Method and device for producing a fuel cell stack by conveying fuel cell layers along belts via overhangs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12531259-B2
Application number	US-202118004428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2021
Priority date	Oct 28, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

A method for producing a fuel cell stack includes: providing and individual handover of a plurality of first layers of the fuel cell stack, provided with overhangs, to a first conveyor belt pair which is motor driven and revolves around a first end, the two individual revolving conveyor belts of which run spaced apart so that they respectively receive one of the overhangs of the first layer, providing and individual handover of a plurality of second layers of the fuel cell stack, provided with overhangs, to a second conveyor belt pair which is motor driven and revolves around a second end, the two individual revolving conveyor belts of which run spaced apart so that they respectively receive one of the overhangs of the second layer, and handover of the first layers provided with overhangs at the first end of the first conveyor belt pair to a region of the conveyor belts of the second conveyor belt pair lying between two second layers transported by the second conveyor belt pair. A device for carrying out the method is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method for producing a fuel cell stack, comprising:
carrying out individual handover of a plurality of first layers of the fuel cell stack to a first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts that are motor driven and revolve around a first end, wherein each of the plurality of first layers are provided with an opposing pair of overhangs that extend outwardly from opposing lateral sides of the first layer, and wherein the first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts run spaced apart so that each of the first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts respectively receives one of the opposing pair of overhangs of each first layer of the fuel cell stack; carrying out individual handover of a plurality of second layers of the fuel cell stack to a second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts that are motor driven and revolve around a second end, wherein each of the plurality of second layers are provided with an opposing pair of overhangs that extend outwardly from opposing lateral sides of the second layer, and wherein the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts run spaced apart so that each of the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts respectively receive one of the opposing pair of overhangs of each second layer of the fuel cell stack; and carrying out handover of the plurality of first layers at the first end of the first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts to a region of the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts to position each of the plurality of first layers between a respective pair of the second layers that are transported by the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts are led through openings of a ramp punch, and the plurality of first layers and the plurality of second layers of the fuel cell stack are stacked alternately on the ramp punch.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein a unipolar plate is first placed on the ramp punch, and then the plurality of first layers and the plurality of second layers of the fuel cell stack are stacked alternately on the unipolar plate held on the ramp punch.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts and each of the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts comprise equidistantly arranged structures by which the plurality of first layers and the plurality of second layers are received.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of the first layers and/or the plurality of the second layers are provided lying flat with the overhangs thereof extending outwardly relative to a direction of movement, and each one of the first pair and/or second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts is moved laterally with respect to the direction of movement so that the equidistantly arranged structures receive and transport the plurality of first layers and/or the plurality of second layers at their overhangs.

6 . A device for producing a fuel cell stack, comprising:
a first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts that are motor driven and revolve around a first end, each of the first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts of which run spaced apart so that a plurality of first layers of the fuel cell stack can be transported between the first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts at discrete intervals, wherein each of the plurality of first layers include an opposing pair of overhangs that extend outwardly from opposing lateral sides of the first layer; a second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts that are motor driven and revolve around a second end, each of the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts of which run spaced apart so that a plurality of second layers of the fuel cell stack can be transported between the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts at discrete intervals, wherein each of the plurality of second layers include an opposing pair of overhangs that extend outwardly from opposing lateral sides of the second layer; wherein the first end of the first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts is positioned with respect to the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts such that the plurality of first layers are handed over to a region of the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts to position each of the plurality of first layers between a respective pair of the plurality of second layers that are transported by the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts.

7 . The device according to claim 6 , wherein each of the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts is led through openings of a ramp punch, which is adapted to alternately stack the plurality of first layers and the plurality of second layers of the fuel cell stack.

8 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein the ramp punch is adapted to hold a unipolar plate, on which the plurality of first layers and the plurality of second layers of the fuel cell stack are stacked alternately.

9 . The device according to claim 6 , wherein each of the first pair of individual revolving conveyor belts and each of the second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts comprise equidistantly arranged structures, which are adapted to carry along and/or receive the plurality of first layers and/or the plurality of second layers.

10 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first layers and/or the plurality of second layers are provided lying flat with the overhangs thereof extending outwardly relative to a direction of movement, and each one of the first pair and/or second pair of individual revolving conveyor belts is moved laterally with respect to the direction of movement so that the equidistantly arranged structures receive and transport the plurality of first layers and/or the plurality of second layers at their overhangs.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Beck Wolfgang

Classifications

• B65G57/32

  characterised by stacking during transit · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/2404 Primary

  Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells · CPC title