PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR GAS-DIFFUSION LAYER SHEETS

• US 20200136149A1
• Filed: 09/13/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sugano, Tetsuya, Oyama, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 11,094,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1412 Infrared [IR] radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4835 Heat curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/50 using adhesive tape , e.g. thermoplastic tape; using threads or the like B29C65/3444 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7841 Holding or clamping means for handling purposes clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/343 Making tension-free or wrinkle-free joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/43 Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles B29C66/45 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/727 being porous, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7444 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7486 Paper, e.g. cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2079/08 PI, i.e. polyimides or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8807 Gas diffusion layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8817 Treatment of supports before application of the catalytic active composition coated porous composites H01M8/0245
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8882 Heat treatment, e.g. drying, baking
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8896 Pressing, rolling, calendering membrane electrode assemblies H01M8/1004
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0232 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0234 Carbonaceous material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0239 Organic resins; Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0241 : Composites
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0245 : in the form of layered or coated products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1004 : characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells

Abstract

The processing apparatus includes: a first roller 10 around which a gas-diffusion layer sheet (carbon paper CP) is wound, the gas-diffusion layer sheet being an electrically conductive porous member; a second roller 20 configured to take up the carbon paper CP wound around the first roller 10; and a processing oven configured to heat process a portion of the carbon paper CP, the portion having been fed from the first roller 10 but not yet taken up by the second roller 20. A heat-resistant lead LE is provided, the heat-resistant lead LE having a length at least extending from the first roller 10 to the second roller 20 through the processing oven, being configured to be taken up by the second roller 20, and being bonded to the carbon paper CP impregnated with a thermosetting resin AD.

Claims

1. A processing apparatus for gas-diffusion layer sheets, the processing apparatus comprising:

a first roller around which a gas-diffusion layer sheet is wound, the gas-diffusion layer sheet being an electrically conductive porous member;

a second roller configured to take up the gas-diffusion layer sheet wound around the first roller; and

a processing oven configured to heat process a portion of the gas-diffusion layer sheet, the portion having been fed from the first roller but not yet taken up by the second roller, wherein

a heat-resistant lead is provided, the heat-resistant lead having a length at least extending to the second roller through the processing oven, being configured to be taken up by the second roller, and

being bonded to the gas-diffusion layer sheet impregnated with a thermosetting resin.

2. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the heat-resistant lead has, in a portion thereof, an anti-wrinkle part for substantially eliminating wrinkles that have formed in the gas-diffusion layer sheet, the portion with the anti-wrinkle part being adjacent to another portion, of the heat-resistant lead, to which the gas-diffusion layer sheet is bonded.

3. The processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the anti-wrinkle part is comprised of a cut formed in the portion of the heat-resistant lead.

4. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the thermosetting resin is applied to a longitudinal end portion of the heat-resistant lead such that the applied thermosetting resin is in a shape of a single continuous line extending in a width direction of the heat-resistant lead, from a vicinity of one end to a vicinity of an other end in the width direction of the heat-resistant lead, thereby bonding the heat-resistant lead to the gas-diffusion layer sheet.

5. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a longitudinal end portion of the gas-diffusion layer sheet is impregnated with the thermosetting resin, and the thermosetting resin is heated and cured in a state where the gas-diffusion layer sheet is positioned on top of the heat-resistant lead, thereby bonding the gas-diffusion layer sheet and the heat-resistant lead to each other.