Honeycomb Body Holding Apparatus with Parallel Rollers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional holding tools for honeycomb structured bodies often result in tilted orientations during transportation, leading to potential falls and damage due to improper alignment, making it difficult to correct the orientation effectively.

Innovation Solution

A holding apparatus with supporting rollers in a predetermined positional relationship, including a first and second holding unit with parallel rotation shafts, and a mechanism allowing for adjustment and elastic contact to securely hold and correct the orientation of honeycomb structured bodies during transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional holding tool with cushioning material is used to transport the honeycomb structured body, then the holding process can be performed, but the honeycomb structured body is held in a tilted orientation causing corner portions to contact the mount face and resulting in chippings and cracks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding processVSAvoidchippings and cracks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holding tool is divided into multiple holding members (first and second holding members) that can independently contact different portions of the honeycomb structured body. This segmentation allows the tool to apply holding forces at multiple points, preventing tilted orientation and corner contact with the mount face, thereby avoiding chippings and cracks while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the honeycomb structured body is held in a tilted orientation during transportation, then the holding process is simplified, but the body may fall in the middle of transportation or cause damage upon placement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding processVSAvoidtransportation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different holding members are designed with different contact characteristics - some contact end faces while others contact side faces of the honeycomb structured body. This local differentiation in contact quality ensures stable transportation by distributing holding forces appropriately, preventing both tilted orientation and potential falls, while maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a simple pinching mechanism is used to hold the container, then the device structure is simplified, but it is difficult to correct the orientation to an appropriate orientation when held

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding mechanism structureVSAvoidorientation correction
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The holding members are designed to be movable relative to each other, allowing dynamic adjustment during the holding process. This dynamic capability enables orientation correction by allowing the holding members to adapt their positions and angles, achieving appropriate orientation without requiring complex pre-adjustment mechanisms, thus maintaining relatively simple device structure while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus effectively prevents falls and damages by naturally correcting the orientation of honeycomb structured bodies, enhancing the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing processes by ensuring secure and precise handling.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the above-mentioned first holding unit and the above-mentioned second holding unit has a coupling member that can expand and shrink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP1862424B1Holding apparatus and method for manufacturing honeycomb structured body
Publication Date: 2008.09.10 IBIDEN CO LTD
  • EP1862424B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP1862424B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1862424B1 patent drawingFigure 4(a)~4(b)

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a holding apparatus (10) that can hold a honeycomb structured body (130) in an appropriate orientation, and easily transport it to a predetermined position to be mounted thereon, and the holding apparatus (10) includes: a first holding unit (12) including at least two supporting rollers (15a) with rotation shafts (13a) being made in parallel with each other; a second holding unit (14) including at least one supporting roller (15b) opposite to the supporting rollers (15a) of the first holding unit (12); and at least one holding mechanism (16) having the first holding unit (12) and the second holding unit (14), wherein the rotation shafts (13a) of the supporting rollers (15a) of the first holding unit (12) and the rotation shaft (13b) of the supporting roller (15b) of the second holding unit (14) are made in parallel with each other, and by moving at least one of the first holding unit (12) and the second holding unit (14), an object (130) to be held is held between the first holding unit (12) and the second holding unit (14) by using the supporting rollers (15a,15b).