| US 7,343,769 B2 | ||
| Corrugation forming method | ||
| Makoto Sofue, Aichi-ken (Japan); Naoki Yoshioka, Aichi-ken (Japan); Shinya Tatsumi, Osaka-fu (Japan); and Makoto Sueishi, Osaka-fu (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha, (Japan); and Shin Nippon Koki Kabushiki Kaisha, (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 22, 2004, as Appl. No. 11/22,335. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2003-434977 (JP), filed on Dec. 26, 2003. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0022301 A1, Feb. 02, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. B21D 13/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 72—379.6 [72/192; 72/198] | 18 Claims |
| 11. A method of forming a metal separator formed of a thin metal plate for a fuel cell having a plurality of streaky recesses
and projections, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a first pair of meshing members that mesh with each other with a predetermined clearance therebetween, the predetermined
clearance being greater than the thickness of the metal separator material;
placing the metal separator material between the first meshing members;
displacing one of the first meshing members relative to the other of the first meshing members in synchronism while the metal
separator material is placed between the first meshing members to successively form streaky recesses and projections along
the entire width of the metal separator material; and
removing the metal separator material having successively formed recesses and projections,
wherein the first meshing members are driven in synchronism with a displacement synchronization mechanism that includes a
second pair of meshing members,
wherein one of the second meshing members is fixed relative to the one of the first meshing members and the other of the second
meshing members is fixed relative to the other of the first meshing members, and
wherein the second meshing members mesh with each other with no allowance therebetween to accurately displace the one of the
first meshing members relative to the other of the first meshing members.
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