# US 11,110,628 B2 · Method for producing honeycomb structure

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,110,628 B2
- Document ID: US11110628B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/747,828
- Filed: 2020-01-21
- Published: 2020-07-30
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-24
- Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
- Applicants: Ngk Insulators, Ltd.
- Inventors: Kensuke Okumura; Hirotada Nakamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110628B2

## CPC

- B28B 11/243: {Setting, e.g. drying, dehydrating or firing ceramic articles (B28B11/242 takes precedence)}
- B28B 11/241: {using microwave heating means}
- B28B 11/248: {Supports for drying}
- B28B 13/04: Discharging the shaped articles ({discharging tubular articles after shaping B28B21/90; } conveying systems for ceramic mouldings B65G49/08)
- C04B 35/195: Alkaline earth aluminosilicates, e.g. cordierite {or anorthite}
- C04B 38/0012: {characterised by the material used for sealing or plugging (some of) the channels of the honeycombs}
- F26B 3/347: Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy
- F26B 25/185: {Spacers; Elements for supporting the goods to be dried, i.e. positioned in-between the goods to build a ventilated stack (separators for articles packaged in stacks B65D57/00; manipulating spacers for stacking purposes B65G57/005)}
- C04B 33/30: Drying methods
- C04B 38/0006: {Honeycomb structures (from one or more corrugated sheets by winding or stacking C04B38/0083)}
- C04B 2111/00793: {as filters or diaphragms}
- C04B 2111/0081: {as catalysts or catalyst carriers}
- C04B 2235/606: Drying
- F26B 15/14: the objects or batches of materials being carried by trays or racks {or receptacles, which may be connected to endless chains or belts (trays, racks per se F26B25/18; with vertical movement F26B15/22)}
- F26B 2210/02: Ceramic articles or ceramic semi-finished articles
- B28B: SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (foundry moulding B22C; working stone or stone-like material B28D; shaping of substances in a plastic state, in general B29C; making layered products not composed wholly of these substances B32B)
- C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27)

## Abstract

A method for producing a honeycomb structure including producing an unfired pillar shaped honeycomb body; placing the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb body on a receiving table such that the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb body stands thereon; conveying the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb body placed on the receiving table; drying the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb body after the conveying step, or drying the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb body during the conveying to obtain a honeycomb dried body; and firing the honeycomb dried body to obtain a honeycomb structure. The receiving table includes at least one protrusion. In the honeycomb formed body conveying step, the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb body is conveyed while supporting it by inserting the at least one protrusion of the receiving table into a bottom surface of the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb body placed on the receiving table.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing at least one honeycomb structure, the method comprising:
a honeycomb formed body producing step of producing at least one unfired pillar shaped honeycomb body;
a honeycomb formed body placing step of placing the at least one unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body on a receiving table such that that the at least one unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body stands thereon;
a honeycomb formed body conveying step of conveying the at least one unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body placed on the receiving table;
a honeycomb dried body producing step of drying the at least one unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body conveyed in the honeycomb formed body conveying step, or drying the at least one unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body while conveying it in the honeycomb formed body conveying step to obtain at least one honeycomb dried body; and
a firing step of firing the at least one honeycomb dried body to obtain at least one honeycomb structure,
wherein the receiving table comprises at least one protrusion; and
wherein, in the honeycomb formed body conveying step, the at least one unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body is conveyed while supporting it by inserting the at least one protrusion of the receiving table into a bottom surface of the at least one unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body placed on the receiving table.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are provided at least in front and backward in a conveying direction on the receiving table.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is inserted into the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body placed on the receiving table, in a range of from a center of a bottom face as a base point to positions each separated by 0.4 L, in which L is a length of the bottom face of the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body in the conveying direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion is inserted into the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body placed on the receiving table, in a range of from a center of a bottom face as a base point to positions each separated by 0.15 to 0.4 L, in which L is a length of the bottom face of the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body in the conveying direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a height of from 0.5 to 5% of that of the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body when placed on the receiving table.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a rod shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a cross-sectional area of from 0.04 to 1% of a bottom area of the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body when placed on the receiving table.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 1, wherein the drying in the honeycomb dried body producing step is dielectric drying.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 1, wherein the receiving table comprises a pedestal portion on which the protrusion is provided.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 9, wherein an area of a portion which is on an upper surface of the pedestal portion and is in contact with the bottom surface of the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body is from 40 to 70% of the bottom area of the unfired pillar shaped honeycomb formed body when placed on the receiving table.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method for producing the at least one honeycomb structure according to claim 9, wherein the pedestal portion also serve as an auxiliary electrode for dielectric drying.