1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains generally to the field of lens fabrication and more particularly to the removal of a lens from a lens retaining block.
2. Description of Prior Art
The fabrication of lenses includes processing steps to generate both the surfaces of the lenses so as to impart specific optical properties to the lens, and also to accomplish the peripheral alteration, or edging, of the lenses. The first step in altering a lens is typically the generation of a surface on a partially finished lens blank. The second step in processing the lens is normally the peripheral alteration of the shape of the surfaced lens. The lens blanks and surfaced lenses may be, for example, spherical, cylindrical, optical flats, aspherical, or of multiple focal lengths. Once the lenses have been finished they may be put to a variety of uses such as spectacle lenses, camera lenses, or lenses used in instrumentation.
Edging the lens to obtain a desired shape involves a series of steps. Typically the optical center and, optionally the cylinder axis, of the lens is located and marked on a face. In those instances when the lens to be edged contains an asymmetric surface it is necessary that the optical center and cylinder axis of the lens be located and marked. Next, the lens is attached to a lens block by some type of holding mechanism, such as an adhesive, so that the optical center, and optionally the cylinder axis, of the lens are aligned with the center point and cylinder axis of the block. The desired peripheral shape is then imparted to the lens. During edging the temperature of the lens rises. The lens is often exposed to the steady flow of a coolant in order to prevent the lens from cracking.
Some means must be provided to attach the lens blank to the edging block with a bond that will not fail during alteration yet is possible to break once alteration is complete. In practice, the lens may be removed from the block by a variety of methods. For example, the lens may be pried from the block. However, this method has the disadvantage that the lens is often chipped, scratched, or otherwise damaged by the act of prying. This method can be facilitated by immersing the lens and block in hot water for a short period of time. However, some plastic lens materials cannot withstand such temperatures.
Another method of lens removal is the use of a fluid that is forced against the surface of a blocking pad that is adhered to the lens, thereby reducing the force holding the pad to the lens or block. Approximately two atmospheres of fluid gauge pressure are sufficient to reduce the holding force such that the lens may be easily separated from the block. The fluid used to achieve removal should comprise a gas or liquid that is nontoxic and which will be inert with respect to the lens block, the blocking pad, and the lens. Representative examples of useful gases for pneumatic lens removal include air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium, and fluorocarbon gases. Representative examples of useful liquids for hydraulic lens removal include water, hydraulic oils, mineral oils and fluorocarbon liquids.
Another method of lens removal employs a tab that is pulled in the direction of the plane of the blocking pad so as to cause a reduction in the thickness of the pad and a progressive disengagement of the pad from the interface between lens and block. Removal may also be accomplished by placing the combination of lens, blocking pad and block into a cavity of the mounting block and then rotating the lens and the block in opposite directions with respect to each other, thereby causing them to separate. A specially designed hand tool may also be provided to accomplish this same result. The tool is not as wide as the mounting block and facilitates removal by making it easier to grasp the edge of the lens.
The latter method of lens removal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,833 entitled METHOD FOR THE ALTERATION OF A LENS AND AN ADHESIVE LENS BLOCKING PAD USED THEREIN, issued to Johnson on Jun. 15, 1976: The problem repeatedly grasp pliers or a similar tool to remove the lens. Some level of skill is required to perform the lens removal operation rapidly while avoiding damage to the lens. After a period of time in such an occupation, the operator is likely to suffer various forms of fatigue and injury including, for example, carpal tunnel syndrome.
A final issue to be faced when removing a lens from an edging block is the relatively recent development and use of hydrophobic and oleo phobic coatings, which cause the surface of coated lens to have a relatively low coefficient of friction. The relatively slick frictionless lens surface required the development of adhesive pads having relatively greater adhesion which caused the aforementioned methods of lens removal to be generally less effective. In particular, the conventional methods of lens deblocking resulted in crazing, pitting or other scarring and damage to the lens, or additional treatment step to remove adhesive residue from the lens.
The current invention is an improved apparatus and method for the removal of a lens from an edging block. The present invention retains the blocked lens by means of a collet chuck or clamp. The blocked lens resides on a pad which supports the lens on the edging block while protecting the lens from abrasion or damage from the block itself. A pair of opposed slidable lens clamps or arms are pneumatically advanced to grip the blocked lens along portions of the lens edge. Once the lens is secured by the lens clamp, the collet chuck is rotated approximately forty five degrees, thereby breaking the bond between the lens and the edging block. The lens clamps may then be retracted away from the lens edges and the lens may be manually removed from the pad.
The surface area of the combined edging block and pad is typically on the order of fifty percent of the total lens surface area. Thus when the lens is freed from the pad by the twisting motion of the collet, the lens is still sufficiently supported by the pad, which itself still rests on the edging block, to prevent the lens from falling off of the pedestal formed by the collet. After the lens is removed, the pad may be lifted from the edging block and then the edging block may be removed from the collet.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device includes a pair of collet chucks or clamps spaced apart along a line that is substantially parallel to a line formed by the gripping edges of the lens clamps. In this embodiment, a blocked lens is placed on each collet and both lenses are gripped simultaneously by the opposed jaws of the lens clamps. The collets are rotated simultaneously by means of a manually operated switch, thereby freeing each lens from its respective pad. When the lens clamps are retracted, each lens may be easily lifted from its respective pad. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of the invention.
Referring to
As best seen in
In a preferred embodiment the system 1 is pneumatically powered with air being introduced at inlet 14 of regulator assembly 17, which also includes a regulating valve 15, an air filter 18 and an air pressure indicator 16. Several controls are accessible to the operator of the system 1, including a first toggle switch 19 that causes the edging block clamps 11 and 13 to grip or release an edging block that may be placed upon them by moving jaws 31-33 in the directions indicated by the arrows 48, 49 and 50, respectively.
As seen in
Referring also to
As best seen in
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A pillow block 71 is affixed to a slide rail 75. Feather shafts 66 and 67 pass through a pillow block 71 and permit the assembly of the pillow block 71 and the slide rail 75 to move longitudinally along the feather shafts 66 and 67. A shaft end support block 72 is mounted so as to serve as a stop for the pillow block 71 and includes shaft passageways 73 and 74. Mounted on the slide rail 75 is an air cylinder 76 which receives pressurized air, via toggle valves 19 and 20, from the pressure regulator assemblies 17 and 68 affixed to the base plate 61 by means of a regulator mounting plate 69 which is also supported by standoff 70. The air cylinder 76 is linked to an arm pusher 77, the arm pusher being affixed to the arm 5 along indentation 79. A guide rail 78 constrains movement of the arm pusher 77 along a line that is parallel to the shafts 66 and 67 as well as the rectangular aperture 3, thereby causing the arm 5 to be urged longitudinally along a line defined by the path of the guide rail 78 whenever the air cylinder 76 is energized.
In a preferred embodiment the air cylinder or pneumatic piston 76 is a Bimba FS-091.25 air cylinder including a rod 87 having a 1.25 inch stroke length and which is marketed by the Bimba Manufacturing Company located in Monee, Ill. A second air cylinder 80 is mounted on a second pillow block 81, the second pillow block 81 also being slidably mounted on shafts 66 and 67. The second air cylinder 80 including rod 86 is coupled to the arm 4 such that operation of the first toggle valve 19 causes each air cylinder 76 and 80 to simultaneously advance the arms 4 and 5, respectively, toward the opposing arm and thereby grip the lens 51 between the opposed arms 4 and 5. The cylinders 76 and 80 exert substantially horizontal and substantially equal forces, with variations in the amount of individual force extended by each individual cylinder being balanced mote precisely by the independent motion of each cylinder 76 and 80 which are slidably mounted on the pillow blocks 71 and 81 respectively. The pressurized air used to operate the air cylinders 76 and 80 enters the toggle valve 19 via connection 84, the actual air hoses employed being omitted from the figures for the sake of clarity.
Once the lens 51 is firmly secured between the arms 4 and 5, an additional air cylinder 82 is employed to impart a twisting motion to the edging block clamps 11 and 13. In a preferred embodiment, the edging block clamps 11 and 13 are mounted on rotary bases 83 and 89, respectively. As best seen in
The collet closer 63 is rotatably secured to the base plate 61 by means of a bearing washer 94 and a shim 95, both of which surround a spindle 96. A cam arm 98 is rigidly secured around the spindle 96 between the shim 95 and a cap 97. Extending from an end region of the cam arm is a shaft 99 that is rotatably retained within the orifice 93. Activating the push button 21 causes the cam push block 91 to advance in the direction of arrow 100 until the block 91 is pre vented from further motion in the direction of arrow 100 by the presence of the stop block 101. The motion of the cam push block 91 causes shaft 99 to also move in the direction of arrow 100 and thereby cause the collet closer 63 to rotate generally in the direction of arrow 102.
Referring also to
The push button 21 is then pressed causing the cam push block 91 to impart rotation to the block clamps 11 and 13, thereby creating the geometry depicted in
By returning the toggle switch 19 to the position shown in
The foregoing improvements embodied in the present invention are by way of example only. Those skilled in the materials processing field will appreciate that the foregoing features may be modified as appropriate for various specific applications without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, the item to be loosened due to the twisting motion of the block clamps 11 and 13 may be some device or element other than a lens 51. Further, the bond that is broken between the edging blocks 22 and die pad 52 may be some linkage other wan an adhesive, such as a mechanical, electrical or residual magnetic attraction or force.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3962833 | Johnson | Jun 1976 | A |
7749051 | Zaiser | Jul 2010 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20100115752 A1 | May 2010 | US |