Ngk Insulators, Inc.

Takashi Miyakawa

Satoshi Sugiyama

Yuji Ueda

Akira Maruyama

Kenji Koide

The present invention provides a cutting method of a ceramic honeycomb formed body for cutting the ceramic honeycomb formed body with a fine line stretched at an appropriate tension substantially at right angles to the direction of throughholes thereof. The method comprises the steps of providing a cutting guide groove running through the outer periphery of the ceramic honeycomb formed body substantially at right angles to the direction of throughholes , and putting a fine line to the cutting guide groove , to cut the ceramic honeycomb formed body only by pressing the fine line against the ceramic honeycomb formed body . By using this cutting method, it is possible to cut a ceramic honeycomb formed body having thin partition walls of under 125 &mgr;m without causing a distortion. The possibility to reduce the cutting frequency of the fine line leads to possibility to improve the cutting efficiency.

Cutting method of ceramic honeycomb formed body

A ceramic shaped body-positioning system which can accurately position even a thin-walled ceramic honeycomb shaped body without occurring deformations, cracks and breakages of the ceramic shaped bodies and which is particularly suitable for positioning odd-shaped products is provided. A positioning system for a ceramic shaped body is used for positioning the ceramic shaped body to accurately convey the ceramic shaped body to the next step. The positioning system comprises a centering table for placing the ceramic shaped body a plurality of chucking unit - each consisting of a chucking body - and a pair of ceramic shaped body-pushing members - and - provided in the chucking body, and a drive unit for moving the chucking unit - toward/away from the ceramic shaped body on the centering table The plurality of chucking units - and - are simultaneously moved toward the ceramic shaped body on the centering table while controlling positions and speeds of the chucking units - and - thereby adjusting the position of the ceramic shaped body on the centering table without giving a shock on the ceramic shaped body.

Ceramic shaped body-positioning system

In order to prevent deformations, cracks and breakages of thin-walled ceramic honeycomb shaped bodies upon conveying them, a system for conveying such ceramic shaped bodies and cradles used for the system are provided. Since, in the first aspect of the present invention, the cradle is lifted up from the first conveyor path - , transferred to the next conveyor path - having a different conveying direction from that of the first one while keeping the ceramic shaped bodies lifted, and then put down on the next conveyor path - when the conveying direction of the cradles on which the ceramic shaped bodies are placed is changed on the way of the conveyor , and since, in the second aspect of the present invention, the conveying speed of the cradles on the conveyor is gradually reducing to stop the cradle on the way of the conveyor , when the cradles on which the ceramic shaped bodies are placed are stopped on the way of the conveyor , the impact on the ceramic shaped bodies can be absorbed in each cases. The cradle consists of an aluminum base , a support portion provided on the base and having a receiving portion formed on a side opposed to the side contacting the base in a shape corresponding to the ceramic shaped body , and a cushioning material provided to cover the supporting member and the receiving portion of the supporting member

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Nagoya, Japan

Takashi Miyakawa