the raw material is adjacent to the first portion of the raw material and is located inward of a position of the raw material corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the separator. The first punching portion includes a punch for punching the first portion, the punch having a shape along a position of the raw material corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the separator. The second punching portion includes a punch for punching the second portion, the punch having a shape that does not overlap with a position of the material corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the separator and having a shape corresponding to the recessed portion of the separator.

4. The punching processing device according to claim 2, wherein: The first portion of the separator includes an outer peripheral surface of the separator, The second portion of the separator includes a recessed portion recessed inward from the outer peripheral surface of the separator, The recess has an opening edge for defining an opening to the outer peripheral surface, and the opening edge is rounded and connected to the outer peripheral surface of the separator. The first portion of the raw material is located at a portion of the raw material that is outside a position corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the separator and corresponds to the opening edge of the recessed portion. The second portion of the raw material is adjacent to the first portion of the raw material and is located inside the position of the raw material corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the separator so as not to overlap with the opening edge of the recessed portion. The first punching portion includes a punch for punching the first portion, the punch having a shape along a position of the raw material corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the separator and the opening edge of the recessed portion. The second punching portion includes a punch for punching the second portion, the punch having a shape that does not overlap with a position in the raw material corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the partition and the opening edge of the recess, and having a shape corresponding to a portion of the recess of the partition that is closer to the inside than the opening edge.

5. The punching processing device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The separator is formed into a rectangular plate with rounded corners. The first portion of the separator includes a short side of the outer peripheral surface of the separator, The second portion of the separator includes the recessed portion that is recessed inward from the short side of the outer peripheral surface. The forming area is formed into a rectangular shape corresponding to the separator and arranged along the length direction of the raw material. The first portion of the raw material has a short side portion and a protruding portion, the short side portion is located outside the long side direction of the forming area in the raw material and extends along a position corresponding to the short side, and the protruding portion extends from both ends of the short side portion in the long direction toward between the adjacent forming areas and with a gap between the long sides of the forming areas. The punch of the first punching portion is set to a shape corresponding to the short side portion and the protruding portion of the first portion, The first punching portion includes a die corresponding to the punch. The cutting unit includes a punch configured to punch out a portion between the adjacent forming regions in the material along the long sides of the forming regions.

6. The punching processing device according to claim 5, wherein: The first portion of the partition includes a hole for forming a passage for fluid flow, The second portion of the separator includes a reference hole used when the separator is installed in the fuel cell unit and a terminal portion recessed inward from a long side of the outer peripheral surface of the separator. The first punching section includes a punch for punching a portion corresponding to the hole in a forming region of the material when punching the first portion of the material. The second punching portion includes a punch for punching a portion corresponding to the reference hole and the terminal portion in a forming region of the raw material when punching the second portion in the raw material.

7. The punching processing device according to claim 6, wherein: The terminal portion of the separator has an opening edge portion for defining an opening for the long side of the outer peripheral surface, and the opening edge portion is rounded and connected to the long side. The punch in the second punching portion for punching out the portion of the raw material corresponding to the terminal portion is set to a shape that does not overlap with a position in the raw material corresponding to the long side of the outer peripheral surface of the separator, and is set to a shape corresponding to the terminal portion of the separator.

8. The punching processing device according to claim 6, wherein: The terminal portion of the separator has an opening edge portion for defining an opening for the long side of the outer peripheral surface, and the opening edge portion is rounded and connected to the long side. The punch for punching the portion of the raw material corresponding to the terminal portion in the second punching portion is configured to have a shape that does not overlap with a position in the raw material corresponding to the long side of the outer peripheral surface of the separator and the opening edge of the terminal portion, and is configured to have a shape that corresponds to a portion of the terminal portion of the separator that is closer to the inside than the opening edge. The punch of the cutting portion is configured to punch out a portion corresponding to the opening edge portion in a manner that does not overlap with a portion of the terminal portion of the separator that is closer to the inside than the opening edge portion when punching out between adjacent forming areas in the raw material along the long side of the forming area.

9. A stamping method, in which, when forming a separator for a fuel cell from a raw material by a stamping process based on repeated mold closing and mold opening of a fixed mold and a movable mold, a portion of the raw material is punched out by using a plurality of punching parts provided at opposing locations of the fixed mold and the movable mold during mold closing, wherein: The plurality of blanking portions include a first blanking portion and a second blanking portion, The first punching portion forms a first portion of the separator by punching a first portion of the raw material. The second punching portion punches out a second portion of the raw material that is provided separately from the first portion, thereby forming a second portion of the separator that needs to be formed with higher precision than the first portion. The stamping method comprises: The first punching portion is used to punch out the first portion of the material during mold closing, and the second punching portion is used to punch out the second portion of the material during subsequent mold closing.

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