阅读说明：本技术 热交换器用翅片的翅片集聚体制造装置 (Apparatus for manufacturing fin aggregate of fin for heat exchanger ) 是由 大塚一芳 森下圭一 于 2018-10-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的课题在于提供一种能够全自动地进行从热交换器用翅片的冲压加工至热交换器用翅片的集聚体的取出为止的装置。作为解决方法,该装置具有形成热交换器用翅片(14)的冲压装置(20)、以能够插入拔出的方式竖立设置有堆叠销(37)的台(36)、使台(36)移动的马达(32)以及中央动作控制部(50),中央动作控制部(50)具有：台循环装置(30),其使台(36)在得到热交换器用翅片(14)的翅片集聚体(15)的堆叠位置、成为预定集聚高度的翅片集聚体(15)被送出的取出位置、在紧接着堆叠位置的前一位置待机的待机位置之间循环移动；以及翅片集聚体取出装置(40),其从翅片集聚体(15)分离堆叠销(37),将翅片集聚体(15)向下一个工序送出,使堆叠销(37)竖立设置于待机位置的台(36)的预定位置。(The invention provides a device capable of fully automatically performing the steps from the press working of a heat exchanger fin to the extraction of an aggregate of the heat exchanger fin. As a solution, the device comprises a punching device (20) for forming the heat exchanger fin (14), a table (36) provided with a stacking pin (37) in an insertion and extraction mode, a motor (32) for moving the table (36), and a central action control part (50), wherein the central action control part (50) comprises: a stage circulating device (30) which makes the stage (36) circularly move among a stacking position of the fin aggregates (15) for obtaining the fins (14) for the heat exchanger, a taking-out position for sending out the fin aggregates (15) with a preset aggregation height, and a standby position for standby at a position immediately before the stacking position; and a fin aggregate take-out device (40) which separates the stacking pin (37) from the fin aggregate (15), sends out the fin aggregate (15) to the next step, and causes the stacking pin (37) to stand at a predetermined position of the stand (36) at the standby position.)

1. A fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for fins for a heat exchanger, characterized in that,

the device for manufacturing the fin aggregate of the fin for the heat exchanger comprises:

a pressing device that presses a metal thin plate to form a heat exchanger fin in which a notch or a through hole through which a heat exchange tube passes is formed;

a table on which a plurality of stack pins are provided so as to be able to be inserted and extracted, the plurality of stack pins entering the cutout portion or the through hole formed by the press machine and gathering the heat exchanger fins;

a table circulating device that circulates the table between a stacking position at which the heat exchanger fins formed by the press device are stacked to obtain a fin aggregate, a take-out position at which the fin aggregate having a predetermined stacking height at the stacking position and the stacking pin are taken out from the table as a single unit, and a standby position at which the table is standby at a position immediately before the stacking position; and

and a fin aggregate take-out device that takes out the stack pin from the table integrally with the fin aggregate at the take-out position, separates the stack pin from the taken-out fin aggregate, and erects the separated stack pin again on the table at the standby position.

2. The fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus of fins for a heat exchanger according to claim 1,

the apparatus for manufacturing a fin assembly of fins for a heat exchanger further comprises:

an aggregation height sensor for detecting that an aggregation height of the fin aggregates at the stacking position reaches a predetermined aggregation height; and

a stacking pin erection setting confirmation unit for confirming that the stacking pin is erected on the table at the standby position,

the table circulating device comprises a rotation driving device and an action control part for executing the drive control of the rotation driving device,

the operation control unit controls the rotary driving device to drive the table to move the table to the next position when the accumulation height sensor detects that the accumulation height of the fin aggregates reaches a predetermined accumulation height and the stacking pin erection confirming unit confirms that the stacking pin is erected on the table at the standby position.

3. The fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus of fins for a heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2,

a fin support body for supporting a bottom surface of the heat exchanger fin is provided on an upper surface of the table so as to straddle the upper surface of the table,

and a lifting device for sliding the fin support body along the height direction of the stacking pin is arranged at the stacking position, and the lifting device is arranged at a lateral position of the table and at a position lower than the table.

4. The apparatus for producing a fin aggregate of a fin for a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

an accumulation-time fin support mechanism is provided at an end portion on the stacking position side of the press device, and the accumulation-time fin support mechanism supports the fin aggregate at a landing position of the fins for the heat exchanger when the fin aggregate is accumulated, and is provided so as to be capable of moving closer to and away from the fin aggregate.

5. The fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus of fins for a heat exchanger according to claim 4,

the fin support mechanism for accumulation has:

a fin support that supports the fin aggregate;

a vertical movement mechanism that moves the fin support body in a height direction from an end of the punching device on the stacking position side; and

and a rotating mechanism which is installed at the top end of the vertical movement mechanism and enables the fin supporting body to rotate in the horizontal plane.

6. The apparatus for producing a fin aggregate of a fin for a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the stage further includes fin pressing mechanisms that are positioned at both end portions of the fin aggregate and press the fin aggregate.

7. The fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus of fins for a heat exchanger according to claim 6,

the fin pressing mechanism includes: a fin pressing body that presses the fin aggregate; and a switching control unit that controls switching between a pressed state and a non-pressed state of the fin aggregate by the fin pressing body,

the switching control unit sets the fin pressing body to a non-pressed state at the stacking position until the aggregation of the fin aggregates is completed, and sets the fin pressing body to a pressed state before the table is rotated from the stacking position to the take-out position,

in the removal position, the switching control unit sets only the fin pressing member on the fin aggregate removal device side to a non-pressed state,

the switching control unit sets all the fin pressing bodies to a non-pressed state before moving from the standby position to the stacking position.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for heat exchanger fins for manufacturing an aggregate of heat exchanger fins.

Background

A heat exchanger such as a conventional refrigeration apparatus is generally configured by stacking a plurality of heat exchanger fins, and a plurality of through holes into which heat exchange tubes are inserted are formed in the heat exchanger fins. Such a heat exchanger fin can be manufactured by a heat exchanger fin manufacturing apparatus 200 shown in fig. 19 (see patent document 1: japanese patent No. 5360731).

The heat exchanger fin manufacturing apparatus 200 is provided with an uncoiler 112 around which a thin plate 110 made of metal such as aluminum is coiled. The thin plate 110 drawn out from the uncoiler 112 via the pinch roll 114 is inserted into the oil applying device 116, and the processing oil is attached to the surface of the thin plate 110, and then supplied to the die device 120 provided in the press device 118.

The die apparatus 120 is a progressive die, and includes an upper die set 122 capable of moving up and down and a lower die set 124 in a stationary state. The die device 120 is used to form a metal strip having a plurality of through holes (not shown) with flanges (japanese: カラー) formed at predetermined intervals in a predetermined direction, the flanges being formed at predetermined heights around the through holes.

The metal strip is cut in the longitudinal direction by the cutting device 124 to form a plurality of narrow strip-shaped materials each having a row of flanges, and then the strip-shaped materials are cut to a predetermined length to complete the strip-shaped heat exchanger fin 113.

The heat exchanger fin 113 thus obtained is housed in the stacker 126. The stacker 126 is provided upright with a stacking pin 129 on a table 128. The heat exchanger fins 113 sent out from the die apparatus 120 are collected and held in the stacker 126 by inserting the stacking pins 129 into the through holes of the heat exchanger fins 113.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 5360731

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the conventional technique, a plurality of heat exchanger fins 113 are gathered to a predetermined height along the stacking pins 129 of the stacker 126 to become an aggregate, and the aggregate is taken out from the stacker 126 by an operator. Therefore, improvement of the work efficiency of the operation of removing the aggregates from the stacker 126 and elimination of the work error are strongly required.

Means for solving the problems

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for a heat exchanger fin, which can fully automatically perform a series of operations from press working of the heat exchanger fin to removal of an aggregate of the heat exchanger fin, and which can improve work efficiency and eliminate a work error.

The applicant has made intensive studies and, as a result, has conceived a structure capable of achieving the above object. That is, the present invention is a fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for a heat exchanger fin, comprising: a pressing device that presses a metal thin plate to form a heat exchanger fin in which a notch or a through hole through which a heat exchange tube passes is formed; a table on which a plurality of stack pins are provided so as to be able to be inserted and extracted, the plurality of stack pins entering the cutout portion or the through hole formed by the press machine and gathering the heat exchanger fins; a table circulating device that circulates the table between a stacking position at which the heat exchanger fins formed by the press device are stacked to obtain a fin aggregate, a take-out position at which the fin aggregate having a predetermined stacking height at the stacking position and the stacking pin are taken out from the table as a single unit, and a standby position at which the table is standby at a position immediately before the stacking position; and a fin aggregate take-out device that takes out the stack pin from the table integrally with the fin aggregate at the take-out position, separates the stack pin from the taken-out fin aggregate, and erects the separated stack pin again on the table at the standby position.

With this configuration, a series of operations from the press working of the heat exchanger fin to the removal of the aggregates of the heat exchanger fin can be performed fully automatically. This can improve work efficiency and eliminate work errors caused by manual work.

Preferably, the fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for a fin for a heat exchanger further includes: an aggregation height sensor for detecting that an aggregation height of the fin aggregates at the stacking position reaches a predetermined aggregation height; and a stacking pin erection setting confirmation unit for confirming that the stacking pin is erected on the stage at the standby position, wherein the stage circulation device has a rotation drive device and an operation control unit for performing drive control of the rotation drive device, and the operation control unit controls the rotation drive device to drive the stage to move to a next position when the accumulation height sensor detects that the accumulation height of the fin aggregates reaches a predetermined accumulation height and the stacking pin erection setting confirmation unit confirms that the stacking pin is erected on the stage at the standby position.

According to this configuration, the height of the aggregates of the heat exchanger fins fed from the press device and penetrated by the stacking pins can be made uniform, and the stacking pins can be reliably penetrated through the heat exchanger fins fed from the press device, thereby preventing the occurrence of defective products of the fin aggregates.

Preferably, a fin support body for supporting a bottom surface of the heat exchanger fin is provided on an upper surface of the table so as to extend across a planar region of the table, and a lifting device for slidably moving the fin support body in a height direction of the stacking pin is provided at the stacking position, and the lifting device is provided at a lateral position of the table and below the table.

Accordingly, when the stacking pin is inserted into the heat exchanger fin supplied from the press machine, the height difference from the upper end portion of the stacking pin to the fin support body can be significantly reduced as compared with the height difference from the upper end portion of the stacking pin to the upper surface of the table, deformation of the heat exchanger fin can be prevented, and improvement in the quality of the aggregate of the heat exchanger fin can be facilitated.

Further, it is preferable that a fin support mechanism for accumulation is provided at an end portion on the stacking position side of the press device, the fin support mechanism supporting the fin aggregate at a landing position of the fins for the heat exchanger when the fin aggregate is accumulated, and the fin support mechanism for accumulation is provided so as to be capable of moving toward and away from the fin aggregate.

Further, it is more preferable that the fin support mechanism at the time of stacking includes: a fin support that supports the fin aggregate; a vertical movement mechanism that moves the fin support body in a height direction from an end of the punching device on the stacking position side; and a rotating mechanism which is installed at the top end of the vertical movement mechanism and enables the fin supporting body to rotate in the horizontal plane.

Thereby, when the fin aggregate is aggregated, the fins for the heat exchanger can be aggregated in a state of being aligned along the stacking pins. Further, since the fin support mechanism can move closer to and away from the fin aggregate at the time of aggregation, the fin support mechanism can be retracted from the fin aggregate at the time of aggregation after the fin aggregate is aggregated at the stacking position, and the fin support mechanism does not become an obstacle at the time of aggregation when the stage is moved from the stacking position to the next position.

Preferably, the stage further includes fin pressing mechanisms that are positioned at both end portions of the fin aggregate and press the fin aggregate.

Further, it is more preferable that the fin pressing mechanism includes: a fin pressing body that presses the fin aggregate; and a switching control unit that controls switching between a pressed state and a non-pressed state of the fin aggregate by the fin pressing bodies, wherein the switching control unit sets the fin pressing bodies in the non-pressed state at the stacking position until the aggregation of the fin aggregates is completed, sets the fin pressing bodies in the pressed state at the take-out position before the table is rotated from the stacking position to the take-out position, sets only the fin pressing bodies on the fin aggregate take-out device side at the take-out position in the non-pressed state, and sets all the fin pressing bodies in the non-pressed state at the stand-by position until the table is moved from the stand-by position to the stacking position.

Thus, when the table on which the fin aggregates are placed is rotated, the fin aggregates can be prevented from collapsing. Further, by setting the fin pressing body on the side of the fin aggregate take-out device to a non-pressed state at the take-out position, the fin pressing body does not become an obstacle to the work when the work of taking out the fin aggregates is performed.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a series of operations from the press working of the heat exchanger fins to the removal of the fin aggregate in which the heat exchanger fins are stacked can be fully automatically performed, the efficiency of manufacturing the fin aggregate can be improved, and the occurrence of defective products due to human error can be prevented.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for heat exchanger fins according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for heat exchanger fins according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view showing a state in which the fin aggregate take-out device approaches the stacker at the take-out position.

Fig. 4 is a left side view of the state shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory view showing a schematic operation of the fin aggregate taking-out device when taking out the fin aggregate from the stacker of the taking-out section from the viewpoint shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of pulling out the stack pin from the fin aggregate.

Fig. 7 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for heat exchanger fins according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for heat exchanger fins according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing an operation of the fin pressing mechanism of embodiment 2 when the fins are gathered.

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the operation of the fin pressing mechanism according to embodiment 2 before the table is rotated after the fin accumulation is completed.

Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the operation of the fin pressing mechanism according to embodiment 2 after the table has been rotated.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the suction portion in fig. 7.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state seen from the arrow a side in fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an explanatory view of the operation of the fin supporting mechanism at the time of stacking according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 15 is an explanatory view of the operation of the fin supporting mechanism at the time of stacking according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 16 is an explanatory view of the operation of the fin supporting mechanism at the time of stacking according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory view of the operation of the fin supporting mechanism at the time of stacking according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 18 is an explanatory view showing an example of a method of inserting a guide rod into a fin aggregate.

Fig. 19 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a conventional heat exchanger fin manufacturing apparatus.

Detailed Description

The fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for a heat exchanger fin according to the present embodiment will be described in detail based on the embodiment.

(embodiment 1)

Fig. 1 and 2 show the overall configuration of a fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for a heat exchanger fin according to the present embodiment. The fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus 100 for heat exchanger fins of the present embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus 100) includes a press device 20 for forming heat exchanger fins 14 from a thin plate 12 supplied from a material supply portion 10, a table circulation device 30 for conveying fin aggregates 15 formed by aggregating the heat exchanger fins 14, a fin aggregate take-out device 40 for taking out the fin aggregates 15, and a central operation control portion 50 for collectively controlling the operations of these devices.

The material supply unit 10 includes an uncoiler 10A around which a thin plate 12 made of an unprocessed metal such as aluminum is coiled, and a feeder 10B that uncoils and feeds out the thin plate 12 from the uncoiler 10A at a predetermined timing. Since the material supplying unit 10 of the present embodiment may have a known structure, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The press device 20 has a die device 22 disposed therein, and presses the thin plate 12 supplied from the material supply unit 10 to form the heat exchanger fin 14 through the metal strip 13 having the notch or the through hole through which the heat exchange tube is inserted. The die device 22 has an upper die set 22A and a lower die set 22B, and the die device 22 is provided such that one of the upper die set 22A or the lower die set 22B can perform an approaching and separating movement with respect to the other. The metal strip 13 fed out from the die apparatus 22 is singulated in each of the width direction and the feeding direction by an inter-row slit apparatus and a cutting apparatus, not shown, to form the heat exchanger fin 14. The heat exchanger fin 14 thus formed is sucked and held by the suction portion 24 provided at the most downstream position of the die device 22, and is sent to the stage circulation device 30 provided at a position adjacent to the downstream side of the press device 20.

In the table circulation device 30 of the present embodiment, a table 36 is attached to an upper surface of a table holding tray 34 that can be rotated by a motor 32 as a rotation driving device along a rotation direction. The drive control of the motor 32 is performed by the central operation control unit 50.

The table holding plate 34 is formed in a disk shape having a rotation axis at the center. The table 36 is attached to the table holding plate 34 at 4 positions at regular intervals (intervals of 90 degrees around the rotation axis in the horizontal plane) along the outer periphery of the table holding plate 34. Since table mounting holes (not shown) are bored in the upper surface of the table holding plate 34 of the present embodiment at predetermined intervals along the outer peripheral edge, the table 36 can be mounted at any position of the table holding plate 34. The rotation shaft of the table holding plate 34 is connected to the output shaft of the motor 32 via a speed reducer, or directly connected to the output shaft of the motor 32.

When the motor 32 is rotationally driven under the instruction of the central operation control unit 50, the table holding tray 34 rotates around the rotation axis, and each table 36 cyclically moves within 4 positions (spots) of the stack position SP, the buffer position BP, the pickup position RP, and the standby position WP.

The stacking position SP (stacking point) is a position directly below the suction portion 24 of the press apparatus 20, and is a position at which the heat exchanger fins 14 from the press apparatus 20 are gathered along the stacking pins 37 erected on the table 36 in the stacker 31 (table 36) to a predetermined height dimension, and the fin aggregate 15 of the heat exchanger fins 14 is obtained. The buffer position BP (buffer point) is a position for sending out the fin aggregates 15 of the heat exchanger fins 14 accumulated at the stacking position SP at a predetermined accumulation height in the stacker 31 from the stacking position SP to stand by.

The take-out position RP (take-out point) is a position immediately after the buffer position BP and is a position at which the fin aggregates 15 having a predetermined aggregation height at the stacking position SP are sent out together with the stacking pins 37 and the fin aggregates 15 are taken out. The standby position WP (standby point) is a position next to the pickup position RP and immediately before the stacking position SP, and is a position at which the stacking pin 37 stands by again in a predetermined position on the table 36.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the 1 st spacer 33A and the stacking pin holder 38 are disposed scattered on the upper surface of the table 36 of the stacker 31 according to the present embodiment. A fin support 35 is attached to the upper surface of the 1 st spacer 33A, and both end portions of the fin support 35 are disposed so as to extend over the flat surface area of the table 36 and protrude outward of the table 36. The 2 nd spacer 33B and the stack pin guide plate 39, in which the insertion plane position of the stack pin 37 is a hollow (through hole), are placed on the upper surface of the stack pin holder 38 in the order described above. As shown in fig. 3, the 1 st spacer 33A is disposed so as to sandwich the 2 nd spacer 33B at a position lateral to the 2 nd spacer 33B.

Further, the plurality of stack pins 37 can be inserted into and pulled out from the stack pin holder 38. The confirmation of the presence or absence of the standing of the stacking pin 37 with respect to the stacking pin holder 38 can be performed by the central operation control unit 50 (corresponding to stacking pin standing confirmation means) confirming that a series of operations have been performed when an error has not occurred in the operation control program of the fin aggregate take-out device 40 described later. Here, the series of operations refers to a process of taking out the fin aggregates 15 together with the stacking pins 37 from the stacking pin holder 38, and then separating the fin aggregates 15 and the stacking pins 37 until only the stacking pins 37 are returned to the stacking pin holder 38.

As another specific example of the stacking pin erection confirming means, a stacking pin sensor may be provided in the stacking pin holder 38. In this case, the confirmation information of the standing state of the stack pin 37 with respect to the stack pin holder 38 by the stack pin sensor may be continuously transmitted to the central operation control unit 50.

The heat exchanger fins 14 sequentially drop from the suction portion 24 of the press machine 20 toward the stacking pins 37, and the heat exchanger fins 14 are sequentially gathered along the stacking pins 37 to form the fin aggregate 15. The fin aggregate 15 is supported by the 1 st spacer 33A and the fin support body 35 with a gap S between the bottom surface of the fin aggregate 15 and the upper surface of the table 36.

Further, at the stacking position SP of the present embodiment, a lifting device 60 (see fig. 1 and 2) for moving the fin support body 35 in the height direction of the stacking pin 37 is disposed. The elevating device 60 is disposed at a position below the moving surface of the stacker 31 (in the present embodiment, below the table holding tray 34) at a position lateral to the stacker 31, that is, at a position outside the planar area of the stacker 31 (table 36). The lifting device 60 of the present embodiment is in a form of lifting and lowering the fin support body 35 while holding it by a plate-like body, but may be configured to grip both end portions of the fin support body 35 by a vertically movable gripping portion. This is preferable in that the fin support body 35 and the fin aggregates 15 can be slid and moved along the stacking pins 37 in a stable state.

The lifting device 60 of the present embodiment has the central operation control unit 50 control the lifting operation for 1 cycle from the time when the stacker 31 is sent to the stack position SP to the time when the stacker 31 is sent to the buffer position BP. Further, an optical sensor, not shown, for detecting that the height of the fin aggregates 15 accumulated in the fin support body 35 has reached a predetermined height is provided in either the elevating device 60 or the fin aggregate take-out device 40 described later. The optical sensor may have a known structure including a measurement light irradiation unit and a light receiving sensor. The optical sensor of the present embodiment adopts the following form: when it is detected that the measurement light irradiated from the measurement light irradiation section is blocked by the fin aggregates 15 by the accumulation height of the fin aggregates 15 reaching a predetermined height, an accumulation height reaching detection signal is transmitted to the central operation control section 50.

When the stacking process is started in which the heat exchanger fins 14 are stacked on the stacker 31 along the stacking pins 37 at the stacking position SP, the central operation control unit 50 controls the operation of the lifting device 60 so that the fin support body 35 and the stacking pin guide plate 39 are lifted along the stacking pins 37. The fin support body 35 and the stacking pin guide plate 39 are raised to a position near the upper end of the stacking pin 37 and to a collection start position near the upper end of the stacking pin 37.

In this way, by bringing the heat exchanger fin 14 closer to the suction portion 24 of the press device 20 along the position of the fin support body 35 when the stacking of the heat exchanger fin 14 starts at the stacking position SP, the difference in level of the heat exchanger fin 14 released from the suction portion 24 can be reduced. Therefore, the heat exchanger fin 14 released from the adsorption portion 24 can be prevented from being deformed when the heat exchanger fin 14 lands on the fin support body 35. Further, by guiding the tip (upper end) of the stack pin 37 at a position as high as possible, the planar position of the tip of the stack pin 37 can be aligned at a correct position.

The central operation control unit 50 controls the operation of the elevating device 60 so that the height positions of the fin support body 35 and the stacking pin guide plate 39 gradually slide and approach the stage 36 side in accordance with the accumulation height of the fin aggregates 15 of the heat exchanger fins 14 stacked on the stacking pins 37. When the central operation control unit 50 determines that the height of the fin aggregates 15 stacked on the stacking pins 37 has reached the predetermined stacking height by receiving the stacking height arrival detection signal transmitted from the optical sensor, it lowers the lifting device 60 to the initial position, which is a position below the moving surface of the stacker 31. Thus, the lifting device 60 does not interfere with the table circulation device 30 when the table circulation device 30 is operated.

The central operation control unit 50 executes a process of driving the motor 32 in the forward direction when it is detected that the collection height of the fin aggregates 15 reaches a predetermined collection height set in advance and the stack pins 37 are erected on all the stack pin holders 38 of the table 36 at the standby position WP. By driving the motor 32, the table holding tray 34 is rotated in a predetermined direction, and each stacker 31 is sent to the next position (spot). Here, the central operation control unit 50 (corresponding to stacking pin standing confirmation means) confirms that the stacking pins 37 are standing on all the stacking pin holders 38 of the table 36 at the standby position WP by confirming that a series of operations are performed when no error has occurred in the operation control program of the fin aggregate take-out device 40.

In the present embodiment, the process of inserting the guide rod or the refrigerant pipe (neither shown) into the through hole through which the stacking pin 37 is not inserted into the fin aggregate 15 of the stage 36 at the buffer position BP is executed by the central operation control unit 50. In this way, by inserting the guide rod or the refrigerant pipe in advance into the fin aggregate 15 in the state in which the stack pin 37 is inserted, collapse of the fin aggregate 15 can be prevented when the table 36 rotates from the buffer position BP to the removal position RP.

The fin aggregates 15 along the stacking pins 37 are accumulated at a predetermined accumulation height in the stacker 31 sent out from the buffer position BP to the take-out position RP. The central operation control unit 50 issues a command to the fin aggregate take-out device 40 disposed at the take-out position RP: the fin aggregate 15 is taken out from the table 36 of the stacker 31 in the take-out position together with the stacking pins 37.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the fin aggregate taking-out device 40 of the present embodiment includes an upper end clamping portion 41 that clamps the upper end portion of the stack pin 37, a lower end clamping portion 42 that clamps the lower end portion of the stack pin 37, a vertical movement mechanism 43 that moves the upper end clamping portion 41 and the lower end clamping portion 42 up and down, and a horizontal movement mechanism 44 that moves the upper end clamping portion 41 and the lower end clamping portion 42 in the horizontal direction. Here, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the stack pin 37 refer to a concept including the periphery of the upper end portion and the periphery of the lower end portion of the stack pin 37. The operation of the fin aggregate take-out device 40 is controlled by the central operation control unit 50. Further, a fin support 46 is attached to the upper side of the lower end clamp 42.

The horizontal movement mechanism 44 is operated by a command from the central operation control unit 50, and the fin aggregate take-out device 40 is moved closer to the fin aggregates 15 (fig. 5A). The central operation control unit 50 moves the upper end clamping unit 41 and the lower end clamping unit 42, which are continuously opened, to the positions of the stack pins 37, closes the upper end clamping unit 41, and clamps only the upper ends of the stack pins 37 (fig. 5B). At this time, the bottom surface of the lowermost part of the fin aggregate 15 is held by the fin support 46.

Next, the central operation control unit 50 operates the vertical movement mechanism 43 to raise only the upper end gripping portion 41, and pulls out only the stack pin 37 from the stack pin holder 38 (fig. 5C). Next, the central operation control portion 50 closes the lower end clamping portion 42 to clamp the lower end portion of the stack pin 37, and operates the horizontal movement mechanism 44 to move the fin aggregates 15 clamped between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the stack pin 37 in a direction away from the other fin aggregates 15 (fig. 5D).

In this way, the fin aggregate take-out device 40 sandwiches the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the stack pin 37, respectively, and pulls out the fin aggregate 15 penetrated by the stack pin 37 from the table 36 (stack pin holder 38) in a state where it is integrated with the stack pin 37.

The fin aggregates 15 pulled out from the table 36 together with the stacking pins 37 are placed laterally on a conveyor 70 as a conveying portion (fig. 6A). The fin aggregates 15 through which the stacking pins 37 are inserted are placed in a state where the stacking pins 37 are parallel to the upper surface (ground surface) of the conveyor 70. Next, the central operation control portion 50 releases the clamping of the lower end clamping portion 42, and moves the lower end clamping portion 42 in a direction (upper side in fig. 6B) away from the fin aggregates 15 (fig. 6B).

Then, as shown in fig. 6C, the central operation control portion 50 causes the lower end clamping portions 42 to clamp the lower end portions of the stack pins 37 at positions where the stack pins 37 are not pulled out from the upper end portions of the fin aggregates 15 (in a state where the stack pins 37 are guided in the through holes of the fin aggregates 15). Then, the stack pin 37 is erected on the stack pin holder 38 provided on the stage 36 from which the stack pin 37 has been pulled out, which has moved to the standby position WP.

A stack pin guide plate 39 is disposed at a position directly above the stack pin holder 38 of the present embodiment. The stack pin guide plate 39 is provided with a through hole in the plate thickness direction, the position of the lower opening of the through hole is aligned with the upright position of the stack pin 37 of the stack pin holder 38, and the opening size of the upper opening is formed larger than the lower opening size. This allows the stacking pins 37 to be correctly returned to their original positions. When the stacking pin 37 is set upright again on the stacking pin holder 38 in this way, the stroke amount of the working unit such as an actuator not shown attached to the arm of the fin aggregate taking-out device 40 is monitored by the working unit monitoring unit or the central operation control unit 50.

In the present embodiment, the work portion monitoring means for monitoring the stroke amount of the work portion or the central operation control portion 50 corresponds to stacking pin erection confirmation means. When the measured stroke amount of the working unit does not reach the predetermined stroke amount, the working unit monitoring unit or the central operation control unit 50 can determine that the series of operations of the fin aggregate take-out device 40 has not been normally completed (the stacking pins are not accurately set to be erected again).

When it is confirmed that the stacking pins 37 are erected on all the stacking pin holders 38 of the stackers 31 at the standby position WP and the stacking height of the fin aggregates 15 at the stacking position SP reaches a predetermined stacking height, the central operation control unit 50 drives the motor 32 to cyclically move each stacker 31 in the table circulation device 30 to the next position.

By repeating the above operations, the heat exchanger fins 14 supplied from the press apparatus 20 can be automatically fed to the next step as the fin aggregates 15.

As described above, according to the fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus 100 for heat exchanger fins of the present embodiment, while the table 36 is circularly moved among the stacking position SP, the buffer position BP, the take-out position RP, and the standby position WP by the table circulating device 30, the fin aggregate take-out device 40, and the central operation control portion 50, the process of sequentially sending the heat exchanger fins 14 sent out from the press device 20 to the next position (step) as the fin aggregates 15 is automatically performed.

According to the configuration of the fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus 100 for heat exchanger fins of the present embodiment, it is possible to automate a series of steps of manufacturing the heat exchanger fins 14 and forming the fin aggregates 15 in which the heat exchanger fins 14 are aggregated and feeding the formed fin aggregates 15 to the next step. This makes it possible to manufacture the fin aggregate 15 of the heat exchanger fin 14 with high efficiency without causing troubles such as handling failure of the fin aggregate 15 by hands.

(embodiment 2)

Fig. 7 and 8 show a fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus for a heat exchanger fin according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in embodiment 1, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. In the present embodiment, the fin pressing mechanism 80 is provided on the upper surface of each table 36, and the fin support mechanism 90 for collecting is provided on the suction portion 24 which is the end portion of the press apparatus 20 on the stacking position SP side.

The fin pressing mechanism 80 is a mechanism for pressing the fin aggregates 15 accumulated on the upper surface of the table 36, and the fin pressing mechanism 80 is configured to press the fin aggregates 15 from both end positions of the fin aggregates 15 (both end portions in the longitudinal direction when the fin aggregates 15 are viewed in plan). The fin pressing mechanism 80 of the present embodiment includes: fin pressing bodies 82 that abut on both end portions of the fin aggregate 15 to press the fin aggregate 15; and a rotary motor 84 as a switching control unit for controlling switching between the pressed state and the non-pressed state of the fin aggregates 15 by the fin pressing body 82. The rotation motor 84 is controlled by the central operation control unit 50. The fin pressing body 82 is rotated by the rotation motor 84 between a state of standing on the upper surface of the table 36 and a state of being horizontal to the upper surface of the table 36, thereby switching and controlling the pressed state and the non-pressed state of the fin aggregates 15.

The operation of the fin pressing mechanism 80 will be described. Fig. 9 to 11 are plan views of essential parts for explaining the operation of the fin pressing mechanism 80 at each position (spot). Here, in fig. 9, the operation of each position (spot) of the fin pressing mechanism 80 disposed on the stage 36 at the stacking position SP will be described.

At the stacking position SP, as shown in fig. 9, the fin pressing mechanism 80 is in a state in which the fin pressing body 82 is raised in a direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the table 36. By thus setting the fin pressing mechanism 80 in a state in which the fin pressing bodies 82 are raised on the upper surface of the table 36, the fin pressing bodies 82 do not become an obstacle when the fin aggregates 15 are gathered.

When the height of the fin aggregates 15 accumulated on the upper surface of the table 36 reaches a predetermined height at the stacking position SP, the central operation control unit 50 operates the rotary motor 84 to rotate the fin pressing body 82 parallel to (horizontally aligned with) the upper surface of the table 36, as shown in the table 36 of SP of fig. 10. By sandwiching the fin aggregates 15 from both end portions of the fin aggregates 15 and pressing the fin aggregates 15 by the fin pressing bodies 82 in this way, the fin aggregates 15 can be prevented from collapsing when the table 36 is rotated.

While the table 36 is rotating and waiting at the buffer position BP, as shown in the table 36 of fig. 10, the state where both end portions of the fin aggregates 15 are sandwiched by the fin pressing bodies 82 is maintained. In addition, at the buffer position BP, quality confirmation of the fin aggregates 15, a process of extracting the stack pins 37, and a process of inserting the guide rods or the refrigerant tubes can be performed. When the fin is rotated from the buffer position BP to the removal position RP, the fin pressing bodies 82 maintain the state of sandwiching the both end portions of the fin aggregate 15.

As shown in fig. 11, the table 36 at the pickup position RP is set in a state in which: the central operation control unit 50 operates only the rotary motor 84 of the fin pressing mechanism 80 on the fin aggregate take-out device 40 side, and raises the fin pressing body 82 on the upper surface of the table 36. With this arrangement, when the fin aggregate 15 is taken out by the fin aggregate taking-out device 40 at the taking-out position RP, the fin pressing bodies 82 do not interfere with the taking-out process, which is preferable.

When the removal processing of all the fin aggregates 15 is completed at the removal position RP, the central operation control unit 50 moves the table 36 at the removal position RP to the standby position WP. In the stage 36 moved to the standby position WP, the central operation control unit 50 rotates the rotary motor 84 at an appropriate timing so that all the fin pressing bodies 82 (on both side portions of the fin aggregates 15) stand up in a state perpendicular to the upper surface of the stage 36.

In the present embodiment, the movement conditions for the table 36 at the standby position WP can be set to a state in which all the stacking pins 37 are erected and a state in which all the fin pressing bodies 82 are erected on the upper surface of the table 36.

The fin support mechanism 90 for accumulation will be described next. As shown in fig. 12 and 13, the fin support mechanism 90 according to the present embodiment is attached to the suction portion 24 so as to be movable from above the fin aggregates 15 toward and away from the fin aggregates 15. The fin support mechanism 90 for stacking according to the present embodiment includes a vertical movement mechanism 92, a rotation mechanism 94, and a fin support 98.

The vertical movement mechanism 92 is a mechanism for allowing the fin support 98 to move in the height direction of the fin aggregates 15, and a fluid cylinder such as an air cylinder can be suitably used. The rotation mechanism 94 is attached to the tip (lower end) of the vertical movement mechanism 92, and a fluid cylinder such as an air cylinder that can rotate in a horizontal plane can be suitably used. A fin support 98 is attached to a rotary shaft 96 of the rotary mechanism 94. That is, the fin support 98 is rotatable in a horizontal plane and is movable toward and away from the fin aggregate 15. The operations of the vertical movement mechanism 92 and the rotation mechanism 94 are controlled by the central operation control unit 50. Here, although the air cylinder is used as the vertical movement mechanism 92 and the rotation mechanism 94, another power mechanism in which a drive chain or a drive belt is hung on a sprocket or a pulley that is rotated by a motor may be used as the vertical movement mechanism 92 and the rotation mechanism 94.

The operation of the fin support mechanism 90 for accumulation will be described with reference to fig. 14 to 17. Here, the fin pressing mechanism 80 is not shown in fig. 14 to 17 for simplicity of explanation. Fig. 14A shows a state immediately after the table 36 on which the stacking pins 37 stand is rotated from the standby position WP to the stacking position SP. At this time, in the fin support mechanism for aggregation 90, the rotation mechanism 94 is in a state where the fin support 98 is positioned on the side opposite to the side where the fin aggregates 15 are formed, in a state where the up-down movement mechanism 92 is contracted.

Before starting the stacking process of stacking the fin aggregates 15 on the stacking pins 37, the central operation control unit 50 performs a process of raising the lifting device 60 to lift the fin support body 35 and the stacking pin guide plate 39. At the same time, or immediately before or after the process, the central operation control unit 50 extends the vertical movement mechanism 92 to separate the fin support 98 from the suction portion 24 (approach the fin support 35) (fig. 14B).

Next, the central operation control unit 50 operates the rotation mechanism 94 to rotate the fin support 98 connected to the rotation shaft 96 of the rotation mechanism 94 toward the side where the fin aggregates 15 are formed (fig. 15A). Next, the central operation control unit 50 gathers the heat exchanger fins 14 along the stacking pins 37 to form the fin aggregate 15. At this time, as shown in fig. 15B, the central operation control unit 50 gradually lowers the position of the elevating device 60, and collects the heat exchanger fins 14 dropped from the suction unit 24 at the landing position where the fin support 98 always stands by.

As shown in fig. 16A, when the fin aggregates 15 reach a predetermined aggregation height, the elevating device 60 returns to the original standby position. As shown in fig. 16B, the central operation control unit 50 rotates the rotation mechanism 94 to separate the fin support 98 from the fin aggregates 15. Preferably, before the fin support 98 is moved away from the fin aggregates 15, the central operation control portion 50 operates the fin pressing mechanism 80 to press the fin aggregates 15 from both sides by the fin pressing bodies 82. Next, as shown in fig. 17, the central operation control unit 50 retracts the vertical movement mechanism 92, moves it together with the fin support 98 toward the suction unit 24 (moves it away from the position above the fin aggregates 15), and sends the table 36 from the stacking position SP to the buffer position BP.

By additionally providing the fin pressing mechanism 80 and the fin support mechanism 90 for accumulation in this manner, it is possible to prevent the accumulation state of the fin aggregates 15 from becoming disordered when the fin aggregates 15 are accumulated and when the table 36 is rotated.

The present invention has been described in detail based on the embodiments, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although the present embodiment illustrates a configuration in which 4 stages 36 are attached to the stage holding tray 34, at least 3 stages 36 may be attached to the stage holding tray 34 in the circumferential direction. That is, the stage circulation device 30 may have at least the stack position SP, the take-out position RP, and the standby position WP.

In the present embodiment, the measurement of the height dimension of the fin aggregates 15 collected in the stacker 31 at the stacking position SP is performed by the optical sensor provided in the elevating device 60, but the present invention is not limited to this. The following embodiments can also be adopted: instead of the optical sensor, a weight sensor for measuring the mass of the fin aggregates 15 is provided, and the height dimension of the fin aggregates 15 is calculated by measuring the weight of the fin aggregates 15.

In the above embodiment, the 1 st spacer 33A and the 2 nd spacer 33B having different heights are disposed on the stage 36 of the stacker 31, but spacers having the same height may be used. Further, the following form may be adopted: the 1 st spacer 33A and the 2 nd spacer 33B are not provided, but the stacking pin holder 38 and the fin support body 35 are directly arranged on the upper surface of the table 36. In this embodiment, the fin support body 35 may be raised by the raising and lowering device 60 at the stacking position SP. In the taking-out position RP, an unillustrated lifter that lifts up the fin support 35 may be disposed in the fin aggregate taking-out device 40, and the fin support 35 may be lifted up from the upper surface of the table 36 by the lifter to form the gap S into which the lower end clamping portion 42 enters. The operation of the elevator can be controlled by the central operation control unit 50.

In the present embodiment, the step of inserting the guide rod into the through hole of the fin aggregate 15 into which the stack pin 37 is not inserted is performed at the buffer position BP, but the step can be omitted. In this case, as shown in fig. 18, when the stacking pin 37 is pulled out from the fin aggregate 15 to separate the stacking pin 37 from the fin aggregate 15, the guide bar GR may be attached together by a guide bar inserting machine GRM that inserts the guide bar into the fin aggregate 15.

The stack pin 37 can be extracted and the guide bar GR can be inserted by a known method using the guide bar inserting machine GRM, as shown in fig. 18A, 18B, and 18C. When the stack pin 37 is pulled out from the fin aggregate 15 to separate the stack pin 37 and the fin aggregate 15, the guide rod GR is attached together with the guide rod inserter GRM that inserts the guide rod into the fin aggregate 15, and the buffer position BP can be omitted. This is preferable in that the manufacturing cost of the fin aggregate manufacturing apparatus 100 for a heat exchanger fin can be reduced. The step of attaching the guide rod GR to the fin aggregate 15 may be performed together with the step of attaching the refrigerant pipe to the fin aggregate 15.

In embodiment 2, the following description is given: the fin pressing mechanism 80 includes a fin pressing body 82, a rotation motor 84 for rotating the fin pressing body 82, and the central operation control unit 50, but is not limited to this embodiment. Such a structure can also be adopted: the central operation control unit 50 switches between the pressed state and the non-pressed state of the fin aggregates 15 by causing the fin pressing bodies 82 to move closer to and away from the both side portions of the fin aggregates 15 by the switching control unit.

Further, in embodiment 2, the structure including the fin pressing mechanism 80 and the fin supporting mechanism 90 at the time of stacking has been described, but only one of the fin pressing mechanism 80 and the fin supporting mechanism 90 at the time of stacking may be added in embodiment 1.

Further, the structure of the present embodiment and the structures of the various modifications described above may be combined as appropriate.