Heat exchanger fin separation device

Abstract

To separate a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a laminated state of a large number of heat exchanger fins, without deforming the fins.SOLUTION: A control unit 80 drives a moving device 20 to move a separation unit 16 from one end to the other end of a fin laminate body 30 in a direction of lamination thereof; stores positions of a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins 40 set in advance; and drives a small-claw member vertical movement device 72 to cause a small-claw member 50 to enter an empty space 55 at the stored position, when the small-claw member 50 corresponding to the stored position reaches while the moving device 20 is driven to move the separation unit 16 to a one-end side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a separation device for separating a large number of stacked heat exchanger fins into a predetermined number of fins. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A heat exchanger such as a cooler is configured by inserting heat exchange tubes, through which a heat medium flows, into stacked fins. Heat exchanger fins include round tube heat exchanger fins that have multiple through holes for inserting round heat exchange tubes, and flat tube fins that use flat tubes as heat exchange tubes. A heat exchanger is constructed by stacking a plurality of these heat exchanger fins.

[0003] Below, a conventional technique in which flat tube fins are stacked will be described as an example of a heat exchanger fin. For example, Patent Document 1 (International Publication No. 2016 / 125309) discloses an apparatus that stacks flat tube fins manufactured by a flat tube fin manufacturing apparatus in a stacking device, and then removes the stacked flat tube fins from the stacking device while maintaining the stacked state.

[0004] Furthermore, Cited Document 2 (WO 2016 / 203593) discloses a flat tube insertion device that inserts flat tubes into cutouts in a fin stack in which a predetermined number of flat tube fins are stacked. The flat tube insertion device is disclosed to have a fin stack arrangement section in which a fin stack is formed by stacking multiple flat tube fins horizontally in the thickness direction (arranged so that the width direction of the flat tube fins faces up and down), and a long guide body is inserted in the stacking direction so that the cutouts of the multiple flat tube fins communicate with at least one of the multiple cutouts lined up in the longitudinal direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 125309 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2016 / 203593 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As in Patent Document 1, after removing a large number of flat tube fins stacked in a stacking device of a flat tube fin manufacturing apparatus, it is necessary to separate the specified number of flat tube fins required for the heat exchanger from the large number of flat tube fins before arranging a specified number of flat tube fins in the fin stack arrangement section provided in the flat tube insertion device of Patent Document 2.

[0007] When separating a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a fin stack in which a large number of heat exchanger fins are stacked, it is possible to insert some kind of member between adjacent heat exchanger fins to separate them.

[0008] On the other hand, in recent years, efforts have been made to make heat exchanger fins thinner, resulting in extremely low rigidity. In order to separate a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a fin stack in which a large number of heat exchanger fins with low rigidity are stacked, if multiple members of some kind are inserted between adjacent heat exchanger fins, there is a risk that the heat exchanger fins will deform.

[0009] Furthermore, when the fin stack 30 is formed by stacking the heat exchanger fins 40 having low rigidity as described above, there is a possibility that undulations with concaves and convexes in the stacking direction may occur, as shown in FIG. When separating a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a fin stack that has such undulations, even if you try to insert multiple members into the gaps between adjacent heat exchanger fins along the length of the heat exchanger fins, it is difficult to insert the multiple members because the gaps are undulating. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a device that can reliably separate a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins, even when a fin stack in which a large number of heat exchanger fins are stacked is particularly wavy.

[0011] According to the heat exchanger fin separating device of the present invention, there is provided a device for separating a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a fin stack in which a plurality of heat exchanger fins are stacked in the plate thickness direction, the device comprising: an arrangement section for arranging the fin stack with the stacking direction facing horizontally; a separation unit that is arranged above the fin stack arranged in the arrangement section and extends in the length direction of the heat exchanger fins, which is a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction in a horizontal plane; a movement device that moves the separation unit in the stacking direction of the fin stack; a plurality of small jaw members that are arranged in the separation unit and have a thickness narrower than the spacing between the heat exchanger fins; a plurality of small jaw member up-down movement devices that are arranged in the separation unit and move each of the small jaw members into the gaps between predetermined heat exchanger fins; a plurality of sensors that are arranged corresponding to each of the small jaw members and are capable of detecting each of the heat exchanger fins that make up the fin stack; and a control unit, The control unit drives the moving device to move the separation unit from one end of the fin stack in the stacking direction to the other end, and while the separation unit is moving, each of the sensors detects the heat exchanger fins one by one from one end of the fin stack, and when it detects a position where a predetermined number of fins has been detected, it stores the position.After all of the sensors have detected a position where the predetermined number of fins has been detected, the control unit drives the moving device to move the separation unit toward one end, and when the small jaw member corresponding to the stored position reaches the stored position, it drives the small jaw member up and down movement device to cause the small jaw member to enter a gap between the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins at the stored position and the remaining fin stack.As the separation unit moves, each of the small jaw members presses against the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins, thereby separating the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from the remaining fin stack.

[0012] The effect of this configuration is as follows. When separating a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a fin stack that has undulations, the positions of the gaps between the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins, which are the separation positions, vary in the stacking direction due to the undulations. Therefore, while moving the separation unit in the stacking direction, the number of heat exchanger fins is counted and the positions of the gaps between the heat exchanger fins for inserting the small claw members are detected, and the small claw members can be inserted at the detected positions. Therefore, even if undulations occur, multiple small claw members can be reliably inserted into the gaps between the predetermined heat exchanger fins to widen the gaps.

[0013] The separation unit further includes a plurality of large claw members that are longer than the small claw members in length for entering gaps between a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the remaining fin stack, and one or more large claw member up-and-down movement devices that are provided in the separation unit and cause each of the large claw members to enter gaps between predetermined flattened tube fins. After the separation unit moves so that each of the small claw members presses against the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the gaps are widened, the control unit drives each of the small claw member up-and-down movement devices to move each of the small claw members up-and-down. The present invention may be characterized in that the large claw members are raised from the gap, the moving device is driven to move each of the large claw members into the gap between the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the remaining fin stack, the one or more large claw member up and down movement devices are driven to cause each of the large claw members to enter the gap between the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the remaining fin stack, and the moving device is driven to cause each of the large claw members to press against the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins, thereby separating the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from the remaining fin stack. According to this configuration, when it is difficult to move the heat exchanger fins using only the small claw members, the large claw members can reliably separate the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from the remaining fin stack.

[0014] The heat exchanger fin may be a fin for a flat tube having a plurality of notches cut out in the lengthwise direction from one side to the other in the widthwise direction, the arrangement portion being two or more guide bodies extending in the stacking direction that are inserted into two or more of the plurality of notches in the fin stack to hold the fin stack, and the small claw members may be characterized in that they enter the gap above the guide bodies. With this configuration, when the small claw member descends to a location where no guide body is provided, there is a risk that the fins for the flattened tubes will be deformed by the pressing force of the small claw member, but when the small claw member descends to a location where a guide body is provided, the pressing force of the small claw member is received by the guide body, preventing the fins for the flattened tubes from being deformed.

[0015] The tip of each of the small claw members may be bifurcated. According to this configuration, the contact resistance with the heat exchanger fins when the heat exchanger fins are inserted can be reduced, and the heat exchanger fins can be inserted smoothly, preventing deformation of the heat exchanger fins.

[0016] The tip of each of the large claw members may be split into two or more parts. According to this configuration, the contact resistance with the heat exchanger fins when the heat exchanger fins are inserted can be reduced, and the heat exchanger fins can be inserted smoothly, preventing deformation of the heat exchanger fins.

[0017] According to the heat exchanger fin separating device of the present invention, a device for separating a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a fin stack in which a plurality of heat exchanger fins are stacked in the plate thickness direction includes an arrangement section for arranging the fin stack with the stacking direction facing horizontally, a separation unit that is arranged above the fin stack arranged in the arrangement section and extends in the length direction of the heat exchanger fins, which is a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction in a horizontal plane, a movement device that moves the separation unit in the stacking direction of the fin stack, a plurality of small jaw members that are arranged in the separation unit and have a thickness narrower than the distance between the heat exchanger fins, a plurality of small jaw member up-and-down movement devices that are arranged in the separation unit and move each of the small jaw members into the gaps between predetermined heat exchanger fins, a plurality of individual movement devices that are arranged in the separation unit and move each of the small jaw members in the stacking direction, and a plurality of small jaw members that are arranged corresponding to each of the small jaw members and are capable of detecting the heat exchanger fins that make up the fin stack one by one. and a control unit, wherein the control unit drives the moving device to move the separation unit from one end of the fin stack in the stacking direction to the other end, and while the separation unit is moving, each sensor detects the heat exchanger fins one by one from one end of the fin stack, and when it detects a position where a predetermined number of fins has been detected, it stores the position, and after all of the sensors have detected a position where the predetermined number of fins has been detected, it stops driving the moving device and drives each of the individual moving devices to move each of the small jaw members to the stored position, and when each of the small jaw members reaches the stored position, it drives the small jaw member up and down movement device to cause the small jaw member to enter a gap between the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins at the stored position and the remaining fin stack, and then drives the moving device so that each of the small jaw members presses against the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins to separate the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from the remaining fin stack.

[0018] The effect of this configuration is as follows. When separating a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a fin stack that has undulations, the positions of the gaps between the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins, which are the separation positions, vary in the stacking direction due to the undulations. Therefore, while moving the separation unit in the stacking direction, the number of heat exchanger fins is counted, and the positions of the gaps between the heat exchanger fins for inserting the small claw members are detected. The small claw members are then moved to the detected positions, and can be inserted into the gaps at those positions. Therefore, even if undulations occur, multiple small claw members can be reliably inserted into the gaps between the predetermined heat exchanger fins to widen the gaps. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, even when a fin stack in which a large number of heat exchanger fins are stacked is particularly wavy, when a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins are separated, the heat exchanger fins can be separated reliably and without deformation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a heat exchanger fin. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a heat exchanger fin separation device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of a heat exchanger fin separation device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view of a heat exchanger fin separation device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the heat exchanger fin separation device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the attachment structure of the small claw member. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the attachment structure of the large claw member. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the small claw members. [Figure 10] 10 is a continuation of FIG. 9 illustrating the operation of the small claw member. [Figure 11]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the attachment structure of the small claw members of the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the small claw member up-and-down moving device of the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing the operation of the small claw members of the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a fin stack having unevenness and undulations in the stacking direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] (Configuration of heat exchanger fins) First, the heat exchanger fin will be described with reference to FIG. The heat exchanger fins include round tube heat exchanger fins 46, which have through holes 44 for inserting round heat exchange tubes, as shown in Fig. 1(A), and flat tube fins 40, which have multiple notches 42 formed at predetermined intervals along the length for inserting flat tubes (not shown) as heat exchange tubes, as shown in Fig. 1(B). The notches 42 are cut out from one side of the flat tube fin 40 to the other side in the width direction. In the following embodiment, a flattened tube fin 40 will be described as an example of a heat exchanger fin.

[0022] The flattened tube fins manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus for the flattened tube fins 40 are in a state where a plurality of flattened tube fins are stacked, and this is called a fin stack 30. The separation device 10 according to the present invention is a device for arranging the fin stack 30 and separating from the fin stack 30 a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 required for a heat exchanger.

[0023] (Overall configuration of the device of the first embodiment) Next, the separating device 10 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 7. Here, the left side of the drawing is the front side with respect to the stacking direction of the fin stack, and the right side of the drawing is the rear side, and the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the fin stack in the horizontal plane is the length direction of the flattened tube fins.

[0024] The separating device 10 includes a base 14 on which a plurality of guide bodies 12 are arranged, and a separating unit 16 arranged on the upper part of the base 14 . The fin stack 30 held by the guide body 12 is configured by stacking a large number of flattened tube fins 40 in the plate thickness direction. Note that in Fig. 2, the upper surface of the fin stack 30 is not shown as if multiple flattened tube fins 40 were stacked.

[0025] The fin stack 30 is arranged so that the opening side of the notch 42 of each flattened tube fin 40 faces downward, and the guide body 12 is inserted into this notch 42 and held by the base 14. The guide body 12 is a long, plate-like member extending along the stacking direction of the fin stack 30 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the stacking direction), and its thickness (the width in the longitudinal direction of the flattened tube fin 40) is formed to be slightly narrower than the width of the cutout portion 42 (the width in the longitudinal direction of the flattened tube fin 40), allowing it to easily enter the cutout portion 42 of the fin stack 30. In this embodiment, six guide bodies 12 are arranged at equal intervals on the upper surface of the base 14. That is, the fin stack 30 is held to the base 14 by six guide bodies 12. However, the number of guide bodies 12 is not limited to six.

[0026] Guide members 22 are arranged on the upper surface of the base 14 near both ends of the flattened tube fins 40 in the longitudinal direction, respectively, to support the separation unit 16 so that it can move in the stacking direction. At both longitudinal ends of the flat tube fin 40 of the separation unit 16, there are provided gripping portions 24 for gripping the guide member 22, and the separation unit 16 is configured so as to be movable in the stacking direction on the upper surface of the base 14. In Figures 2 to 7, the gripping portion 24 is shown as being separated from the separation unit 16, but in reality, a fixing member is provided to fix the gripping portion 24 to the separation unit 16, and the fixing member is omitted from the illustration here.

[0027] In addition, a moving device 20 that moves the separation unit 16 in the stacking direction is provided on the outer side of one of the two guide members 22 on the upper surface of the base 14 (on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the flattened tube fins 40). The movement device 20 in this embodiment employs a ball screw. The ball screw has a screw shaft 28, a motor 26 that rotates the screw shaft 28, and a nut portion 32 that moves linearly as the screw shaft 28 rotates. The nut portion 32 is fixed to the separation unit 16. However, the movement device 20 is not limited to a ball screw, and a cylinder or the like may also be used.

[0028] The separation unit 16 is provided with a plurality of small claw members 50 and a plurality of large claw members 52. The small claw member 50 has a thickness narrower than the spacing 55 between the flat tube fins 40, and its vertical length is shorter than the widthwise length (vertical direction on the drawing) of the flat tube fins 40. A plurality of small claw members 50 are provided along the length direction of the flattened tube fin 40 . The small claw members 50 have the function of entering the gaps 55 between the flattened tube fins 40 before the large claw members 52 do, thereby widening the gaps 55 .

[0029] The tip of each small claw member 50 is bifurcated, which reduces contact resistance with the flattened tube fins 40 when the small claw members 50 enter the gaps 55 between the flattened tube fins 40, allowing for smooth entry and preventing deformation of the flattened tube fins 40.

[0030] The large claw members 52 are thicker than the small claw members 50 and are longer in the vertical direction than the small claw members 50. However, the large claw members 52 do not need to be longer in the vertical direction than the small claw members 50 as long as they are long enough to penetrate into the gaps between a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 and the remaining fin stack 30. In such cases, the large claw member up / down movement device 76, which will be described later, can operate the large claw members 52 so that their penetration length is longer than that of the small claw members 50. The large claw members 52 are provided along the entire length of the flat tube fins 40, and enter the gaps 55 widened by the small claw members 50, pressing against a predetermined number of the flat tube fins 40 to separate them from the remaining fin stack 30. The large claw member 52 may be formed from a single member across the entire length of the flattened tube fin 40, or multiple members may be arranged continuously across the entire length of the flattened tube fin 40.

[0031] In this embodiment, the tip of each large claw member 52 is formed in a comb shape with two or more prongs, which reduces contact resistance with the flattened tube fins 40 when the large claw member 52 enters the gaps 55 between the flattened tube fins 40, allowing for smooth entry and preventing deformation of the flattened tube fins 40.

[0032] The small jaw members 50 are each attached to a first plate 70. The first plate 70 is attached to a small jaw member up / down movement device 72, and is driven by the small jaw member up / down movement device 72 to move the first plate 70 up and down. The small claw member vertical movement device 72 is configured by a linear motion device such as a cylinder, and has a main body 72a attached to the front face of the separation unit 16, and a first plate 70 attached to the lower end of a rod 72b.

[0033] The plurality of small claw member up-and-down moving devices 72 are attached to a long second plate 75 along the length of the flattened tube fins 40 . The second plate 75 is provided in the separation unit 16 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the flattened tube fins 40. A second plate moving device 79 is provided at either end of the second plate 75 in the longitudinal direction, and the second plate 75 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the flattened tube fins 40 by driving the second plate moving device 79. The second plate moving device 79 can employ an air cylinder or the like, but is not limited to an air cylinder and can employ other linear motion devices such as a ball screw.

[0034] The sensors 36 are provided near the small claw members 50 of the first plate 70. However, the attachment position of the sensors 36 is not limited to the vicinity of the small claw members 50, as long as they are provided so as to correspond to each small claw member 50. The sensor 36 can detect the flattened tube fins 40 one by one and count a predetermined number of the flattened tube fins 40. A plurality of sensors 36 are also attached to the second plate 75 and move as the second plate 75 moves in the length direction of the flattened tube fins 40 .

[0035] When detecting the flattened tube fins 40 one by one and counting the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, each sensor 36 does so above the guide body 12. Because the small claw members 50 must enter the gaps 55 from above the guide body 12, each sensor 36 accurately determines the positions of the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 above the guide body 12. Then, after the sensor 36 detects the position of a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 above the guide body 12, the second plate moving device 79 moves the second plate so that the small claw member 50 is positioned above the guide body 12. Furthermore, if the small claw member 50 is lowered in a position where the guide body 12 is not present, there is a risk that the flat tube fins 40 that come into contact with the small claw member 50 will be deformed, but if the small claw member 50 is lowered in a position where the guide body 12 is present, the rigidity of the guide body 12 can prevent deformation of the flat tube fins 40.

[0036] The large claw members 52 are attached to a third plate 74 on the rear surface of the separation unit 16. The third plate 74 is an elongated member extending along the length of the flattened tube fins 40, and multiple large claw members 52 are arranged at the lower end of the third plate 74. The third plate 74 is provided so as to be movable up and down by a large claw member vertical movement device 76. The large claw member vertical movement device 76 is disposed on the rear side of the third plate 74, and moves the third plate 74 up and down relative to the separation unit 16.

[0037] (Control method of the first embodiment) Next, the control by the control unit 80 will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10. Figure 8 is a block diagram of the control system. The separating device 10 is provided with a control unit 80 that controls the operation of the entire device. The control unit 80 includes a CPU and memory consisting of ROM and RAM, and controls each component of the separating device 10 based on a preset operating program. The number of flattened tube fins 40 detected by the sensor 36 is input to the control unit 80, and it outputs control signals to the moving device 20, the second plate moving device 79, the small jaw member vertical movement device 72, and the large jaw member vertical movement device 76.

[0038] The separation procedure using the small claw member 50 and the large claw member 52 will be described below. 9 and 10 show an example in which six small claw members 50 are arranged, and from the top of the drawing they are designated as 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e, and 50f. Sensors arranged near each of the small claw members 50a to 50f are designated as 36a to 36f.

[0039] 9 and 10, the separation unit 16 is omitted from FIG. 9(A) onwards. In addition, in Figures 9 and 10, when the small claw member 50 is positioned above the gap 55 between a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 and the flattened tube fin 40 located behind it, the square representing the small claw member 50 is hatched, and when the small claw member is further inserted into the gap 55, the square representing the small claw member is filled in. 9 and 10, gaps 55 between the flattened tube fins 40, which are the separation positions, are shown shaded.

[0040] First, as shown in FIG. 9(A), the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to move the separation unit 16 to one end side of the fin stack 30 (the end on the front side in the stacking direction). Then, the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to move the separation unit 16 from one end side to the other end side of the fin stack 30 (from the front side to the rear side in the stacking direction). At this time, the sensors 36a to 36f detect the number of flattened tube fins 40. The control unit 80 counts the number of flattened tube fins 40 detected by the sensors 36a to 36f.

[0041] 9(B) shows the state where the sensor 36b first detects the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 and the small claw member 50b is positioned above the gap 55 between the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 and the flattened tube fin 40 located behind it. The control unit 80 stores this position.

[0042] Each of the sensors 36a-36f is disposed forward of each of the small prong members 50a-50f. The position can be set arbitrarily, but for example, if the sensors 36a-36f are disposed forward of each of the small prong members 50a-50f by half the length of the gap between the flattened tube fins 40, when each of the sensors 36a-36f detects a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, the corresponding small prong member 50a-50f will be located above the gap 55 between the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 and the flattened tube fin 40 located behind it.

[0043] However, when each sensor 36a to 36f is positioned forward of each small claw member 50a to 50f and is separated by an arbitrary distance, the control unit 80 stores the distance between each sensor 36a to 36f and each small claw member 50a to 50f in advance, and when the control unit 80 controls the moving device 20, it subtracts the previously stored distance between the sensor and the small claw member from the position detected by each sensor 36a to 36f and controls the moving device 20.

[0044] Furthermore, when each sensor 36a to 36f counts the number of flattened tube fins 40, it detects the locations where flattened tube fins 40 are present as on and the locations where they are not present (i.e., gaps 55) as off. When each sensor 36a to 36f that detects a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 is off, it detects the position of the corresponding gap 55, so in this case, each sensor 36a to 36f and each small claw member 50a to 50f may be arranged at the same position in the stacking direction.

[0045] 9(C) shows that the sensors 36a and 36c have each detected a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, and the small claw members 50a and 50c are positioned above the gap 55. The control unit 80 stores this position.

[0046] 10(A) shows that sensors 36d and 36e have each detected a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, and small claw members 50d and 50e are positioned above gap 55. This position is stored in memory by control unit 80. As a result, the positions of the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 are stored for all of the sensors 36a to 36f.

[0047] After the positions of the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 are stored for all of the sensors 36a to 36f, the control unit 80 controls the movement device 20 to stop the movement of the separation unit 16. Then, the control unit 80 drives the small jaw member up-and-down movement device 72 of the small jaw members 50d, 50e that are in the last detected position, and causes the small jaw members 50d, 50e to enter the gap 55. Therefore, of the multiple small claw members 50a to 50f, the small claw member that is first to enter the gap 55 is the part that has a convex undulation toward the upstream side in the direction in which a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 are separated (toward one end side of the fin stack 30 (forward in the stacking direction)).

[0048] Thereafter, the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to move the separation unit 16 toward one end of the fin stack 30 (toward the front in the stacking direction), in the opposite direction from the direction in which it had moved up until then. At this time, the small claw members 50d, 50e that first enter the gap press a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 in the movement direction of the separation unit 16 (i.e., toward one end of the fin stack 30 (forward in the stacking direction)). As the small claw members 50d, 50e press against the convex wavy portions, the convex wavy portions are straightened and gradually become straight.

[0049] The control unit 80 stops the moving device 20 when it reaches the position detected later, in the opposite order to the order in which the positions of the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 detected by each sensor 36a to 36f were detected earlier, and causes the small claw member 50 at the corresponding position to enter the gap 55.

[0050] In Figure 10 (B), the small claw members 50a, 50c, and 50f have reached the position of the gap 55 detected earlier, and at this position the control unit 80 stops the moving device 20 and drives the small claw member up and down movement device 72 of the small claw members 50a, 50c, and 50f to cause the small claw members 50a, 50c, and 50f to enter the gap 55. At this point, the undulations in the portions pressed by the small claw members 50d and 50e have been corrected.

[0051] 10(C) shows the state where the last small claw member 50b has entered the gap 55. In this state, the undulations of a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 have been eliminated.

[0052] Next, the control unit 80 drives the small jaw member up-and-down movement devices 72 of all the small jaw members 50a to 50f to raise all the small jaw members 50a to 50f from the gaps 55.

[0053] Next, the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to move the large claw member 52 to the position of the gap 55. Thereafter, the control unit 80 drives the large claw member up and down movement device 76 to move the large claw member 52 into the gap 55. Then, the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to move the separation unit 16 toward one end of the fin stack 30 (toward the front in the stacking direction), and presses a predetermined number of flat tube fins 40 with the large claw member 52 to separate them from the remaining fin stack 30.

[0054] In the above-mentioned FIGS. 9 and 10, the swells are shown extremely large for the purpose of visual understanding, but in reality, such large swells do not occur.

[0055] (Overall configuration of the device according to the second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the separation device will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof may be omitted. In this embodiment, each small claw member 50 is provided so as to be able to move individually along the stacking direction.

[0056] The small jaw members 50 are attached to a first plate 70 that is moved up and down by a small jaw member up and down movement device 72. The small jaw member up and down movement device 72 is attached to an individual movement device 84 so that it can move along the stacking direction. An electric cylinder or the like can be used as the individual movement device 84, but it is not limited to an electric cylinder and other linear movement devices can also be used.

[0057] The individual movement device 84 of the small claw member up / down movement device 72 is arranged toward the rear in the stacking direction from a hole portion 82a that penetrates in the front / rear direction of the perforated plate 82 arranged on the front side of the second plate 75, and can move the small claw member up / down movement device 72 in the stacking direction relative to the perforated plate 82. A second perforated plate 86, which protrudes forward in the stacking direction, is attached to the perforated plate 82. A hole 86a is formed in the second perforated plate 86, penetrating it in the vertical direction, and the small jaw member up-down movement device 72 is housed in this hole 86a. The small jaw member up-down movement device 72 is movable in the stacking direction within the range of the hole 86a.

[0058] The sensor 36 is also attached to the front side of the second perforated plate 86 . In this embodiment, the sensor 36 is located on the front side of the small claw members 50 in the stacking direction, so both the sensor 36 and the small claw members 50 can be located above the guide body 12. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to move the second plate 75 in the length direction of the flattened tube fins 40, and therefore it is not necessary to provide a second plate moving device 79.

[0059] (Control method of the second embodiment) FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of the control system of this embodiment. The separating device 10 of this embodiment is provided with a control unit 80 that controls the operation of the entire device. The control unit 80 includes a CPU and memory consisting of ROM and RAM, and controls each component of the separating device 10 based on a preset operating program. The control unit 80 receives the number of flattened tube fins 40 detected by the sensor 36 as input, and outputs control signals to the moving device 20, the multiple individual moving devices 84, the small jaw member vertical movement device 72, and the large jaw member vertical movement device 76.

[0060] Next, the separation procedure according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 14(A), the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to move the separation unit 16 to one end side of the fin stack 30 (the end on the front side in the stacking direction). Then, the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to move the separation unit 16 from one end side to the other end side of the fin stack 30 (from the front side to the rear side in the stacking direction). At this time, the sensors 36a to 36f detect the number of flattened tube fins 40. The control unit 80 counts the number of flattened tube fins 40 detected by the sensors 36a to 36f.

[0061] In FIG. 14(B), the sensor 36b first detects the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, and the sensor 36d finally detects the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40. The control unit 80 stores the positions of a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 for all of the sensors 36a to 36f.

[0062] Then, as shown in Figure 14 (C), after all sensors 36a to 36f have detected the positions of the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 so that sensor 36b, which first detected the positions of the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, is positioned near the positions of the predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, and moves the separation unit 16 from the other end side of the fin stack 30 to one end side (from the rear side to the front side in the stacking direction).

[0063] 14(C), the control unit 80 drives the individual moving devices 84 to move the small claw members 50a to 50f to the positions of a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, respectively.

[0064] Next, the control unit 80 drives the small claw member up-and-down movement devices 72 of the small claw members 50a to 50f to move the small claw members 50a to 50f into the gaps 55. The control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to press a predetermined number of the flattened tube fins 40 with the small claw members 50a to 50f, thereby widening the gap 55.

[0065] Next, the control unit 80 drives the small jaw member up-and-down movement devices 72 of the small jaw members 50a to 50f to raise all of the small jaw members 50a to 50f from the gaps 55.

[0066] Next, the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to move the large claw member 52 to the position of the gap 55. Thereafter, the control unit 80 drives the large claw member up and down movement device 76 to move the large claw member 52 into the gap 55. Then, the control unit 80 drives the moving device 20 to move the separation unit 16 toward one end of the fin stack 30 (toward the front in the stacking direction), and presses a predetermined number of flat tube fins 40 with the large claw member 52 to separate them from the remaining fin stack 30.

[0067] As described above, according to the control method of the first embodiment, the separation unit 16 is moved while the small claw members 50 are inserted into a predetermined gap 55, and a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 are pressed in order starting from the small claw member that inserted first, thereby widening the spacing of the gap 55. According to the control method of the second embodiment, after each small claw member 50 individually enters the gap 55, the separation unit 16 can be moved to press a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40, thereby widening the spacing of the gap 55. In either embodiment, a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 can be separated from the wavy fin stack 30.

[0068] In the two embodiments described above, a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 are separated using both the small claw members 50 and the large claw members 52. However, if a predetermined number of flattened tube fins 40 can be separated using only the small claw members 50, there is no need to use the large claw members 52, and a configuration without the large claw members 52 is also possible.

[0069] Furthermore, in the two embodiments described above, examples of the flattened tube fins 40 have been described as heat exchanger fins. However, the configuration of this embodiment can also be used when separating a predetermined number of round tube heat exchanger fins 46 from a fin stack 30 in which a plurality of round tube heat exchanger fins 46 are stacked. However, in the case of round tube heat exchanger fins 46, the guide body 12 is not necessary, and the fin stack 30 in which round tube heat exchanger fins 46 are stacked is arranged in a flat arrangement section. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10 Separation device 12 Guide body 14 Base 16 Separation Unit 20 Mobile Device 22 Guide member 24 Gripping part 26 Motor 28 axes 30 fin stack 32 Nut part 36 sensors 40 Flat tube fin 42 Notch 44 Through hole 46 Round tube heat exchanger fins 50 Small claw member 52 Large Claw Component 55 Gap 70 Plate 1 72 Small claw member vertical movement device 72a Main body 72b Rod part 74 Third Plate 75 Second Plate 76 Large claw member vertical movement device 79 Second plate moving device 80 Control Unit 82 Perforated Plate 82a Hole 84 Individual Mobility Device 86 Perforated Plate 86a Hole

Claims

1. An apparatus for separating a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a fin stack in which a plurality of heat exchanger fins are stacked in the plate thickness direction, an arrangement section that arranges the fin stack so that the stacking direction is horizontal; a separation unit disposed above the fin stack disposed in the arrangement section and extending in a length direction of the heat exchanger fin, which is a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction in a horizontal plane; a moving device that moves the separation unit in a stacking direction of the fin stack; a plurality of small claw members provided in the separation unit and having a thickness narrower than the gaps between the heat exchanger fins; a plurality of small claw member up-and-down movement devices provided in the separation unit for moving each of the small claw members into a gap between predetermined heat exchanger fins; a plurality of sensors provided corresponding to each of the small claw members, each of which can detect each of the heat exchanger fins constituting the fin stack; a control unit; The control unit The moving device is driven to move the separation unit from one end to the other end in the stacking direction of the fin stack; During the movement of the separation unit, when each of the sensors detects a position where a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins have been detected by detecting the heat exchanger fins one by one from one end of the fin stack, the position is stored; After all of the sensors have detected the position where the predetermined number of fins has been reached, the moving device is driven to move the separation unit toward one end, and when the small claw member corresponding to the stored position reaches the position, the small claw member up-and-down moving device is driven to move the small claw member into the gap between the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins at the stored position and the remaining fin stack, A heat exchanger fin separation device characterized by controlling the movement of the separation unit so that each of the small claw members presses against a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins, thereby separating the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from the remaining fin stack.

2. a plurality of large claw members provided in the separation unit, each of which has a length longer than each of the small claw members to enter gaps between a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the remaining fin stack; one or more large claw member up-and-down movement devices provided in the separation unit for moving each of the large claw members into gaps between predetermined flattened tube fins, The control unit the small claw members press against a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins by the movement of the separation unit, and after the gap is widened, the small claw member up-and-down movement devices are driven to lift the small claw members out of the gap; The moving device is driven to move each of the large claw members into the gap between a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the remaining fin stack, the one or more large claw member up-and-down movement devices are driven to insert each of the large claw members into the gap between a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the remaining fin stack; 2. The heat exchanger fin separation device according to claim 1, wherein the moving device is driven and controlled so that each of the large claw members presses against a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins, thereby separating the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from the remaining fin stack.

3. The heat exchanger fin is a flat tube fin having a plurality of notches cut out from one side to the other side in the width direction, the notches being formed in the length direction, the arrangement portion is two or more guide bodies extending in a stacking direction and inserted into two or more of the plurality of cutout portions of the fin stack to hold the fin stack, 3. The heat exchanger fin separating device according to claim 1, wherein the small claw members enter the gaps above the guide bodies.

4. 3. The heat exchanger fin separating device according to claim 1, wherein each of said small claw members has a bifurcated tip.

5. 3. The heat exchanger fin separating device according to claim 2, wherein each of said large claw members has a tip end that is divided into two or more branches.

6. An apparatus for separating a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from a fin stack in which a plurality of heat exchanger fins are stacked in the plate thickness direction, an arrangement section that arranges the fin stack so that the stacking direction is horizontal; a separation unit disposed above the fin stack disposed in the arrangement section and extending in a length direction of the heat exchanger fin, which is a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction in a horizontal plane; a moving device that moves the separation unit in a stacking direction of the fin stack; a plurality of small claw members provided in the separation unit and having a thickness narrower than the gaps between the heat exchanger fins; a plurality of small claw member up-and-down movement devices provided in the separation unit for moving each of the small claw members into a gap between predetermined heat exchanger fins; a plurality of individual moving devices provided in the separation unit and configured to move each of the small claw members in the stacking direction; a plurality of sensors provided corresponding to each of the small claw members, each of which can detect each of the heat exchanger fins constituting the fin stack; a control unit; The control unit The moving device is driven to move the separation unit from one end to the other end in the stacking direction of the fin stack; During the movement of the separation unit, when each of the sensors detects a position where a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins have been detected by detecting the heat exchanger fins one by one from one end of the fin stack, the position is stored; After all of the sensors have detected the position where the predetermined number of sheets has been reached, the driving of the moving device is stopped, and each of the individual moving devices is driven to move each of the small claw members to the stored position, When each of the small claw members reaches the stored position, the small claw member vertical movement device is driven to insert the small claw members into gaps between the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins at the stored position and the remaining fin stack, A heat exchanger fin separation device characterized by driving the moving device and controlling each of the small claw members to press a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins, thereby separating the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from the remaining fin stack.

7. a plurality of large claw members provided in the separation unit, each of which has a length longer than each of the small claw members to enter gaps between a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the remaining fin stack; one or more large claw member up-and-down movement devices provided in the separation unit for moving each of the large claw members into gaps between predetermined flattened tube fins, The control unit the moving device is driven so that each of the small claw members presses against a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins to widen the gap, and then the small claw member up-and-down moving device is driven to lift each of the small claw members out of the gap; The moving device is driven to move each of the large claw members into the gap between a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the remaining fin stack, the one or more large claw member up-and-down movement devices are driven to insert each of the large claw members into the gap between a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins and the remaining fin stack; 7. A heat exchanger fin separation device according to claim 6, characterized in that the moving device is driven and controlled so that each of the large claw members presses against a predetermined number of heat exchanger fins, thereby separating the predetermined number of heat exchanger fins from the remaining fin stack.

8. The heat exchanger fin is a flat tube fin having a plurality of notches cut out from one side to the other side in the width direction, the notches being formed in the length direction, the arrangement portion is two or more guide bodies extending in a stacking direction and inserted into two or more of the plurality of cutout portions of the fin stack to hold the fin stack, 8. The heat exchanger fin separating device according to claim 6, wherein the small claw members enter the gaps above the guide bodies.

9. 8. The heat exchanger fin separating device according to claim 6, wherein each of the small claw members has a bifurcated tip.

10. 8. The heat exchanger fin separating device according to claim 7, wherein each of the large claw members has a tip end that is split into two or more branches.

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