Positioning device

Abstract

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a positioning device capable of improving energy efficiency by improving the operability of positioning and holding fuel cells when fuel cells are stacked. In order to solve the problem, a positioning device for a fuel cell FC stacking device (1) according to the present invention is provided with: a rod holding section (60) for stacking fuel cells FC constituting a fuel cell; and a positioning rod (71) which is detachably held by the rod holding part (60) and holds the stacked fuel cells (FC). The rod holding portion (60) is configured so as to be separable.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Conventionally, a stacking device has been known, which includes a positioning device 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 Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-157521 Summary of the Invention

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

[0007] In the above stacking device, it is necessary to remove the entire single cell posture changing part at the upper part of the stacking device after stacking the fuel cell single cells, which requires improvement in manufacturing workability. An object of the present invention is to provide a positioning device that can improve the energy efficiency by improving the workability of positioning and holding fuel cell single cells when stacking the fuel cell single cells.

[0008] [Technical Means for Solving the Problems]

[0009] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a positioning device that is a positioning device for fuel cell single cells and positions the fuel cell single cells when stacking a plurality of fuel cell single cells (for example, "fuel cell single cell FC" described later). The positioning device includes: a rod holding part (for example, "rod holding part 60" described later) for stacking the fuel cell single cells; and a positioning rod (for example, "positioning rod 71" described later) that is detachably held by the rod holding part and holds the stacked fuel cell single cells; and the rod holding part is configured to be divisible.

[0010] In the above invention, preferably, the rod holding part is configured to be divisible in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the fuel cell single cells. Further, preferably, the positioning rod has an engaging part (for example, "recess 711" described later) that can engage with an engaged part (for example, "projection FCΦ2" described later) formed on the peripheral part of the fuel cell single cell.

[0011] Further, preferably, the aforementioned positioning rod is connected and fixed to an in-box rod (for example, the "in-box rod 12" described later), the in-box rod is disposed inside a stack box (for example, the "stack box 10" described later) that houses the stacked fuel cell monomers, the in-box rod has an in-box rod engaging portion (for example, the "recess 121" described later), and the in-box rod engaging portion is continuous with the engaging portion (for example, the "recess 711" described later) of the aforementioned positioning rod.

[0012] (Effects of the Invention)

[0013] According to the present invention, a positioning device can be provided that can improve the workability of positioning and holding fuel cell monomers when stacking them, thereby enabling an improvement in energy efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

[0015] Figure 2 It is a diagram for explaining the states at the initial stage and the middle stage of stacking when stacking fuel cell monomers using the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a flowchart showing the control performed by the control device of the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0017] Figure 4 It is a perspective view showing a state where a rod holding portion and a positioning rod are installed at the upper end opening of a stack box in the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0018] Figure 5 It is a top view showing a state where a rod holding portion and a positioning rod are installed at the upper end opening of a stack box in the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0019] Figure 6 It is an upper side view showing a state where a rod holding portion and a positioning rod are installed at the upper end opening of a stack box in the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0020] Figure 7 It is a top view showing the first rod holding division of the rod holding portion in the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0021] Figure 8 It is a top view showing the second rod holding division of the rod holding portion in the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0022] Figure 9 It is a front view showing the positioning rod in the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0023] Figure 10 It is a side view showing the positioning rod in the stacking device of the present embodiment.

[0024] Figure 11 This is a top view of the positioning rod in the stacking device of the present embodiment. Detailed Embodiment

[0025] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below. As Figure 1 , Figure 2 shown, etc., the stacking device 1 of the fuel cell single cell FC is a stacking device for stacking a plurality of fuel cell single cells FC, and includes a stack box 10, an adjustment device 20, a stacking hand 30 (refer to Figure 2 etc.), a measuring device 40, and a control device 90.

[0026] The stack box 10 is configured as a rectangular box-shaped body having an upper opening portion 11 with an open entire upper surface. 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 single cell FC can be placed on the upper surface of the pin lifter 22. A plurality of horizontally supported plate-shaped rectangular fuel cell single cells FC are inserted through the upper opening portion 11 of the stack box 10, and a plurality of fuel cell single cells FC are stacked inside the stack box 10.

[0027] The pin lifter 22 is connected to a servo motor constituting the adjustment device 20 provided on the lower side of the stack box 10 (refer to Figure 2 etc.). 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 single cells FC, based on the lifting amount calculated in the calculation unit of the control device 90.

[0028] In addition, an in-box rod 12 is provided inside the stack box 10. The in-box rod 12 is disposed at the horizontal center portions of the four side walls of the rectangular stack box 10 in a positional relationship where the length direction points in the vertical direction. In addition, in Figure 1 , for ease of explanation, the illustration of the front side wall among the four side walls of the rectangular stack box 10 is omitted.

[0029] The in-box rod 12 guides the movement of the fuel cell single cell FC in the vertical direction inside the stack box 10 in a state of being engaged with the convex portions FCΦ2, which are engaged portions formed on the four sides of the rectangular fuel cell single cell FC inserted into the stack box 10, and positions the fuel cell single cells FC inside the stack box 10.

[0030] A rectangular plate-shaped rod holding portion 60 for stacking the fuel cell single cell FC and covering the upper part of the opening is fixed to the upper opening portion 11 of the stack box 10 (refer to Figure 4), the positioning rod 71 is detachably fixed and held in the rod holding part 60. The in-box rod 12 is fixed to the stacking box 10 by engaging a pair of convex parts 122 (refer to Figure 5 ) with the guide rail 101 provided on the stacking box 10.

[0031] The positioning rod 71 forms a positional relationship in which the lower end surface of the positioning rod 71 faces the upper end surface of the in-box rod 12, so that the in-box rod 12 extends upward. A convex part 714 (refer to Figure 9 etc.) of the positioning rod 71 is fitted into a recess (not shown) formed on the upper end surface of the in-box rod 12, and is fixedly connected to the in-box rod 12 and fixed to the rod holding part 60. Details of the rod holding part 60 and the positioning rod 71 will be described later. The fuel cell single cell FC is guided and positioned by the positioning rod 71 and thus guided to the in-box rod 12, and is guided by the in-box rod 12 and stacked on the pin lifter 22 inside the stacking box 10.

[0032] 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 11 of the stacking box 10 while maintaining a horizontal state, and stack the fuel cell single cells FC one by one on the pin lifter 22 inside the stacking box 10.

[0033] The measuring device 40 has a distance sensor having a laser irradiation part. 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 and receive the reflected laser, thereby detecting the distance between the laser irradiation part and the stacking surface P and outputting the height of the stacking surface P. The irradiated laser is not particularly limited, and in the present embodiment, for example, infrared laser is used.

[0034] Four measuring devices 40 are provided. In addition, in Figure 1 , for ease of explanation, only two are shown. 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 part of the stacking surface P of the fuel cell single cell FC, that is, the part R of the stacking surface P near the part that abuts against the four positioning rods 71 and is positioned.

[0035] The control device 90 constitutes a calculation part and is composed of a CPU (central processing unit), or storage media such as a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The control device 90 is electrically connected to the servo motor of the adjustment device 20, the distance sensor of the measuring device 40, etc., inputs the signal output from the distance sensor of the measuring device 40, and outputs a signal for driving the servo motor of the adjustment device 20 to the servo motor.

[0036] The control device 90 inputs a signal including 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 including the value of the height of the lamination surface P from four measurement devices 40, and calculates their average value. Then, the control device 90 calculates the difference between the specified height and the 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 up and down to make the height of the lamination surface P coincide with the specified height when the height of the lamination surface P is at a position different from the specified position.

[0037] Next, the details of the structure for supporting the positioning rod 71 by the rod holding part 60 will be described. The rod holding part 60 and the positioning rod 71 constitute the positioning device of the fuel cell single cell FC, and the fuel cell single cell FC constitutes the lamination device 1 of the fuel cell single cell FC.

[0038] As Figure 7 、 Figure 8 shown, the rod holding part 60 is formed into a rectangular plate shape by connecting a pair of first rod holding divided parts 61 and second rod holding divided parts 62 which are L-shaped plate shapes, respectively, and is configured to be divisible into two parts so as to be separable from each other in the horizontal direction which is orthogonal to the lamination direction of the fuel cell single cell FC. As Figure 4 、 Figure 5 shown, the rod holding part 60 is fixed to the upper opening part 11 of the stack box 10.

[0039] Specifically, the first rod holding divided part 61 has a connecting convex part 612 and a connecting end part 613 which are half the thickness of the main body part 611. The second rod holding divided part 62 has a connecting convex part 622 and a connecting end part 623 which are half the thickness of the main body part 621. The connecting convex part 612 overlaps with the connecting end part 623, and the connecting convex part 622 overlaps with the connecting end part 613, and they are respectively fixed to each other by screws 601 (refer to Figure 6 ), whereby the pair of first rod holding divided parts 61 and second rod holding divided parts 62 are connected to form a rectangular frame-shaped plate.

[0040] A rod fixing part 63 is fixed to the rod holding part 60 by screws 634. Four rod fixing parts 63 are respectively fixed at the central parts of both sides of the L-shaped first rod holding divided part 61 and second rod holding divided part 62, for a total of four. The rod fixing part 63 has a base part 631 and an upper side extending part 632.

[0041] The base 631 is engaged with the concave portions 615 and 625 formed on the upper surface of the first rod holding partition 61 and the second rod holding partition 62, and is respectively fixed to the first rod holding partition 61 and the second rod holding partition 62. As Figure 5 shown, the upper side extension portion 632 has: a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped outer side portion 6321 that extends upward from the central end portion of the rectangular plate-shaped rod holding portion 60; and a triangular portion 6322 that is integrally formed with the outer side portion and projects toward the center of the rectangular plate-shaped rod holding portion 60 in a triangular shape when viewed from above.

[0042] The positioning rod 71 is fixed to the rod fixing portion 63. Specifically, as Figures 9 - 11 shown, the positioning rod 71 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the vertical direction. At the central position on the side surface of the positioning rod 71 on the center side of the rectangular plate-shaped rod holding portion 60, a concave portion 711 is formed as a prismatic engaging portion that extends from one end portion to the other end portion in the length direction of the positioning rod 71.

[0043] As Figure 9 、 Figure 10 shown, the portions where the concave portion 711 is not formed, that is, the portions on both sides of the concave portion 711 at the upper end portion of the positioning rod 71, have tapered surfaces 712 that gradually taper upward. On the tapered surfaces 712, convex portions FCΦ2 as engaged portions are respectively formed between a pair of concave portions FCΦ1 at the central portions of the four sides of the peripheral portion of the rectangular fuel cell single body FC (refer to Figure 5 ), and are guided, so that they can be easily inserted and engaged with the concave portion 711 as the engaging portion.

[0044] At the central position on the side surface of the positioning rod 71 on the opposite side of the center side of the rectangular frame-shaped plate-like rod holding portion 60, a triangular concave portion 713 that can be engaged with the triangular portion 6322 of the rod fixing portion 63 and has the same shape as the triangular portion 6322 when viewed from above is formed (refer to Figure 11 ). As Figure 9 、 Figure 10 shown, a pair of convex portions 714 are provided at the lower end portion of the positioning rod 71.

[0045] The pair of convex portions 714 are engaged with concave portions (not shown) formed on the upper end surface of the in-box rod 12, the triangular portion 6322 is engaged with the triangular concave portion 713, and the portion of the positioning rod 71 that forms the bottom of the concave portion 711 is fixed to the rod fixing portion 63 by a screw 634 (refer to Figure 6 ) that penetrates the rod fixing portion 63 in the horizontal direction. Thus, the positioning rod 71 is respectively fixed to the first rod holding partition 61, the second rod holding partition 62, and the in-box rod 12. By this fixing, as Figure 4As shown, the engaging portion of the inner case rod 12 formed with the recess 121 having the same shape as the recess 711 is configured to be continuous with the engaging portion of the positioning rod 71 having the recess 711.

[0046] When the stacking hand 30 conveys one fuel cell single cell FC to the stacking device 1 of the positioning device having the above structure and inserts it in a state of maintaining horizontal from the upper opening 11 of the stack box 10, the four protrusions FCΦ2 of the fuel cell single cell FC (refer to Figure 5 ) are inserted one by one into the respective recesses 711 of the four positioning rods 71 and engaged and positioned, and thus are guided downward and descend toward the fuel cell single cell FC while maintaining a horizontal state.

[0047] Then, when the fuel cell single cell FC further descends, the protrusions FCΦ2 inserted into and engaged with the recesses 711 are respectively engaged with the recesses 121 of the inner case rod 12 and positioned, and thus are guided downward and descend toward the fuel cell single cell FC while maintaining a horizontal state. Then, when the fuel cell single cell FC is on or has been placed on the pin lifter 22, the descending fuel cell single cell FC is placed on the fuel cell single cell FC placed on the pin lifter 22, thereby stacking the fuel cell single cells FC.

[0048] Then, after stacking a specified number of fuel cell single cells FC, the screws 601 and 634 are loosened and removed, the connection of the pair of first rod holding and dividing portions 61 and the second rod holding and dividing portion 62 is released, and the rod fixing portion 63 is removed from the positioning rod 71. Specifically, in a state where the rod holding portion 60 is divided into the first rod holding and dividing portion 61 and the second rod holding and dividing portion 62 in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the stacking direction of the fuel cell single cells FC, it is then removed from the stack box 10 that houses the stacked fuel cell single cells FC.

[0049] 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 four measuring devices 40 to measure the height of the stacking surface P. After that, the control of the control device 90 proceeds to step S12.

[0050] Next, in step S12, the control device 90 inputs the height values of the four portions R at the four locations of the stacking surface P, that is, four values, from the four measuring devices 40, and calculates the average value of these four values. Then, the control device 90 calculates the difference between the specified value and the average value, and uses this difference as the lifting amount. After that, the control of the control device 90 proceeds to step S13.

[0051] 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 height value of the stacking surface P coincides with a specified value based on the lifting amount.

[0052] Specifically, when the average value of the height of the stacking surface P is higher than the specified value (refer to Figure 2 "mid-stacking period"), the control device 90 drives the servo motor of the adjustment device 20, and controls the pin lifter 22 to descend by an amount corresponding to the lifting amount through the servo motor. When the average value of the height of the stacking surface P is lower than the specified value (refer to Figure 2 "initial stacking period"), the control device 90 drives the servo motor of the adjustment device 20, and controls the pin lifter 22 to ascend by an amount corresponding to the lifting amount through the servo motor. Thereby, the average value of the height value of the stacking surface P coincides with the specified value. After that, the control of the control device 90 proceeds to step S14.

[0053] Next, in step S14, the control device 90 determines whether the stacking of the fuel cell single cells FC is completed, that is, whether the stacking of the specified number of fuel cell single cells FC has ended. When the stacking of the fuel cell single cells FC is completed (S14: Yes (YES)), the processing of the control device 90 is ended.

[0054] When the stacking of the fuel cell single cells FC is not completed (S14: No (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 into the upper opening 11 of the stacking box 10 in a horizontal state. Then, the control device 90 performs the following control: the stacking hand 30 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 on the stacked fuel cell single cells FC one by one.

[0055] The effects of the above-described embodiment are as follows.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the positioning device of the fuel cell single cell FC constituting the fuel cell single cell stacking device 1 has: a rod holding portion 60 for stacking the fuel cell single cells FC; and a positioning rod 71 that is detachably held on the rod holding portion 60 and holds the stacked fuel cell single cells FC, and the rod holding portion 60 is configured to be divisible.

[0057] Thus, during stacking, the positioning rod 71 can position and hold the stacked fuel cell monomers FC. Therefore, the fuel cell monomers FC can be stacked in a positioned and held state, enabling high-speed stacking of the fuel cell monomers FC. In addition, since the positioning rod 71 is detachably held by the separable rod holding portion 60, the rod holding portion 60 can be divided after stacking, making it easy to disassemble from the positioning rod 71 and the stacked fuel cell monomers FC. Therefore, the cover member can be installed on the stacked fuel cell monomers FC from above while leaving the positioning rod 71 in the state of the stacked fuel cell monomers FC.

[0058] In addition, in the present embodiment, the rod holding portion 60 is configured to be divided in a direction orthogonal to the stacking direction of the fuel cell monomers FC. Thus, when the rod holding portion 60 is divided and disassembled from the stacked fuel cell monomers FC, the positioning rod 71 remaining on the stacked fuel cell monomers FC does not become an obstacle to disassembly, enabling easy disassembly.

[0059] In addition, in the present embodiment, the positioning rod 71 has a concave portion 711 as an engaging portion, and the concave portion 711 can be engaged with a convex portion FCΦ2 formed on the peripheral portion of the fuel cell monomer FC as an engaged portion. Thus, by forming a state where the concave portion 711 is engaged with the convex portion FCΦ2, the positioning of the fuel cell monomer FC can be easily performed. Moreover, in the state where the fuel cell monomer FC is positioned, the fuel cell monomer FC can be guided in the stacking direction, i.e., downward.

[0060] In addition, in the present embodiment, the positioning rod 71 is connected and fixed to an in-box rod 12 provided inside the stacking box 10 that houses the stacked fuel cell monomers FC. The in-box rod 12 has a concave portion 121 as an in-box rod engaging portion that continues with the concave portion 711 of the positioning rod 71 as an engaging portion. Thus, starting from the state where the concave portion 711 is engaged with the convex portion FCΦ2, as the fuel cell monomer FC descends and then reaches the state where the concave portion 121 is engaged with the convex portion FCΦ2, a continuously positioned and held state can be maintained.

[0061] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.

[0062] For example, regarding the number or arrangement position of the measuring devices 40, it is not limited to the number or position of the present embodiment. In addition, the adjusting device 20 has a servo motor, but is not limited thereto, and other motors, etc. can also be used.

[0063] In addition, in the present embodiment, the rod holding portion 60 is formed into a rectangular plate shape by connecting a pair of first rod holding divided portions 61 and second rod holding divided portions 62 that are L-shaped plates, and thus can be divided into two, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the rod holding portion may also be divided into three or more parts. In addition, the number or structure of the positioning rods is not limited to the number or structure of the positioning rods 71 in the present embodiment.

[0064] Reference numeral

[0065] 1: Laminating device (positioning device)

[0066] 10: Stacking box

[0067] 12: Inner box rod

[0068] 60: Rod holder

[0069] 71: Positioning rod

[0070] 121: Recess 121 (inner box rod engaging portion)

[0071] 711: Recess (engaging portion)

[0072] FCΦ2: Protrusion (engaged portion)

Claims

1. A positioning device, which is a positioning device for a fuel cell single cell, and positions the fuel cell single cell when stacking a plurality of fuel cell single cells. The positioning device has: a rod holding part for stacking the fuel cell single cells; and a positioning rod detachably held by the rod holding part and holding the stacked fuel cell single cells; and, the rod holding part is configured to be divisible.

2. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein The rod holding part is configured to be divisible in a direction separating from the stacking direction of the fuel cell single cells orthogonally.

3. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein The positioning rod has an engaging part that can be engaged with an engaged part formed on the peripheral part of the fuel cell single cell.

4. The positioning device according to claim 3, wherein, The positioning rod is connected and fixed to an in-box rod provided inside a stacking box that houses the stacked fuel cell single cells, and the in-box rod has an in-box rod engaging part that continues with the engaging part of the positioning rod.

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