JP2008055796A - Grasping device for molded body and plugging method for ceramic honeycomb structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grasping device for a molded body capable of grasping the molded body by sufficiently enhancing sealability though the molded body is relatively fragile and there is physical irregularity in the molded body, and to provide a plugging method for a ceramic honeycomb structure using it. <P>SOLUTION: The grasping device of a molded body is equipped with housings 63, 64 and 65 and the expansion means 67, 65 and 63b provided in the housings and expanded by the supply of air. The molded body is grasped by the expansion means 67, 65 and 63b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a molded body gripping device and a method for plugging a ceramic honeycomb structure using the same, and for example, in a ceramic honeycomb structure for collecting particulates in exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine. The present invention is suitable for application to a holding device for holding a formed body in the manufacturing process and a plugging method of a ceramic honeycomb structure using the holding device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a filter structure for collecting particulates in, for example, automobile exhaust gas, a ceramic honeycomb structure in which a large number of cells are partitioned by partition walls and cells are alternately sealed at both end faces of the structure Is known (see Patent Document 1). In manufacturing this ceramic honeycomb structure, a partition wall provided in a honeycomb shape and a ceramic honeycomb structure body in a penetrating state in which cells partitioned by the partition wall are opened at both end faces are formed, and the cell ends to be sealed The part is closed with a plugging member.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a masking member such as a film is pasted so as to cover the cell end when closing the cell on one end face. Next, the film located at the cell end to be closed is removed to form a through hole. A masking member is also affixed to the other end surface, and a through hole is formed in the cell end surface where no through hole is provided on the one end surface.

  Next, one end face of a ceramic honeycomb structure body (hereinafter referred to as a workpiece) having a through hole processed in the masking member is immersed in a slurry having a plugging material (hereinafter referred to as a plugging slurry), so-called dipping treatment. To do. The plugging slurry is stored in the container, and the work is lowered with respect to the plugging slurry, so that the plugging slurry is forced to enter the cell end through the through hole. The plugging slurry is press-fitted and plugged by allowing the plugging slurry to enter the end of the cell through the through hole using this applied pressure.

  Here, when one end surface of the workpiece is dipped, the one end surface is covered with a masking member and a through hole is provided in a part of the cell end. Pressure according to the operating state is applied. At this time, the plugging slurry is applied with a pressurizing force to enter the cell end through the through-hole, and the outer peripheral liquid level of one end face rises.

In general, since the plugging slurry contains ceramic particles as a plugging material, water, a binder, and the like and has a relatively high viscosity, bubbles are easily generated when the plugging slurry is put into a container. The bubbles are mainly present on the liquid surface of the plugging slurry.
JP 2002-28915 A

  In the prior art, when the work is immersed in the plugging slurry during the dipping process, the plugging slurry may overflow from the container due to the rise in the outer peripheral liquid level.

  When the plugging slurry overflows from the container, the effect of press-fitting the plugging slurry is reduced, so that the plugging depth does not reach a predetermined amount and becomes shallower, or the depth is reduced by immersion of the workpiece ( There is a problem that it fluctuates every time.

  Further, if there are bubbles in the plugging slurry stored in the container, it affects the plugging depth. Therefore, from the viewpoint of uniformizing the plugging depth, it is preferable to dip after removing the aspiration. . Therefore, the applicant has studied a method for removing the aspiration present in the plugging slurry by filling the plugging slurry into the container and removing the slurry liquid level rising from the opening of the container. Yes. When applied to the dipping process using such a method, the plugging slurry overflows from the container, and it is difficult to make the targeted plugging depth uniform.

  Thus, when the work is immersed in the plugging slurry, it is conceivable to prevent the plugging slurry from overflowing from the container by closing the opening of the container with a gripping member for gripping the work. In such a gripping member, when the workpiece is immersed in the plugging slurry, the sealing performance with the outer periphery of the workpiece, which is a relatively brittle molded product, is provided even though the physique varies depending on the molding conditions of the workpiece. There is a need for gripping techniques that are sufficiently improved. However, there is no conventional gripping method that satisfies these conflicting gripping technology requirements.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and its purpose is to sufficiently improve the sealing performance and grip the molded body despite the fact that the molded body is relatively brittle and has a physique variation. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of gripping a molded body and a plugging method of a ceramic honeycomb structure using the same.

  Another object is that the molded body can be gripped by sufficiently improving the sealing performance even though the molded body is relatively fragile and has physique variations. An object of the present invention is to provide a molded body gripping device capable of preventing the plugging depth of plugging with a plugging material from becoming uneven and a plugging method of a ceramic honeycomb structure using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following technical means.

  That is, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in the molded body gripping apparatus for gripping the molded body, the housing includes a housing and an expansion means that is provided in the housing and expands when air is supplied. The molded body is gripped by the means.

  According to this, since the molded body is gripped by the expansion means that expands when air is supplied, for example, the magnitude of the gripping force for gripping the molded body can be changed and the grip of the molded body can be changed depending on the supply amount of air. It is possible to form a gripping surface according to the physique of the target part.

  As a result, it is possible to sufficiently improve the sealing performance and grip the molded body even though the molded body is relatively fragile and has physique variations.

In the inventions according to claims 2 to 5, the housing is formed in an annular body,
The inner periphery of the annular body is formed so as to be able to pass through a molded body to be grasped,
An expansion means is provided on the inner peripheral surface.

  As a result, the inner periphery of the housing formed in an annular shape is formed so that the molded object that is the object to be grasped can be inserted. Even if it exists, a molded object can be inserted in the said inner periphery. Further, since the expansion means is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the housing, when air is supplied to the expansion means, the expansion means is expanded to the inside of the inner peripheral surface and to the inside of the inner peripheral surface of the expansion means. The outer periphery of the molded body can be gripped by the expansion of.

  Further, in the invention described in claims 3 to 4, the expansion means includes an elastic body having an annular air expansion portion that stores air therein, and the elastic body is coaxial along the inner periphery of the annular body. The elastic body expands in the radial direction when air is supplied to the air expansion portion, and the outer periphery of the molded body is gripped by the expanded inner peripheral surface of the hole.

  According to this, the expansion means expands the elastic body itself by supplying air to the annular air expansion portion disposed inside the elastic body. Furthermore, since the elastic body has holes arranged coaxially along the inner periphery of the annular body, the inner peripheral surface of the hole expanded in the radial direction is evenly distributed with respect to the inner periphery of the annular body. The inner diameter shrinks. Thereby, when air is supplied to the air expansion portion, the elastic body expands in the radial direction, and the outer periphery of the molded body is securely gripped by the inner peripheral surface of the hole whose inner diameter is contracted.

  Note that the inner peripheral surface of the hole whose inner diameter has shrunk may be either curved in the axial direction due to expansion of the elastic body itself, or may be one that is not curved in the axial direction. .

  Here, in the case where the inner peripheral surface of the hole whose inner diameter is contracted is formed into a curved surface in the axial direction, if the opening of the container is closed with such a molded body gripping device, the portion formed into the curved surface will be described. In addition to the volume of the slurry stored in the container, the waste volume tends to vary. When it is desired to control the depth of the press-fitting of the slurry by the amount of slurry to be filled in the container, there is a risk that the accuracy of the depth of the press-fitting of the slurry by press-fitting the slurry into the waste volume may decrease due to escape of the slurry to be press-fitted into the waste volume. .

  On the other hand, as in the invention described in claim 4, the air expansion portion is partitioned by the wall of the elastic body, and the wall thickness of the radial wall on the inner peripheral side of the hole among the walls partitioning the air expansion portion is: It is preferable that it is formed thicker than the axial wall.

  According to this, when air is supplied to the air expansion part, the tensile force due to expansion acts on both the axial wall and the radial wall on the inner peripheral side of the hole due to the expansion inside the air expansion part. Since the axial wall with a small thickness is easy to extend and the radial wall on the inner peripheral side of the thick hole is difficult to extend, the thick inner peripheral surface of the hole is not easily curved in the axial direction.

In the invention according to claim 5, the expansion means includes an elastic body having a hole arranged coaxially along the inner periphery of the annular body,
The housing has compression means capable of compressing the elastic body in the axial direction when air is supplied,
The expansion means is characterized in that when air is supplied, the elastic body is compressed in the axial direction by the compression means, the inner diameter of the hole is reduced, and the outer periphery of the molded body is gripped by the reduced inner peripheral surface of the hole. To do.

  According to this, when the air is supplied, the expansion means compresses the elastic body in the axial direction by the compression means, so that the elastic body is elastically deformed and expanded in the radial direction as much as the elastic body is compressed and deformed in the axial direction. The shape of the elastic body is flat, but the inner surface of the hole is not easily curved in the axial direction.

In the inventions according to claims 6 to 10, a large number of cells penetrating in the axial direction are partitioned by partition walls, and the first cell end portion of the plurality of cells is plugged with a plugging material. In producing a packed ceramic honeycomb structure,
The end portion of the first cell is plugged by immersing the end surface in the slurry having the plugging material in a state where the end portion of the second cell not provided with the plugging material is closed with a masking material on the end surface in the axial direction. In the method of plugging the ceramic honeycomb structure,
With the holding device for a molded body according to claim 1 to 5, a ceramic honeycomb structure body made of a honeycomb molded body is gripped,
The end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body gripped by the molded body gripping device is immersed in a slurry stored in a container having an opening at the upper end.

  As a result, when the end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure body is immersed in the slurry in the container, the sealing performance is improved between the ceramic honeycomb structure body gripped by the molded body gripping device and the molded body gripping device. Therefore, the slurry does not overflow from that time.

Further, in the invention according to claims 7 to 10, in immersing the ceramic honeycomb structure main body in the slurry in the container,
The molded body gripping device is a container lid member, and after closing the opening of the container with the molded body gripping device,
The slurry is pushed into the end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body.

  According to this, the molded body gripping device forms the lid member of the container, and after closing the opening of the container with the molded body gripping device, the slurry is pushed into the end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure body. When the end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body gripped in step 1 is immersed in the slurry, the slurry in the container overflows from both the opening and the ceramic honeycomb structure main body and the molded body gripping device. No slurry overflows from the container.

  Therefore, when the ceramic honeycomb structure body is lowered relative to the slurry, for example, when the so-called slurry is press-fitted and plugged, the plugging depth is prevented from becoming uneven, and the slurry is prevented from becoming non-uniform. Can be pushed into the end portion of the first cell on the end surface of the first cell.

In the invention according to claim 8, the container moves up and down relative to the side wall so that the side wall defining the opening, the bottom, and the slurry accumulated on the opening side can be pushed up. Elevating drive means for
When the opening / closing drive means closes the opening with the gripping device of the molded body, the bottom is relatively raised, and the slurry in the container is forcibly pushed into the first cell end of the ceramic honeycomb structure body. To do.

  According to this, the ceramic honeycomb structure main body can be relatively lowered with respect to the slurry without relatively moving the holding device for the molded body that may cause a decrease in sealing performance and the ceramic honeycomb structure main body. Therefore, when press-fitting the slurry, the slurry can be pushed into the first cell end portion of the end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure body while preventing the plugging depth from becoming uneven.

Further, in the invention according to claim 9, after the press-fitting is completed by pushing the slurry in the container into the first cell end of the end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure body,
The ceramic honeycomb structure main body is provided with wiping means for wiping off the remaining slurry without being pushed into the end portion of the first cell on the outer periphery and end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure body.

  In the invention according to claim 10, the housing has a contact portion that contacts the container, and the contact portion is formed of a second elastic body.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments in which a molded body holding apparatus and a ceramic honeycomb structure plugging method using the same according to the present invention are applied to a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the present embodiment, showing a gripping device used in an immersion process in which an end face of the honeycomb structure is immersed in a slurry, and FIG. FIG. 1 and FIG. 1B are cross-sectional views. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the holding device, the honeycomb structure, and the container storing the slurry in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a masking process in which a mask tape is applied to the honeycomb structure main body in the method for manufacturing the honeycomb structure according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the present embodiment, and shows a through-hole forming step for opening the end portion of the first cell to be plugged. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a division state of blocks that divide a range in which cell information for forming a through hole is recognized by image processing in the through hole forming step in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the through hole is formed in the through hole forming step before the plugging process, in the honeycomb structure manufacturing method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a dipping process in which the end face of the honeycomb structure is dipped in the slurry in the method for manufacturing the honeycomb structure according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the present embodiment, and is a schematic view partially enlarged showing a state in which through holes are formed in the through hole forming step. FIG. 9 is a manufacturing method of the honeycomb structure according to the present embodiment, and is a schematic view in which the state of the end face where the slurry is immersed in the immersion process is partially enlarged. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the present embodiment, in which the plugged state of the honeycomb structure is partially enlarged. FIG. 11 is a graph showing the measurement results of the plugging depth of the honeycomb structure according to the present embodiment. In addition, in FIG. 11, the median value and variation width | variety of the plugging depth by this embodiment are shown, and the comparative example with respect to this is shown.

  The present embodiment is a ceramic honeycomb structure for a carrier of an automobile exhaust gas purification device, in which a large number of cells penetrating in the axial direction are partitioned by partition walls, and are positioned on the end surfaces at both end surfaces in the axial direction. This is a method for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure 8 in which a part of a cell end is closed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, after the honeycomb structure body 86 having all the cell end portions 82 opened at the end faces 861 and 862, a part of the cell end portions on the end faces 861 and 862 of the honeycomb structure body 86 is produced. A transparent or translucent resin film (hereinafter referred to as a mask tape) 2 is attached to the end face 861 of the honeycomb structure body 86 so as to cover the cell end 82 when the plug 82 is closed with a plugging material 830 described later. .

  Note that a mask tape is attached to an end face (hereinafter, one end face) 861 and an end face (hereinafter, the other end face) 862, of both end faces. Hereinafter, the manufacturing method will be described using one end face 861, and description on the other end face will be omitted.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, in the through-hole forming step for opening the cell end portion (hereinafter referred to as the first cell end portion) 82a to be plugged, the mask tape 2 positioned at the first cell end portion 82a is heated. The through hole 20 is formed by melting or incineration removal. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, one end face 861 is immersed in a slurry 60 containing a plugging material, and this slurry 60 enters the first cell end portion 82 a through the through hole 20, and the slurry 60 causes the first cell to enter the first cell. The end 82a is closed.

  Next, the other end surface 862 is immersed in the slurry 60, and the first cell end portion 82 a of the other end surface 862 is closed with the slurry 60. Thereafter, the slurry 60 is cured.

  Hereinafter, the details of the above-described manufacturing method will be described. In this example, the honeycomb structure body 86 was produced by extrusion molding. Specifically, by using a ceramic material for forming cordierite, a tubular long honeycomb structure having a large number of square cells is manufactured, and the honeycomb structure is cut into a predetermined length to thereby cut the honeycomb structure. A body 86 was formed. The cell end portion 82 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is open at both end faces 861 and 862 thereof.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the mask tape 2 is attached to the entire surface of one end face 861. In this example, the end surfaces 861 and 862 are heated by a heating device such as a hot plate, and the mask tape 2 is attached to the end surfaces 861 and 862. The mask tape 2 is not limited to this, and a thermoplastic resin film in which an adhesive is applied to one surface may be used.

  Next, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the through-hole 20 is formed by using the through-hole forming device 5 to melt or incinerate and remove the mask tape 2 located at the first cell end 82 a by heat. did. The through-hole forming device 5 passes through the mask tape 2 affixed to the end face 861 and visually recognizes the positions of the cell end portions 82a and 82b to obtain position information. A heat irradiation means 52 for irradiating a density energy beam (hereinafter referred to as laser light) 520 and a control means 53 for operating the heat irradiation means 52 by determining an irradiation position of the laser light 520 based on position information from the image processing means 51. And.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image processing unit 51 includes a camera unit 511 that captures an image of the end face 861 and an image processing unit 512 that forms image data. Although it is preferable to install a plurality of camera units 511 according to the width of the end face, in this embodiment, one camera unit 511 is appropriately moved to sequentially capture a plurality of areas. Specifically, as shown in the image data processing method of FIG. 5, when the position information of the cell end portions 82 a and 82 b is created in the image processing means 51, the region including the end face 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is divided into 9 regions. Divided into two blocks S1 to S9. For each block, image data of an area including an overlapping portion that overlaps at least a part of the block and a block adjacent thereto is collected.

The heat irradiation means 52 includes a laser emitting device 521 that emits CO ₂ laser light and a moving device 522 that incorporates a control unit thereof.

  Further, the control means 53 calculates the position and opening area of each cell end 82a, 86b based on the image data received from the image processing means 51 as described above, and the cell end 82 to be closed (plugged). The position where the through hole 20 is to be formed is determined. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the outline position 22 for cutting out the unnecessary surrounding mask tape 2 is determined. The information on the formation position and contour position of the through-hole 20 is instructed to the heat irradiation means 52 so that the movement and irradiation control of the laser emitting means 521 are performed.

  By using the through-hole forming device 5 having the above-described configuration, first, the end surface 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is photographed by the camera unit 511 to create image data, as shown in FIG. Next, the control unit 53 calculates the formation position and contour position of the through hole 20. In the present embodiment, the through-hole 20 formation position is determined so that a closed portion (hereinafter referred to as a plugging portion) is formed in a checkered pattern in which adjacent cells alternately open and close.

  Next, the honeycomb structure main body 86 is moved to the bottom of the laser emitting means 521 or the laser emitting means 521 is moved, and the origin on the coordinates when positioned directly below the camera unit 511 is matched. Then, on the basis of an instruction from the control means 53, the laser beam 520 is sequentially irradiated from the laser emitting means 521 to melt or incinerate and remove the mask tape 2 to form the through hole 20 and the contour position 22. As shown in FIG. 6, an unnecessary portion on the outer periphery of the end face 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is cut away from the contour position 22 and is located at the first cell end portion 82a at the planned plugging (closing) position. The resin film 2 provided with the through-hole 20 having a shape along the inner periphery of the partition wall 81 is disposed in the portion.

  In forming the through hole 20, the center of the through hole 20 to be formed is first irradiated with the laser beam 520, and then the irradiation position is relative to the spiral so that the diameter gradually increases. The through hole 20 was expanded to a desired size while shifting (see FIG. 8 for example).

  The operations from application of the mask tape 2 to formation of the through hole 20 are similarly performed on the other end face 862 of the honeycomb structure main body 86. At this time, in each cell, one cell end portion 82 is closed by the mask tape 2 and the through hole 20 is formed in the other cell end portion 82. It should be noted that square cells with a part of the periphery missing, such as cells on the outer peripheral side of the contour position 22 shown in FIGS. The mask tape 2 is removed and opened.

  Next, in the dipping step (see FIG. 7), one end face 861 is dipped in the slurry 60 containing the plugging material 830, and this slurry 60 is dipped into the first cell end portion 82a through the through hole 20, The first cell end portion 82 a is closed with the slurry 60. In this example, the dipping apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a dip apparatus) 6 as shown in FIG. The plugging material 830 contained in the slurry 60 is mainly made of a material that becomes cordierite after firing.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, the dip device 6 includes a gripping device 61 that grips and moves the honeycomb structure main body 86 that is a workpiece, a container 62 that holds and stores the slurry 60 each time, and a gripping device 61. And a control unit (not shown) for controlling. Even if the gripping device 61 has a gripping function for gripping the honeycomb structure main body 86 and a position driving function for moving the honeycomb structure main body 86, the gripping function and the position driving function are separate members. It may be configured.

  Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the grip function and the position drive function are configured as separate members, and the grip device 61 includes a chuck member 61 having a grip function and a workpiece position drive member having a position drive function (see FIG. Not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the chuck member 61 is provided with a chuck main body 63, 64, 65 serving as a housing, and the chuck main body 63, 64, 65 as a main function. And expansion means 67, 65, and 63b that expand when supplied (pressurized air in the figure, hereinafter referred to as pressurized air).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the expansion means 67, 65, and 63b include an elastic body 67 and compression portions 63b and 65 that compress the elastic body 67 with air pressure. The expansion means 67, 65, 63 b expand the elastic body 67 (refer to the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2) when pressurized air is supplied, and the outer peripheral surface of the honeycomb structure body 86 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67. Hold it.

  The elastic body 67 is formed in an annular shape, and is an annular body having elasticity. The cross section of the elastic body 67 is formed in a solid, substantially square shape. The inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67 is coaxially disposed along the inner periphery of an insertion hole 61a of a chuck body 63, 64, 65 described later.

  The chuck bodies 63, 64, 65 are formed in an annular shape, and include a first housing (hereinafter referred to as an upper mold housing) 63 that houses an elastic body 67, a second housing (hereinafter referred to as a lower mold housing) 64, It has the 3rd housing (movable part housing) 65 which is provided in the housings 63 and 64 and presses the elastic body 67 by supply of pressurized air.

  The annular chuck bodies 63, 64, 65 have a hole (insertion hole) 61 a through which the honeycomb structure body 86 can be inserted, and the inner periphery of the insertion hole 61 a has variations in the physique of the honeycomb structure body 86. Even if it is the size of the upper limit outer circumference, the upper limit outer circumference is set to a size that can be inserted. Note that the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67 is substantially flush with the inner periphery of the insertion hole 61a when the supply of pressurized air is stopped.

  Specifically, the upper housing 63 has an introduction portion 63a that introduces pressurized air from the outside, and an annular groove-shaped air expansion portion 63b that communicates with the introduction portion 63a and accumulates the pressurized air. . Further, the upper mold housing 63 has an inner wall surface that allows the movable portion housing 65 to move in a direction in which the elastic body 67 is pressed. A first seal member 91 such as a square ring is disposed between the inner wall surface and the movable portion housing 65.

  The lower mold housing 64 houses the elastic body 67 and the movable part housing 65 integrally formed therewith together with the upper mold housing 63. The lower mold housing 64 includes a first lower mold housing 64a and a second lower mold housing 64b, and the lower mold housings 64a and 64b are integrally assembled by screwing with a screwing member 64c such as a bolt. It has been. The first lower mold housing 64 a has an inner wall surface that allows the movable portion housing 65 to move in a direction in which the elastic body 67 is pressed. A second seal member 92 such as an O-ring is disposed between the inner wall surface and the movable part housing 65. A third seal member 93 such as an O-ring is disposed between the lower mold housing 64 and the upper mold housing 63.

  The movable part housing 65 is integrally formed with an elastic body 67 on the lower end side, and the movement of the movable part housing 65 and the elastic body 67 in the downward direction in the figure is restricted by the second lower mold housing 64b. An urging member 67 such as a spring for urging the movable part housing 65 is disposed between the movable part housing 65 and the first lower mold housing 64a. The urging member 67 is a pressurized air. The movable portion housing 65 is urged in the direction opposite to the direction in which the is applied (upward in the figure).

  Further, an annular second elastic body 66 is provided on the lower end side of the chuck main bodies 63, 64, 65. The second elastic body 66 includes the chuck main bodies 63, 64, 65 as containers. A contact portion for contacting 62 is formed.

  The chuck bodies 63, 64, 65 are formed so that the outer shape of the chuck bodies 63, 64, 65 is larger than the opening 62 c so as to close the opening 62 c of the container 62. The slurry 60 in the container 62 can be kept airtight by closing the opening 62c.

  Note that the honeycomb structure main body 86 and the chuck member 61 cannot move relative to each other when the honeycomb structure main body 86 and the chuck member 61 are gripped.

  As shown in FIGS. 7C and 2, the container 62 has a side wall 62a of the container 62 that defines the opening 62c, and a bottom 62b, and the bottom 62b is relative to the end surface of the side wall 62a. It is movable. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7C, an upper end surface (hereinafter referred to as a bottom surface) 62b1 of the bottom portion 62b can be moved up and down with respect to the side wall 62a.

  Further, it is preferable that the bottom portion 62 b is opposed to the end surface 861 of the honeycomb structure body 86 and can be rotated along the end surface 861. Thus, when the slurry 60 is pushed into the end face 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 and then the end face 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 in the container 60 is pulled away, the slurry 60 pushed into the honeycomb structure main body 86 enters the container 60. It is possible to prevent it from being pulled back.

  In addition, the slurry 60 is filled almost completely in the container 62 up to the upper end surface of the opening. It is preferable that the liquid surface of the slurry 60 rising from the opening 62c is easily rubbed off at the upper end surface of the side wall 62a of the container 62. Thereby, the bubble which may exist in the liquid level of the slurry 60 can be removed efficiently.

  In carrying out the operation using the dip device 6, first, as shown in FIG. 7A, the honeycomb structure main body 86 is placed on the reference table 69 with one end face 861 to be processed as the lower end.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, the honeycomb structure main body 86 is gripped and lifted by a predetermined amount by the gripping operation and the workpiece position driving operation of the gripping device, and the end surface 861 to be processed is moved toward the container 62. .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, the chuck member 61 is moved downward to airtightly close the opening 62 c of the container 62 via the contact portion (second elastic body) 66. At this time, the one end face 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is disposed above the liquid surface of the slurry 60. Next, by raising the bottom surface 62b1 of the bottom 62b of the container 62, the one end face 861 of the honeycomb structure body 86 is lowered relative to the slurry 60, and the end face 861 of the honeycomb structure body 86 is immersed in the slurry 60. To do. At this time, the control unit calculates the dip depth from the upward movement amount of the bottom 62b, and controls the movement of the bottom 62b so as to obtain a desired plugging depth (immersion depth).

  With such a dipping device 6, the slurry 60 enters the first cell end portion 82a from the through hole 20 in the first cell end portion 82a provided with the through hole 20 on the end surface 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86. Further, since the end surface 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is immersed in the slurry 60 in a state where the chuck member 61 and the container 62 holding the honeycomb structure main body 86 are hermetically held, the pressurized slurry 60 is It is added to the end face 861. Thereby, the slurry 60 is forcibly pushed into the first cell end portion 82a through the through hole 20 (see FIG. 9). Hereinafter, forcibly pushing the slurry 60 into the first cell end portion 82a is referred to as press-fitting the slurry 60.

  Next, in a sintering step (not shown), the honeycomb structure main body 86 in which the slurry 60 has entered the first cell end portion 82a on the both end faces 861 and 862 is dried and then fired. As a result, the slurry 60 is baked and solidified to form the plugging material 830 to form the plugging portion (blocking portion) 83, and the mask tape 2 attached to the end faces 861 and 862 is incinerated and removed. . Thereby, the honeycomb structure 8 (refer FIG. 10) which obstruct | occluded some 1st cell edge parts 82a is obtained.

  In the present embodiment described above, the gripping device, that is, the chuck member 61 is provided in the chuck main bodies 63, 64, 65 and the chuck main bodies 63, 64, 65, and the elastic body 67 is supplied by supplying pressurized air. Expansion means 67, 65, 63b that expand on the inner peripheral surface side are provided, and the outer periphery of the honeycomb structure body 86 is held by the expansion means 67, 65, 63b.

  According to this, since the honeycomb structure main body 86 that is a honeycomb formed body is held by the expansion means 67, 65, 63b that expands when supplied with the pressurized air, the honeycomb structure, for example, depending on the supply amount of the pressurized air While the magnitude of the gripping force for gripping the body main body 86 can be changed, it is possible to form a gripping surface according to the physique such as the outer periphery of the gripping target portion of the honeycomb structure main body 86.

  As a result, the molded body such as the honeycomb structure main body 86 can be gripped with sufficiently improved sealing performance despite the fact that the molded body such as the honeycomb structure main body 86 is relatively brittle and has physique variations.

  In the present embodiment described above, the chuck bodies 63, 64, 65 are formed in an annular body, and the inner periphery of the insertion hole 61a of the chuck bodies 63, 64, 65 is the honeycomb structure body 86 to be gripped. It is formed so that it can be inserted through the outer periphery. Further, expansion means 67, 65, 63b are provided on the inner periphery of the insertion hole 61a. When the supply of pressurized air is stopped, the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 61a and the elastic body 67 of the expansion means 67, 65, 63b are provided. The inner peripheral surface is arranged substantially flush.

  Thereby, even if the inner periphery of the insertion hole 61a of the chuck bodies 63, 64, 65 is the size of the upper limit outer periphery of the physique variation of the honeycomb structure main body 86, the upper limit outer periphery is set to a size that can be inserted. Has been. Further, since the expansion means 67, 65, 63b are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 61a, when pressurized air is supplied to the expansion means 67, 65, 63b, the elasticity of the expansion means 67, 65, 63b. The body 67 is expanded inward from the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 61a, and the outer periphery of the honeycomb structure main body 86 can be gripped by the expansion inward of the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 61a.

  Further, in the present embodiment described above, the expansion means 67, 65, 63 b have the annular elastic body 67, and the inner peripheral surface of the annular elastic body 67 is the chuck body 63, 64, 65. It arrange | positions coaxially along the inner periphery of the insertion hole 61a. Further, the chuck bodies 63, 64, 65 have compression portions 63b, 65 that can compress the elastic body 67 in the axial direction when pressurized air is supplied. When the pressurized air is supplied, the expansion means 67, 65, 63b compress the elastic body 67 in the axial direction, and the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67 contracts. The outer periphery of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is gripped by the peripheral surface.

  According to this, when the air is supplied, the expansion means 67, 65, 63b compresses the elastic body 67 in the axial direction by the compression portions 63b, 65 in the chuck body, so that the elastic body 67 is compressed and deformed in the axial direction. Since the elastic body 67 is elastically deformed and expanded in the radial direction, the shape of the elastic body 67 is flattened, but the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67 is not easily curved in the axial direction.

  Further, since the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67 is coaxially disposed along the inner periphery of the insertion hole 61a of the chuck main bodies 63, 64, 65, the chuck main bodies 63, 64 are supplied when pressurized air is supplied. , 65, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67 contracts evenly with respect to the inner periphery of the insertion hole 61a. The outer periphery of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is securely held by the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67 whose inner diameter is uniformly contracted.

  In the present embodiment described above, in the dipping process, the outer periphery of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is gripped by the gripping device, that is, the chuck member 61 described above, and is then gripped by the slurry 60 in the container 62 by the chuck member 61. The end face 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 is immersed.

  Thereby, when the end surface 861 of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body 86 is immersed in the slurry 60 in the container 62, the sealing property is maintained between the ceramic honeycomb structure main body 86 held by the chuck member 61 and the chuck member 61. Since the improvement is sufficiently achieved, the slurry 60 does not overflow from that time.

  Further, when the end face 861 of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body 86 is immersed in the slurry 60 in the container 62, the chuck member 61 serves as a lid member of the container 62, and the chuck member 61 serves as a contact portion (second elastic body). ) After closing the opening 62c of the container 62 via 66, the slurry 60 is pushed into the first cell end portion 82a of the end face 861 of the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86.

  Thus, when the end face 861 of the honeycomb structure main body 86 held by the chuck member 61 is immersed, the slurry 60 in the container 62 contains the opening 62c, the ceramic honeycomb structure main body 86, the chuck member 61, and the like. The slurry 60 does not overflow from the container 62 at all.

  Therefore, when the so-called slurry 60 is press-fitted by, for example, lowering the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86 relative to the slurry 60, the plugging depth is prevented from becoming uneven (see FIG. 11). The slurry 60 can be pushed into the first cell end portion 82 a of the end face 861 of the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86.

  In the present embodiment described above, the container 62 can push up the slurry 60 accumulated on the side wall 62a, the bottom 62b, and the opening 62c that partitions the opening 62c, and the bottom 62b with respect to the side wall 62a. Elevating drive means for relatively moving up and down. When the opening / closing drive means closes the opening 62c with the chuck member 61, the bottom 62b is relatively lifted to forcibly push the slurry 60 in the container 62 into the first cell end portion 82a of the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86. .

  According to this, the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86 can be lowered relative to the slurry 60 without relatively moving the chuck member 61 and the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86, which may be deteriorated in sealing performance. Therefore, when the slurry 60 is press-fitted and plugged, the slurry 60 can be pushed into the first cell end portion 82a of the end face 861 of the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86 while preventing the plugging depth from becoming uneven. it can.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is limited to this embodiment and is not interpreted and can be applied to various embodiment in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

  (1) For example, in the above-described embodiment, the mask tapes 2 and 102 made of a resin film have been described as means for masking the cell end portion 82b. Not limited to this, any masking material such as a sheet material made of wax, which is attached to the partition wall defining the second cell end by heat or an adhesive, or a material in which wax is embedded in the second cell end. It may be.

  (2) In the present embodiment described above, as a gripping method for gripping the outer periphery of the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86 with the chuck member 61, the expansion means 67, 65, 63b supply pressurized air to the compression sections 65, 63b. By doing so, the elastic body 67 was compressed in the axial direction by the compression parts 65 and 63b. By compressing this elastic body in the axial direction, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67 was contracted, and the outer periphery of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body 86 was gripped by the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 67 whose inner diameter contracted.

  The gripping method is not limited to such a method. As shown in FIG. 15, the gripping method includes an annular air expansion portion 167b that accumulates pressurized air inside the elastic body 167, and supplies the pressurized air to the air expansion portion 167b. Thus, a method using the chuck member 161 that expands the elastic body 167 itself may be used.

  In the example shown in FIG. 15, the elastic body 167 is provided in the chuck main body 163 and is coaxially disposed along the inner periphery of the insertion hole 161 a of the chuck main body 163 made of an annular body. By supplying pressurized air to the air expansion portion 167b, the elastic body 167 is expanded in the radial direction, and the outer periphery of the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86 is gripped by the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 167 whose inner diameter contracts due to expansion. .

  (3) In the case of the chuck member 161 including the elastic body 167 having the air expansion portion 167b inside, the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 167 whose inner diameter is contracted is curved in the axial direction by the expansion of the elastic body 167 itself. It may be formed or may not be formed in a curved surface in the axial direction.

  (4) Here, in the case where the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 167 whose inner diameter is contracted is formed into a curved surface in the axial direction, if the opening 62c of the container 62 is closed with such a chuck member, the curved surface In addition to the volume of the slurry 60 stored in the container 62, the waste volume is likely to vary due to the amount formed in the shape. When it is desired to control the press-fitting depth of the slurry 60 by the amount of the slurry 60 to be filled in the container 62, the accuracy of the press-fitting depth of the slurry 60 is improved by the escape of the slurry 60 to be press-fitted into the waste volume. May decrease.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15, the air expansion part 167b is partitioned by the wall of the elastic body 167, and the wall thickness of the radial wall on the inner peripheral side among the walls partitioning the air expansion part 167b is the axis. It is preferable that it is formed thicker than the directional wall.

  According to this, when air is supplied to the air expansion part 167b, the tensile force due to the expansion acts on both the axial wall and the radial wall on the inner peripheral side due to the expansion inside the air expansion part 167b. Due to the force, the axial wall having a small thickness is easily extended and the radial wall on the inner peripheral side having a large thickness is difficult to extend, so that the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body 167 is not easily curved in the axial direction.

  In the chuck member 61 according to the first embodiment, a compressive force is applied to the elastic body 67 by supplying pressurized air, but a tensile force is not applied, so that the inner periphery of the elastic body 61 is supplied when pressurized air is supplied. The surface is not curved in the axial direction.

  (5) In the present embodiment described above, after the plugging of the slurry 60 is completed, as shown in FIG. 12, the first cell end portion 82a is formed on the outer periphery 863 and the end surface 861 of the ceramic honeycomb structure body 86. It is preferable that a wiping means (hereinafter referred to as a wiping device) 7 for wiping off the remaining slurry 60 without being pushed in is provided. This wiping device 7 automates the conventional wiping operation by hand. The wiping device 7 includes a support base 71 that supports the outer periphery of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body 86 with a roller 71a, and a rotation for wiping off the outer periphery 863 of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body 86 that is rotatably supported by the roller 71a. A first robot hand 72 having a body (hereinafter referred to as a first wiping portion) 73 and a second robot hand 74 having a second wiping portion 75 wiped against the end face 861 are provided.

  The first wiping portion 73 is rotated by the driving force of the electric device (not shown) of the first robot hand 72. The first wiping portion 73 and the second wiping portion 75 always wipe the outer periphery 863 and the end face 861 with a constant wiping pressure. In addition, the wiping automation is achieved while confirming the wiping state by the first wiping unit 73 and the second wiping unit 75 by the image sensor 79 in FIG.

  Further, when wiping of the outer periphery 863 and the end surface 861 of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body 86 is finished, the first robot hand 72 and the second robot hand 74 are driven to operate from the outer peripheral surface 863 and the end surface 861 to the first wiping unit 73, The 2nd wiping part 75 is pulled apart (refer FIG. 13), the 1st wiping part 73 and the 2nd wiping part 75 are thrown into the washing tank 78, and it wash | cleans (refer FIG. 14). Thereby, the wiping surface of the 1st wiping part 73 and the 2nd wiping part 75 becomes reusable.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a gripping device used in an immersion process in which an end face of the honeycomb structure is immersed in a slurry. FIG. A plan view and FIG. 1B are cross-sectional views. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship among a holding device, a honeycomb structure, and a container storing slurry in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a masking process for attaching a mask tape to a honeycomb structure main body in the method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a manufacturing method of the honeycomb structure by a 1st embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view showing a through-hole formation process for opening the 1st cell end part to be plugged. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a divided state of blocks that divide a range in which cell information for forming a through hole is recognized by image processing in the through hole forming step in FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a through hole is formed in a through hole forming step before a plugging process. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a dipping process for dipping the end face of the honeycomb structure in a slurry, which is a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a state where through holes are formed in a through hole forming step is partially enlarged. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a state of an end face into which a slurry is immersed in an immersion process is partially enlarged. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the plugged state of the honeycomb structure is partially enlarged. It is a graph which shows the measurement result of the plugging depth of the honeycomb structure by the 1st embodiment of the present invention. A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to another embodiment, wherein after the end surface of the honeycomb structure is relatively lowered (immersed) with respect to the slurry, the wiping step of wiping off unnecessary slurry on the outer periphery and the end surface of the honeycomb structure It is a schematic diagram which shows. It is one process of the wiping process in FIG. 12, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which wiped off. It is one process of the wiping process in FIG. 12, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which has wash | cleaned the wiping jig which wiping completed. A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure according to another embodiment, wherein a relationship between a gripping device used in an immersion step of immersing an end face of the honeycomb structure in a slurry, a honeycomb structure, and a container storing the slurry It is a typical sectional view shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Mask tape 20 Through-hole 22 Contour position 5 Through-hole formation apparatus 51 Image processing means 511 Camera part 512 Image processing part 52 Heat irradiation means 520 Laser beam (high-density energy beam)
521 Laser emitting means 522 Moving device 53 Control means 6 Dip device (immersion device, plugging device)
60 Slurry 61 Chuck member (gripping device)
62 Container 62a Side wall 62b Bottom 62c Opening 63 Upper mold housing (chuck body, housing)
64 Lower housing (chuck body, housing)
65 Movable part housing (chuck body, housing)
66 Second elastic body (contact portion)
67 Elastic body 8 Honeycomb structure 81 Partition wall 82 Cell end portion 82a First cell end portion 82b Second cell end portion 83 Plugging portion 830 Plugging material 86 Honeycomb structure body 861, 862 End face

Claims (10)

In a gripping device for a molded body for gripping the molded body,
A housing;
An expansion means provided in the housing and expands when supplied with air;
A molded body gripping apparatus, wherein the molded body is gripped by the expansion means. The housing is formed in an annular body;
The inner periphery of the annular body is formed so as to be able to pass through the molded body that is the object to be grasped,
The molded body gripping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the expansion means is provided on the inner peripheral surface. The expansion means includes an elastic body having an annular air expansion portion that accumulates air therein.
The elastic body has a hole arranged coaxially along the inner periphery of the annular body,
3. The molding according to claim 2, wherein the elastic body expands in a radial direction when air is supplied to the air expansion portion, and an outer periphery of the molded body is gripped by the expanded inner peripheral surface of the hole. Body gripping device. The air expansion part is partitioned by an elastic wall,
The grip of the molded body according to claim 3, wherein, of the walls defining the air expansion portion, the thickness of the radial wall on the inner peripheral side of the hole is formed thicker than that of the axial wall. apparatus. The expansion means includes an elastic body having a hole arranged coaxially along an inner periphery of the annular body,
The housing has compression means capable of compressing the elastic body in the axial direction when air is supplied;
When the air is supplied, the expansion means compresses the elastic body in the axial direction by the compression means, the inner diameter of the hole is reduced, and the outer periphery of the molded body is gripped by the reduced inner peripheral surface of the hole. The molded body gripping device according to claim 2, wherein: In manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure in which a large number of cells penetrating in the axial direction are partitioned by partition walls, and the first cell end is plugged with a plugging material in some of the cells.
By immersing the end face in a slurry having a plugging material in a state where the second cell end without the plugging material is closed with a masking material on the end face in the axial direction, the first cell end part In the plugging method of the ceramic honeycomb structure for plugging,
With the holding device for a molded body according to claim 1 to 5, a ceramic honeycomb structure body made of a honeycomb molded body is gripped,
In the slurry stored in the container having an opening at the upper end,
A plugging method for a ceramic honeycomb structure, wherein the end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure body held by the forming body holding device is immersed. In immersing the ceramic honeycomb structure body in the slurry in the container,
The molded body gripping device forms a lid member of the container,
After closing the opening of the container with the gripping device of the molded body,
The plugging method for a ceramic honeycomb structure according to claim 6, wherein the slurry is pushed into the end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body. The container has a side wall that partitions the opening, a bottom, and an elevating drive means that moves the bottom of the container relative to the side wall so as to be able to push up the slurry accumulated on the side of the opening. Prepared,
The elevating drive means includes
When the opening is closed by the gripping device of the molded body, the bottom is relatively raised,
The plugging method for a ceramic honeycomb structure according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the slurry in the container is forcibly pushed into the end portion of the first cell of the main body of the ceramic honeycomb structure. After the press-fitting is completed by pushing the slurry in the container into the first cell end of the end face of the ceramic honeycomb structure body,
9. The ceramic according to claim 8, further comprising a wiping means for wiping the slurry remaining without being pushed into the first cell end portion on the outer periphery of the ceramic honeycomb structure main body and the end surface. A method for plugging a honeycomb structure. The housing has a contact portion that contacts the container;
The ceramic honeycomb structure plugging method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the contact portion is formed of a second elastic body.

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