Apparatus and process for the production of thermoplastic optical elements

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of equipment and process for preparing thermoplastic optical element, it is related to optical element preparation technical field.The equipment includes processing barrel and the partition processing component for carrying out partition pretreatment to raw material installed in the interior of processing barrel, and the bottom of processing barrel is equipped with hot melt tank.The application can complete corresponding heating to different areas by heating component cooperation adjustment component and partition processing component, and the raw material can be gradient heated by the circulation adjustment of adjustment component, so as to reduce the probability of yield decline and cost increase caused by improper treatment of raw material for different boiling point or different thermal sensitivity materials, inert gas can be supplied into bearing block by the setting of gas supply component, and the oxidation and side reaction are inhibited by the action of inert gas, the oxidation and hydrolysis reaction between oxygen and moisture in air and material are limited, the generation of microstructure defects is reduced, so as to reduce internal stress.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical element fabrication technology, specifically to an apparatus and process for fabricating thermoplastic optical elements. Background Technology

[0002] Thermoplastic optical components use thermoplastic polymers as the substrate, which are softened by heating, molded, shaped, and cured. They possess good processability and repeatability and are commonly used in lenses, thin-film optics, microlens arrays, and optical modules. The key lies in achieving high optical quality (low surface roughness, low dispersion, stable wavefront), excellent mechanical and thermal properties (temperature resistance, impact resistance, dimensional stability), and good compatibility with thin-film coatings.

[0003] A manufacturing method for transmissive optical elements using a thermoplastic resin film is disclosed in patent publication number CN113811433A. The method includes: a hot pressing step, in which the thermoplastic resin film is hot-pressed using at least one pair of flat molds to obtain a hot-pressed film; a mold cooling step, in which the pair of flat molds are cooled to a temperature below the glass transition temperature (Tgr) °C of the thermoplastic resin film to cool the hot-pressed film; and a demolding step, in which the hot-pressed film is demolded from the pair of flat molds while being subjected to tension, to obtain a molded film containing multiple transmissive optical elements.

[0004] In the fabrication of thermoplastic optical components, pretreatment of raw materials is necessary. Existing technologies have drawbacks in terms of moisture management, initial stress control, and thermal gradient adjustment. This can lead to residual moisture and ineffective elimination of initial stress before molding, resulting in numerous bubbles, poor adhesion, and localized stress concentration during the molding stage. During raw material pretreatment, for high-boiling-point or highly heat-sensitive materials, uniform temperatures are insufficient to achieve optimal moisture evaporation or degradation conditions, leading to increased moisture residue, gas inclusions, and surface defects. For materials with low thermal stability, uniform high temperatures can easily trigger decomposition and degradation products, affecting optical performance and dimensional stability. For materials with lower thermal requirements, high temperatures may cause over-drying and rapid viscosity changes, resulting in batch-to-batch fluctuations in optical and mechanical properties. Uniform temperatures ignore the temperature adaptability differences between raw materials, easily leading to incomplete moisture removal, increased risk of material degradation, fluctuations in viscosity and mechanical properties, decreased yield, and increased costs. Therefore, this invention is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus and process for manufacturing thermoplastic optical elements to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an apparatus for preparing thermoplastic optical elements, comprising a processing tank and a partitioned processing component installed inside the processing tank for partitioned pretreatment of raw materials. A hot melt tank is installed at the bottom of the processing tank, and a can lid is installed on the outer wall of the top of the hot melt tank. A transfer mechanism is installed between the processing tank and the can lid. The transfer mechanism includes a mixing component for improving the hot melt effect and an adjusting component for driving the partitioned processing component. Several auxiliary mechanisms are installed on the outer wall of the can lid. The auxiliary mechanisms include a heating component and a gas supply component. The partitioned processing component is heated in partitioned sections by the several heating components. The partitioned processing component includes several components installed on the inner wall of the bottom of the processing tank. Each support block has a hollow internal structure. A bent pipe is installed between the inner walls of both ends of the support block. Several copper pillars are installed on the outer wall of the bent pipe. A top plate is installed on the top outer wall of the processing tank. Several vertical grooves corresponding to the support block are opened on the top outer wall of the top plate and the bottom outer wall of the processing tank. A rotatable bottom plate is installed on the bottom outer wall of the processing tank. A hopper is installed on the bottom outer wall of the bottom plate. A vertical pipe is installed on the top outer wall of the tank lid. The hopper is inserted into the vertical pipe. A through groove adapted to the vertical grooves is opened on the outer wall of the bottom plate. The bottom plate is rotated by an adjusting component. A heating component is connected to the outer wall of the support block, and an air supply component is connected to the inner wall of the support block. A discharge mechanism for forming and unloading is installed at the bottom of the hot melt tank.

[0007] The heating assembly includes a heating tank installed on the outer wall of the tank cover, an annular groove on the outer wall of the processing tank, pipe grooves on both ends of the inner wall of the annular groove corresponding to the bearing block, a first fixed pipe installed in the pipe groove at both ends of the outer wall of the bearing block, a first fixed pipe installed on the outer walls of both ends of the heating tank, valves and pump bodies installed on the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, and a change component for adjusting the heating situation installed in the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe.

[0008] The alteration component includes side grooves formed on the outer walls of the inlet and outlet tubes, an airbag installed in the side grooves, a movable ring connected to the airbag inserted in the side grooves, a movable block adapted to the first fixed tube installed on the outer wall of the movable ring, the first fixed tube inserted into the movable block, a connecting post installed on the bottom outer wall of both the inlet and outlet tubes, an air box installed on the bottom outer wall of the connecting post, a pump installed on the air box, and a conduit embedded in the air box connected to the airbag in the inlet and outlet tubes.

[0009] The air supply assembly includes an air guide pipe embedded in the inlet pipe, a folded pipe installed at the inlet of the air guide pipe, a horizontal pipe installed on the outer wall of the folded pipe, a connecting plate installed between the outer wall of the horizontal pipe and the inner wall of the moving ring, and a second fixed pipe with the air inlet located in the first fixed pipe installed on the inner wall of the bearing block, the second fixed pipe being inserted into the horizontal pipe.

[0010] Furthermore, the mixing assembly includes a gear driven by a drive motor mounted on the outer wall of the top of the can lid. A gear ring meshing with the gear is mounted on the outer wall of the vertical tube. A first annular groove and a second annular groove are respectively formed on the outer and inner walls of the vertical tube. A first annular block with an electromagnet embedded in its inner wall is placed in the first annular groove. A second annular block with a magnetically attracted metal embedded in its outer wall is placed in the second annular groove. The first annular block and the second annular block are connected by magnetic attraction. Connecting blocks are installed on the inner walls of both ends of the second annular block. A vertical rod is installed between the connecting blocks. Several first stirring rods are installed on the outer wall of the vertical rod inside the hot melt tank. A first circular plate is installed on the inner wall of the vertical tube. The first circular plate is sleeved on the outer wall of the vertical rod. A second circular plate that fits against the first circular plate is installed on the outer wall of the vertical rod. Several holes and slots are formed on the top outer walls of both the first and second circular plates. Several second stirring rods are installed on the outer wall of the vertical rod at the top of the first circular plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the adjustment assembly includes a groove formed on the outer wall of the bottom of the base plate, an electric push rod is embedded in the vertical rod, and a protrusion adapted to the groove is installed at one end of the piston rod of the electric push rod. The base plate is rotated by inserting the protrusion into the groove.

[0012] Furthermore, a discharge pipe is installed on the bottom outer wall of the hot melt tank, and a discharge valve is installed on the discharge pipe. A heating component is embedded in the inner wall of the hot melt tank. The feeding component includes a forming block installed on the discharge pipe. A material collection groove is opened on the top outer wall of the forming block, and a forming groove communicating with the material collection groove is opened on the bottom outer wall of the forming block. The inner and outer walls of the forming block are hollow. A top pipe and a bottom pipe are respectively installed on the top and bottom outer walls of the forming block. A bottom column is installed on the bottom outer wall of the hot melt tank, and a hydraulic cylinder is embedded in the bottom column. A round block is installed at one end of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder, and a rotary motor is installed in the round block. A cutter is installed at one end of the piston rod of the rotary motor.

[0013] A process for preparing thermoplastic optical elements, using the aforementioned equipment for preparing thermoplastic optical elements, the process includes: obtaining raw materials; obtaining a pretreatment temperature based on the raw materials; adjusting the heating intensity of a heating component based on the pretreatment temperature; determining whether the raw materials require gradient heating; if gradient heating is required, adjusting the component in conjunction with the rotation of the base plate to complete the gradient heating of the raw materials; supplying inert gas into the support block through a gas supply component; after pretreatment, adjusting the component in conjunction with the rotation of the base plate to complete the gas supply; placing the raw materials into a hot melt tank; melting the raw materials through a mixing component in conjunction with the heating component; and after melting, forming and discharging through a discharge mechanism to complete the preparation of the optical element.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0015] The equipment and process for preparing thermoplastic optical elements can provide corresponding heating to different areas through the combination of heating components, adjustment components, and zone processing components. The heating process can be combined, and a single heating component can maintain a single temperature for heating in advance. The adjustment component, in conjunction with the zone processing component, adjusts the objects heated by the heating components to achieve zoned heating. Through the cyclic adjustment of the adjustment component, the raw materials can be heated in a gradient manner, which is convenient for materials with different boiling points or different heat sensitivities. This reduces the probability of decreased yield and increased cost due to improper raw material processing. The gas supply component can select inert gas to be supplied to the support block. The inert gas restricts oxidation and side reactions, inhibits oxidation, hydrolysis and other reactions between oxygen and moisture in the air and the material, reduces the generation of microstructural defects, and thus reduces the generation of internal stress.

[0016] Simultaneously, preheating the gas through the inlet pipe and delivering it into the bearing block improves the processing efficiency of the raw materials inside the bearing block. The connecting plate allows the horizontal pipe to move with the moving ring, enabling it to disconnect and connect together with the moving block. Sealing gaskets can be installed at the connection points to improve sealing. Rotation of the vertical rod stirs the raw materials inside the hot melt tank via the first stirring rod, improving mixing efficiency and hot melt effect. Rotation of the second stirring rod crushes the raw materials located at the top of the first circular plate. The holes and slots on the first and second circular plates are interconnected, allowing for material feeding. In actual use, a staged stirring method can be adopted to stir the raw materials inside the hot melt tank. After stirring, adjusting the holes and slots on the first and second circular plates to prevent them from connecting reduces the heat required for the hot melt tank's operation and lowers hot melt costs.

[0017] Simultaneously, the protrusion is lifted until it is inserted into the groove. At this time, the vertical rod rotates, which drives the base plate to rotate, thereby completing the feeding of raw materials in different bearing blocks. In addition, there is a vertical groove in the processing tank where no bearing block is placed on the top, so that raw materials that do not require pretreatment can be directly put in or vented during melting to reduce the pressure in the hot melt tank. Gas can also be transported to the hot melt tank through the horizontal pipe in the inlet pipe, so as to supply gas to the hot melt tank according to the usage requirements and improve the hot melt efficiency. The thickness of the cut object can be adjusted by the action of the hydraulic cylinder to facilitate the application of different preparation needs. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the processing tank of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the processing tank and hot melt tank of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hot melt tank structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the vertical tube structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the base plate of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the heating tank structure of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the bearing block of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 9 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of part of the inlet tube structure of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 10 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the molding block of the present invention.

[0028] In the diagram: 1. Processing tank; 2. Hot melt tank; 3. Discharge mechanism; 301. Bottom column; 302. Circular block; 303. Cutter; 304. Forming block; 305. Collection trough; 306. Forming trough; 4. Tank lid; 5. Transfer mechanism; 501. Gear; 502. Gear ring; 503. Vertical rod; 504. Protrusion; 505. First stirring rod; 506. Second stirring rod; 507. First circular plate; 508. Second circular plate; 509. First annular block; 510. Second annular block 511. Block; 6. Groove; 6. Auxiliary mechanism; 601. Heating tank; 602. Inlet pipe; 603. Outlet pipe; 604. Air box; 605. Air guide pipe; 606. Airbag; 607. Moving block; 608. First fixed pipe; 609. Second fixed pipe; 610. Moving ring; 611. Horizontal pipe; 612. Folding pipe; 7. Air pump; 8. Vertical pipe; 9. Annular groove; 10. Bearing block; 11. Base plate; 12. Concentrated bucket; 13. Bend pipe; 14. Copper column. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] The application fields of thermoplastic optical elements include lenses, optical thin films, microstructured lens arrays, optical element modules, display / touch optics, laser system windows, etc. The fabrication process of thermoplastic optical elements requires the use of equipment for fabricating thermoplastic optical elements. The equipment for fabricating thermoplastic optical elements provided in this application is specifically designed for the fabrication of thermoplastic optical elements with a zoned processing capability for raw materials. When using this equipment to fabricate thermoplastic optical elements, it is necessary to provide the corresponding power, liquid, and gas supply components in advance to ensure the normal operation of the equipment.

[0031] like Figures 1-10 As shown, the present invention provides a technical solution: an apparatus for preparing thermoplastic optical elements, comprising a processing tank 1 and a partitioning processing component installed inside the processing tank 1 for partitioning pretreatment of raw materials. A hot melt tank 2 is installed at the bottom of the processing tank 1, and a can lid 4 is installed on the outer wall of the top of the hot melt tank 2. A transfer mechanism 5 is installed between the processing tank 1 and the can lid 4. The transfer mechanism 5 includes a mixing component for improving the hot melt effect and an adjusting component for driving the partitioning processing component. Several auxiliary mechanisms 6 are installed on the outer wall of the can lid 4. The auxiliary mechanisms 6 include a heating component and a gas supply component. The partitioning processing component is heated in partitions by the several heating components. The partitioning processing component includes several support blocks 10 installed on the inner wall of the bottom of the processing tank 1. The interior of the support blocks 10 is... The hollow structure has a bent pipe 13 installed between the inner walls of both ends of the bearing block 10. Several copper pillars 14 are installed on the outer wall of the bent pipe 13. A top plate is installed on the top outer wall of the processing tank 1. Several vertical grooves corresponding to the bearing block 10 are opened on the top outer wall of the top plate and the bottom outer wall of the processing tank 1. A rotatable bottom plate 11 is installed on the bottom outer wall of the processing tank 1. A concentrated hopper 12 is installed on the bottom outer wall of the bottom plate 11. A vertical pipe 8 is installed on the top outer wall of the tank cover 4. The concentrated hopper 12 is inserted into the vertical pipe 8. A through groove adapted to the vertical groove is opened on the outer wall of the bottom plate 11. The bottom plate 11 is rotated by the adjustment component. The heating component is connected to the outer wall of the bearing block 10. The air supply component is connected to the inner wall of the bearing block 10. A discharge mechanism 3 for molding and unloading is installed at the bottom of the hot melt tank 2.

[0032] It is important to note that during the fabrication of thermoplastic optical components, the raw materials requiring pretreatment are placed in the support block 10. The support block 10 provides a zoned containment effect, facilitating zoned processing. By combining the heating component with the adjustment component and the zoned processing component, corresponding heating can be provided to different areas. The heating process can be combined; a single heating component can maintain a single temperature in advance. The adjustment component, in conjunction with the zoned processing component, adjusts the heating target of the heating component to achieve zoned heating. Through the cyclic adjustment of the adjustment component, gradient heating of the raw materials can be achieved. This is beneficial for materials with different boiling points or different heat sensitivities, reducing the probability of decreased yield and increased costs due to improper raw material processing. The moisture content of the raw material in the support block 10 is reduced by continuous heating. Inert gas can be supplied to the support block 10 through the gas supply component. The inert gas limits oxidation and side reactions. Inert gas (such as nitrogen and helium) can inhibit the oxidation and hydrolysis reactions between oxygen in the air and moisture and materials, reduce the generation of microstructural defects, and thus reduce the generation of internal stress. Inert gas helps to form a relatively stable convection and mass transfer environment, mitigate the local volume changes and viscosity gradients caused by the rapid discharge of moisture and volatile impurities, and reduce the processing stress caused by local stress concentration. If residual gas is rapidly discharged in the material, it may form bubbles or cavitation, leading to stress concentration and surface defects. An inert environment facilitates smoother, unidirectional evaporation and discharge, reducing the probability of such defects. Inert gases are often accompanied by a more stable environment, which, combined with appropriate heating / cooling rates, helps to reduce the thermal gradient and thus reduce thermal stress. In specific applications, it is necessary to select an inert gas that is compatible with the raw materials. At the same time, the required gas can also be delivered according to actual usage needs to improve the pretreatment effect and subsequent hot melting effect. By using the set bend pipe 13 in conjunction with the copper column 14, the contact area between the raw materials and the heat source can be increased to improve the processing effect. A plug is installed in the vertical groove on the top plate to improve the sealing performance. The outer walls of both ends of the processing tank 1 and the hot melting tank 2 are connected to the bearing columns, and a recycling box is installed at the bottom of the discharge mechanism 3 to collect the prepared components.

[0033] like Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 9 As shown, the heating assembly includes a heating tank 601 installed on the outer wall of the tank cover 4, an annular groove 9 on the outer wall of the processing tank 1, and pipe grooves at both ends of the inner wall of the annular groove 9 corresponding to the bearing block 10. A first fixed pipe 608 located in the pipe groove is installed at both ends of the outer wall of the bearing block 10. A first fixed pipe 608 is installed on the outer walls of both ends of the heating tank 601. Valves and pump bodies are installed on the inlet pipe 602 and the outlet pipe 603. Modification components for adjusting the heating conditions are installed in the inlet pipe 602 and the outlet pipe 603.

[0034] It should be noted that the heating tank 601 is equipped with a heating source that can maintain the directional heating temperature. The specific heating source can be selected according to the actual use requirements, including but not limited to electric heating wire. The heating medium in the heating tank 601 includes but is not limited to liquid and gas, and can be selected according to the actual use requirements. By changing the set components, the connection between the inlet pipe 602 and the outlet pipe 603 and the first fixed pipe 608 can be adjusted, so as to replace different first fixed pipes 608, thereby completing the corresponding heating of the zone. The heating tank 601, the first fixed pipe 608, the hollow structure of the support block 10, and the inlet pipe 602 and the outlet pipe 603 form a heating medium flow loop, which improves the heating effect and reduces the heating cost. The heating tank 601 is equipped with a pipe for adding and discharging the heating medium.

[0035] like Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 9 As shown, the alteration component includes side grooves formed on the outer walls of the inlet tube 602 and the outlet tube 603. An airbag 606 is installed in the side groove, and a movable ring 610 connected to the airbag 606 is also inserted into the side groove. A movable block 607 adapted to the first fixed tube 608 is installed on the outer wall of the movable ring 610. The first fixed tube 608 is inserted into the movable block 607. A connecting post is installed on the bottom outer wall of both the inlet tube 602 and the outlet tube 603. An air box 604 is installed on the bottom outer wall of the connecting post. A pump 7 is installed on the air box 604. A conduit connected to the airbag 606 in the inlet tube 602 and the outlet tube 603 is embedded in the air box 604.

[0036] It should be noted that when it is necessary to change the component, the inflation degree of the airbag 606 can be adjusted by starting the air pump 7. By inflating the airbag 606 to its maximum, the moving block 607 can be sleeved on the first fixed tube 608 when the first fixed tube 608 corresponds to the moving block 607. Conversely, the connection between the first fixed tube 608 and the moving block 607 can be canceled. During use, an air valve can be installed on the conduit to reduce the working time of the air pump 7.

[0037] like Figure 7 and Figure 9 As shown, the air supply assembly includes an air guide pipe 605 embedded in the inlet pipe 602. A folded pipe 612 is installed at the opening of the air guide pipe 605 in the inlet pipe 602. A horizontal pipe 611 is installed on the outer wall of the folded pipe 612. A connecting plate is installed between the outer wall of the horizontal pipe 611 and the inner wall of the moving ring 610. A second fixed pipe 609 with the air inlet located in the first fixed pipe 608 is installed on the inner wall of the bearing block 10. The second fixed pipe 609 is inserted into the horizontal pipe 611.

[0038] It should be noted that when the gas supply assembly is required, the inlet of the gas guide pipe 605 is connected to the gas supply pipe. The gas is then transported to the interior of the support block 10 through the gas guide pipe 605, the folded pipe 612, the horizontal pipe 611 and the second fixed pipe 609. During the transport, the gas is preheated through the inlet pipe 602 and then transported to the interior of the support block 10, which can improve the processing efficiency of the raw materials inside the support block 10. Through the connecting plate, the horizontal pipe 611 moves with the moving ring 610, and can be disconnected and connected together with the moving block 607. A sealing gasket can be installed at the connection to improve the sealing performance of the connection.

[0039] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the mixing assembly includes a gear 501 driven by a drive motor mounted on the outer wall of the top of the can lid 4. A gear ring 502 meshing with the gear 501 is mounted on the outer wall of the vertical tube 8. A first annular groove and a second annular groove are respectively formed on the outer and inner walls of the vertical tube 8. A first annular block 509 with an electromagnet embedded in its inner wall is placed in the first annular groove. A second annular block 510 with a magnetically attracted metal embedded in its outer wall is placed in the second annular groove. The first annular block 509 and the second annular block 510 are connected by magnetic attraction. Both ends of the inner wall of the second annular block 510 are equipped with... A connecting block is formed, and a vertical rod 503 is installed between the connecting blocks. Several first stirring rods 505 are installed on the outer wall of the vertical rod 503 inside the hot melt tank 2. A first circular plate 507 is installed on the inner wall of the vertical tube 8. The first circular plate 507 is sleeved on the outer wall of the vertical rod 503. A second circular plate 508 that fits against the first circular plate 507 is installed on the outer wall of the vertical rod 503. Several holes and slots are opened on the top outer wall of both the first circular plate 507 and the second circular plate 508. Several second stirring rods 506 are installed on the outer wall of the vertical rod 503 at the top of the first circular plate 507.

[0040] It should be noted that starting the drive motor rotates the gear 501, which in turn rotates the gear ring 502. The rotation of the gear ring 502 rotates the first annular block 509. The first annular block 509 and the second annular block 510 are magnetically connected, which in turn rotates the first annular block 509 and the vertical rod 503. The rotation of the vertical rod 503 stirs the raw materials inside the hot melt tank 2 through the first stirring rod 505, thereby improving the mixing efficiency and the hot melt effect. At the same time, the rotation of the second stirring rod 506 crushes the raw materials located at the top of the first circular plate 507. The material can be fed through the slots on the first circular plate 507 and the second circular plate 508. In actual use, a staged stirring method can be used to stir the raw materials inside the hot melt tank 2. After stirring, the slots on the first circular plate 507 and the second circular plate 508 can be adjusted to be staggered to reduce the heat generation required for the operation of the hot melt tank 2 and reduce the hot melt cost.

[0041] like Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, the adjustment assembly includes a groove 511 formed on the bottom outer wall of the base plate 11, an electric push rod is embedded in the vertical rod 503, and a protrusion 504 adapted to the groove 511 is installed at one end of the piston rod of the electric push rod. The base plate 11 is rotated by inserting the protrusion 504 into the groove 511.

[0042] It should be noted that when the adjustment component is needed, the protrusion 504 is lifted into the groove 511 by activating the electric push rod. At this time, the vertical rod 503 rotates, which drives the base plate 11 to rotate, thereby completing the feeding of raw materials in different bearing blocks 10. In addition, there is a vertical groove in the processing tank 1 where the bearing block 10 is not placed on the top, so raw materials that do not require pretreatment can be directly fed in or vented during melting to reduce the pressure in the hot melt tank 2. Gas can also be transported to the hot melt tank 2 through the horizontal pipe 611 in the inlet pipe 602, so as to supply gas to the hot melt tank 2 according to the usage requirements and improve the hot melt efficiency.

[0043] like Figure 2 and Figure 10 As shown, a discharge pipe is installed on the bottom outer wall of the hot melt tank 2, and a discharge valve is installed on the discharge pipe. A heating component is embedded in the inner wall of the hot melt tank 2. The discharge component includes a forming block 304 installed on the discharge pipe. A material collection groove 305 is opened on the top outer wall of the forming block 304, and a forming groove 306 communicating with the material collection groove 305 is opened on the bottom outer wall of the forming block 304. The inner wall and outer wall of the forming block 304 are hollow. A top pipe and a bottom pipe are respectively installed on the top outer wall and the bottom outer wall of the forming block 304. A bottom column 301 is installed on the bottom outer wall of the hot melt tank 2. A hydraulic cylinder is embedded in the bottom column 301. A round block 302 is installed at one end of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder. A rotary motor is installed in the round block 302. A cutter 303 is installed at one end of the piston rod of the rotary motor.

[0044] It should be noted that the heating components can be selected according to actual usage requirements, including but not limited to heating plates or infrared radiation heating elements. The function of the collecting trough 305 is to concentrate the raw materials in the discharge pipe, which is the same as the function of the collecting hopper 12. The raw materials are concentrated in the forming tank 306 through the collecting trough 305 for cooling and forming. Then, the forming object is cut off by the start of the rotary motor in conjunction with the cutter 303. The cut object is then ground, polished or otherwise processed according to the actual preparation requirements to complete the preparation of optical elements. The thickness of the cut object can be adjusted by the action of the hydraulic cylinder to adapt to different preparation requirements. The top pipe and bottom pipe are set to connect to the external coolant circulation circuit to cool and form the raw materials in the forming tank 306. Temperature sensors can be installed in the support block 10, heating tank 601 and hot melt tank 2 to monitor the temperature and make corresponding adjustments.

[0045] A process for preparing thermoplastic optical elements includes: obtaining raw materials; obtaining a pretreatment temperature based on the raw materials; adjusting the heating intensity of a heating component based on the pretreatment temperature; determining whether the raw materials require gradient heating; if gradient heating is required, adjusting the component in conjunction with the rotation of the base plate 11 to complete the gradient heating of the raw materials; supplying inert gas into the support block 10 through a gas supply component; after pretreatment, adjusting the component in conjunction with the rotation of the base plate 11 to place the raw materials into a hot melt tank 2; hot melting the raw materials through a mixing component in conjunction with a heating component; and after hot melting, forming and discharging through a discharge mechanism 3 to complete the preparation of the optical elements.

[0046] It is important to note that the raw materials are determined according to the preparation requirements, and the pretreatment temperature is the optimal processing temperature for the raw materials, usually within a certain temperature range. The process of adjusting the heating intensity of the heating component based on the pretreatment temperature means that, according to the temperature requirements of different raw materials, the heating component heats different carrier blocks 10 at corresponding temperatures. The process of determining gradient heating means that, considering the processing requirements of different raw materials, different carrier blocks 10 are set to provide gradient temperature heating, and the position of the carrier blocks 10 is adjusted by adjusting the component to perform gradient heating of the raw materials in the carrier blocks 10. The heating tank 601 in the heating component does not need to be frequently adjusted in terms of heating temperature, so as to improve the service life of the heating component.

[0047] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended embodiments and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing thermoplastic optical elements, comprising a processing barrel (1) and a zoned treatment assembly for zoned pre-treatment of the raw material, mounted inside the processing barrel (1), characterized in that: The bottom of the processing barrel (1) is provided with a hot melting tank (2), the top outer wall of the hot melting tank (2) is provided with a tank cover (4), a transfer mechanism (5) is arranged between the processing barrel (1) and the tank cover (4), the transfer mechanism (5) comprises a mixing assembly for improving the hot melting effect and an adjusting assembly for driving the operation of a partition processing assembly, a plurality of auxiliary mechanisms (6) are arranged on the outer wall of the tank cover (4), the auxiliary mechanism (6) comprises a heat supply assembly and a gas supply assembly, the partition processing assembly comprises a plurality of bearing blocks (10) arranged on the inner wall of the bottom of the processing barrel (1), the bearing block (10) is a hollow structure, a bend pipe (13) is arranged between the inner walls of the two ends of the bearing block (10), a plurality of copper columns (14) are arranged on the outer wall of the bend pipe (13), a top plate is arranged on the top outer wall of the processing barrel (1), a plurality of vertical grooves corresponding to the bearing block (10) are arranged on the top outer wall of the top plate and the bottom outer wall of the processing barrel (1), a rotatable bottom plate (11) is arranged on the bottom outer wall of the processing barrel (1), a collecting hopper (12) is arranged on the bottom outer wall of the bottom plate (11), a vertical pipe (8) is arranged on the top outer wall of the tank cover (4), the collecting hopper (12) is inserted into the vertical pipe (8), a through groove adapted to the vertical groove is arranged on the outer wall of the bottom plate (11), the bottom plate (11) is driven to rotate by the adjusting assembly, the heat supply assembly is connected with the outer wall of the bearing block (10), and the gas supply assembly is connected with the inner wall of the bearing block (10), and the bottom of the hot melting tank (2) is provided with a discharging mechanism (3) for forming and discharging materials; The heat supply assembly comprises a heating tank (601) arranged on the outer wall of the tank cover (4), an annular groove (9) is arranged on the outer wall of the processing barrel (1), pipe grooves are arranged at both ends of the annular groove (9) corresponding to the bearing block (10), first fixed pipes (608) are arranged at both ends of the outer wall of the bearing block (10) and located in the pipe grooves, first fixed pipes (608) are arranged at both ends of the outer wall of the heating tank (601), valves and pump bodies are arranged on the inlet pipe (602) and the outlet pipe (603), and change assemblies for adjusting the heat supply condition are arranged in the inlet pipe (602) and the outlet pipe (603); The change assembly comprises side grooves arranged on the outer walls of the inlet pipe (602) and the outlet pipe (603), air bags (606) are arranged in the side grooves, movable rings (610) connected with the air bags (606) are inserted into the side grooves, movable blocks (607) adapted to the first fixed pipes (608) are arranged on the outer wall of the movable ring (610), the first fixed pipes (608) are inserted into the movable blocks (607), connecting columns are arranged on the bottom outer walls of the inlet pipe (602) and the outlet pipe (603), air boxes (604) are arranged on the bottom outer walls of the connecting columns, air beating pumps (7) are arranged on the air boxes (604), and guide pipes connected with the air bags (606) in the inlet pipe (602) and the outlet pipe (603) are embedded in the air boxes (604). The air supply assembly includes a gas guide pipe (605) embeddedly installed in the guide pipe (602), the gas guide pipe (605) is provided with a folding pipe (612) at the pipe opening in the guide pipe (602), the outer wall of the folding pipe (612) is provided with a transverse pipe (611), the outer wall of the transverse pipe (611) and the inner wall of the moving ring (610) are provided with a connecting plate, the inner wall of the bearing block (10) is provided with a gas inlet pipe opening, the second fixed pipe (609) is inserted into the transverse pipe (611).

2. An apparatus for making thermoplastic optical elements as defined in claim 1, wherein: The mixing assembly includes a gear (501) driven by a driving motor installed on the top outer wall of the tank cover (4), the outer wall of the vertical pipe (8) is provided with a gear ring (502) engaged with the gear (501), the outer wall and the inner wall of the vertical pipe (8) are respectively provided with a first ring groove and a second ring groove, the first ring groove is placed with a first annular block (509) with an embeddedly installed electromagnet in the inner wall, the second ring groove is placed with a second annular block (510) with an embeddedly installed magnetic metal in the outer wall, the first annular block (509) and the second annular block (510) are connected by magnetic attraction, the inner walls of the two ends of the second annular block (510) are provided with connecting blocks, the connecting blocks are provided with a vertical rod (503), the outer wall of the vertical rod (503) inside the hot melt tank (2) is provided with a plurality of first stirring rods (505), the inner wall of the vertical pipe (8) is provided with a first circular plate (507), the first circular plate (507) is sleeved on the outer wall of the vertical rod (503), the outer wall of the vertical rod (503) is provided with a second circular plate (508) abutting the first circular plate (507), the top outer walls of the first circular plate (507) and the second circular plate (508) are provided with a plurality of hole grooves, the outer wall of the vertical rod (503) is provided with a plurality of second stirring rods (506) at the top of the first circular plate (507).

3. An apparatus for making thermoplastic optical elements as defined in claim 1, wherein: The adjusting assembly includes a convex groove (511) opened on the bottom outer wall of the bottom plate (11), an electric push rod is embeddedly installed in the vertical rod (503), the piston rod of the electric push rod is provided with a convex block (504) matched with the convex groove (511), the convex block (504) is inserted into the convex groove (511) to drive the rotation of the bottom plate (11).

4. An apparatus for making thermoplastic optical elements as defined in claim 1, wherein: The bottom outer wall of the hot melt tank (2) is provided with a discharge pipe, and the discharge pipe is provided with a discharge valve. A heating assembly is embedded in the inner wall of the hot melt tank (2). The discharging assembly comprises a forming block (304) provided on the discharge pipe. The top outer wall of the forming block (304) is provided with a material collecting groove (305). The bottom outer wall of the forming block (304) is provided with a forming groove (306) communicated with the material collecting groove (305). The inner wall and the outer wall of the forming block (304) are in a hollow structure. The top outer wall and the bottom outer wall of the forming block (304) are respectively provided with a top pipe and a bottom pipe. The bottom outer wall of the hot melt tank (2) is provided with a bottom column (301). The bottom column (301) is embedded with a hydraulic cylinder. One end of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is provided with a round block (302). The round block (302) is provided with a rotary motor. One end of the piston rod of the rotary motor is provided with a cutter (303).

5. A process for making a thermoplastic optical element, characterized by: The device for preparing thermoplastic optical elements of any one of claims 1-4 is used, and the process comprises: obtaining preparation raw materials, obtaining a pretreatment temperature based on the preparation raw materials, adjusting the heating intensity of the heating assembly based on the pretreatment temperature, determining whether the preparation raw materials need gradient heating, when the preparation raw materials need gradient heating, completing the gradient heating of the preparation raw materials by adjusting the assembly in cooperation with the rotation of the bottom plate (11), completing the gas supply into the bearing block (10) by the gas supply assembly to complete the gas supply, after the pretreatment is completed, completing the preparation raw materials are lowered into the hot melt tank (2) by adjusting the assembly in cooperation with the rotation of the bottom plate (11), the preparation raw materials are heated and melted by the mixing assembly in cooperation with the heating assembly, after the hot melting is completed, the optical element preparation is completed by the forming and discharging of the discharging mechanism (3).

Images