Separator machining apparatus and separator machining method

A separator machining apparatus for hot-press-molding of a sheet material containing a conductive material and a resin material to form a shape of a separator for a fuel cell, the separator machining apparatus including:

• an apparatus body adapted to perform hot-press-molding of the sheet material to form a molded body in a shape in which a plurality of separators is arranged on a plane;
• and
• a setting jig adapted to set the sheet material on the apparatus body,
• wherein:
• the apparatus body includes:
• an upper die and a lower die adapted to sandwich the sheet material therebetween to perform hot-press-molding to form the molded body;
• a support member adapted to support the setting jig at a position where a molding region of the sheet material is disposed between the upper die and the lower die;
• and
• a first elastic spring adapted to urge the support member toward the upper die so as to separate the molded body from the lower die, with the upper die disengaged from the lower die, and
• the setting jig is in a frame shape having an opening for exposing the molding region of the sheet material to be molded by the apparatus body and a restraining portion for restraining a periphery of the molding region;
• and
• the apparatus body further includes:
• a second elastic spring member adapted to urge the setting jig toward the lower die so as to separate the molded body from the upper die until the upper die and the lower die sandwiching the sheet material are disengaged from each other;
• the setting jig includes a plurality of openings for molding regions of the plurality of separators;
• the setting jig includes a lower frame body and an upper frame body;
• a first partitioning portion is provided inside of a first outer frame portion of the lower frame body in a midsection of the lower frame body, such that a plurality of first openings corresponding in size to the molding regions of the plurality of separators are formed;
• a second partitioning portion is provided inside of a second outer frame portion of the upper frame body in a midsection of the upper frame body, such that a plurality of second openings corresponding in size to the molding regions of the plurality of separators are formed;
• the lower frame body and the upper frame body are integrally formed so that the first openings and the second openings overlap each other, such that the plurality of openings of the setting jig is formed in the setting jig;
• and
• the restraining portion is formed by the first and second outer frame portions that sandwich a portion of a periphery of each of the molding regions of the plurality of separators, and the first and second partitioning portions.