Fuel cell manufacturing apparatus and method

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of securing an adhesion width between a power generating body and a sheet member to be used in a fuel battery.SOLUTION: A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a fuel battery having a power generator and a frame-shaped sheet member arranged around the power generator has a frame-shaped pressing portion for pressing, to the power generator, the sheet member stacked so as to overlap with an adhesive arrangement region of the power generator on which an adhesive is arranged. The pressing portion has a tapered surface which recedes in a direction opposite to a pressing direction in which the pressing portion presses the sheet member as the tapered surface goes to the outer periphery of the pressing portion with respect to a surface which faces a portion overlapping a third region in the sheet member, and is perpendicular to the pressing direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a fuel cell. [Background technology]

[0002] A known fuel cell manufacturing device applies an adhesive to the periphery of a power generating body including a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) by screen printing, and presses and bonds the power generating body to which the adhesive has been applied to a frame-shaped sheet member. Patent Document 1 describes a technique for performing screen printing using a printing plate in which the mesh diameter of the portion for printing the outer portion of the periphery of the power generating body is smaller than the mesh diameter of the portion for printing the inner portion of the periphery of the power generating body. This reduces the thickness of the adhesive applied to the outer portion of the periphery of the power generating body, and increases the thickness of the adhesive applied to the inner portion of the periphery of the power generating body. This makes it possible to prevent the adhesive from being pushed out from the end of the power generating body when the sheet member is pressed toward the power generating body, thereby making the thickness of the adhesive uniform. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-149886 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the thickness of the adhesive is taken into consideration, but the adhesive width, which is the width of the area where the power generating body and the sheet member are adhered, is not taken into consideration. Therefore, there is a risk that there will be areas where the adhesive width is not sufficiently secured. For example, at the corners of the power generating body, the adhesive may not reach sufficiently when pressure is applied, and the adhesive width may not be secured. Therefore, there has been a demand for a technology that can secure the adhesive width. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized in the following forms. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a manufacturing apparatus for a fuel cell including a power generation body having a gas diffusion layer on at least one surface of a membrane electrode assembly and a frame-shaped sheet member arranged around the power generation body, the sheet member having a first side portion provided with an inlet / outlet hole for allowing a reactant gas to flow in and out of the power generation body and a second side portion connected to an end of the first side portion without the inlet / outlet hole, the power generation body having a first region overlapping the first side portion, a second region overlapping the second side portion, and a third region overlapping at least the first side portion and connected to the first region and the second region, the manufacturing apparatus includes a frame-shaped pressing unit that presses the sheet member, which is stacked so as to overlap the adhesive arrangement region of the power generation body having an adhesive arranged on a peripheral portion including at least a part of the first region, the second region, and the third region, toward the power generation body. The pressing portion has a tapered surface facing the portion of the sheet member that overlaps with the third region, and recedes in a direction opposite to the pressing direction with respect to a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction in which the pressing portion presses the sheet member, toward the outer periphery of the pressing portion, and is configured to press the adhesive so that it moves from the inside to the outside of the power generator at the portion of the first side that overlaps with the first region, and to press the adhesive so that it moves from the outside to the inside of the power generator at the portion of the first side that overlaps with the second region.

[0006] (1) According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a manufacturing apparatus for a fuel cell including a power generation body including a gas diffusion layer on at least one surface of a membrane electrode assembly, and a frame-shaped sheet member arranged around the power generation body, wherein the sheet member has a first side portion provided with an inlet / outlet hole for allowing a reactant gas to flow in and out of the power generation body, and a second side portion not provided with the inlet / outlet hole and connected to an end of the first side portion, the power generation body has a first region overlapping the first side portion, a second region overlapping the second side portion, and a third region overlapping at least the first side portion and connected to the first region and the second region, and the manufacturing apparatus includes a frame-shaped pressing unit that presses the sheet member, which is stacked toward the power generation body so as to overlap the adhesive placement region of the power generation body having an adhesive placed on a peripheral portion including at least a part of the first region, the second region, and the third region. The pressing portion has a surface facing the portion of the sheet member that overlaps with the third region, and has a tapered surface that recedes in the opposite direction to the pressing direction in which the pressing portion presses the sheet member, toward the outer periphery of the pressing portion, relative to a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction in which the pressing portion presses the sheet member. According to this embodiment of the manufacturing device, since the sheet member has a tapered surface, the sheet member receives force from the adhesive when pressed and elastically deforms along the tapered surface. This reduces the flow resistance of the adhesive, and the pressing unit can spread the adhesive to the corner tips in the third region. This ensures a sufficient adhesive width. (2) In the manufacturing apparatus of the above embodiment, the pressing unit may be configured to press the adhesive in a portion of the first side portion that overlaps with the first region so that the adhesive moves from the inside to the outside of the power generator, and to press the adhesive in a portion of the second side portion that overlaps with the second region so that the adhesive moves from the outside to the inside of the power generator. In this embodiment, the pressing section can press the adhesive from the periphery of the power generator toward the center in the first region, and from the center of the power generator toward the periphery in the second region, so that the thickness of the adhesive in contact with the inner edge of the first side portion where the inlet / outlet holes are provided can be made thinner than the thickness of the adhesive in contact with the inner edge of the second side portion. (3) In the manufacturing apparatus of the above embodiment, the pressing portion may include a first pressing surface which is a surface perpendicular to the pressing direction and presses a portion of the first side portion which overlaps with the first region, a second pressing surface which is a surface perpendicular to the pressing direction and is connected to the first pressing surface and presses a portion of the second side portion which overlaps with the second region, a first tapered surface which is connected to the first pressing surface and recedes in the direction opposite to the pressing direction toward the outer circumferential end of the pressing portion, and a second tapered surface which is connected to the second pressing surface and recedes in the direction opposite to the pressing direction toward the inner circumferential end of the pressing portion. In this embodiment, since the sheet member has the first tapered surface and the second tapered surface, the sheet member elastically deforms along the first tapered surface and the second tapered surface when pressed. Therefore, the pressing unit can press the portion of the sheet member overlapping the first region so that the adhesive moves from the inside to the outside of the power generator, and can press the portion of the sheet member overlapping the second region so that the adhesive moves from the outside to the inside of the power generator. (4) In the manufacturing apparatus of the above embodiment, an adhesive placement section is provided for placing the adhesive on the generator, and the adhesive placement section may be configured to make the width of the adhesive placed in the first region, in the direction from the outside to the inside of the generator, narrower than the width of the adhesive placed in the second region, in the direction from the outside to the inside of the generator. With this configuration, the amount of adhesive pushed inward at the first side can be made smaller than the amount of adhesive pushed inward at the second side, so the thickness of the adhesive at the first side where the inlet / outlet holes are provided can be made thinner than the thickness of the adhesive at the second side.

[0007] The present disclosure can be realized in various forms, for example, in the form of a manufacturing apparatus for a bonded body, a manufacturing method for a bonded body, or the like. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an exploded explanatory view showing a fuel cell. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of a pressing portion. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for manufacturing a fuel cell. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a bonded body preparation process. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a joint body preparation process. [Figure 10] 11A and 11B are views showing a state of a sheet member in a first pressing step. [Figure 11] 13 is a diagram showing a state of the sheet member after the first pressing step is completed. FIG. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are views showing a state of the sheet member in a second pressing step. [Figure 13] 13 is a diagram showing a state of the sheet member after the second pressing step is completed. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A. First embodiment: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an exploded view of a fuel cell 100 manufactured by a manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fuel cell 100 is a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell that generates electricity by receiving hydrogen and oxygen as reactant gases. FIG. 1 shows an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis that are perpendicular to each other. The x-axis is the long side direction of the fuel cell 100, the y-axis is the short side direction of the fuel cell 100, and the z-axis is the stacking direction of the fuel cell 100. These axes correspond to the axes shown in FIG. 1 and subsequent figures. The fuel cell 100 includes a power generation body 10, a sheet member 20, a pair of separators 40 and 50, and a manifold hole 60.

[0010] The power generating unit 10 comprises an electrolyte membrane (not shown), catalyst layers (not shown) formed adjacent to both sides of the electrolyte membrane, and a gas diffusion layer (not shown) formed adjacent to one side of the catalyst layer. The electrolyte membrane is a solid polymer thin film that exhibits good proton conductivity in a wet state. The electrolyte membrane is made of, for example, a fluorine-based resin ion exchange membrane. The catalyst layer comprises a catalyst that promotes a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and carbon particles carrying the catalyst. The electrolyte membrane and catalyst layer are collectively referred to as a membrane electrode assembly (MEA).

[0011] The gas diffusion layer is provided adjacent to the surface on one side of the catalyst layer. The gas diffusion layer is a layer that diffuses the reaction gas used in the electrode reaction along the surface direction of the electrolyte membrane, and is composed of a porous diffusion layer substrate. As the diffusion layer substrate, a porous substrate having electrical conductivity and gas diffusion properties, such as a carbon fiber substrate, a graphite fiber substrate, or a foamed metal, is used. The electrolyte membrane, the catalyst layer, and the gas diffusion layer are collectively called a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly (MEGA (Membrane Electrode Gass-diffusion-layer Assembly)).

[0012] The sheet member 20 is a frame-shaped three-layer sheet member arranged around the power generation body 10. The sheet member 20 is formed by laminating adhesive layers of hot melt adhesive on both sides of a resin member. In this embodiment, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used as the resin member. However, various other thermoplastic resin members such as polypropylene and polyethylene can also be used as the resin member.

[0013] The pair of separators 40, 50 are members that sandwich the joined body 30. The separators 40, 50 are formed by press-molding a metal plate made of, for example, stainless steel, titanium, or an alloy thereof.

[0014] The sheet member 20 and the separators 40, 50 have manifold holes 60. The manifold holes 60 communicate between the sheet member 20 and the separators 40, 50, and allow the flow of reaction gas or cooling water.

[0015] 2 is an explanatory diagram of the assembly 30. In this embodiment, the assembly 30 refers to the assembly of the power generation body 10, the gas diffusion layer provided on the surface of the power generation body 10 on the other catalyst layer side, and the sheet member 20. The sheet member 20 has an inlet / outlet hole 23 for allowing the reactant gas to flow in and out of the power generation body 10, a first side portion 21 provided with the inlet / outlet hole 23, and a second side portion 22 connected to the end of the first side portion 21 without the inlet / outlet hole 23. The inlet / outlet hole 23 is formed penetrating the sheet member 20. In this embodiment, the sheet member 20 has a plurality of inlet / outlet holes 23, but is not limited thereto, and may have only one inlet / outlet hole 23.

[0016] The power generator 10 has a first region 11 including a region overlapping with a first side portion 21 of the sheet member 20, a second region 12 including a region overlapping with a second side portion 22 of the sheet member 20, and a third region 13 including a region overlapping with the first side portion 21 and connected to the first region 11 and the second region 12. In this embodiment, the first side portion 21, the second side portion 22, and the inlet / outlet holes 23 are regions where an adhesive that bonds the power generator 10 and the sheet member 20 is disposed.

[0017] 3 is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing apparatus 200. The manufacturing apparatus 200 is used to manufacture the fuel cell 100. The manufacturing apparatus 200 includes an adhesive placement unit 210 and a pressing unit 220. The manufacturing apparatus 200 includes a microcomputer including a central processing unit (CPU), RAM, and ROM, and the functions of each of these units are realized by the microcomputer executing a program installed in advance. However, some or all of the functions of each of these units may be realized by a hardware circuit.

[0018] The adhesive placement unit 210 places an adhesive on the power generating body 10. In this embodiment, the adhesive placement unit 210 is configured by a control unit of the manufacturing apparatus 200 and a robot. The adhesive is, for example, an ultraviolet-curing adhesive or a thermosetting adhesive. In this embodiment, the adhesive is a fluid. The adhesive placement unit 210 uses a robot to move a brush relative to the power generating body 10 and applies the adhesive to the power generating body 10 by screen printing. Note that the placement of the adhesive is not limited to application by a brush, and may be, for example, application by spraying, or a sheet-like sealing member may be placed.

[0019] The pressing unit 220 presses the laminated sheet member 20, which is stacked so as to overlap the adhesive placement area of ​​the power generator 10 where the adhesive is placed, toward the power generator 10. The pressing unit 220 is composed of a frame-shaped member, a control unit of the manufacturing apparatus 200, and a robot. The pressing unit 220 moves the frame-shaped member using the robot to press the sheet member 20 toward the power generator 10. Hereinafter, the frame-shaped member is also referred to as the pressing unit 220. The force with which the pressing unit 220 presses the sheet member 20 is large enough to elastically deform the sheet member 20 by the adhesive extruded by pressing. The sheet member 20 is composed of a thickness and material that allows elastic deformation by the adhesive extruded by pressing by the pressing unit 220.

[0020] 4, 5, and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing a part of the pressing unit 220. FIG. 4 shows the pressing unit 220 as seen from the sheet member 20 side when the pressing unit 220 presses the sheet member 20. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the pressing unit 220 is pressing the sheet member 20 in a VV cross section of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the pressing unit 220 is pressing the sheet member 20 in a VI-VI cross section of FIG. 4. The pressing unit 220 is configured to press the adhesive 14 arranged on the peripheral portion 15 (described later) in a portion overlapping with the first region 11 of the sheet member 20 so as to move from the inside to the outside (+x-axis direction) of the power generating body 10, and to press the adhesive 14 arranged on the peripheral portion 15 in a portion overlapping with the second region 12 of the sheet member 20 so as to move from the outside to the inside (-x-axis direction) of the power generating body 10. The adhesive 14 has a viscosity sufficient to move between the power generator 10 and the sheet member 20 when the pressing unit 220 presses the sheet member 20. In this embodiment, the pressing unit 220 has a first pressing surface 221, a first tapered surface 222, a second pressing surface 223, a second tapered surface 224, and a third tapered surface 225.

[0021] The first pressing surface 221 is a surface perpendicular to the pressing direction (z-axis direction) that presses a portion of the sheet member 20 that overlaps with the first region 11 of the power generator 10. The first tapered surface 222 is a surface that is connected to the first pressing surface 221 and recedes in the direction opposite to the pressing direction (+z-axis direction) toward the outer circumferential end P1 of the pressing part 220. The outer circumferential end P1 is the end of the outer circumferential surface of the pressing part 220 on the first pressing surface 221 side. In this embodiment, a first angle d1 that is an inclination angle of the first tapered surface 222 measured along the maximum inclination direction with respect to the first pressing surface 221 is, for example, 5 degrees.

[0022] The second pressing surface 223 is a surface perpendicular to the pressing direction, pressing a portion of the sheet member 20 overlapping with the second region 12 of the power generator 10. The second tapered surface 224 is connected to the second pressing surface 223, and is a surface that recedes toward the inner circumferential end P2 of the pressing portion 220 in the direction opposite to the pressing direction (the +z-axis direction). The inner circumferential end P2 is the end portion of the inner circumferential surface of the pressing portion 220 on the second pressing surface 223 side. In this embodiment, the second angle d2, which is the inclination angle of the second tapered surface 224 measured along the maximum inclination direction with respect to the second pressing surface 223, is, for example, 60 degrees.

[0023] The third tapered surface 225 is a surface facing a portion of the sheet member 20 that overlaps with the third region 13 of the power generator 10, and is a surface that recedes from a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction in which the pressing portion 220 presses the sheet member 20 toward the outer periphery of the pressing portion 220 in the direction opposite to the pressing direction. The third tapered surface 225 is also called a "tapered surface." In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the third tapered surface 225 measured along the maximum inclination direction with respect to the first pressing surface 221 is, for example, 5 degrees.

[0024] 7 is a flow chart showing an example of a method for manufacturing the fuel cell 100 of this embodiment. First, in step S100, an assembly preparation step is performed. The assembly preparation step is a step of preparing an assembly 30. The assembly 30 is prepared, for example, by bonding the power generation body 10 and a sheet member 20 with an adhesive. The assembly preparation step will be described in detail later.

[0025] In step S110, a clamping step is performed. The "clamping step" is a step of clamping the bonded body 30 between a pair of separators 40, 50. The manufacturing apparatus 200 places the bonded body 30 prepared in step S100 on the separator 40, places the separator 50 on top of the bonded body 30, and bonds them together. For example, the sheet member 20 in the bonded body 30 is melted and bonded to the separators 40, 50 by performing thermocompression bonding. The process of step S110 may be repeated to manufacture a fuel cell stack, which is a stack of fuel cells 100.

[0026] Fig. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of the bonded body preparation process. This process is a series of processes in which the manufacturing apparatus 200 prepares the bonded body 30 in step S100 shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the bonded body preparation process.

[0027] In step S200 (see FIG. 8), the adhesive placement unit 210 performs an adhesive placement step. The "adhesive placement step" is a step of placing an adhesive 14 on a peripheral portion 15 including at least a portion of the first region 11, the second region 12, and the third region 13. In this embodiment, the adhesive placement unit 210 places the adhesive 14 on the other catalyst layer side surface of the power generating body 10 on which the gas diffusion layer is not provided. In this embodiment, the peripheral portion 15 is a region including a portion of the first region 11, the second region 12, and the third region 13, a region extending toward the center of the power generating body 10 beyond the inner end of the first side portion 21 when the sheet members 20 are stacked, and a region extending toward the center of the power generating body 10 beyond the inner end of the second side portion 22 when the sheet members 20 are stacked (see FIGS. 5, 6, and the upper part of FIG. 9). 9, in this embodiment, the adhesive placement unit 210 places the adhesive 14 so that a width W1 of the adhesive 14 in a direction from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10 arranged in the first region 11 is narrower than a width W2 of the adhesive 14 in a direction from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10 arranged in the second region 12. In addition, the adhesive placement unit 210 places the adhesive 14 so that a thickness of the adhesive 14 in the stacking direction of the power generator 10 arranged in the first region 11 and the sheet member 20 is the same as a thickness of the adhesive 14 in the stacking direction of the power generator 10 arranged in the second region 12 and the sheet member 20.

[0028] In step S210 (see FIG. 8), the manufacturing apparatus 200 performs a lamination process. The "lamination process" is a process of laminating sheet members 20 so as to overlap the areas of the power generating body 10 where the adhesive 14 has been applied in step S200, as shown in the middle part of FIG.

[0029] In step S220 (see FIG. 8), the pressing unit 220 performs a pressing process. The "pressing process" is a process of pressing the sheet member 20 laminated in step S210 toward the power generator 10. In this embodiment, the pressing process includes a first pressing process and a second pressing process. The "first pressing process" is a process of pressing the portion of the sheet member 20 overlapping the first region 11 so that the adhesive 14 moves in the direction of the arrow A1 shown in the lower part of FIG. 9, from the inside to the outside of the power generator 10. The "second pressing process" is a process of pressing the portion of the sheet member 20 overlapping the second region 12 so that the adhesive 14 moves in the direction of the arrow A2, from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10. The first pressing process and the second pressing process are performed simultaneously. Since the pressing portion 220 has the third tapered surface 225, in the pressing step, the sheet member 20 elastically deforms along the third tapered surface 225. Therefore, in the portion of the sheet member 20 overlapping with the third region 13, the adhesive 14 moves in the direction of the arrow A3, that is, from the inside to the outside of the power generating body 10.

[0030] In step S230 (see FIG. 8), the pressing unit 220 performs a curing process. The "curing process" is a process for curing the adhesive applied in step S200. In this embodiment, in parallel with this process or after this process, the pressing unit 220 laminates and bonds a gas diffusion layer to the other surface of the power generation body 10 facing the catalyst layer, on which no gas diffusion layer is provided.

[0031] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state of the sheet member 20 in the first pressing step. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state in which the pressing unit 220 is pressing the sheet member 20 in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 10, the sheet member 20 elastically deforms from the state shown in FIG. 5 along the first tapered surface 222. More specifically, the adhesive 14 pushed out by the first pressing surface 221 presses up the sheet member 20 so as to fill the gap between the sheet member 20 and the first tapered surface 222. Since the sheet member 20 is pressed up along the first tapered surface 222, the flow resistance between the sheet member 20 and the power generator 10 in the region facing the first tapered surface 222 becomes smaller than the flow resistance between the sheet member 20 and the power generator 10 in the region facing the first pressing surface 221, and the adhesive 14 becomes easier to move. Therefore, in the portion of the first side portion 21 of the sheet member 20 that overlaps with the first region 11, the adhesive 14 moves from the inside to the outside (positive x-axis direction) of the power generator 10. The pressing portion 220 is preferably disposed so that a distance L1 between an end portion on the inner periphery side of the bonded body 30 and an end portion on the inner periphery side of the pressing portion 220 in a direction from the inner periphery side to the outer periphery side of the sheet member 20 in the first side portion 21 of the sheet member 20 (x-axis direction) is shortened. In this embodiment, the distance L1 is about 5.8% of a distance L2 of a region where the power generator 10 and the sheet member 20 are to be bonded by the adhesive 14 in the same direction (x-axis direction) as the extension direction of the distance L1.

[0032] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the state of the sheet member 20 after the first pressing step is completed. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the state after the pressing step is completed in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 11, the thickness t1 of the adhesive 14 at the first side portion 21 of the sheet member 20 does not become excessively thick because the adhesive 14 moves from the inside to the outside of the power generator 10. The "thickness of the adhesive 14" is the thickness of the thickest part of the adhesive 14, and is the thickness of the adhesive 14 in contact with the inner end of the sheet member 20. Since the thickness t1 of the adhesive 14 at the first side portion 21 of the sheet member 20 is prevented from becoming excessively thick, it is possible to prevent the inflow and outflow holes 23 from being filled with the adhesive 14.

[0033] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a state of the sheet member 20 in the second pressing step. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the pressing portion 220 is pressing the sheet member 20 in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 12, the sheet member 20 elastically deforms from the state shown in Fig. 6 along the second tapered surface 224. More specifically, the adhesive 14 pushed out by the second pressing surface 223 presses up the sheet member 20 so as to fill the gap between the sheet member 20 and the second tapered surface 224. Because the sheet member 20 is pushed up along the second tapered surface 224, the flow resistance between the sheet member 20 and the power generator 10 in the area facing the second tapered surface 223 is smaller than the flow resistance between the sheet member 20 and the power generator 10 in the area facing the second pressing surface 223, making it easier for the adhesive 14 to move.As a result, in the portion of the second edge portion 22 of the sheet member 20 that overlaps with the second area 12, the adhesive 14 moves from the outside to the inside (-x-axis direction) of the power generator 10.

[0034] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the state of the sheet member 20 after the second pressing step is completed. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the state after the pressing step is completed in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 13, the thickness t2 of the adhesive 14 at the second side portion 22 of the sheet member 20 is thicker than the thickness t1 because the adhesive 14 moves from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10. Since the thickness t2 of the adhesive 14 at the second side portion 22 of the sheet member 20 can be made thicker, it is possible to ensure a sufficient adhesive force of the adhesive 14 at the first side portion 21 of the sheet member 20 to bond the power generator 10 and the sheet member 20 together.

[0035] According to the manufacturing apparatus 200 of this embodiment described above, since the pressing unit 220 has the third tapered surface 225, the sheet member 20 is elastically deformed along the third tapered surface 225 when pressed. Therefore, the pressing unit 220 can spread the adhesive 14 up to the corner tip of the third region 13. Therefore, the adhesion width of the adhesive 14 in the third region 13 can be secured.

[0036] Furthermore, the pressing portion 220 can press the adhesive 14 from the periphery toward the center of the power generator 10 in the first region 11, and from the center toward the periphery of the power generator 10 in the second region 12. Therefore, the thickness of the adhesive 14 in contact with the inner end of the first side portion 21 where the inlet / outlet holes 23 are provided can be made thinner than the thickness of the adhesive 14 in contact with the inner end of the second side portion 22.

[0037] Furthermore, because the pressing portion 220 has the first tapered surface 222 and the second tapered surface 224, the sheet member 20 elastically deforms along the first tapered surface 222 and the second tapered surface 224 when pressed. Therefore, the pressing portion 220 can press the adhesive 14 in the region of the sheet member 20 that overlaps with the first region 11 so as to move from the inside to the outside of the power generator 10, and can press the adhesive 14 in the region of the sheet member 20 that overlaps with the second region 12 so as to move from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10.

[0038] Furthermore, the adhesive placement section 210 makes the width W1 of the adhesive 14 in the direction from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10 placed in the first region 11 narrower than the width W1 of the adhesive 14 in the direction from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10 placed in the second region 12. Therefore, when the sheet member 20 is pressed by the pressing section 220, the amount of adhesive 14 pushed out toward the inner periphery at the first side portion 21 can be made smaller than the amount of adhesive 14 pushed out toward the inner periphery at the second side portion 22. Therefore, the thickness t1 of the adhesive 14 at the first side portion 21 where the inlet / outlet holes 23 are provided can be made thinner than the thickness t2 of the adhesive 14 at the second side portion 22.

[0039] B. Other embodiments: (B1) In the above-described embodiment, the manufacturing apparatus 200 includes the adhesive placing section 210. This is not limiting, and the manufacturing apparatus 200 does not necessarily have to include the adhesive placing section 210. In this case, the manufacturing apparatus 200 prepares the power generating body 10 on which the adhesive 14 is placed.

[0040] (B2) In the above-described embodiment, peripheral portion 15 is a region including parts of first region 11, second region 12, and third region 13, a region extending toward the center of power generator 10 beyond the inner end of first side portion 21 when sheet members 20 are stacked, and a region extending toward the center of power generator 10 beyond the inner end of second side portion 22 when sheet members 20 are stacked (see FIGS. 5, 6, and the upper part of FIG. 9). Without being limited thereto, peripheral portion 15 can be any region as long as it is a region including at least a part of first region 11, at least a part of second region 12, and at least a part of third region 13. For example, the peripheral portion 15 may be a region that includes all of the first region 11, the second region 12, and the third region 13, but does not include a region that extends toward the center of the power generator 10 beyond the inner end of the first side portion 21 when the sheet members 20 are stacked, and a region that extends toward the center of the power generator 10 beyond the inner end of the second side portion 22 when the sheet members 20 are stacked.

[0041] (B3) In the above-described embodiment, the adhesive disposing section 210 configures the width W1 of the adhesive 14 in the direction from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10 arranged in the first region 11 to be narrower than the width W1 of the adhesive 14 in the direction from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10 arranged in the second region 12. Without being limited to this, the adhesive disposing section 210 may dispose the adhesive 14 so that the width W1 and the width W2 are the same width W1.

[0042] (B4) In the above-described embodiment, the pressing step includes the first pressing step and the second pressing step. However, the pressing step is not limited to this, and the first pressing step and the second pressing step may be omitted. In this case, in the pressing step, the pressing unit 220 simply presses the sheet member 20 toward the power generation body 10.

[0043] (B5) In the above-described embodiment, the pressing unit 220 includes the first tapered surface 222 and the second tapered surface 224. This is not limiting, and the adhesive placement unit 210 does not necessarily have to include the first tapered surface 222 and the second tapered surface 224. In this case, for example, the adhesive placement unit 210 presses the first pressing surface 221 from the inside to the outside of the power generator 10 at a portion of the sheet member 20 that overlaps with the first region 11 while tilting the first pressing surface 221. Also, the adhesive placement unit 210 presses the second pressing surface 223 from the outside to the inside of the power generator 10 at a portion of the sheet member 20 that overlaps with the second region 12 while tilting the second pressing surface 223.

[0044] (B6) In the above-described embodiment, the adhesive placing section 210 performs the first pressing step and the second pressing step simultaneously. However, this is not limited to the above, and the adhesive placing section 210 may perform the first pressing step and the second pressing step at different times.

[0045] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the Summary of the Invention column can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. Furthermore, if the technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] Reference Signs List 10...power generation body, 11...first region, 12...second region, 13...third region, 14...adhesive, 15...periphery, 20...sheet member, 21...first side, 22...second side, 23...inlet / outlet holes, 30...bonded body, 40, 50...separator, 60...manifold hole, 100...fuel cell, 200...manufacturing apparatus, 210...adhesive placement section, 220...pressing section, 221...first pressing surface, 222...first tapered surface, 223...second pressing surface, 224...second tapered surface, 225...third tapered surface, P1...outer peripheral end, P2...inner peripheral end

Claims

1. A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell having a power generating body including a membrane electrode assembly and a frame-shaped sheet member disposed around the power generating body, comprising: the sheet member has a first side portion provided with an inlet / outlet hole for allowing a reactant gas to flow in and out of the power generation body, and a second side portion connected to an end of the first side portion and not provided with the inlet / outlet hole, the power generating body has a first region overlapping with the first side portion, a second region overlapping with the second side portion, and a third region overlapping with at least the first side portion and connected to the first region and the second region, The manufacturing apparatus includes: a frame-shaped pressing portion that presses the sheet member, which is laminated so as to overlap an adhesive application area of ​​the power generator, the adhesive being applied to a peripheral portion including at least a part of the first region, the second region, and the third region, toward the power generator; The pressing portion is a surface facing a portion of the sheet member overlapping with the third region, the surface having a tapered surface that recedes from a surface perpendicular to a pressing direction in which the pressing portion presses the sheet member in a direction opposite to the pressing direction toward an outer periphery of the pressing portion, pressing the adhesive in a portion of the first side portion that overlaps with the first region so as to move the adhesive from the inside to the outside of the power generator; A manufacturing apparatus configured to press the adhesive so that it moves from the outside to the inside of the power generating body at the portion of the second side portion that overlaps with the second region.

2. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, The pressing portion is a first pressing surface that is a surface perpendicular to the pressing direction and presses a portion of the first side portion that overlaps with the first region; a second pressing surface that is a surface perpendicular to the pressing direction and presses a portion of the second side portion that overlaps with the second region; a first tapered surface connected to the first pressing surface and receding toward an outer circumferential end of the pressing portion in a direction opposite to the pressing direction; a second tapered surface connected to the second pressing surface and receding in a direction opposite to the pressing direction toward an inner peripheral end of the pressing portion.

3. A method for producing a fuel cell having a power generating body including a membrane electrode assembly and a frame-shaped sheet member disposed around the power generating body, comprising the steps of: the sheet member has a first side portion provided with an inlet / outlet hole for allowing a reactant gas to flow in and out of the power generation body, and a second side portion connected to an end of the first side portion and not provided with the inlet / outlet hole, the power generating body has a first region overlapping with the first side portion, a second region overlapping with the second side portion, and a third region overlapping with at least the first side portion and connected to the first region and the second region, The manufacturing method includes: a lamination process of laminating the sheet member so as to overlap an adhesive application area of ​​the power generating body, the adhesive application area including at least a portion of the first region, the second region, and the third region; a pressing step of pressing the sheet member toward the power generating body using a frame-shaped pressing part after the lamination step, the pressing portion has a surface facing a portion of the sheet member that overlaps with the third region, the surface having a tapered surface that recedes from a surface perpendicular to a pressing direction in which the pressing portion presses the sheet member in a direction opposite to the pressing direction toward an outer periphery of the pressing portion, The pressing step includes: pressing the portion of the sheet member that overlaps the first region so that the adhesive moves from the inside to the outside of the power generator; pressing the sheet member so that the adhesive moves from the outside to the inside of the power generator at a portion overlapping the second region; pressing the adhesive by the tapered surface at a portion of the sheet member overlapping with the third region. Manufacturing method.

4. The method for producing a fuel cell according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of: A manufacturing method comprising an adhesive placement step, which is a step of placing the adhesive on the power generator prior to the lamination step, such that the width of the adhesive placed in the first region in the direction from the outside to the inside of the power generator is narrower than the width of the adhesive placed in the second region in the direction from the outside to the inside of the power generator.

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