Cutting apparatus and method of manufacturing MEA for fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11837765-B2
Application number	US-201916436217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2019
Priority date	Nov 13, 2018
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A cutting apparatus of membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell may include a cutting press including a cutting die disposed on a lower side of the feeding path and a driving cutter configured to be upwardly and downwardly movable on the cutting die at an upper side of the feeding path, and the cutting press disposed to a facility frame, a plurality of gripper modules disposed on the facility frame through a base member along a feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet, and gripping both side edges of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet and a gripper driving unit disposed in the facility frame and moving the base member in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet and along the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cutting apparatus of membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, which is configured for transferring a membrane electrode assembly sheet including an electrolyte membrane, electrode catalyst layers bonded to a first surface and a second surface of the electrolyte membrane and sub gaskets attached to the electrolyte membrane and edges of the electrode catalyst layers in a roll-to-roll manner along a feeding path and for cutting the membrane-electrode assembly sheet to produce a unit-type membrane-electrode assembly, the cutting apparatus comprising:
a cutting press including a cutting die disposed on a lower side of the feeding path and a driving cutter configured to be upwardly and downwardly movable on the cutting die at an upper side of the feeding path, and the cutting press disposed on a facility frame;
a plurality of gripper modules disposed on the facility frame through a base member along a feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet, and gripping first and second side edges of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet; and
a gripper driving unit disposed in the facility frame and moving the base member in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet and along the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet,
wherein each of the gripper modules includes:
a stationary gripper body fixedly mounted on the base member; and
an operating gripper body coupled to a first operating cylinder mounted on the base member and configured for selectively gripping the first and second edges of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet with the stationary gripper body,

wherein a gripping protrusion and a gripping groove for gripping predetermined portions of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet in a stepped manner are formed at the stationary gripper body and the operating gripper body respectively, and
wherein supporting protrusions for supporting the first and second side edges of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet are formed at the stationary gripper body and the operating gripper body respectively.

2. The cutting apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the stationary gripper body and the operating gripper body are formed in a shape of rectangular plate on a top view thereof and are disposed along the feeding direction.

3. The cutting apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the support protrusions are disposed at predetermined intervals in the feeding direction and formed to extend along a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the membrane electrode assembly sheet.

4. The cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gripper driving unit includes:
a motor fixedly mounted on a mounting bracket disposed along the feed direction in the facility frame;
a leadscrew connected to the motor;
a moving block which is engaged with the lead screw in the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet and is slidably coupled with the base member in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet;
a guide block fixedly mounted on the mounting bracket and slidably coupled with the moving block along the feeding direction of the membrane-electrode assembly sheet; and
a second operating cylinder fixed to the moving block via a fixed bracket, connected to the base member, and configured for applying a forward and backward actuating force to the base member in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction.

5. The cutting apparatus of claim 4 ,
wherein the base member is slidably coupled to the moving block through a guide rail in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp
• Kai Motors Corp

Inventors

• Hong Yoosuk
• Jeong Sung Hoon

Classifications

• H01M8/1004 Primary

  characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B26D5/007

  Control means comprising cameras, vision or image processing systems · CPC title

• B26F1/40 Primary

  using a press, e.g. of the ram type (presses in general B30B) · CPC title

• B26F1/44 Primary

  Cutters therefor; Dies therefor · CPC title

• B65H35/06

  from or with blade, e.g. shear-blade, cutters or perforators (from or with revolving blade B65H35/08) · CPC title