Patent Application
20230347468
The present invention relates generally to an optical machine for treatment and/or processing of optical workpieces, such as spectacle lenses, according to the preamble portion of claim 1. In particular, the invention relates to a deblocking device as well as to a method for deblocking such workpieces from associated block pieces, in correspondence with claims 15 and 24, respectively, such as are widely employed in modern “RX workshops”, i.e. industrial production facilities for production of individual spectacle lenses according to prescription.
In optical production, “blocking-on” or, for short, “blocking” generally denotes the procedure in which an optical workpiece is temporarily fastened with the aid of a suitable material (alloyed material of low melting point—so-called “alloy”—or adhesive) on a so-called “block piece” or, however, the blocking material is coated on the workpiece so as to itself form the block piece, which then serves the purpose of holding the workpiece in the respective processing machine and/or coating system.
Spectacle lenses are blocked on a large scale in the afore-mentioned RX workshops before each blocked spectacle lens is then processed by material removal with geometrically defined cutting (milling/turning) or geometrically undefined cutting (grinding/polishing) at its back surface or front surface with respect to its optical effect and/or at the edge for fitting in an associated spectacle frame and/or is coated on its back surface or front surface for achieving additional effects (increase in scratch resistance, anti-reflection properties, vapor deposition, hydrophobic properties, etc.).
When in the following in connection with the present invention mention is made in general of “spectacle lenses” as preferred field of use there are to be understood by that optical lenses or lens preforms (blanks) for spectacles of customary materials such as polycarbonate, mineral glass, CR 39, HI-index, etc., which may have any (preliminary) shape of the circumferential edge of the lens or lens blank and which prior to blocking may—but do not have to—have already undergone (preliminary) processing and/or (preliminary) coating at one optically effective surface or both optically effective surfaces and/or at the edge. In addition, the spectacle lens can be provided on its surface, at which it is or is to be blocked, with a film, a lacquer or the like so as to protect this surface from contamination and damage and/or to improve the adhesion characteristics between spectacle lens and blocking material, without this being specifically mentioned on each occasion in the following.
In optical production, by contrast to “blocking” that process in which the optical workpiece after (final) processing thereof (at surface and/or edge) and/or coating thereof is again separated from the block piece/blocking material is called “deblocking”. For the deblocking of spectacle lenses, a pressure medium such as water is usually used in the prior art to detach the spectacle lens from the block piece by application of hydraulic forces. In that regard, a technological approach has become established in which the application of hydraulic forces takes place from “outside” and, in particular, by a high-pressure water jet, which is delivered by a nozzle and impinges on an edge location between block piece and spectacle lens (for example WO 2008/003805 A1,
In general, prior art optical machines for the treatment and/or processing of optical workpieces such as spectacle lenses usually have a holding arrangement, which is mounted on a machine frame, for the optical workpiece and at least one, optionally even several, treatment and/or processing devices, which are mounted on the machine frame, for treatment and/or processing of the optical workpiece, which is held in the workpiece holding arrangement, in a work space, in which case a relative movement between the workpiece holding arrangement and the respective treatment and/or processing device is possible particularly for the treatment and/or processing of the optical workpiece in the work space.
For the specific case of deblocking of optical workpieces, such as spectacle lenses, from associated block pieces, document DE 10 2009 048 590 A1, for example, discloses a deblocking device comprising a first movement device (motor spindle with clamping chuck) for rotation of the spectacle lens, which is blocked on a block piece, about a workpiece axis of rotation as a component of a workpiece holding arrangement of the deblocking device, a nozzle subassembly with a nozzle for delivery of a high-pressure water jet in a direction substantially transverse to the workpiece axis of rotation onto an edge region between spectacle lens and block piece as a first treatment device of the deblocking device, and a second movement device for producing a relative movement between the spectacle lens and the nozzle along the workpiece axis of rotation.
In that case, the spectacle lens can be displaced with respect to the nozzle—or conversely the nozzle with respect to the spectacle lens—by the second movement device along the workpiece axis of rotation under positional regulation so that the high-pressure water jet is directed onto a predetermined point of incidence in the edge region between spectacle lens and block piece. As a result, the high-pressure water jet does not impinge more or less randomly on the separating point between block piece and blocking material or the separating point between blocking material and spectacle lens, but as a consequence of the relative (height) adjustability of nozzle and block piece can be directed under CNC targeting onto the respective separating point, which enables rapid deblocking and makes this device particularly suitable for use in RX workshops.
Moreover, in the case of this prior art there can be provided, for cleaning the deblocked spectacle lens, a further nozzle for delivery of a further, rotating high-pressure jet as a second treatment device of the deblocking device, which serves the purpose of, in particular, “peeling off” from the spectacle lens any blocking material which might still adhere to the deblocked spectacle lens. A suction device with a suction head serving the purpose of holding the spectacle lens at an end surface thereof during deblocking from the block piece forms a further component of the workpiece holding arrangement in this prior art deblocking device.
Finally and starting from this state of the art, document DE 10 2017 001 679 A1, which forms the preamble portion of claim 1, discloses a device for deblocking a lens from a block piece on which the lens is blocked with the aid of a blocking material, wherein a blocking side of the lens is optionally provided with a protective coating or protective film. This prior art device generally comprises a work space, a first holding device for rotational holding of the lens in the work space, a second holding device for rotational holding of the block piece in the work space and a plurality of nozzle devices for delivery of fluid jets in the work space.
In an endeavor to make possible a rapid deblocking with high throughput, it is proposed in this prior art, inter alia, to provide three nozzle devices for generating a first, a second and an additional fluid jet in the work space, wherein the first fluid jet can be used for detaching the lens together with the protective layer—insofar as present—from the blocking material, the second fluid jet for removal of blocking material from the block piece and the additional fluid jet for removal of the protective layer and/or blocking material from the lens.
Whereas in this prior art the second holding device for rotational holding of the block piece in a predetermined relative position with respect to the three nozzle devices is arranged in a fixed location in the work space, the first holding device for rotational holding of the lens in the work space can be pivoted together with the deblocked lens out of the work space, i.e. pivoted away from the deblocked block piece. As a result, the deblocking device of this configuration enables placing of the lens, which is blocked on the block piece, in the work space, deblocking of the lens from the block piece in the work space, cleaning of the deblocked lens and the deblocked block piece in the work space, removal of the deblocked lens from the work space and removal of the deblocked block piece from the work space in a sequential succession. However, a higher throughput in the deblocking of a multiplicity of lenses, such as takes place in RX workshops, would be desirable.
The invention specifically has the object of providing a deblocking device and a method for deblocking optical workpieces, particularly spectacle lenses, from associated block pieces, which device and method enable fastest possible deblocking of workpieces. In general, the invention has the object of creating an optical machine for the treatment and/or processing of optical workpieces, particularly spectacle lenses, by which a highest possible throughput of workpieces is achievable in an industrial production environment.
This object is fulfilled generally by an optical machine for treatment and/or processing of optical workpieces, such as spectacle lenses, with the features of claim 1 or specifically by a deblocking device and a method for deblocking of optical workpieces, such as spectacle lenses, from associated block pieces with the features of claims 15 and 24, respectively. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.
According to the invention, in an optical machine for the treatment and/or processing of optical workpieces, particularly spectacle lenses, comprising a machine frame, a workpiece holding arrangement movably mounted on the machine frame and at least two treatment and/or processing devices, which are mounted on the machine frame, for treatment and/or processing of an optical workpiece held in the workpiece holding arrangement, the workpiece holding arrangement comprises a plurality of partition walls which mutually separate and delimit at least three work spaces, with each of which there is associated—for parallel use for different optical workpieces—a respective workpiece holder, wherein the work spaces together with the workpiece holding arrangement are movable with respect to the machine frame so that each work space is selectably displaceable from a loading station, which has a fixed location at the machine frame, for the optical workpiece to the treatment and/or processing stations, which are three-dimensionally spaced from the loading station and which comprise treatment and/or processing devices, and conversely.
According to the invention, in the case of, especially, a deblocking device for deblocking of optical workpieces, particularly spectacle lenses, from associated block pieces, comprising a loading station for loading optical workpieces, which are blocked on block pieces, prior to deblocking and/or unloading of deblocked optical workpieces and/or of block pieces after the deblocking, a deblocking station as treatment station for the deblocking of optical workpieces from the respectively associated block piece and a cleaning station as treatment station for the cleaning of the deblocked workpieces and/or the block pieces, each work space is displaceable together with the workpiece holding arrangement in a movement cycle from the loading station via the deblocking station and the cleaning station to the loading station so that the work spaces are simultaneously usable for different optical workpieces and different processes.
With respect to method, according to the invention in a method for the deblocking of optical workpieces, particularly spectacle lenses, from associated block pieces and comprising the following steps: i) placing an optical workpiece, which is blocked on a block piece, in a deblocking device as a first handling step, ii) deblocking the optical workpiece from the block piece in the deblocking device, iii) removing the deblocked optical workpiece from the deblocking device as a second handling step and iv) removing or taking out the block piece, which is separated from the optical workpiece, from the deblocking device as a third handling step, it is further provided that the above deblocking step ii) and at least one of the above handling steps i), iii) and iv) are performed simultaneously for different optical workpieces or block pieces and/or that after the deblocking step ii) and prior to the handling step iii) and/or iv) the deblocked optical workpiece and/or the block piece is or are subjected to a cleaning step v), wherein the cleaning step v) and at least the deblocking step ii) are performed simultaneously for different optical workpieces or block pieces.
In essence, in terms of device the present invention is thus based on providing a workpiece holding arrangement which is movable relative to the stationary machine frame of the respective optical machine and the special feature of which resides in the fact that in its physical form it defines a plurality of work spaces in which several optical workpieces can be subjected to treatment and/or processing simultaneously at a plurality of treatment and/or processing stations distributed at the machine frame. Parallel therewith in time it is possible for a work space, in which no treatment and/or processing of the optical workpieces is or are carried out, to be loaded at the loading station, which is similarly arranged at the machine frame and which is physically separate from the treatment and/or processing stations, with new optical workpieces or for already handled and/or processed optical workpieces to be unloaded. In that case, each work space of the workpiece holding arrangement is movable from station to station and equipped at least with a workpiece holder, i.e. the work spaces physically separated from one another are thus to that extent configured to be the same so that each work space can be employed at each of the stations (loading station, treatment and/or processing stations).
Thus, for example in the case of the afore-described deblocking device, a first optical workpiece blocked on a block piece can be loaded at the loading station into a work space of the workpiece holding arrangement and/or a deblocked second optical workpiece and/or a deblocked block piece unloaded at the loading station from a work space of the workpiece holding arrangement at the same time, whilst a third optical workpiece is deblocked from the associated block piece in a work space, which is present at the deblocking station, of the workpiece holding arrangement and a fourth optical workpiece is cleaned in a work space, which is present at the cleaning station, of the workpiece holding arrangement. Each individual optical workpiece in that case sequentially runs through the individual process steps, which, however, elapse simultaneously for different optical workpieces.
Such an embodiment of the deblocking device also allows performance of the method according to the invention, which in essence is based on performing at least the deblocking step ii) simultaneously with at least one of the handling steps i), iii) and iv) and/or the cleaning step v) for different optical workpieces or block pieces, so that at least two process steps elapse parallely in time during the deblocking. By comparison with the prior art outlined in the introduction, in which it is not possible to perform further process steps during the deblocking, this already enables a substantial increase in throughput of optical workpieces. If in addition to the deblocking step ii) even two or more further process steps are executed simultaneously, the throughput can be further significantly increased. This high level of throughput performance makes the optical machine according to the invention and the deblocking method according to the invention suitable for use in an industrial production environment in which a very large number of optical workpieces for treatment or processing arises.
Apart from the use of this optical machine concept for the deblocking of optical workpieces from associated block pieces, other applications in optical production in which different optical workpieces undergo at least two treatment and/or processing steps are, of course, also conceivable. Thus, the optical machine according to the invention can find use for, for example, preliminary edging (cribbing) of optical lenses, particularly spectacle lenses. Such an optical machine then has—apart from the loading station for loading optical lenses which are to undergo (preliminary) edging or for unloading optical lenses which have undergone (preliminary) edging—for example at least two physically mutually separate processing stations with associated processing devices in which a first material-removing edge processing step or a second material-removing edge processing step takes place. The first material-removing edge processing step can serve for, for example, diameter reduction of a round spectacle lens blank, whereas the second material-removing edge processing step is provided for, for example, a first shape adaptation of the edge contour of the spectacle lens blank to a shape, which departs from a circular shape, in approximation to the later finished shape of the spectacle lens, and/or for edge refraction at the spectacle lens blank. These process steps can elapse parallely in time for different optical workpieces with the optical machine concept according to the invention without the optical workpieces having to be unchucked, so that a very high level of throughput is achievable. The gains in time and throughput which can be realized with the optical machine concept according to the invention by comparison with the prior art optical machines are maximized if the individual process steps are of substantially equal length, so that no or hardly any dead times, in which no treatment and/or processing of the optical workpieces takes or take place, arise at the individual treatment and/or processing stations.
If in the case of one of the treatment and/or processing steps in the respective treatment and/or processing stations a relative movement between the optical workpiece and the respective treatment and/or processing device is desirable or necessary then provision can be made for the workpiece holders of the workpiece holding arrangement to be mounted to each be rotatable about its longitudinal axis so as to enable this relative movement in the simplest possible manner. However, alternatively thereto the workpiece holders of the workpiece holding arrangement can also be constructed to be stationary with respect to the respective work space if the respective treatment and/or processing device is capable of generating the relative movement with respect to the optical workpiece, for example by “going around” the optical workpiece held at the respective workpiece holder.
In a preferred embodiment of the optical machine, the workpiece holding arrangement of which comprises rotatable workpiece holders, the workpiece holders are drivable for selectable rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, for which purpose there is associated with at least one of the treatment and/or processing stations a rotary drive which is mounted on the machine frame and drivingly connectible by a clutch with that workpiece holder which is present in the respective treatment and/or processing station. Thus, only those treatment and/or processing stations at which a rotational movement of the workpiece holder is necessary or desirable in correspondence with the relevant treatment or processing requirements are equipped with a rotary drive, which is fixed in location, for the workpiece holders. In principle, it is certainly also possible to provide an individual rotary drive for each workpiece holder, but such an embodiment of the optical machine would be incomparably more expensive, because the rotary drives would have to move in company with the work spaces—which in a given case would also oblige complex conducting of energy—and an individual rotary drive would even have to be allocated to each work space.
Fundamentally, it is conceivable to move the individual work spaces of the optical machine in, for example, a square arrangement with associated linear movement axes, a chain circulation or the like. By contrast, however, it is preferred to construct the optical machine so that the work spaces of the workpiece holding arrangement together with the workpiece holders thereof are arranged to be rotatable about a common axis of rotation. This allows a very compact construction of the optical machine with advantageously short paths for the movement of the work spaces and additionally facilitates precise positioning of the work spaces at the respective treatment and/or processing station, also because the individual components associated with the work spaces, such as, for example, the workpiece holders, remain in their position with respect to the axis of rotation. It is then merely necessary to provide an angle transducer at the axis of rotation for precise positioning of the work spaces.
In further pursuance of the concept of the invention provision can be made for the workpiece holding arrangement to be of drum-like construction, with two mutually opposite end walls between which the partition walls separating the work spaces are arranged, wherein the axis of rotation runs through the end walls. Alternatively thereto a turntable arrangement is conceivable with workpiece holders, which are uniformly angularly spaced about the axis of rotation, on an end face of the turntable. However, by contrast the drum arrangement offers, inter alia, the advantage that the separation or bounding of the individual work spaces by the partition walls between the end walls is simpler to execute. In an expedient embodiment of such a drum arrangement it can be provided that a first end wall of the workpiece holding arrangement carries the workpiece holders.
In correspondence with the respective treatment or processing requirements the optical machine can, moreover, be designed in such a way that a second end wall of the workpiece holding arrangement of drum-like construction carries workpiece counter-holders aligned with the workpiece holders. Thus, for example, it is possible in simple manner to secure the optical workpieces by counter-holders in the respective work space during the respective treatment and/or processing, which is not possible in the case of an equally conceivable “cantilever” mounting, i.e. at one end, of the optical workpieces at the workpiece holders.
In a preferred embodiment of the optical machine the workpiece counter-holders of the workpiece holding arrangement are mounted to be rotatable about the respective longitudinal axis thereof. In particular, it is then also possible to provide for the workpiece counter-holders of the workpiece holding arrangement to be selectably drivable for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, for which purpose there is associated with at least one of the treatment and/or processing stations a rotary drive which is mounted on the machine frame and drivingly connectible by a clutch with that workpiece counter-holder which is present in the respective treatment and/or processing station. The above explanations with respect to the preferred rotary design and arrangement of the workpiece holders and the rotary drive or drives thereof are applicable here in corresponding manner.
Moreover, the workpiece counter-holders of the workpiece holding arrangement can each be axially displaceable along the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the axis of rotation in correspondence with the respective treatment or processing requirements. As an alternative (or addition) thereto, the workpiece holders of the workpiece holding arrangement can (also) each be axially displaceable along the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the axis of rotation. However, this is less preferred particularly with regard to the stability of the arrangement.
In a concrete embodiment with respect thereto provision is preferably made for the workpiece counter-holders of the workpiece holding arrangement to be axially displaceable independently of one another by a respectively associated pneumatic cylinder. In principle, it is, in fact, also possible to produce the axial movements of the workpiece counter-holders by, for example, electric drives. However, this would be connected with a higher cost, particularly if the workpiece counter-holders are also constructed to be rotatable. The provision of pneumatic cylinders additionally offers the advantage—apart from a comparatively small requirement for installation space—that a constant force is available over the entire stroke of the pneumatic cylinder, which is conducive to fine sensitivity of the respective axial movement.
Moreover, the workpiece counter-holders of the workpiece holding arrangement can each be provided at the end thereof projecting into the respective work space with a suction head for holding the optical workpiece. It is indeed also possible to provide a gripper as an alternative to the suction head, but this presupposes that the edge of the optical workpiece to be gripped is not covered. By contrast, the suction head advantageously allows engagement with an end surface of the optical workpiece. Furthermore, a suction head is advantageously light and may not have any mechanically movable elements subject to wear or requiring maintenance.
Sofar as the conducting of energy to the pneumatic components to the extent described is concerned, it can be further provided that a pneumatic supply of the pneumatic cylinders and/or suction heads, which are rotatable together with the second end wall about the axis of rotation, for the workpiece counter-holders of the workpiece holding arrangement takes place by way of a common rotary joint, which is supported against rotation relative to the machine frame. In a particularly simple, compact and service-friendly arrangement the common rotary joint is preferably placed at the second end wall, near the workpiece counter-holders. However, the rotary joint can in principle also be seated at the first end wall or divided up, for the pneumatic cylinders and suction heads, between the two end walls, which, however, is less preferred particularly with regard to the outlay connected therewith.
With regard to transmission of torque from the respective rotary drive to the workpiece holders and/or the workpiece counter-holders it can be provided that the clutch is a mechanically positive clutch or a force-locking clutch depending on the relevant treatment or processing requirements. If in the respective treatment or processing the rotational angle of the optical workpiece held at the workpiece holder matters, then a mechanically positive clutch is provided, for example with—at the workpiece holder side—a sliding block which mechanically positively engages in a sliding groove of complementary shape of an entrainer provided at the rotary drive. On the other hand, if in the respective treatment or processing the rotational angle of the optical workpiece held at the workpiece holder does not matter, then, for example, a magnetic clutch with transmission of force across an air gap can be provided as a force-locking clutch.
If the afore-described machine concept is employed, for example, in a deblocking device for deblocking optical workpieces, namely spectacle lenses, from associated block pieces then it is preferred if the deblocking station of this deblocking device has, as first treatment device, a first nozzle subassembly with a first high-pressure nozzle for delivery of a high-pressure pressure medium jet for deblocking the optical workpieces from the respectively associated block piece. In principle, it is in fact also conceivable to mechanically deblock the optical workpieces from the associated block pieces, for example with the assistance of suitable cutting or the like, but this is less preferred particularly in view of process safety and good controllability of the deblocking process.
For fastest possible and most reliable possible deblocking by a high-pressure pressure medium jet, it is particularly preferred if the first high-pressure nozzle for delivery of the high-pressure pressure medium jet for deblocking of the optical workpieces from the respectively associated block piece is settable in situ in its axial position and/or its adjustment angle with respect to a blocked optical workpiece held in the deblocking station by the workpiece holding arrangement. By comparison with the possible alternative of a fluid-based deblocking without corresponding geometric setting possibilities at the high-pressure nozzle, the above setting possibility offers the advantage that during the deblocking process the high-pressure pressure medium jet can be directed or appropriately tracked in targeted manner to a specific point between workpiece and block piece so as to accelerate the deblocking.
Further, in the case of use of the afore-described machine concept in a deblocking device the above statement with respect to the deblocking station correspondingly applies to the cleaning station of the deblocking device. Thus, for example, mechanical cleaning by, for example, brushes or cleaning by ultrasound can be carried out in the cleaning station. On the other hand, however, it is preferred if the cleaning station has, as second treatment device, a second nozzle sub-assembly with a second high-pressure nozzle for delivery of a high-pressure pressure medium jet for cleaning the deblocked workpieces and/or the block pieces. It is also particularly preferred for acceleration of the cleaning processes at workpiece and block piece if the cleaning station has, as third treatment device, a third nozzle sub-assembly with a third high-pressure nozzle for delivery of a high-pressure pressure medium jet for cleaning the block pieces and/or the deblocked workpieces. The second high-pressure nozzle can thus be advantageously directed onto, for example, the deblocked workpiece whilst the third high-pressure nozzle targets the deblocked block piece, so that workpiece and block piece are cleaned simultaneously.
In a preferred embodiment of the deblocking device it is additionally provided that the loading station comprises a first sub-station for the loading of optical workpieces, which are blocked on block pieces, prior to the deblocking and for unloading of block pieces after the deblocking, as well as a second sub-station for unloading deblocked optical workpieces after the deblocking. By comparison with the possible alternative of a loading station without two sub-stations the above configuration of the deblocking device advantageously again allows parallelization of the processes, wherein, for example, unloading of a deblocked optical workpiece can take place simultaneously with unloading of a deblocked block piece or loading with a further optical workpiece in the blocked state.
In that regard, it is particularly preferred if the second sub-station for unloading of deblocked optical workpieces after the deblocking comprises a device, as further treatment device, for drying the deblocked optical workpieces. Then, if the above deblocking step ii) and/or the cleaning step v) takes or take place with the assistance of at least one high-pressure pressure medium jet, the deblocked optical workpiece can advantageously be simultaneously dried during the handling step iii), so that again different process steps are executed simultaneously.
For drying of the deblocked optical workpieces it is possible to, for example, pursue an approach in which centrifuging off of water drops by rotational drive of the handled optical workpiece or automatic wiping off of the optical workpiece by a suitable textile material is carried out. On the other hand, however, it is preferred particularly with respect to a high level of process security, namely a small risk of the deblocked optical workpiece experiencing damage during drying, if the device for drying of the deblocked optical workpieces comprises a workpiece gripper, by which a deblocked optical workpiece can be gripped, and at least one air nozzle, wherein the workpiece gripper and the air nozzle are movable relative to one another so that for the drying of a deblocked optical workpiece gripped by the workpiece gripper an air flow delivered by the air nozzle can be guided or wipes over the optical workpiece.
Finally, it is preferred, particularly with respect to a rapid succession of deblocking processes for multiple optical workpieces without the necessity of interrupting the machine running on occasion for maintenance and cleaning purposes, if there is associated with the deblocking station and/or the cleaning station at least one separate cleaning nozzle for delivery of a low-pressure pressure medium jet for cleaning of the respective station and/or if there is arranged below the deblocking station and the cleaning station a funnel-shaped housing section for collection in common of pressure medium, blocking material and other residues for preparation or disposal.
The invention is explained in more detail in the following on the basis of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying, partly simplified or schematic drawings, which are not to scale and in which:
With respect to the drawings it may also be noted at this point that the illustration of the deblocking device according to the invention is in a right-angled Cartesian co-ordinate system in which the letter x denotes the length direction, the letter y denotes the width direction and the letter z denotes the height direction of the deblocking device. In order to reveal a view of essential components or subassemblies of the deblocking device and for simplification of the illustration, parts of the cladding, the supply devices (inclusive of lines, hoses and pipes) for power, compressed air and water as pressure medium, the suction device as well as the measuring, maintenance and safety devices, in particular, have mostly been omitted in the drawings, since they do not appear necessary for an understanding of the invention and are in any case familiar to the expert.
A deblocking device, for example for an optical machine for treatment and/or processing optical workpieces, for the deblocking of optical workpieces, such as spectacle lenses L, from associated block pieces B is generally denoted by the reference AV in
As can be seen particularly clearly in
According to, in particular,
According to, in particular,
The hydraulic supply of the nozzle subassemblies DB1, DB2, DB3 is carried out by way of a hydraulic arrangement HA which, according to
The hydraulic arrangement HA is the subject of parallel German Patent Application DE 10 2019 006 505.0, i.e. filed with the same application date, under the title “Hydraulic arrangement for a device for deblocking optical workpieces, particularly spectacle lenses, from associated block pieces”, to which, for the avoidance of repetition, express reference may be made at this point with respect to the more specific construction and function of the hydraulic arrangement HA.
Arranged at approximately the same height as the workpiece holding arrangement WH and on the right in
Mounted above the workpiece holding arrangement WH and the transfer station TS at the machine frame MG is a loading system LS by which the spectacle lenses L blocked on block pieces B, deblocked spectacle lenses L and block pieces B can be transported between the transfer station TS and the loading station PS provided at the workpiece holding arrangement WH and placed in or removed from the respective station TS, PS. The loading system LS generally comprises a carrier TR, which is movable in a movement plane x-y by way of two linear guide units LF1, LF2 and which carries three holders H1, H2, H3 movable in a transverse direction z with respect to the movement plane x-y. Of these, a first holder H1 (concealed in
The loading system LS is the subject of parallel German Patent Application DE 10 2019 006 503.4, i.e. filed with the same application date, under the title “Loading system for an optical machine, particularly for loading and unloading optical workpieces, such as spectacle lenses, and deblocking device comprising such a loading system”, to which, for the avoidance of repetition, express reference is made at this point with respect to the more specific construction and function of the loading system LS.
In addition,
Further details of the workpiece holding arrangement WH can be inferred from
For that purpose, the work spaces AR1, AR2, AR3 and AR4 of the workpiece holding arrangement WH together with their workpiece holders CH are arranged to be rotatable about a common axis RA of rotation. The overall result is a drum-like construction of the workpiece holding arrangement WH, as can be readily seen in
Whereas a first end wall SW1 of the workpiece holding arrangement WH of drum-like construction carries the workpiece holders CH, as can be readily seen in
Before further details with respect to the workpiece holders CH and the workpiece counter-holders WC as well as the movement possibilities thereof in relation to the end walls SW1, SW2 are discussed, the rotary drive and rotational mounting of the entire workpiece holding arrangement WH in the machine frame WG shall firstly be explained in more detail. As can be best seen in
According to
According to, in particular,
The workpiece holders CH of the workpiece holding arrangement WH can be driven to rotate about the longitudinal axis LA1 thereof, for which purpose a respective rotary drive RD1 is associated with each of the deblocking station DS and the cleaning station CS. The two rotary drives RD1 are mounted in fixed position at the machine frame MG, more precisely flange-mounted on the base BA connected therewith, and can be drivingly connected by a clutch CL1 with that workpiece holder CH which is present in or at the respective station DS, CS.
Details with respect thereto can be inferred from, in particular,
It will be apparent to the expert that an annular encircling guide track is the overall result. If the workpiece holding arrangement WH is disposed in an angular position about the axis RA of rotation in which the workpiece holders CH have not yet reached or have already left the respective position thereof in the stations LS1, DS, CS or LS2 of the deblocking device AV, then the entrainers MN1 of the rotary drives RD1 are (angularly) guided by way of the sliding elements KU3, whilst the sliding blocks KU1 at the workpiece holders CH are (angularly) guided in the annular groove KU4 of the base BA. On reaching the work position at the respective rotary drive RD1 the sliding block KU1 of the corresponding workpiece holders CH is pivoted into the sliding groove KU2 at the entrainer MM1 of the respective rotary drive RD1 and thus engages the clutch CL1. For further pivotation of the workpiece holding arrangement WH about the axis RA of rotation, the respective rotary drive RD1 is, of course, to be so positioned in rotational angle by its entrainer MN1 that an encircling guide track again results so that the clutch CL1 can disengage and further rotational movement of the workpiece holding arrangement WH is not obstructed.
Finally, a clamping chuck cylinder SZ is flange-mounted, as
The workpiece counter-holders WC of the workpiece holding arrangement WH can also be driven for rotation about the longitudinal axis LA2 thereof, for which purpose a rotary drive RD2 is associated with the cleaning station CS. The rotary drive RD2 is mounted on the machine frame MG in fixed location, more precisely secured to the base plate GP—which is connected therewith—by a bracket KE1. The rotary drive RD2 can be drivingly connected by a clutch CL2 with that workpiece counter-holder WC which is then present at the cleaning station CS.
Details with respect thereto can be inferred from, in particular,
The respective counterpart GS for the clutch CL2 is rotatably mounted, together with a first gearwheel of a gearwheel pair ZP, on a bearing block LB, which is secured to the second end wall SW2. As shown in, in particular,
A round-rod guide with ball bushings KB is mounted, as a further linear guide, for each workpiece counter-holder WC in parallel with the afore-described slide-bearing linear guide. This further linear guide comprises a respective round rod RE which is fixedly connected with the respective square tube VK by way of a cross member TV and which according to
As
For pneumatic activation of the pneumatic cylinders PC, which here are executed as double-acting cylinders, there is associated with each pneumatic cylinder PC a switching valve SV which in the illustrated embodiment is constructed as a plunger-actuated monostable 5/2-way valve (see also
In the valve basic setting each switching valve SV is so switched by spring bias that the pneumatic cylinder PC executes a movement into the rear cylinder end position (“retraction”). This valve setting is necessary for, for example, the deblocking station DS so as to pull the spectacle lens L thereat from the block piece B when vacuum prevails at the suction head SH, for which purpose, for example, a drawing-off force of approximately 30 N is required. If the switching valve SV is switched, the respective pneumatic cylinder PC then moves the workpiece counter-holder WC, which is connected therewith, forwardly in the direction of the opposite workpiece holder CH. Through this valve switching it is possible, for example, in the deblocking station DS to shut off the switching force from the switching valve SV when the vacuum at the suction head SH, which rests on the spectacle lens L to be deblocked, is built up, whereupon the spectacle lens L is drawn away by the pneumatic cylinder PC from the block piece B held at the workpiece holder CH.
Provided for actuation of the switching valves SV are actuating cylinders BZ which each comprise a plunger for mechanical loading of the switching valves SV with a switching force—indicated in
A pneumatic supply of the pneumatic cylinders PC, which are rotatable together with the second end wall SW2 of the workpiece holding arrangement WH about the axis RA of rotation, and the suction heads SH for the workpiece counter-holders WC of the workpiece holding arrangement WH takes place by way of a common rotary joint DD, which is supported against rotation relative to the machine frame MG. In order to support the rotary joint DD against rotation, the rotary joint DD comprises, particularly according to
In the case of the circuitry, which is provided here, of the pneumatic cylinders PC all switching valves SV can be supplied by way of a common pressure connection, whereas for the four suction heads SH at the workpiece counter-holders WC four sub-atmospheric pressure connections, which are to be controlled separately, are needed, as schematically illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment each suction line SL has a helical hose section so as to be able to follow the linear movements of the workpiece counter-holders WC (see, in that respect,
As already explained further above, the first nozzle subassembly DB1 is movably mounted on the machine frame MG so as to be able to set the axial position and the adjustment angle of the first high-pressure nozzle HD1 even during the deblocking process. Details with respect thereto can be inferred from, in particular,
Accordingly, a linear drive AD, which is screw-connected with the base plate GP by way of a bracket KE2, is provided for producing an axial movement of the first nozzle subassembly DB1 parallel to the longitudinal axes LA1 of the workpiece holders CH. In the illustrated embodiment, the linear drive AD is an electro-cylinder with stepper motor and transducer feedback, which can be operated as a CNC axis. The linear drive AD is connected, to be effective in terms of actuation, with a carriage SD which is guided by way of a round-rod guide RF with ball bushings at the bracket KE2, as can be best seen in
At its end projecting into the deblocking station DS the carriage SD carries a worm-wheel transmission SR (see
As shown in, in particular,
In the illustrated embodiment the workpiece gripper PG is constructed as a parallel gripper which according to, in particular,
A pivot mechanism PM, which can best seen in
It will be apparent that through suitable activation of the electro-cylinder PM5 the workpiece gripper PG mounted on a pivot arm PM3 can be pivoted about the pivot axis SA into the second sub-station PS2 of the loading station PS (
The following combined removal and drying procedure is thus possible: The workpiece gripper PG is pivoted by the pivot mechanism PM about the pivot axis SA into that work space of the workpiece holding arrangement WH which is then present at the second sub-station PS2 of the loading station PS (
With respect to the construction of the housing for the workpiece holding arrangement WH the following may be established at this point. According to
Water is used as process liquid in the deblocking device AV. In this regard, operation can be with, for example, a pressure of approximately 160 bar for the deblocking. For cleaning of the spectacle lenses L and the block pieces B, between 80 bar and 160 bar are used depending on the respective workpiece. Since the water jet also impinges on the optical surfaces of the spectacle lenses L, care has to be taken to ensure that the water is free of particles, which is guaranteed by an external unit (not illustrated) making filtered water with a defined pressure and volume flow available to the deblocking device AV. A water filter F (see
As will be apparent to the expert from the above description of a preferred embodiment of the deblocking device AV, the following (main) process steps i) to v) of a deblocking method are in general carried out in the deblocking device AV for each individual spectacle lens L:
In that regard, the above deblocking step ii), the cleaning step v) and the second handling step iii) are performed simultaneously for different spectacle lenses L or block pieces B, wherein the respective deblocked spectacle lens L is advantageously dried at the same time in the second handling step iii), as already described above with reference to
An optical machine for treatment and/or processing optical workpieces such as spectacle lenses, comprises a machine frame at which a workpiece holding arrangement is movably mounted and at least two treatment and/or processing devices for treatment and/or processing a workpiece held in the workpiece holding arrangement are mounted. The workpiece holding arrangement has a plurality of partition walls which separate at least three work spaces from one another and bound them, the work spaces being movable by the workpiece holding arrangement to the treatment and/or processing devices. A workpiece holder is associated with each work space for parallel use of the work spaces for different workpieces. In use as a deblocking device, each work space is displaceable together with the workpiece holding arrangement with respect to the machine frame in a movement cycle from a loading station fixed in location at the machine frame, via stationary deblocking and cleaning stations, which are physically spaced from the loading station and comprise treatment and/or processing devices, back to the loading station, so that the work spaces are simultaneously usable for different workpieces and different processes.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2019 006 504.2 | Sep 2019 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/000151 | 9/7/2020 | WO |
