Patent Publication Number: US-2022234193-A1

Title: Handling device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/610,567 filed Nov. 4, 2019, which is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 filing of International Application No. PCT/FR2018/051111 filed May 3, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority to French Patent Application No. 1753910 filed May 3, 2017, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of fuel cell membrane/electrode assembling devices. 
     TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
     Proton exchange membrane fuel cells, known as PEMFCs, stand for “proton exchange membrane fuel cells” or “polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells” and have particularly interesting compactness properties. Each cell includes a polymer electrolyte membrane that enables only the passage of protons and not the passage of electrons. The membrane is contacted with an anode on a first side and with a cathode on a second side to form a membrane/electrode assembly called MEA. The anode and cathode all have the same constitution and are called electrodes, the anode or cathode function being linked to its mounting in the fuel cell. Thus, the anode of the MEA is the one that receives the hydrogen flow. An electrode is a membrane comprising a first layer and a second layer that are separate from each other. The first layer is a diffusion layer formed of a carbon fabric whereon the second catalytic layer comprising a binder incorporating a catalyst such as platinum is deposited. 
     The above assembly is generally carried out by successive superposition of the different membranes and electrodes with an interposition of reinforcing membranes to support the assembly. More specifically, each electrode is arranged so that the second layer or active layer is arranged opposite the polymer electrolyte membrane. Thus, it should be understood that an MEA has orthogonal symmetry with respect to a plane interposed between the electrode membranes. Therefore, this symmetry of the MEA could be easily achieved by predisposing a first electrode membrane with the diffusion layer facing downwards and a second electrode membrane with the diffusion layer facing upwards, which would enable a robot manipulator to automatically take and place an electrode membrane in a correct orientation and simply move it over the other membranes. 
     However, it should be understood that this requires a pre-orientation of the electrode membranes which must not suffer from any errors. Otherwise, it leads to an MEA with the diffusion layer being oriented towards the polymer electrolyte membrane, with such an MEA not being usable. In addition, the successive production of MEAs would require, for example, an alternating stacking of the electrode membranes as mentioned above, which is complicated. It should be noted that gripping the electrodes at the second layer is not desirable to avoid damaging the catalytic function of the second layer. 
     Thus, an obvious solution would be to stack the electrode membranes one on top of the other with the first layer facing upwards, to grip the electrodes by the diffusion layer and to use conveying means enabling to alternatively position an electrode membrane with its second layer facing upwards, during a first step of producing an MEA, and another electrode membrane with its second layer facing downwards and opposite a polymer electrolyte membrane which would be interposed between the two electrodes. However, the gripping of a membrane by the diffusion layer requires a mechanical bond on said layer, making it difficult to place the diffusion layer of the gripped electrode membrane onto a support, so that the second layer is oriented upwards and enables the polymer electrolyte membrane to be received. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention first of all relates to a fuel cell membrane handling device comprising a first membrane storage station and a receiving station as well as a first manipulator comprising means for gripping a membrane from a free side thereof, the first manipulator being articulated so as to be capable of moving between a position for gripping a membrane of the storage station and a position for placing a membrane on the receiving station, characterized in that the receiving station comprises a tray for receiving a membrane having at least one opening wherein the gripping means and a portion of the first manipulator are able to be fitted in a first position for placing a membrane wherein the membrane is received on the receiving tray. 
     According to the invention, the integration of an opening in the tray of a membrane receiving station enables a membrane to be moved from the storage station to a receiving placing position on the receiving tray without the gripping means and the arm hindering the positioning of the membrane on the receiving station. 
     According to another characteristic of the invention, the first manipulator is articulated so that it can take a second placing position wherein the gripping means are arranged above the receiving tray, a membrane being able to be received on the receiving tray. 
     In this configuration, the same manipulator can handle two separate membranes stored in the first storage station. 
     Advantageously, when the first storage station includes a preferably vertical stack of electrode membranes with all their diffusion layers facing upwards, the first manipulator can be articulated to be able to make a first displacement of an electrode membrane from the first storage station to a tray of the receiving station with a turning over of the electrode membrane and to be able to make a second displacement of another electrode membrane from the first storage station to the tray of the receiving station without turning over the electrode membrane. Thus, a membrane arranged substantially horizontally in the first storage magazine is moved and turned 180° and another membrane also arranged substantially horizontally in the first storage magazine is simply moved while maintaining the initial orientations of its respective faces with respect to the vertical. 
     Preferably, the opening of the tray is a substantially U-shaped notch. 
     According to another characteristic of the invention, the first manipulator comprises a connecting segment, one end of which carries the suction gripping means in rotation and the other end of which is articulated in rotation on a stationary frame. 
     According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the device includes a second membrane storage station and a second manipulator including means for gripping a membrane from the second storage station. The second manipulator may comprise a frame provided with a plurality of openings leading to a flat gripping face of the frame, these openings being connected to vacuum supply means. 
     It should be understood that the manipulators can be of the suction gripping type. 
     The invention will be better understood and other details, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear when reading the following description, which is given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a first electrode/polymer electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly intended to be carried out with an installation according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a second electrode/polymer electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly intended to be carried out with an installation according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective schematic view of the installation according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the installation according to the invention, 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the installation according to the invention 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic front view in perspective of several stations of the installation according to the invention, in particular one stacking station and two membrane storage stations arranged on either side of said stacking station; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are schematic perspective views similar to  FIG. 6  and along two different viewing angles; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic perspective view of the stacking station and the stack securing means; 
         FIG. 10  is an isolated schematic view in perspective of the securing means 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic perspective view of a first electrode membranes storage station; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic perspective view of a first manipulator of the electrode membranes; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic perspective view of the first station and a separator manipulator; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic perspective view of a second reinforcing membrane storage station; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic perspective view of a second reinforcing membrane manipulator; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic perspective view of a third manipulator mounted on a longitudinal travelling rail; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic perspective view of the third manipulator of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIGS. 18 to 21  represent the steps of making a first stack of membranes; 
         FIGS. 22 to 24  represent the steps of making a second stack of membranes; 
         FIG. 25  is an illustration of a method of stacking membranes to obtain the assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a schematic illustration of the contours of the elements in  FIG. 25 ; 
         FIG. 27  is an illustration of a method of stacking membranes to obtain the assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First of all, reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which represents a polymer electrolyte membrane/electrodes assembly  10  called MEA, intended to be obtained with the installation described in reference to  FIG. 3  and following, and comprising the successive elements from bottom to top:
         a first electrode  12  or lower electrode capable of forming an anode in a fuel cell,   a first membrane  14  or lower reinforcing membrane comprising an inner edge  14   b  defining an opening  14   a  closed at the bottom by the first electrode  12 , the outer edge  12   a  of the first electrode  12  being in contact with the inner edge  14   b  of the first reinforcing membrane  14 ,   a polymer electrolyte membrane  16  ensuring proton conduction,   a second membrane  18  or upper reinforcing membrane comprising an inner edge  18   b  defining an opening  18   a,      a second electrode  20  or upper electrode capable of forming a cathode in a fuel cell and at the top closing the opening  18   a  of the upper reinforcing membrane  18 , the outer edge  20   a  of the second electrode  20  being in contact with the inner edge  18   b  of the second reinforcing membrane  18 .       

     Each electrode membrane  12 ,  20  includes a first layer and a second layer separate from each other. The first layer is a diffusion layer formed of a carbon fabric whereon the second catalytic layer comprising a binder incorporating a catalyst such as platinum is deposited. In the arrangement shown, the second catalytic layer is arranged in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane  16 . 
     It should be understood that in  FIG. 1 , the different layers mentioned above are in contact with each other and that the gaps between said layers do not exist in a real assembly. Thus, the membrane/electrodes assembly is free of spaces or cavities inside it. In practice, the first electrode  12  and the second electrode  20  are each in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane  16 . As can be clearly seen in this figure, the polymer electrolyte membrane  16  has an outer edge  16   a  which is applied:
         at the top on the inner edge  14   b  of the first reinforcing membrane  14  so as to close its opening  14   a  at the top,   at the bottom on the inner edge  18   b  of the second reinforcing membrane  18  so as to close its opening  18   a  at the top.       

     Thus, the polymer electrolyte membrane  16  is completely fitted between the first  14  and second  18  reinforced membranes and thus insulates the polymer electrolyte membrane from the cooling liquid and pure gas passages. This type of assembly is known as “anti-wicking”. More precisely, the assembly presented in  FIG. 1  includes a closed contour peripheral cutout  22  forming an outer contour of the electrolyte membrane—electrodes—reinforcing membranes assembly  10 . The assembly  10  also includes holes  24  between said peripheral cutout  22  and the outer edge  16   a  of the polymer electrolyte membrane  16 , these holes  24  being intended for the passage of cooling liquid and pure gases (H 2  and O 2 ). In other words, these holes  24  are formed in a peripheral zone surrounding the polymer electrolyte membrane  16  and the first  12  and second  20  electrodes. 
       FIG. 2  shows a second assembly  11  that can be carried out with the installation described below. The stacking of the different membranes is identical to what has been described in reference to  FIG. 1 . However, the assembly shown in this figure does not perform an “anti-wicking” function, i.e. the polymer electrolyte membrane is not confined between the first  14  and second  18  reinforcing membranes as explained in reference to  FIG. 1 , but extends everywhere between the first reinforcing membrane  14  and the second reinforcing membrane  18 . In practice, only the polymer electrolyte membrane  16  differs from the assembly  10  described in reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3 to 8 , which represent an installation according to the invention, with  FIG. 8  being a graphical representation of the installation shown in  FIGS. 3 to 7 . The different units of the installation will now be described one after the other and positioned relative to each other in three perpendicular directions of the space perpendicular in pairs, namely two horizontal directions, one of which is a longitudinal direction L and the other a transverse direction T, and a vertical direction Z. 
     The installation  1  shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5  includes:
         a first station A 1  for storing electrode membranes  12 ,  20 ,   a second station A 2  for storing reinforcing membrane,   a third station A 3  for storing support membrane,   a fourth station A 4  for storing separator sheets inserted between two successive electrode membranes  12 ,  20  of the first station A 1  for storing electrode membranes  12 ,  20 ,   a fifth station A 5  for storing a final polymer electrolyte membrane—electrode membranes—reinforcing membranes assembly as described in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,   a sixth station A 6  for storing or recovering membrane waste,   a station C for stacking or station for receiving the membranes from the first A 1  and second A 2  storage stations,   a station P for pressing and heating a membrane assembly,   a station D for cutting an assembly  10 ,  11  as described in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,   means for conveying and handling the membranes from the first station A 1 , the second station A 2  and the third station A 3 , a stack from the stacking station C, an assembly from the pressing and heating station P and the cutting station D.       

     The conveying and handling means include a plurality of manipulators i.e. five in the embodiment shown in the figures. Each manipulator includes means for gripping and placing a membrane or a plurality of membranes integral with each other. 
     A first manipulator B 1  is configured to enable an electrode membrane to move from the first storage station A 1  to the stacking station C. A second manipulator B 2  is configured to enable a reinforcing membrane  14 ,  18  to move from the second storage station A 2  to the stacking station C. A third manipulator B 3  is configured to enable a support membrane to move from the third storage station A 3  to the pressing and heating station P. A fourth manipulator B 4  is configured to enable a separator sheet to move from the first storage station A 1  to the fourth separator sheets storage station. A fifth manipulator B 5  is configured to enable a final assembly to move from the cutting station D to the fifth assemblies  10 ,  11  storage station A 5  and the membrane waste to move from the cutting station D to the sixth storage station A 6 . 
     The installation  1  also includes means for securing E a stack at the stacking station C. 
     The pressing and heating station P consists of two presses P 1 , P 2  arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction. The presses P 1  and P 2  each comprise a piston P 1a , P 2a  arranged to move in a vertical direction opposite a press support P 1b , P 2b , the pistons and press support being carried by a press frame P 1c , P 2c . The first press P 1  provides controlled pressing, heating and cooling of the lower electrode—polymer electrolyte membrane—upper electrode stacking zone Z 1 , this zone Z 1  being shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This zone Z 1  includes all the electrodes and preferably only these. The second press P 2  provides controlled pressing, heating and cooling of a membrane stacking zone Z 2  which is annular and surrounds the electrodes. This zone Z 2  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This zone Z 1  includes all the electrodes and preferably only these. 
     The frame P 1c  of the press P 1  carries means for securing the membranes, in this case including heating punches P 1d  intended to be applied to the membranes. 
     As can be clearly seen in the figures, the stacking station C is arranged longitudinally between the first storage station A 1  and the second storage station A 2 . The pressing and heating station P is arranged here in the transverse direction T between the stacking station C and a longitudinal rail  33  enabling the longitudinal displacement of the third manipulator B 3 . The interest of this arrangement in relation to a support P 1b  of the press P 1  which is accessible both ways of the transverse direction in order to enable the supply of a set of membranes from the stacking station C in a first direction of the transverse direction T on the support P 1b  of the press P 1  and a support membrane by the manipulator B 3 , at the end of the displacement, in the other way of the transverse direction T, thus enabling to have an installation  1  with reduced dimensions, will be understood later. 
     The pressing and heating station P is arranged longitudinally between the cutting station D and the third storage station A 3 , the latter being arranged transversely opposite the second storage station A 2 . Also, the stacking station C is longitudinally interposed between the first storage station A 1  and the second storage station A 2 . 
     The station E for cutting an assembly  10 ,  11  as described in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , may include laser means confined inside a hood for extracting the fumes generated through the peripheral cutting  22  and the holes  24 . 
       FIGS. 6 to 8  are now referred to, which represent a schematic view in perspective of the stacking station C, the first storage station A 1 , the second storage station A 2  and the fourth storage station A 4 . The stacking station C comprises a tray C 1  comprising an opening C 2  more precisely in the form of a U-shaped notch the function of which will clearly appear later in the description made in relation to  FIGS. 21 to 24  showing the embodiment of a first stacking according to the invention. In these  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the first manipulator B 1 , the second manipulator B 2  and the fourth manipulator B 4  are clearly visible. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show, separately, the stacking station C comprising the stacking tray C 1  and the securing means E. The tray C 1  and said securing means E are carried by a stationary frame  30 . The securing means E include heating punches E 1 , for example four, enabling the welding of the membranes stacked on the stacking station C, such securing means E are carried by a base  32  secured to a slide  34  which can move in translation with respect to the support frame  30  with respect to the stacking tray C 1 . To achieve the securing, the heating punches E 1  are moved until they come into contact with the stack of membranes positioned on the stacking station C. It should be understood that the punches E 1  support and heat the stack on the tray C 1 . Securing is carried out between a reinforcing membrane  14 ,  18  and an electrode membrane  12 ,  20 . In practice, this is done on the immediate periphery of the opening  14   a ,  18   a  with a reinforcing membrane  14 ,  18 , preferably at the four corners of the opening  14   a ,  18   a  which has a rectangular shape. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  represent the first electrode membranes  12 ,  20  storage station A 1  and the first electrode membranes  12 ,  20  manipulator B 1 . The first storage station A 1  includes an electrode membranes  12 ,  20  stack storage magazine  36  comprising a tray  38  intended to receive a stack of electrode membranes  12 ,  20 . The edge of the tray  38  is equipped with means for positioning the electrode membranes  40  in a predetermined position. These positioning means  40  are formed by edges positioned in the format of electrodes  12 ,  20 . The electrode  12 ,  20  storage magazine  36  is guided to move in a given vertical direction Z on a stationary frame  42  carrying damping and return means  44  of the magazine in a predetermined position in the absence of a bearing force exerted on the magazine in said direction by the first manipulator B 1 . For this purpose, a vertical connecting rod  46  rigidly connects the tray  38  of the magazine  36  at its upper end and is rotatingly hinged at its lower end to a first end  48  of a lever  50  an opposite second end  52  of which carries a counterweight  54 . The first end  48  and the second end  52  of the lever  50  are separated by a pivot  55  integral with a stationary tray  42 . As can be seen in  FIG. 14 , the connecting rod  46  passes through the stationary tray  36  and is guided with a vertical translation through an opening in it. Thus, the stationary tray  42  is inserted between the magazine  36  and the lever  50 . 
     Preferably, the magazine  36  is also connected to the stationary tray  42  by additional vertical translation guide means  56  of the magazine to compensate for vertical translation guide errors resulting from the sliding of the rod  46  into the opening of the stationary tray  42 . 
     The first manipulator arm B 1  advantageously comprises a first rotating joint  58  and a second rotating joint  60  connected to each other by a connecting segment  62 . The two joints  58 ,  60  are here articulated and rotated along axes parallel to each other and extending in a transverse direction T. The first joint  58  is mounted on the frame  64  of the installation and on a first end of the segment  62  so as to articulate these relatively to each other about a first axis of rotation. The second joint  58  is mounted on the second end of the segment and on one end of a support  66  elongated in a direction parallel to the axes of rotation and carrying means for gripping and placing a membrane. These gripping and placing means  68  include suction gripping means which, in the case of the first station, advantageously include suction cups aligned in a transverse direction T and connected to vacuum supply means. 
     In operation, the first manipulator B 1  is capable of moving between a position in which an electrode membrane  12 ,  20  is taken from the electrode magazine  36  and a position in which an electrode membrane  12 ,  20  is placed on the tray of the stacking station C. Advantageously, a placing position corresponds to a position in which the electrode membrane  12 ,  20  is arranged in contact with the tray C 1  or another membrane as it will appear later, the gripping means  68  being maintained in the active state to ensure that the electrode is maintained. In practice, the first manipulator B 1  includes a first placing position and a second placing position for an electrode membrane  12 ,  20  on the tray C 1  of the stacking station C. In the second placing position, the first manipulator B 1  moves an electrode membrane  12  from the first storage station A 1  to the tray C 1  of the stacking station C without turning over the electrode membrane  12 . In the first placing position, the first manipulator B 1  causes a second displacement of an electrode membrane  20  from the first storage station A 1  to the tray C 1  of the stacking station C with the turning over of the electrode membrane  20 . In this first position, the elongated suction cup support  66  is fitted in the notch C 2  of the stacking tray C 1  as shown in  FIG. 22  and as this will become clearer in relation to the description of the operation of the installation performed with reference to  FIGS. 21 to 27 . Also, this type of movement of the first manipulator B 1  enables a simple stacking of the electrode membranes  12 ,  20  in the same way in the first storage station A 1 , with their first sides facing upwards so that it can be used as a gripping face while enabling an orientation of the second side carrying the catalyst downwards or upwards at the stacking station. 
       FIG. 13  shows the fourth manipulator  134  comprising a segment  70  carrying at one end means  72  for gripping and placing a separator sheet, these means also comprising suction cups  72  connected to vacuum supply means. The segment  70  of the fourth manipulator  134  is rotatingly articulated at its end opposite the suction cups  72  on a support  74  that can be moved vertically in relation to the frame  76  of the installation. The fourth manipulator B 4  thus enables in operation a gripping of a separator sheet and its supply to the fourth storage station Aa of separator membranes. 
       FIG. 14  represents the second reinforcing membranes  14 ,  18  storage station A 2  which is very similar to the first storage station A 1  described in reference to  FIG. 11 . It will not be described again. The second manipulator B 2 , visible in  FIG. 15 , also includes two rotating joints  58 ,  60  with axes parallel to each other. Unlike the first manipulator B 1 , the second manipulator B 2  includes a translational displacement  78  means such as a rail sliding in the transverse direction. Also, the second rotating joint  60  carries gripping and placing means comprising suction gripping means which are, in this case, formed by a rigid frame  80  having a flat gripping face having a plurality of perforations connected to vacuum supply means. Unlike the first manipulator B 1 , the second manipulator B 2  is configured to perform a displacement movement of a membrane or a set of several membranes secured to each other from the second station A 2  to the tray C 1  of the stacking station C without turning over the membrane or said set of membranes. 
       FIGS. 16 and 17  show the third manipulator B 3  comprising a transverse translation rail  82  mounted on the longitudinal rail  33 . The transverse rail  82  carrying a vertical rail  84  secured to a support  85  extending in the transverse direction. In this way, the third arm B 3  can move in the three longitudinal X, transverse T and vertical Z directions of the space. The support  85  of the third arm B 3  carries magnetic gripping and placing means  86  including electromagnets activated by installation control means. These gripping and placing means are capable of gripping a metal frame from the third storage station A 3  and bringing it under the first press P 1 . 
     The fifth manipulator B 5  is shown in  FIG. 5  and includes gripping and placing means including suction gripping means and magnetic gripping means enabling the displacement of a metal frame, in order to enable the storage of the polymer electrolyte membrane—electrode assemblies at the fifth storage station and of the metal frames at the sixth station. 
     The installation  1  according to the invention can advantageously be used so as to enable the production of an assembly  10  according to  FIG. 1  or an assembly  11  according to  FIG. 2 , depending on the mode of supply of the second and third stations as has been described. 
     In order to obtain the assembly  10  described in reference to  FIG. 1 , the first storage station, the second storage station and the third storage station shall be supplied as follows:
         the first storage station A 1  comprises a stacking in a vertical direction of electrode membranes  12 ,  20  the first diffusion layer of which is arranged upwards,   the second storage station A 2  comprises an alternation of first reinforcing membranes  14  comprising an opening  14   a  and second reinforcing membranes  18  comprising an opening  18   a , each second reinforcing membrane  18  being secured to a polymer electrolyte membrane  16  which closes its opening and which is arranged opposite a first reinforcing membrane  12 , the polymer electrolyte membrane  16  being sized so that its outer edge  16   a  is inscribed between the inner edges  14   b ,  18   b  and the outer edges of the first  14  and second  18  reinforcing membranes,   the third storage station A 3  comprises support membranes  26  comprising an outer edge  26   a  and an inner edge  26   b  delimiting an opening  26   c  of the membrane  26 , this opening  26   c  being sized so that the polymer electrolyte membrane  16  can fit into said opening  26   c  and that the first reinforcing membrane  14  and the second reinforcing membrane  18  can cover the entire inner edge  26   b  of the support membrane  26  ( FIGS. 25 and 26 ), each support membrane  26  being able to be clamped by its outer edge  26   a  between two metallic portions  28   a ,  28   b  forming a frame  28  for holding the support membrane  26  and enabling the handling thereof by the magnetic gripping means  86  of the third manipulator B 3 , at least one of the portions  28   a ,  28   b  being metallic, the two portions  28   a ,  28   b  being possibly metallic.       

     As shown in  FIGS. 18 to 24 , the first manipulator B 1  is operated so as to grip a first electrode  12  by its diffusion layer and then position the first manipulator arm B 1  in its first placing position on the stacking station C, with the second layer of the first electrode  12  facing upwards. In a second step, the second manipulator B 2  moves a first reinforcing membrane  14  alone from the second storage station A 2  to the stacking station C so that the opening  14   a  of the first reinforcing membrane  14  is closed at the bottom thereof by the first electrode  12 . In a third step, the first electrode membrane  12  and the first reinforcing membrane  14  are secured together using the securing means E arranged at the stacking station C. It should be noted that the suction gripping means of the first arm B 1  and the second manipulator B 2  are kept active during the securing stage so that each membrane is secured to its manipulator. In a fourth step, the assembly thus formed is moved from the stacking station C to the press support P 1b  using the second manipulator B 2 , the suction gripping means of the first manipulator B 1  being rendered inactive whereas the suction gripping means of the second manipulator B 2  are kept in the active state so as to enable the displacement of the two membrane assembly. In a fifth step, a support membrane  26  enclosed in a metal frame  28  is brought, by means of the third manipulator B 3 , onto the assembly formed by the first electrode  12  and the first reinforcing membrane  14 , the inner edge  26   b  of the support membrane  26  being applied to the outer edge  14   c  of the first reinforcing membrane  14 . In a sixth step, a sample is taken using the second manipulator B 2  from an assembly of a second reinforcing membrane  18  and a polymer electrolyte membrane  16 , these membranes  16 ,  18  having previously been secured to each other. This assembly is moved on the tray C 1  of the stacking station C in a seventh step and a second electrode  20  is brought, in an eighth step, from the first storage station A 1  to the stacking station C using the first manipulator B 1  so that it closes the opening  18   a  of the second reinforcement  18  at the top, the first manipulator B 1  being in its second placing position. It should be noted that the suction gripping means of the first arm B 1  and the second manipulator B 2  are kept active during the securing stage. In a ninth step, the second electrode membrane  20  and the second reinforcing membrane  18  are secured together using the securing means E arranged at the stacking station C. In a tenth step, the assembly thus formed is moved from the stacking station to under the press P 1  so that the outer edge of the second reinforcing membrane  18  covers the entire inner edge of the support membrane. This step is carried out using the second manipulator B 2 , the suction gripping means of the first manipulator B 1  being rendered inactive whereas the suction gripping means of the second manipulator B 2  are kept in the active state in order to enable the displacement of all the membranes. The set thus formed is shown in  FIGS. 25 and 26 . In an eleventh step, a controlled pressing, heating and cooling operation is carried out in zone Z 1  (shown in dotted hatches in  FIG. 26 ) to secure the electrode membranes  23 ,  20  with the reinforcing membranes  14 ,  18  and avoid any relative movement of the membranes with respect to each other. The eleventh step of compressing and heating the electrodes can be followed by a step of securing the reinforcing membranes  14 ,  18  by the heating punches P 1d  for example in a plurality, for example four, of locations  88  located at the periphery of the reinforcing membranes  14 ,  18  ( FIGS. 25 and 26 ). This step can also be initiated at the end of the compression and heating cycle and ended simultaneously or after it. In other words, the step of securing by heating punches P 1d  precedes the step of heating and compressing the annular zone Z 2 . This securing step prevents the lower reinforcing membrane  14  from buckling and folding back into itself, leading to the formation of a double thickness of the reinforcing membrane  14  inducing the assembly  10  to be discarded for non-conformity. In a twelfth step, the third manipulator B 3  moves the assembly  10  onto the support P 2 b of the press P 2  and a controlled pressing, heating and cooling operation is carried out in zone Z 2  (shown in solid line hatching in  FIG. 26 ) In a thirteenth step, the assembly is moved to the cutting station to make the peripheral edge  22  and holes  24  and then a collection of the assemblies  10  at the fifth station A 5  and the metal frames  28  as well as the remains of membranes at the sixth station A 6  is carried out. 
     It should be noted that it is possible to obtain the above-mentioned assembly with the polymer electrolyte membrane being secured to the first reinforcing membrane. In this case, it must be ensured that the first reinforcing membrane  14  and the first electrode  12  are secured before being placed on the support P 1b  of the press P 1  by contacting the heating punches E 1  with the electrode  12  directly and not with the polymer electrolyte membrane  16  to avoid any thermal damage of the latter. 
     In order to obtain the assembly  11  described in reference to  FIG. 2 , the first storage station, the second storage station and the third storage station shall be supplied as follows:
         the first storage station A 1  comprises a stacking in a vertical direction of electrode membranes  12 ,  20  with a diffusion layer being arranged upwards,   the second storage station A 2  comprises a plurality of reinforcing membranes  14 ,  18  each comprising one opening,   the third storage station A 3  comprises a stack of support membranes  12  each formed by a polymer electrolyte membrane  16  the outer edge  16   a  of which is clamped between two portions  19   a ,  29   b  of a metal frame ( FIG. 27 ) forming a frame for holding the polymer electrolyte membrane  16  and enabling the manipulation thereof by the magnetic gripping means  86  of the third manipulator B 3 .       

     The same steps one to fourteen as those described above are performed, with the polymer electrolyte membrane  16  only being used as the support membrane. 
     It should be noted that using an elongated support  66  for the first arm makes it possible to limit the size of the U-shaped notch C 2  on the tray C 1 . 
     In order to optimize the speed of execution of an MEA assembly, the installation includes means for controlling the conveying and handling means, these control means being configured so that the departure of a stack from the stacking station C to the pressing and heating station P is followed by a new stacking step on the stacking station C.