Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6648738
-
Patent Number
6,648,738
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, January 30, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 18, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 451 254
- 451 255
- 451 256
- 451 449
- 451 450
- 451 41
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
Disclosed is a grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus. The grinding fluid supply device includes first grinding fluid supply means for supplying a grinding fluid in a tangent direction of a circular grinding wheel, which has a grinding surface formed on its circumferential surface, with an interval above a grinding surface and allows an upper portion and a rear side portion of the grinding surface to be covered with a curtain of the grinding fluid spaced from the grinding wheel when a processed lens is subjected to a grind processing with the grinding surface of the grinding wheel by rotatively driving the grinding wheel around an axis; and second grinding fluid supply means for insufflating the grinding fluid to the grinding surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a lens grinding apparatus for grinding an unprocessed eyeglass lens with a grinding wheel based on lens shape data, particularly to a grinding fluid supply apparatus of the lens grinding apparatus for supplying grind fluid to the eyeglass lens or the grinding wheel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9(1997)-225828, a lens grinding apparatus has been heretofore known, which grinds an unprocessed eyeglass lens as a material to be ground while supplying grinding fluid to a convex surface (font surface) or a concave surface (rear surface) of the eyeglass lens.
As shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 60(1985)-227223, 61(1986)-8273, 3(1991)-202274, and 5(1993)-31669, a grinding apparatus for an optical lens or the like has been known, in which grinding fluid is supplied to a contact position of a grinding wheel and an optical lens as a material to be ground from a tangent direction of the grinding surface of the grinding wheel.
However, in the above-described lens grinding apparatus, in some cases, the grinding fluid does not sufficiently spread over each of the eyeglass lens and the grinding surface of the grinding wheel because the grinding fluid is supplied to each of the convex (front) and the concave (rear) surfaces of the eyeglass lens.
In the grinding apparatus for an optical lens or the like, when the grinding apparatus is designed so that the grinding fluid directly lashes the grinding wheel, a cooling effect of eliminating frictional heat accompanied with the grinding can be sufficiently obtained, but the grinding fluid splashes with rotation of the grinding wheel and the optical lens as a material to be ground.
Particularly, in the grinding of the eyeglass lens or the like, the grinding fluid sometimes does not sufficiently spread over each of the eyeglass lens or the like and the grinding wheel because of a slight dislocation in a tangent direction between the grinding wheel and the eyeglass lens or the like as a material to be ground, and a shortage of the grinding fluid may occur. In other words, it is difficult to cope with a shift of a processing point of the grinding wheel caused by a difference in the finished shape (lens shape) of the eyeglass lens or the like, namely, a supply of the grinding fluid to such shifted processing point is difficult,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem and provide a grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus, in which, even when the grinding fluid is allowed to directly lash the grinding wheel, splashing of the grinding fluid can be prevented, and the sufficient grinding fluid can be supplied to both of the eyeglass lens which is a material to be ground and the grinding surface of the grinding wheel.
A second object of the present invention is to solve the problem that, particularly in the grinding of the eyeglass lens as a material to be ground or the like, the grind fluid sometimes does not sufficiently spread over each of the eyeglass lens or the like and the grinding wheel because of a slight dislocation in a tangent direction between the grinding wheel and the eyeglass lens or the like, thus leading to a shortage of the grinding fluid and to provide a grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus, in which, even when the processing point of the grinding wheel is moved because of the difference in the finished shape (lens shape) of the eyeglass lens or the like, the grinding fluid can be supplied while following the moved processing point.
In order to achieve the objects, the grind fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to the present invention comprise first grinding fluid supply means for supplying a grinding fluid in a tangent direction of a circular grinding wheel, which has a grinding surface formed on its circumferential surface, with an interval above a grinding surface and allows an upper portion and a rear side portion of the grinding surface to be covered with a curtain of the grinding fluid spaced from the grinding wheel when a processed lens is subjected to a grind processing with the grinding surface of the grinding wheel by rotatively driving the grinding wheel around an axis; and second grinding fluid supply means for insufflating the grinding fluid to the grinding surface.
Herein, the first and the second grinding fluid supply means are integrally provided.
Moreover, the first grinding fluid supply means discharges the grinding fluid in an arc shape along the grinding surface.
Moreover, the second grinding fluid supply means insufflates the grinding fluid to the grinding surface from a normal direction.
Moreover, a width of the grinding fluid discharged from the first grinding fluid supply means is larger than that of the grinding fluid discharged from the second grinding fluid supply means.
Moreover, a width of the grinding fluid discharged from the second grinding fluid supply means is made approximately equal to that of the grinding surface or larger than that of the grinding surface.
Furthermore, third grinding fluid supply means is provided at a lower edge portion of a rear wall of a processing chamber where the grinding wheel is disposed. The third grinding fluid supply means discharges a grinding fluid to a bottom wall in a width direction of the bottom wall of the processing chamber and flows the discharged grinding fluid to the grinding wheel side along the bottom wall.
Still furthermore, the third grinding fluid supply means is a grinding fluid discharge nozzle provided at a center of the rear wall in a transverse direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an explanatory view showing a relation between a lens grinding apparatus provided with a layout display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a frame shape measuring apparatus.
FIGS. 2A and 2B
show the lens grinding apparatuses according to the embodiment of the present invention, wherein
FIG. 2A
is a perspective view thereof when a cover is closed; and
FIG. 2B
is a perspective view thereof when the cover is open.
FIGS. 3A and 3B
show the lens grinding apparatuses according to the embodiment of the present invention:
FIG. 3A
being a plan view thereof when the cover is closed; and
FIG. 3B
being a plan view thereof when the cover is open.
FIGS. 4A and 4B
show the lens grinding apparatuses according to the embodiment of the present invention:
FIG. 4A
being an enlarged explanatory view of a first operation panel; and
FIG. 4B
being a front view of a liquid crystal display.
FIGS. 5A and 5B
show the lens grinding apparatuses according to the embodiment of the present invention:
FIG. 5A
being a perspective view of a main processing portion of a processing chamber; and
FIG. 5B
being a sectional view of a cover plate of FIG.
5
A.
FIG. 6
is a schematic sectional view taken along the line A—A of FIG.
5
A.
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of a drive system including the constitution in FIG.
5
A.
FIG. 8
is a perspective view from behind of a carriage for holding lens shafts, a base, and the like in FIG.
7
.
FIG. 9
is a side view showing a processing pressure adjusting mechanism and a shaft-to-shaft distance adjusting mechanism in FIG.
7
.
FIG. 10
is an explanatory view of the processing pressure adjusting mechanism in FIG.
9
.
FIG. 11
is a control circuit diagram of the lens grinding apparatus shown in
FIG. 1
to FIG.
9
.
FIG. 12
is a time chart for explaining a control of the control circuit of FIG.
11
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[Constitution]
In
FIG. 1
, reference numeral
1
denotes a frame shape measuring apparatus (lens shape data measuring apparatus), which reads out lens shape information (θi, ρi) as lens shape data from a lens frame shape of an eyeglass frame F, a template thereof, a lens model, or the like. Reference numeral
2
denotes a lens grinding apparatus (lens grinder), which grinds a natural lens or the like to make an eyeglass lens ML based on the lens shape data of the eyeglass frame inputted by transmission from the frame shape measuring apparatus or the like. Note that a publicly known frame shape measuring apparatus can be used as the frame shape measuring apparatus
1
, and explanation of a detailed constitution thereof, data measuring method, or the like will be omitted.
<Lens Grinding Apparatus
2
>
As shown in
FIGS. 1
to
3
B, on an upper portion of the lens grinding apparatus
2
, an upper surface (slant surface)
3
a
slanted downward to the front side of an apparatus unit
3
is provided, and a processing chamber
4
opening at the front side portion (lower portion) of the upper surface
3
a
is formed. The processing chamber
4
is opened and closed with a cover
5
which is attached to the apparatus unit
3
so as to be obliquely slid up and down.
On the upper surface
3
a
of the apparatus unit
3
, provided are an operation panel
6
positioned on a side of the processing chamber
4
; an operation panel
7
positioned behind an upper opening of the processing chamber
4
; and a liquid crystal display device
8
positioned behind a lower portion of the operation panel
7
, displaying an operation state the operation panels
6
and
7
.
Further, as shown in
FIGS. 5A
to
7
, a grinding portion
10
having the processing chamber
4
is provided in the apparatus unit
3
. The processing chamber
4
is formed within a surrounding wall
11
fixed to the grinding portion
10
.
The surrounding wall
11
has left and right side walls
11
a
and
11
b
, a rear wall
11
c
, a front wall
11
d
, and a bottom wall
11
e
, as shown in
FIGS. 5A and 7
. In addition, on the side walls
11
a
and
11
b
, arc-shaped guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
are formed, respectively (see
FIG. 5A
or FIG.
7
). As shown in
FIGS. 5A and 6
, the bottom wall
11
e
has: an arc-shaped bottom wall (slanted bottom wall)
11
e
1
extending downward in an arc shape from the rear wall
11
c
to the front side; and a lower bottom wall
11
e
2
extending from the front lower end of the arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
to the front wall
11
d
. The lower bottom wall
11
e
2
is provided with a drain
11
f
in the vicinity of the arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
, and the drain
11
f
extends to a wastewater tank (not shown) in the lower portion.
(Cover
5
)
The cover
5
is composed of one colorless transparent or colored transparent (for example, gray colored transparent) panel made of glass or resin and is slid forward and backward in the apparatus unit
3
.
(Operation Panel
6
)
As shown in
FIG. 4A
, the operation panel
6
is provided with a “clamp” switch
6
a
for clamping the eyeglass lens ML with a pair of lens shafts
23
and
24
to be described later; a “left” switch
6
b
and a “right” switch
6
c
for specifying the processing of the eyeglass lens ML for a right eye or a left eye or switching displaying thereof; “move grinding wheel” switches
6
d
and
6
e
for moving the grinding wheel in the right and left directions; a “refinish/test” switch
6
f
for refinishing in the case that a finish grinding of the eyeglass lens ML is insufficient or for a tentative grinding in the case that the grind is tentatively performed; a “rotate lens” switch
6
g
for a lens rotation mode; and a “stop” switch
6
h
for a stop mode.
This is for reducing the burden of work of an operator by disposing such switches necessary for the actual lens processing near the processing chamber
4
.
(Operation Panel
7
)
The operation panel
7
, as shown in
FIG. 4B
, has: a “screen” switch
7
a
for switching a displaying state of the liquid crystal display device
8
; a “memory” switch
7
b
for memorizing settings or the like concerning the grinding displayed on the liquid crystal display device
8
; a “data request” switch
7
c
for fetching out the lens shape information (θi, ρi); a seesaw type “−+” switch for use in a numerical correction or the like (or “−” and “+” switches may be separately provided); and a “∇” switch
7
e
for moving a cursor pointer, which are located at the side of the liquid crystal display device
8
. Moreover, function keys F
1
to F
6
are arranged below the liquid crystal display device
8
.
The function keys F
1
to F
6
are used in case of setting with regard to the grinding of the eyeglass lens ML, as well as are used in response or selection for messages displayed on the liquid crystal display device
8
during the grinding process.
As for the function keys F
1
to F
6
, in the setting with regard to the grinding (layout screen), the function key F
1
is used for inputting a kind of lens; the function key F
2
for inputting a grinding course; the function key F
3
for inputting a lens material; the function key F
4
for inputting a kind of frame; the function key F
5
for inputting a kind of chamfering; and the function key F
6
for inputting a specular working.
As the kinds of lens inputted with the function key F
1
, “mono-focal”, “ophthalmic formula”, “progressive”, “bi-focal”, “cataract”, “tsubokuri” (concave-like lens) and the like are cited. The “cataract” generally means a plus lens having a high diopter in the eyeglass world, and the “tubokuri” means a minus lens having a high diopter.
As the grinding course inputted with the function key F
2
, “auto”, “test”, “monitor”, “frame change”, and the like are numerated.
As the kinds of material of the lens to be ground, which are inputted with the function key F
3
, “plastic”, “high index”, “glass”, “polycarbonate”, “acrylic”, and the like are numerated. As the kinds of eyeglass frame F inputted with the function key F
4
, “metal”, “cell”, “optyl”, “flat”, “grooving (thin)”, “grooving (middle)”, “grooving (thick)”, and the like are numerated. Each “grooving” indicates a V-groove that is a kind of the V-groove processing.
As the kinds of chamfering inputted with the function key F
5
, “none”, “small”, “middle”, “large”, “special”, and the like are numerated.
As the kinds of specular working inputted with the function key F
6
, “non-execution”, “execution”, “mirror plane of chamfer portion”, and the like are numerated.
Note that modes, types, and an order of the above-described unction keys F
1
to F
6
are not particularly limited. Moreover, for selection of tabs TB
1
to TB
4
to be described later, function keys for selecting “layout”, “in processing ”, “after processing”, “menu” and the like may be further provided, an the number of keys is not limited.
(Liquid Crystal Display Device
8
)
In the liquid crystal display device
8
, display is changed by a “layout” tab TB
1
, an “in processing” tab TB
2
, an “after processing” tab TB
3
, and a “menu” TB
4
. The liquid crystal display device
8
has function display sections H
1
to H
6
corresponding to the function keys F
1
to F
6
at the lower portion thereof. Note that colors of the tabs TB
1
to TB
4
are different from each other. In changing the selection of the tabs TB
1
to TB
4
, the color of the background of the display screen other than areas E
1
to E
4
, which will be described later, is changed to the same color as that of the selected tab.
For example, the “layout” tab TB
1
and the entire display screen (background) attached with the tab TB
1
are displayed in blue; the “in processing” tab TB
2
and the entire display screen (background) attached with the tab TB
2
in green; the “after processing” tab TB
3
and the entire display screen (background) attached with the tab TB
3
in red; and the “menu” tab TB
4
and the entire display screen (background) attached with the tab TB
4
in yellow.
In such a manner, since each of the tabs TB
1
to TB
4
, which are classified for each operation depending on color, and the background of the display screen therewith are displayed in the same color, the operator can easily recognize or confirm the current operation that is being performed.
In the function display sections H
1
to H
6
, necessary objects are properly displayed. In a non-display state, images, numerical values, conditions, or the like different from displays corresponding to the functions of the function keys F
1
to F
6
can be displayed. Moreover, when each of the function keys F
1
to F
6
is being operated, display such as a mode display may be changed for each click of the function key F
1
, for example, during the operation of the function key F
1
. For example, a list of modes corresponding to the function key F
1
may be displayed (pop-up display), whereby the selecting operability can be improved. The list in the pop-up display may be shown with characters, diagrams, icons, or the like.
While the “layout” tab TB
1
, the “in processing” tab TB
2
, or the “after processing” tab TB
3
are being selected, the display screen is displayed to be sectioned into an icon display area E
1
, a message display area E
2
, a numerical value display area E
3
, and a state display area E
4
. While the “menu” tab TB
4
is being selected, the display screen is displayed as one menu display area as a whole. Note that, while the “layout” tab TB
1
is being selected, the “in processing” tab TB
2
and the “after processing” tab TB
3
are not displayed, and the tab TB
2
and the tab TB
3
may be displayed at the time when the layout setting is completed,
Since the layout setting by use of the above described liquid crystal display device
8
is similar to that in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2000-287040 and 2000-290864, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
<Grinding Portion
10
>
As shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
, the grinding portion
10
comprises: a tray
12
fixed to the apparatus unit
3
; a base
13
disposed on the tray
12
; a base drive motor
14
fixed to the tray
12
; and a screw shaft
15
, which has a tip rotatably supported by a support portion
12
a
and is rotated with an output shaft (not shown) of the base drive motor
14
. The support portion
12
a
is raised from the tray
12
(see FIG.
8
). The grinding portion
10
further comprises: a rotation drive system
16
for the eyeglass lens ML; a grinding system
17
for the eyeglass lens ML; and an edge thickness measuring system
18
for the eyeglass lens ML, as a driving system.
(Base
13
)
The base
13
is formed by a rear support portion
13
a
extending along a rear edge of the tray
12
in the transverse direction and a side support portion
13
b
extending from a left end of the rear support portion
13
a
to the front side, and the base
13
, so as to approximately have a V-shape. Shaft support members
13
c
and
13
d
, which are V-shaped blocks, are respectively fixed on the right and left end portions of the rear support portion
13
a
, and a shaft support member
13
e
, which is a V-shaped block, is fixed on the side support portion
13
b.
In the apparatus unit
3
, a pair of parallel guide bars
19
and
20
extending in the transverse direction are disposed in parallel on the front and rear sides, respectively. The left and right ends of the parallel guide bars
19
and
20
are attached to the left and right portions in the apparatus unit
3
. The rear support member
13
b
of the base
13
is pivotally supported by the parallel guide bars
19
and
20
so as to advance and retract right and left in an axis direction of the guide bars
19
and
20
.
Moreover, both ends of a carriage swing shaft
21
extending in the transverse direction are disposed on V-grooves on the shaft support members
13
c
and
13
d
. Referential numeral
22
denotes a carriage attached to the carriage swing shaft
21
. The carriage
22
is composed of arm portions
22
a
and
22
b
for attachment of shafts, a connecting portion
22
c
, and a support projecting portion
22
d
to be formed in a bifurcate shape The arm portions
22
a
and
22
b
are positioned on the left and right sides with an interval therebetween and extended forward and rearward. The connecting portion
22
c
is extended in the transverse direction and connects the rear ends of the arm portions
22
a
and
22
b
. The support projecting portion
22
d
is provided in the center of the connecting portion.
22
c
in the transverse direction to project rearward. The arm portions
22
a
and
22
b
and the connecting portion
22
c
form a horseshoe. The surrounding wall
11
defining the processing chamber
4
is disposed between the arm portions
22
a
and
22
b.
The carriage swing shaft
21
penetrates the support projecting portion
22
d
and is held by the support projecting portion
22
d
, while the carriage swing shaft
21
freely rotates with respect to the shaft support members
13
c
and
13
d
. Accordingly, the front end portion of the carriage
22
can swing around the carriage swing shaft
21
up and down. Note that the carriage swing shaft
21
may be fixed to the shaft support portions
13
c
and
13
d
, and the support projecting portion
22
d
may be held by the carriage swing shaft
21
so as to swing with respect to the carriage swing shaft
21
and so as not to move in the axis direction thereof.
The carriage
22
is provided with a pair of the lens shafts (lens rotation shafts)
23
and
24
, which extend in the transverse direction and sandwich the eyeglass lens (unprocessed circular eyeglass lens, that is, circular raw lens) ML on the same axis. The lens shaft
23
penetrates the tip of the arm portion
22
a
in the transverse direction, and is held thereon so as to rotate around the axis and so as not to move in the axis direction. The lens shaft
24
penetrates the tip of the arm portion
22
b
in the transverse direction, and is held thereon so as to rotate around the axis and adjust the movement in the axis direction. Since a well-known structure is employed as such a structure, detailed description will be omitted.
The drive motor
14
is operated to drive the screw shaft
15
rotatively, whereby the guide member
13
f
is advanced and retract in the axis direction of the screw shaft
15
, and then the base
13
is moved along with the guide member
13
f
. At this time, the base
13
is guided by the pair of the parallel guide bars
19
and
20
to be displaced in the axis direction thereof
[Carriage
22
]
The guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
of the above-described surrounding wall
11
are formed in arc shapes around the carriage swing shaft
21
. The opposed ends to each other of the lens shafts
23
and
24
, which are held by the carriage
22
, are inserted into the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
. Accordingly, the opposed ends of the lens shafts
23
and
24
are projected into the processing chamber
4
surrounded by the surrounding wall
11
.
As shown in
FIG. 5A
, an arc-shaped guide plate P
1
having a hat-shaped section is attached on the inner wall surface of the side wall
11
a
. As shown in
FIG.7
, an arc-shaped guide plate P
2
hating a hat-shaped section is attached on the inner wall surface of the side wall
11
b
. In the guide plates P
1
and P
2
, guide slits
11
a
1
′ and
11
b
1
′ extending in an arc shape are formed so as to correspond to the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
, respectively. A cover plate
11
a
2
for closing the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
a
1
′ is disposed between the side wall
11
a
and the guide plate P
1
so as to move forward and rearward and up and down. A cover plate
11
b
2
for closing the guide slits
11
b
1
and
11
b
1
′ is disposed between the side wall
11
b
and the guide plate P
2
so as to move forward and rearward and up and down. The cover plates
11
a
2
and
11
b
2
are attached to the lens shafts
23
and
24
, respectively.
In addition, the guide plate P
1
, arc-shaped guide rails Ga and Gb are provided, which are positioned above and below the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
a
1
′ along the upper and lower edges of the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
a
1
′. The guide plate P
2
is provided with arc-shaped guide rails Gc and Gd respectively positioning above and below the guide slits
11
b
1
and
11
b
1
′ to follow the upper and lower edges of the guide slits
11
b
1
and
11
b
1
′.
The cover plate
11
a
2
can be guided in the guide rails Ga and Gb at the upper and lower edges thereof to move up and down while drawing an arc. The cover plate
11
b
2
can be guided in the guide rails Gc and Gd at the upper and lower edges thereof to move up and down while drawing an arc.
The lens shaft
28
of the carriage
22
slidably penetrates the arc-shaped cover plate
11
a
2
, thus facilitating assemblies of the lens shaft
23
, the side wall
11
a
, the guide plate P
1
, and the cover plate
11
a
2
. The lens shaft
24
of the carriage
22
slidably penetrates the arc-shaped cover plate
11
b
2
, thus facilitating assemblies of the lens shaft
24
, the side wall
11
b
, the guide plate P
2
, and the cover plate
11
b
2
.
Moreover, a space between the cover plate
11
a
2
and the lens shaft
23
is sealed by seal members Sa and Sa, and the cover plate
11
a
2
is held by the lens shaft
23
via the seal members Sa and Sa. A space between the cover plate
11
b
2
and the lens shaft
24
is sealed by seal members Sb and Sb, and the cover plate
11
b
2
is held by the lens shaft
24
via the seal members Sb and Sb so as to relatively move in the axis direction. Accordingly, when the lens shafts
23
and
24
rotate along the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
while drawing an arc, the cover plates
11
a
2
and
11
b
2
can also move up and down together with the lens shafts
23
and
24
, respectively.
The side wall
11
a
and the guide plate P
1
are close to the arc-shaped cover plate
11
a
2
so as to contact thereto tightly, and the side wall
11
b
and the guide plate P
2
are close to the arc-shaped cover plate
11
b
2
so as to cling thereto tightly.
Each of the guide plates P
1
and P
2
in the processing chamber
4
is provided to extend to the vicinities of the rear wall
11
c
and the lower bottom wall
11
e
2
and is designed to have the upper end cut on the side of a feeler
41
and the lower end cut in the upper vicinity of a grinding wheel
36
, whereby the upper and lower ends of the guide plates P
1
and P
2
are opened within the processing chamber
4
. Accordingly, the grinding fluid is flown along the inner surfaces of the side walls
11
a
and
11
b
, so that the grinding fluid does not stay between the side wall
11
a
and the guide plate P
1
and between the side wall
11
b
and the guide plate P
2
.
When the carriage
22
is swung up and down around the carriage swing shaft
21
and the lens shafts
23
and
24
are moved up and down along the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
, the cover plates
11
a
2
and
11
b
2
are moved up and down together with the lens shafts
23
and
24
. Accordingly, the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
are always closed by the cover plates
11
a
2
and
11
b
2
, and then the grinding fluid or the like within the surrounding wall
11
does not leak to the outside of the surrounding wall
11
. Note that the eyeglass lens ML is close to or apart from the grinding wheel with the upward and downward movement of the lens shafts
23
and
24
.
At the time of loading of the raw lens of the eyeglass lens ML or the like to the lens shafts
23
and
24
and unloading thereof after the grinding, the carriage
22
is positioned in the center of the swinging in the vertical direction such that the lens shafts
23
and
24
are positioned in the middle of the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
, respectively. At the time of measuring the edge thickness and the grinding, the carriage
22
is controlled and swung upward and downward to be slant in accordance with a grinding amount of the eyeglass lens ML.
(Rotation Drive System
16
for Lens Shafts
23
and
24
)
The rotation drive system
16
for lens shafts
23
and
24
has a lens shaft drive motor
25
fixed to the carriage
22
by not-shown fixing means; a power transmission shaft (drive shaft)
25
a
, which is rotatably held by the carriage
22
and is linked with an output shaft of the lens shaft drive motor
25
; a drive gear
26
provided on the tip of the power transmission shaft
25
a
; and a driven gear
26
a
geared with the drive gear
26
and attached to one lens shaft
23
. In
FIG. 8
, as the drive gear
26
, a worm gear is employed, and as the driven gear
26
a
, a worm wheel is employed. Note that, as the drive gear
26
and the driven gear
26
a
, a bevel gear can be employed.
The rotation drive system
16
further comprises a pulley
27
fixed to the outer end (opposite end to the lens shaft
24
) of one lens shaft
23
; a power transmission mechanism
28
provided for the carriage
22
; and a pulley
29
rotatably held on the outer end (opposite end to the lens shaft
28
) of the other lens shaft
24
. The pulley
29
is provided so as to relatively move against the lens shaft
24
in the axis direction thereof. Moreover, when the lens shaft
24
is adjusted to move in the axis direction, the movement of the pulley
29
is controlled by a not-shown movement control member or the like provided with the carriage
22
such that the position of the pulley
29
is not changed in the axis direction.
The power transmission mechanism
28
has transmission pulleys
28
a
and
28
b
; and a transmission shaft (power transmission shaft)
28
c
having the transmission pulleys
28
a
and
28
b
fixed on both ends thereof. The transmission shaft
28
c
is disposed parallel to the lens shafts
23
and
24
and rotatably held by the carriage
22
with a not-shown bearing. The power transmission mechanism
28
farther comprises a driving side belt
28
d
bridged between the pulley
27
and the transmission pulley
28
a
; and a driven side belt
28
e
bridged between the pulley
29
and the transmission pulley
28
b.
When the lens drive motor
25
is operated to rotate the power transmission shaft
25
a
, the rotation of the power transmission shaft
25
a
is transmitted via the drive gear
26
and the driven gear
26
a
to the lens shaft
23
, so that the lens shaft
23
and the pulley
27
are rotatively driven together. Meanwhile, the rotation of the pulley
27
is transmitted via the drive side belt
28
d
, the transmission pulley
28
a
, the transmission shaft
28
c
, the transmission pulley
28
b
, and the driven side belt
28
e
to the pulley
29
, and then the pulley
29
and the lens shaft
24
are rotatively driven integrally. At this time, the lens shaft
24
and the lens shaft
23
are integrally rotated in synchronization with each other.
(Grinding System
17
)
The grinding system
17
includes a grinding wheel drive motor
30
fixed to the tray
12
; a transmission shaft
32
to which drive of the grinding wheel drive motor
30
is transmitted via a belt
31
; a grinding wheel shaft
33
to which rotation of the transmission shaft
32
is transmitted; and the grinding wheel
35
fixed to the grinding wheel shaft
33
. The grinding wheel
35
includes a rough grinding wheel, a grinding wheel for a V-groove, a finish grinding wheel, or the like, of which reference numerals are omitted. The rough grinding wheel, the grinding wheel for the V-groove and the finish grinding wheel are disposed side by side in the axis direction.
The grinding system
17
further includes a swing arm drive motor
36
fixed to the apparatus unit
3
; a worm gear
36
a
fixed to the output shaft of the swing arm drive motor
36
; a tubular shaft-shaped worm
37
rotatably held by the surrounding wall
11
; a hollow swing arm
38
integrally fixed to the worm
37
; a rotation shaft
89
having one end rotatably held by a free end of the swing arm
38
and projecting from the free end to the right direction in
FIG. 5A
; and a grinding wheel
40
for grooving fixed to the rotation shaft
39
.
The grinding system
17
further includes a drive motor
39
a
attached to the surrounding wall
11
and of which a not-shown output shaft of the drive motor
39
a
is inserted into the tubular worm shaft
37
; and a power transmission mechanism disposed within the swing arm
38
to transmit rotation of the output shaft of the drive motor
39
a
to the rotation shaft
39
,
As shown in
FIGS. 5A and 7
, the grinding wheel
40
for grooving includes chamfering grinding wheels
40
a
and
40
b
for processing a chamfer on the periphery of the eyeglass lens ML; and a grooving cutter
40
c
attached to the rotation shaft
39
adjacent to the chamfering grinding wheel
40
a
. Moreover, an arc-shaped cover
38
a
extending to a right direction in
FIG. 5A
is attached on the swing arm
38
. The arc-shaped cover
38
a
covers lower portions of the chamfering grinding wheels
40
a
and
40
b
and the grooving cutter
40
c.
(Grinding Fluid Supply Structure)
As described above, the bottom wall
11
e
of the surrounding wall
11
defining the processing chamber
4
includes the arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
and the lower bottom wall
11
e
2
. The arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
is formed in the arc shape around the carriage swing shaft
21
.
Furthermore, the surrounding wall
11
includes the rear wall
11
c
and the front wall
11
d
as described above. A grinding fluid discharge nozzle
60
open forward is attached to the center of the lower end of the rear wall
11
in the transverse direction as grinding fluid supply means. A grinding fluid discharge nozzle
61
projecting rearward is attached to the front wall
11
d
as grinding fluid supply means. Note that the grinding fluid discharge nozzle
60
can be widely provided such that the grinding fluid is discharged from the entire width of the rear wall
11
c
. In such a case, if grinding chips or the like are scattered on the any places of arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
, such grinding chips are swept downward by the grinding fluid, thus preventing the grinding chips from adhering to the arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
.
The grinding fluid discharge nozzle
61
is integrally provided with a first grinding fluid outlet (first grinding fluid supply means)
63
for discharging and supplying the grinding fluid
62
so that the grinding fluid
62
covers an upper portion and portions on the lens shafts
23
and
24
sides of the grinding surface
35
a
of the grinding wheel
35
; and a second grinding fluid outlet (second grinding fluid supply means)
65
for supplying the grinding fluid
64
to the grinding surface
35
a
of the grinding wheel
35
in the normal direction thereof. The grinding fluid outlets
68
and
65
are diverged from a grinding fluid supply path
61
a.
Note that the grinding fluid
62
is discharged rearward in an arc shape from the grinding fluid outlet
63
and is passed slightly below the lens shafts
23
and
24
to be flown downward. Here, a plumb line passing the rotational center O of the grinding wheel
35
is indicated by the reference numeral
66
, and a tangent line passing the intersection point of the plumb lime
66
and the grinding surface
35
a
is indicated by a reference numeral
67
. The grinding fluid
62
is discharged in the approximately same direction as the tangent line
67
, in other words, is discharged from the grinding fluid outlet
63
rearward as well as in the parallel direction to the tangent line
67
as indicated by the arrow
68
.
Moreover, a width of the grinding fluid outlet
65
is formed to be a width in the transverse direction approximately equal to or larger than the width in the transverse direction of the grinding wheel
36
. Therefore, the grinding fluid can be sufficiently supplied to the grinding surface (circumferential surface)
35
a
of the grinding wheel
35
.
Furthermore, a width of the grinding fluid outlet
63
is formed to be a width in the transverse direction larger than that of the grinding fluid outlet
65
. In addition, the both right and left ends of the grinding fluid outlet
63
are projected further than those of the grinding fluid outlet
65
.
Since the width of the grinding fluid outlet
63
in the transverse direction is formed larger than that of the grinding fluid outlet
65
and the grinding fluid
62
is discharged with a slight space from the grinding surface
35
a
, the grinding fluid
62
discharged from the grinding fluid outlet
63
is allowed to cover the lens grinding portion (lens processing point)
69
side of the grinding surface
35
a
like a curtain with the space from the grinding surface
35
.
In such a constitution, when the grinding fluid
64
is supplied from the grinding fluid outlet
65
to the grinding surface
35
a
in the normal direction thereof, the grinding fluid
64
can be sufficiently supplied to the lens processing point (lens grinding portion
69
). The problem of such a method is that the grinding fluid supplied to the grinding surface
35
a
is scattered upward or rearward by the rotation of the grinding wheel
35
, so that the grinding fluid is scattered to the upper portion or the rear portion of the processing chamber
4
to leak or dirty the rear wall
11
, the lens shafts
23
and
24
, or the like.
However, the grinding fluid
62
is discharged rearward from the grinding fluid outlet
63
in an approximately tangent direction, and covers the upper portion of the grinding surface
35
a
of the grinding wheel
35
and the lens processing point (lens grinding portion
69
) like a curtain. At this time, since the width of the curtain-shaped grinding fluid
62
is made larger than that of the grinding fluid
64
discharged from the grinding fluid outlet
65
, the grinding fluid
64
discharged from the grinding fluid outlet
65
is prevented from scattering rearward by the rotation of the grinding wheel
35
. Accordingly, it can be prevented that the grinding fluid is scattered to the upper portion or the rear portion of the processing chamber
4
to leak or dirty the rear wall
11
, the lens shafts
23
and
24
, or the like.
Note that the grinding fluid
62
, which is supplied in the tangent direction, in other words, which is discharged rearward from the grinding fluid outlet
63
in the approximately tangent direction, is slightly spaced from the grinding surface
35
a
of the grinding wheel
35
so as not to contact the grinding surface
35
a
. Accordingly, an effect of preventing splash of the grinding fluid
62
supplied in the tangent direction and an effect of preventing splash of the grinding fluid
64
supplied in the normal direction can be further enhanced.
Since the grinding fluid
62
and
64
are respectively supplied in the two directions, that is, in the tangent direction and the normal direction of the grinding wheel
35
, the grinding fluid can be supplied all over the grinding surface
35
a
of the grinding wheel
35
and the eyeglass lens ML. Furthermore, one grinding fluid supply nozzle (grinding fluid supply apparatus)
61
is provided with the outlets
63
and
65
, which supply the grinding fluid in the two direction, that is, the tangent direction and the normal direction of the grinding wheel
35
. Accordingly, the grinding fluid supply nozzle (grinding fluid supply apparatus)
61
and the entire grinding apparatus can be made small and compact.
<Pressure Adjusting Mechanism
45
>
In the vicinity of the carriage swing shaft
21
of the carriage
22
, a pressure adjusting mechanism
45
is provided for adjusting a press-contact amount of the eyeglass lens ML to the grinding wheel
35
.
As shown in
FIG. 10
, the pressure adjusting mechanism
45
includes; a bracket
47
fixed to the carriage
22
with a screw
46
; a mover displacement motor
48
fixed to the bracket
47
; a screw shaft
48
a
rotating with a not-shown output shaft of the mover displacement motor
48
; and a mover
50
geared with the screw shaft
48
a
(see FIG.
9
). The tip of the screw shaft
48
a
is rotatably held by the bracket
47
, and the mover
50
is guided by a guide rail
49
parallel to the screw shaft
48
a
in the axis direction.
Moreover, the pressure adjusting mechanism
45
further includes three pulleys
51
,
52
and
53
rotatably held by the base
13
; and a pull cord
55
having both ends held by the mover
50
and a spring
54
. The pull cord
55
is changed the direction thereof by the pulleys
51
,
52
and
53
so as to pull the mover
50
in the direction approximately orthogonal to the guide rail
49
with pull strength of the spring
54
The other end of the spring
54
is fixed to the base
13
.
The pressure adjusting mechanism
45
utilizes that the distance between the mover
50
and the carriage swing shaft
21
is changed in accordance with a position of the mover
50
on the guide rail
49
, and an energizing force caused by the pull strength of the spring
54
at the tip of the carriage
22
, that is, an energizing pressure to the grinding wheel
35
by the eyeglass lens ML, which is sandwiched by the lens shafts
23
and
24
, is thereby changed in accordance with the distance.
Note that the screw shaft
48
a
and the guide rail
49
are approximately orthogonal to the lens shaft
23
and the carriage swing shaft
21
.
Accordingly, as for the contact state of the eyeglass lens ML with the grinding wheel
35
, while the pull strength of the spring
54
is approximately constant, a contact force per unit area can be adjusted by changing the position of the mover
50
on the guide rail
49
in accordance with variation of the processing condition, such as a dislocation of the contact from the pressurized direction, a difference in the contact area in accordance with a variation in the shape of the eyeglass lens ML, and a difference in the edge thickness in accordance with the lens diopter
As described above, since the carriage
22
is slant downward from the intermediate position in accordance with a grinding amount of the eyeglass lens ML, it is a matter of course the pressure adjusting mechanism
45
is positioned on a lower side of the slant carriage
22
. Since the carriage
22
is slant, an operating force corresponding to the energizing force at the tip of the carriage
22
can be changed by using the mover
50
as a mere weight, even when the pulleys
51
,
52
, and
53
, the spring
54
, and the pull cord
55
are removed. Accordingly, abutment pressure by the eyeglass lens ML to the grinding wheel
35
can be adjusted in accordance with the position of the mover
50
on the guide rail
49
.
<Shaft-to-Shaft Distance Adjusting Means
43
>
As shown in
FIG. 9
, the distance between the lens shafts
23
and
24
and the grinding wheel shaft
33
is adjusted by shaft-to-shaft distance adjusting means (shaft-to-shaft distance adjusting mechanism)
43
.
The shaft-to-shaft distance adjusting means
43
includes a rotation shaft
34
having an axis positioned on the same axis of the grinding wheel shaft
33
as shown in FIG.
9
. The rotation shaft
34
is rotatably supported on the V-groove of the projecting support member
13
e
in FIG.
8
.
The shaft-to-shaft distance adjusting means
43
includes a base board
56
held by the rotation shaft
34
; a pair of parallel guide rails
57
and
57
attached to the base board
56
and obliquely extended upward from the upper surface thereof; a screw shaft (feed screw)
58
rotatably provided on the base board
56
to be parallel to the guide rails
57
and
57
; a pulse motor
59
provided on the lower surface of the base board
56
for rotating the screw shaft
58
; and a stage
73
screwed by the screw shaft
58
and held by the guide rails
57
and
57
to move up and down (omitted in
FIG. 7
for convenience of illustrating other portions).
The shaft-to-shaft distance adjusting means
43
further includes a lens shaft holder
74
disposed above the stage
73
and held by the guide rails
57
and
57
so as to move up and down; a reinforcement
75
for holding the upper ends of the guide rails
57
and
57
and ratatably holding the upper end of the screw shaft
58
. The lens shaft holder
74
is always rotatively energized downward by the spring force of the spring
54
of the pressure adjusting mechanism
45
to be pressed to the stage
73
. Moreover, a sensor S for detecting an abutment of the lens shaft holder
74
is attached to the stage
73
.
When the screw shaft
58
is normally or reversely rotated by a normal or reverse rotation of the pulse motor
59
, the stage
73
is elevated or lowered along the guide rails
57
and
57
by the screw shaft
58
, and then the lens shaft holder
74
is elevated or lowered integrally with the stage
73
. Accordingly, the carriage
22
is swung around the carriage swing shaft
21
.
(Edge Thickness Measuring System
18
)
The edge thickness measuring system
18
includes a measuring element
41
having feelers
41
a
and
41
b
opposed and spaced with each other; a measuring unit (moving amount detecting means)
42
as a moving amount detecting sensor, which is positioned outside the surrounding wall
11
and attached to the apparatus unit
3
; and a measurement shaft
42
a
provided parallel to the lens shafts
23
and
24
and held by the measuring unit
42
so as to advance or retract in the transverse direction (axis direction). The measurement shaft
42
a
is provided so as to rotate around the axis thereof and integrally provided with the measuring element
41
.
The measurement shaft
42
a
is provided so as to rotate by
90
degree by means of a rotary solenoid RS to be described later. The rotary solenoid RS controls the rotation of the measurement shaft
42
a
, and then positions the measuring element
41
at any one of two positions, that is, a standing non-measurement position in
FIG. 7 and a
horizontal measurement position as shown in FIG.
5
A.
In such a structure, the measuring unit
42
is designed to measure (detect) the moving amount of the measuring element
41
in the transverse direction when the measuring element
41
is in the horizontal position as shown in FIG.
5
A. The edge thickness of the eyeglass lens ML can be obtained by calculation from measurement signals (moving amount detecting signals) from the measuring unit
42
and the position of the carriage
22
in the transverse direction based on the position where one feeler
41
a
abuts the front or rear surface of the eyeglass lens ML and the position of the other feeler
41
b
abuts the rear or front surface of the eyeglass lens ML.
Specifically, the pair of lens shafts
23
and
24
is controlled in rotation thereof at each angle θi based on the lens shape information (θi, ρi), and the shaft-to-shaft distance adjusting means
43
is controlled in motion thereof based on the lens shape information (θi, ρi), so that the feelers
41
a
and
41
b
are allowed to abut the front or rear surface of the eyeglass lens ML one by one, and then the feeler
41
a
or
41
b
is moved to the position of a radius vector ρi of the eyeglass lens ML for each angle θi. Coordinates of the contact position of the feelers
41
a
and
41
b
with the eyeglass lens ML is obtained corresponding to the lens shape information (θi, ρi), and then the distance between the pair of feelers
41
a
and
41
b
is obtained from the obtained coordinates corresponding to the lens shape information (θi, ρi). The obtained distance is defined as an edge thickness Wi for the lens shape information (θi, σi).
Note that the moving amount of the measurement shaft (support shaft)
42
a
in the transverse direction is read out by a reading sensor (not shown) contained within the measuring unit
42
. As the reading sensor, a linear scale, a magnescale, a slide resistor, a potentiometer or the like can be employed.
In order that the feelers
41
a
and
41
b
are brought into contact with the eyeglass lens ML and the moving amount is detected by use of the moving amount reading sensor (contained in the measuring unit
42
) connected to the feelers
41
a
and
41
b
, the base
13
is advanced or retracted along the guide bars
19
and
20
in the transverse direction by the control of the drive motor
14
, and the eyeglass lens ML is thereby moved integrally with the base
13
and the carriage
22
in the transverse direction with respect to the edge thickness measuring section
18
provided on the base
13
. The feeler
41
a
or
41
b
is allowed to abut the front or rear refracting surface of the eyeglass lens ML. Furthermore, while the eyeglass lens ML is controlled in rotation thereof at each angle θi, the measurement is started by keeping the feeler
41
a
or
41
b
contact with the eyeglass lens ML.
(Control Circuit)
The above-described operation panels
6
and
7
, that is, the switches of the operation panels
6
and
7
are connected to an arithmetic control circuit
80
including a CPU as shown in FIG.
11
. Moreover, the arithmetic control circuit
80
is connected to a ROM
81
as storage means, a data memory
82
as storage means, a RAM
83
and a correction value memory
84
.
Furthermore, the arithmetic control circuit
80
is connected to the liquid crystal display device
8
via a display driver
85
and to a pulse motor driver
86
. The pulse motor driver
86
is controlled in motion thereof by the arithmetic control circuit
80
to control the motion (drive) of the various kinds of drive motors in the grinding portion
10
, that is, the base drive motor
14
, the lens shaft drive motor
25
, the swing arm drive motor
36
, the mover displacement motor
48
, the pulse motor
59
or the like. Note that pulse motors are used for the base drive motor
14
, the lens shaft drive motor
25
, the swing arm drive motor
36
, the mover displacement motor
48
and the like
The arithmetic control circuit
80
is further connected to the grinding wheel drive motor
30
and the drive motor
39
a
via the motor driver
86
a,
as well as is connected to the rotary solenoid RS and the grinding fluid supply pump (grinding fluid supply means) P. The grinding fluid supply pump P is designed to supply the filtered grinding fluid from a wastewater tank (not shown) to the grinding fluid supply nozzles
60
and
61
in activation thereof.
Furthermore, the arithmetic control circuit
80
is connected to the frame shape measuring apparatus
1
in
FIG. 1
via a communication port
88
to receive the lens shape data such as the frame shape data and the lens shape data from the frame shape measuring apparatus (lens shape measuring apparatus)
1
.
In addition, the moving amount detecting signals from the measuring unit (moving amount detecting sensor)
42
are inputted into the arithmetic control circuit
80
, The arithmetic control circuit
80
determines each of the coordinate positions of the front refracting surface (the left surface of the eyeglass lens in
FIG. 7
) of the eyeglass lens ML and the rear refracting surface (the right surface of the eyeglass lens in
FIG. 7
) thereof at the lens shape data (θi, ρi), based on a drive pulse for the base drive motor
14
, drive pulses for the lens shaft drive motor
25
, the pulse motor
59
and the like, which are controlled in motion thereof based on the lens shape data (θi, ρi) from the frame shape measuring apparatus
1
, the detecting signals (detecting signals of feeler moving amount) from the measuring unit
42
, or the like. Subsequently, the arithmetic control circuit
80
determines the edge thickness Wi at the lens shape data (θi, ρi) by calculation from the determined coordinate positions of the front and rear refracting surfaces of the eyeglass lens ML.
When the arithmetic control circuit
80
reads out data from the frame shape measuring apparatus
1
or reads out data stored in storage areas m
1
to m
8
of the data memory
82
after starting control of processing, as shown in
FIG. 12
, the arithmetic control circuit
80
performs the control of processing and the control of the data reading or the layout setting in a time-sharing mode.
Specifically, when a period between time t1 and t2 is T1, a period between time t2 and t3 is T2, a period between time t3 and t4 is T3, . . . , a period between time tn−1 and tn is Tn, the control of processing is performed during the periods T1, T3, . . . , and Tn, and the control of the data reading and the layout setting are performed during the periods T2, T4, . . . , Tn−1. Accordingly, during the grinding of the processed lens, the reading and storing of the next plurality of lens shape data, the data reading, the layout setting (adjustment) or the like can be performed, thus considerably improving an work efficiency of data processing.
Various kinds of programs for controlling the operations of the lens grinding apparatus
2
are stored in the above-described ROM
81
. The data memory
82
is provided with the plurality of data storage areas. Moreover, the RAM
83
is provided with: a processing data storage area
83
a
for storing the processing data for the lens currently in processing; a new data storage area
83
b
for storing new data; and a data storage area
83
c
for storing the frame data, data for the lens already processed, or the like.
Note that, as the data memory
82
, a readable and writable flash EEPROM (FEEPROM) can be employed, or a RAM using a backup power supply can be employed, in which the content thereof cannot be erased even when the main power supply is turned off.
[Operations ]
Next, description will be made for operations of the lens grinding apparatus including the arithmetic control circuit
80
having such a constitution.
<Reading of Lens Shape Data>
In a starting stand-by state, when the main power supply is turned on, the arithmetic control circuit
80
judges as to whether or not data reading from the frame shape measuring apparatus
1
is to be carried out.
Specifically, the arithmetic control circuit
80
judges as to whether or not the “data request” switch
7
c
on the operation panel
6
is pressed. When the “data request” switch
7
c
is pressed for requesting data, data of the lens shape information (θi, ρi) is read from the frame shape measuring apparatus
1
into the data reading area
83
b
of the RAM
83
. The read data is stored (recorded) in any one of the storage areas m
1
to m
8
of the data memory
82
, and then the layout screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display device
8
.
<Processing Circumferential Edge of Eyeglass Lens>
The measuring element
41
is in a standing position as shown in
FIG. 7
before the measurement of the eyeglass lens ML held between the lens shafts
23
and
24
. In such a position, the eyeglass lens ML held between the lens shafts
23
and
24
corresponds to a space between the feelers
41
a
and
41
b
of the measuring element
41
. In such a state, by pressing the “right” switch
6
c
or the “left” switch
6
b
, a processing operation is started, such as the edge thickness measurement, the V-groove setting, and the grinding of the eyeglass lens ML.
(Calculation of Edge Thickness Wi)
With the foregoing state, the arithmetic control circuit
80
controls the motion of the rotary solenoid RS to lay down the measuring element
41
in the horizontal position as shown in FIG. SA, thus starting the calculating operation of the edge thickness.
Specifically, the arithmetic control circuit
80
controls the motion of the pulse motor driver
86
to normally operate the pulse motor
59
, and thereby normally rotates the screw shaft
58
with the pulse motor
59
. The stage
73
is then elevated along the guide rails
57
and
67
with the screw shaft
58
, so that the lens shaft holder
74
is integrally elevated with the stage
73
. Accordingly, the carriage
22
is swung around the carriage swing shaft
21
, and the eyeglass lens ML between the lens shafts
23
and
24
is moved between the feelers
41
a
and
41
b
of the measuring element
41
.
Subsequently, the arithmetic control circuit
80
controls the motion of the base drive motor
14
via the pulse motor driver
86
to make the one feeler
41
a
of the measuring element
41
abut the surface (front refracting surface) of the eyeglass lens ML. The arithmetic control circuit
80
then controls the motion of the lens shaft drive motor
25
with the pulse motor driver
86
to rotate the lens shafts
23
and
24
and the eyeglass lens ML at each predetermined angle θi (i=0, 1, 2, . . . n). Furthermore, the arithmetic control circuit
80
controls the motion of the pulse motor
59
with the pulse motor driver
86
to move the one feeler
41
a
of the measuring element
41
to the position of the radius vector ρi at the angle θi (i=0, 1, 2, . . . n). In such a manner, the arithmetic control circuit
80
sequentially changes the abutment position of the feeler
41
a
on the eyeglass lens ML based on the lens shape data, that is, the lens shape information (θi, ρi).
At this time, the measuring element
41
is moved in the transverse direction, and the moving amount is detected and outputted by the measuring unit
42
. The detecting signals from the measuring unit
42
is inputted into the arithmetic control circuit
80
. The arithmetic control circuit
80
determines the coordinate position of the front refracting surface (left surface of the eyeglass lens in
FIG. 7
) of the eyeglass lens ML at the lens shape information (θi, ρi) from the drive pulses of the base drive motor
14
, the lens shaft drive motor
25
, and the pulse motor
59
, the detecting signals (detecting signals of the feeler moving amount) or the like, and then stores (records) the determined coordinate position in any one of the storage areas m
1
to m
8
of the data memory
82
.
Similarly, the arithmetic control circuit
80
makes the other feeler
41
b
of the measuring element
41
abut the rear surface (rear refracting surface) of the eyeglass lens ML. The arithmetic control circuit
80
determines the coordinate position of the rear refracting surface (right surface of the eyeglass lens in
FIG. 7
) of the eyeglass lens ML corresponding to the lens shape information (θi, ρi), and stores (records) the determined coordinate position in any one of the storage areas m
1
to m
8
of the data memory
82
.
Subsequently, the arithmetic control circuit
80
determines the edge thickness by calculation from the determined coordinate positions of the front and rear refracting surfaces of the eyeglass lens ML for the lens shape information (θi, ρi).
Thereafter, the arithmetic control circuit
80
controls and operates the rotary solenoid RS to stand the measuring element
41
.
(V-Groove Setting)
When the edge thickness Wi is determined in such a manner, the arithmetic control circuit
80
determines the V-groove position at the lens shape information (θi, ρi) of the eyeglass lens ML in a predetermined ratio and stores (records) the determined V-groove position in any one of the storage areas m
1
to m
8
of the data memory
82
. Since the V-groove position can be determined by use of a known method, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
(Calculation of Processing Data)
After the V-groove setting, the arithmetic control circuit
80
determines the processing data (θi′, ρi′) of the eyeglass lens ML corresponding to the lens shape information (θi, ρi) from data such as a pupil distance PD based on a formula of the eyeglass lens and a frame geometrical center-to-center distance FPD, a raised amount or the like, and is stored in the processing data storage area
83
a.
(Grinding)
After the calculation of the processing data, the arithmetic control circuit
80
controls the motion of the grinding wheel drive motor
30
with the motor driver
86
a
to control the drive of the grinding wheel
35
for the clockwise rotation in FIG.
6
. The grinding wheel
35
includes the rough grinding wheel (flat grinding wheel), the grinding wheel for a V-groove, the finish grinding wheel or the like, as described above.
On the other hand, the arithmetic control circuit
80
controls the drive of the lens shaft drive motor
25
via the pulse motor driver
86
based on the processing data (θi′, ρi′) stored in the processing data storage area
83
a
in order to control the rotation of the lens rotation shafts
23
and
24
and the eyeglass lens ML counterclockwise in FIG.
6
.
At this time, the arithmetic control circuit
80
first controls and operates the pulse motor driver
86
at the position where i=0 based on the processing data (θi′, ρi′) stored in the processing data storage area
83
a
in order to control the drive of the pulse motor
59
. Accordingly, the screw shaft
58
is rotated reversely, and the stage
73
is lowered by a predetermined amount. With the lowering of the stage
73
, the lens shaft holder
74
is integrally lowered with the stage
73
by the own weight of the carriage
22
and the spring force of the spring
54
in the processing pressure adjusting mechanism
45
.
After the unprocessed circular eyeglass lens ML abuts the grinding surface
35
a
of the grinding wheel
35
by the own weight of the carriage
22
and the spring force of the spring
54
in the processing pressure adjusting mechanism
45
, only the stage
73
is lowered. When the stage
73
is separated downward from the lens shaft holder
74
by such lowering, the separation is detected by the sensor S, and the detecting signals from the sensor S are inputted into the arithmetic control circuit
80
. On receiving the detecting signals from the sensor S, the arithmetic control circuit
80
further controls the drive of the pulse motor
59
to slightly lower the stage
73
by the predetermined amount.
Accordingly, the eyeglass lens ML is ground with the grinding wheel
35
by the predetermined amount at the processing data (θi′, ρi′) where i=0. When the lens shaft holder
74
is lowered with the grinding to abut the stage
73
, the sensor S detects the abutment to output the detecting signals, and then the detecting signals are inputted into the arithmetic control circuit
80
.
On receiving the detecting signals, the arithmetic control circuit
80
allows the eyeglass lens ML to be ground by the grinding wheel
35
in a manner that the case where i=1 of the processing data (θi′, ρi′) is similar to that where i=0 thereof. The arithmetic control circuit
80
performs such control until i=n (360°), so that the circumferential edge of the eyeglass lens ML is ground by the rough grinding wheel (not given the reference numeral) of the grinding wheel
35
to be the radius vector ρi′ for each angle θi′ of the processing data (θi′, ρi′).
In such grinding, the arithmetic control circuit
80
activates the grinding fluid supply pump P to discharge the grinding fluid
62
from the first grinding fluid outlet (first grinding fluid supply means)
63
of the grinding fluid discharge nozzle
61
, and to discharge the grinding fluid
64
from the second grinding fluid outlet (second grinding fluid supply means)
65
of the grinding fluid discharge nozzle
61
.
At this time, the grinding fluid
64
is supplied to the grinding surface
35
a
of the grinding wheel
35
in the normal direction. The grinding fluid
64
is sufficiently flown down on the lens grinding portion
69
side with the rotation of the grinding wheel
35
to sufficiently cool the lens grinding portion
69
, and is obliquely scattered downward to the rear side with the grinding chips
70
of the eyeglass lens ML ground at the lens grinding portion
69
. Furthermore, since the sufficient grinding fluid
64
is sufficiently supplied over the entire width of the grinding wheel
35
, even when the contact position of the eyeglass lens ML with the grinding wheel
35
is displaced in the transverse direction, a shortage of the grinding fluid supplied to the lens grinding portion
69
cannot be caused.
The grinding fluid
62
discharged from the first grinding fluid outlet (first grinding fluid supply means)
63
of the grinding fluid discharge nozzle
61
is directed in the direction parallel to the tangent line of the grinding wheel
36
and to the rear side of the processing chamber
4
, and covers the lens grinding portion
69
on the eyeglass lens ML side between the grinding wheel
35
and the lens shafts
23
and
24
in a curtain shape. Furthermore, at this time, the grinding fluid
62
covers the entire width of the upper portion and the rear portion of the grinding wheel
35
and is discharged from the second grinding fluid outlet (second grinding fluid supply means)
65
in the grinding wheel
35
. Even when a part of the grinding fluid
64
moved toward the rotating direction of the grinding wheel
35
is scattered rearward by the rotation of the grinding wheel
35
, the leak (scattering) thereof to the upper portion of the processing chamber
4
or the arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
side can be prevented. Accordingly, the cover
5
or the arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
can be prevented from being dirty. Moreover, since the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
are covered with the cover plates
11
a
2
and
11
b
2
, even when the grinding chips are scattered toward the side walls
11
a
and
11
b
with the grinding fluid during the grinding of the eyeglass lens ML with the grinding wheel
35
, the grinding chips or the grinding fluid can be prevented from leaking out through the guide slits
11
a
1
and
11
b
1
.
Note that, as for the supply of the grinding fluid to the grinding surface
35
a
in the normal direction, the supply direction of the grinding fluid is not limited as long as the grinding fluid does not splash out beyond the grinding fluid discharged in the tangent direction of the grinding wheel
35
and is directly discharged to the grinding surface
35
a
. Such grinding fluid
62
and
64
, grinding chips
70
or the like are mostly flown down to the lower bottom wall
11
e
2
and then flown through the drain
11
f
into the not-shown wastewater tank to be collected.
On the other hand, the arithmetic control circuit
80
activate the grinding fluid supply pump P to discharge the grinding fluid
71
from the grinding fluid discharge nozzle
60
to the center of the arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
to spread in the transverse direction in a fun shape. The grinding fluid
71
is flown down from the center of the upper end of the arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
in the transverse direction to spread in the transverse direction. Accordingly, even when a part of the grinding chips
70
or the grinding fluid
62
is scattered to the lower potion of the arc-shaped bottom wall
11
e
1
, such grinding chips
70
or the grinding fluid
62
is washed off downward by the grinding fluid
71
flowing down, and is flown down through the drain
11
f
into the not-shown waste fluid tank to be collected.
In an approximately similar manner, the arithmetic control circuit
80
performs V-groove processing for the circumferential edge of the eyeglass lens ML, which has been subjected to the rough grinding to be a shape indicated by the processing data (θi′, ρi′), with the grinding wheel for a V-groove (not given the reference numeral) of the grinding wheel
35
. At this time, the grinding fluid is discharged in the same manner as that in the above-described grinding with the rough grinding wheel. The grinding wheel
35
includes the rough grinding wheel and the grinding wheel for a V-groove, which are arranged side by side in the transverse direction, and the contact position of the eyeglass lens ML with the grinding wheel
35
is moved from the contact position in the right and left direction during the rough grinding and the V-groove processing. However, in such a case, the grinding fluid
64
is sufficiently supplied over the entire width of the grinding wheel
35
. Accordingly, in the case of the rough grinding of the circumferential edge of the eyeglass lens ML with the rough grinding wheel of the grinding wheel
35
, and also in the case of the V-groove processing of the circumferential edge of the eyeglass lens ML, which has been subjected to the rough grinding, with the grinding wheel for a V-groove adjacent to the rough grinding wheel of the grinding wheel
35
, a shortage of the grinding fluid supplied to the lens grinding portion
69
cannot be caused.
[Effects of the Invention]
As described above, according to claims 1 and 2 of the present invention, even when the grinding apparatus is designed so that the grinding fluid directly lashes the grinding wheel, splashing of the grinding fluid can be prevented, and the sufficient grinding fluid can be supplied to the both of the eyeglass lens ML as a material to be ground and the grinding surface of the grinding wheel. Particularly in the grinding of the eyeglass lens or the like, the problem can be solved, in which the grinding fluid does not sufficiently spread over both of the grinding wheel and the eyeglass lens or the like as a material to be ground because of a slight dislocation in the tangent direction between the eyeglass lens or the like and the grinding wheel, thus causing a shortage of the grinding fluid. Even when the processing point of the grinding wheel is moved because of the difference in the finished shape (lens shape) of the eyeglass lens or the like, the grinding fluid can be supplied by following the moving processing point.
Furthermore, since the first and the second grinding fluid supply means are united, the entire apparatus can be made small and compact.
Claims
- 1. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus, comprising:first grinding fluid supply means for supplying a grinding fluid in a tangent direction of a circular grinding wheel, which has a grinding surface formed on its circumferential surface, with a space above a grinding surface and allows an upper portion and a rear side portion of the grinding surface to be covered with a curtain of the grinding fluid spaced from the grinding wheel when a processed lens is subjected to a grind processing with the grinding surface of the grinding wheel by rotatively driving the grinding wheel around an axis; and second grinding fluid supply means for insufflating the grinding fluid to the grinding surface.
- 2. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second grinding fluid supply means are integrally formed.
- 3. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first grinding fluid supply means discharges the grinding fluid in an arc shape along the grinding surface.
- 4. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second grinding fluid supply means are integrally formed and said first grinding fluid supply means discharges the grinding fluid in an arc shape along the grinding surface.
- 5. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second grinding fluid supply means insufflates the grinding fluid to the grinding surface from a normal direction.
- 6. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first grinding fluid supply means discharges the grinding fluid in an arc shape along the grinding surface and said second grinding fluid supply means insufflates the grinding fluid to the grinding surface from a normal direction.
- 7. A grinding fluid device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of the grinding fluid discharged from said first grinding fluid supply means is larger than that of the grinding fluid discharged from said second grinding fluid supply means.
- 8. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of the grinding fluid discharged from said second grinding fluid supply means is made approximately equal to that of the grinding surface or larger than that of the grinding surface.
- 9. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:third grinding fluid supply means for discharging a grinding fluid to a bottom wall in a width direction of the bottom wall of a processing chamber, and for flowing the discharged grinding fluid to the grinding wheel side along the bottom wall, the third grinding fluid supply means being provided at a lower edge portion of a rear wall of the processing chamber where the grinding wheel is disposed.
- 10. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said third grinding fluid supply means is a grinding fluid discharge nozzle provided at a center of the rear wall in a transverse direction.
- 11. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first and second grinding fluid supply means are integrally formed.
- 12. A grinding fluid supply device of a lens grinding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said third grinding fluid supply means is a grinding fluid discharge nozzle provided at a center of the rear wall in a transverse direction and said first and second grinding fluid supply means are integrally formed.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2001-024004 |
Jan 2001 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (16)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3503009 |
Jul 1986 |
DE |
60-227223 |
Nov 1985 |
JP |
61-8273 |
Jan 1986 |
JP |
03-202274 |
Sep 1991 |
JP |
05-031669 |
Feb 1993 |
JP |
09-225828 |
Sep 1997 |
JP |