Heat exchanger assembling apparatus

A heat exchanger assembling apparatus includes a main conveyer for transferring a tray, at least one fin transfer conveyer and one molding plate transfer conveyer, installed at one side of the main conveyer to be parallel thereto and having a predetermined length, a plurality of fin plate assembling devices, installed between the fin transfer conveyer and the molding plate transfer conveyer in a lengthwise direction of the main conveyer, a fin molding device, connected to the fin transfer conveyer, for molding a fin, a plate molding device, installed at one side of the main conveyer, for manufacturing a plate and supplying the manufactured plate to the molding plate transfer conveyer, a fin molding plate supply device for supplying the fin molding plate assembly assembled by the fin plate assembling devices to the tray intermittently transferred by the main conveyer, an end plate assembly supply device, a special plate assembly supply device and a manifold plate assembly supply device, sequentially installed at an outlet portion of the main conveyer, for respectively supplying an end plate assembly, a special plate assembly and a manifold plate assembly to the tray, and a picking device, installed at an outlet portion of the main conveyer, for picking a heat exchanger assembly supported at the tray and loading the picked heat exchanger assembly in a cleaning tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to an apparatus for assembling a heat
 exchanger, and more particularly, to an apparatus for assembling a
 drawn-cup type heat exchanger.
 2. Description of the Related Art
 FIG. 1 shows an example of a general drawn-cup type heat exchanger. As
 shown in the drawing, a drawn-cup type heat exchanger 10 includes tube
 assemblies 13 where a tank portion 11 is formed and a radiation path
 portion 12 through which heat exchange medium passes is formed, a fin 14
 inserted between the tube assemblies 13, an end plate 15 disposed at both
 side portions of the heat exchanger, a special tube assembly 16 having a
 baffle for changing flow of heat, and a manifold tube assembly 18 where a
 manifold is installed, which are stacked and braze-combined.
 To assemble the drawn-cup type heat exchanger 10 having the above
 structure, the fin 14 is inserted between two sheets of molding plates
 completely molded to form a fin plate assembly. An end plate assembly
 formed by inserting the fin 14 between the plate-fin assembly, the end
 plate 15 and a molding plate, a special plate assembly formed by inserting
 the fin 14 between a plate in which the tank portion 11 at one side
 thereof is blocked for baffle, and a manifold plate assembly to which a
 manifold is coupled, are stacked and braze-combined.
 However, in manufacturing the drawn-cup type heat exchanger, each part
 constituting the heat exchanger is separately manufactured and the
 assembly and stacking thereof is manually performed using predetermined
 tools. Thus, numerous work steps are required during the manufacture of
 the heat exchanger, and productivity thereof is lowered.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to
 provide an apparatus for assembling a heat exchanger which enables
 manufacture and assembly of parts forming a drawn-cup type heat exchanger
 in a continuous process so that productivity in manufacturing the heat
 exchanger can be improved and a rate of defective products can be
 drastically reduced.
 Accordingly, to achieve the above objective, there is provided a heat
 exchanger assembling apparatus comprising a main conveyer for transferring
 a tray, at least one fin transfer conveyer and one molding plate transfer
 conveyer, installed at one side of the main conveyer to be parallel
 thereto and having a predetermined length, a plurality of fin plate
 assembling devices, installed between the fin transfer conveyer and the
 molding plate transfer conveyer in a lengthwise direction of the main
 conveyer, a fin molding device, connected to the fin transfer conveyer,
 for molding a fin, a plate molding device, installed at one side of the
 main conveyer, for manufacturing a plate and supplying the manufactured
 plate to the molding plate transfer conveyer, a fin molding plate supply
 device for supplying the fin molding plate assembly assembled by the fin
 plate assembling devices to the tray intermittently transferred by the
 main conveyer, an end plate assembly supply device, a special plate
 assembly supply device and a manifold plate assembly supply device,
 sequentially installed at an outlet portion of the main conveyer, for
 respectively supplying an end plate assembly, a special plate assembly and
 a manifold plate assembly to the tray, and a picking device, installed at
 an outlet portion of the main conveyer, for picking a heat exchanger
 assembly supported at the tray and loading the picked heat exchanger
 assembly in a cleaning tray.
 In the present invention, the heat exchanger assembling apparatus further
 comprises a cleaning device for cleaning a heat exchanger assembly
 completely picked, an installation device for installing the completely
 cleaned heat exchanger assembly, and a heat exchanger loading and
 unloading device for loading and unloading the heat exchanger installed at
 the brazing jig in and from the brazing tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 An apparatus for assembling a heat exchanger according to the present
 invention manufactures a molding plate and a fin forming a drawn-cup type
 heat exchanger and, after assembling and cleaning them, braze-combines
 them by putting the same in a brazing furnace. A preferred embodiment
 thereof is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
 As shown in the drawings, the apparatus for assembling a heat exchanger
 according to the present invention includes main conveyers 30 installed
 parallel to each other for transferring a tray 901 for supporting a heat
 exchanger assembly 20 and interrupting the transfer of the tray 901 during
 stacking plate assemblies in each process, fin transfer conveyers 40
 installed parallel to one side of each of the main conveyers 30 and having
 a predetermined length, and a fin molding device 50, installed at one side
 end portion of the fin transfer conveyer 40, for manufacturing a fin 14 to
 be supplied to the fin transfer conveyers 40.
 Also, at least one molding plate transfer conveyer 60 is installed between
 the fin transfer conveyer 40 and the main conveyer 30 and connected to a
 plate molding device 70. A fin plate assembling device 100 is installed
 between the fin transfer conveyer 40 and the molding plate transfer
 conveyer 60 in the lengthwise direction thereof, for assembling the fin
 and the plate and also supplying an assembled fin plate assembly 21 to the
 tray 901. The plate molding device 70 is installed at one side of the main
 conveyer 30, for manufacturing and supplying molding plates to the molding
 plate transfer conveyer 60. Here, a fin delay supply device 300 is
 installed between the fin molding device 50 and the fin transfer conveyer
 40, and a molding plate delay supply device 500 is installed between the
 plate molding device 70 and the plate transfer conveyer 60. A plate
 separation device 71 for separately supplying the molding plate supplied
 from the plate molding device 70 to the molding plate transfer conveyer 60
 is installed between the transfer conveyers.
 Also, a special plate assembly supply device 87 is installed at an outlet
 side of the main conveyer 30, for supplying a special plate assembly tube
 22. An end plate assembly supply device 81 is for supplying an end plate
 assembly 23. A manifold assembly supply device 82 is installed adjacent to
 the outlet of the main conveyer 30, for supplying a manifold plate
 assembly 24, a test apparatus 90 is installed at the outlet side of the
 main conveyer 30, for checking whether the heat exchanger assembly 20
 loaded in the tray 901 is normally assembled. A bypass conveyer (not
 shown) is for picking a defective heat exchanger assembly according to the
 determination of the test apparatus 90. A picking device 83 is for picking
 the heat exchanger assembly 20 supported in the tray 901 and loading the
 same in a cleaning tray.
 A cleaning device 85 for loading the heat exchanger assembly 20 picked from
 the tray 901 in a cleaning tray 902 and cleaning the heat exchanger
 assembly 20 is installed near the picking device 83. A conveyer 85a for
 supplying an empty cleaning tray 902 is installed at one side of the
 cleaning device 85. A cleaning tray adjustment device 910 for adjusting
 the cleaning tray according to the type of the heat exchanger assembly is
 installed at one side of the conveyer 85a.
 A supply conveyer 84 for supplying a completely assembled heat exchanger
 assembly to the brazing furnace is installed at an outlet side of the
 cleaning device 85. A manipulator 86 for picking the heat exchanger
 assembly 20 from the cleaning tray 902 picked from the cleaning device 85
 and installing the picked heat exchanger assembly at a brazing jig 904
 transferred by the supply conveyer 84, is installed at the outlet side of
 the cleaning device 85.
 A clamping device 700 for fixing the heat exchanger assembly 20 installed
 at the brazing jig 904 to a jig in a pressed state is installed at the
 supply conveyer 84. A loading and unloading device 800 of the heat
 exchanger assembly for loading and unloading the heat exchanger assembly
 20 installed at the brazing jig 904 in and from a brazing tray 903 for
 brazing is installed at an outlet side of the supply conveyer 84.
 In a description for each of the apparatuses for assembling a heat
 exchanger according to the present invention having the above structure, a
 common chain conveyer which intermittently transfers the tray 901
 supporting the heat exchanger assemblies 20 is used as the main conveyers
 30. A support device 32 for interrupting transfer of the tray 901 until
 the plate assemblies are completed loaded in the tray 901, is installed at
 a frame 31 of the main conveyer 30 at the position corresponding to the
 fin plate assembling device 100. Although not shown in detail in the
 drawing, the support device 32 includes a support plate which is supported
 at the upper portion of the main conveyer 30 until the fin molding plate
 assembly 21 is loaded in the tray 901, and a tray transfer device for
 elevating the tray 901 transferred by the main conveyer 30 to be supported
 at a supporter or return the tray 901 to the main conveyer from the
 supporter.
 The fin transfer conveyers 40 are for transferring the fins molded by the
 fin molding device 50 to the fin plate assembling device 100, and a common
 belt conveyer is used therefor.
 The fin delay supply device 300 is for stacking a predetermined amount of
 the fins 14 supplied from the fin molding device 50 and supplying the fins
 14 while a fin molding material is loaded in the fin molding device 50.
 The fin delay supply device 300 is connected to the fin transfer conveyer
 40 connected to a fin mill apparatus which is the fin molding device 50
 for manufacturing the fin 14 by molding a metal plate in a winding roll,
 for example.
 FIGS. 4 and 11 show a preferred embodiment of the fin delay support device
 300. As shown in the drawings, the fin delay supply device 300 includes a
 fin supply line 301 for supplying the fin 14 from the fin transfer
 conveyer 40, a connection device 302 for selectively connecting the fin
 supply line 301 to the fin transfer conveyer 40, a fin loading apparatus
 310 connected to the connection device 302, a fin loading portion 330
 where the fin 14 loaded by the fin loading apparatus 310 is loaded, and a
 fin supply device 400 for supplying the fin 14 loaded in the fin loading
 portion 330 to the fin transfer conveyer 40.
 The fin loading portion 330 is for loading a plurality of fins 14,
 including a base plate 331, a loading portion frame 332 rotatably
 installed with respect to the base plate 331, a fin receiving case 334
 supported by a plurality of receiving case supporters 333 installed at the
 loading portion frame 332, and a loading portion frame driving device 335
 for rotating the loading portion frame 332. Here, the edge of the loading
 portion frame 332 is formed to be circular or polygonal, and the receiving
 case supporters 333 are plurally installed to be spaced at predetermined
 intervals.
 Referring to FIG. 6, the fin receiving case 334 has a plurality of
 receiving portions 334a for accommodating the fin 14, and is installed to
 be capable of sliding at the receiving case supporters 333 which are
 plurally installed at the outer circumferential surface of the loading
 portion frame 332 at predetermined intervals.
 FIGS. 7 and 8 are a plan view and a side view showing the fin loading
 apparatus 310. Referring to the drawings, the fin loading apparatus 310 is
 for loading the fin 14 supplied to the fin supply line 301 in each of the
 receiving portions 334a of the fin receiving case 334, including a loading
 conveyer 340 connected to the fin supply line 301 and a fin receiving
 apparatus 350 installed at an end portion of the loading conveyer 340. A
 belt conveyer is used as the loading conveyer 340. The fin receiving
 apparatus 350 is for accommodating the fin 14 in the fin receiving case
 334, including a fin receiving case transfer device 360 for elevating the
 fin receiving case 334 with respect to the receiving case supporters 333,
 and a first push device 370 installed at an outlet side of the loading
 conveyer 340 for transferring the fin 14 transferred by the loading
 conveyer 340 to the receiving portion 334a of the fin receiving case 334.
 FIGS. 6 and 7 show a first receiving case transfer device 360. As shown in
 the drawings, the first receiving case transfer device 360 includes a fist
 supporter 361 installed to be separated a predetermined distance from the
 outlet side of the loading conveyer 340, a first guide portion 362
 installed with respect to the first supporter 361, a first transfer member
 363 moving up and down along the first guide portion 362, a fist arm 364
 installed at the first transfer member 363 for locating the fin receiving
 case 334 disposed at the outlet side of the loading conveyer 340 at the
 lower portion of the receiving case supporter 333 according to the
 rotation of the loading frame 332, and a first actuator 365 installed at
 the first supporter 361 for elevating the first transfer member 363. Here,
 as the first actuator 365, a linear motor, a ball screw and a cylinder can
 be used to move the first transfer member 363 up and down.
 The first push device 370, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, includes a cylinder
 372 vertically installed by a bracket 371 at the outlet side of the
 loading conveyer 340, an elevation plate 373 installed at a rod of the
 cylinder 372, and a cylinder 374 installed at the outlet side of the
 loading conveyer 340 for transferring the fin 14 elevated by the elevation
 plate 373 to the receiving portion 334a. The cylinders 372 and 374 make a
 right angle and a pusher 375 is installed at a rod of the cylinder 374.
 Although not shown, a guide member for guiding the elevation plate 373 is
 installed at both sides of the elevation plate 373.
 Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 9 and 10, the fin supply device 400 is for
 supplying the fin 14 loaded in the fin loading portion 330 to the fin
 transfer conveyer 40, and includes a fin picking device 410 for picking
 the fin 14 from the receiving portion 334a, a supply conveyer 420 for
 transmitting the picked fin 14 toward the fin transfer conveyer 40, and a
 second push device 430 for transferring the fin 14 transferred by the
 supply conveyer 420 to the transfer conveyer 40.
 The fin picking device 410 is for sequentially discharging the fin 14
 accommodated in the fin receiving case 334 supported at the loading frame
 332, and includes a second receiving case transfer device 440 for
 elevating the fin receiving case 330 disposed at an inlet of the supply
 conveyer 420, and a picking portion 450 installed at the inlet side of the
 supply conveyer 420 for transferring the fin 14 accommodated in the
 receiving portions 334a of the fin receiving case 330 to the supply
 conveyer 420. As the second receiving case transfer device 440 has the
 same structure as that of the first receiving case transfer device 360, a
 detailed description thereof will be omitted.
 The picking portion 450 includes a guide plate 452 supported at the bracket
 451 installed at the inlet of the supply conveyer 420 and having an
 opening 452a formed therein, through which the fin receiving case 330 is
 elevated, and a cylinder 453 installed at an end portion of the guide
 plate 452, and a pusher 454 installed at a rod of the third cylinder 453.
 Here, the supply conveyer 420 is a belt conveyer.
 The second push device 430 includes a cylinder 432 vertically installed at
 a bracket 431 at the outlet of the supply conveyer 420, an elevation plate
 433 installed at a rod of the fourth cylinder 432, and a cylinder 434
 installed at the outlet of the supply conveyer 420 for transferring the
 fin 14 elevated by the elevation plate 433, in which a pusher 434a is
 installed at a rod thereof.
 The fin supply line 301, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 11, connects the fin
 transfer conveyer 40 and an inlet side of the loading conveyer 340. The
 connection device 302 for allowing the fin 14 to be selectively supplied
 to the fin transfer conveyer 40 and the fin supply line 301 is provided at
 the inlet sides of the fin transfer conveyer 40 and the fin supply line
 301. The connection device 302 forms a part of the fin transfer conveyer
 40 and includes a pivot conveyer 302b pivoting by a cylinder 302a.
 Accordingly, when the pivot conveyer 302b is disposed to be horizontally,
 the fin 14 is moved toward the fin transfer conveyer 40 and, when the
 pivot conveyer 302b pivots by the cylinder 302a, the fin 14 is moved
 toward the fin supply line 301 from the fin transfer conveyer 40.
 The plate molding device 70 forms a molding plate by consecutively
 press-forming a rolled plate, in which a presser having a mold for forming
 a molding plate is used.
 The molding plate separation device 71 is for supplying the molding plate
 transferred by the conveyer 72 from the plate molding device 70 to the
 molding plate transfer conveyer 60 disposed at both sides thereof, and a
 preferred embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B.
 As shown in the drawings, a support 73 is installed at the frame where the
 molding plate transfer conveyer 60 is installed, and a pair of guide rails
 74 and 74' crossing the conveyer 72 and the plate transfer conveyer 60 are
 installed at the support 73. Transfer blocks 75 and 75' are installed at
 the respective guide rails 74 and 74' to be capable of sliding, and
 cylinders 76 and 76' are vertically installed at the transfer blocks 75
 and 75', respectivley. At least one absorbing member 77 and 77' for
 absorbing the molding plate is installed at a rod of each cylinder 76 and
 76'. The transfer blocks 75 and 75' reciprocate along the guide rail 74
 and 74' by rod-less cylinders 78 and 78' installed at the guide rail 74.
 The molding plate delay supply device 500 stacks the molding plates
 supplied from the molding plate transfer conveyer 60 and supplies the
 molding plate when the operation is not smooth due to replacement of
 material supplied to the plate molding device 70 or malfunction. A
 preferred embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS. 12 through 16.
 Referring to the drawings, the molding plate delay supply device 500
 includes a base plate 501, a plate discharging apparatus 510 for stacking
 predetermined molding plates 13a or 13b from the upper portion of the base
 plate 501 and discharging the stacked plates as necessary, and a driving
 apparatus 600 for operating the plate discharging apparatus 510.
 The molding plate delay supply apparatus according to the present invention
 having the above structure will be described in detail as follows.
 FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the plate discharging apparatus 510
 and a sliding operation apparatus by excerpting the same. FIG. 15 is a
 please view showing the molding plate delay supply apparatus 510 and FIG.
 16 is a sectional view thereof. Referring to the drawings, at least one
 set of the plate discharging apparatus 510 is installed on the base plate
 501, and the plate discharging apparatus 510 includes a first
 accommodating portion 520 for supporting the edge of the molding plate 13a
 disposed at the lowermost portion of the stacked molding plates, and a
 second accommodating portion 530 for supporting the edge of the second
 molding plate 13a from the bottom of the stacked molding plates. The first
 and second accommodating portions 520 and 530 have a stacked structure.
 The first accommodating portion 520 of the plate discharging apparatus 510
 includes pairs of first and second lower separators 521 and 522, and the
 third and fourth lower separators 521' and 522' respectively disposed at
 both sides of a molding plate discharging opening 501a formed in the base
 plate 501 to be separated a predetermined distance and capable of sliding
 in a direction facing each other.
 The fist and second lower separators 521 and 522 and the third and fourth
 separators 521' and 522' include first and second lower body portions 521a
 and 522a, and third and fourth lower body portions 521a' and 522a',
 respectively. First and second lower arm portions 521b and 522b, extended
 from one side thereof and where the first and second lower protrusions
 521c and 522c for supporting the edge of one side of the molding plate 13a
 are formed, is formed at the first and second lower body portions 521a and
 522a. Third and fourth lower arm portions 521b' and 522b', extended from
 one side thereof and where the third and fourth lower protrusions 521c'
 and 522c' for supporting the edge of the other side of the molding plate
 13a are formed, is formed at the third and fourth lower body portions
 521a' and 522a'.
 First and second lower inclined surfaces 521d and 522d are formed to be
 inclined a predetermined angle in a direction spreading with respect to
 the first and second lower arm portions 521b and 522b at the side surfaces
 of the first and second lower body portions 521a and 522a facing each
 other. The distance between the first and second lower inclined surfaces
 521d and 522d gradually decreases from the portion where the first and
 second lower arm portions 521b and 522b are formed. Third and fourth lower
 inclined surfaces 521d' and 522d' are formed to be inclined a
 predetermined angle at the side surfaces of the third and fourth lower
 body portions 521a' and 522a' facing each other. The distance between the
 third and fourth lower inclined surfaces 521d' and 522d' gradually
 increases from the portion where the third and fourth lower arm portions
 521b' and 522b' are formed.
 The second accommodating portion 530 includes first and second upper
 separators 523 and 524 stacked with the first and second lower separators
 521 and 522 and third and fourth upper separators 523' and 524' stacked
 with the third and fourth lower separators 521' and 522'. The first,
 second, third and fourth upper separators 523, 524, 523' and 524' have the
 same structures as those of the first, second, third and fourth lower
 separators 521, 522, 521' and 522', respectively. The first and second
 lower inclined surfaces 521d and 522d formed at the first and second lower
 body portions 521a and 522a of the first and second lower separators 521
 and 522 are formed in a direction opposite to that of the first and second
 upper inclined surfaces 523d and 524 formed at the first and second upper
 body portions 523a and 524a of the first and second upper separators 523
 and 524. Also, the third and fourth lower inclined surfaces 521d' and
 522d' and the third and fourth upper inclined surfaces 523d' and 524d' of
 the third and fourth upper body portions 523a' and 524a' of the third and
 fourth upper separators 523' and 524' are formed in the directions
 opposite to each other.
 A guide groove 501b is formed at the edge of the discharging opening 501a
 of the base plate 501 so that the first and second upper separators 521
 and 522 and the third and fourth lower separators 521 and 522' can be
 supported to be capable of sliding with respect to the base plate 501.
 Guide portions 521e, 522e, 521e' and 522e' are formed on the lower surface
 of the first, second, third and fourth lower body portions 521a, 522a,
 521a ' and 522a', respectively. Guide portions 523e, 524e, 523e' and 524e'
 are formed on the lower surface of the first, second, third and fourth
 upper body portions 523a, 524a, 523a' and 524a' such that the first,
 second, third and fourth upper separators 523, 524, 523' and 524' can be
 supported to be capable of sliding in the guide groove 502a formed on the
 upper plate 502.
 Side plates 503 are interposed between the base plate 501 and the edge of
 the upper plate 502 to support the upper plate 502 with respect to the
 base plate 501. Elastic springs 525 are installed between the side plates
 503 and the first, second, third and fourth separators 521-524 so that the
 first and second separators 521 and 522 and the third and fourth
 separators 523 and 524 are elastically biased in the directions opposite
 to each other.
 The driving apparatus 600 is for sliding the respective first and second
 upper and lower separators 521 and 522, and 523 and 524, and the third and
 fourth upper and lower separators 521 and 522, and 523 and 524, of the
 first and second accommodating portions 520 and 530 of the plate
 discharging apparatus 502, which is shown in FIGS. 13 through 15.
 As shown in the drawings, the driving apparatus 600 includes first and
 second roller brackets 611 and 612 guided by the first and second guide
 grooves 501b and 501b formed in both sides of the base plate 501 where the
 first and second accommodating portions 520 and 530 are disposed, first
 lower rollers 613 and 614 installed at an end portion of the respective
 roller brackets 611 and 612 to be interposed between the first and second
 lower body potions 521a and 522a and the third and fourth lower body
 portions 521a' and 522a' of the first and second accommodating portions
 520 and 530, and second upper rollers 615 and 616 interposed between the
 first and second upper body portions 523a and 523a and the third and
 fourth body portions 523a' and 524a'. The first and second roller brackets
 611 and 612 are connected to each other by a connection rod 617. The
 connection rod 617 slides by a cylinder 618 installed at the base plate
 501. Here, the connection rod 617 is supported to be capable of sliding
 between the base plate 501 and the upper plate 502. Reference numeral 620
 denotes a supporter for supporting the molding plate by being supported at
 the upper plate 502.
 The fin plate assembling device 100 is for interposing the fin 14 between
 the molding plates 21a and 21a, as shown in FIG. 17, and installs the same
 in the tray 901 transferred along the main conveyer 30. A preferred
 embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS. 18 through 26.
 As shown in the drawings, the fin plate assembling device 100 includes a
 frame 111, a rotary assembly portion 120, rotated a predetermined angle by
 an actuator, for assembling the fin 14 and the molding plate 21a, the fin
 transfer conveyer 40 and a molding plate transfer device 150 installed at
 both sides of the rotary assembly portion 120 for intermittently
 transferring the fin 14 and the molding plate 21a, respectively, a molding
 plate insertion device 160 installed between the rotary assembly portion
 120 and the molding plate transfer device 150 for inserting the molding
 plate in the rotary assembly portion 120, a molding plate supply device
 installed between the molding plate insertion device 160 and the molding
 plate transfer device 150, for supplying the molding plate 21a to the
 molding plate insertion device 160, a fin feeding device 190 for inserting
 the fin 14 intermittently transferred by the fin transfer conveyer 140
 between two sheets of molding plates installed at the rotary assembly
 portion 120, and a drawing device 220 installed at the frame 111 for
 drawing the completely assembled fin plate assembly 21 from the rotary
 assembly portion 120. A discharging device 240 is further included which
 discharges the fin plate assembly 21 drawn from the rotary assembly
 portion 120 to transfer the same to the tray 901.
 In the fin plate assembly of a heat exchanger having the above structure,
 the rotary assembly 120 installed at the frame 111 provides space for
 assembly where the fin 14 and the two sheets of molding plates 21a and 21a
 can be rotated for the assembly thereof. As shown in FIGS. 17 through 22,
 a base plate 121 having an opening 121a is installed at the frame 111, and
 brackets 122 and 122' are fixed at both end portions of the base plate
 121. Rotary shafts 123 and 123' are rotatably installed at the brackets
 122 and 122', respectively. A pair of rotary plates 124 and 124' forming
 space, in which two sheets of molding plates are inserted, are installed
 at both end portions of the rotary shafts 123 and 123' to be parallel to
 each other. The rotary shaft 123 at one side of the rotary shafts 123 and
 123' fixed to the brackets 122 and 122' is coupled by a coupling 126 to a
 rotary shaft of a motor 125 which is an actuator fixed to the frame 111.
 Rotational spaces 127a and 127a', in which end portions of the rotary
 plates 124 and 124' can be inserted and rotated, are formed between the
 inner surfaces of the brackets 122 and 122' facing each other. Also, guide
 members 127 and 127' where drawing holes 127b and 127b' through which the
 fin plate assembly is drawn are formed perpendicularly above the centers
 of the rotary shafts 123 and 123' are installed on the inner surfaces of
 the brackets 122 and 122' facing each other. Insertion holes 127c and
 127c' into which the molding plates are inserted are formed at both sides
 with respect to the rotational centers of the rotary shafts 123 and 123'
 in the guide members 127 and 127'. Extension portions 127d and 127d' for
 forming the drawing holes 127b and 127b' extending upward are formed at
 the guide members 127 and 127'. A gripping portion 128 for temporarily
 holding the fin plate assembly 21 drawn through the drawing holes 127b and
 127b' is formed on the extension portions 127d and 127d' where the drawing
 holes 127b and 127b' are formed. The gripping portion 128 includes a
 fixing jaw 128a fixed to one side of each of the extension portions 127d
 and 127d' and a mobile jaw 128b installed to face the fixed jaw 128a and
 be elastically biased toward the fixed jaw 128a.
 A tank insertion portion 129, in which the tank portion 11 of the molding
 plate 21a is inserted, for supporting the molding plate 21a in a
 horizontal state, is formed between the rotary plates 124 and 124'. The
 tank insertion portion 129 includes a tank support portion 129a extending
 from the rotary shaft 123' at one side thereof toward between the rotary
 plates 124 and 124' and sectioning a portion between the rotary plates 124
 and 124' into a tank insertion portion of the molding plate, and a
 protruding portion 129b, protruding from an end portion of the tank
 support portion 129a toward the inner surface of the molding plate, for
 supporting the molding plate 21a. A sensor (not shown) for detecting the
 angle of rotation is provided at the rotational shaft of the rotary shaft.
 The fin transfer conveyer 40 and the molding plate transfer device 150,
 which are formed of belt conveyers, are installed at both sides of the
 frame 111 for transferring the fin 14 and the molding plate 121a. The
 molding plate insertion device 160 installed at one side of the rotary
 assembly portion 120 is for supplying the molding plate 21a to the
 assembly space formed between the rotary plates 124 and 124'. A preferred
 embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS. 18, 22 and 23.
 As shown in the drawings, the molding plate insertion device 160 includes a
 guide plate 161 installed at a position lower than the rotational center
 of the rotary shaft and parallel thereto near the rotary assembly portion
 120 and having a slot 161a in the lengthwise direction thereof, a transfer
 pin 162 sliding along the slot 161a, a cylinder 163 installed at the lower
 portion of the guide plate 161 for reciprocating the transfer pin 162
 along the slot 161a, an elevating device 165 installed near an end portion
 of the guide plate 161 for transferring the molding plate 21a transferred
 from the guide plate 161 to the height of the rotational center of the
 rotary member, and a pusher portion 167 installed near the first elevating
 device 165 for inserting the raised molding plate 21a between the rotary
 plates 124 and 124'. Here, a rod-less cylinder is preferably used as the
 cylinder 163 for transferring the transfer pin 161a.
 The elevating device 165 includes an elevating plate 165a installed at an
 end portion of the guide plate 161 and having the width parallel to that
 of the rotary plates 124 and 124' of the rotary assembly portion 120, and
 a cylinder 165b installed at the frame 111 for elevating the first
 elevating plate 165a from the height of the guide plate 161 to the height
 of the assembly space formed by the rotary plates 124 and 124'. Here, a
 first guider 165c for guiding the molding plate to the assembly space is
 provided between the rotary plates 124 and 124' and the rotary assembly.
 The pusher portion 167, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, is for inserting the
 molding plate 21a raised to the height of the molding plate assembly space
 by the first elevating plate 165a into the assembly space. As shown in the
 drawings, the pusher portion 167 includes a pusher 167a installed at the
 same height as that of the assembly space in a direction perpendicular to
 the guide plate 161, and a cylinder 167b for reciprocating the pusher 167a
 toward the assembly space.
 The molding plate supply device 180 is for transferring the molding plate
 21a transferred by the molding plate transfer conveyer 60 toward the guide
 plate 161. As shown in FIGS. 18, 23 and 24, the molding plate supply
 device 180 includes a support 181 installed at the frame 111, a rail plate
 182 supported by the support 181 and disposed above the guide plate 161
 and the molding plate transfer device 150 and having a rail 182a in the
 lengthwise direction thereof, a slider 183 installed at the rail 182a to
 be capable of sliding, a plurality of sliders 184 and 184' installed at
 the slider 183 at predetermined intervals, connection portions 184a and
 184a' installed at the rods of the respective cylinders and guided by a
 guide rod, and absorbing portions 185 and 185' installed at the connection
 portions 184a and 184a', respectively. A cylinder 186 for reciprocating
 the slider 183 along the rail 182a is provided at the support 181. The
 absorbing portions 185 and 185' include an absorbing pad 185a installed at
 the rods of the cylinders 184 and 184', and a vacuum supply pipe (not
 shown) for providing a vacuum pressure to the absorbing pad 185a. The
 absorbing portions 185 and 185' are not limited to the above-described
 embodiment and any structures which can absorb the molding plate can be
 adopted therefor.
 The fin feeding device 190 is for inserting the fin 14 transferred by the
 fin transfer conveyer 40 between the molding plates 21a loaded in the
 assembly space. A preferred embodiment thereof is shown in FIG. 25A.
 As shown in the drawing, the fin feeding device 190 includes an elevating
 device 191 installed between the fin transfer conveyer 40 and the rotary
 assembly, a pusher portion 195 installed at one side of the fin transfer
 conveyer 40 for transferring the fin transferred by the fin transfer
 conveyer 40 to an elevating plate 191a of the elevating device 191, and a
 fin insertion portion 200 for inserting the fin elevated by the elevating
 device 191 between the molding plates 21a installed in the assembly space.
 A fin compressing portion 210 for compressing the fin 14 to facilitate
 insertion of the fin 14 into the assembly space by the fin insertion
 portion 200 is further included.
 The elevating device 191 includes the elevating plate 191a installed
 between the fin transfer conveyer 40 and the rotary assembly, and a
 cylinder 191b installed at the frame 111 for elevating the elevating plate
 191a from the height of the upper surface of a belt of the fin transfer
 conveyer 40 to the height of the assembly space formed by the rotary
 plates 124 and 124'. Here, a guider 205 for guiding the molding is plate
 to the assembly space is provided between the rotary plates 124 and 124'
 of the rotary assembly portion 120 and the elevating plate 191a elevated
 by the cylinder 191b.
 The pusher portion 195 is for transferring the fin 14 transferred by the
 fin transfer conveyer 40 to the upper surface of the elevating plate 191a
 lowered by the cylinder 191b. The pusher portion 195 includes a pusher
 195a installed in a direction perpendicular to the fin transfer conveyer
 40, and a cylinder 195b installed at a frame of the fin transfer conveyer
 40 and having the pusher 195a installed at the rod thereof, for
 transferred the pusher 195a toward the elevating plate 191a.
 The fin insertion portion 200 is for inserting the fin elevated by the
 elevating plate 191a between the molding plates installed in the assembly
 space. The fin insertion portion 200 includes a fixed bracket 201
 installed on the upper surface the frame 111, a cylinder 202 fixedly
 installed at the fixed bracket 201, a pushing pin 203 installed at a rod
 of the cylinder 202 and extending under the fixed bracket 201, and a guide
 roller 204 installed under the fixed bracket 201 for guiding the pushing
 pin 203. Here, the height of the pushing pin 203 must be the same as that
 of the assembly space.
 The fin compressing portion 210 is for smoothly inserting the fin into the
 assembly space between the rotary plates 124 and 124'. As shown in FIGS.
 25A and 25B, the fin compressing portion 210 includes a cylinder 211
 installed at the fixed bracket 201 and a compressing plate 212 installed
 at a rod of the cylinder 211 for compressing the fin accommodated on the
 elevating plate 191a.
 The drawing device 220 is for drawing the completely assembled fin plate
 assembly 21 formed by the rotary plates 124 and 124'. The drawing device
 220, as shown in FIGS. 18, 20 and 21, includes a cylinder 221 disposed at
 the lower portion of the base plate 121 by being supported at the frame
 111, and a pushing member 222 fixed to a rod 221a of the cylinder 221. The
 pushing member 222 is formed to have the same width as that of the
 assembly space.
 The discharging device 240 is for drawing the fin plate assembly completely
 assembled in the rotary assembly portion 120 and drawn by the drawing
 device 220 and inserting the same into the tray 901. A preferred
 embodiment thereof is shown in FIG. 18.
 As shown in the drawing, the discharging device 240 includes a guide rail
 241 installed above the main conveyer 30 transferring the tray 901 and the
 rotary assembly portion 120, a slider 242 sliding along the guide rail
 241, an elevating member 243 installed at the slider 242 to be capable of
 being elevated by a guide rod, a chuck 244 installed at the elevating
 member 243 for gripping the fin plate assembly 21, and a cylinder 245
 installed at the slider 242 for elevating the elevating member 243. The
 discharging device 240 is not limited to the above preferred embodiment
 and any structures which can move the completely assembled fin plate
 assembly 21 toward tray 901 can be adopted therefor. For example, a
 manipulator can be used therefor.
 The end plate assembly supply device 81, as shown in FIG. 26, is for
 loading the end plate assembly 22 assembled by interposing the fin between
 the end plate 22a and the molding plate 21a of the heat exchanger in the
 tray 901 transferred by the main conveyer 30. A preferred embodiment
 thereof is shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B.
 As shown in the drawings, the structure of the assembly portion 81a for
 performing assembly by interposing the fin between the end plate 22a and
 the molding plate 21a is the same as that of the fin plate assembling
 device 100, and an end plate supply device 81c for supplying the end plate
 is added thereto. The end plate supply device 81c is installed at the
 conveyer 81d connected to the guide plate 81b for assembly and the
 conveyer 81a and includes a supply portion 81d for intermittently
 supplying the end plate 15a. As the supply portion 81d has the same
 structure as that of the plate delay supply device 500, a description
 therefor will be omitted.
 The special plate assembly supply device, as shown in FIG. 28, is for
 supplying the special plate 23a with a sealed tank and the molding plate
 21a which are assembled by interposing the fin therebetween to the tray
 901 transferred by the main conveyer 30. The structure thereof is the same
 as that of the end plate assembly supply device 81.
 The manifold plate assembly supply device 82, although not shown in the
 drawing, is for loading the manifold plate assembly 24 from the supply
 tray (not shown) where the manifold plate assemblies 24 are loaded in the
 tray 901 transferred by the main conveyer 30, which includes a transfer
 device for transferring the supply tray and a manipulator for transferring
 the manifold plate assembly 24.
 The test apparatus 90 is for checking the assembly state of the heat
 exchanger assembly which is completely assembled and, although not shown
 in the drawing, includes a bracket disposed above the tray 901 transferred
 by the main conveyer 30 and detection sensors installed at the bracket at
 predetermined intervals. The detection sensor preferably uses an adjacent
 sensor.
 The picking device 83 is for picking the completely assembled heat
 exchanger loaded in the tray 901 and loading the same in a cleaning tray
 902, which is formed of a manipulator. The cleaning tray 902, where the
 heat exchanger assembly 20 picked by the picking device 83 is supported,
 includes a case 902b having a loading portion 902a of the heat exchanger
 assembly 20 at the upper and lower portions thereof, a guide rod 902d
 supported by the support plates 902c and 902c' at both sides of the case
 902b, pressing members 902e and 902e installed at the guide rod 902d to be
 capable of sliding, and a transfer device 902f installed at the support
 plates 902e and 902e' for transferring the pressing members 902e and 902e.
 An elastic member 902g for pressing the heat exchanger is installed at the
 pressing members 902e and 902e by being extended horizontally at the upper
 and lower end portions thereof. Here, the transfer device 902f includes a
 rotation shaft 902h coupled by a screw formed in the opposite direction of
 the support plates 902c and 902c'. A coupling portion 902i of a
 rectangular shape for rotating the rotation shaft 902h is formed at one
 end portion of the rotation shaft 902h.
 A tray adjustment device 910 for transferring the pressing members 902e and
 902e according to the type of the heat exchanger assembly 20 where the
 cleaning tray 902 is loaded, is further provided near the conveyer for
 transferring the cleaning tray 902.
 The tray adjustment device 910, as shown in FIG. 30, includes an elevating
 portion 911 for elevating the cleaning tray 902 transferred along the
 conveyer, and an adjustment portion 912 for transferring the pressing
 members 902e and 902e by being coupled to the coupling portion 902i of the
 cleaning tray 902 elevated by the elevating portion 911 and rotating the
 same. The elevating portion 911 includes a cylinder 911a vertically
 installed at the conveyer and a support plate 911b installed at a rod of
 the cylinder 911a. The adjustment portion 912 is installed at the frame
 912a to be capable of sliding toward the conveyer, and includes a mobile
 plate 912c moving back and forth by the cylinder 912b, an adjustment shaft
 912e rotatably installed above the mobile plate 912c and having a
 combining portion 912d combined to the coupling portion 902i, and a motor
 912f installed at one side of the mobile plate 912e for rotating the
 adjustment shaft 912 forward and backward.
 The supply conveyer 84 is for transferring the heat exchanger completely
 cleaned by the cleaning device 85 to the loading and unloading device 800,
 which is configured by a common chain conveyer.
 The heat exchanger loading device 86 is for loading the heat exchanger
 assembly picked from the cleaning device 85 in the brazing jig 904 to put
 the heat exchanger assembly in the brazing furnace, which is formed of a
 manipulator.
 The clamping device 700, as shown in FIG. 31, is for combining a clamp 904c
 of the pressing and combining plate 904b to a coupling hole 904d formed in
 a main body 904a in a state in which the heat exchanger assemblies are
 stacked in the main body 904a of the brazing jig 904. A preferred
 embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS. 31 through 35.
 As shown in the drawings, the clamping device 700 includes a chain conveyer
 710 having the heat exchanger assembly 20 loaded therein for transferring
 the brazing jig 904 loaded in the tray 901, a base frame 701 installed at
 both sides of the chain conveyer 710, a tray elevating portion 704
 installed between the base frames 701 for elevating the tray 901 where the
 brazing jig 904 is loaded, first and second aligning devices 720 and 730
 installed at one side of the base frame 701 for aligning both sides of the
 heat exchanger assembly 20 supported at the brazing jig 904, a support
 plate 703 supported by the base frame 701, a third aligning device 740
 installed at the support plate 703 for aligning the front and rear sides
 of the heat exchanger assembly loaded in the brazing jig 904, and a
 coupling portion 750 installed at the support plate 703 for pressing the
 combining plate 904b of the brazing jig 904 and simultaneously coupling
 the clamp 904c of the combining plate 904b by sliding the same so as to be
 coupled to the main body 904a.
 The tray elevating portion 704 includes a cylinder 704a vertically
 installed and a plate member 704b elevated by the cylinder 704a and
 supported by a rod 704c. The first aligning device 720 installed at the
 base frame 701 at one side thereof includes a cylinder 721 supported at
 the base frame 701, a support plate 723 connected to a rod of the cylinder
 721 and installed at a rod 722 supported at the base frame 701 to be
 capable of sliding, a cylinder 724 installed at the support plate 723, and
 a pressing plate 725 installed at a rod of the cylinder 724. Here, a guide
 portion 723a is provided at both sides of the support plate 723 to guide
 both sides of the pressing plate 725.
 The second aligning device 730 includes a cylinder 731 supported at the
 base frame 702, a support plate 733 connected to a rod of the cylinder 731
 and installed at a rod 732 supported at the base frame 702 to be capable
 of sliding, and a pressing plate 734 installed at the support plate 733.
 The third aligning device 740 includes cylinders 741 and 742 vertically
 installed at the support plate 703 corresponding to the front and rear
 sides of the brazing jig 904, respectively, and brackets 743 and 744
 vertically extended at rods of the cylinder 741 and 742, respectively. At
 least one cylinder 745 (746) is installed at each of the brackets 743 and
 744, respectively, and front and rear surface pressing plates 747 and 748
 are installed at the cylinders 745 and 746, respectively. In the first,
 second and third aligning devices 720, 730 and 740, the surfaces of the
 pressing plates 125, 734, 747 and 848 are formed to be uneven.
 The coupling portion 750 includes a clamp block 752 supported by guide rods
 751 installed at the support plate 703, a pair of clamp pads 753 and 754
 installed at the lower surface of the clamp block 752 to be capable of
 sliding in the directions to face each other, a cylinder 755 installed
 between the clamp pads 753 and 754, and an elevating portion 760 installed
 at the support plate 703 for elevating the clamp block 752.
 The elevating portion 760 includes a ball screw 763 screw-coupled to a
 rotation member 762 supported at a block 761 fixed to the support plate
 703 and having an end portion thereof rotatably coupled to the upper
 surface of the clamp block 752, a gear 763 engaged with a gear tooth
 formed on the rotation member 762, and a motor 764 for rotating the gear
 763 in the forward or reverse direction. The elevating portion 760 is not
 limited to the above embodiment and any structure which can elevate the
 clamp block 752 while controlling the position thereof can be adopted
 therefor.
 The loading and unloading device 800 of the heat exchanger is for loading
 and unloading the brazing jig 904 where the heat exchanger assembly is
 loaded by the clamping device 700 in the brazing tray 903 to put or draw
 the brazing jig 904 in or from the brazing furnace (not shown). A
 preferred embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS. 36 through 41.
 As shown in the drawings, the loading and unloading device 800 includes a
 frame 811, and a transfer device 810 having a first conveyer 820 installed
 above the frame 811 for transferring the brazing tray 903 where the heat
 exchanger is not loaded and a second conveyer 830 installed under the
 frame 811 parallel to the first conveyer 820 for transferring the brazing
 tray 903 where the heat exchanger is loaded. Also, the loading and
 unloading device 800 includes a first loading device 840 installed at one
 side surface of the transfer device 810 for loading the brazing jig 904
 assembled to the brazing tray 903 transferred by the first conveyer 820 in
 the front surface of the frame 811, a lifting device 860 for transferring
 the brazing tray 903 where loading is completed by the brazing jig loading
 device 840 to the second conveyer 820, and a brazing tray loading device
 850 installed between the second conveyer 820 and a support frame 900 put
 into the furnace for loading the brazing tray 903 transferred by the
 second conveyer 830, in the support frame 900.
 The loading and unloading device 800 also includes, at the side surface of
 the transfer device 810, a brazing tray unloading device 870 for unloading
 the brazing tray 903 from the support frame 900 drawn from the furnace, a
 third conveyer 880 for transferring the brazing tray 903 unloaded by the
 brazing tray unloading device 870, and a tray transfer device 890 for
 transferring the brazing tray 903 transferred by the third conveyer 880
 and where the completely brazed brazing jig 904 is removed, to the first
 conveyer 820.
 The loading and unloading device of the heat exchanger according to the
 present invention having the above structure will be described in detail.
 The first and second conveyers 820 and 830 are installed at the upper and
 lower portions of the transfer device 810. The distance between the upper
 and lower conveyers at the frame 811 must be maintained such that the
 brazing tray 903 loaded with the brazing jig 904 can be sufficiently
 transferred. A plurality of supports 821 and 831 installed at the frame
 811 at predetermined intervals are provided at the first and second
 conveyers 820 and 830, and a plurality of chain guides 821a and 831a are
 installed at the supports 821 and 831 at predetermined intervals in a
 lengthwise direction. Shafts 822 and 832 are installed at both end
 portions of the frame 811, that is, at an inlet and outlet sides of the
 frame 811. Rollers 823 and 833 are installed at at least one portion
 corresponding to the chain guides 821 and 831. Chains 824 and 834 guided
 by the chain guides 821 and 831 are wound around the rollers 823 and 833.
 The shaft at one side is driven by driving motors 825 and 835. A stopper
 portion 836 for temporarily stopping the transferred brazing tray is
 installed at the outlet side of the second conveyer 830. The stopper
 portion 836 includes a cylinder 836a fixed to the frame 811 and a stopper
 836b installed at a rod of the cylinder 836a and elevated. Limit switches
 827 and 837 are installed at both sides of the frame 811 at a
 predetermined interval for detecting the position of the brazing
 transferred tray 903 to operate the stopper portion 836 or to control the
 driving motors 825 and 835.
 The brazing jig loading device 840 is for loading the brazing jig 904
 transferred by the conveyer in a state of being assembled to the jig in
 the brazing tray 903 transferred by the first conveyer 820. The brazing
 jig loading device 840 includes a first guide rail 843 installed between
 the brazing jig transfer conveyer 841 and the first conveyer 820 and
 supported by the support 842, a first slider 844 transferred by a rod-less
 cylinder (not shown) along the first guide rail 843, a first bracket 846
 reciprocated by a reciprocation cylinder 845 supported by the first slider
 844, an elevating cylinder 847 installed at the first bracket 846, and the
 chuck 848 installed at a rod of the elevating cylinder 847.
 The lifting device 860 is for transferring the brazing tray 903 to the
 second conveyer 830 when the brazing jig 903 is completely loaded in the
 brazing ray 903 transferred by the first conveyer 820. The lifting device
 860 includes a rail 681 installed under the first and second conveyers 820
 and 830 and extended from the frame 811, a frame 862 vertically installed
 and reciprocating along the rail 861 toward the first and second conveyers
 820 and 830, a fork 863 installed at the frame 862 to be capable of
 elevating, and an elevating portion 864 for elevating the fork 862. The
 elevating portion 864 is configured by using a chain connected to the
 cylinder or the fork 862, and a sprocket and a motor for transferring the
 chain. The rail 861 can be transferred by a cylinder (not shown).
 The brazing tray loading device 850 is for stacking the brazing tray 903
 loaded with the heat exchanger which is intermittently transferred by the
 second conveyer 830 on and above the support frame 900 put into the
 brazing furnace. A preferred embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS. 30 and
 33. As shown in the drawings, the brazing tray loading device 850 includes
 a base 851 installed at the outlet side of the second conveyer 830, left
 and right arms 852 and 852' installed at both sides of the base 851 and
 maintaining the same width as that of the second conveyer 830, an
 elevating plate 853 elevated by being supported at the left and right arms
 852 and 852', and a transfer portion 854 installed at the elevating plate
 853 for transferring the brazing tray 903. An elevating portion 855 for
 elevating the elevating plate 853 is installed above the left and right
 arms 852 and 852'. In the elevating portion 855, a rotation shaft 855b
 driven by a driving motor 855a is installed at end portions of the left
 and right arms 852 and 852'. A sprocket 855c is installed at the rotation
 shaft 855b, to which a chain 855d of which one side is the connected to
 the elevating plate 853 is coupled.
 At least one transfer portion 854, installed at predetermined intervals at
 the elevating plate 853 elevated by the elevating portion 855, includes a
 pair of brackets 854a and 854a' separated a predetermined distance, a
 transfer plate 854b reciprocating along a rail 854c which is installed at
 a plate member 854b supported by the brackets 854a and 854a', a rack 854e
 installed on the lower surface of the transfer plate 854b, and a pinion
 854g installed on a driving shaft 854d which is installed under the
 brackets 854a and 854a'. A motor 854h for driving the driving a shaft 854f
 is installed on the lower surface of the elevating plate 853. The power of
 the motor 854h is transferred to the driving shaft 854f through a power
 transfer device. A shaft, a sprocket and a chain, or a shaft and a gear
 can be used as the power transfer device.
 The brazing tray unloading device 870 is for drawing the completely brazed
 brazing jig 904 from the support frame 900. The brazing tray unloading
 device 870 has the same structure as that of the brazing tray loading
 device 850. The third conveyer 880 is for transferring the brazing tray
 903 drawn by the brazing tray unloading device 870 to a position for
 unloading the heat exchanger. As the third conveyer 880 has the same
 structure as that of the first conveyer 820, a detailed description
 thereof will be omitted.
 The brazing tray transfer device 890 is for transferring the brazing tray
 903 transferred by the third conveyer 880 and where unloading of the heat
 exchanger is completed, to the first conveyer 820. The brazing tray
 transfer device 890 is installed across the first and third conveyers 820
 and 880, and includes a second guide rail 891 supported by a support, a
 second slider 892 transferred by a rod-less cylinder (not shown) along the
 second guide rail 891, a second bracket 894 reciprocating back and forth
 by a reciprocating cylinder 893 supported at the second slider 892, an
 elevating cylinder installed at the second bracket 895, and a chuck 897
 installed at a rod of the elevating cylinder 896 for gripping the brazing
 tray 903. Here, the third conveyer 880 is further provided with a stopper
 for stopping transfer of other brazing tray 903 during unloading the
 brazing jig 904 where the completely brazed heat exchanger is loaded, from
 the brazing tray 903.
 In the operation of the apparatus for assembling a heat exchanger according
 to the present invention having the above structure, the fin 14 and the
 molding plate 21a formed by the fin molding device 50 and the plate
 molding device 70, respectively, are supplied toward the fin plate
 assembling device 100 by the fin transfer conveyer 40 and the plate
 transfer conveyer 60. When the fin 14 and the molding plate 21a are
 supplied by the respective transfer conveyers, the fin plate assembling
 device 100 picks and assembles them. The process of assembly is described
 as follows.
 To assembly a fin molding plate in a state in which the fin 14 and the
 molding plate 21a are transferred to both sides of the assembling device
 by the fin transfer conveyer 40 and the molding plate transfer conveyer
 60, the cylinder 186 of the molding plate supply device 180 is operated to
 locate the slider 183 moving along the rail 182a of the rail plate 182 at
 the upper portion of the molding plate transfer conveyer 60. Under these
 circumstances, the cylinder 184 is operated to lower the absorbing
 portions 185 and 185' supported at the connection portion so that the
 molding plate 21a is absorbed by the absorbing pad 185a of the absorbing
 portions 185 and 185' . When the molding plate 21a is absorbed by the
 absorbing pad 185a, the cylinder 184 is operated to raise the absorbing
 portions 185 and 185' and thus the molding plate 21a is raised. As the
 cylinder 186 is operated, the slider 183 is moved toward the guide plate
 161 so that the molding plate 21a is disposed perpendicularly above the
 guide plate 161. In a state in which the molding plate 21a absorbed by the
 absorbing portions 185 and 185' by the operation of the cylinder 184 is
 disposed above the guide plate 161, the vacuous pressure applied to the
 absorbing pad 185a is removed to transfer the molding plate 21a onto the
 upper surface of the guide plate 161 and, by operating the molding plate
 supply device 180 in the reverse order, the absorbing pad 185a is moved to
 the upper portion of the molding plate transfer conveyer 60.
 When the molding plate 21a is placed on the guide plate 161, the rod-less
 cylinder 163 is operated to transfer the transfer pin 162 to the elevating
 plate 165a of the elevating device 165. When the molding plate 21a is
 disposed above the elevating plate 165a, the cylinder 165b is operated to
 elevate the elevating plate 165a to the same height of the assembly space
 formed by the rotary plates 124 and 124'. Here, as the motor 125 rotates,
 the rotary plates 124 and 124' maintain a horizontal state parallel to the
 molding plate 21a. In this state, the cylinder 167b of the pusher portion
 167 is operated and the pusher is moved toward the rotary assembly. Then,
 the molding plate 21a disposed above the elevating plate 165a is inserted
 into the assembly space. Here, the tank of the molding plate 21a is
 inserted into the tank insertion portion 129. That is, the tank portion is
 held by being inserted between the tank gripping portion 129a and the
 rotary plate 124 so that the molding plate 21a closely contacts the inner
 surface of the rotary plate 124.
 When the insertion of the molding plate into the assembly space is
 completed, the pusher 167a retreats by the operation of the cylinder 167b
 of the pusher portion 167 and the rotary plates 124 and 124' are rotated
 180.degree. by the operation of the motor 125. In this state, the molding
 plate 21a is inserted into the assembly space between the rotary plates
 124 and 124' in the above-described same method. Here, the molding plate
 21a' is supported by being inserted into the tank insertion portion 129
 corresponding to the molding plate 21a earlier supplied with a tank so
 that the molding plate 21a' closely contacts the inner surface of the
 rotary plate 124' and the molding plates 21a and 21a are separated a
 predetermined interval.
 When the insertion of the two sheets of the molding plates 21a and 21a' is
 completed, the fin feeding device 190 is operated and the fin 14 is
 supplied between the molding plates 21a and 21a' which are installed at
 the rotary plate 124 and 124'. In detail, the fin 14 transferred to the
 fin transfer conveyer 40 is transferred to the side surface of the
 elevating plate 191a of the elevating device 191 by the operation of the
 cylinder 195b of the second pusher portion 195 and again transferred to
 the upper surface of the elevating plate 191a.
 When the supply of the fin 14 to the elevating plate 191a is completed, the
 cylinder 191b of the elevating device 191 is operated so that the
 elevating plate 191a where the fin 14 is installed is elevated to the
 heigh of the assembly space where the two sheets of the molding plates 21a
 and 21a are installed. In this state, the cylinder 202 of the fin
 insertion portion 200 is operated to move the pushing pin 203 toward the
 rotary assembly portion 120. The fin installed at the elevating plate 191a
 by the movement of the pushing pin 203 is pushed by the pushing pin 203
 and inserted between the molding plates 21a and 21a supported by the
 rotary plates 124 and 124'. Here, the fin is inserted in a state of being
 compressed by the pressing plate 212 by the operation of the cylinder 211
 of the fin compressing device.
 When the insertion of the fin is completed, the motor 125 of the rotary
 assembly portion 120 is operated to erect the rotary plate 124'. Here, the
 molding plate and the fin supported at the assembly space between the
 rotary plates 124 and 124' are prevented from escaping from the assembly
 space because both end portions of the molding plates are hooked by the
 inner surface of the rotation space of the guide members 127 and 127' as
 the both end portions of the rotary plates 124 and 124' are rotated in the
 rotation space formed by the guide members 127 and 127' supported at the
 brackets 122 and 122'.
 When the rotary plates 124 and 124' are erected vertically so that the
 molding plate and the fin are erected vertically, the pushing rod 222 is
 inserted into the assembly space through the opening of the base plate 121
 as the cylinder 221 of the drawing device 220 is operated installed at the
 lower portion of the base plate 121 Then, the fin molding plate is raised
 and drawn through the drawing holes 127b and 127b' of the guide members
 127 and 127'. The drawn fin molding plate is inserted between the fixed
 jaw 128a and the mobile jaw 128b of the gripping portion 128 installed at
 the guide members 127 and 127' and temporarily gripped.
 When the drawing of the fin molding plate assembly is completed, the fin
 molding plate gripped by the chuck of the discharging device 240 is loaded
 in the tray 901 supported at the conveyer.
 In the process of assembling the fin and molding plate by the fin molding
 plate assembling device 100, when a material for fin molding suppled to
 the fin molding device is replaced, the fin is supplied from the fin delay
 supply device 300 to the fin transfer conveyer. The operation of the fin
 delay supply device 300 is as follows.
 Referring to FIGS. 4 through 10, the fin 14 transferred along the fin
 transfer conveyer 40 is selectively supplied by the operation of the
 connection device 302 to the fin supply line 301. Here, the connection
 device 302 is operated such that the fin 14 transferred along the fin
 transfer conveyer 40 can be continuously transferred along the fin
 transfer line 301, or selectively transferred to the fin supply line 301.
 The fin supplied to the fin supply line 301 is inserted toward the inlet
 of the loading conveyer 340 and sequentially transferred by the loading
 conveyer 340 toward the fin loading portion 330.
 A predetermined amount of the fin 14 transferred to the outlet side of the
 loading conveyer 340 is loaded by the fin receiving apparatus 350 in the
 fin loading portion 330. In detail, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the fin
 receiving portion 330 includes the receiving case supporter 333 installed
 at the loading frame 332 and the fin receiving case 330 installed at the
 receiving case supporter 333 to be capable of sliding and having receiving
 portions 334a for accommodating a plurality of fins 14. The loading frame
 332 where the fin receiving case 330 is installed is intermittently
 rotated by the driving device 335 and the fin receiving case 334 is
 sequentially arranged at the outlet side of the loading conveyer 340.
 The fin receiving case 334 arranged at the outlet side of the loading
 conveyer 340, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, is moved up and down with respect
 to the receiving case supporter 333 by the receiving case transfer device
 360. The fin 14 transferred by the pushing device 370 to the outlet side
 of the loading conveyer 340 is sequentially loaded in the fin receiving
 case 334. By repeating the above steps with respect to the fin receiving
 cases 334 provided at the fin loading portion 330, a plurality of fins 14
 are sequentially loaded.
 The fin 13 loaded in the fin loading portion 330 is sequentially supplied
 to the fin transfer conveyer 40 by the fin supply device 400, as
 necessary. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, as the loading portion 330 is
 rotated, the predetermined fin receiving case 334 is located at the inlet
 side of the supply conveyer 420. The fin 14 received in the fin receiving
 case 334 is sequentially discharged toward the inlet side of the supply
 conveyer 420 by the fin discharging device 410 including the receiving
 case transfer device 440 and the pushing device 460, disposed at the inlet
 side of the supply conveyer 420. The fin 14 sequentially transferred to
 the output side of the supply conveyer 420 is moved onto the fin transfer
 conveyer 40 by the pushing device 430 provided at the outlet side of the
 supply conveyer 420.
 Also, in the above step of assembling the fin 14 and the molding plate 21a,
 when a material for fin molding supplied to the plate molding device is
 replaced, the molding plate is suppled from the plate delay supply device
 500 to the molding plate transfer conveyer 60. The operation of the plate
 delay supply device 500 is as follows.
 The molding plate 21a processed by a press (not shown) with a material
 supplied from a predetermined material roll is automatically supplied by
 the separation and transfer device, for example, a conveyer device (not
 shown), and stacked on the plate discharging device 510. When the stacked
 molding plate 21a is used for replacement of the material or the operation
 of the press is stopped, due to the interruption of supply of the molding
 plate 21a, the overall assembly line for assembling the molding plate 21a
 is temporarily stopped for a while. Thus, when the material is replaced or
 the press is temporarily stopped, the molding plate supply device 180
 automatically supplies the molding plate 21a previously stacked.
 The operation of the plate delay supply device is described with reference
 to FIGS. 13 through 16.
 According to the driving of the cylinder 168, the connection rod 617
 reciprocates by the cylinder 618. As the connection rod 617 is connected
 to the first and second roller brackets 611 and 612 where the first lower
 rollers 614 and 616 are disposed between the first and second lower body
 portions 521a and 522a of the first and second lower separators 521 and
 522 and the third and fourth lower body portions 521a and 522a of the
 second and third lower separators 521' and 522' of the first accommodating
 portion 520, and where the second upper rollers 613 and 615 are supported
 between the first and second upper body portions 523a and 524a of the
 first and second upper separators 523 and 524 and the third and fourth
 upper body portions 523a' and 524a' of the third and fourth upper
 separators 523' and 524', the first and second roller brackets 611 and 612
 advance.
 When the first and second roller brackets 611 and 612 advance, as shown in
 FIG. 13, the first rollers 614 and 616 are moved along the inclined
 surfaces 521d and 522d provided at the first and second body portions 521a
 and 522a and the third and fourth body portions 521a' and 522a' to
 separate the first and second lower separators 521 and 522 and the third
 and fourth lower separators 521' and 522'. Thus, the molding plate 21a
 supported at the first, second, third and fourth lower protrusions 521c,
 522c, 521c' and 522c' of the first, second, third and fourth lower
 separators 521, 522, 521' and 522' falls onto the molding plate transfer
 conveyer 60 through the molding plate discharging opening 501a.
 In this process, the second upper rollers 613 and 615 are separated from
 the first and second upper inclined surfaces 523d and 524d provided at the
 first and second upper body portions 523a and 524a of the first and second
 upper separators 523 and 524 and the third and fourth inclined surfaces
 523d and 524d of the third and fourth upper separators 523' and 524'.
 Thus, the first and second upper separators 523 and 524 and the third and
 fourth upper separators 523' and 524' contract by an elastic force of the
 spring 525 supported at the side plate thereof, so that the molding plate
 disposed above the molding plate discharged by the first, second, third
 and fourth upper protrusions 523c, 524c, 523c' and 524c' is supported.
 When the first and second roller brackets 611 and 612 retreat by the
 operation of the cylinder 618, as the first rollers 614 and 616 move along
 the inclined surfaces 521d and 522d provided at the first and second body
 portions 521a and 522a and the third and fourth lower body portions 521a'
 and 522a', the first and second lower separators 521 and 522 and the third
 and fourth lower separators 521' and 522' contract due to an elastic force
 of the spring 525. Thus, the first, second, third and fourth upper
 protrusions 523c, 524c, 523c' and 524c' of the first, second, third and
 fourth upper separators 523, 524, 523' and 524' is lowered and supported
 by the first, second, third and fourth lower protrusions 521c, 522c, 521c'
 and 522c' of the first, second, third and fourth lower separators 521,
 522, 521' and 522'.
 The molding plate 21a is continuously supplied as the first, second, third
 and fourth lower separators 521, 522, 521' and 522' and the first, second,
 third and fourth upper separators 523, 524, 523' and 524' are moved
 relatively by the operation of the cylinder 618.
 When the supply of the fin plate assembly from the fin molding plate
 assembling device to the tray 901 is completed, the tray 901 is lowered to
 the main conveyer 30 and transferred to the special plate assembly supply
 device 87, the end plate assembly supply device 81 and the manifold plate
 assembly supply device 82. Thus, as the end plate tube assembly 22 and the
 manifold plate assembly 24 are supplied to the tray 901 so that stacking
 of the heat exchanger assembly is completed.
 When the stacking of the heat exchanger assembly is completed, the
 assembled heat exchanger assembly 20 is picked from the tray 901 by the
 manipulator and the picked heat exchanger assembly 20 is aligned by the
 aligning device (not shown) and loaded in the cleaning tray 902 to be
 cleaned by the cleaning device 85.
 The completely cleaned heat exchanger assembly is loaded by the manipulator
 in the brazing jig 904 intermittently transferred by the supply conveyer
 420 and transferred toward the clamping device 700, and installed at the
 brazing jig 904 in a state of being pressed to a predetermined pressure.
 The operation of the clamping device 700 for clamping the heat exchanger to
 the brazing jig 904 transferred by the supply conveyer 420 in a pressed
 state is described as follows.
 When the heat exchanger assembly is installed at the brazing jig 904 and
 transferred by the chain conveyer 710 to be located under the clamping
 device 700, the cylinder 704a of the elevating portion 704 is operated to
 raise the tray 901 and fix the position of the tray 901 where the brazing
 jig 904 is supported. In this state, the cylinders 741 and 742 of the
 third aligning device 740 is operated so that the brackets 743 and 744
 where the front and rear side pressing plates 747 and 748 are installed
 are lowered and disposed at the front and rear sides of the brazing jig
 904. The cylinders 745 and 746 are operated to advance the front and rear
 side pressing plates 747 and 748 so that the fin 14 of the heat exchanger
 assembly and the tube assembly supported at the brazing jig 904 are
 aligned.
 When the front and rear alignment of the heat exchanger assembly supported
 at the brazing jig 904 is completed, the cylinders 741 and 742 are
 operated to raise the brackets 743 and 744 where the front and rear
 pressing plates 747 and 748 are installed.
 Next, the cylinder 721 of the first aligning device 720 supported at the
 base plates 701 and 702 advances each support plate 723, and
 simultaneously, the cylinder 724 supported at the support plate 723 of the
 first aligning device 720 to allow the pressing plate 725 to closely
 contact the one side surface of the heat exchanger assembly supported by
 the brazing jig 904. In this state, the cylinder 731 of the second
 aligning device 730 is operated to reciprocate each support plate 733 so
 that the pressing plate 734 supported at the support plate 733 closely
 contacts and is separated from the one side surface of the heat exchanger
 assembly supported at the brazing jig 904 to align the heat exchanger
 assembly. Here, as the surface of the pressing plates 725 and 734 are
 formed to be uneven in a direction parallel to the molding plate of the
 heat exchanger, the pressing plates 725 and 734 are disposed between the
 tube assembly.
 When the alignment of the heat exchanger assembly is completed, the
 pressing plates 725 and 734 are returned to their original positions by
 the operation of the cylinders 721, 731 and 724 of the first and second
 aligning devices 720 and 730.
 The rotation member 762 is rotated by the operation of the motor 764 of the
 clamping device 750 to lower the ball screw 763 so that the clamp block
 752 presses the combining plate 904b of the brazing jig 904. Here, the
 pressing force of the combining plate 904b of the clamp block 752 is
 controlled by the motor 764. In a state in which the heat exchanger
 assembly 20 is pressed by the combining plate 904b pressed by the clamp
 block 752, the cylinder 755 is operated to transfer the clamp pads 753 and
 754 so that the clamp 904c installed at the combining plate 904b is
 coupled to the coupling hole 904d of the main body 904a. When the coupling
 of the clamp 904c is completed, the clamp pads 753 and 754 retreat by the
 operation of the cylinder 755 and the clamp block 752 is raised by the
 operation of the motor 764. The tray 901 where the brazing jig 904 is
 loaded is lowered by the elevating portion 704 and transferred by the
 chain conveyer 701.
 When the installation of the heat exchanger assembly at the brazing jig 904
 is completed, the brazing jig 904 is loaded in the brazing tray 903 by the
 loading and unloading device 800 of the heat exchanger, and
 simultaneously, the completely brazed heat exchanger is unloaded from the
 brazing tray 903 and the completed brazed brazing jig 904 is picked from
 the tray 901.
 The operation of the loading and unloading device of the heat exchanger is
 described as follows.
 First, when the brazing tray 903 where the brazing jig 904 is not installed
 to be brazed is located under the heat exchanger loading device by the
 first conveyer 820, the rod-less cylinder of the heat exchanger loading
 device 840 to transfer the slider 844 above the transfer conveyer 841
 along the guide rail 843. Here, the chuck 848 is lowered by operating the
 elevating cylinder 847 so that the brazing jig 904 stacked as by the chuck
 848 and supported at the jig is gripped. In this state, the elevating
 cylinder 847 is operated to raise the brazing jig 904 and simultaneously
 the slider 844 is transferred above the brazing tray 903 using the
 rod-less cylinder. Next, the elevating cylinder 847 is operated to load
 the heat exchanger in the brazing tray 903. When the loading of the
 brazing jig 904 in the brazing tray 903 is completed, the brazing jig 904
 where the heat exchanger is completed stacked is transferred by the
 lifting device 860 to the second conveyer 830. As the brazing tray 903 is
 transferred by the lifting device 860, the fork 863 is lowered by the
 elevating portion 864 in a state in which the frame 862 retreats by the
 cylinder. The frame 862 advances to locate the brazing tray 903 under
 brazing ray 903 and the fork 863 is raised by the elevating portion 864 to
 lift the brazing tray 903. When the frame 862 retreats and the fork 863 is
 lowered, the frame 862 advances to put the brazing tray 903 on the second
 conveyer 830.
 When the brazing tray 903 where the loading of the heat exchanger is
 completed is placed on the second conveyer 830, the second conveyer 830 is
 operated to transfer the brazing ray 903 toward the brazing tray loading
 device 850. The brazing tray 903 transferred in the above transfer process
 operates the limit switch 837 installed at the frame 811 to detect the
 position of the transfer.
 When the brazing tray 903 is disposed in front of the brazing tray loading
 device 850 by the second conveyer 830, the driving motor 854h of the
 transfer portion 854 installed at the elevating plate 853 is operated to
 rotate the driving shaft 854f where the pinion 854g engaged with the rack
 854e of the transfer plate 854d is installed, and thus the transfer plate
 854d is transferred. Here, the transfer plate 854d is disposed under the
 brazing tray 903 transferred by the second conveyer 830.
 In this state, the driving motor 855a of the elevating portion is operated
 to raise the elevating plate 853 so that the brazing tray 903 supported at
 the transfer plate 854d is raised. The transfer plate 854d is transferred
 to the support frame 900 by reversing the motor 854h of the transfer
 portion 854. By rotating the driving motor 855a of the elevating portion
 forward or reversely, the brazing tray 903 is placed on the transfer
 frame. When the brazing tray 903 is completely placed, the driving motor
 855a of the elevating portion 855 is reversed to lower the elevating
 plate, and is simultaneously, by rotating the motor 854h of the transfer
 portion 854, the transfer plate 854d is transferred toward the second
 conveyer to repeat the loading of the brazing tray as described above.
 When the loading of the brazing tray in the support frame is completed as
 the above loading work repeats, the support frame is input to the brazing
 furnace and brazed therein. When the brazing in the brazing furnace is
 completed, the support frame is drawn from the brazing furnace and
 transferred toward the brazing tray unloading device 870. The brazing ray
 903 is transferred from the support frame 900 to the third conveyer 880 in
 the reverse order of the operation of the brazing tray loading device 850.
 When the brazing tray 903 is transferred by the third conveyer 880 and
 disposed at the outlet portion thereof, the brazing tray 903 is stopped by
 the stopper and the completely brazed brazing jig 904 is unloaded manually
 or by the manipulator from the brazing tray 903.
 When the unloading of the heat exchanger is completed, the brazing tray 903
 where the heat exchanger is not loaded is transferred by the brazing tray
 transfer device 890 toward the first conveyer 820. That is, in a state in
 which the second slider 892 moving along the second guide rail 891 is
 disposed above the third conveyer 880, the second elevating cylinder 895
 is operated to lower the chuck 897 and the brazing tray 903 is gripped by
 the lowered chuck. When the gripping of the brazing tray 903 is completed,
 the second elevating cylinder 895 is operated to raise the brazing tray
 903 gripped by the chuck and simultaneously the slider is transferred
 using the rod-less cylinder (not shown) above the first conveyer 820. The
 chuck is lowered by the operation of the second elevating cylinder and the
 brazing tray 903 gripped by the chuck 897 is placed on the first conveyer.
 The brazing tray placed on the first conveyer 820 is transferred to the
 front side of the heat exchanger loading device. The brazing jig 904 which
 is not braze-combined is loaded in the brazing tray 903.
 As described above, in the heat exchanger assembling apparatus according to
 the present invention, as all steps of molding the fin and forming the
 plate of the heat exchanger, assembling them, and completing the brazing
 thereof are sequentially performed, the number of steps can be reduced and
 further improve productivity of manufacturing of the heat exchanger.
 It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the preferred
 embodiment described above, and it is apparent that variations and
 modifications by those skilled in the art can be effected within the
 spirit and scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.