Heat exchanger and manufacturing method thereof

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.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0070593, filed on Jun. 19, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat exchanger which may be continuously mass-produced by press-fitting heat exchange fins into refrigerant tubes and a manufacturing method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, an air conditioner is an apparatus which maintains indoor air suitable for daily life using a refrigeration cycle. The air conditioner may cool an indoor space by repeating suction of in warm air in the indoor space, heat exchange between the warm air and a refrigerant of a low temperature, and discharge of the heat-exchanged air to the indoor space, or may heat the indoor space by opposite interaction.

The air conditioner may cool or heat an indoor space by the refrigeration cycle in which air circulates along a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator in a regular direction or the reverse direction. The compressor provides a refrigerant in a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous state, and the condenser provides a refrigerant in a normal-temperature and high-pressure liquid state. The expansion valve decompresses the refrigerant in the normal-temperature and high-pressure liquid state, and the evaporator evaporates the decompressed refrigerant into a low-temperature gaseous state.

Air conditioners may be divided into a split type air conditioner in which an outdoor unit and an indoor unit are separated from each other, and an integration type air conditioner in which an outdoor unit and an indoor unit are integrated. In case of a split type air conditioner in which an outdoor unit and an indoor unit are separated from each other, a compressor and a condenser (an outdoor heat exchanger) are provided in the outdoor unit and an evaporator (an indoor heat exchanger) is provided in the indoor unit. A refrigerant may circulate in the outdoor unit and the indoor unit through pipes connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

A heat exchanger, such as the condenser of the outdoor unit or the evaporator of the indoor unit, includes refrigerant tubes along which the refrigerant may flow. A plurality of fins is mounted on the refrigerant tubes and may thus improve heat exchange efficiency. Conventional heat exchangers use circular refrigerant tubes but recent heat exchangers may use plate type refrigerant tubes which may reduce resistance received when external air passes through the heat exchangers. Such heat exchangers may be referred to as plate-fin type heat exchangers. Here, a plurality of fins is mounted on plates provided with refrigerant flow paths, thus improving heat exchange efficiency.

In a conventional plate-fin type heat exchanger, grooves or holes into which plates are inserted are formed on fins, and the plate-fin type heat exchanger is manufactured by inserting the plates into the grooves or holes under the condition that the plural fins are stacked. In order to improve contact between the fins and the plates, a clad is applied prior to insertion of the plates. In this case, insertion of the plates into the grooves or the holes may be difficult due to friction between the stacked fins and the plates and, if the plates are forcibly inserted into the grooves or the holes, the fins may be deformed or be non-uniformly located.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a heat exchanger which may be mass-produced by press-fitting a plurality of fins, stacked by a designated interval, into plates and lower a defect rate in manufacturing, and a manufacturing method thereof.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a heat exchanger which may increase efficiency in a manufacturing process through an improved structure of a transfer apparatus transferring a plurality of fins, and a manufacturing method thereof.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a manufacturing method of a heat exchanger 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 the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows through integration apparatuses, vertically standing and aligning the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows, separating the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in 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.

The pressing of the metal sheet into the plurality of rows of heat exchange fins may be performed such that ends of contact ribs of neighboring heat exchange fins are opposite each other.

In the division of the plurality of rows of heat exchange fins into the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows and the integration of the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows on the integration apparatuses, the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows may be integrated on a first integration apparatus and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows may be integrated on a second integration apparatus.

In the vertically standing and aligning of the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows, the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows may be rotated such that ends of contact ribs face downward.

In the vertically standing and aligning of the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows, the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows may be aligned on integration units by inserting the integration units between neighboring contact ribs of each of the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows.

In the vertically standing and aligning of the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows, the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows may be integrated on the integration units by inserting blades between neighboring contact ribs of each of the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows.

Vibration may be applied to the integration units, and the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows may slide along the integration units by vibration applied to the integration units.

The manufacturing method may further include, when the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows vertically stand and are aligned, transferring the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows through a collector and integrating the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows such that neighboring heat exchange fins contact each other.

The heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows may be transferred by blades mounted on a belt and moved such that neighboring heat exchange fins contact each other.

In the separation of the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows into a number of heat exchange fins, which may be simultaneously press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes, through the separation apparatuses, the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows may be separated into a number of heat exchange fins, which may be simultaneously press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes, by blades.

In the press-fitting of the separated heat exchange fins into the refrigerant tubes, the separated heat exchange fins may be press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes on which headers are mounted.

The manufacturing method may further include mounting headers on the refrigerant tubes, after the press-fitting of the separated heat exchange fins into the refrigerant tubes.

The processing of the metal sheet into the plurality of rows of heat exchange fins may be performed after the metal sheet wound on a roll is unwound into a state, in which pressing of the metal sheet may be performed, by an uncoiler.

In the vertically standing and aligning of the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows, the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows may be integrated on integration units by inserting wires between neighboring contact ribs of each of the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows.

Vibration may be applied to the wires, and the heat exchange fins in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins in even-numbered rows slide on the integration units by vibration applied to the wires.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes provided with flow paths, in which refrigerant flows, formed therein and stacked in the vertical direction, headers combined with both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and communicating the plurality of refrigerant tubes with each other, and a plurality of heat exchange fins combined with the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in the vertical direction so as to intersect the plurality of refrigerant tubes, wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange fins includes a plurality of contact ribs interconnected, and interval maintenance parts protruding in the forward and backward direction are provided on each of the plurality of contact ribs.

The interval maintenance parts may include a first maintenance part protruding in the forward direction and a second maintenance part protruding in the backward direction.

The first maintenance part and the second maintenance part are located at positions of each of the plurality of contact ribs opposite each other in a diagonal direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a heat exchanger and a manufacturing method thereof in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating a heat exchanger in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 2is an exploded perspective view illustrating the heat exchanger in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, a heat exchanger10in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure includes refrigerant tubes20and a plurality of heat exchange fins30. The plural heat exchange fins30may be combined with the outer surfaces of the plural refrigerant tubes20. Headers may be provided at both ends of the plural refrigerant tubes20.

The refrigerant tubes20may be provided in a plate type. A plurality of flow paths along which a refrigerant may flow is provided within the refrigerant tubes20, and the plurality of flow paths may be divided by diaphragms. The plural refrigerant tubes20may be separated by a designated interval and be stacked in the vertical direction. Here, the plural flow paths may extend in the width direction of the refrigerant tubes20.

The refrigerant exchanges heat with outdoor air while changing phase from a gaseous state to a liquid state (being compressed), or exchanges heat with outdoor air while changing phase from a liquid state to a gaseous state (being expanded). When phase of the refrigerant is changed from the gaseous state to the liquid state, the heat exchanger10may be used as a condenser and, when phase of the refrigerant is changed from the liquid state to the gaseous state, the heat exchanger10may be used as an evaporator.

The headers include a first header41and a second header42. The first header41and the second header42are combined with both ends of the plural refrigerant tubes20and communicate the plural refrigerant tubes20with each other. The first header41and the second header42which are combined with both ends of the plural refrigerant tubes20may communicate the plural refrigerant tubes20with each other so that the refrigerant may flow along the plural refrigerant tubes20.

The first and second headers41and42are provided as a hollow pipe type. Combination slots40amay be provided at one side of each of the first and second headers41and42so that ends of the refrigerant tubes20are combined with the combination slots40a. In order to guide flow of the refrigerant sequentially passing through the refrigerant tubes20, the inner space of each of the first and second headers41and42may be divided into a plurality of sub-spaces in the vertical lengthwise direction such that the number of the sub-spaces corresponds to the number of the refrigerant tubes20. A refrigerant inlet pipe51and a refrigerant outlet pipe52to guide a refrigerant introduced into the heat exchanger10and a refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger10may be connected to the first header41.

The refrigerant flows along the flow paths formed in the refrigerant tubes20and is compressed or expanded, thus discharging heat to the surroundings or absorbing heat from the surroundings. In order to cause the refrigerant to effectively discharge or absorb heat during compression or expansion, the heat exchange fins30may be combined with the refrigerant tubes20.

The heat exchange fins30may be disposed to extend in the lengthwise direction in which the refrigerant tubes20are stacked. That is, if the refrigerant tubes20are stacked in the vertical direction, the heat exchange fins30may extend in the vertical direction so as to intersect the refrigerant tubes20. The plural heat exchange fins30may be separated by a designated interval. Such heat exchange fins30are joined to the outer surfaces of the refrigerant tubes20and serve to increase a heat exchange area between outdoor air passing through spaces between the heat exchange fins30and the refrigerant tubes20. Further, the heat exchange fins30may serve to guide flow of condensed water, generated on the surfaces of the refrigerant tubes20, downward.

FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating a part of the heat exchange fin in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference toFIG. 3, the heat exchange fin30in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of contact ribs31. Designated sides of the plural contact ribs31may be interconnected. The plural contact ribs31may be inserted into spaces between neighboring refrigerant tubes20so as to contact the refrigerant tubes20. Interval maintenance parts310and311may be provided on each of the contact ribs31. The interval maintenance parts310and311may protrude in the forward or backward direction of the heat exchange fin30.

Thereby, when the plural heat exchange fins30are press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes20during manufacture of the heat exchanger10, the contact ribs31of neighboring integrated heat exchange fins30may be separated from each other by a designated interval by the first interval maintenance parts310and the second interval maintenance parts311. By separating the contact ribs31from each other by the designated interval, air passing through the heat exchanger10may smoothly flow and heat exchange efficiency may be raised.

Hereinafter, a manufacturing system of heat exchange fins in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4is a view illustrating a manufacturing system of the heat exchange fins in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 5is a flowchart illustrating a manufacturing method of the heat exchanger in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, the heat exchange fins30in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure may be formed by pressing a metal sheet used as a material of the heat exchange fins30. Such a thin metal sheet used as the material of the heat exchange fins30may be transferred and stored in a state in which the thin metal sheet is wound on a roll. The metal sheet may be formed of aluminum.

In order to manufacture the heat exchange fins30, the metal sheet wound on the roll may be unwound by an uncoiler1so as to be pressed (Operation51). The metal sheet unwound by the uncoiler1may move to a pressing machine2and be located on the pressing machine2in a state in which the metal sheet may be pressed.

The metal sheet disposed on the pressing machine2under the condition that the metal sheet may be pressed may be punched at high speed by the pressing machine2, thus being processed so as to have the shape of a heat exchange fin30(Operation S2). Heat exchange fins30processed by the pressing machine2may be arranged in plural rows. Here, the heat exchange fins30may be arranged such that the contact ribs31of the neighboring heat exchange fins30may be opposite each other.

The heat exchange fins30acquired by punching using the pressing machine2may be transferred to integration apparatuses4and5in a direction F1by a transfer apparatus3(Operation S3). The plural heat exchange fins30processed by the pressing machine2may be divided into heat exchange fins30in odd-numbered rows and heat exchange fins30in even-numbered rows and integrated by the integration apparatuses4and5.

The plural heat exchange fins30moved to the integration apparatuses4and5may move in directions F2and F3and pass through alignment apparatuses6and7(Operation S4). The plural heat exchange fins30may move by a collector and be integrated and aligned so that neighboring heat exchange fins30may contact. The plural heat exchange fins30may be separated into a designated number of heat exchange fins30, which may be simultaneously press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes20, and be aligned by the collector.

The designated number of integrated heat exchange fins30may be press-fitted to the refrigerant tubes20by press-fitting apparatuses8and9(Operation S5). Thereby, the heat exchanger10in which the heat exchange fins30are mounted on the refrigerant tubes20may be manufactured.

Hereinafter, respective operations of the manufacturing system and manufacturing method of heat exchange fins in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6is a view illustrating the heat exchange fins in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure which are formed in a mold,FIG. 7is a view illustrating the heat exchange fin in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure which is transferred by the transfer apparatus,FIG. 8is a cross-sectional view illustrating the heat exchange fin in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure when the heat exchange fin is transferred by the transfer apparatus,FIG. 9is a cross-sectional view illustrating the heat exchange fin in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure when the heat exchange fin is rotated and aligned on the integration apparatus, andFIG. 10is a view illustrating the heat exchange fins on the integration apparatus in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure which are integrated by the collector.

With reference toFIGS. 6 to 10, a thin metal sheet used as a material of the heat exchange fins30in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure may be transferred and stored in a state in which the thin metal sheet is wound on a roll and, in order to manufacture the heat exchange fins30, the metal sheet wound on the roll may be unwound by the uncoiler1so as to be pressed (Operation S1). The metal sheet unwound by the uncoiler1may move to the pressing machine2and be punched at high speed by the pressing machine2and thus processed to have the shape of a heat exchange fin30(Operation S2). The metal sheet to manufacture the heat exchange fins30may be formed of aluminum.

The heat exchange fins30may be processed so as to be arranged in plural rows. As exemplarily shown inFIG. 6, the heat exchange fins30may be processed such that the ends of the contact ribs31of the neighboring heat exchange fins30may be opposite each other. For example, the heat exchange fins30may be processed such that the ends of the contact ribs31of the heat exchange fins30in odd-numbered rows a face the right side and the ends of the contact ribs31of the heat exchange fins30in even-numbered rows b face the left side.

The plural heat exchange fins30arranged such that the ends of the contact ribs31of the neighboring heat exchange fins30may be opposite each other may be transferred in the direction F1, in which the integration apparatuses4and5are located, by the transfer apparatus3. The transfer apparatus3may include a conveyer belt or rollers. The plural heat exchange fins30may be placed on the conveyer belt or the rollers and thus transferred.

The integration apparatuses4and5include a first integration apparatus4and a second integration apparatus5. Among the plural heat exchange fins transferred in the direction F1by the transfer apparatus3, the heat exchange fins30in the odd-numbered rows a may be transferred to the first integration apparatus4and the heat exchange fins30′ in the even-numbered rows b may be transferred to the second integration apparatus5. That is, the heat exchange fins30in the odd-numbered rows a may be divided and transferred to the first integration apparatus4and the heat exchange fins30′ in the even-numbered rows b may be divided and transferred to the second integration apparatus5. The manufacturing method of the heat exchange fins30in the odd-numbered rows a may be similarly applied as the heat exchange fins30′ in the even-numbered rows b.

The transfer apparatus3located adjacent to the integration apparatuses4and5may be provided as rollers410. The plural heat exchange fins30and30′ may be transferred to the integration apparatuses4and5by the rollers410. The integration apparatuses4and5may include integration units400, and the integration units400may be provided under the rollers410adjacent to the integration apparatuses4and5. The integration apparatuses4and5may include the first integration apparatus4and the second integration apparatus5, the heat exchange fins30in the odd-numbered rows a may move to the first integration apparatus4to be integrated, and the heat exchange fins30′ in the even-numbered rows b may move to the second integration apparatus5to be integrated.

The integration units400may be wires or blades. The wires or the blades may extend in a direction vertical to the transfer direction of the heat exchange fins30and30′. Two or more integration units400may be provided by a designated interval under the rollers410. The integration units400may be provided so as to prevent interference with the transfer apparatus3, such as the rollers410. Thereby, the heat exchange fins30and30′ may be continuously transferred by the integration apparatuses4and5and the transfer apparatus3.

As one example, the heat exchange fin30transferred by the transfer apparatus3may fall down at a point where the transfer apparatus3ends. The heat exchange fin30falling down may be placed on the integration units400. The heat exchange fin30horizontally placed and transferred by the transfer apparatus3may stand vertically and be placed on the integration units400. The integration units400may be inserted between neighboring contact ribs31. While the heat exchange fin30falls down, the heat exchange fin30may be rotated by an angle of 90° and placed on the integration units400. Here, the contact ribs31of the heat exchange fin30may face downward. The above description of the heat exchange fins30may be similarly applied to the heat exchange fins30′.

As another example, the integration units400may rise in the upward direction P at the point where the transfer apparatus3ends. The integration units400may be inserted between the plural contact ribs31of the heat exchange fin30. When the transfer apparatus3completely ends, the heat exchange fin30may be rotated by an angle of 90° so that the plural contact ribs31face downward. Thereby, the integration units400may be inserted between neighboring contact ribs31of the heat exchange fin30and the heat exchange fin30may be placed on the integration units400.

As described above, heat exchange fins30may be sequentially placed on the integration units400. Thereby, the plural heat exchange fins30may be sequentially placed on the integration units400under the condition that the integration units400are inserted between neighboring contact ribs31of the plural heat exchange fins30.

The plural heat exchange fins30may be transferred and thus be integrated by a collector42so as to contact each other. The plural heat exchange fins30integrated on the integration units400may be separated by a designated interval by the interval maintenance parts310and311. The collector420may be moved by a belt430located at one side of the integration unit400. The belt430may extend in the moving direction of the heat exchange fins30. When the belt430is rotated, the collector420mounted on the belt430pushes the plural heat exchange fins30so that the plural heat exchange fins30may be collected and integrated.

The integration units400may connect the transfer apparatus3and the alignment apparatuses6and7. That is, the heat exchange fins30integrated on the integration units400may be moved to the alignment apparatuses6and7. The alignment apparatuses6and7include a first alignment apparatus6and a second alignment apparatus7. The heat exchange fins30integrated on the first integration apparatus4may be moved to the first alignment apparatus6, and the heat exchange fins30′ integrated on the second apparatus5may be moved to the second alignment apparatus7.

The integration unit400located adjacent to the alignment apparatuses6and7may be located at a lower position than the integration unit400located adjacent to the transfer apparatus3. Thus, the heat exchange fins30placed on the integration units400may slide and move to the first alignment apparatus6. Vibration may be applied to the integration units400. By vibration applied to the integration units400, the heat exchange fins30placed on the integration units400may slide and move to the alignment apparatus6. Similarly to the heat exchange fins30, the heat exchange fins30′ may slide and move to the second alignment apparatus7.

FIG. 11is a view illustrating the heat exchange fins in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure which are separated by a separation apparatus andFIG. 12is a perspective view illustrating the heat exchange fins in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure which are press-fitted into refrigerant tubes.

With reference toFIGS. 11 and 12, the plural heat exchange fins30and30′ in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure may move to the press-fitting apparatuses8and9and be press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes20by the press-fitting apparatuses8and9. Thereby, the heat exchange fins30may be mounted on the refrigerant tubes20.

The press-fitting apparatuses8and9include a first press-fitting apparatus8and a second press-fitting apparatus9. The heat exchange fins30on the first alignment apparatus6may move to the first press-fitting apparatus8and be press-fitted to refrigerant tubes20provided in the first press-fitting apparatus8. Similarly, the heat exchange fins30′ on the second alignment apparatus7may move to the second press-fitting apparatus9and be press-fitted to refrigerant tubes20provided in the second press-fitting apparatus9.

A separation apparatus81to separate the heat exchange fins30and30′ into a number of heat exchange fins30and30′ which may be simultaneously press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes20may be provided in each of the press-fitting apparatuses8and9. The separation apparatus81may be provided as blades. The separation apparatus81may be moved by a belt similarly to the collector420, and separate the heat exchange fins30and30′ introduced into the press-fitting apparatuses8and9into a number of heat exchange fins30and30′ which may be simultaneously press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes20. A group of plural heat exchange fins30or30′ separated by the separation apparatus81may be defined as a heat exchange fin unit. One heat exchange fin unit may be simultaneously press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes20.

The heat exchange fin units provided in the designated number separated by the separation apparatuses81may be press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes20by the press-fitting apparatuses8and9. The first header41and the second heater42may be mounted at both ends of the refrigerant tubes20, and the plural heat exchange fins30may be press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes20. After the plural heat exchange fins30are press-fitted into the refrigerant tubes20, the first header41and the second heater42may be mounted at both ends of the refrigerant tubes20.

The above-described heat exchanger manufacturing system may increase the size of a mold to manufacture the heat exchange fins30and thus, the heat exchange fins may be mass-produced. Since the heat exchange fins30may vertically stand and be integrated, integration and transfer of the heat exchange fins30are easy. Further, since a time taken for the heat exchange fins30to stand vertically and be integrated is shorter than a time taken the heat exchange fins30to be formed by punching, stoppage of operation of a pressing machine is not required to integrate the heat exchange fins30and thus, the heat exchange fins30may be continuously produced. Since equipment, such as integration apparatuses, alignment apparatuses, and press-fitting apparatuses, need not be separately provided in plural rows of the heat exchange fins30but is provided to correspond to the heat exchange fins30disposed in odd-numbered rows and the heat exchange fins30in even-numbered rows, an installation area of the equipment may be greatly reduced. Further, the plural heat exchange fins30are integrated, transferred, and separated using blades and thus, the equipment has simple configuration and low maintenance and repair costs.

As is apparent from the above description, in a manufacturing method of a heat exchanger in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, plural heat exchange fins are disposed by a designated interval on a sheet and thus, the heat exchanger may be continuously mass-produced and a defect rate during manufacture of the heat exchanger may be reduced. The structure of a transfer apparatus transferring the plural heat exchange fins is improved and thus, manufacturing efficiency of the heat exchanger may be enhanced. Further, neighboring heat exchange fins are separated by a designated interval and thus, efficiency of the heat exchanger may be enhanced.