Apparatus for manufacturing fin and method for manufacturing fin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021069771-A1
Application number	US-201916963370-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2019
Priority date	Apr 10, 2018
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fin manufacturing apparatus includes: a first inter-row slit device that forms, by forming in a thin metal plate having a plurality of openings a plurality of slits extending in a longitudinal direction of the thin metal plate while leaving an uncut portion between the plurality of slits, metal strips partially coupled to each other in a transverse direction; a feed roller and a feeding device that convey, in the longitudinal direction, the metal strips in which the plurality of slits is formed by the first inter-row slit device; and a stacking device that (i) forms fins by cutting the uncut portion via which the metal strips are coupled to each other, to separate the metal strips and by cutting the metal strips at regular length intervals and (ii) stacks the formed fins.

First claim

1 . A fin manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing fins for a heat exchanger, comprising:
a first slit device to form, by forming in a plate body a plurality of first slits extending in a longitudinal direction of the plate body while leaving an uncut portion between the plurality of first slits, strips partially coupled to each other in a transverse direction, the plate body having heat conductivity and having a plurality of openings; a conveyance device to convey the strips in the longitudinal direction; and a stack unit to (i) form fins by cutting the uncut portion via which the strips are coupled to each other, to separate the strips and by cutting the strips at regular length intervals and (ii) stack the formed fins, wherein the first slit device forms, in each fin-forming area of the strips, the uncut portion at a predetermined position of the corresponding fin-forming area.

2 . The fin manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stack unit includes a cutting device that includes an upper blade and a lower blade to cut the strips.

3 . The fin manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the stack unit includes a stacking device, and the stacking device includes an upper blade.

4 . The fin manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stack unit includes a cutting device that includes a rotatable cutting blade.

5 . The fin manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the stack unit includes a separating device, and the separating device
includes (i) a plurality of grippers to each grip the corresponding strip and (ii) a drive to move the plurality of grippers along the transverse direction, and
separates the strips into single strips by causing each of the plurality of grippers to grip the corresponding strip and causing the drive to move the plurality of grippers along the transverse direction.

6 . The fin manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the slit device includes a die device to form, in an area of the plate body in which the strips are to be formed, portions that each have a comb-like structure such that the comb-like structures face each other, and the conveyance device includes a guide to guide and convey the strips in a state where the strips are partially coupled to each other in the transverse direction.

7 . The fin manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first slit device forms a plurality of the uncut portions in each fin-forming area, and the stack unit includes a second slit device to form, in each fin-forming area, second slits in uncut portions that are included in the plurality of uncut portions and are not the uncut portion formed in the corresponding fin-forming area.

8 . The fin manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the stack unit includes a suction portion to hold the strips, and the stack unit cuts the strips held by the suction portion.

9 . A fin manufacturing method for manufacturing fins for a heat exchanger, comprising:
a conveyance step of conveying strips that are partially coupled to each other in a transverse direction to a processing position in a state where uncut portions are left in fin-forming areas of the strips, the uncut portions each being left in a corresponding fin-forming area of the fin-forming areas; a fin forming step of forming fins at the processing position by (i) cutting the uncut portions to separate the strips from each other and (ii) cutting the strips to a predetermined length; and a stacking step of stacking the formed fins.

10 . The fin manufacturing method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a buffering step of, before the conveyance step, buffering the strips by causing the strips to sag by a weight of the strips.

11 . The fin manufacturing method according to claim 9 , wherein
the conveyance step includes (i) holding the strips by sucking the strips and (ii) conveying the held strips to the processing position, the fin forming step includes forming the fin by cutting the conveyed strips at the processing position while maintaining the holding of the strips, and the stacking step includes (i) conveying the formed fin to a specific position located downstream of the processing position and (ii) stopping the suction of the fin at the specific position, thereby releasing and stacking the fin.

12 . A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, comprising:
an assembling step of attaching and brazing, to a tube, the fin manufactured using the fin manufacturing method according to claim 9 .

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Ono Junichi
• Kinoshita Hiroshi
• Miyake Nobuaki
• Takayama Kazuyoshi
• Ogura Takuya

Classifications

• B23P15/26

  heat exchangers {or the like (making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02)} · CPC title

• B21D53/025 Primary

  Louvered fins · CPC title

• B21D43/287

  Devices for handling sheet or strip material (B21D43/282 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B21D43/22

  Devices for piling sheets · CPC title

• B21D43/06

  by positive or negative engaging parts co-operating with corresponding parts of the sheet or the like to be processed, e.g. carrier bolts or grooved section in the carriers · CPC title