US Patent 7588716 Peripheral layer forming method for manufacturing honeycomb structure

A peripheral layer forming apparatus for coating a pillar-shaped member with a peripheral layer. The apparatus includes supporting members configured to sandwich the member from both sides and support the member so that an axis of the member is maintained in a horizontal orientation. A peripheral layer forming head is provided having a squeegee with a face configured to be oriented parallel to the axis. The apparatus is configured to provide the face at a predetermined angle with respect to a virtual face, where the virtual face is defined as a plane that is parallel to the axis of the member and that is tangential to a contact point on a peripheral face of the member where the squeegee is configured to contact the member. The apparatus is configured to maintain the predetermined angle as a peripheral layer is formed on the peripheral face of the member by a movement of at least one of the squeegee and the member.