Method and apparatus for transferring a blank cut onto a counter element

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transferring a blank cut (2) onto a web-type counter element, wherein the blank cut (2) is held on a flat holding surface (100) of a gripping device (10) and is positioned relative to the web-type counter element in a handover position by means of the gripping device (10), the web-type counter element is brought to the holding surface (100) by means of an application device, the application device is moved along the holding surface (100) so that the web-type counter element is laminated onto the blank cut (2) by means of the application device moved along the holding surface (100), and the gripping device (10) releases the blank cut (2) after the counter element has been laminated onto the blank cut (2).

Description

[0001] Method and device for transferring a blank to a counter element

[0002] FIELD OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART

[0003] The invention relates to a method and a device for transferring a blank to a counter element.

[0004] For the production of multi-layer products, also known as laminates or stacks, web-based processing is common, whereby materials for each layer of the product are provided as a single sheet of material. The material sheets are typically bonded together between two rolls.

[0005] Stacks or laminates are known for a wide variety of applications, such as wound dressings, hygiene products, textile products and others.

[0006] For fuel cells, redox flow batteries, and other applications, stacks or laminates comprising a usually very sensitive membrane are particularly well known. For example, so-called membrane electrode assemblies (MEA for short) for fuel cells are known, comprising a catalyst-coated membrane (CCM for short) and two electrodes designed as a cathode and an anode, between which the membrane is arranged. It is known to mount the CCM on a frame or between two frames, also referred to as gaskets or partial frame gaskets. The CCM with the frame(s) can be further processed as a blank.

[0007] For connecting a membrane to a frame, DE 102020214263 A1 discloses a device and a method for applying a membrane blank to a moving first material web, in particular for transferring a catalyst-coated membrane for a membrane electrode assembly to a first material web made of a frame material, wherein membrane blanks are fed by means of a second material web which is delaminated before or during application of a membrane blank to the moving first material web.

[0008] However, especially with thin blanks and / or blanks for frames with window cutouts incorporated into the blanks, delamination of the blank from a carrier web feeding the blank is associated with technical difficulties. TASK AND SOLUTION

[0009] It is the object of the invention to provide a method and a device for the secure transfer of a blank to a counter element without air inclusions.

[0010] This object is achieved by the method and the device having the features of claims 1 and 8. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0011] According to a first aspect, a method is provided for transferring a blank to a web-shaped counter-element, wherein the blank is picked up on a flat receiving surface of a gripping device and positioned in a transfer position relative to the web-shaped counter-element by means of the gripping device, the web-shaped counter-element is delivered to the receiving surface by means of an application device, the application device is moved along the receiving surface so that the web-shaped counter-element is laminated to the blank by means of the application device moved along the receiving surface, and the gripping device releases the blank after laminating the counter-element to the blank.

[0012] In one embodiment, the web-shaped counter-element is a carrier web on which the blank is placed for further processing. In another embodiment, the counter-element is a carrier web on which another blank is already placed, so that a stack is built up entirely or partially by transferring the blank to the web-shaped counter-element. In yet other embodiments, the counter-element is a material web that forms one layer of a stack to be built up. However, the web-shaped counter-element is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments.

[0013] In the context of this application, "lamination" refers to all processes for permanently or temporarily joining two layers, in particular bonding and welding layers. For laminating the counter-element with the blank, in one embodiment, the counter-element and / or the blank has an adhesive layer. In other embodiments, bonding occurs due to contact pressure during movement of the application device along the receiving surface. In yet another embodiment, the counter-element with the blank is fed to a fixing device, for example a thermal fixing device, after the blank has been transferred to the counter-element. In one embodiment, the application device is a doctor blade that is moved along the receiving surface.Depending on the application, the specialist can select a material and / or shape of a squeegee that presses the web-shaped counter element against the blank in order to ensure bubble-free transfer.

[0014] In another embodiment, the application device is an application roller that is unrolled along the receiving surface. The material of the outer surface of the application roller can be selected by the person skilled in the art depending on the application. In one embodiment, the application roller is a bristle roller. In other embodiments, the application roller has a smooth surface, whereby the surface can be made of a rigid material or be flexible, depending on the application.

[0015] In one embodiment, the receiving surface is larger than the blank, at least in the direction of movement of the application device during lamination, wherein the counter element is fixed to the receiving surface upstream of the blank by means of a fixing element positioned toward the receiving surface. The counter element can be securely fixed to the receiving surface without the fixing hindering lamination of the counter element to the blank and / or without the fixing damaging the blank. The fixing element further ensures that the counter element remains pressed against the blank during movement of the application device.

[0016] In one embodiment, the application device is positioned downstream of the fixing element and upstream of the blank. This ensures reliable lamination even on the edge of the blank facing the fixing element.

[0017] In one embodiment, before the application device is advanced, and if present, before the fixing element is advanced, the web-shaped counter element is brought to a standstill in a starting position for transferring the blank, wherein in particular the counter element is clamped by means of a clamping device upstream of the transfer position of the blank in the direction of movement of the application device during lamination. By bringing the counter element to a standstill in a defined starting position, exact positioning of the gripping device relative to the counter element is possible. This is particularly advantageous if the counter element also already comprises a blank and the blank picked up by the gripping device is to be positioned with high precision on the blank of the counter element.The counter element is clamped only at one clamping area, so that a compensating movement of the counter element is possible when advancing the application device and - if present - the fixing element to avoid tensions in the web-shaped counter element.

[0018] In one embodiment, it is provided that after the counter element has been laminated to the blank, the application device is removed from the receiving surface and the web-shaped counter element is moved into the starting position. In one embodiment, the gripping device releases the blank before the application device moves into the starting position. If present, the fixing element can be moved simultaneously with the application device or with a time delay thereto to detach the blank at an angle from the gripping device. In other embodiments, the gripping device is moved with the web-shaped counter element and the blank remains received on the receiving surface while the counter element moves into the starting position. This prevents the blank from becoming detached from the counter element when the counter element moves into the starting position.In the initial position, the counter element is preferably arranged in one plane so that a safe transfer of the blank to the counter element is possible when the blank is released by the gripping device.

[0019] The blank can be positioned in a suitable transfer position relative to the counter-element by means of the gripping device, wherein an axis of the advanced application device is preferably arranged parallel to a plane of the web-shaped counter-element in the starting position. In advantageous embodiments, for a simple arrangement, the receiving surface for positioning the blank in the transfer position is arranged parallel to a plane of the web-shaped counter-element in the starting position.

[0020] In one embodiment, the blank is positioned above the counter element in the transfer position, with the application device being advanced from below to the receiving surface. This prevents gravitational forces from acting on the blank after it has been transferred to the counter element and released by the gripping device, which could cause it to detach from the counter element.

[0021] According to a second aspect, a device for transferring a blank to a web-shaped counter-element is provided, comprising a gripping device with a flat receiving surface and an application device, wherein the gripping device is configured such that the blank can be received on the receiving surface and positioned in a transfer position relative to the web-shaped counter-element by means of the gripping device, and wherein the application device is adjustably mounted and can be delivered to the receiving surface and is movable along the receiving surface for laminating the counter-element to the blank.

[0022] In one embodiment, the application device is an application roller configured to roll along the receiving surface. The application roller allows for gentle and bubble-free lamination of the counter element to the blank. In other embodiments, the application device is a squeegee configured to adjust the squeegee along the receiving surface. In one embodiment, the squeegee is designed such that the contact area between the squeegee and the counter element is minimized during lamination.

[0023] In one embodiment, the receiving surface is larger than the blank, at least in the direction of movement of the application device during lamination. A fixing element is provided that can be advanced toward the receiving surface and is designed to fix the counter element to the receiving surface upstream of the blank. Depending on the application, the fixing element can be suitably designed by a person skilled in the art to ensure secure and slip-free fixation of the counter element to the receiving surface.

[0024] In one embodiment, the application device, in particular the application roller, can be delivered to the receiving surface downstream of the fixing element and upstream of the blank. In one embodiment, the application device and the fixing element are delivered simultaneously. In other embodiments, the application device and the fixing element are delivered at different times.

[0025] In one embodiment of the device, it is provided that the web-shaped counter-element can be stopped in a starting position before the application device is advanced for transferring the blank. The device in particular comprises a clamping device configured such that the counter-element can be clamped by means of the clamping device in the direction of movement of the application device during lamination upstream of the transfer position of the blank. The clamping device allows the web-shaped counter-element to be reliably stopped in a starting position in a clamping area upstream of a starting position of the application device, wherein the application device is movable from the starting position along the receiving surface.The web-shaped counter element is not clamped at an opposite end to ensure tension-free movement of the counter element when feeding the application device and during lamination, so that a section of the counter element can be fed from a web supply, for example.

[0026] In one embodiment, the gripping device is configured to release the blank immediately after the counter element has been laminated to the blank. The application device and - if present - the fixing element can be moved into the starting position after the blank has been released by the gripping device, wherein the fixing element is configured to be moved at an angle, depending on the application, simultaneously with the application device or with a time delay thereto, for detaching the blank from the gripping device. In other embodiments, the gripping device is configured to move the blank, held on the receiving surface, with the counter element into the starting position of the counter element after the counter element has been laminated to the blank.A movement of the gripping device is coordinated with the movement of the counter element in such a way that detachment forces between the blank and the counter element are avoided during the movement or at least reduced to a tolerable level.

[0027] In one embodiment, the gripping device is configured to position the blank in the transfer position above the counter element, wherein the application device is configured such that the application device can be delivered to the receiving surface from below.

[0028] The gripping device is designed to hold the blank in the transfer position against the effects of gravitational forces. In one embodiment, the gripping device is a vacuum gripping device.

[0029] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further advantages and aspects of the invention emerge from the claims and from the description of an embodiment of the invention, which is explained below with reference to the schematic figures. Showing:

[0031] Fig. 1: an embodiment of a device for transferring a blank to a web-shaped counter-element; Fig. 2: the device according to Fig. 1, before transferring the blank to the web-shaped counter-element, wherein the blank is positioned in a transfer position by means of a gripping device;

[0032] Fig. 3: the device according to Fig. 1, after delivery of an application device and a fixing element;

[0033] Fig. 4: the device according to Fig. 1, after laminating the counter element to the blank; and

[0034] Fig. 5: the device according to Fig. 1 , after transferring the blank and releasing the blank from the gripping device.

[0035] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Fig. 1 schematically shows a device 1 for transferring a blank 2 to a web-shaped counter element. The device 1 comprises a gripping device 10 with a flat receiving surface 100 and an application roller 12. The illustrated device 1 further comprises a clamping device 14, a fixing element 16, and a deflection roller 18.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the web-shaped counter element is a carrier web 3 on which a blank 4 has already been placed.

[0038] The blank 2 to be applied or transferred to the web-shaped counter-element is held and positioned by the gripping device 10. The blank 2 to be applied or transferred is also referred to as the first blank 2. The blank 4, which in the illustrated embodiment is already present on the carrier web 3, is also referred to as the second blank 4. The first blank 2 is to be applied to the second blank 4 in a defined position during transfer to the counter-element.

[0039] In some embodiments, the gripping device 10 is a vacuum gripping device, wherein the first blank 2 is held on the receiving surface 100 of the gripping device 10 by means of negative pressure. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving surface 100 points downwards and the gripping device 10 is arranged above the web-shaped counter-element and parallel to it in a transfer position of the blank 2 shown in Fig. 1. The first blank 2 is transferred to the counter-element when the web-shaped counter-element is at a standstill. For this purpose, the counter-element is clamped by means of the clamping device 14. The clamping device 14 is arranged upstream of a section of the counter-element to which the first blank 2 is to be transferred, in a direction of movement of the application device shown by an arrow. The deflection roller 18 is arranged downstream of this section.The web-shaped counter element is guided over a side of the fixing element 16 facing the gripping device 10 and over a side of the deflection roller 18 facing away from the gripping device 10.

[0040] The receiving surface 100 of the gripping device 10 is larger than the first blank 2. To transfer the blank 2 to the counter element, the fixing element 16 is advanced toward the gripping device 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing element 16 is advanced such that the web-shaped counter element guided over the fixing element 16 contacts the receiving surface 100 upstream of the first blank 2—as viewed in the direction of movement of the application roller 12. The deflection roller 18 prevents the web-shaped counter element from contacting the gripping device 10 when the fixing element 16 is advanced.

[0041] The application roller 12 is also fed to the gripping device 10 and moved from a starting position shown in Fig. 1 into an end position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1, wherein during the movement of the application roller 12 the first blank 2 is transferred bubble-free to the web-shaped counter element, in the illustrated embodiment to the blank 4 already present on the carrier web 3.

[0042] The following figures 2 to 5 show individual steps of a method for transferring the first blank 2 to the web-shaped counter element.

[0043] Fig. 2 schematically shows a first step in transferring the first blank 2 to the web-shaped counter element. The first blank 2 is held on the receiving surface 100 of the gripping device 10 and is presented to the web-shaped counter element at a defined distance above the web-shaped counter element. Depending on the design, this distance is only a few millimeters.

[0044] Subsequently, the web-shaped counter-element is stopped in a starting position schematically shown in Fig. 2 and fixed by means of the clamping device 14, and the fixing element 16 and the application roller 12 are advanced to the gripping device 10. Fig. 3 schematically shows the device 1 after stopping and fixing the web-shaped counter-element by means of the clamping device 14 and after subsequent advancement of the fixing element 16 and the application roller 12. The application roller 12 is preferably advanced to the gripping device 10 such that, viewed in the direction of movement of the application roller 12, it is arranged immediately adjacent upstream of the blank 2.

[0045] Next, the application roll 12 is moved along the gripping device 10 and rolls on the receiving surface 100 of the gripping device 10. The counter element is laminated onto the first blank 2 positioned by the gripping device 10.

[0046] Fig. 4 schematically shows the device 1 after the application roll 12 has been unrolled on the receiving surface 100.

[0047] The fixing element 16 and the application roller 12 are then moved away from the gripping device 10, downwards in the illustrated embodiment, so that the web-shaped counter-element is back in its starting position. In one embodiment, the gripping device 10 is moved downwards with the counter-element, whereby the gripping device only releases the blank 2 once the counter-element is in its starting position. The gripping device 10 is then moved away from the counter-element with the blank 2 transferred to it. In another embodiment, the gripping device 10 releases the blank 2 in the state illustrated in Fig. 4. The counter-element is then moved downwards until the counter-element is in its starting position.For a movement of the counter element into the starting position, in one embodiment, the fixing element 16 is moved with a time delay relative to the application roller 12, so that a region of the blank 2 located to the right in the plane of the drawing detaches from the receiving surface 100 of the gripping device 10 before a region of the blank located to the left in the plane of the drawing, and the blank 2 is detached from the receiving surface 100 at an angle. A time offset and a resulting angle can be suitably selected by the person skilled in the art depending on the application.

[0048] Fig. 5 shows schematically the device 1 after transferring the blank 2 to the counter element.

[0049] The device 1 serves, for example, to produce a membrane stack comprising two frame elements and a membrane arranged between the two frame elements, in particular a CCM, wherein the frame elements and the membrane are each provided as a blank.

[0050] To produce the membrane stack, in one embodiment, a slightly sticky carrier web is first fed in as a web-shaped counter element. A first frame element, provided as a blank, is picked up by the gripping device 10 and positioned at a defined distance, for example, a few millimeters above the carrier web.

[0051] The carrier web is then fixed by means of the clamping device 14 and the fixing element 16 is advanced to the gripping device 10 so that the carrier web is fixed by means of the fixing element 16 to the flat or planar receiving surface 100 outside the frame element to be applied, which is picked up by means of the gripping device 10.

[0052] Simultaneously with the fixing element 16 or delayed therefrom, the application roller 12 is brought into the starting position shown in Fig. 3 and thus presses the carrier web onto the receiving surface 100 shortly before a first end of the blank to be applied, which is designed as a frame element.

[0053] The application roller 12 is then moved along the carrier web to the final position shown in Fig. 4. This laminates the carrier web to the fixed frame element.

[0054] In one embodiment, the gripping device is then moved downwards together with the application roller 12 and the fixing element 16 until the carrier web is in its starting position.

[0055] In an alternative embodiment, the gripping device 10 releases the frame element. Subsequently, the application roller 12 and, with a time delay, the fixing element 16 are moved downward, so that the frame element detaches from the receiving surface 100 at an angle and the carrier web with the frame element laminated thereto is moved to its initial position.

[0056] After the frame element has been released, the gripping device 10 can be adjusted to pick up the next blank, e.g. the membrane, in particular the CCM, for building up the membrane stack. The membrane is then transferred to the carrier web in the same way. The second frame element can then be transferred in the same way. Alternatively, three devices 1 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction according to Figs. 1 to 5 are provided for building up a membrane stack, wherein the first frame element is deposited on a first device, the membrane on a second device, and the second frame element on a third device. The three devices 1 operate in the same cycle or staggered.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for transferring a blank (2) to a web-shaped counter-element, wherein the blank (2) is picked up on a flat receiving surface (100) of a gripping device (10) and positioned in a transfer position relative to the web-shaped counter-element by means of the gripping device (10), the web-shaped counter-element is fed to the receiving surface (100) by means of an application device, the application device is moved along the receiving surface (100) so that the web-shaped counter-element is laminated to the blank (2) by means of the application device moved along the receiving surface (100), and the gripping device (10) releases the blank (2) after the counter-element has been laminated to the blank (2).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the application device is an application roller (12) which is rolled along the receiving surface (100) or a squeegee which is moved along the receiving surface (100).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least in the direction of movement of the application device during lamination, the receiving surface (100) is larger than the blank (2) and the counter element is fixed to the receiving surface (100) upstream of the blank (2) by means of a fixing element (16) positioned towards the receiving surface (100).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the application device is delivered to the receiving surface (100) downstream of the fixing element (16) and upstream of the blank (2).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that before the application device is delivered, the web-shaped counter-element for a transfer of the blank (2) is stopped in a starting position, wherein in particular the counter-element - in the direction of movement of the application device during lamination - is clamped upstream of the transfer position of the blank (2) by means of a clamping device (14).

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that after laminating the counter element to the blank (2), the application device is removed from the receiving surface (100) and the web-shaped counter element is inserted into the Starting position is moved, wherein in particular the gripping device (10) is moved with the web-shaped counter-element and the blank (2) remains received on the receiving surface (100) during the movement of the counter-element into the starting position or the gripping device (10) releases the blank (2) before a movement of the counter-element in the direction of the starting position.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the blank is positioned in the transfer position above the counter element, wherein the application device is fed from below to the receiving surface (100).

8. Device for transferring a blank (2) to a web-shaped counter-element, comprising a gripping device (10) with a flat receiving surface (100) and an application device, wherein the gripping device (10) is designed so that the blank (2) can be picked up on the receiving surface (100) and positioned in a transfer position relative to the web-shaped counter-element by means of the gripping device (10), and wherein the application device is adjustably mounted and can be delivered to the receiving surface (100) and can be moved along the receiving surface (100) for laminating the counter-element to the blank (2).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the application device is an application roller (12) which is designed so that the application roller (12) can be rolled along the receiving surface (100), or is a squeegee which is designed so that the squeegee can be adjusted along the receiving surface (100).

10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that - at least in the direction of movement of the application device during lamination - the receiving surface (100) is larger than the blank (2) and a fixing element (16) is provided which can be delivered to the receiving surface (100) and is designed to fix the counter element to the receiving surface (100) upstream of the blank (2).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the application device of the receiving surface (100) can be delivered downstream of the fixing element (16) and upstream of the blank (2).

12. Device according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the web-shaped counter-element can be stopped in a starting position before the application device is delivered for a transfer of the blank (2), wherein the Device in particular comprises a clamping device (14) which is designed so that the counter element can be clamped in the direction of movement of the application device during lamination upstream of the transfer position of the blank (2) by means of the clamping device (14).

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the gripping device (10) is designed to release the blank (2) immediately after laminating the counter element to the blank (10) and / or to move the blank (2) received on the receiving surface (100) with the counter element into the starting position of the counter element after laminating the counter element to the blank (2).

14. Device according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the gripping device (10) is designed to position the blank (2) in the transfer position above the counter element, wherein the application device is designed so that the application device can be delivered from below to the receiving surface (100).

15. Device according to one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the gripping device (10) is a vacuum gripping device.

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