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EP-4461678-B1 - FIN ASSEMBLING METHOD

EP4461678B1EP 4461678 B1EP4461678 B1EP 4461678B1EP-4461678-B1

Inventors

  • KITAO, HIROYUKI
  • TSUTSUMI, YOSHIHIRO
  • SHIMIZU, Motofumi
  • TAKAHASHI, TAKAYUKI

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230125

Claims (7)

  1. A method for stacking fins (1) each having a fin slit (13) for receiving a flat tube, the method comprising: a first step of arranging each of the fins (1) at a stacking spot (RA) for the fins (1) with openings (133) of the plurality of fin slits (13) facing downward by dropping them, the first step comprising: a second step of causing a moving member (Q15) to enter a fin slit (13) of the plurality of fin slits (13) so that the moving member (Q15) makes contact with the bottom of the fin slit (13) of the fin (1) in the downward position (G) from below, thereby supporting the fin (1) from below, and moving the moving member (Q15) to the stacking spot (RA) for the fins (1) while supporting the fins (1) in the downward position (G), the opening (133) of the fin slit (13) facing downward in the vertical direction when the fin (1) is in the downward position (G), and and a third step of, subsequently to the second step, transferring the fin (1) from the moving member (Q15) onto supports (R2) arranged at the stacking spot (RA), wherein the supports (R2) enter the fin slit (13) to be caught in the fin slit (13) so that the fins (1) kept in the downward position (G) are supported by the supports (R2).
  2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing a position of the fin (1) with the opening (133) facing horizontally to a position with the opening (133) facing downward.
  3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: lifting up the fin (1).
  4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: conveying the fin (1) manufactured at the manufacturing spot (P) for the fins (1) to separate the fin (1) from the manufacturing spot (P).
  5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fins (1) are stacked with the supports (R2) inserted into the fin slit (13).
  6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fins (1) are stacked to be arranged in a direction of extension of the supports (R2).
  7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: stacking the fins (1) horizontally.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a method for stacking fins. BACKGROUND ART Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus for manufacturing a stack of fins for a heat exchanger. The apparatus can automatically perform the whole processes from the pressing of the fins for the heat exchanger to the taking out of the stack of the fins for the heat exchanger. Previously, multiple fins are vertically stacked. However, when the fins are stacked too high, the fins on the upper portion of the stack are more unstable. Thus, it has been difficult to stack the fins very high. CITATION LIST PATENT DOCUMENT Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5594674 US 2014/374077 A1 discloses a heat exchanger which may be continuously mass-produced by press-fitting heat exchange fins into refrigerant tubes and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method includes processing a metal sheet into a plurality of rows of heat exchange fins, transferring the plurality of rows of heat exchange fins through a transfer apparatus, dividing the plurality of rows of heat exchange fins into heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows and integrating the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows through integration apparatuses, vertically standing and aligning the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows, separating the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows into a number of heat exchange fins, which may be simultaneously press-fitted into refrigerant tubes, through separation apparatuses, and press-fitting the separated heat exchange fins into the refrigerant tubes. EP 3 175 948 A1 are further prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM After the fins are manufactured at a manufacturing spot and sent to a stacking spot, the fins are vertically stacked to a certain height at the stacking spot. Then, a conveying process is performed to send the stacked fins to a next spot. If the multiple fins are vertically stacked as described above, stable stacking of the fins would be difficult, and thus the fins cannot be stacked so high. This shortens a time interval between the last conveying process and the next conveying process, increasing the frequency of the conveying process. The process of manufacturing the fins at the manufacturing spot is interrupted every time the conveying process is performed. Thus, if the fins cannot be stably stacked and the frequency of the conveying process increases, it would be difficult to operate a facility for manufacturing the fins continuously and stably. An object of the present disclosure is to allow stable stacking of the fins. SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM The invention is defined by claim 1. A first aspect is directed to a method for stacking fins. A fin slit (13) for receiving a flat tube is formed in each of the fins (1). The method for stacking the fins includes arranging the fins (1) at a stacking spot (RA, RB, RC, RD) for the fins (1) with an opening (133) of the fin slit (13) facing upward or downward. In the first aspect, the fins (1) can be stably stacked. A second aspect is an embodiment of the first aspect. In the second aspect, the method further includes changing a position of the fin (1) with the opening (133) facing horizontally to a position with the opening (133) facing upward or downward. In the second aspect, the fin (1) can be arranged with the opening (133) of the fin slit (13) facing upward or downward at the stacking spot (RA, RB, RC, RD) for the fins (1). A third aspect is an embodiment of the first or second aspect. In the third aspect, the method further includes lifting up the fin (1). In the third aspect, the fin (1) can be lifted up and sent to the stacking spot (RA). A fourth aspect is an embodiment of the first or second aspect. In the fourth aspect, the method further includes dropping the fin (1) to make the opening (133) face downward. In the fourth aspect, the fin (1) can be sent to the stacking spot (RB) by dropping the fin (1). A fifth aspect not according to the invention is an embodiment of the first or second aspect. In the fifth aspect, the method further includes raising up the fin (1) to make the opening (133) face upward. In the fifth aspect, the fins (1) can be stacked horizontally by raising up the fins (1). A sixth aspect is an embodiment of any one of the first to fifth aspects. In the sixth aspect, the method further includes conveying the fin (1) manufactured at the manufacturing spot (P) for the fins (1) to separate the fin (1) from the manufacturing spot (P). In the sixth aspect, the fins (1) can be kept from remaining in the manufacturing spot (P) for the fins (1), thereby allowing smooth manufacture of the fins (1). A seventh aspect is an embodiment of any one of the first to sixth aspects. In the seventh aspect, the fins (1) are stacked with a support (R2) inserted into the fin slit (13). In the seventh aspect, the fins (1) ca