Patent ID: 7632452

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, said method comprising: forming a plurality of honeycomb molded bodies having a plurality of cells longitudinally placed in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween by molding a ceramic raw material; carrying the plurality of honeycomb molded bodies into a degreasing furnace by using a degreasing furnace loading apparatus, wherein the degreasing furnace loading apparatus comprises: a molded body moving mechanism comprising an arm capable of moving; and a transporting table that transports a degreasing jig for mounting the plurality of honeycomb molded bodies thereon to the degreasing furnace, wherein said molded body moving mechanism includes a plurality of suction members and suction plates having suction holes at two positions; a driving device comprising a plurality of hooking portions which are formed on the two ends of each of said suction members; and a plurality of binding rings, wherein a spring is interposed between said suction member and said suction plate, adjacent two of said hooking portions is formed into one set, and said binding ring is hooked on said hooking portions for each set, degreasing the plurality of honeycomb molded bodies in the degreasing furnace; and firing the degreased honeycomb molded bodies so that a honeycomb structure comprising at least a single piece of a honeycomb fired body is manufactured, wherein the carrying of the plurality of honeycomb molded bodies into a degreasing furnace includes: suction-holding the plurality of honeycomb molded bodies by said plurality of suction members and suction plates having suction holes at two positions; adjusting intervals between each of said suction plates equal to one another with the plurality of honeycomb molded bodies by said driving device; moving said arm above said degreasing jig; placing the plurality of honeycomb molded bodies simultaneously on the degreasing jig by suspending said suction-holding, each of said plurality of honeycomb molded bodies being placed to have predetermined equal intervals therebetween; and transporting the degreasing jig into the degreasing furnace using the transporting table.