Method for manufacturing a honeycomb-structured object

A method for manufacturing a honeycomb-structured object, the honeycomb-structured object having a plurality of through holes, the plurality of through holes having plugged ends, comprising:

• pressing a plugging material against one end surface of the honeycomb-structured object using an elastic plate;
• wherein the pressing of the plate against the one end surface of the honey-comb structured object fills ends of the through holes with the plugging material;
• and
• after the through holes have been filled with the plugging material, deforming a portion of the elastic plate in the shape of a raised portion that is deformed toward the one end surface of the honeycomb-structured object;
• wherein the deforming of the portion of the elastic plate pulls a peripheral portion of the elastic plate and a peripheral portion of the one end surface of the honey-comb structured object away from each other.

A method for manufacturing a honeycomb-structured object, the honeycomb-structured object having a plurality of through holes, the plurality of through holes having plugged ends, comprising:

• providing a main body portion having a depressed portion and a communication path opening into an inner surface of the depressed portion, and
• an elastic plate arranged so as to cover the depressed portion;
• removing a fluid that is located within the depressed portion via the communication path in order to deform the elastic plate;
• wherein the deformation of the elastic plate forms a depressed portion in the elastic plate that conforms to the shape of the depressed portion of the main body;
• supplying a plugging material into the depressed portion of the elastic plate;
• arranging one end surface of a honeycomb-structured object at a position opposed to the depressed portion of the elastic plate;
• and
• supplying the fluid between the main body portion and the elastic plate via the communication path to eliminate the depressed portion of the elastic plate and to deform a portion in the elastic plate forming a protruding portion in the elastic plate;
• wherein the protruding portion of the elastic plate separates a portion of the plate from the one end surface of the honeycomb-structured object.