Laminating device

Abstract

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a positioning device capable of improving the operability of positioning and holding fuel cells when the fuel cells are stacked so as to improve energy efficiency. In order to solve the problem, this lamination device (1) is provided with: a measurement device (40) which is disposed above a lamination surface (P), which is the uppermost surface of fuel cells (FC) that are laminated, and which is capable of measuring the height of the lamination surface (P) in a non-contact manner without coming into contact with the lamination surface; a calculation unit (90) that calculates a lift amount for maintaining the height of the lamination surface (P) measured by the measurement device (40) at a predetermined height; and an adjustment device (20) that adjusts the height of the lamination surface (P) on the basis of the lift amount calculated by the calculation unit (90).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stacking device. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a stacking device is known that positions and stacks a plurality of fuel cell single cells constituting a fuel cell stack (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] [Prior Art Documents]

[0004] (Patent Document)

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-157521 Summary of the Invention

[0006] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0007] In the above stacking device, a structure having a single cell posture changing portion is required at the upper part of the stacking device, which limits the design freedom of the device structure. An object of the present invention is to provide a stacking device having a high degree of design freedom of the device structure and capable of improving energy efficiency.

[0008] [Technical Means for Solving the Problems]

[0009] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a stacking device (for example, the "stacking device 1" described later) that stacks a plurality of fuel cell single cells (for example, the "fuel cell single cell FC" described later), the stacking device having: a measuring device (for example, the "measuring device 40" described later), disposed above the uppermost surface of the fuel cell single cells to be stacked, that is, the stacking surface (for example, the "stacking surface P" described later), and capable of measuring the height of the stacking surface in a non-contact manner without contacting the stacking surface; a calculation unit (for example, the "control device 90" described later), calculating a lifting amount for maintaining the height of the stacking surface at a specified height, the height of the stacking surface being measured by the measuring device; and an adjustment device (for example, the "adjustment device 20" described later), adjusting the height of the stacking surface based on the lifting amount calculated in the calculation unit.

[0010] In the above invention, it is preferable that a plurality of the fuel cell single cells are guided and positioned on a positioning rod (for example, the "positioning rod 71" described later) and stacked, and the measuring device measures the height of the stacking surface of a portion near a part of the fuel cell single cell positioned on the positioning rod (for example, the "part R" described later).

[0011] In addition, it is preferable that the adjustment device includes a servo motor, and the height of the stacking surface is adjusted by driving the servo motor.

[0012] (Effect of the Invention)

[0013] According to the present invention, a stacking device can be provided, which has a high degree of design freedom in its structure and can seek to improve energy efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a diagram illustrating the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a diagram illustrating the states at the initial stage and the middle stage of stacking when fuel cell monomers are stacked by the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a flowchart illustrating the control performed by the control device of the stacking device of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. As Figure 1 , Figure 2 and so on show, the stacking device 1 of the fuel cell monomer FC is a stacking device that stacks a plurality of fuel cell monomers FC, and includes a stack box 10, an adjustment device 20, a stacking hand 30 (refer to Figure 2 and so on), a measurement device 40, and a control device 90.

[0018] The stack box 10 is configured as a rectangular box-shaped having an upper opening portion 11 with the entire upper surface being open. Inside the stack box 10, a plate-shaped pin lifter 22 constituting the adjustment device 20 is disposed in a horizontal state. The fuel cell monomer FC can be placed on the upper surface of the pin lifter 22. A plurality of horizontally supported plate-shaped rectangular fuel cell monomers FC are inserted from the upper opening portion 11 of the stack box 10, and a plurality of fuel cell monomers FC are stacked inside the stack box 10.

[0019] The pin lifter 22 is connected to a servo motor constituting the adjustment device 20 (refer to Figure 2 and so on), and the adjustment device 20 is disposed below the stack box 10. By driving the servo motor, the pin lifter 22 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction inside the stack box 10. The adjustment device 20 adjusts the height of the stacking surface P, which is the uppermost surface of the stacked fuel cell monomers FC, based on the lifting amount calculated in the calculation unit of the control device 90.

[0020] In addition, an inner box rod 12 is provided inside the stack box 10. The inner box rod 12 is disposed at the central portion in the horizontal direction of the four side walls of the rectangular stack box 10 with the long side direction pointing in the vertical direction. In addition, in Figure 1In the figure, for ease of explanation, the illustration of the front side wall among the four side walls of the rectangular stacking box 10 is omitted.

[0021] In a state where the rectangular fuel cell single cell FC is inserted into the interior of the stacking box 10 and the in-box rod 12 is engaged with the concave portions formed on the four sides of the fuel cell single cell FC as the engaged portions, the in-box rod 12 guides the fuel cell single cell FC to move in the vertical direction inside the stacking box 10 and positions the fuel cell single cell FC inside the stacking box 10.

[0022] A rectangular plate-shaped rod holding portion (not shown) that covers the upper part of the opening is fixed to the upper opening portion 11 of the stacking box 10, and a positioning rod 71 (see Figure 1 ) is detachably fixed to the rod holding portion. The positioning rod 71 is fixed and held to the rod holding portion (not shown) according to the positional relationship between the lower end surface of the positioning rod 71 and the upper end surface of the in-box rod 12 so that the in-box rod 12 extends upward. The fuel cell single cell FC is guided and positioned by the positioning rod 71 and guided to the in-box rod 12, and thus is guided by the in-box rod 12 and stacked on the pin lifter 22 inside the stacking box 10.

[0023] The stacking hand 30 conveys the fuel cell single cell FC in a horizontally supported state. The stacking hand 30 is configured to insert the conveyed fuel cell single cell FC into the upper opening portion 11 of the stacking box 10 while maintaining a horizontal state, and stack the fuel cell single cell FC one by one on the pin lifter 22 inside the stacking box 10.

[0024] The measuring device 40 includes a distance sensor having a laser irradiation unit. The distance sensor can measure the height of the stacking surface P in a non-contact manner without contacting the uppermost surface of the stacked fuel cell single cells FC, that is, the stacking surface P. Specifically, the distance sensor is configured to irradiate the stacking surface P with laser light and receive the reflected laser light, thereby detecting the distance between the laser irradiation unit and the stacking surface P and outputting the height of the stacking surface P. The irradiated laser light is not particularly limited, and in the present embodiment, for example, infrared laser light is used.

[0025] Four measuring devices 40 are provided. In addition, in Figure 1 , for ease of explanation, only two are illustrated. As Figure 1 shown, the four measuring devices 40 are arranged directly above the uppermost surface of the stacked fuel cell single cells FC, that is, the stacking surface P. The measuring device 40 is configured to measure and output the height of the portion of the stacking surface P of the fuel cell single cell FC, that is, the portion R of the stacking surface P near the portion that is abutted and positioned by the four positioning rods 71.

[0026] The control device 90 constitutes a calculation unit and is composed of a CPU (central processing unit), storage media such as a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, etc. The control device 90 is electrically connected to the servo motor of the adjustment device 20, the distance sensor of the measurement device 40, etc., inputs the signal output from the distance sensor of the measurement device 40, and outputs a signal for driving the servo motor of the adjustment device 20 to the servo motor.

[0027] The control device 90 inputs a signal containing the value of the height of the lamination surface P output from the distance sensor of the measurement device 40, and calculates the lifting amount for maintaining the height of the lamination surface P at a specified height. Specifically, the control device 90 inputs signals containing the values of the height of the lamination surface P from 4 measurement devices 40, and calculates their average value. Then, the control device 90 calculates the difference between the specified height and this average value, and calculates the calculated value as the lifting amount. That is, the lifting amount refers to the amount by which the pin lifter 22 moves when the height of the lamination surface P becomes a position different from the specified position, so as to move the pin lifter 22 up and down to make the height of the lamination surface P coincide with the specified height.

[0028] Next, with reference to Figure 3 the flowchart shown, the control for moving the pin lifter 22 up and down by the control device 90 will be described. First, in step S11, the control device 90 controls the distance sensors of the 4 measurement devices 40 to measure the height of the lamination surface P. Then, the control of the control device 90 proceeds to step S12.

[0029] Next, in step S12, the control device 90 inputs the values of the heights of the 4 parts R of the lamination surface P from the 4 measurement devices 40, that is, 4 values, and calculates the average value of these 4 values. Then, the control device 90 calculates the difference between the specified value and the average value, and takes this difference as the lifting amount. Then, the control of the control device 90 proceeds to step S13.

[0030] Next, in step S13, the control device 90 controls the servo motor of the adjustment device 20 to adjust the position of the pin lifter 22 so that the value of the height of the lamination surface P coincides with the specified value based on the lifting amount.

[0031] Specifically, when the average value of the height of the lamination surface P is higher than the specified value (refer to Figure 2 "mid-lamination period"), the control device 90 drives the servo motor of the adjustment device 20, and controls the servo motor to lower the pin lifter 22 by an amount corresponding to the lifting amount. When the average value of the height of the lamination surface P is lower than the specified value (refer to Figure 2In the "initial stage of lamination"), the control device 90 drives the servo motor of the adjustment device 20, and controls the servo motor to raise the pin lifter 22 by an amount corresponding to the lifting amount. Thus, the average value of the height value of the lamination surface P is made to coincide with the specified value. Then, the control of the control device 90 proceeds to step S14.

[0032] Next, in step S14, the control device 90 determines whether the lamination of the fuel cell single cells FC is completed, that is, whether the lamination of the specified number of fuel cell single cells FC is completed. If the lamination of the fuel cell single cells FC is completed (S14: Yes), the processing of the control device 90 is ended.

[0033] If the lamination of the fuel cell single cells FC is not completed (S14: No), the control device 90 performs the following control: A new fuel cell single cell FC is conveyed to the stacking hand 30 and inserted from the upper opening 11 of the stacking box 10 while maintaining a horizontal state. Then, the control device 90 controls the stacking hand 30 as follows: It is placed on the uppermost fuel cell single cell FC among the fuel cell single cells FC stacked on the pin lifter 22 inside the stacking box 10. Then, the control of the control device 90 returns to step S11, and the above processing is performed one by one on the stacked fuel cell single cells FC.

[0034] The effects of the above embodiment are as follows.

[0035] The lamination device 1 of the present embodiment has: a measuring device 40, arranged above the uppermost surface, i.e., the lamination surface P, of the fuel cell single cells FC to be laminated, capable of measuring the height of the lamination surface P in a non-contact manner without contacting the lamination surface P; a control device 90 having a calculation unit that calculates the lifting amount for maintaining the height of the lamination surface P at a specified height, the height of the lamination surface P being measured by the measuring device 40; and an adjustment device 20 that adjusts the height of the lamination surface P based on the lifting amount calculated in the calculation unit of the control device 90.

[0036] When laminating the fuel cell single cells FC at high speed, as indicated by the arrow "small" in Figure 2 it is necessary to keep the height of the lamination surface P at a specified position to make the vertical movement distance of the stacking hand 30 short and constant. However, the fuel cell single cells FC have elasticity (warpage, undulation), and if the number of laminations increases, the thickness will change significantly.

[0037] Accordingly, if the height of the stacking surface P becomes too high, it will protrude further above the upper end of the positioning rod 71, resulting in a decrease in positioning accuracy. If the stacking height is too low, the locking between the rod and the single unit occurs. That is, when the fuel cell single units FC are stacked by dropping, the fuel cell single units FC cannot maintain a horizontal position and will be in an inclined state where normal stacking is impossible due to the inclination. In addition, when the fuel cell single units FC are conveyed to the stacking surfaces P at different heights, the conveying distance becomes longer, leading to an increase in the conveying time.

[0038] However, in the present embodiment, the adjustment device 20 can adjust the height of the stacking surface P and constantly maintain it at a specified position by feeding back the height of the stacking surface P to the lifting amount, so that the next fuel cell single unit FC can be stacked in this state. Accordingly, the moving distance of the vertical conveyance of the fuel cell single units FC by the stacking hand 30 can be reduced, and thus the fuel cell single units FC can be stacked at high speed in the automatic process by the stacking hand 30.

[0039] In addition, in the present embodiment, a plurality of fuel cell single units FC are guided and positioned on the positioning rod 71 and stacked, and the measuring device 40 measures the height of the stacking surface P of the vicinity portion R of the part of the fuel cell single unit FC positioned on the positioning rod 71. Accordingly, a situation where a large deviation occurs in the measured value can be suppressed.

[0040] In addition, in the present embodiment, the adjustment device 20 includes a servo motor, and the height of the stacking surface P is adjusted by driving the servo motor. Accordingly, the height of the stacking surface P can be adjusted with high precision by the fine rotation of the servo motor.

[0041] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications or improvements within the scope capable of achieving the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.

[0042] For example, regarding the number and the arranged positions of the measuring devices 40, they are not limited to the number and positions of the present embodiment. In addition, the adjustment device 20 has a servo motor, but is not limited thereto, and other motors or the like may be used.

[0043] Reference Numerals

[0044] 1: Stacking Device

[0045] 20: Adjustment Device

[0046] 40: Measuring Device

[0047] 71: Positioning Rod

[0048] 90: Control Device (Calculation Unit)

[0049] FC: Fuel Cell Single Unit

[0050] P: Laminated surface

[0051] R: Portion

Claims

1. A stacking device for stacking a plurality of fuel cell monomers, wherein the stacking device has: a measuring device disposed above the uppermost surface, i.e., the stacking surface, of the fuel cell monomers to be stacked, and capable of measuring the height of the stacking surface in a non-contact manner without contacting the stacking surface; a calculation unit that calculates a lifting amount for maintaining the height of the stacking surface at a specified height, the height of the stacking surface being measured by the measuring device; and an adjustment device that adjusts the height of the stacking surface based on the lifting amount calculated in the calculation unit.

2. The stacking device according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of fuel cell monomers are guided and positioned on positioning rods and stacked. The measuring device measures the height of the stacking surface in the vicinity of a part of the fuel cell monomers positioned on the positioning rods.

3. The stacking device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the adjustment device includes a servo motor, and the height of the stacking surface is adjusted by driving the servo motor.

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