Electrical deionized water production apparatus assembly equipment and assembly method

Abstract

The frame components of an electrodeionized water production system (EDI system) can be precisely stacked, allowing for the assembly of the EDI system in a short time without requiring skilled labor. [Solution] The assembly equipment for the EDI device includes a lifting lift 120 that holds and raises the workpiece (81, 82), and a position sensor 121 that detects the position of the upper surface of the workpiece. The workpiece is grown vertically by repeatedly executing a cycle consisting of the steps of placing a frame 40 on the workpiece, filling the opening of the placed frame 40 with ion exchange resin, and arranging an ion exchange membrane 30 so as to cover the filled ion exchange resin. After each cycle is completed, the position sensor 121 detects the new position of the upper surface of the workpiece, and based on the detection result, the workpiece is lowered by the lifting lift 120 so that the new position of the upper surface becomes a predetermined reference height.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to equipment and a method for assembling an electric deionized water production device.

Background Art

[0002] As a deionized water production device that can perform regeneration treatment of an ion exchanger while performing desalination treatment on treated water, there is an electric deionized water production device that generates deionized water from treated water by combining electrophoresis and electrodialysis. The electric deionized water production device is called an EDI (Electrodeionization) device and has the advantage of not requiring treatment for regenerating the ion exchanger with a chemical agent. In an EDI device, a desalination chamber is formed by filling an ion exchanger (an anion exchanger and / or a cation exchanger) between a pair of ion exchange membranes. Concentrating chambers are respectively arranged outside the pair of ion exchange membranes as seen from the desalination chamber, and further outside thereof, an anode chamber provided with an anode and a cathode chamber provided with a cathode are arranged. The anode chamber and the cathode chamber are collectively called an electrode chamber. A DC voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode, and while water is passed through the concentrating chamber and the electrode chamber, the treated water is passed through the desalination chamber, whereby the desalination treatment of the treated water is performed, and deionized water is discharged from the desalination chamber. The ion components contained in the treated water migrate through the ion exchange membrane into the concentrating chamber and are discharged as concentrated water from the concentrating chamber. Electrode water is discharged from the electrode chamber.

[0003] Here, we have assumed that the basic configuration (called a cell set) consisting of [concentration chamber (C) | ion exchange membrane (IEM) | desalination chamber (D) | ion exchange membrane (IEM) | concentration chamber (C)] is placed between the anode and cathode. However, it is common to increase processing capacity by placing multiple such cell sets side by side between the electrodes, so that multiple cell sets are electrically connected in series with one end as the anode and the other end as the cathode. In this case, adjacent concentration chambers can be shared between adjacent cell sets, so the configuration of the EDI device becomes [anode chamber | C | IEM | D | IEM | C | IEM | D | IEM | C | ... | C | cathode chamber]. In addition, ion exchange membranes are often provided between the anode chamber and the adjacent concentration chamber, and between the cathode chamber and the adjacent concentration chamber. Furthermore, in such a series structure, the desalination chamber closest to the anode chamber can function as a concentration chamber without the need for an independent concentration chamber between it and the anode chamber, and the desalination chamber closest to the cathode chamber can function as a concentration chamber without the need for an independent concentration chamber between it and the cathode chamber. In order to reduce the power consumed by applying a DC voltage, it is preferable to fill each concentration chamber and each electrode chamber with an ion exchanger to lower the overall electrical resistance of the EDI device. The ion exchangers filled in the desalination chamber, concentration chamber and cathode chamber are generally ion exchange resins (i.e., anion exchange resins (AER) and cation exchange resins (CER)). Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a desalination chamber is divided by an intermediate ion exchange membrane, with one side designated as a first small desalination chamber and the other as a second small desalination chamber, and both small desalination chambers are filled with an ion exchanger. The water to be treated is first supplied to the first small desalination chamber, and the water discharged from the first small desalination chamber is then supplied to the second small desalination chamber, and deionized water is obtained from the second small desalination chamber.

[0004] Thus, the EDI device has a structure in which concentration chambers and desalination chambers are alternately arranged with an ion exchange membrane interposed between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber. Therefore, the EDI device can be assembled by alternately stacking frames (also called cell frames or cells) with a large opening in the center, as described in Patent Document 2, for example, with ion exchange resin filling the opening in the frame. The opening in the frame provides space for a chamber which is either a concentration chamber, a desalination chamber, or an electrode chamber. Through-holes are formed in the outer periphery of the frame for flowing water to be treated, deionized water, water supplied to the concentration chamber and electrode water, concentrated water, and electrode water. When the EDI device is assembled by alternately stacking frames and ion exchange membranes, the ion exchange membrane has a shape larger than the opening in the frame. In this case, recesses are provided on the surface of the frame to receive the outer periphery of the ion exchange membrane so as to surround the opening in the frame. Although not relating to an EDI device, Patent Document 3 discloses an electrodialysis apparatus having a configuration in which a frame and an ion exchange membrane are alternately stacked between a pair of electrodes, and describes how to assemble the electrodialysis apparatus by placing blocks on a backup plate, further stacking the frames and ion exchange membranes alternately in a vertical manner, and finally stacking another block and the backup plate. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-239270 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-195294 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 61-163281 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] EDI devices have a complex structure with a large number of components, consisting of numerous chambers (i.e., concentration chambers and desalination chambers) separated by ion exchange membranes between the cathode and anode, and each chamber being filled with an ion exchange material such as ion exchange resin. Conventionally, such EDI devices were assembled by repeatedly performing the following steps manually: filling the openings of the frames constituting each chamber with ion exchange resin, placing the ion exchange membrane on top of it, and then placing the frame for the next chamber on top of that. In this case, the type of ion exchange material to be filled (anion exchange material and cation exchange material) differs in the desalination chamber, concentration chamber, anode chamber, and cathode chamber, and the type of ion exchange membrane (anion exchange membrane and cation exchange membrane) that partitions each chamber differs depending on its location. Therefore, manual assembly of EDI devices requires considerable skill and is time-consuming and laborious. As the frames are stacked, the height of the locations where the next frame is stacked, the ion exchange resin is filled, and the ion exchange membrane is placed changes, which also leads to a decrease in work efficiency in manual assembly.

[0007] When the assembly method of the electrodialysis apparatus described in Patent Document 3 is applied to an EDI apparatus, the frame may tilt due to uneven distribution of ion exchange resin in each chamber (concentration chamber and desalination chamber), and the effective thickness of the frame including the ion exchange resin may vary. This makes it difficult to stack the frames neatly and vertically, and gaps may form between the frames, resulting in variations in the quality of the completed EDI apparatus. These issues pose obstacles to the automated assembly of the EDI apparatus.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide assembly equipment that enables the precise stacking of frames constituting the EDI device, thereby allowing the assembly of an EDI device in a short time without requiring skilled work, and a method for assembling such an EDI device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The assembly equipment of the present invention is for assembling an electrodeionized water production apparatus (EDI apparatus) in which a desalination chamber and a concentration chamber are alternately and repeatedly arranged between an anode and a cathode via an ion exchange membrane, and both the desalination chamber and the concentration chamber are made of a frame having an opening, with the opening filled with ion exchange resin. The assembly equipment comprises a lifting lift for holding and raising and lowering a workpiece, and a position sensor for detecting the position of the top surface of the workpiece. The assembly equipment repeatedly performs a cycle consisting of the steps of placing the frame on the workpiece, filling the opening of the placed frame with ion exchange resin, and arranging an ion exchange membrane so as to cover the filled ion exchange resin, thereby causing the frame to be stacked and the workpiece to grow vertically. After each cycle is completed, the position sensor detects the new position of the top surface of the workpiece, and based on the detection result, the lifting lift lowers the workpiece so that the new position of the top surface becomes a predetermined reference height.

[0010] The present invention relates to an assembly method for an EDI device in which a desalination chamber and a concentration chamber are alternately and repeatedly arranged between an anode and a cathode via an ion exchange membrane, and both the desalination chamber and the concentration chamber are made of a frame having an opening, with an ion exchange resin filled in the opening. The assembly method involves repeatedly executing a cycle consisting of the steps of placing the frame on a workpiece, filling the opening of the placed frame with ion exchange resin, and arranging an ion exchange membrane so as to cover the filled ion exchange resin, thereby causing the frame to be stacked and the workpiece to grow vertically. After each cycle is completed, the position of the new top surface of the workpiece is detected, and based on the detection result, the workpiece is lowered so that the position of the new top surface becomes a predetermined reference height. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the frames constituting the EDI device can be accurately stacked, making it possible to assemble the EDI device in a short time without requiring skilled work. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1]This figure shows an example of the configuration of an EDI device. [Figure 2] This diagram shows an overview of the assembly of an EDI device using assembly equipment. [Figure 3] This is a front view showing the detailed configuration of the stacking work area. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the present invention relates to assembly equipment and assembly method for assembling an EDI device (electronically deionized water production device), the EDI device to be assembled will be described first. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an EDI device. Note that the water flow path inside the EDI device is not shown in the diagram.

[0014] The EDI device shown in Figure 1 has an anode chamber 21 equipped with an anode 11 and a cathode chamber 25 equipped with a cathode 12, with a concentration chamber 22, a desalination chamber 23, and a concentration chamber 24 arranged in order from the anode chamber 21 side. The anode chamber 21 and the concentration chamber 22 are adjacent to each other separated by an ion exchange membrane (IEM) 31, the concentration chamber 22 and the desalination chamber 23 are adjacent to each other separated by an ion exchange membrane 32, the desalination chamber 23 and the concentration chamber 24 are adjacent to each other separated by an ion exchange membrane 33, and the concentration chamber 24 and the cathode chamber 25 are adjacent to each other separated by an ion exchange membrane 34. As described above, the anode chamber 21 and the cathode chamber 25 are collectively called electrode chambers. The anode 11 is placed on the surface of a plate-shaped support member 13 that partitions the anode chamber 21. Similarly, the cathode 12 is placed on the surface of a plate-shaped support member 14 that partitions the cathode chamber 25. The electrode chamber, concentration chambers 22 and 24, and desalination chamber 23 are filled with ion exchange resin (IER).

[0015] The anode chamber 21, concentration chambers 22 and 24, desalination chamber 23, and cathode chamber 25 are formed using plate-shaped frames, also called cell frames or cells, as described in Patent Document 2. The plate-shaped frames have, for example, a roughly rectangular planar shape, and an opening is formed in the center of the frame so as to penetrate between the two main surfaces of the frame. This opening also has, for example, a roughly rectangular shape. The EDI device is constructed by alternately stacking the frames and ion exchange membranes, and by configuring ion exchange resin within the openings of the frames. In the illustrated example, frame 41 is used in the anode chamber 21, frames 42 and 44 are used in the concentration chambers 22 and 24, frame 43 is used in the desalination chamber 23, and frame 45 is used in the cathode chamber 25. Frames 41 to 45 are configured to be stacked with ion exchange membranes in between, but the arrangement of the flow channels formed inside the frames differs depending on the type of chamber in which the frames 41 to 45 are used. However, in the EDI device shown in Figure 1, frames 42 and 44 have the same configuration. The frames 42 to 45, excluding the frame 41 for the anode chamber 21, have recesses formed on one surface to accommodate the outer periphery of the ion exchange membrane, surrounding the opening. Frame 41 is configured to be stackable on the support member 13, and frame 45 is configured to be stackable on the support member 14. For positioning during stacking, bosses and recesses to receive bosses are provided at predetermined positions on the surfaces of the support members 13, 14 and frames 41 to 45. In the following description, the ion exchange membranes 31 to 34 will be collectively referred to as the ion exchange membrane 30, and the frames 41 to 47 will be collectively referred to as the frame 40.

[0016] As described above, in the EDI device, multiple sets of desalination chambers 23 and concentration chambers 24 can be alternately provided between the anode 11 and the cathode 12. In the figure, where N is any integer greater than or equal to 1, the arrangement of N sets of alternating desalination chambers 23 and concentration chambers 24 is indicated by "×N". Therefore, the EDI device has a configuration in which a support member 13, frame 41, frame 42, frame 43, frame 42, ..., frame 42, frame 45, and support member 14 are stacked in this order, and end plates 15 and 16 are placed at both ends of this stack. To prevent the stacked components from falling apart, long bolts 48 are provided that extend from the end plate 15 through the support member 13, each frame 41-45, and support member 14 to the end plate 16, penetrating these components, and nuts 49 are attached to the ends of the bolts 48 to fasten these components.

[0017] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the outline of the assembly of an EDI device using an assembly facility representing one embodiment of the present invention. This assembly facility is used, for example, for the automated assembly of the EDI device shown in Figure 1.

[0018] This assembly equipment assumes that the cathode 12 is already provided on the surface of the support member 14, and the initial workpiece 81 is a stack of the cathode-side end plate 16 and the support member 14. The robot repeatedly performs a cycle consisting of placing the frame 40 on the initial workpiece 81, filling the opening of the frame 40 with ion exchange resin, and positioning the ion exchange membrane 30 over the opening of the frame 40 so as to cover the filled ion exchange resin. By repeatedly performing this cycle, the EDI device is gradually assembled. In the following description, the EDI device in this assembly process will be called the stacked workpiece 82. The concept of the stacked workpiece 82 also includes the initial workpiece 81. Finally, the frame 41 constituting the anode chamber 21 is placed on top, and the opening of this frame 41 is filled with cation exchange resin to obtain the final stacked workpiece 83, which is the EDI device with the anode-side support member 13 and end plate 15 removed. The EDI device is completed by placing the support member 13, which already has the anode 11 attached, and the end plate 15 onto the assembled stacked workpiece 83, and then fastening both end plates 15 and 16 with bolts 48 and nuts 49.

[0019] The assembly equipment includes three robots, namely a handling robot 50, a membrane extraction robot 60, and a resin supply robot 70. Each of the robots 50, 60, 70 is, for example, a six-axis vertical articulated robot. The handling robot 50 is for transporting the ion exchange membrane 30 and the frame 40. At the tip of the handling robot 50, as an end effector, a suction pad 51 used for vacuum suction transportation of the ion exchange membrane 30 and the frame 40 is provided. The membrane extraction robot 60 is used to extract the ion exchange membrane 30 from the membrane storage unit 90. At the tip of the membrane extraction robot 60, as an end effector, a clamping part 61 for picking up the ion exchange membrane 30 is attached. The resin supply robot 70 receives a supply of a predetermined amount of ion exchange resin from the resin supply machine 100 and pours it into the opening of the frame 40, and is used to flatten the surface of the poured ion exchange resin. At the tip of the resin supply robot 70, as an end effector, a box-shaped scoop 71 is provided for temporarily holding the ion exchange resin supplied from the resin supply machine 100 and pouring it into the opening of the frame 40. The scoop 71 is also called a resin cup or a scoop.

[0020] In the assembly equipment, the area where the frame 40 is placed on the stacked workpiece 82, the ion exchange resin is filled, and the ion exchange membrane 30 is positioned is called the stacking work area. As the stacking of the frame 40 on the stacked workpiece 82 is repeated, the height of the stacked workpiece 82 gradually increases. To ensure stable operation, it is preferable that the area where the handling robot 50 and the resin supply robot 70 perform the tasks of placing the frame 40, filling the ion exchange resin, and positioning the ion exchange membrane 30 is fixed in three-dimensional space. Therefore, considering the dimensions of the completed EDI device, the stacking work area is set higher than the floor level, and a lifting lift 120 is provided to raise and lower the stacked workpiece 82 so that the height of the top surface of the stacked workpiece becomes the reference height of the stacking work area. A position sensor 121 is also provided to detect the position of the top surface of the stacked workpiece 82 held by the lifting lift 120. The position sensor 121 is attached to one of the devices located in or around the stacking work area. Alternatively, the position sensor 121 may be attached to a mounting member independent of these devices, or it may be attached to the lifting lift 120. Any sensor capable of detecting the position of the upper surface of the stacked workpiece 82 can be used as the position sensor 121, such as an optical sensor or a contact sensor.

[0021] Furthermore, the assembly equipment is provided with a conveyor 130 for loading the initial work 81 to a position P0 directly below the working position and unloading the finally obtained stacked work 83. The conveyor 130 is, for example, a roller conveyor, and a moving table (pallet) 131 for conveying the initial work 81 or the finally obtained stacked work 83 moves horizontally on the conveyor 130. The conveyor 130 is provided between the position P0 and the position P2, and there is a position P1 in the middle. The position P1 is, for example, a position for loading the initial work 81 onto the moving table 131. In contrast, the position P2 is a position to which the finally obtained stacked work 83 is sent. At the position P2, the support member 13 and the end plate 15 can be assembled to the finally obtained stacked work 83 and fastened with bolts 48 and nuts 49. By setting these two positions P1 and P2 in this way, it becomes possible to carry out the feeding of the initial work 81 into the stacking work area and the final assembly work of the EDI device in parallel. Instead of providing the conveyor 130, the initial work 81 and the finally obtained stacked work 83 may be carried in and out by a trolley or the like.

[0022] In this assembly facility, the frame 40 is stored in a cell storage section 140 which is formed in the shape of shelves. The handling robot 50 uses its suction pad 51 to sequentially remove the frame 40 stored in the cell storage section 140 one by one from the top and transport them to the stacking work area. The ion exchange membrane 30 is stored submerged in water in the membrane storage section 90 and cannot be transported by the handling robot 50 in that state. Therefore, the membrane removal robot 60 uses its gripping part 61 to grip the ion exchange membrane 30 in the membrane storage section 90 and remove the ion exchange membrane 30 from the membrane storage section 90, and places it on the membrane transfer section 150 which is provided in the shape of a platform. The handling robot 50 uses its suction pad 51 to pick up the ion exchange membrane 30 placed on the membrane transfer section 150 and transports it to the filling work area. The stacking work area is within reach of both the handling robot 50 and the resin supply robot 70. Generally, robots are controlled by robot controllers attached to them. However, in this assembly facility, the handling robot 50, membrane extraction robot 60, resin supply robot 70, and lifting lift 120 need to work in coordination. Therefore, a control device 300 is provided to control all of these robots and equipment. The control device 300 may also have a control panel attached.

[0023] Next, the configuration of the stacking work area will be explained using Figure 3. The lifting lifts 120 are positioned on both sides of the conveyor 130, and both lifting lifts 120 operate synchronously. Each lifting lift 120 is equipped with a lifting arm 122 that can move vertically. The lifting arm 122 is configured to engage with the long side of the end plate 16, which is the lowest layer of the stacked work 82. The distance between a pair of lifting arms 122 is longer than the width of the mobile platform 131, and when the mobile platform 131 loaded with the initial work 81 reaches position P0 while the lifting arm 122 is in its lowest position, the lifting arm 122 rises, causing the initial work 81 to be separated from the mobile platform 131 and lifted by the lifting arm 122. When the top surface of the stacked workpieces 82, including the initial workpiece 81, is raised to the reference height of the stacking work area, and the frame 40 is then placed on top of it by the handling robot 50, clamps 200 are provided to fix the newly placed frame 40 to the frame 40 below it (or support member 14). Clamps 200 are provided on each side of the frame 40. In the figure, a pair of clamps 200 that hold down the long side of the frame 40 are depicted. Each clamp 200 is driven by a clamp drive unit 201.

[0024] Next, we will explain the assembly process of the EDI device in the assembly facility. First, as an initial step, the initial operation consisting of the following steps A01 to A04 is performed.

[0025] [A01] The frame 40 is placed in the cell storage section 140, the ion exchange membrane 30 is placed in the membrane storage section 90, and the ion exchange resin is replenished in the resin supply machine 100: [A02] Using a conveyor belt 130 or a trolley, set the initial workpiece 81 to its initial position for placement on the lifting lift; [A03] Start the assembly equipment; [A04] A pair of lifting arms 122 of the lifting lift 120 rise from their lowest position and transfer the initial workpiece 81 to the lifting lift 120. The lifting lift 120 then raises the initial workpiece 81 to the reference height of the stacking work area.

[0026] Once the initial operations from A01 to A04 are completed, the following steps begin: placing the frame 40 on the stacked workpieces 82 (including the initial workpieces 81), filling the openings of the frame 40 with ion exchange resin, and positioning the ion exchange membrane 30 (steps B01 to B04).

[0027] [B01] The handling robot 50 takes one frame 40 from the cell storage unit 140 and transports it to the upper part of the stacking work area, where it is placed on the stacking workpiece 80. The removal and transport of the frame 40 is performed while maintaining the horizontal position of the plate-shaped frame 40 by using the suction pad 51 of the handling robot 50 to hold the frame 40 in place; [B02] The clamp 200 secures the frame 40, which has been newly mounted on the stacked workpiece 82, to the frame 40 directly below it (or the support member 14) so ​​that it does not separate; [B03] The resin supply robot 70 injects the ion exchange resin supplied from the resin supply machine 100 and stored in its scoop 71 into the opening of the frame 40. As a result, the ion exchange resin accumulates inside the opening of the frame 40; [B04] The handling robot 50 uses its suction pad 51 to pick up the ion exchange membrane 30 already placed on the membrane transfer unit 150, transports it to the upper part of the stacking work area, and then places the ion exchange membrane 30 so as to cover the opening of the frame 40; [B05] As a result of the process up to B04, a new frame 40 is placed on top of the stacked workpiece 82, ion exchange resin is filled into the opening of the frame 40, and an ion exchange membrane 30 is positioned to cover the ion exchange resin. Therefore, the stacked workpiece 82 is again formed including the newly placed frame 40 and ion exchange membrane 30, and the position of the top surface of the stacked workpiece 82 is measured by the position sensor 121 using the lifting lift 120; [B06] The clamp 200 is released, and the stacked workpiece 82 is lowered by the lifting lift 120 so that the position of the top surface of the stacked workpiece 82 is at the reference height of the stacking work area.

[0028] The state in process B06 is the same as in process B01, except that one frame 40 has been added. By repeating processes B01 to B06, a new frame 40 is added to the stacked workpiece 82, ion exchange resin is filled into the opening of the new frame 40, and the ion exchange membrane 30 is placed on top, gradually assembling the EDI device and obtaining the final stacked workpiece 83. In some cases, a support member 13 may be placed on the frame 41 that has been filled with ion exchange resin by a handling robot 50 to form the final stacked workpiece 83. Once the final stacked workpiece 83 is obtained, the lifting lift 120 is lowered and the final stacked workpiece 83 is transferred onto the mobile platform 131, and the final stacked workpiece 83 and the mobile platform 131 carrying it move along the conveyor 130 to position P2. If the conveyor 130 is not used, the final stacked workpiece 83 can be transferred from the lowered lifting lift 120 to a trolley. In the example described here, each time a frame 40 is added, the frame is fixed with a clamp 200, and once the installation of the ion exchange membrane 30 on the added frame 40 is complete, the clamp 200 is released. By repeatedly fixing and releasing with the clamp 200 in this way, it becomes unnecessary to lower the clamp 200 together with the lifting lift 120, and only one set of clamps is needed regardless of the number of frame 40 that make up the stacked workpiece 82, thus preventing the assembly equipment from becoming complicated.

[0029] As described above, the assembly equipment of this embodiment can automate most of the assembly process of EDI devices, enabling the rapid and low-cost manufacturing of EDI devices and improving the productivity of EDI device manufacturing. Furthermore, compared to assembling EDI devices manually, it is possible to obtain EDI devices of consistent quality regardless of the skill level of the workers. Because the quality is consistent, the variation in differential pressure when water is passed through the EDI device is reduced, and the variation in operating voltage is also reduced. If the variation in water flow differential pressure is large, it becomes necessary to install instruments such as flow meters and pressure gauges for each EDI device when multiple EDI devices are arranged in parallel to form a system, but if the variation is small, it is sufficient to install one instrument common to the entire system, thus reducing the number of instruments. If the variation in operating voltage is suppressed, the increase in power costs during operation of the EDI device can be suppressed.

[0030] Patent Document 3 discloses assembling an electrodialysis apparatus by alternately stacking frames and ion exchange membranes vertically. However, in the case of an EDI apparatus, since ion exchange resin is filled into the opening of the frame 40, there is a risk that the orientation of the frame 40 may be tilted due to the influence of the uneven distribution of the ion exchange resin. In this embodiment, after each cycle consisting of placing the frame 40, filling with ion exchange resin, and arranging the ion exchange membrane 30, the upper surface of the stacked workpiece 80 is adjusted to the reference height of the stacking work area. By measuring and adjusting the height in this way after each cycle, the influence of variations in the compression allowance of the O-rings provided on the frame 40 and variations in the height of the frame 40 due to differences in the water content of the ion exchange resin can be eliminated, and accurate stacking can be performed even when stacking multiple layers of frame 40. In particular, by fixing the newly stacked frame 40 on top of the stacked workpiece 82 with the clamp 200, the position of the frame 40 in the horizontal plane is also fixed. As a result, when stacking is repeated, the frame 40 can be stacked neatly and vertically, and uniformity of size and quality can be achieved in the completed EDI device.

[0031] Since EDI equipment produces pure water such as pure water or ultrapure water, it is preferable to install the assembly equipment described above indoors where there is less risk of outside air influence and contamination of the inside of the EDI equipment with dust, etc. The assembly equipment can also be installed in a cleanroom. When the assembly equipment is installed in a cleanroom, the cleanliness of the cleanroom is preferably Class 8 or lower, and more preferably Class 7 or lower, as defined in the ISO 14644-1 standard. By assembling the EDI equipment in a cleanroom where the temperature and humidity are controlled, the effects of swelling and shrinkage of the ion exchange resin due to changes in temperature and humidity can be suppressed, and the quality of the manufactured EDI equipment can be made consistent. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 30-34 Ion exchange membrane 40~47 Frame 50 Handling Robots 51 Suction pads 60 Membrane Extraction Robot 61 Clamping part 70 Resin supply robot 71 Scoop 81 Initial Work 82,83 Stacking Work 90 Membrane storage section 100 Resin Feeding Machine 120 Lifting Lift 121 Position Sensor 130 Conveyor 131 Mobile platform 140 Cell Storage Section 150 Film transfer section 200 clamps

Claims

1. Assembly equipment for assembling an electrolytic deionized water production apparatus, wherein a desalination chamber and a concentration chamber are alternately and repeatedly arranged between an anode and a cathode via an ion exchange membrane, and both the desalination chamber and the concentration chamber are made of a frame having an opening, and the opening is filled with an ion exchange resin, A lifting lift that holds and raises a workpiece, A position sensor for detecting the position of the upper surface of the workpiece, Equipped with, By repeatedly executing a cycle consisting of the steps of placing the frame on the workpiece, filling the opening of the placed frame with the ion exchange resin, and arranging the ion exchange membrane so as to cover the filled ion exchange resin, the frame is stacked so as to grow the workpiece vertically. Assembly equipment that, after completing each cycle, detects the position of the new top surface of the workpiece using the position sensor, and lowers the workpiece using the lifting lift so that the position of the new top surface is at a predetermined reference height based on the detection result.

2. The assembly equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a clamp for fixing the newly placed frame to the workpiece when the frame is newly placed on the workpiece.

3. The assembly apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the clamp is released when one cycle is completed.

4. An assembly method for an electro-deionized water production apparatus, wherein a desalination chamber and a concentration chamber are alternately and repeatedly arranged between an anode and a cathode via an ion exchange membrane, and both the desalination chamber and the concentration chamber are made of a frame having an opening, and the opening is filled with an ion exchange resin, By repeatedly executing a cycle consisting of the steps of placing the frame on the workpiece, filling the opening of the placed frame with the ion exchange resin, and arranging the ion exchange membrane so as to cover the filled ion exchange resin, the frame is stacked so as to grow the workpiece vertically. An assembly method comprising detecting the position of the new top surface of the workpiece after each completion of the aforementioned cycle, and lowering the workpiece so that the position of the new top surface becomes a predetermined reference height based on the detection result.

5. The assembly method according to claim 4, wherein when the frame is newly placed on the workpiece, the newly placed frame is fixed to the workpiece by clamping.

6. The assembly method according to claim 5, wherein the clamp is released each time the aforementioned cycle is completed.

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