Patent Publication Number: US-2018031325-A1

Title: Heat exchanger, heat exchanger assembling apparatus, and heat exchanger assembling method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger assembling apparatus, and a heat exchanger assembling method. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A heat exchanger used for a radiator or the like of an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of tubes and fins, which are laminated, and a pair of tanks connected to opening ends of respective tubes. Automatically assembling this type of heat exchanger requires holding each laminated tube at a predetermined position. 
     As discussed in JP02-035630U, there is an assembling apparatus for a heat exchanger core including a compression claw for alternately laminating and arranging a plurality of tubes and fins on a set plate and compressing each of the tubes and fins in a laminate direction. 
     As discussed in JP61-025734A, there is a plate assembling apparatus for a heat exchanger core that alternately laminates and arranges a plurality of tubes and fins on a table, compresses respective tubes and fins in the laminate direction in a state where the tubes and fins are sandwiched between an upper guide plate and a lower guide plate from above and bottom, and inserts an opening end of each tube into a hole of a side plate (tank). 
     However, according to the apparatuses discussed in JP02-035630U and JP61-025734A, positional deviation occurs in each of the tubes laminated on the table or the like, and therefore accurately performing the assembling operation including inserting the opening end of each tube into the hole of the tank was difficult. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger assembling apparatus, and a heat exchanger assembling method, in which assembling each of the laminated tubes with the tank can be accurately performed. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger including a plurality of laminated tubes having an opening end to which a tank is connected, the heat exchanger including a pressing portion is provided in the vicinity of the opening end of each tube, the tube being held by the pressing portion when the tank is connected to the opening end of the tubes is provided. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger assembling apparatus for connecting a tank with an opening end of a plurality of laminated tubes, the assembling apparatus includes: a table on which respective tubes can be laminated; a laminate-direction compressing unit configured to compress the plurality of tubes laminated on the table in a laminate direction; and a thickness-direction compressing unit configured to compress the plurality of tubes in a thickness direction perpendicular to the table, wherein the thickness-direction compressing unit includes a holding portion configured to press the vicinity of the opening end of the plurality of tubes, compressed in the laminate direction by the laminate-direction compressing unit, against the table, and the holding portion holds the plurality of tubes when the tank is connected to the plurality of tubes is provided. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger assembling method for connecting a tank with an opening end of a plurality of laminated tubes, the method includes: a lamination process for laminating the plurality of tubes; a main compression process for compressing the plurality of tubes in a laminate direction; and an assembling process for connecting the tank to the plurality of tubes in a state where the plurality of tubes are held and pressed by a holding portion for holding the tubes in the vicinity of the opening end of the plurality of tubes compressed in the laminate direction is provided. 
     According to the above-mentioned aspects of the present invention, in the process for connecting the tank to each of the laminated tubes, the pressing portion provided in the vicinity of the opening end of each tube is pressed and therefore the positional deviation can be suppressed from occurring in each tube. Therefore, each of the laminated tubes can be accurately assembled with the tank. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a heat exchanger core according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a process for assembling the heat exchanger core; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a process for assembling the heat exchanger core; 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a process for assembling the heat exchanger core; 
         FIG. 2D  illustrates a process for assembling the heat exchanger core; 
         FIG. 3A  is a configuration diagram illustrating an operation of an assembling apparatus in a lamination process; 
         FIG. 3B  is a configuration diagram illustrating an operation of the assembling apparatus in a main compression process; 
         FIG. 3C  is a configuration diagram illustrating an operation of the assembling apparatus in an assembling process; 
         FIG. 4A  is a configuration diagram illustrating an operation of the assembling apparatus in the lamination process; 
         FIG. 4B  is a configuration diagram illustrating an operation of the assembling apparatus in the main compression process; 
         FIG. 4C  is a configuration diagram illustrating an operation of the assembling apparatus in the assembling process; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of the tubes illustrating an operation of the assembling apparatus in the lamination process; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the tubes illustrating an operation of the assembling apparatus in the main compression process; 
         FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional view of the tubes illustrating an operation of the assembling apparatus in the assembling process; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view illustrating a modified embodiment of the heat exchanger core; and 
         FIG. 7  is a configuration diagram illustrating an operation of an assembling apparatus according to a comparative example. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to attached drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a heat exchanger  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The heat exchanger  10  performs heat exchange between a medium flowing inside thereof and external air or the like. The heat exchanger  10  can be used as a radiator for an internal combustion engine, in which cooling liquid flows as the internal medium. However, the heat exchanger  10  is not limited to the radiator and adoptable as a charge air cooler in which intake air flows as a medium or a condenser of an air conditioner or a cooling device in which a refrigerant gas flows as a medium. 
     The heat exchanger  10  includes a plurality of tubes  11  in which the internal medium flows, corrugated fins  12  arranged alternately with respective tubes  11 , right and left reinforcements  17  disposed in such a way as to be aligned with both ends of a laminate body of respective tubes  11  and fins  12 , and upper and lower tanks  13  and  14  to which opening ends  11   d  of respective tubes  11  are connected. 
     The flat tube  11  can be formed by bending a metal plate, such as an aluminum plate, into a cylindrical shape. However, the tube  11  is not limited to a specific type and may be formed by extruding a molten metal material into a cylindrical shape. 
     The tanks  13  and  14  include tank plates  23  and  24  to which opening ends  11   d  of respective tubes  11  are connected and dome-shaped tank bodies  25  and  26  assembled with the tank plates  23  and  24 . The tank plates  23  and  24  have tube insertion holes  23   a  and  24   a  into which the opening ends  11   d  of respective tubes  11  are inserted (refer to  FIG. 2D ). The tank plates  23  and  24  are, for example, made of a metal member such as an aluminum. The tank bodies  25  and  26  are, for example, made of a resin member. 
     The manufacturing of the heat exchanger  10  includes assembling the tubes  11 , the fins  12 , the reinforcements  17 , and the tank plates  23  and  24  by using an assembling apparatus  50  described below, constituting the heat exchanger core  9  by brazing the assembled members for joining them, and completing the heat exchanger  10  by assembling the heat exchanger core  9  with the tank bodies  25  and  26 . 
     While the heat exchanger  10  is operating, the medium is supplied into the tank  13  from a medium inlet  15  of the tank body  25 . The medium flows into each tube  11  from the tank  13  and subsequently into the tank  14 , and is then discharged from a medium outlet  16  of the tank body  26 . Thus, the medium circulating in the heat exchanger  10  exchanges heat with the air via the fins  12  while flowing through respective tubes  11 . 
       FIGS. 2A to 2D  illustrate assembling processes of the heat exchanger core  9 . Hereinafter, exemplary processes of assembling the heat exchanger core  9  will be described. 
     First, alternately laminating a plurality of tubes  11  and fins  12  (refer to  FIG. 2A ) is performed. Subsequently, compressing the laminated tubes  11  and fins  12  in the laminate direction (refer to  FIG. 2B ) by using the assembling apparatus  50  (refer to  FIGS. 3A to 3C  and  FIGS. 4A to 4C ) is performed. In this state, each fin  12  is hermetically in contact with neighboring tubes  11 . In the following description, a predetermined number of tubes  11  and fins  12  laminated alternately with each other is referred to as “laminate body  18 ”. Further, the “laminate direction” is the direction along which the tubes  11  and the fins  12  are aligned. 
     The assembling apparatus  50  compresses the laminate body  18  constituted by the tubes  11  and the fins  12  until the interval between two tubes  11  neighboring in the laminate direction becomes equal to a predetermined interval. The predetermined interval is the interval between the tube insertion holes  23   a  and  24   a  of respective tank plates  23  and  24  (refer to  FIG. 2C ). In the following description, the interval between two neighboring tubes  11  is referred to as “tube pitch”. 
     Press-fitting the opening ends  11   d  of respective tubes  11  into corresponding tube insertion holes  23   a  and  24   a  of the tank plates  23  and  24  (refer to  FIG. 2D ) is performed in the compressed state where the tube pitch of the laminate body  18  is equal to the predetermined interval. 
     Subsequently, joining the constituent members by brazing is performed through heat treatment causing cladding layers applied to the surfaces of the tubes  11 , the fins  12 , and the tank plates  23  and  24  to melt. As a result, the tubes  11 , the fins  12 , the reinforcements  17 , and the tank plates  23  and  24  are united to form the heat exchanger core  9 . 
       FIGS. 3A to 3C  are schematic configuration diagrams illustrating the assembling apparatus  50 .  FIGS. 4A to 4C  are schematic configuration diagrams illustrating the assembling apparatus  50  seen from the direction of arrow J illustrated in  FIG. 3A . An exemplary configuration of the assembling apparatus  50  will be described in detail below. 
     The assembling apparatus  50  includes a table  51 , a laminate-direction compressing unit  55 , a thickness-direction compressing unit  60 , and a tank assembling unit (not illustrated). 
     The table  51  has a planer portion on which the laminate body  18  constituted by tubes  11  and fins  12 , which are constituent components of the heat exchanger  10 , is placed. 
     The laminate-direction compressing unit  55  is a mechanism which of compresses the laminate body  18  placed on the table  51  in the laminate direction. The laminate-direction compressing unit  55  includes a fixing portion  56  fixed to the table  51 , a movable portion  57  supported by the table  51  so as to be movable in the laminate direction, and an actuator (not illustrated) that can move the movable portion  57 . 
     The thickness-direction compressing unit  60  is a mechanism which compresses the laminate body  18  in a thickness direction perpendicular to the table  51 . The thickness-direction compressing unit  60  includes a leveling plate  61  that can be moved by a driving mechanism  62  in the thickness direction, and a pair of holding portions  63  that can be moved by a driving mechanism  64  in the thickness direction. In the following description, the “thickness direction” is the direction perpendicular to the surface of the table  51  on which the laminate body  18  is placed. 
     The driving mechanism  62  of the leveling plate  61  includes a guide rod  69  (refer to  FIGS. 4A to 4C ) that supports the leveling plate  61  so as to be movable in the vertical direction, a support base  65 , and an actuator  66  that raises or lowers the support base  65  to move the leveling plate  61 . For example, a hydraulic cylinder is adoptable as the actuator  66 . 
     The leveling plate  61  has a planer portion, which extends parallel to the table  51 , to press each tube  11  placed on the table  51 . 
     The driving mechanisms  64  of the holding portions  63  include a pair of guide portions  67  each supporting the corresponding holding portion  63  so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the support base  65 , and a pair of actuators  68  for raising and lowering corresponding guide portions  67  to move the holding portions  63 . For example, a hydraulic cylinder is adoptable as the actuator  68 . 
     The holding portion  63  is a convex portion protruding from each guide portion  67  and pressing each tube  11 . Each tube  11  has a pressing portion  11   g , against which the holding portion  63  is pressed, in the vicinity of the opening end  11   d . As illustrated  FIG. 5C  described below, the pressing portion  11   g  has a concave portion  11   a  (i.e., pressed mark), which is formed as a recess on a surface  11   b  of the tube  11  when the holding portion  63  is pressed against the tube  11 . 
     Respective holding portions  63  are arranged with the table  51  sandwiched in the longitudinal direction of the tube  11  and extend parallel to both ends of the table  51 . Each holding portion  63  is disposed in such a way as to face a predetermined position of each tube  11  placed on the table  51 . As illustrated  FIG. 1 , the pressing portion  11   g  provided on the tube  11  is spaced from the tank plates  23  and  24  by a predetermined distance L. 
     The holding portion  63  is formed integrally with the guide portion  67 , although the holding portion  63  can be formed separately of the guide portion  67 . 
     The leveling plate  61  and each holding portion  63  are, for example, made of a metal member such as an iron, whose hardness is higher than that of the tube  11 . The area where the leveling plate  61  comes into contact with respective tubes  11  is set to be greater than the area where respective holding portions  63  come into contact with respective tubes  11 . Such a configuration can prevent any plastic deformation from occurring on the tube  11  at a portion where the leveling plate  61  is pressed. 
     Exemplary operations of the assembling apparatus  50  will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 3A to 3C ,  FIGS. 4A to 4C , and  FIGS. 5A to 5C .  FIG. 5C  corresponds to a cross-sectional view of the tube  11  taken along a line VC-VC illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     First, the assembling apparatus  50  performs the lamination process for laminating the laminate body  18  on the table  51  at a predetermined position thereof (refer to  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 4A , and  FIG. 5A ). 
     The lamination process includes placing the laminate body  18  constituted by a predetermined number of tubes  11  and fins  12  arranged respectively on the table  51 , and causing the driving mechanism  62  of the thickness-direction compressing unit  60  to lower the support base  65  toward the table  51  so that the laminate body  18  is pressed in the thickness direction by the leveling plate  61  and each holding portion  63  with a driving force B (refer to  FIG. 3A ). Each holding portion  63  is held at a position on the same plane (on the horizontal plane) as the leveling plate  61  and presses the laminate body  18  together with the leveling plate  61 . In this case, no plastic deformation occurs in the pressing portion  11   g  of the tube  11  pressed by each holding portion  63  (refer to  FIG. 5A ). However, the configuration is not limited to the above-mentioned example. The lamination process may include moving the holding portion  63  upward away from the laminate body  18  and pressing the laminate body  18  by only the leveling plate  61 . 
     The lamination process includes causing the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  to move the movable portion  57  toward the fixing portion  56  to compress the laminate body  18  with a driving force A in the laminate direction (refer to  FIG. 4A ). The compression by the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  in the lamination process continues until the tube pitch reaches, for example, 90% of the above-mentioned predetermined interval. 
     The driving force B required for the driving mechanism  62  to press the laminate body  18  against the table  51  is set to be appropriate in smoothly moving the tubes  11  and the fins  12  pressed by the movable portion  57  of the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  toward the fixing portion  56 . The driving force B of the driving mechanism  62  can be controlled based on a stroke amount required for the driving mechanism  62  to move the leveling plate  61  toward the table  51 , instead of setting the driving force B for the driving mechanism  62 . In this case, for example, the setting of the stroke amount is performed in such a way as to equalize the interval between the table  51  and the leveling plate  61  with the thickness of the laminate body  18 . 
     As mentioned above, in the lamination process, the laminate body  18  is compressed in both the thickness direction and the laminate direction and can be placed at a predetermined position on the table  51  without being lifted off the table  51 . 
     Next, the assembling apparatus  50  performs the main compression process for compressing the laminate body  18  until the tube pitch becomes equal to the above-mentioned predetermined interval (refer to  FIGS. 3B, 4B , and  5 B). 
       FIG. 7  is a configuration diagram illustrating an operation of an assembling apparatus  150  according to a comparative example. A thickness-direction compressing unit  160  of the assembling apparatus  150  does not have any holding portion and compresses the laminate body  18  by using only a leveling plate  161  in the thickness direction. When a laminate-direction compressing unit  155  compresses the laminate body  18  in the laminate direction, the thickness-direction compressing unit  160  is subjected to a frictional force M acting from the laminate body  18 . When the frictional force M is large, the frictional force M deforms a guide rod  169  supporting the leveling plate  161  so as to be inclined by an angle θ, while the leveling plate  161  is displaced in the laminate direction by a distance N and inclines with respect to the table  51 . Accordingly, if the orientation of the leveling plate  161  changes, undesirable positional deviation in which some of the tubes  11  are lifted off the table  51  may occur. 
     On the other hand, in the main compression process according to present embodiment, the driving mechanism  62  of the thickness-direction compressing unit  60  lowers the support base  65  toward the table  51  to cause the leveling plate  61  to press the laminate body  18  with a driving force E in the thickness direction (refer to  FIG. 3B ). On the other hand, each holding portion  63  moves upward away from the laminate body  18  as indicated by arrow F. 
     Further, in the main compression process, the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  compresses the laminate body  18  with a driving force D in the laminate direction to equalize the tube pitch with the above-mentioned predetermined interval (refer to  FIG. 4B ). The driving force D in the main compression process is set to be greater than the driving force A in the lamination process. 
     The driving force E required for the driving mechanism  62  to press the laminate body  18  against the table  51  is set to be greater than the driving force B in the lamination process and appropriate in smoothly moving the tubes  11  and the fins  12  pressed by the movable portion  57  of the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  toward the fixing portion  56 . The driving force E of the driving mechanism  62  can be controlled based on a stroke amount required for the driving mechanism  62  to move the leveling plate  61  toward the table  51 , instead of setting the driving force E of the driving mechanism  62 . In this case, for example, the interval between the table  51  and the leveling plate  61  is set to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the laminate body  18 . 
     In the main compression process, each holding portion  63  is separated from the laminate body  18  (refer to  FIG. 5B ) and the pressing force with which the holding portion  63  presses the laminate body  18  becomes zero. Therefore, when the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  compresses the laminate body  18  in the laminate direction, a frictional force C that the driving mechanism  62  of the thickness-direction compressing unit  60  receives from the laminate body  18  is suppressed to be smaller. As a result, the guide rod  69  supporting the leveling plate  61  or the like is suppressed from deflecting, and the orientation of the leveling plate  61  can be held to face the table  51  in parallel with each other. The orientation of the leveling plate  61  as mentioned above is maintained in the main compression process can prevent the positional deviation in which some of the tubes  11  are lifted off the table  51  can be prevented from occurring. 
     Next, the assembling process is performed for assembling the tank plates  23  and  24  with the laminate body  18  held on the table  51  (refer to  FIGS. 3C, 4C, and 5C ). 
     In the assembling process, the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  compresses the laminate body  18  with a driving force G in the laminate direction (refer to  FIG. 4C ), while the actuator  66  of the driving mechanism  62  presses the laminate body  18  by the leveling plate  61  with a driving force H in the thickness direction. In this state, the actuator  68  of the driving mechanism  64  presses the laminate body  18  by the holding portion  63  with a driving force I in the thickness direction (refer to  FIG. 3C ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5C , the surface  11   b  of the pressing portion  11   g  of the tube  11  curved into an arc shape is pressed by the holding portion  63  with driving force I and, as a result, the concave portion  11   a  is formed. The concave portion  11   a  has a pair of step portions  11   c  opposed to each other. Each step portion  11   c  extends in a direction (lateral direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tube  11 . 
     The driving force I required for the driving mechanism  64  to move the holding portion  63  is set to be appropriate such that the tube  11  pressed by the holding portion  63  deforms plastically and the concave portion  11   a  having a predetermined depth can be formed on the surface  11   b  of the pressing portion  11   g  of the tube  11 . The load with which the holding portion  63  presses each tube  11  is set to be greater than the load with which the leveling plate  161  presses the laminate body  18  in the comparative example illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Further, the driving force I of the driving mechanism  64  can be controlled based on a stroke amount required for the driving mechanism  64  to move the holding portion  63  toward the table  51 , instead of setting the driving force I of the driving mechanism  64 . In this case, for example, the stroke amount is set performed in such a manner that the interval between the table  51  and the holding portion  63  becomes smaller than the thickness of the tube  11  by a predetermined amount. Setting the stroke amount as mentioned above, thereby the concave portion  11   a  having the predetermined depth is formed on the surface of the pressing portion  11   g  of the tube  11 . The depth of the concave portion  11   a  can be changed by adjusting the load or the stroke amount required for the holding portion  63  to press each tube  11 . Further, as described below, in the pressing portion  11   g  of the tube  11 , it is feasible to prevent the surface  11   b  of the tube  11  from plastically deforming so as not to form the concave portion  11   a.    
     As mentioned above, the tank assembling unit (not illustrated) is operated to assemble the tank plates  23  and  24  with the laminate body  18  in a state where the laminate body  18  is held on the table  51 . In this case, the laminate body  18  is compressed by the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  and is restricted from moving in the laminate direction. Further, because the holding portion  63  is pressed against the concave portion  11   a , each tube  11  is restricted from moving in both the thickness direction and the longitudinal direction of the tube  11 . Thus, because each tube  11  is held at a predetermined position on the table  51 , press-fitting the opening ends  11   d  of respective tubes  11  into the tube insertion holes  23   a  and  24   a  of the tank plates  23  and  24  can be accurately performed. 
     Subsequently, the heat treatment is performed to cause the cladding layers applied beforehand to the surfaces of the tubes  11 , the fins  12 , and the tank plates  23  and  24  to melt and braze the constituent components together, thereby forming the heat exchanger core  9 . Subsequently, the tank bodies  25  and  26  are united with the tank plates  23  and  24  to complete the heat exchanger  10 . 
     Next, effects of the present embodiment will be described in detail below. 
     The present embodiment provides the heat exchanger  10  including the pressing portion  11   g  for holding the tube  11  when the tanks  13  and  14  are connected in the vicinity of the opening end  11   d  of each tube  11 . 
     Further, the present embodiment provides the assembling apparatus  50  that includes the table  51  on which respective tubes  11  are laminated, the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  configured to compress respective tubes  11  laminated on the table  51  in the laminate direction, and the thickness-direction compressing unit  60  configured to compress respective tubes  11  in the thickness direction perpendicular to the table  51 . The thickness-direction compressing unit  60  includes the holding portion  63  configured to press the vicinity of the opening ends  11   d  of respective tubes  11 , compressed in the laminate direction by the laminate-direction compressing unit  55 , against the table  51 . The holding portion  63  holds the plurality of tubes  11  when the tanks  13  and  14  are connected to respective tubes  11 . 
     Further, the present embodiment provides the assembling method including the lamination process for laminating respective tubes  11 , the main compression process for compressing respective tubes  11  in the laminate direction, and the assembling process for connecting the tanks  13  and  14  with respective tubes  11  in a state where the tubes  11  are held and pressed by the holding portion  63  for holding each tube  11  in the vicinity of the opening end  11   d  of respective tubes  11  compressed in the laminate direction. 
     The above-mentioned configuration can suppress the positional deviation from occurring in each laminated tube  11  because the holding portion  63  presses each tube  11  in the vicinity of the opening end  11   d  when the tanks  13  and  14  are connected to the laminated tubes  11 . Therefore, the operation for assembling the tanks  13  and  14  with the laminated tubes  11  can be accurately performed. Accordingly, the tubes  11  and the tube insertion holes  23   a  and  24   a  of the tanks  13  and  14  can be prevented from being damaged. As a result, the brazing for joining the tubes  11  and the tube insertion holes  23   a  and  24   a  can be accomplished without causing any gap and the yield in the assembling operation of the heat exchanger  10  can be improved. 
     The present embodiment provides the heat exchanger  10  in which the pressing portion  11   g  includes the concave portion  11   a  recessed as the pressed mark on the surface  11   b  of the tube  11 . 
     The above-mentioned configuration can suppress the positional deviation from occurring in each laminated tube  11  because the holding portion  63  presses and plastically deforms the surface  11   b  of each tube  11 , and engages with the concave portion  11   a  which has been recessed by the pressing, when the tanks  13  and  14  are connected to the laminated tubes  11 . 
     The present embodiment provides the heat exchanger  10  in which the pressing portions  11   g  are formed at positions apart from the tanks  13  and  14  by the predetermined distance L in the longitudinal direction of the tube  11 . 
     The above-mentioned configuration can prevent the holding portion  63  pressed against the pressing portion  11   g  from interfering with the tanks  13  and  14  when the tanks  13  and  14  are assembled with the tubes  11 . As a result, the operation for assembling the tanks  13  and  14  with the tubes  11  can be smoothly performed in a state where the holding portion  63  is pressed against the concave portion  11   a.    
     The present embodiment provides the assembling apparatus  50  for the heat exchanger  10 , in which the thickness-direction compressing unit  60  includes the leveling plate  61  aligned with the holding portion  63  and pressing respective tubes  11  against the table  11 . The leveling plate  61  compresses each tube  11  in the thickness direction in a state where the holding portion  63  is separated from each tube  51 . 
     The above-mentioned configuration can maintain the orientation of the leveling plate  61  when the laminate-direction compressing unit  55  compresses the laminate body  18  in the laminate direction, because the leveling plate  61  is in sliding contact with the laminate body  18  and the leveling plate  61  receives a smaller frictional force from the laminate body  18 . Maintaining the orientation of the leveling plate  61  in the main compression process as mentioned above, the positional deviation in which some of the tubes  11  are lifted off the table  51  can be prevented from occurring. 
     Next, a modified embodiment of the heat exchanger  10  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     The pressing portion  11   g  has a pressed mark portion  11   f , which is formed as a pressed mark to be formed on the surface of each tube  11 . 
     In the assembling process, the load or the stroke amount required for pressing the holding portion  63  against each tube  51  is appropriately set so that each tube  11  can return to the original surface shape without causing any plastic deformation even when the surface is deflected by the pressing of the holding portion  63  (refer to  FIGS. 3C and 4C ). As a result, the pressing portion  11   g  of each tube  11  is formed with the pressed mark portion  11   f  whose surface roughness is partly variable without forming any concave portion by pressing the holding portion  63 . 
     In the assembling process, the holding portion  63  presses the surface of each tube  11  when the tanks  13  and  14  are connected, and therefore it is feasible to suppress the positional deviation from occurring in respective tubes  11  laminated on the table  51 . Therefore, the operation for assembling the tanks  13  and  14  with the laminated tubes  11  can be accurately performed. 
     However, the configuration is not limited to the above-mentioned example. The assembling process can be configured such that any pressed mark does not remain on the surface of each tube  11  by appropriately setting the load or the stroke amount required for the holding portion  63  to press each tube  11 . 
     Embodiments of this invention were described above, but the above embodiments are merely examples of applications of this invention, and the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the specific constitutions of the above embodiments. 
     In the above-mentioned embodiment, the leveling plate  61  and the holding portion  63  are configured to move vertically with respect to the table  51  so as to press the laminate body  18 . However, the configuration is not limited to the above-mentioned example. a rotating mechanism using a hinge is adoptable to press the laminate body  18  from an inclined direction. 
     Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the laminate body  18  is constituted such that the tubes  11  and the fins  12  are laminated. However, the configuration is not limited to the above-mentioned example. The laminate body  18  can be configured to include only the tubes to be laminated without fins. 
     This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-025527 filed with the Japan Patent Office on Feb. 12, 2015 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-008445 filed with the Japan Patent Office on Jan. 20, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated into this specification.