1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to an automatic wax removing device and an automatic wax removing method using the automatic wax removing device.
2. Description of Related Art
A method for removing wax from lenses for example includes a step of fully immersing the waxed lenses for 5 minutes to 20 minutes at a temperature in a range from 60 centigrade degrees to 80 centigrade degrees. In the step of the above process, pungent and harmful gas will be released.
What is needed, therefore, is an automatic wax removing device and an automatic max removing method to overcome the above-described problems.
Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
The base 100 includes a base plate 102 and a framework 104 arranged on the base plate 102.
The base plate 102 is a substantially rectangular plate. Two openings 102a are separately defined in the base plate 102, and extend almost the lengthwise direction of the base plate 102. One opening 102a receives the heating plate 200 and the other opening 102a receives the cooling plate 300. A wax storage tank 102b is defined in the base plate 102 for storing molten wax. In the present embodiment, the wax storage tank 102b is located between the two openings 102a.
The framework 104 includes four support posts 106 and two beams 108. Each of the four support posts 106 rises vertically from a corner of the base plate 102, and each pair of support posts 106 supports a corresponding beam 108. Each beam 108 is parallel with the width of the base plate 102.
The heating plate 200 is a substantially rectangular plate, and is received in one opening 102a. The heating plate 200 is metallic, and can be heated by an electric heating method. In the present embodiment, the heating plate 200 is parallel with the base plate 102.
The cooling plate 300 is a substantially rectangular plate, and is received in the other opening 102a. The cooling plate 300 is metallic, and can be cooled by a water circulation cooling device (not shown). In the present embodiment, temperature of the cooling plate 300 is kept in a range from 8-10 degrees Celsius, and the cooling plate 300 is also parallel with the base plate 102.
The first actuator 400 is a linear motor, and includes a sliding rail 402 and an elongated sliding member 404 arranged on the sliding rail 402.
The sliding rail 402 is fixed on the framework 104, and the sliding rail 402 is parallel with the base plate 102. In detail, the two ends of the sliding rail 402 are fixed at the centers of the two beams 108, and the lengthwise direction of the sliding rail 402 is parallel with the lengthwise direction of the base plate 102.
The sliding member 404 is perpendicular to the sliding rail 402. A guiding hole 408 is defined in each end of the sliding member 404, and extends along the sliding rail 402. Two symmetrical and lateral guiding grooves 404a are defined back-to-back in the sliding member 404 along the length of the sliding member 404. In the present embodiment, the guiding grooves 404a are U-shaped in section. In other embodiments, the guiding grooves 404a may be V-shaped or trapezoidal in section, for example.
The first actuator 400 also includes two guiding rails 406. The two guiding rails 406 are parallel with the sliding rail 40, and are located at either side of the sliding rail 402. One guiding rail 406 passes through a guiding hole 408, and the opposite ends of one guiding rail 406 are fixed to the corresponding beams 108. The other guiding rail 406 passes through the other guiding hole 408, and the opposite ends of the other guiding rail 406 are fixed to the corresponding beams 108.
The second actuator 500 includes a main body 502 and a rotary shaft 504 arranged on the main body 502. The main body 502 is substantially square, and resembles the letter “U” in section, with an inward-facing flange 502a at the top end of the arms of the “U”. The two inward-facing flanges 502a are slidably received in the sliding grooves 404a, such that the main body 502 can slide along the lengthwise direction of the sliding member 404. A screw hole 502c is defined in the bottom of the main body 502 which faces the inward-facing flange 502a.
The rotary shaft 504 is a threaded rod, and includes a first end 504a and a second end 504b. The first end 504a passes through the screw hole 502c, and is fixed to a stopping block 504c. The stopping block 504c is configured for holding part of the rotary shaft 504 in the main body 502 while allowing the held part of the shaft 504 to rotate in the main body 502. In the present embodiment, the stopping block 504c is a substantially square block, and the stopping block 504c rests over the screw hole 502c. In alternative embodiments, the stopping block 504c may be triangular, pentagonal or round. The second end 504b is fixed to the operation plate 600.
The operation plate 600 is fixed to the second end 504c for picking up a lens stack 20 including a plurality of lenses 22 adhering to each other with wax. In the present embodiment, the operation plate 600 is parallel with the heating plate 200. In other embodiments, the operation plate 600 may be inclined relative to the heating plate 200.
Referring to
If molten wax is positioned on the operation plate 600 in advance, the wax storage tank 102b can be omitted.
The lenses 22 separated from each other can be collected by a lens supporter (not shown) by a robot arm (not shown). The number of manual workers of the automatic wax removing process can thus be reduced. In addition, in the automatic wax removing process, the automatic wax removing device 10 can be sealed off in its own enclosure, any harmful gas released in the wax removing process can thus not harm the health of any worker.
Referring to
In step S10, the automatic wax removing device 10 is provided.
In step S11, the lens stack 20 is positioned on the cooling plate 300. In this step, the heating plate 200 is heated in advance, and the temperature of the cooling plate 300 is kept in a range from 8-10 degrees Celsius. The lens stack 20 includes a plurality of lenses 22 adhered to each other with wax.
In step S12, the operation plate 600 is driven by the first actuator 400 and the second actuator 500 to move towards the wax storage tank 102b and to be dipped in the molten wax in the wax storage tank 102b.
In step S13, the operation plate 600 covered with the molten wax is driven by the first actuator 400 and the second actuator 500 to move towards the lens stack 20 so as to pick up the lens stack 20.
In step 14, the operation plate 600 with the lens stack 20 is driven by the first actuator 400 and the second actuator 500 to move toward the heating plate 200, and the lens stack 20 is made to contact the heating plate 200 with the central axis of the lens stack 20 perpendicular to the heating plate 200, so as to melt the wax on the lens stack 20, thereby enabling the lowest lens 22 of the lens stack 20 to be detached from the lens stack 20.
In step 15, the operation plate 600 with lens stack 20 is lifted and moved along the lengthwise direction of the heating plate 200, so as to leave the detached lens 22 on the heating plate 200
The above steps S14˜S15 can be repeated, such that the lenses 22 of the lens stack 20 are separated one by one and placed on the heating plate 200 along the lengthwise direction of the heating plate 200.
In other embodiments, if molten wax is positioned on the operation plate 600 in advance, step S12 can be omitted.
The individually separated lenses can be removed from the heating plate 200, and collected to the lens supporter by the robot arm. The number of manual workers of the wax removing process can thus be reduced.
While certain embodiments have been described and exemplified above, various other embodiments will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art. The disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described and exemplified but is capable of considerable variation and modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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100144195 | Dec 2011 | TW | national |