JP2008132751A - Manufacturing method of honeycomb structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of a honeycomb structure in which one end of cells is certainly sealed by a sealing material layer of a desired shape. <P>SOLUTION: In the manufacturing method of the honeycomb structure for manufacturing the honeycomb structure made of a honeycomb baked body having steps of manufacturing a columnar honeycomb molding body in which many cells are aligned in a longitudinal direction separated by a cell wall by molding ceramic raw material, then filling sealing material paste in either one end of the cell, and baking this honeycomb molding body, and blowing hot air to the end face of the honeycomb molding body using a hot-air dryer after filling the sealing material paste in the either one end of the cell of the honeycomb molding body, thereby executing a sealing material paste drying step of drying the sealing material paste. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure.

Recently, it has become a problem that particulates such as soot contained in exhaust gas discharged from internal combustion engines such as vehicles such as buses and trucks and construction machinery cause harm to the environment and the human body.
Accordingly, various proposals have been made using a honeycomb structure made of porous ceramics as a filter for collecting particulates in exhaust gas and purifying the exhaust gas.

Conventionally, when manufacturing a honeycomb structure, for example, first, a ceramic powder, a binder, a dispersion medium, and the like are mixed to prepare a wet mixture. Further, by using a screw mixer or the like, the wet mixture is further mixed, extruded through a die, and the extruded molded body is cut into a predetermined length to form a prismatic honeycomb-shaped honeycomb. Create a body.

Next, the obtained raw honeycomb molded body is dried using a microwave dryer or a hot air dryer (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2), and thus has a certain strength and is easily handled. A dried honeycomb formed body can be produced.

After this drying step, a predetermined cell is plugged, and a plug material paste layer is formed by filling one end of the cell with a plug material paste. Further, the honeycomb molded body is degreased. The honeycomb fired body in which the sealing material layer is formed on either one end portion of the cell is manufactured by performing the treatment and the firing treatment.

After that, the honeycomb fired body assembly in which a large number of honeycomb fired bodies are bundled through the sealing material layer (adhesive layer) by applying a sealing material paste to the side surfaces of the honeycomb fired bodies and bonding the honeycomb fired bodies to each other. Create a body. Next, the honeycomb fired body aggregate obtained is cut into a predetermined shape such as a cylinder or an elliptical cylinder using a cutting machine or the like to form a ceramic block, and finally, a sealing material is provided on the outer periphery of the ceramic block The manufacturing of the honeycomb structure is completed by applying the paste to form a sealing material layer (coat layer).

JP 2000-44326 A JP 2005-131800 A

However, in the honeycomb structure manufactured by the above-described method, the sealing material layer sometimes has a dent (shrunk).
And it was thought that such a dent (shrinkage) of the sealing material layer was caused by shrinkage of the sealing material paste layer in the step of degreasing and firing the honeycomb formed body.

Therefore, after filling the honeycomb formed body with the plug material paste and before degreasing and firing the honeycomb formed body, the cell-filled plug material paste is dried by the method disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above. However, when the drying process is performed by the methods disclosed in these documents, the entire honeycomb formed body is dried. Therefore, in the drying process, the encapsulant paste layer is dented (shrunk) or dried. When the degreasing and baking processes are further performed after the treatment, a dent (shrunk) may be generated in the encapsulant layer, and the above-described problems could not be solved.

The present inventors have further studied to solve the above problems, and after filling the cells of the honeycomb formed body with the plug material paste, by blowing hot air on the end face of the honeycomb formed body, the plug material paste It is found that the surface of the substrate can be preferentially dried, thereby preventing the formation of a dent (shrunk) in the sealing material paste layer and the sealing material layer, and the production of the honeycomb structure of the present invention Completed the method.

The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure of the present invention includes forming a columnar honeycomb formed body in which a large number of cells are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction with cell walls separated by forming a ceramic raw material, and A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, in which one end portion is filled with a plug material paste and the honeycomb formed body is fired to produce a honeycomb structure made of the honeycomb fired body,
After filling the plug material paste into one end of any of the cells of the honeycomb molded body, the hot air dryer is used to blow the hot air onto the end surface of the honeycomb molded body, thereby It is characterized by performing a sealing material paste drying step for drying.

In the sealing material paste drying step, it is desirable to blow hot air of 130 to 210 ° C. on the end face of the honeycomb formed body for 2 to 7 minutes.
Moreover, in the sealing material paste drying step, it is desirable to blow hot air simultaneously on both end faces of the honeycomb formed body.

In the method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure of the present invention, the hot air dryer includes a conveying member that conveys the honeycomb molded body in a drying furnace and a hot air outlet,
It is desirable that the hot air outlet is disposed at a position facing the end face of the honeycomb formed body, and hot air is blown from the hot air outlet.

In the method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body of the present invention, after filling a plug material paste into one end of a cell of the honeycomb formed body to form a plug material paste layer, the surface (both ends) of the plug material paste layer is formed. Part) is preferentially dried, so that the fluidity of the encapsulant paste layer can be reduced, and the encapsulant layer formed by firing is free from dents (shrunk) or the like. A honeycomb structure in which the end of each is reliably sealed by a sealing material layer having a desired shape can be manufactured.

The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure of the present invention includes forming a columnar honeycomb formed body in which a large number of cells are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction with cell walls separated by forming a ceramic raw material, and A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, in which one end portion is filled with a plug material paste and the honeycomb formed body is fired to produce a honeycomb structure made of the honeycomb fired body,
After filling the plug material paste into one end of any of the cells of the honeycomb molded body, the hot air dryer is used to blow the hot air onto the end surface of the honeycomb molded body, thereby It is characterized by performing a sealing material paste drying step for drying.
In the present specification, the end face of the honeycomb formed body refers to the face where the cells are exposed among the faces forming the outer shape of the honeycomb formed body, and the face other than the end face is referred to as the side face.

In this specification, “blowing hot air” is a generic term for blowing hot air, such as blowing hot air, blowing hot air, or sending hot air, and “blowing hot air”.
The hot air is a wind containing hot air, and in general, the hot air often refers to air heated to the extent that moisture can be evaporated and dried, and the hot air in the present invention is 70 ° C. It refers to the above gas flow.

Here, the said sealing material paste drying process is demonstrated in detail first, Then, all the manufacturing processes of the manufacturing method of this invention are demonstrated in order of a process.
In the sealing material paste drying step, hot air is blown to the end face of the honeycomb formed body filled with the sealing material paste at one end portion of the cell by using a hot air dryer. Dry the paste.

In this step, the object to be dried is, for example, filled with a sealing material paste as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and a sealing material paste layer is formed at one end of the cell. This is a honeycomb formed body.
Fig.1 (a) is a perspective view which shows typically the honeycomb molded object with which either one edge part of the cell was filled with the sealing material paste, FIG.1 (b) is the sectional view on the AA line. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), a honeycomb formed body 10 filled with a sealing material paste has a large number of cells 11 arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction with a cell wall 13 therebetween. This is a columnar honeycomb formed body in which the plug material paste layer 12 is formed at one end.
1A and 1B show a square pillar-shaped honeycomb formed body, but the outer shape of the honeycomb formed body to be dried and the shape of each cell are not particularly limited.
Therefore, the outer shape of the honeycomb formed body may be a prismatic shape, a cylindrical shape, or any other columnar shape.
Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the cell may be any shape, and the shape of each cell may be the same or different.

In the sealing material paste drying step, the sealing material paste is dried using a hot air dryer.
The hot air dryer is not particularly limited as long as it can blow hot air onto the end face of the honeycomb molded body filled with the sealing material paste, but a transport member that transports the honeycomb molded body into the drying furnace. It is preferable to use a hot air dryer that includes a hot air outlet and the hot air outlet is disposed at a position facing the end face of the honeycomb formed body, and blows hot air from the hot air outlet.

As a hot air dryer which has such a structure, the hot air dryer etc. of the aspect shown to FIGS. 2-1 (a) and (b) can be used, for example.
Fig. 2-1 (a) is a plan view schematically showing the inside of the hot air dryer used in the sealing material paste drying step of the manufacturing method of the honeycomb structure of the present invention. Fig. 2-1 (b) These are the BB sectional drawing.
The hot air dryer 100 shown to FIGS. 2-1 (a) and (b) is provided with the belt conveyor 101 which functions as a conveyance member in the floor part of the drying furnace 102, and on the belt conveyor 101 in a moving direction. The honeycomb formed body 10 placed so that the longitudinal direction is oriented at right angles is carried into the hot air dryer 100 through the inlet, moved inside the hot air dryer 100 for a predetermined time, and then carried out from the outlet. The movement by the belt conveyor 101 is set to be performed at a constant speed.

Moreover, in this hot air dryer 100, in the drying furnace 102, on the both sides of the belt conveyor 101 and at the positions facing the end face of the honeycomb molded body 10, the hot air blow-out port extends from the inlet side to the entire outlet side. 105 are provided in parallel.
Then, the sealing material paste is dried by blowing hot air from the hot air outlet 105 toward the honeycomb formed body 10.

That is, the honeycomb molded body 10 placed on the belt conveyor 101 moves inside the hot air dryer 100 as the belt conveyor 101 moves, and the honeycomb molded body 10 is heated by hot air blown from both sides of the belt conveyor. The sealing material paste layer formed at the end of the cell is dried.

The hot air dryer 100 shown to FIGS. 2-1 (a) and (b) has the structure which can spray a hot air simultaneously on the both end surfaces of the honeycomb molded object 10. FIG.
Both ends 12a and 12b of the plug material paste layer 12 formed at the ends of the cells of the honeycomb formed body by simultaneously blowing hot air to both end faces of the honeycomb formed body 10 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) Reference) is preferentially dried, and both ends of the encapsulant paste layer are solidified even if the inside of the encapsulant paste layer has fluidity in the initial stage of drying. .
Therefore, when the sealing material paste layer is further dried or when the honeycomb formed body is degreased and fired in a later step, the sealing material paste layer does not have a dent (shrinkage) and is desired. The shape can be dried, degreased and fired.
In the sealing material paste drying step, hot air may be blown simultaneously on both end faces of the honeycomb formed body 10, or hot air may be blown on each side of the honeycomb formed body 10. When hot air is blown one side at a time, the side to which hot air is blown in the latter half takes time to dry, and there is a possibility that dents (shrinkage) may occur on the surface. Therefore, it is desirable to blow hot air simultaneously on both end faces.

Moreover, the hot air dryer used in the method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure of the present invention includes a drying furnace having a drying section and a cooling section as shown in FIGS. 2-2 (a) and (b). It may be.
Fig. 2-2 (a) is a plan view schematically showing the inside of another hot air dryer used in the sealing material paste drying step of the manufacturing method of the honeycomb structure of the present invention. b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C.

The hot air dryer 110 shown in FIGS. 2-2 (a) and (b) is further provided on the outlet side in the drying furnace as compared with the hot air dryer 100 shown in FIGS. 2-1 (a) and (b). A cooling unit is provided.
That is, a belt conveyor 101 that functions as a conveying member is provided on the floor of a drying furnace having a drying unit 103a and a cooling unit 103b, and is placed on the belt conveyor 101 so that the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the moving direction. The formed honeycomb formed body 10 is configured to pass through the drying unit 103a and the cooling unit 103b for a predetermined time, and then carried out from the outlet.
Here, like the drying furnace 102 that constitutes the hot air dryer 100, the drying unit 103a is located on both sides of the belt conveyor 101 and at positions facing the end face of the honeycomb molded body 10 from the inlet side to the outlet side. The hot air outlet 105 is provided in parallel.
Further, the configuration of the cooling unit 103b is the same as the configuration of the drying unit 103a except that it is configured to be able to blow cold air instead of hot air, and is formed on both sides of the belt conveyor 101 and formed into a honeycomb molded body. A cold air outlet 106 is provided in parallel at substantially the entire position from the inlet side to the outlet side at a position facing the end face 10.

Thus, it is desirable to use a hot-air dryer provided with a cooling unit in the following points.
That is, the honeycomb formed body immediately after blowing hot air has a locally high temperature at the end face portion. Therefore, when the honeycomb molded body is transported to the next process in that state, for example, heat is applied to the belt of the belt conveyor. It is desirable to provide a cooling unit because defects such as deformation and deterioration may occur in the transport apparatus.

In the sealing material paste drying step, the temperature of the hot air blown to the end face of the honeycomb formed body is preferably 130 to 210 ° C.
When the temperature of the hot air is less than 130 ° C., the encapsulant paste is not sufficiently dried, and after drying, the encapsulant paste layer flows, and after the subsequent firing step, a desired shape encapsulant layer is formed. On the other hand, when the temperature of the hot air exceeds 210 ° C., the encapsulant paste is rapidly dried, and thus the encapsulant paste layer may be dented or cracked. In addition, if the drying itself proceeds excessively, degreasing of the sealing material paste layer and the honeycomb formed body proceeds, and the part where the degreasing progressed may become brittle.

The time for blowing the hot air is preferably 2 to 7 minutes.
When the time for blowing the hot air is less than 2 minutes, the encapsulant paste is not sufficiently dried, and after drying, the encapsulant paste flows, and after the subsequent baking step, the encapsulant layer having a desired shape is formed. It may not be formed. On the other hand, if the time of blowing hot air exceeds 7 minutes, the sealing material paste is excessively dried, and the sealing material paste layer may be dented or cracked, and further, the drying itself proceeds. This is because, if the amount is too much, degreasing of the sealing material paste layer and the honeycomb formed body proceeds, and a portion where the degreasing proceeds may become brittle.
In the present invention, the time for blowing hot air in the sealing material paste drying step refers to the total time during which hot air is blown to the end face of the honeycomb formed body. For example, as a hot air dryer, FIG. 1 When the hot air outlets are arranged in parallel across the entire area from the inlet side to the outlet side, as shown in 1 (a) and (b), at a position facing the end face of the honeycomb formed body. In this case, the passage time in the drying furnace is the time for blowing hot air.
In addition, when the cooler as shown to FIGS. 2-2 (a) and (b) is provided, the time which blows cold air shall not be included in the time which blows hot air.

Moreover, it is preferable that the wind speed at the time of blowing the said hot air is 10-30 m / sec.
When the wind speed of the hot air is less than 10 m / sec, drying of the sealing material paste layer may be insufficient. On the other hand, when the wind speed of the hot air exceeds 30 m / sec, the wind speed is too fast. This is because the formed sealing material paste layer may be deformed.

The moving speed of the belt conveyor may be appropriately selected in consideration of the size of the honeycomb formed body 10, and is preferably 0.4 to 1.0 m / min.
If the moving speed of the belt conveyor is less than 0.4 m / min, the speed is too slow, so that the honeycomb formed body stays in the hot air dryer even after sufficient drying, and drying can be performed efficiently. On the other hand, when it exceeds 1.0 m / min, since the moving speed is too high, the sealing material paste layer may not be sufficiently dried.

Moreover, although the hot air dryers 100 and 110 shown to FIGS. 2-1 (a) and (b) and FIGS. 2-2 (a) and (b) are provided with the belt conveyor as a conveyance member of a honeycomb molded object. The conveying member provided in the hot air dryer used in the production method of the present invention is not limited to a belt conveyor, and may be a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor, a pallet conveyor, or the like.
Moreover, in the said hot air drying apparatus, a conveyance member may move continuously and may move intermittently.
In addition, when moving intermittently, it may always move at a constant speed, or may move while changing the speed.

In the hot air dryer shown in FIGS. 2-1 (a) and (b), the hot air outlet is arranged over the entire area from the inlet side to the outlet side of the drying furnace, but is used in the manufacturing method of the present invention. In the hot air dryer, the hot air outlet does not necessarily have to be arranged over the entire area from the inlet side to the outlet side, and adjacent hot air outlets may be arranged at intervals.
The same applies to the drying section of the hot air dryer shown in FIGS. 2-2 (a) and (b). Moreover, as for the cold air blower outlet arrange | positioned at the cooling part of the hot air dryer shown to FIGS. 2-2 (a) and (b), adjacent cold wind blower outlets may be arrange | positioned at intervals.

Next, all manufacturing steps of the manufacturing method of the honeycomb structure of the present invention including such a sealing material paste drying step will be described in the order of steps.
First, in the honeycomb structure manufacturing method of the present invention, a honeycomb structure to be manufactured will be described.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the honeycomb structure, and FIG. 7A is a perspective view schematically showing the honeycomb fired body constituting the honeycomb structure, and FIG. ) Is a sectional view taken along the line DD.

In such a honeycomb structure 130, normally, a plurality of honeycomb fired bodies 140 as shown in FIG. 6 are bound together via a sealing material layer (adhesive layer) 131 to form a ceramic block 133. A sealing material layer (coat layer) 132 is formed on the outer periphery of the block 133. In the honeycomb fired body 140, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a large number of cells 141 are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the cell walls 143 separating the cells 141 function as a filter. ing.

That is, in the cell 141 formed in the honeycomb fired body 140, as shown in FIG. 7B, either the inlet side or the outlet side end of the exhaust gas is plugged by the sealing material layer 142, The exhaust gas flowing into the cell 141 always passes through the cell wall 143 separating the cell 141 and then flows out from the other cell 141. When the exhaust gas passes through the cell wall 143, the particulates It is captured at 143 and the exhaust gas is purified.

In the description of the method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure of the present invention, the method for manufacturing the honeycomb structure of the present invention will be described by taking as an example the case of manufacturing a honeycomb structure whose main component is silicon carbide.
Of course, the main component of the constituent material of the honeycomb structure is not limited to silicon carbide. Other examples include nitride ceramics such as aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, boron nitride, and titanium nitride, zirconium carbide, and titanium carbide. And carbide ceramics such as tantalum carbide and tungsten carbide, and oxide ceramics such as alumina, zirconia, cordierite, mullite, and aluminum titanate.
Of these, non-oxide ceramics are preferred, and silicon carbide is particularly preferred. It is because it is excellent in heat resistance, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity and the like. In addition, silicon-containing ceramics in which metallic silicon is blended with the above-mentioned ceramics, ceramics bonded with silicon or a silicate compound, and the like can also be cited as constituent materials. Among these, silicon carbide is blended with metallic silicon ( Silicon-containing silicon carbide) is desirable.

First, an inorganic powder such as silicon carbide powder having a different average particle size and an organic binder are dry mixed to prepare a mixed powder, and a liquid plasticizer, a lubricant and water are mixed to prepare a mixed liquid, Subsequently, a wet mixture for producing a molded body is prepared by mixing the mixed powder and the mixed liquid using a wet mixer.

The particle size of the silicon carbide powder is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to have less shrinkage in the subsequent firing step, for example, 100 parts by weight of powder having an average particle size of 1.0 to 50 μm and 0.1 to 1.0 μm. A combination of 5 to 65 parts by weight of a powder having an average particle size of 1 to 5 is preferred.
In order to adjust the pore diameter and the like of the honeycomb formed body, it is necessary to adjust the firing temperature, but the pore diameter can be adjusted by adjusting the particle size of the inorganic powder.

The organic binder is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and polyethylene glycol. Of these, methylcellulose is desirable.
The amount of the binder is usually preferably 1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the inorganic powder.

It does not specifically limit as said plasticizer, For example, glycerol etc. are mentioned.
The lubricant is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyoxyalkylene compounds such as polyoxyethylene alkyl ether and polyoxypropylene alkyl ether.
Specific examples of the lubricant include polyoxyethylene monobutyl ether and polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether.
In some cases, the plasticizer and the lubricant may not be contained in the mixed raw material powder.

Moreover, when preparing the said wet mixture, you may use a dispersion medium liquid, As said dispersion medium liquid, alcohol, such as water, organic solvents, such as benzene, methanol, etc. are mentioned, for example.
Furthermore, a molding aid may be added to the wet mixture.
The molding aid is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include ethylene glycol, dextrin, fatty acid, fatty acid soap, polyalcohol and the like.

Furthermore, a pore-forming agent such as balloons that are fine hollow spheres containing oxide-based ceramics, spherical acrylic particles, and graphite may be added to the wet mixture as necessary.
The balloon is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include an alumina balloon, a glass micro balloon, a shirasu balloon, a fly ash balloon (FA balloon), and a mullite balloon. Of these, alumina balloons are desirable.

Moreover, it is desirable that the temperature of the wet mixture using the silicon carbide powder prepared here is 28 ° C. or less. It is because an organic binder may gelatinize when temperature is too high.
The organic content in the wet mixture is desirably 10% by weight or less, and the water content is desirably 8.0 to 20.0% by weight.

Next, the wet mixture is put into an extrusion molding machine, and a columnar honeycomb molded body in which a large number of cells are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction with a cell wall therebetween is produced by extrusion molding.
Thereafter, if necessary, the honeycomb formed body is dried using a microwave dryer, a hot air dryer, a dielectric dryer, a vacuum dryer, a vacuum dryer, a freeze dryer, or the like.
In addition, this drying step is not necessarily performed. For example, after the honeycomb formed body is formed by extrusion, the next sealing material paste is filled without performing the drying step, and the subsequent sealing material In the paste drying step, the entire honeycomb formed body may be dried together with the sealing material paste layer.

Next, the plug material paste is filled into one of the end portions of the cells of the honeycomb formed body.
The sealing material paste may be filled using, for example, the following honeycomb molded body sealing device.
Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a sealing device for a honeycomb molded body, and Fig. 4 (a) is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a paste filling device constituting the sealing device for a honeycomb molded body. 4 (b) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of the sealing device for a honeycomb formed body.

As shown in FIG. 3, the honeycomb molded body sealing device 200 includes a rotary table 201 on which the honeycomb molded body 20 is placed and rotated, an imaging device 205 that photographs an end surface of the honeycomb molded body 20, a sealing mask 204, It includes a paste discharge tank 203 and the like, and includes a paste filling portion 206 that fills an end portion of a cell of the honeycomb formed body 20 with a sealing material paste.

The rotary table 201 is set so that the rotation axis is set in the vertical direction and rotates horizontally, and there are eight molded body fixing portions 202 for fixing the honeycomb molded body 20. The turntable 201 intermittently rotates, the honeycomb formed body 20 is fixed to the formed body fixing portion 202, and the sealing process of the honeycomb formed body 20 is performed during approximately one rotation.
Here, although eight molded body fixing parts 202 are provided on the rotary table 201, the number of molded body fixing parts 202 is not particularly limited.
In addition, imaging devices 205 are provided at two locations around the rotary table 201, and two paste filling devices including a paste filling unit 206 are also provided. After photographing different end faces of the honeycomb molded body 20, respectively. The paste can be filled at the end of the cell.

When sealing is performed using the honeycomb molded body sealing apparatus 200, first, the honeycomb molded body 20 placed and conveyed on the conveyor 199 is sealed by a robot arm (not shown). It fixes to the molded object fixing | fixed part 202 of the turntable 201 which comprises the apparatus 200. FIG.

Subsequently, when the rotary table 201 rotates 1/8, the end surface of the honeycomb molded body 20 stops at a position facing the imaging device 205 for photographing the end surface, and the end surface of the honeycomb molded body 20 is moved by the imaging device 205. Taken. The captured image is immediately subjected to image analysis by an image analysis device (not shown) connected to the imaging device 205, and the shape of the cell is extracted from the image, and the shape of the honeycomb molded body 20 is taken into consideration and sealed. The position of the cell is specified, the specified position is compared with the position of the opening of the sealing mask 204 used for sealing, and the position where the positional error between the opening of the sealing mask 204 and the cell of the honeycomb molded body 20 is minimized is calculated. To do. This calculation process will be described in detail later.

Next, the honeycomb formed body 20 that has been photographed is rotated by 1/8 to the next position and stopped. Then, the sealing mask 204 is brought into contact with the end face of the honeycomb molded body 20 so that the position error calculated between the opening of the sealing mask 204 and the cell of the honeycomb molded body 20 is minimized, and sealing is performed. The material paste is filled into the cell through the opening of the sealing mask 204, and the end face of the honeycomb formed body 20 is sealed. The paste filling unit 206 is fixed to a robot provided with an angle adjusting member configured so that the x, y, and z axes can be set at the set positions.

Thereafter, when the turntable 201 is rotated by 1/8, the honeycomb formed body 20 is fixed to the formed body fixing portion 202 and the honeycomb formed body 20 is lifted by a robot arm (not shown), and the sealed end surface faces the center of the turntable 201. The molded body fixing portion 202 is once again fixed so that the unsealed end face faces outward.

Thereafter, when the rotary table 201 is rotated by 1/8, the end face of the honeycomb molded body 20 which is not sealed is photographed by the imaging device 205 in the same manner as the above-described operation. The sealing mask 204 is brought into contact with the end face of the honeycomb molded body 20 so that the positional error between the opening of the mask 204 and the cells of the honeycomb molded body 20 is minimized, and sealing processing is performed.
Furthermore, the honeycomb formed body 20 subjected to the sealing process is lifted by a robot arm (not shown) at a position rotated by 1/8 and placed on the conveyor 207 in the next process.
In this specification, the robot arm refers to an arm provided with an active joint having a motor or the like, and further having an inactive joint without a motor or the like as required.

The paste filling device including the paste filling unit 206 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 4A, the paste filling device 220 includes a paste filling unit 206 and a paste supply unit that supplies a sealing material paste to the paste filling unit 206. 218, both of which are connected via a sealing material paste supply pipe 213. In addition, the paste filling unit and the paste supply unit may be directly connected without using the sealing material paste supply pipe.
The paste supply unit 218 includes a paste supply hopper 211 and a paste discharge device 212. In the paste supply unit 218, the sealing material paste carried from the paste supply hopper 211 storing a separately prepared sealing material paste, It is sent out to the sealing material paste supply pipe 213 by the paste discharging device 212 and further sent into the paste filling unit 206.

In addition, a filter 216 is interposed in the sealing material paste supply pipe 213, and this massive material can be removed by this filter 216 even if a massive material is mixed in the sealing material paste.
The opening of the filter is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 1.0 mm.

4B, in addition to the sealing mask 204 and the paste discharge tank 203, the paste filling unit 206 includes an agitation unit 224 including an agitation blade 221, an agitation rod 222, and a motor 223, and an inlet ( The rectifying plate 225 disposed on the side of the sealing material paste supply pipe 214), the angle adjusting member 226 and the temperature control member 228 adjacent to the inlet side of the paste discharge tank 203, the sealing mask 204 and the paste discharge tank A buffer member 227 made of silicon rubber, a uniaxial eccentric screw pump (Mono pump) 215, and a sealing material paste supply pipe 214 that connects the uniaxial eccentric screw pump 215 and the paste discharge tank 203 are provided. .

Then, the sealing material paste sent from the paste supply unit 218 is first sent to the uniaxial eccentric screw pump 215, and then, via the sealing material paste supply pipe 214 and the rectifying plate 225 by the uniaxial eccentric screw pump 215. A certain amount of the sealing material paste is fed into the paste discharge tank 203 and further filled into predetermined cells of the honeycomb formed body 20 in contact with the sealing mask 204 via the sealing mask 204.
Further, the stirring unit 224 provided in the paste discharge tank 203 is configured such that the stirring rod 222 and the stirring blade 221 are rotated by the motor 223. Then, by filling the sealing material paste while rotating the stirring blade 221, the temperature of the sealing material paste in the paste discharge tank 203 can be made uniform, and as a result, the viscosity of the sealing material paste is reduced. Since it is made uniform, the sealing material paste is uniformly filled in a predetermined cell.

In the paste filling unit 206, an angle adjustment member 226 and a temperature control member 228 are disposed adjacent to the paste discharge tank 203.
Then, when the paste discharge tank 203 is brought into contact with the end face of the honeycomb molded body 20 by the angle adjusting member 226, the sealing mask 204 can be adjusted to come into contact with the end face of the honeycomb molded body 20 at a predetermined position. it can.
Further, the temperature control member 228 includes a heater therein, and the temperature control member 228 can control the temperature of the sealing material paste to a predetermined temperature.

Examples of the material of the sealing mask 204 include metals such as stainless steel and nickel, resins such as an epoxy resin, and ceramics.
The sealing mask 204 is formed with a circular opening or a square opening having a rounded corner shape or a rounded corner shape corresponding to a cell filled with the sealing material paste.
Here, the opening area is desirably smaller than the opening of the corresponding cell. Even if there is a slight misalignment between the opening position of the sealing mask and the opening position of the corresponding cell, the sealing material paste is reliably filled only in the cell, and the end face of the honeycomb molded body (the end of the cell) This is because it is possible to prevent the sealing material paste from adhering to (). In addition, since the sealing material paste has fluidity, the cell is surely filled even if the opening of the sealing mask is smaller than the opening of the cell.

Moreover, in the honeycomb molded body sealing apparatus 200, the sealing mask 204 is disposed via a buffer member 227 made of silicon rubber or the like.
Further, in the honeycomb molded body sealing apparatus 200, a rectifying plate 225 is disposed on the inlet side of the paste discharge tank 203 (the side opposite to the side where the sealing mask is disposed).
By providing the rectifying plate 225, the flow rate of the sealing material paste at the inlet of the paste discharge tank 203 can be made uniform at the center and the outer edge of the inlet. As a result, the sealing material paste is applied to the cell. When the cell is filled, the filling amount of each cell can be made uniform.

Next, a method for analyzing an image obtained by the imaging device using the image analysis device and a method for filling the sealing material paste based on the image analysis result will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing steps (means) from analysis of the end face image of the honeycomb formed body to filling of the plug material paste.

(A) First, the molded body fixing portion 202 of the honeycomb molded body sealing apparatus 200 has the same outer shape as the honeycomb molded body except that no cells are formed as a standard sample, and has a plurality of bottoms on the end surface. Fix the master work in which the hole is formed, take an image of the end face of the master work in which the bottomed hole is formed (step S1), and register the coordinates of the formation position of the bottomed hole in the image analysis apparatus to obtain the origin coordinates Is determined (step S2).

(B) Next, the position of the opening formed in the sealing mask is registered in the image analysis device with reference to the origin coordinates determined in the step (a) (step S3).
Further, the center of gravity of the area of the opening formed in the sealing mask is acquired based on the position and size of the opening registered in step S3 (step S4).
In the image analysis apparatus, the steps (a) and (b) are performed prior to filling with the sealing material paste.

(C) Next, an image of the end face of the honeycomb molded body fixed to the molded body fixing portion 202 of the honeycomb molded body sealing device 200 and moving with the rotation of the rotary table 201 is captured and registered in the image analysis apparatus ( Step S5).
Then, in the image analysis device, the captured end face image is analyzed, the number of cells different from the design is calculated, and when the number is larger than a predetermined number, the honeycomb formed body is determined as a defective product, The non-defective product is distinguished from the non-defective product by determining that the honeycomb formed body is a good product (step S6).
Then, the next step S7 is performed for the honeycomb molded body determined to be a non-defective product, and the sealing process is terminated for the honeycomb molded body determined to be a defective product without filling with the subsequent sealing material paste.

(D) Next, for the end face image of the honeycomb formed body determined to be non-defective, the binarization process is first performed on the image, and then the area of each cell based on the image obtained by the binarization process The center of gravity is acquired (step S7). In addition, before and after the binarization process, various filter processes may be performed on the end face image as necessary in order to make the outline of each cell clear.

(E) Next, a deviation amount between the area centroid of the opening of the sealing mask acquired in step S4 and the area centroid of each cell acquired in step S7 is calculated by the least square method (step S8).
Here, the openings and cells that are subject to calculation of the deviation amount between the area centroid of the opening of the sealing mask and the area centroid of the cells of the honeycomb molded body may be all openings and cells, or some openings and The cell, specifically, for example, an opening and a cell other than the two outer peripheral rows may be used.

When there is a cell having a displacement larger than a predetermined value, the honeycomb formed body is determined to be defective, and other honeycomb formed bodies are determined to be non-defective, thereby distinguishing the non-defective product from the non-defective product. (Step S9).
Then, the next step S10 is performed for the honeycomb molded body determined to be a non-defective product, and the sealing process is terminated for the honeycomb molded body determined to be a defective product without filling the subsequent sealing material paste.

(F) Next, the sealing mask is formed into the honeycomb molded body while the sealing mask (paste discharge tank 203) is moved and the position of the sealing mask is adjusted based on the deviation amount of the area center of gravity calculated in the step (e). Then, the sealing material paste is filled into the cells of the honeycomb formed body from the paste discharge tank 203 (step S10), and the sealing process of the end face of one of the honeycomb formed bodies is completed.
Note that the position adjustment of the sealing mask can be performed by the angle adjusting member 226.
Further, here, the alignment between the sealing mask and the cell is performed based on the amount of deviation of the center of gravity of the area calculated in the step S8. For example, in the step S8, the displacement of the opening and the cell excluding the two outer peripheral portions. When only the amount is calculated, after performing the alignment based on the deviation amount of the area center of gravity, the manual alignment may be performed separately for the two outer peripheral portions.

In addition, since the operations (a) to (f) are operations performed on one end face of the honeycomb formed body, the above-described (( The operations a) to (f) are repeated.

Further, in the honeycomb molded body sealing device 200, the sealing material paste is filled in such a manner that the honeycomb molded body is fixed at a predetermined position of the molded body fixing portion 202 provided on the rotary table. In some cases, the position may be misaligned. If the fixed position is misaligned, the honeycomb molded body having a predetermined shape may be determined as a defective product in the above-described step S6 or S8. Therefore, it is desirable to inspect whether or not the honeycomb molded body is fixed at a predetermined position of the molded body fixing portion 202 before the process from the analysis of the end face image of the honeycomb molded body to the filling of the sealing material paste. .
In this case, the inspection may be performed every time the honeycomb formed body is fixed, but it is desirable to inspect at a ratio of one for a plurality of honeycomb formed bodies.

When the sealing material paste is filled by such a method, the temperature of the sealing material paste is preferably 30 to 110 ° C. If it is less than 30 ° C., the viscosity of the sealing material paste tends to be high, and the cell may not be filled. If it exceeds 110 ° C., the viscosity of the sealing material paste tends to be low, and the filled sealing material paste May be inferior in shape retention.

As for the viscosity of the said sealing material paste, 35-50 Pa.s (measurement temperature 25 degreeC) is desirable. If it is less than 35 Pa · s, the fluidity of the sealing material paste is too high, and when the cells of the honeycomb formed body are filled, they may flow toward the inside of the cells and may not be reliably sealed. When it exceeds s, the sealing material paste is easily clogged with the sealing mask or the filter, and the cells of the honeycomb formed body may not be reliably filled.

Further, the method of filling the honeycomb molded body with the plug material paste is not limited to the method of using the honeycomb molded body sealing device having the above-described configuration, and any other method can be used for the predetermined cells of the honeycomb molded body. What is necessary is just to fill with a sealing material paste.

Although it does not specifically limit as said sealing material paste, The thing from which the porosity of the sealing material manufactured through a post process becomes 30 to 75% is desirable, For example, the thing similar to the said wet mixture can be used. .

Next, a sealing material paste drying step is performed for drying the sealing material paste filled in the cells of the honeycomb formed body. The specific method of this sealing material paste drying step is as already described.
In the plug material paste drying step, the end (surface) of the plug material paste layer may be preferentially dried and the entire honeycomb formed body may be dried.

Next, the honeycomb formed body filled with the above-mentioned sealing material paste is degreased (for example, 200 to 500 ° C.) and fired (for example, 1400 to 2300 ° C.) under predetermined conditions, so that a plurality of cells become cell walls. A columnar honeycomb fired body that is arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction with a gap therebetween and sealed at either end of the cell can be produced.
As the conditions for degreasing and firing the honeycomb formed body, the conditions conventionally used when manufacturing a filter made of a porous ceramic can be applied.

Next, a sealing material paste to be a sealing material layer (adhesive layer) is applied to the side surface of the honeycomb fired body with a uniform thickness, and another honeycomb fired body is sequentially laminated on the sealing material paste layer. The process is repeated to produce a honeycomb fired body aggregate having a predetermined size.
Further, when producing an aggregate of honeycomb fired bodies, the honeycomb fired bodies are assembled in advance through spacers, and then a honeycomb material is injected into a gap between the honeycomb fired bodies, thereby firing the honeycomb fired bodies. An assembly of bodies may be made.

As said sealing material paste, what consists of an inorganic binder, an organic binder, an inorganic fiber, and / or an inorganic particle etc. are mentioned, for example.
Examples of the inorganic binder include silica sol and alumina sol. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among the inorganic binders, silica sol is desirable.

Examples of the organic binder include polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among the organic binders, carboxymethyl cellulose is desirable.

Examples of the inorganic fiber include ceramic fibers such as silica-alumina, mullite, alumina, and silica. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among the inorganic fibers, alumina fibers are desirable.

Examples of the inorganic particles include carbides and nitrides, and specific examples include inorganic powders made of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and boron nitride. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among the inorganic particles, silicon carbide having excellent thermal conductivity is desirable.

Furthermore, a pore-forming agent such as a balloon, which is a fine hollow sphere containing an oxide-based ceramic, spherical acrylic particles, or graphite, may be added to the sealing material paste as necessary.
The balloon is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include an alumina balloon, a glass micro balloon, a shirasu balloon, a fly ash balloon (FA balloon), and a mullite balloon. Of these, alumina balloons are desirable.

Next, the aggregate of the honeycomb fired bodies is heated to dry and solidify the sealing material paste to form a sealing material layer (adhesive layer).
Next, using a diamond cutter or the like, an aggregate of the honeycomb fired bodies in which a plurality of honeycomb fired bodies are bonded via a sealing material layer (adhesive layer) is cut to produce a cylindrical ceramic block.

And by forming the sealing material layer (coat layer) on the outer periphery of the ceramic block using the sealing material paste, a plurality of honeycomb fired bodies are bonded to each other via the sealing material layer (adhesive layer). A honeycomb structure in which a sealing material layer (coat layer) is provided on the outer periphery of the ceramic block can be manufactured.

Thereafter, if necessary, a catalyst is supported on the honeycomb structure. The catalyst may be supported on the honeycomb fired body before producing the aggregate.
When the catalyst is supported, it is desirable to form an alumina film having a high specific surface area on the surface of the honeycomb structure, and to apply a promoter such as platinum and a catalyst such as platinum to the surface of the alumina film.

As a method for forming an alumina film on the surface of the honeycomb structure, for example, a method in which a honeycomb structure is impregnated with a solution of a metal compound containing aluminum such as Al (NO ₃ ) ₃ and heated, an alumina powder is contained. For example, the honeycomb structure may be impregnated with a solution to be heated and heated.
Examples of a method for applying a promoter to the alumina film include a method in which a honeycomb structure is impregnated with a solution of a metal compound containing a rare earth element such as Ce (NO ₃ ) ₃ and heated. .
As a method for imparting a catalyst to the alumina membrane, for example, a dinitrodiammine platinum nitric acid solution ([Pt (NH ₃ ) ₂ (NO ₂ ) ₂ ] HNO ₃ , platinum concentration 4.53% by weight) or the like is applied to the honeycomb structure. Examples of the method include impregnation and heating.
Alternatively, the catalyst may be applied by a method in which a catalyst is applied to the alumina particles in advance, and the honeycomb structure is impregnated with a solution containing the alumina powder to which the catalyst is applied and heated.

In addition, the method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure described so far has a structure in which a plurality of honeycomb fired bodies are bundled through a sealing material layer (adhesive layer) (hereinafter also referred to as a collective honeycomb structure). However, the honeycomb structure manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention is a honeycomb structure (hereinafter, also referred to as an integral honeycomb structure) in which one cylindrical ceramic block is composed of a honeycomb fired body. May be.

When manufacturing such an integral honeycomb structure, first, the aggregated honeycomb structure is formed except that the size of the honeycomb molded body formed by extrusion molding is larger than that when manufacturing the aggregated honeycomb structure. A honeycomb formed body is manufactured by using the same method as that for manufacturing.

Next, as in the production of the aggregated honeycomb structure, the honeycomb formed body is, as necessary, a microwave dryer, hot air dryer, dielectric dryer, vacuum dryer, vacuum dryer, freeze dryer, etc. To dry. Next, the end of either one of the cells is filled with the sealing material paste, and the above-described sealing material paste drying step is performed.
Thereafter, in the same manner as in the production of the aggregated honeycomb structure, a ceramic block is produced by performing degreasing and firing, and if necessary, a sealing material layer (coat layer) is formed, whereby an integral honeycomb structure is obtained. Can be manufactured. Further, the above-mentioned integral honeycomb structure may be loaded with a catalyst by the method described above.

In the case of manufacturing a honeycomb structure by the manufacturing method as described above, it is desirable that the main component of the aggregated honeycomb structure is composed of silicon carbide or silicon-containing silicon carbide powder. In the structure, the main component of the constituent material is preferably made of cordierite or aluminum titanate.

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

(Example 1)
(1) 250 kg of α-type silicon carbide powder having an average particle size of 10 μm, 100 kg of α-type silicon carbide powder having an average particle size of 0.5 μm, and 20 kg of an organic binder (methyl cellulose) were mixed to prepare a mixed powder.
Next, separately, 12 kg of lubricant (Unilube manufactured by NOF Corporation), 5 kg of plasticizer (glycerin), and 65 kg of water are mixed to prepare a liquid mixture, and this liquid mixture and the mixed powder are mixed in a wet mixer. And mixed to prepare a wet mixture.
Next, extrusion molding using this wet mixture and subsequent cutting were performed to prepare a honeycomb molded body. Thereafter, the honeycomb formed body was dried using a microwave dryer.

(2) Next, a sealing material paste having the same composition as that of the above-mentioned honeycomb molded body was applied to a predetermined shape using a sealing apparatus for a honeycomb molded body having the configuration shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 (a), (b). The cell was filled. Here, the specification of the structural member of the sealing apparatus for honeycomb molded bodies is as follows.

Sealing paste temperature: 70 ° C (in the paste discharge tank)
Viscosity of sealing material paste: 42 Pa · s (measurement temperature: 25 ° C. during preparation)
Uniaxial eccentric screw pump ... Hyoshin Equipment Co., Ltd., Robot dispenser 3NDPL06G15
Sealing material paste discharge time: 1.6 seconds Sealing material paste filling amount: 3 g / single side

(3) Next, the honeycomb formed body filled with the sealing material paste is dried with hot air provided with a drying furnace having a drying unit 103a and a cooling unit 103b shown in FIGS. 2-2 (a) and (b). The plug 110 was put into the machine 110 and hot air was blown onto the end face of the honeycomb formed body to dry the plug material paste layer, and then the plug material paste layer was cooled. The specifications of the hot air dryer are as follows.
Drying section length ... 1.9m
Cooling section length: 0.7m
Hot air temperature ・ ・ ・ 190 ℃
Hot air speed ... 13m / sec Hot air blowing time ... 2.7 minutes Cold air temperature ... 25 ° C
The hot air blowing time is adjusted by the moving speed of the belt conveyor that moves continuously at a constant speed, and the moving speed of the belt conveyor is 0.7 m / min.

(4) Next, the honeycomb formed body on which the plug material paste layer is formed is degreased at 400 ° C., and fired at 2200 ° C. for 3 hours in an atmospheric argon atmosphere, thereby FIG. b) A shape in which a sealing material layer is formed on one end of the cell as shown in FIG. 4B, the porosity is 40%, the average pore diameter is 12.5 μm, and the size is 34.3 mm × 34.3 mm. A honeycomb fired body made of a silicon carbide sintered body having a size of 150 mm, a cell number (cell density) of 49 cells / cm ² , and a cell wall thickness of 0.25 mm was manufactured.

(Examples 2-8, Reference Examples 1-4)
A honeycomb fired body was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the hot air temperature and the hot air blowing time in the step (3) of Example 1 were changed as shown in Table 1.

Example 9
In the step (3) of Example 1, a honeycomb fired body was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that hot air was blown onto the end face of the honeycomb formed body by the following method.
That is, among the hot air outlets provided on both sides of the belt conveyor, the hot air outlet located at a half portion from the inlet side blows hot air only from one side of the hot air outlet, and 1/2 from the outlet side. About the hot air blower outlet located in this part, the hot air was blown only from the hot air blower outlet located in the opposite side to the hot air blower blown by the hot air on the inlet side, and the sealing material paste was dried.
Therefore, in this embodiment, hot air is blown to the end face of the honeycomb formed body one by one.

(Example 10)
In the process of Example 1 (1), after forming a honeycomb formed body by extrusion molding using a wet mixture and subsequent cutting, the honeycomb formed body is dried by a microwave dryer. A honeycomb fired body was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that this was not performed.

(Comparative Example 1)
In the step (3) of Example 1, a honeycomb fired body was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that cold air of 25 ° C. was blown on the end face of the honeycomb formed body instead of hot air.

(Comparative Example 2)
In the step (3) of Example 1, a honeycomb fired body was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 60 ° C. air was blown on the end face of the honeycomb formed body instead of hot air.

(Comparative Example 3)
A honeycomb fired body was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the step (3) in Example 1 was not performed.

(Evaluation of honeycomb fired body)
About the manufactured honeycomb fired body, the honeycomb fired body was cut so as to cross the cell in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction, and the sealing material layer was magnified 5 times with a magnifying glass on the cut surface and visually observed. .
The observation results are shown in Table 1.

As is clear from the results shown in Table 1, in the honeycomb fired bodies according to Examples 1 to 8, the shape of the sealing material layer was good with almost no shrinkage dent (shrinkage).

In the honeycomb fired body according to Example 9, the shape of the sealing material layer was generally good, but indentation (squeezing) occurred in part of the sealing material layer on the side where hot air was blown in the latter half. This is thought to be because it took time to dry the side where hot air was blown in the latter half. From this, it has become clear that it is desirable to blow hot air from both sides simultaneously when blowing hot air.

In the honeycomb fired body according to Example 10, the shape of the sealing material layer was good. However, slight warpage occurred in the honeycomb fired body according to this example. This is considered to be because the drying treatment was not performed before filling with the sealing material paste.

In the honeycomb fired bodies according to Reference Examples 1 to 4, the surface of the sealing material layer was indented (shrunk). However, the dent (shrinkage) grew greatly, and there was no unsealed cell. Therefore, in Reference Examples 1 to 4, it can be said that the purpose of filling the sealing material paste could be achieved.
Further, in the honeycomb fired bodies of Reference Examples 1 and 3, after the hot air drying is finished, the vicinity of the end face of the honeycomb formed body is brittle, and it is tapped with a metal rod (a force that does not cause damage near the center of the honeycomb formed body I hit it with) and it was damaged. From this, it is considered that the vicinity of the end face where hot air is intensively blown becomes too fragile and becomes brittle.

In the honeycomb fired bodies according to Comparative Examples 1 to 3, dents (shrinkage) occurred on the surface of the sealing material layer. Further, in the honeycomb fired bodies according to Comparative Examples 1 to 3, with some of the sealing material layers, The dent (shrink) grew and became an unsealed cell. This is considered to be because the temperature of the wind blown on the sealing material paste layer was low, or hot air was not blown.

Fig.1 (a) is a perspective view which shows typically the honeycomb molded object with which either one edge part of the cell was filled with the sealing material paste, FIG.1 (b) is the sectional view on the AA line. FIG. Fig. 2-1 (a) is a plan view schematically showing the inside of the hot air dryer used in the sealing material paste drying step of the manufacturing method of the honeycomb structure of the present invention. Fig. 2-1 (b) These are the BB sectional drawing. Fig. 2-2 (a) is a plan view schematically showing the inside of another hot air dryer used in the sealing material paste drying step of the manufacturing method of the honeycomb structure of the present invention. b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the sealing apparatus for honeycomb molded objects. Fig. 4 (a) is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a paste filling device constituting the sealing device for a honeycomb molded body, and Fig. 4 (b) schematically shows a part of the sealing device for the honeycomb molded body. It is a partial expanded sectional view shown. It is a flowchart which shows the process (means) from the analysis of the end surface image of a honeycomb molded object to filling of a sealing material paste. It is a perspective view which shows typically an example of a honeycomb structure. Fig. 7 (a) is a perspective view schematically showing a honeycomb fired body constituting the honeycomb structure, and Fig. 7 (b) is a sectional view taken along the line DD.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 Honeycomb compact 11, 141 Cell 12 Sealant paste layer 13 Cell wall 100, 110 Hot air dryer 101 Belt conveyor 102 Drying furnace 103a Drying section 103b Cooling section 105 Hot air outlet 106 Cold air outlet 200 For honeycomb molded body Sealing device

Claims (4)

After forming a columnar honeycomb molded body in which a large number of cells are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction across the cell wall by molding a ceramic raw material, one of the cells is filled with a sealing material paste A honeycomb structure manufacturing method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure made of the honeycomb fired body by firing the honeycomb formed body,
After the plug material paste is filled into one end of each cell of the honeycomb formed body, the hot plug is used to blow hot air on the end surface of the honeycomb formed body, thereby A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body, comprising performing a sealing material paste drying step for drying. 2. The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to claim 1, wherein in the sealing material paste drying step, hot air of 130 to 210 ° C. is blown on an end face of the honeycomb formed body for 2 to 7 minutes. The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the sealing material paste drying step, hot air is simultaneously blown to both end faces of the honeycomb formed body. The hot air dryer includes a conveying member for conveying the honeycomb formed body in a drying furnace and a hot air outlet,
The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hot air outlet is disposed at a position facing an end face of the honeycomb formed body, and hot air is blown from the hot air outlet.

Images