US-12623311-B1 - Heat exchanger production line

US12623311B1US 12623311 B1US12623311 B1US 12623311B1US-12623311-B1

Abstract

A heat exchanger production line is provided, which includes a support frame, a fin conveying line, as well as a fin storing-fetching device, an end plate mounting device, a pipe inserting device and a nitrogen charging device which are arranged at corresponding positions of the fin conveying line. The fin storing-fetching device is arranged at one end of the fin conveying line. The fin storing-fetching device includes a storing-fetching bracket, a bottom plate, a lifting support plate and a feeding robot. A fin stack is transferred to the fin conveying line by the fin storing-fetching device, is then sequentially conveyed to corresponding stations to be processed along with the fin conveying line, ultimately forming a heat exchanger.

Inventors

Zhigang Zhou
Benkai LI
Rui Zhang
Mingzheng LIU
Tinghong Xu
Yanbin Zhang
Yudi Fei
Hu Li
Changhe Li
Yuewen Feng
Ming Li
Wanshuai Xu
Xiao Ma
BEI LIU

Assignees

Qingdao Hisense Hitachi Air-conditioning Systems Co., Ltd.
Qingdao university of technology

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20251001
Priority Date: 20250327

Claims (18)

1 . A heat exchanger production line, comprising: support frame; a fin conveying line mounted on the support frame, wherein at least a fin storing-fetching station, an end plate mounting station, a pipe inserting station, and a nitrogen charging station are arranged along a conveying direction of the fin conveying line; a fin storing-fetching device located at one end of the fin conveying line, wherein the fin storing-fetching device comprises: a storing-fetching bracket having a storage space formed therein; a bottom plate horizontally arranged in the storage space of the storing-fetching bracket, wherein the bottom plate comprises a plurality of fin stacking pins vertically arranged on the bottom plate, and a first end of each fin stacking pin is fixed on the bottom plate; a lifting support plate arranged parallel to and above the bottom plate, wherein the lifting support is configured to reciprocate along a height direction of the storing-fetching bracket; a plurality of through holes are formed in the lifting support plate, the plurality of fin stacking pins respectively pass through the plurality of through holes, and a second end of each fin stacking pin extends out of a side of the lifting support plate away from the bottom plate, wherein each fin stacking pin is configured such that: when a plurality of fins fall into the storage space, the second end of the fin stacking pin is inserted into an insertion hole of a corresponding fin, wherein the fins strung in series by fin stacking pin form one fin stack; and a feeding robot configured to transfer the fin stack from the lifting support plate to the fin storing-fetching station when the lifting support plate lifts the fin stack to a target height; wherein the feeding robot comprises: a feeding robot body; and a feeding clamp arranged on the feeding robot body, wherein the feeding clamp comprises: a clamping power member, and a first feeding clamping member and a second feeding clamping member that are symmetrically arranged; the clamping power member is configured to control a distance between the first feeding clamping member and the second feeding clamping member; wherein the first feeding clamping member comprises a first feeding clamping jaw, the second feeding clamping member comprises a second feeding clamping jaw, a first positioning recess with an opening facing the second feeding clamping jaw is formed on the first feeding clamping jaw, a second positioning recess with an opening facing the first feeding clamping jaw is formed on the second feeding clamping jaw; when first feeding clamping jaw and the second feeding clamping jaw clamp the fin stack under an action of the clamping power member, two ends of a positioning pin inserted in the fin stack are respectively inserted into the first positioning recess and the second positioning recess; wherein the positioning pin is inserted into an insertion port of each fin in the fin stack by a positioning pin inserting robot after the fin stack is formed; after the positioning pin passes through the insertion port of each fin in the fin stack, a first end of the positioning pin is supported on the lifting support plate, and a second end of the positioning pin is exposed above the fin stack, so that the first end of the positioning pin and the second end of the positioning pin are capable of being clamped in the first positioning recess and the second positioning recess, respectively; an end plate mounting device corresponding to the end plate mounting station, wherein the end plate mounting device is configured to mount end plate members to both ends of the fin stack after the fin conveying line conveys the fin stack from the fin storing-fetching station to the end plate mounting station; wherein the end plate mounting device comprises at least two end plate mounting robots, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the fin conveying line, and each end plate mounting robot comprises: an end plate mounting robot body; a connecting beam mounted on the end plate mounting robot body, wherein a clamping power member is provided in the connecting beam, and a first telescopic end and a second telescopic end are formed on two ends of the clamping power member, respectively; two end plate clamps respectively provided on the first telescopic end and the second telescopic end, wherein the two end plate clamps are configured to move towards or away from each other under an action of the clamping power member to clamp or release the end plate member; and a pushing member mounted on the connecting beam, wherein the pushing member is configured to push the end plate member clamped in the end plate clamps to mount the end plate member to the fin stack; a pipe inserting device corresponding to the pipe inserting station, wherein the pipe inserting device comprises a pipe inserting robot, the pipe inserting robot is configured to insert a pipe member into the fin stack after the end plate member is mounted and the fin conveying line conveys the fin stack to the pipe inserting station; wherein the pipe inserting robot comprises a pipe inserting robot body and a pipe inserting clamp, the pipe inserting clamp is connected to the pipe inserting robot body and comprises two spaced pipe inserting assemblies; each of the pipe inserting assemblies comprises a middle connecting portion and at least one pipe gripper arranged on the middle connecting portion; the pipe inserting device grips the pipe member through the pipe gripper and inserts the pipe member into the fin stack under driving of the pipe inserting robot body; and a nitrogen charging device corresponding to the nitrogen charging station, wherein the nitrogen charging device comprises a nitrogen charging apparatus, a nitrogen charging docking member, and a nitrogen charging robot, wherein the nitrogen charging robot is configured to clamp the nitrogen charging docking member to dock the nitrogen charging docking member with the pipe member of the fin stack, and the nitrogen charging apparatus charges nitrogen into the pipe member through the nitrogen charging docking member.
2 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 1 , wherein a support protrusion extends upwards from the lifting support plate, and the support protrusion is configured to support each of the fin stacks so that a clamping gap is formed between a bottom of the fin stack and the lifting support plate.
3 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 2 , wherein the first feeding clamping jaw and the second feeding clamping jaw are respectively connected to the clamping power member through an adapter plate; a first positioning clamping plate perpendicular to the adapter plate is formed on the first feeding clamping jaw, and the first positioning recess with the opening facing the second feeding jaw is formed on the first positioning clamping plate; and a second positioning clamping plate perpendicular to the adapter plate is formed on the second feeding clamping jaw, and the second positioning recess with the opening facing the first feeding clamping jaw is formed on the second positioning clamping plate.
4 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 3 , wherein a guiding inclined surface is formed at an end of the second positioning clamping plate, and the guiding inclined surface is configured to guide the first end of the positioning pin into the second positioning recess during movement of the second feeding clamping jaw to the clamping gap.
5 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 3 , wherein the first feeding clamping jaw further comprises a first connecting plate, the first connecting plate is arranged perpendicular to the first positioning clamping plate, and the first positioning clamping plate is detachably connected to the adapter plate through the first connecting plate; and the second feeding clamping jaw further comprises a second connecting plate, the second connecting plate is arranged perpendicular to the second positioning clamping plate, and the second positioning clamping plate is detachably connected to the adapter plate through the second connecting plate.
6 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 5 , wherein the second connecting plate extends away from the first connecting plate and beyond an edge of the adapter plate.
7 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 1 , wherein the fin conveying line comprises a plurality of rollers arranged at intervals along a conveying direction; the fin conveying line further comprises a supporting plate thereon, the feeding robot is configured to place the fin stack on the supporting plate such that the positioning pin in the fin stack is parallel to a width direction of the fin conveying line and parallel to the supporting plate, and the fin conveying line conveys the fin stack along a running direction of the fin conveying line via the supporting plate.
8 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 7 , wherein the end plate mounting device comprises a lifting stopper, the lifting stopper comprises a lifting driving member and a stopping portion, the lifting driving member is arranged below the end plate mounting station, the stopping portion is connected to an output end of the lifting driving member, and the stopping portion is configured to lift and lower between adjacent rollers under an action of the lifting driving member.
9 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 8 , wherein the stopping portion comprises at least two stopping blocks arranged at intervals along an axial direction of the roller, and the lifting driving member is configured to drive the at least two stopping blocks to rise to a position above the roller to stop the supporting plate when the supporting plate is transported to the end plate mounting station.
10 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 9 , wherein the end plate mounting device comprises a jacking member located upstream of the lifting stopper, and the jacking member comprises: a jacking block driving member arranged below the fin conveying line; and a jacking block connected to an output end of the jacking block driving member; wherein the jacking block is lifted and lowered between adjacent rollers to lift the supporting plate to a target height under an action of the jacking block driving member.
11 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 1 , wherein each of the pipe grippers comprises a gripper driving member and gripper tips; a first telescopic end and a second telescopic end are formed on the gripper driving member, and a number of the gripper tips is two, and the two gripper tips are respectively mounted on the first telescopic end and the second telescopic end; and a gripper recess is formed on each of the gripper tips, and the pipe member is configured to be clamped in a gripper position formed by the two gripper recesses.
12 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen charging apparatus is arranged in a nitrogen charging room, the nitrogen charging room is mounted on the nitrogen charging station, the nitrogen charging room is provided with a mounting opening, the nitrogen charging pipe extends from the mounting opening to the outside of the nitrogen charging room, and the nitrogen charging docking member is connected to the nitrogen charging pipe.
13 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 12 , wherein an elastic member is provided between the nitrogen charging pipe and the nitrogen charging room, one end of the elastic member is fixed to a side wall of the nitrogen charging room, and the other end of the elastic member is connected to the nitrogen charging pipe in the nitrogen charging room; the elastic member is deformed when the nitrogen charging pipe is moved outwards to be docked with the pipe member; and when nitrogen charging is completed and the nitrogen charging robot releases the nitrogen charging pipe, the elastic member drives the nitrogen charging pipe to reset under an action of an elastic restoring force.
14 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 12 , wherein the nitrogen charging pipe is provided with an elastic pipe section.
15 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen charging robot comprises: a nitrogen charging robot body; and a nitrogen charging clamp mounted on the nitrogen charging robot body; wherein the nitrogen charging clamp comprises a clamping driving member and a clamping jaw assembly connected to the clamping driving member, the clamping jaw assembly comprises a first clamping jaw and a second clamping jaw symmetrically arranged, the first clamping jaw and the second clamping jaw are each formed with a clamping recess, and the clamping recesses are configured to clamp the nitrogen charging pipe.
16 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 15 , wherein a docking channel is formed on the nitrogen charging docking member, the docking channel is gradually expanded away from the nitrogen charging pipe, and the docking channel is communicated with the nitrogen charging pipe.
17 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 1 , wherein the fin conveying line comprises an upstream conveying line and a downstream conveying line; the upstream conveying line comprises a plurality of rollers arranged at intervals along a conveying direction of the upstream conveying line; the downstream conveying line comprises a conveying driving member and a conveyor belt; the end plate mounting station and the pipe inserting station are located on the upstream conveyor line, and the nitrogen charging station is located on the downstream conveying line; a pipe expanding device and a drying device are provided between the upstream conveying line and the downstream conveying line, and the fin stack is transported between the upstream conveying line and the pipe expanding device, between the pipe expanding device and the drying device, and between the drying device and the downstream conveying line by a transfer robot.
18 . The heat exchanger production line according to claim 17 , wherein the transfer robot comprises a transfer robot body and a transfer clamp mounted on the transfer robot body; the transfer clamp comprises a transfer beam, a transfer driving member and two transfer clamping plates, wherein the transfer beam is connected to the transfer robot body, the transfer driving member is mounted on the transfer beam, a first telescopic end and a second telescopic end are formed on the transfer driving member, the two transfer clamping plates are respectively arranged on the first telescopic end and the second telescopic end, and the transfer clamping plates are configured to clamp the end plate members at both ends of the fin stack.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial no. 202510378193.2, filed on Mar. 27, 2025. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. BACKGROUND Technical Field The present application relates to the field of air conditioning manufacturing technologies, and particularly relates to a heat exchanger production line. Description of Related Art In the air conditioning industry, heat exchangers refer to evaporators and condensers, which play the roles of evaporation, heat dissipation, and heat exchange. They are important components of cooling systems. A manufacturing process of the heat exchanger includes various working procedures such as copper pipe insertion, nitrogen charging, and welding. In general, a worker transfers a fin stack stored in a buffer region to corresponding work station by using a material conveying vehicle for manual pipe insertion, nitrogen charging, welding, and other working procedures. Every time one heat exchanger is processed, the worker needs to bend down to take and lift the fin stack, and a large amount of invalid transferring carrying exists in this process, so that a production efficiency is greatly reduced, and manpower labor intensity is high. SUMMARY Some embodiments of the present application provide a heat exchanger production line to solve the problems that in the related art, when a heat exchanger is processed and transported among different stations, a manpower dependence degree is excessively high, mechanical and intelligent degrees are low, and a labor cost is high. Some embodiments of the present application provide a heat exchanger production line, including: a support frame;a fin conveying line mounted on the support frame, where at least a fin storing-fetching station, an end plate mounting station, a pipe inserting station, and a nitrogen charging station are arranged along a conveying direction of the fin conveying line;a fin storing-fetching device located at one end of the fin conveying line, and the fin storing-fetching device includes: a storing-fetching bracket having a storage space formed therein;a bottom plate horizontally arranged in the storage space of the storing-fetching bracket, where the bottom plate includes a plurality of fin stacking pins vertically arranged on the bottom plate, and a first end of each fin stacking pin is fixed on the bottom plate;a lifting support plate arranged parallel to and above the bottom plate, where the lifting support is configured to reciprocate along a height direction of the storing-fetching bracket; a plurality of through holes are formed in the lifting support plate, the plurality of fin stacking pins respectively pass through the plurality of through holes, and a second end of each fin stacking pin extends out of a side of the lifting support plate away from the bottom plate, where each fin stacking pin is configured such that: when a plurality of fins fall into the storage space, the second end of the fin stacking pin is inserted into an insertion hole of a corresponding fin, where the fins strung in series by fin stacking pin form one fin stack; anda feeding robot configured to transfer the fin stack from the lifting support plate to the fin storing-fetching station when the lifting support plate lifts the fin stack to a target height; and the feeding robot includes: a feeding robot body; anda feeding clamp arranged on the feeding robot body, where the feeding clamp includes: a clamping power member, and a first feeding clamping member and a second feeding clamping member that are symmetrically arranged; the clamping power member is configured to control a distance between the first feeding clamping member and the second feeding clamping member; where the first feeding clamping member includes a first feeding clamping jaw, the second feeding clamping member includes a second feeding clamping jaw, a first positioning recess with an opening facing the second feeding clamping jaw is formed on the first feeding clamping jaw, a second positioning recess with an opening facing the first feeding clamping jaw is formed on the second feeding clamping jaw; when first feeding clamping jaw and the second feeding clamping jaw clamp the fin stack under an action of the clamping power member, two ends of a positioning pin inserted in the fin stack are respectively inserted into the first positioning recess and the second positioning recess; where the positioning pin is inserted into an insertion port of each fin in the fin stack by a positioning pin inserting robot after the fin stack is formed; after the positioning pin passes through the insertion port of each fin in the fin stack, a first end of the positioning pin is supported on the lifting support plate, and a second end of the positioning pin is exposed above the fin stack, so that the first e