Film member stacking device and method of the same

{
  "publication_number": "US10297840B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Film member stacking device and method of the same",
  "abstract": "A film member stacking device includes a block having a bottom surface portion provided with an outer end configured to contact with an inner end of an opening of a first film member. The outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block is larger than the inner end of the opening of the first film member. The film member stacking device further includes a member configured to uniformly force the first film member in a direction of the bottom surface portion of the block. The inner end of the opening of the first film member is positioned by the block, and the first film member is stacked on a second film member. The block is configured to resist deformation upon contact between the outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block and the inner end of the opening of the first film member.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A film member stacking device, comprising: a block having a bottom surface portion, an upper surface portion which is smaller than the bottom surface portion, and a slope portion which connects the bottom surface portion and the upper surface portion, the slope portion being fixed in position relative to the upper surface portion of the block, the bottom surface portion provided with an outer end configured to contact with an inner end of an opening of a first film member, wherein the outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block is larger than the inner end of the opening of the first film member, and a member configured to move along the slope portion of the block and uniformly force the first film member in a direction of the bottom surface portion of the block, wherein the inner end of the opening of the first film member is positioned by the block, and the first film member is stacked on a second film member, and wherein the block is configured to resist deformation upon contact between the outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block and the inner end of the opening of the first film member.",
    "2. The film member stacking device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first plate on which the block is placed and which is configured to hold the first film member, the first film member being positioned such that the inner end of the opening of the first film member contacts with the outer end of the block; a second plate configured to position the second film member at a predetermined position and to hold the second film member; and a plate position adjusting unit that is configured to position the first plate and the second plate such that the opening of the first film member is at a predetermined position on the second film member in a state where the block is removed from the first plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate are separate from the member, which is configured to move along an inclined outer surface of the slope portion.",
    "3. The film member stacking device according to claim 2, wherein the plate position adjusting unit is configured to position at least two adjacent sides of an outer end of the first plate and at least two adjacent sides of an outer end of the second plate at the same position as each other.",
    "4. The film member stacking device according to claim 1, further comprising a plate that holds the second film member, wherein the block is placed at a predetermined position on the second film member, and the first film member is positioned by making the inner end of the opening contact with the outer end of the block and stacked on the second film member.",
    "5. The film member stacking device according to claim 4, wherein the second film member has a film-like first member and a second member which is formed on the first member and has light transmittance which is different from that of the first member, and the device further comprises a detection unit that detects an end portion of the second member on the first member, and the block is placed on the second film member at a position, which is separated from the end portion detected by the detection unit by a predetermined amount, as the predetermined position.",
    "6. The film member stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the first film member is a rectangle or a square, and the block has four sides which form the outer end and are configured to contact with each side of the rectangle or the square.",
    "7. The film member stacking device according to claim 2, wherein the first film member is a gasket configured to be provided in a fuel cell, and the second film member is a member in the fuel cell and has a catalyst layer formed on a base material, and the predetermined position on the second film member is a position at which the inner end of the opening of the gasket is located on an outer side with respect to an outer end of the catalyst layer.",
    "8. The film member stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the member comprises foamed urethane.",
    "9. The film member stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the member is formed as a squeegee.",
    "10. The film member stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the block is configured to withstand stress generated when the outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block contacts the inner end of the opening of the first film member.",
    "11. The film member stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the block comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of metal, hard plastic, and ceramic.",
    "12. A film member stacking device, comprising: a block having a bottom surface portion, the bottom surface portion provided with an outer end configured to contact with an inner end of an opening of a first film member, wherein the outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block is larger than the inner end of the opening of the first film member, and a slope portion which connects the bottom surface portion and an upper surface portion of the block, the slope portion being fixed in position relative to the upper surface portion, a first plate on which the block is placed and which is configured to hold the first film member, a second plate configured to position a second film member at a predetermined position and to hold the second film member, a member configured to move along the slope portion and which is separate from the first plate and the second plate and configured to uniformly force the first film member in a direction of the bottom surface portion of the block, and a groove or a rail which is provided such that the member moves along the groove or the rail, wherein the inner end of the opening of the first film member is positioned by the block, and the first film member is stacked on the second film member, and wherein the block is configured to resist deformation upon contact between the outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block and the inner end of the opening of the first film member.",
    "13. The film member stacking device according to claim 1, wherein: the slope portion comprises four sloped surfaces; each of the four sloped surfaces extends from a vertical surface portion, which is provided on the bottom surface portion, to a lowermost part of the upper surface portion; and the member is configured to contact a plurality of the four sloped surfaces."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a film member stacking device and a method of the same.\n\nIn recent years, a fuel cell, which operates even at room temperature and can have high power density, has been attracting attention as a power source for electric vehicles and as a stationary power source in response to social needs or trends based on energy or environmental problems. In principle, a product of a fuel cell due to an electrode reaction is water and the fuel cell is a clean power generation system having little impact on the global environment. Particularly, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) operates at a comparatively low temperature, and therefore, is anticipated as a power source for an electric vehicle.\n\nSuch a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (hereinafter, referred to as MEA) having an electrolyte membrane; a catalyst layer which is formed on both surfaces of the membrane; a gas diffusion layer (GDL); and the like. Moreover, the fuel cell is structured such that a plurality of MEAs are stacked through a separator.\n\nThe MEAs and the separators are alternately stacked and are further stacked together with a current collector plate that collects generated power; an insulating plate that insulates an end plate and the current collector plate; and the like.\n\nA hole, through which fuel gas having hydrogen, air as oxidant gas, or the like is passed, is provided in each of these members. An O-ring, a gasket, or the like is disposed between each of the members to prevent leakage of these fluids.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01M 8/0286",
    "B32B 2037/109",
    "B32B 2309/105",
    "B32B 2457/18",
    "B32B 38/1841",
    "B65G 53/00",
    "H01M 2008/1095",
    "H01M 2250/20",
    "H01M 8/0273",
    "H01M 8/242",
    "Y02E 60/50"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B32B 37/10",
    "B32B 38/18",
    "B65G 53/00",
    "H01M 8/02",
    "H01M 8/0273",
    "H01M 8/0286",
    "H01M 8/1018",
    "H01M 8/242"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Nissan Motor Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kei Ono",
    "Masaya Yamamoto",
    "Norifumi Horibe",
    "Kenichi Toyoshima",
    "Takayuki TERASAKI"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-06-20",
  "publication_date": "2019-05-21",
  "grant_date": "2019-05-21",
  "priority_date": "2012-07-30",
  "application_number": "US-201314418016-A",
  "family_id": "50027706",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US3709843A",
    "JP3009898U",
    "JPH10199551A",
    "DE19715779A1",
    "JPH1177723A",
    "JP2001351651A",
    "WO2002034515A1",
    "US20040055701A1",
    "JP2003086232A",
    "WO2010114140A1"
  ]
}