Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes: a reference plane; a bonding arm configured to be rotated about a rotation center that is arranged separately from the reference plane and to move a capillary attached at a tip end thereof obliquely toward and away from the reference plane; and an imaging device for optically detecting bonding positions on a semiconductor chip and/or a lead frame, in which an angle between an optical axis being heading for the imaging device from the reference plane and the reference plane is approximately equal to an angle between a motion trajectory of a tip end of the capillary and the reference plane, and thereby the bonding apparatus can have a wide bonding area with a simple mechanism as well as perform high-speed and high-accuracy bonding.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes: a reference plane; a bonding arm configured to be rotated about a rotation center that is arranged separately from the reference plane and to move a capillary attached at a tip end thereof obliquely toward and away from the reference plane; and an imaging device for optically detecting bonding positions on a semiconductor chip and/or a lead frame, in which an angle between an optical axis being heading for the imaging device from the reference plane and the reference plane is approximately equal to an angle between a motion trajectory of a tip end of the capillary and the reference plane, and thereby the bonding apparatus can have a wide bonding area with a simple mechanism as well as perform high-speed and high-accuracy bonding.

Abstract: The present method corrects a warp in a separator (78) applied with a sealant (97) during production of fuel cells. The correction is performed at a correcting device (47). With the warp being corrected at the correcting device, a membrane/electrode assembly is superimposed on the separator.

Abstract: In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a cathode diffusion layer, a cathode electrode catalyst layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode catalyst layer, and an anode diffusion layer are laminated in this order, electron conductivity of the cathode electrode catalyst layer at a portion on the side of the cathode diffusion layer is higher than at a portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane and electron conductivity of the cathode electrode catalyst layer at the portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane is lower than at the portion on the side of the cathode diffusion layer, and furthermore, electron conductivity of the anode electrode catalyst layer at a portion on the side of the anode diffusion layer is higher than at a portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane and electron conductivity of the anode electrode catalyst layer at the portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane is lower than at the portion on the side of the anode diffusio

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided having a positive electrode layer (13) and a negative electrode layer (14) disposed on the front and rear sides of an electrolyte membrane (12), for generating electricity by bringing hydrogen into contact with a catalyst in the negative electrode layer and bringing oxygen into contact with a catalyst in the positive electrode layer. The positive electrode layer includes the components electrolyte, carbon (36, 37), a catalyst (38) carried on the carbon, a pore-forming material and a water-repellent resin. In the electrolyte membrane vicinity (34) of the positive electrode layer, which is a part where the reaction between the oxygen and the hydrogen ions proceeds readily, the electrolyte/carbon weight ratio and the carried catalyst amount are made large. In parts where product water tends to stagnate, the amounts of the pore-forming material and the water-repellent resin are increased.

Abstract: A hydrostatic guide system including a guide table, a transfer table, a floating amount sensor attached to the transfer table, and a control unit. The transfer table has an inner portion, in which a magnetic attraction unit including a yoke and an electromagnet is embedded, and an outer shell portion, which covers the side surface and the upper surface of the inner portion. After the inner portion houses the yoke and the electromagnet, a gap around the yoke and the electromagnet is filled with a material having appropriate strength, so that the inner portion is integrated with the outer shell portion, and the transfer surface is flattened as whole. A surrounding groove is provided around the transfer table, and pressurized fluid supplied into the groove is jetted out to the guide table.

Abstract: A bonding arm swinging type bonding apparatus that has a rotational center 13 of the bonding arm 1 beneath the bonding arm. The rotating shaft parts 11 of circular arc form rotary motors 10 that rotate about the rotational center 13 of the bonding arm 1 are attached to the bonding arm 1, and the rotating shaft parts 21 of circular arc form air bearings 20 that rotate about this rotational center 13 are provided so that the rotating shaft parts of the circular arc form air bearings 20 are rotatable as a unit with the rotating shaft parts 11 of the rotary motors 10.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus including a front link whose lower end is rotatably connected to a bonding arm and upper portion is rotatably connected to bonding head, and a rear link whose lower end is rotatably connected to the rear end of the bonding arm and upper portion is rotatably connected to the bonding head; and a hypothetical rotational center of capillary of the bonding arm is on a bonding surface and set to be the intersection of a line that connects upper and lower rotational centers of the front link and a line that connects upper and lower rotational centers of the rear link, wherein the immovable element of motor is fastened to the bonding head, and the rotational element of the motor is attached to the upper end of the rear link so that the rotational element rotates about the upper rotational center of the rear link.

Abstract: A wire bonder including two link driving mechanisms and a head supporting stage provided with a bonding head via fluid pressure so that the bonding head is movable in the horizontal plane. Each link driving mechanism is formed by a motor, a driving arm, and a movable arm. The movable arm that extends from the driving arm of the first link driving mechanism is fastened to the bonding head, and the movable arm that extends from the driving arm of the second link driving mechanism is rotatably connected at its one end to the bonding head. A thrust aiming at the center of gravity of the bonding head is applied to the bonding head by the movable arms, thus moving the bonding head around.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing a solvent (41) in an electrolyte membrane (24) as a constituent of a membrane-electrode assembly (12) used in a fuel cell. The membrane-electrode assembly is arranged in a water vapor, and the water vapor is introduced into the electrolyte membrane by being transmitted through diffusion layers (21, 27) respectively on positive/negative electrode sides. The solvent in the electrolyte membrane is removed by the thus-introduced water vapor. This removal of the solvent is performed at temperatures which are not higher than the decomposition temperature of the hydrocarbon solid polymer.

Abstract: A method for coating a sealant (39) on a separator (40) for a fuel cell. The separator has a sealing groove (118) formed therein, and widths of the sealing groove at a coating-start portion (39a) and a coating-end portion (39b) of the sealant are made greater than widths of remaining portions of the sealing groove. The sealant coating-start portion and the coating-end portion are made to intersect at a place where the width of the sealing groove is large. Adhesion between the coating-start portion and the coating-end portion is improved, and also, degrees of freedom of a sealant coated position increase, and sealability of a cell for a fuel cell is improved.

Abstract: An ultrasonic horn used in, for instance, a wire bonding apparatus and formed with mounting flanges, including a slit and a cross-sectional shape varying portion; the slit being on the central axis in the horn's longitudinal direction and extending fore and aft relative to the center of the mounting flanges, the length of the slit(s) being equal to or greater than the width direction of a flange region that is between the opposing flanges, and at least a part of the cross-sectional shape varying portion being on the outer surface of the horn at a slit region in which the slit is formed. The stress center point in the cross-section of the ultrasonic horn at the flange region is positioned more to the inside than a straight line joining the stress center points in the cross-sections of the ultrasonic horn at the front and rear end portions of the slit.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a process for producing an electrolyte membrane-bonded electrode having excellent power generation property when constitutes an electrode assembly, and a varnish composition for an electrolyte, by the use of which an electrolyte membrane-electrode bonded structure capable of retaining excellent power generation property is obtained. A process for producing a first electrolyte membrane-bonded electrode comprises applying, onto an electrode, a water-containing dispersion containing a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer, an organic solvent A and water and having a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer content of 0.5 to 20% by weight and then applying, onto the resulting film, a solution of sulfonated polyarylene in an organic solvent B, to form an electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus including, on a supporting stand 12, two linear motors 130 and 140 and a bonding head supporting stage 114 which supports the bonding head 120 by means of fluid pressure so that the bonding head 120 is movable in the horizontal plane. The linear motors 130 and 140 respectively include driving sections 132 and 142 and movable coil assemblies 134 and 144. An arm 136 extending from the movable coil assembly 134 of the first linear motor 130 is fastened to the bonding head 120, and an arm 146 extending from the movable coil assembly 144 of the second linear motor 140 is engaged with the bonding head 120. A driving force aimed at the center of gravity of the bonding head 120 is applied to the bonding head 120 via the arms 136 and 146, so that the bonding head 120 is moved.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided having a positive electrode layer (13) and a negative electrode layer (14) disposed on the front and rear sides of an electrolyte membrane (12), for generating electricity by bringing hydrogen into contact with a catalyst in the negative electrode layer and bringing oxygen into contact with a catalyst in the positive electrode layer. The positive electrode layer includes the components electrolyte, carbon (36, 37), a catalyst (38) carried on the carbon, a pore-forming material and a water-repellent resin. In the electrolyte membrane vicinity (34) of the positive electrode layer, which is a part where the reaction between the oxygen and the hydrogen ions proceeds readily, the electrolyte/carbon weight ratio and the carried catalyst amount are made large. In parts where product water tends to stagnate, the amounts of the pore-forming material and the water-repellent resin are increased.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus 10 including an X and Y motor parts 20 and 50, which have substantially the same construction, and a moving table 60, which can be moved in the XY plane by these motor parts. The X motor part 20 and Y motor part 50 are connected to the moving table 60 by joint mechanisms 42 and 52 that are rotatable. In the X and Y motor parts 20 and 50, the movable coils 30 of the movable elements 24 are shaft-supported by shaft-supporting mechanisms 36 so that these coils are rotatable about the Z axis, and the shaft-supporting mechanisms 36 are guided so as to be movable linearly in the X and Y axial directions respectively by a guide mechanism formed with guide rails 38 and linear guides 37.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus including a front link whose lower end is rotatably connected to a bonding arm and upper portion is rotatably connected to bonding head, and a rear link whose lower end is rotatably connected to the rear end of the bonding arm and upper portion is rotatably connected to the bonding head; and a hypothetical rotational center of capillary of the bonding arm is on a bonding surface and set to be the intersection of a line that connects upper and lower rotational centers of the front link and a line that connects upper and lower rotational centers of the rear link, wherein the immovable element of motor is fastened to the bonding head, and the rotational element of the motor is attached to the upper end of the rear link so that the rotational element rotates about the upper rotational center of the rear link.

Abstract: In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a cathode diffusion layer, a cathode electrode catalyst layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode catalyst layer, and an anode diffusion layer are laminated in this order, electron conductivity of the cathode electrode catalyst layer at a portion on the side of the cathode diffusion layer is higher than at a portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane and electron conductivity of the cathode electrode catalyst layer at the portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane is lower than at the portion on the side of the cathode diffusion layer, and furthermore, electron conductivity of the anode electrode catalyst layer at a portion on the side of the anode diffusion layer is higher than at a portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane and electron conductivity of the anode electrode catalyst layer at the portion on the side of the polymer electrolyte membrane is lower than at the portion on the side of the anode diffusio

Abstract: A bonding arm swinging type bonding apparatus that has a rotational center 13 of the bonding arm 1 beneath the bonding arm. The rotating shaft parts 11 of circular arc form rotary motors 10 that rotate about the rotational center 13 of the bonding arm 1 are attached to the bonding arm 1, and the rotating shaft parts 21 of circular arc form air bearings 20 that rotate about this rotational center 13 are provided so that the rotating shaft parts of the circular arc form air bearings 20 are rotatable as a unit with the rotating shaft parts 11 of the rotary motors 10.

Abstract: A wire bonder including two link driving mechanisms and a head supporting stage provided with a bonding head via fluid pressure so that the bonding head is movable in the horizontal plane. Each link driving mechanism is formed by a motor, a driving arm, and a movable arm. The movable arm that extends from the driving arm of the first link driving mechanism is fastened to the bonding head, and the movable arm that extends from the driving arm of the second link driving mechanism is rotatably connected at its one end to the bonding head. A thrust aiming at the center of gravity of the bonding head is applied to the bonding head by the movable arms, thus moving the bonding head around.