Ceramic Honeycomb Centering Mechanism for Precise Post-Processing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing processes for ceramic honeycomb bodies, such as filters and substrates, require precise and accurate centering before post-production processing steps to ensure repeatable and consistent high-quality final products, but existing methods are prone to errors and wear.
Innovation Solution
A centering apparatus with moveable arms and rotatable supports having followers that engage the ware at multiple, symmetrically positioned single points of contact, allowing precise alignment in three degrees of freedom, reducing wear and maintaining accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If existing centering methods are used, then manufacturing process is simpler, but centering precision and repeatability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The centering apparatus is divided into multiple independent moveable arms (first moveable arm, second moveable arm, third moveable arm) that can operate autonomously. Each arm contains its own rotatable support with followers, allowing the system to achieve precise three-dimensional centering through coordinated movement of separate segments rather than a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus employs nested rotational degrees of freedom where rotatable supports are mounted on moveable arms, and followers are mounted on the rotatable supports. This nested structure allows each level to contribute a degree of freedom (translation along arm, rotation of support, positioning of followers), achieving complex three-dimensional centering capability while maintaining modular simplicity at each level.
2Reliability
If existing centering methods are used, then device structure is simpler, but wear and errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus employs dynamic elements including moveable arms that can translate along the ware axis, rotatable supports that can rotate about the ware, and followers that can move radially. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to variations in ware dimensions and maintain optimal contact points throughout the centering process, reducing wear through controlled movement rather than rigid fixed-position contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes geometric parameters during operation - the moveable arms translate to adjust radial position, rotatable supports rotate to orient followers, and the combination of these movements changes the contact point parameters on the ware surface. This parametric control allows precise positioning while distributing wear across multiple contact points and movement sequences.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple rotatable supports with followers are used, then centering accuracy in three degrees of freedom is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each moveable arm assembly serves multiple functions: it provides radial positioning through translation of the arm, angular orientation through rotation of the support, and fine adjustment through movement of the followers. This multi-functionality allows three independent assemblies to collectively provide complete three-degree-of-freedom centering capability, achieving high alignment accuracy while avoiding the need for additional dedicated mechanisms for each degree of freedom.
Data Source
AI summary
Centering apparatuses and methods for precision placement of a product or component, such as a ceramic honeycomb body, prior to a post-production processing steps are provided. In particular, after extrusion of a component or ware, the component or ware oftentimes requires one or more post-production processing steps in order to obtain a final product. The centering apparatuses and methods described herein provide for the precise and accurate centering of the product (or component) prior to performing these post-production processing steps, thereby obtaining repeatable, consistent, high-quality final products.