Degreasing jig assembling apparatus, degreasing jig disassembling apparatus, degreasing jig circulating apparatus, method for degreasing ceramic molded body, and method for manufacturing honeycomb structured body

Abstract

A degreasing jig assembling apparatus includes a robot arm and a table or a conveyor on which a degreasing jig including a bottom plate and a cover member is placed. A ceramic molded body is mounted on the degreasing jig upon degreasing the ceramic molded body. The ceramic molded body is mounted on the degreasing jig on the table or the conveyor. The degreasing jig assembling apparatus further includes a molding body mounting mechanism and a cover member. The molding body mounting mechanism mounts the ceramic molded body at a predetermined position on the bottom plate placed on the table or the conveyor by using the robot arm. The cover member attaching mechanism attaches the cover member to the bottom plate in a manner so as to cover the ceramic molded body mounted on the bottom plate.

1 . A degreasing jig assembling apparatus comprising
 a robot arm; and   a table or a conveyor on which a degreasing jig comprising a bottom plate and a cover member is placed, a ceramic molded body being mounted on said degreasing jig upon degreasing the ceramic molded body,   said ceramic molded body being mounted on said degreasing jig on said table or said conveyor,   wherein   the degreasing jig assembling apparatus further comprising:   a molding body mounting mechanism that mounts the ceramic molded body at a predetermined position on said bottom plate placed on said table or said conveyor by using said robot arm; and   a cover member attaching mechanism that attaches said cover member to said bottom plate in a manner so as to cover the ceramic molded body mounted on said bottom plate.   
   
   
       2 . The degreasing jig assembling apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   said conveyor moves intermittently, and upon stopping of said conveyor, said conveyor shifts from a moving state at a moving speed of about 1.5 m/min or less to a stopped state.   
   
   
       3 . The degreasing jig assembling apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   said table is a rotation table.   
   
   
       4 . The degreasing jig assembling apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a suction mechanism.   
   
   
       5 . The degreasing jig assembling apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a cushioning member at a contact portion with said ceramic molded body.   
   
   
       6 . The degreasing jig assembling apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   said conveyor is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       7 . A degreasing jig disassembling apparatus comprising:
 a robot arm; and   a table or a conveyor on which a degreasing jig comprising a bottom plate and a cover member is placed, a ceramic molded body being mounted on said degreasing jig upon degreasing the ceramic molded body,   the degreasing jig on which said ceramic molded body is mounted being disassembled on said table or said conveyor,   wherein   the degreasing jig disassembling apparatus further comprising   a cover member detaching mechanism that detaches said cover member attached in a manner so as to cover said ceramic molded body mounted on said bottom plate placed on said table or said conveyor, by using said robot arm.   
   
   
       8 . The degreasing jig disassembling apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein   said conveyor moves intermittently, and upon stopping of said conveyor, said conveyor shifts from a moving state at a moving speed of about 1.5 m/min or less to a stopped state.   
   
   
       9 . The degreasing jig disassembling apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein   said table is a rotation table.   
   
   
       10 . The degreasing jig disassembling apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a suction mechanism.   
   
   
       11 . The degreasing jig disassembling apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a cushioning member at a contact portion with said ceramic molded body.   
   
   
       12 . The degreasing jig disassembling apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein   said conveyor is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       13 . A degreasing jig circulating apparatus comprising:
 a degreasing jig assembling apparatus comprising a robot arm, and a table or a conveyor on which a degreasing jig comprising a bottom plate and a cover member is placed, a ceramic molded body being mounted on said degreasing jig upon degreasing the ceramic molded body, said ceramic molded body being mounted on said degreasing jig on said table or said conveyor;   a degreasing furnace that degreases the ceramic molded body mounted on the degreasing jig;   a degreasing jig disassembling apparatus comprising a robot arm, and a table or a conveyor on which said degreasing jig is placed, the degreasing jig on which said ceramic molded body is mounted being disassembled on said table or said conveyor;   a cover member transporting conveyor that transports the cover member that has been detached by said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus to said degreasing jig assembling apparatus; and   a bottom plate transporting conveyor that transports the bottom plate on which said ceramic molded body is mounted, with said cover member being detached,   wherein   said degreasing jig assembling apparatus comprising:   a molding body mounting mechanism that mounts the ceramic molded body at a predetermined position on said bottom plate placed on said table or said conveyor by using said robot arm;   a cover member attaching mechanism that attaches said cover member to said bottom plate in a manner so as to cover the ceramic molded body mounted on said bottom plate; and   a jig delivering mechanism that delivers the degreasing jig on which said ceramic molded body is mounted to said degreasing furnace,   said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus comprising:   a jig receiving mechanism that receives the degreasing jig on which said ceramic molded body is mounted from said degreasing furnace;   a cover member detaching mechanism that detaches said cover member attached in a manner so as to cover said ceramic molded body mounted on said bottom plate placed on said table or said conveyor, by using said robot arm; and   a bottom plate delivering mechanism that delivers the bottom plate on which said ceramic molded body is mounted, with said cover member being detached, to said bottom plate transporting conveyor.   
   
   
       14 . The degreasing jig circulating apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein   said conveyor in said degreasing jig assembling apparatus and/or said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus moves intermittently, and upon stopping of said conveyor, said conveyor shifts from a moving state at a moving speed of about 1.5 m/min or less to a stopped state.   
   
   
       15 . The degreasing jig circulating apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein   said table is a rotation table.   
   
   
       16 . The degreasing jig circulating apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a suction mechanism.   
   
   
       17 . The degreasing jig circulating apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a cushioning member at a contact portion with said ceramic molded body.   
   
   
       18 . The degreasing jig circulating apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein   the conveyor used in said degreasing jig assembling apparatus is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       19 . The degreasing jig circulating apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein   the conveyor used in said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       20 . The degreasing jig circulating apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein   said cover member transporting conveyor is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       21 . The degreasing jig circulating apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein   said degreasing furnace is provided with a belt conveyor, chain conveyor or a roller conveyor.   
   
   
       22 . A method for degreasing a ceramic molded body comprising
 degreasing the ceramic molded body by passing a degreasing jig on which the ceramic molded body is mounted through inside of a degreasing furnace, using a degreasing jig circulating apparatus,   said degreasing jig circulating apparatus comprising:   a degreasing jig assembling apparatus comprising a robot arm, and a table or a conveyor on which the degreasing jig comprising a bottom plate and a cover member is placed, the ceramic molded body being mounted on said degreasing jig upon degreasing the ceramic molded body, said ceramic molded body being mounted on said degreasing jig on said table or said conveyor;   the degreasing furnace that degreases the ceramic molded body mounted on the degreasing jig;   a degreasing jig disassembling apparatus comprising a robot arm, and a table or a conveyor on which said degreasing jig is placed, the degreasing jig on which said ceramic molded body is mounted being disassembled on said table or said conveyor;   a cover member transporting conveyor that transports the cover member that has been detached by said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus to said degreasing jig assembling apparatus; and   a bottom plate transporting conveyor that transports the bottom plate on which said ceramic molded body is mounted, with said cover member being detached,   wherein   said degreasing jig assembling apparatus comprising:   a molding body mounting mechanism that mounts the ceramic molded body at a predetermined position on said bottom plate placed on said table or said conveyor by using said robot arm;   a cover member attaching mechanism that attaches said cover member to said bottom plate in a manner so as to cover the ceramic molded body mounted on said bottom plate; and   a jig delivering mechanism that delivers the degreasing jig on which said ceramic molded body is mounted to said degreasing furnace,   said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus comprising:   a jig receiving mechanism that receives the degreasing jig on which said ceramic molded body is mounted from said degreasing furnace;   a cover member detaching mechanism that detaches said cover member attached in a manner so as to cover said ceramic molded body mounted on said bottom plate placed on said table or said conveyor, by using said robot arm; and   a bottom plate delivering mechanism that delivers the bottom plate on which said ceramic molded body is mounted, with said cover member being detached, to said bottom plate transporting conveyor.   
   
   
       23 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said conveyor in said degreasing jig assembling apparatus and/or said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus moves intermittently, and upon stopping of said conveyor, said conveyor shifts from a moving state at a moving speed of about 1.5 m/min or less to a stopped state.   
   
   
       24 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said bottom plate is also used as a firing jig.   
   
   
       25 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said table is a rotation table.   
   
   
       26 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a suction mechanism.   
   
   
       27 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a cushioning member at a contact portion with said ceramic molded body.   
   
   
       28 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   the conveyor used in said degreasing jig assembling apparatus is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       29 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   the conveyor used in said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       30 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said cover member transporting conveyor is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       31 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said degreasing furnace is provided with a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor or a roller conveyor.   
   
   
       32 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said cover member comprises a net-shaped member or a plate-shaped member having a vent.   
   
   
       33 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said cover member comprises a net-shaped member formed by a flat net, a knitted net, a sintered metal net or metal fibers.   
   
   
       34 . The method for degreasing a ceramic molded body according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein   said cover member is provided with a supporting member,   a through hole for fitting said supporting member thereto is formed at said bottom plate, and   said supporting member is fitted to said through hole so that the cover member is attached to the bottom plate.   
   
   
       35 . A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body comprising a honeycomb fired body, including:
 producing a pillar-shaped honeycomb molded body having a large number of cells longitudinally placed in parallel with one another with a cell wall therebetween by molding a ceramic material,   degreasing the honeycomb molded body mounted on a degreasing jig; and   firing the degreased honeycomb molded body to manufacture a honeycomb fired body,   wherein   said degreasing of the honeycomb molded body is carried out by using a degreasing jig circulating apparatus, said degreasing jig circulating apparatus comprising:   a degreasing jig assembling apparatus comprising a robot arm, and a table or a conveyor on which a degreasing jig comprising a bottom plate and a cover member is placed, a honeycomb molded body being mounted on said degreasing jig upon degreasing the honeycomb molded body, said honeycomb molded body being mounted on said degreasing jig on said table or said conveyor;   a degreasing furnace that degreases the honeycomb molded body mounted on the degreasing jig;   a degreasing jig disassembling apparatus comprising a robot arm, and a table or a conveyor on which said degreasing jig is placed, the degreasing jig on which said honeycomb molded body is mounted being disassembled on said table or said conveyor;   a cover member transporting conveyor that transports the cover member that has been detached by said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus to said degreasing jig assembling apparatus; and   a bottom plate transporting conveyor that transports the bottom plate on which said honeycomb molded body is mounted, with said cover member being detached,   said degreasing jig assembling apparatus comprising:   a molding body mounting mechanism that mounts the honeycomb molded body at a predetermined position on said bottom plate placed on said table or said conveyor by using said robot arm;   a cover member attaching mechanism that attaches said cover member to said bottom plate in a manner so as to cover the honeycomb molded body mounted on said bottom plate; and   a jig delivering mechanism that delivers the degreasing jig on which said honeycomb molded body is mounted to said degreasing furnace,   said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus comprising:   a jig receiving mechanism that receives the degreasing jig on which said honeycomb molded body is mounted from said degreasing furnace;   a cover member detaching mechanism that detaches said cover member attached in a manner so as to cover said honeycomb molded body mounted on said bottom plate placed on said table or said conveyor, by using said robot arm; and   a bottom plate delivering mechanism that delivers the bottom plate on which said honeycomb molded body is mounted, with said cover member being detached, to said bottom plate transporting conveyor.   
   
   
       36 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said conveyor in said degreasing jig assembling apparatus and/or said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus moves intermittently, and upon stopping of said conveyor, the conveyor shifts from a moving state at a moving speed of about 1.5 m/min or less to a stopped state.   
   
   
       37 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said bottom plate is also used as a firing jig.   
   
   
       38 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said bottom plate transporting conveyor transports the bottom plate on which said honeycomb molded body is mounted, with said cover member being detached, to the firing of the honeycomb molded body.   
   
   
       39 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said table is a rotation table.   
   
   
       40 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a suction mechanism.   
   
   
       41 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said robot arm is provided with a cushioning member at a contact portion with said honeycomb molded body.   
   
   
       42 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   the conveyor used in said degreasing jig assembling apparatus is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       43 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   the conveyor used in said degreasing jig disassembling apparatus is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       44 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said cover member transporting conveyor is a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or a pallet conveyor.   
   
   
       45 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said degreasing furnace is provided with a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor or a roller conveyor.   
   
   
       46 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said cover member comprises a net-shaped member or a plate-shaped member having a vent.   
   
   
       47 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said cover member comprises a net-shaped member formed by a flat net, a knitted net, sintered metal net or metal fibers.   
   
   
       48 . The method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein   said cover member is provided with a supporting member,   a through hole for fitting said supporting member thereto is formed at said bottom plate, and   said supporting member is fitted to said through hole so that the cover member is attached to the bottom plate.