# US 11,444,358 B2 · Manufacturing method for fuel cell separators and manufacturing apparatus for fuel cell separators

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- Number: US 11,444,358 B2
- Document ID: US11444358B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/213,249
- Filed: 2021-03-26
- Published: 2021-09-30
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-31
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuichi Hori; Tomotsugu Takahashi; Kei Matsumoto; Seitaro Nakamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444358B2

## CPC

- H01M 50/406: Moulding; Embossing; Cutting
- H01M 8/0254: corrugated or undulated
- H01M 8/0206: Metals or alloys
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A manufacturing method for fuel cell separators by way of a progressive pressing method which molds a plurality of separator shaped parts in an elongated metal plate, the method having: a pressing step of forming a separator shaped part in an elongated metal plate by way of pressing; a trimming step of cutting loose the separator shaped part from the elongated metal plate by punching an outer peripheral part of the separator shaped part formed in the elongated metal plate in the same pressing direction as the pressing step; a lifting step of lifting up the elongated metal plate from which the separator shaped part was cut loose; and a separator shaped part conveying step of conveying the separator shaped part which was cut loose to a downstream side in the conveying direction, in the midst of the elongated metal plate being lifted up in the lifting step.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A manufacturing method for fuel cell separators by a progressive pressing method which molds a plurality of separator shaped parts in an elongated metal plate, the manufacturing method comprising:
a pressing step of forming a separator shaped part by pressing in the elongated metal plate;
a trimming step of cutting loose the separator shaped part from the elongated metal plate, by punching an outer peripheral part of the separator shaped part formed in the elongated metal plate, in a pressing direction which is the same as the pressing step;
a lifting step of lifting up the elongated metal plate from which the separator shaped part was cut loose; and
a separator shaped part conveying step of conveying the separator shaped part that was cut loose to a downstream side in a conveying direction, while the elongated metal plate being lifted up in the lifting step.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The manufacturing method for fuel cell separators according to claim 1, wherein the separator shaped part has a hole part, and the hole part and outer peripheral part of the separator shaped part are punched in the same punching direction in the pressing step and the trimming step.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The manufacturing method for fuel cell separators according to claim 1, wherein the separator shaped part has a convex part which is molded so that an upper side becomes a convex shape in the pressing step.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The manufacturing method for fuel cell separators according to claim 2, wherein the separator shaped part has a convex part which is molded so that an upper side becomes a convex shape in the pressing step.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The manufacturing method for fuel cell separators according to claim 1,
wherein the lifting step lifts up the elongated metal plate which was cut loose, using a hook part provided to an upper mold used in order to cut loose the separator shaped part in the trimming step.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The manufacturing method for fuel cell separators according to claim 2,
wherein the lifting step lifts up the elongated metal plate which was cut loose, using a hook part provided to an upper mold used in order to cut loose the separator shaped part in the trimming step.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The manufacturing method for fuel cell separators according to claim 3,
wherein the lifting step lifts up the elongated metal plate which was cut loose, using a hook part provided to an upper mold used in order to cut loose the separator shaped part in the trimming step.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The manufacturing method for fuel cell separators according to claim 4,
wherein the lifting step lifts up the elongated metal plate which was cut loose, using a hook part provided to an upper mold used in order to cut loose the separator shaped part in the trimming step.