Patent ID: 6740131
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for automatically converting a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly, a first side of the membrane web coated with an anode catalyst and a second side of the membrane web coated with a cathode catalyst, a web handling module presenting an end portion of the membrane web, the apparatus comprising:a staging station comprising a first vacuum and a gap detector, the gap detector detecting a gap between catalyst patterns of the membrane web, the staging station receiving the end portion of the membrane web; a positioning station comprising a positioning table and a second vacuum, the positioning table controllable to move axially and rotationally; a cutter; a vision system provided at the positioning station, the vision system detecting an orientation of a membrane sheet cut from the membrane web; a robot comprising a vacuum chuck, the robot moveable between at least the staging station and the positioning station; and a controller, the controller programmed to cause the robot to transport, with use of a vacuum at the vacuum chuck, the end portion of the membrane web from the staging station to the positioning table, to selectively actuate and deactivate the first and second vacuums and the vacuum chuck vacuum when causing the cutter to cut the membrane web within the gap between catalyst patterns, and to control movement of the positioning table so that the membrane sheet is moved to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.