An automatic projection lens assembling machine

Abstract

This invention provides an automatic projection lens assembly machine, relating to the field of optical lens equipment technology. The invention includes an assembly module, a lens loading module, a lens picking and placing module, a film loading module, an ejection module, a film picking and placing module, and a positioning module, all mounted on a worktable. Compared with existing technologies, this invention achieves integrated, end-to-end operation from lens and film loading, picking and placing, positioning to final assembly. The modules work closely together, reducing manual intervention and avoiding positioning deviations caused by manual installation or semi-automated handling in traditional processes, thereby improving assembly accuracy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical lens equipment technology, and in particular to an automatic projection lens assembly machine. Background Technology

[0002] The process of attaching projection labels (film) to projection lenses is widely used in various products such as 3C mobile phone lenses, industrial vision lenses, new energy vehicle LiDAR lenses, and HUD lenses. It is used to present specific appearance patterns and functional markings during imaging or projection, such as brand logos, functional symbols, warning information, or calibration marks. It not only has an aesthetic identification function, but can also work with optical systems to achieve specific auxiliary functions in some applications.

[0003] Current processes typically involve first mounting the film onto a film holder, and then attaching the entire assembly to the lens. This assembly process relies heavily on manual labor or semi-automated equipment, resulting in issues such as insufficient positioning accuracy, air bubbles and wrinkles, edge lifting, poor adhesion, and contamination, especially pronounced in small-sized, high-precision lenses. This leads to misaligned markings, inconsistent visual effects, peeling after use, and fluctuating yield rates, resulting in high inspection and rework costs. Furthermore, with increasing production volume and precision requirements, the production efficiency and reliability of traditional processes are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of industrial upgrading and quality control. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide an automatic projection lens assembly machine to solve the aforementioned technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] This application provides an automatic projection lens assembly machine, which adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] An automatic projection lens assembly machine includes an assembly module, a lens feeding module, a lens picking and placing module, a film feeding module, an ejection module, a film picking and placing module, and a positioning module, all mounted on a worktable.

[0007] The assembly module includes an assembly tray, which has multiple mounting areas, and each mounting area has a pre-placed film holder.

[0008] The lens loading module is used to transport the lens to the pick-up and place position of the lens picking and placing module;

[0009] The lens picking and placing module is used to sequentially pick up the lenses and place them into each corresponding installation area;

[0010] The film feeding module is used to fix and install the film board;

[0011] The ejection module is used to sequentially eject each film sheet from the film plate;

[0012] The film pick-up and place module is used to sequentially pick up the film pieces and place them on the film holder in the corresponding installation area. After the film pieces are placed on the film holder, the lens pick-up and place module places the lens on the film holder to achieve clamping, positioning and installation of the film pieces.

[0013] The positioning module is movable and used to position the installation areas one by one, so that the lens picking and placing module and the film picking and placing module can place the lens and the film into the corresponding installation areas according to the positioning position.

[0014] Preferably, the ejection module includes an ejector rod, a movable plate, a first Z-axis drive component, and a second Z-axis drive component;

[0015] The top rod is slidably mounted on the movable plate along the Z-axis direction, and its top is detachably connected to a top block matching the size and thickness of the film. The first Z-axis drive component is connected to the movable plate and is used to drive the movable plate to move along the Z-axis direction. The second Z-axis drive component is connected to the top rod, wherein:

[0016] When the first Z-axis drive unit drives the movable plate to bring the top block into contact with the bottom of the film plate, the second Z-axis drive unit drives the top rod to move along the Z-axis direction a distance consistent with the thickness of the film, so as to push the film out.

[0017] Preferably, the second Z-axis drive component includes a drive motor, an eccentric wheel, a slotted disk, and an angle sensor. The drive motor is fixedly mounted on the movable plate, and the output shaft of the drive motor is connected to the eccentric wheel. An extension rod is fixedly mounted on the top rod, and the extension rod slides against the outer wall of the eccentric wheel. The slotted disk is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor. The angle sensor is mounted on the movable plate and is correspondingly mounted to the slotted disk. The angle sensor is connected to the controller of the drive motor.

[0018] And / or, the top of the top rod is provided with multiple annular grooves with overlapping centers, and negative pressure holes are provided in the annular grooves. The negative pressure holes are connected to a negative pressure source. The middle part of the top rod is also provided with a negative pressure hole through the step formed by the annular groove. The negative pressure hole at this position is used to adsorb the top block so as to realize the detachable installation of the top block.

[0019] Preferably, the film loading module includes a wafer disk, a first Y-axis drive component, and a pressure plate;

[0020] The wafer disk is connected to the first Y-axis drive component, which drives the wafer disk to move along the Y-axis and fixes its position after moving to the target position. The pressure plate is rotatably connected to the wafer disk and can fix its position when pressing the film. The wafer disk and the pressure plate are respectively provided with a feeding port at the corresponding film position.

[0021] And / or, a bottom film is provided on the bottom of the film plate, and the film plate is attached to the bottom film;

[0022] And / or, the assembly plate has multiple mounting slots, the mounting slots constitute the mounting area, and the mounting slots are provided with multiple vacuum holes.

[0023] Preferably, both the lens loading / unloading module and the film loading / unloading module include a third Z-axis drive, a first X-axis drive, a sliding base, a rotating component, and a suction pen, wherein:

[0024] The third Z-axis drive and the first X-axis drive are both connected to the sliding seat. The third Z-axis drive is used to drive the sliding seat to move along the Z-axis direction, and the first X-axis drive is used to drive the sliding seat to move along the X-axis direction. The suction pen is disposed on the sliding seat and connected to the negative pressure source. The rotating component is connected to the suction pen and is used to drive the suction pen to rotate along the axial direction of the Z-axis.

[0025] Preferably, the suction pen of the film loading and unloading module includes a suction rod, the bottom of which is provided with a deformable adsorption membrane. The center of the deformable adsorption membrane has an outward convex structure. The connection part between the deformable adsorption membrane and the suction rod is located on the bottom surface of the suction rod near the outer side. Its outer contour protrudes from the outer wall of the suction rod and forms an outer edge, which is curved upward. A directional post is provided at the center of the side of the deformable adsorption membrane away from the outward convexity. A corresponding directional groove is provided on the suction rod. A negative pressure cavity is provided inside the suction rod. A first negative pressure channel is formed by penetrating the suction rod at the position corresponding to the directional post. Multiple second negative pressure channels are provided circumferentially near the outer wall of the suction rod on the deformable adsorption membrane. The channel opening of each second negative pressure channel is obliquely facing the center side of the deformable adsorption membrane. A third negative pressure channel is also provided on the suction rod located between the first negative pressure channel and the second negative pressure channel. The third negative pressure channel communicates with the negative pressure cavity and is positioned towards the deformable adsorption membrane.

[0026] Preferably, the lens feeding module includes a feeding component and a picking component;

[0027] The feeding assembly includes a material rack and a fourth Z-axis drive component. The material rack is provided with multiple slots or limiting blocks along the Z-axis direction for limiting the installation of multiple feeding trays for placing lenses.

[0028] The fourth Z-axis drive component is used to drive the material rack to move along the Z-axis direction;

[0029] The material handling assembly includes a material handling plate and a second Y-axis drive. The second Y-axis drive is used to drive the material handling plate to move into or out of the material rack so as to extend into the gap between adjacent loading trays and take out the loading trays one by one.

[0030] When the material pick-up plate is removed from the material rack, the suction pen of the lens pick-up and placement module can pick up the lens on the loading tray.

[0031] Preferably, the positioning module includes a top positioning camera and a second X-axis drive. The second X-axis drive is connected to the top positioning camera. The top positioning camera is used to capture the specific placement point of the corresponding installation area and transmit the captured position information to the control system. The control system drives the lens picking and placing module and the film picking and placing module according to the position information to achieve precise placement of the lens and film.

[0032] Preferably, the positioning module further includes an upper positioning camera and a lower positioning camera; wherein:

[0033] The upper positioning camera is respectively mounted on the sliding seat of the lens picking and placing module and the film picking and placing module, and is used to take pictures of the lens on the picking plate and the film on the wafer disk, and transmit the captured position information to the control system. The control system drives the suction pen of the lens picking and placing module and the film picking and placing module to pick up the film according to the position information.

[0034] Two positioning cameras are provided, which are used to take pictures of the lens and film on the lens loading and unloading module and the film loading and unloading module, respectively, and transmit the obtained angle information to the control system. The control system drives the respective rotating parts to rotate according to the angle information in order to further adjust and align the lens and film.

[0035] Preferably, the second Y-axis drive component is provided with a pen magazine, the pen magazine including a placement plate, the placement plate having multiple pen slots, each pen slot consisting of a large slot and a small slot communicating with each other, a sliding clamping plate slidably disposed on the placement plate, the sliding clamping plate having a clamping slot corresponding to each pen slot, the diameter of the clamping slot being the same as the diameter of the large slot, the placement plate being provided with an adjusting component, the adjusting component being connected to the sliding clamping plate, for driving the sliding clamping plate to clamp and fix the pen.

[0036] The present invention has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0037] (1) This invention achieves an integrated, end-to-end operation from lens and film loading, unloading, positioning to final assembly by setting up an assembly module, a lens loading module, a lens picking and placing module, a film loading module, an ejection module, a film picking and placing module, and a positioning module. The modules work closely together, which can reduce manual intervention and avoid positioning deviations caused by manual installation or semi-automatic handling in traditional processes, thereby improving assembly accuracy. At the same time, the lens and film are aligned in the installation area through the picking and placing module and the positioning module, respectively, so that the film can be stably positioned and installed on the film holder, which significantly reduces the probability of problems such as bubbles, wrinkles, warping edges and poor adhesion, and helps to improve the consistency and appearance quality of the finished product.

[0038] (2) This invention improves production efficiency and batch stability through automated sequential operation, which can adapt to the assembly requirements of small-sized, high-precision lenses, reduce rework and inspection costs, thereby improving the scale and intelligent production level of the industry while ensuring quality.

[0039] (3) Due to the small size, thinness, and susceptibility to deformation of film sheets, direct batch feeding is not feasible. This application addresses this by fixing a film plate in the film feeding module and using an ejection module to eject the film sheets one by one from the film plate. This ensures that the size and shape of each separated film sheet remain consistent, avoiding bending, damage, and deviation issues caused by manual separation or random material handling. This design not only guarantees the consistency and flatness of the film sheets during batch assembly but also improves the stability of the feeding process, making subsequent picking, placing, and positioning smoother. This achieves batch and standardized supply of film sheets, which helps improve overall assembly accuracy and production efficiency while reducing material waste and defect rates. Attached Figure Description

[0040] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall structure of an automated projection lens assembly machine.

[0042] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram intended to demonstrate the ejector module.

[0043] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram designed to demonstrate the second Z-axis drive component.

[0044] Figure 4It is a structural diagram intended to show the top rod and the top block.

[0045] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram designed to demonstrate the structure of the film loading module.

[0046] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram designed to demonstrate the structure of the film loading and unloading module.

[0047] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the suction pen designed to demonstrate the film loading and unloading module.

[0048] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of section A.

[0049] Figure 9 This is a structural diagram intended to show the feeding component.

[0050] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 Enlarged view of section B.

[0051] Figure 11 This is a structural diagram designed to demonstrate the material handling components and the pen library.

[0052] Figure 12 yes Figure 11 Enlarged view of section C.

[0053] Figure 13 It is a structural diagram intended to show the assembly module.

[0054] The diagram is marked as follows:

[0055] 100. Workbench; 110. Gantry frame; 120. Slide rail; 200. Assembly module; 210. Assembly tray; 2101. Mounting slot; 211. Mounting area; 300. Lens loading module; 310. Loading assembly; 311. Material rack; 3111. Slot; 312. Fourth Z-axis drive; 313. Loading tray; 320. Picking assembly; 321. Picking plate; 322. Second Y-axis drive; 4 00. Lens loading and unloading module; 471. Third Z-axis drive; 472. First X-axis drive; 473. Sliding seat; 474. Rotating component; 475. Suction pen; 500. Film loading module; 510. Wafer disk; 520. First Y-axis drive; 530. Pressure plate; 531. Material loading port; 600. Ejection module; 610. Ejector rod; 611. Annular groove; 6111. Negative pressure hole; 612. Ejector block; 6 121. Extension rod; 620. Movable plate; 630. First Z-axis drive component; 640. Second Z-axis drive component; 641. Drive motor; 642. Eccentric wheel; 643. Slotted plate; 644. Angle sensor; 700. Film loading and unloading module; 751. Suction rod; 7511. Orientation groove; 7512. Negative pressure chamber; 752. Deformable adsorption membrane; 7521. Outer edge; 7522. Orientation column; 753. The first 754. First negative pressure channel; 755. Second negative pressure channel; 756. Third negative pressure channel; 800. Positioning module; 810. Top positioning camera; 820. Second X-axis drive; 830. Upper positioning camera; 840. Lower positioning camera; 900. Pen magazine; 910. Placement plate; 911. Pen slot; 9111. Large slot; 9112. Small slot; 920. Sliding clamp; 921. Clamping slot; 930. Adjustment component. Detailed Implementation

[0056] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0057] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 13 The automatic projection lens assembly machine provided in this application will be described in detail through specific embodiments and application scenarios.

[0058] An automatic projection lens assembly machine includes an assembly module 200, a lens feeding module 300, a lens picking and placing module 400, a film feeding module 500, an ejection module 600, a film picking and placing module 700, and a positioning module 800, all mounted on a workbench 100. Specifically, the workbench 100 includes a tabletop and a gantry frame 110 on the tabletop. The assembly module 200, the film feeding module 500, and part of the positioning module 800 are mounted on the tabletop. Part of the lens feeding module 300 is mounted under the tabletop. The lens picking and placing module 400 and the film picking and placing module 700 are slidably mounted on the gantry frame 110. The ejection module 600 is mounted under the tabletop.

[0059] Assembly module 200 is located in the center of workbench 100, while lens loading module 300 and film loading module 500 are located on either side of assembly module 200. This arrangement concentrates materials from both sides to the center, minimizing the transport path and reducing cross-interference. The gantry frame 110 uses a high-rigidity frame and precision linear guide rails to ensure the parallelism and repeatability of lens loading module 400 and film loading module 700 during long-stroke sliding. Cables and air pipes are arranged inside the gantry frame 110 via energy drag chains to avoid interference with moving parts. The tabletop can be made of high-flatness cast iron with an anti-static and wear-resistant surface treatment, facilitating clean environment control and precision assembly stability. Ejection module 600 is placed below the tabletop, effectively isolating particles and airflow disturbances generated during the ejection process, reducing the impact on the upper assembly area, and facilitating localized exhaust ventilation through the lower exhaust or dust collection interface to maintain the cleanliness of the assembly area.

[0060] The assembly module 200 includes an assembly tray 210, which has multiple mounting areas 211. Each mounting area 211 contains a pre-placed film holder. In this embodiment, the assembly tray 210 has multiple mounting slots 2101, which constitute the mounting areas 211. Each mounting slot 2101 has multiple vacuum holes, which can be connected to a negative pressure source to achieve a certain negative pressure effect, thereby fixing the film and lens under negative pressure. The base below the assembly tray 210 can be driven by a lead screw motor or other driving components to move along the Y-axis to adjust its position in real time and position and receive the film and lens. The assembly tray 210 is placed manually on the base on which the assembly tray 210 is placed.

[0061] As an optional embodiment, the assembly tray 210 can be made of anodized aluminum alloy or stainless steel to balance lightness and hardness. The periphery of the mounting groove 2101 can be provided with a small chamfer, and vacuum holes are evenly distributed in an array at the bottom of the groove. The vacuum holes are connected to the gas collection chamber inside the base to form a uniform adsorption surface, avoiding excessive local suction that could cause local deformation of the film. The Y-axis movement of the base adopts a pre-tightened ball screw and linear guide, combined with origin and limit sensors, to achieve rapid switching of assembly points. To facilitate the replacement of assembly trays 210 of different specifications, the base is provided with positioning pins and lateral limit blocks, which can achieve rapid and repeatable positioning during manual placement, reducing changeover time and minimizing manual alignment errors.

[0062] The lens loading module 300 is used to transport lenses to the pick-up and place positions of the lens pick-up and place module 400. In practice, the loading cycle and the pick-up and place cycle must be matched to prevent interference during movement. The lenses are supported by a loading tray 313 or a carrier with an anti-static pad to prevent slippage and scratches during handling. The loading path and assembly path are arranged in layers to reduce the risk of interference with other motion axes.

[0063] The lens picking and placing module 400 is used to sequentially pick up lenses and place them into each corresponding installation area 211. The picking process is monitored in real time by a negative pressure detection switch. If the adsorption is insufficient, it will automatically retry to avoid empty picking or lens drop. During the placement process, the positioning module 800 provides positional information for final fine-tuning. The downward probe and unloading speed of the suction pen 475 are controlled in segments, with light touch followed by release to reduce the impact and displacement when the lens contacts the film. The picking and placing path adopts the shortest path planning and speed look-ahead to shorten the cycle time of a single lens and reduce mechanical vibration.

[0064] The film loading module 500 is used to securely mount the film sheet. The film sheet is reliably pressed by the pressure plate 530 or by vacuum, ensuring flatness and stability and preventing floating during ejection. The surface of the film sheet fixing area is textured or covered with a replaceable protective film, which increases friction and prevents scratching the edges of the film. The module's outer side is equipped with positioning scales and a quick-clamping structure, facilitating rapid changeover of different film sheet specifications and reducing downtime.

[0065] The ejection module 600 is used to sequentially eject each film from the film plate. The ejection stroke is achieved by dual Z-axis staged ejection. First, the large stroke mechanism approaches, and then the small stroke precision ejects. The end face of the ejector block 612 matches the size and thickness of the film, and the edge is chamfered and replaceable to adapt to different thicknesses and sizes. The ejection process is combined with the micro negative pressure adsorption below to suppress warping and bouncing, ensuring that the ejected film has a consistent shape and establishing a stable initial state for subsequent handling.

[0066] The film pick-up and place module 700 sequentially picks up film sheets and places them onto the film holders in the corresponding installation areas 211. After the film sheets are placed on the film holders, the lens pick-up and place module 400 places the lenses onto the film holders to achieve clamping and positioning of the film sheets. That is, the film sheets are placed first, followed by the lenses, to complete the installation. This sequential order achieves stable constraint by forming a surface-to-surface clamping between the lenses and the film holders, reducing the risk of bubbles, wrinkles, and edge lifting. The placement rhythm is linked in a closed loop with the alignment signal of the positioning module 800 to avoid misplacement across stations. A short period of negative pressure is maintained on the assembly tray 210 at the moment of film removal to ensure that the film sheets are immediately attracted after being placed, preventing slippage and rotational deviation.

[0067] The positioning module 800 is movable and used to position the installation areas 211 one by one, so that the lens picking and placing module 400 and the film picking and placing module 700 can place the lens and film into the corresponding installation area 211 according to the positioning position.

[0068] Optionally, the positioning module 800 has a motion axis set along the worktable 100 to achieve point-to-point cruising positioning of each installation area 211. The alignment data is distributed to the lens loading / unloading module 400 and the film loading / unloading module 700 through the control system, generating the optimal downward and placement postures respectively. The positioning module 800 and the assembly tray 210 form a dual-axis collaboration, allowing the camera to be framed while the assembly tray 210 is being fine-tuned, thus shortening the alignment waiting time.

[0069] It should be noted that all drive components described below, including the first Z-axis drive component 630, the second Z-axis drive component 640, the first Y-axis drive component 520, the first X-axis drive component 472, the third Z-axis drive component 471, and the adjusting component 930, can be driven by a lead screw motor, or by a cylinder or electric cylinder, guided by a slide rail 120, to achieve drive in the X, Y, and Z axes. Different drive schemes can be selected based on stroke, speed, accuracy, and environmental cleanliness: lead screw motors are suitable for medium-to-high speed, high-repetition positioning scenarios; cylinders have a simple structure and fast response, suitable for short-stroke, frequent start-stop stations; and electric cylinders have both controllable stroke and force-position hybrid control capabilities. Linear guides are selected with matching preload levels and lubrication methods to comprehensively ensure low friction, low backlash, and long-term stability.

[0070] Reference Figure 2 As shown, the ejector module 600 includes an ejector rod 610, a movable plate 620, a first Z-axis drive component 630, and a second Z-axis drive component 640. The ejector rod 610 and the movable plate 620 are guided by linear bearings or sliders to ensure coaxiality in the ejection direction. The movable plate 620 is connected to the frame by reinforcing ribs to improve bending rigidity. The key connection points use a combination of locating pins and bolts for easy maintenance and quick replacement.

[0071] The push rod 610 is slidably mounted on the movable plate 620 along the Z-axis. A top block 612, matching the size and thickness of the film, is detachably connected to its top. A first Z-axis drive 630 is connected to the movable plate 620 to drive it to move along the Z-axis. A second Z-axis drive 640 is connected to the push rod 610. When the first Z-axis drive 630 drives the movable plate 620, causing the top block 612 to contact the bottom of the film, the second Z-axis drive 640 drives the push rod 610 to move along the Z-axis a distance equal to the film thickness, thus ejecting the film. This is equivalent to the first Z-axis drive 630 making a large-distance movement, while the second Z-axis drive 640 performs a tight ejection, preventing deformation of the film. Through two-stage stroke speed-acceleration segmented control, the push is first approached and then gently ejected, resulting in controlled and repeatable ejection force, avoiding localized warping caused by uneven loading.

[0072] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the second Z-axis drive component 640 includes a drive motor 641, an eccentric wheel 642, a slotted disc 643, and an angle sensor 644. The drive motor 641 is fixedly mounted on the movable plate 620, and the output shaft of the drive motor 641 is connected to the eccentric wheel 642. An extension rod 6121 is fixedly mounted on the push rod 610, and the extension rod 6121 slides against the outer wall of the eccentric wheel 642. The slotted disc 643 is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor 641. The angle sensor 644 is mounted on the movable plate 620, and the angle sensor 644 is correspondingly mounted to the slotted disc 643. The angle sensor 644 is connected to the controller of the drive motor 641. The angle sensor 644 and the slotted disc 643 achieve precise sensing of the rotation angle of the drive motor 641, thereby controlling the rotation angle of the motor and preventing the push block 612 from moving too far when pushing out the film, which would cause deformation and warping of the film. The eccentric wheel 642 mechanism converts angular displacement into a small linear stroke, with high mechanical resolution and stability, and achieves closed-loop control in conjunction with the angle sensor 644; the slotted plate 643 can be set with multiple reference slots and zero slots, which facilitates calibration and power-off reset; the contact surface between the eccentric wheel 642 and the extension rod 6121 can be made of rollers or wear-resistant bushings to reduce friction and particle generation, and a dust cover is set on the outside of the mechanism to ensure cleanliness.

[0073] In addition, in this embodiment, the ejector module 600 as a whole can also move along the X-axis under the action of the drive component, realizing multi-angle movement adjustment. This lateral adjustment is used to adapt to the effective area of ​​film plates of different specifications and the position of the feeding port 531, avoiding frequent relocation of the film feeding module 500; the X-axis adopts the same level of guiding and driving configuration as the Z-axis, and the end of the stroke is equipped with soft limit and inductive limit double insurance to ensure the safe operation of the equipment.

[0074] As an optional embodiment, refer to Figure 4As shown, the multiple coincident annular grooves 611 on the top of the top rod 610 not only ensure that the negative pressure holes 6111 are evenly distributed in the annular direction, but also guarantee a stable distribution of negative pressure airflow throughout the entire annular area through the flow channel design, avoiding uneven local force caused by single-point negative pressure. The top block 612 achieves quick assembly and disassembly through negative pressure adsorption in the middle. This method avoids the metal friction dust and mechanical wear after long-term use caused by traditional threaded or snap-fit ​​fixing structures, and also avoids the problem of inconsistent tightening caused by manual assembly, thus maintaining the repeatability accuracy of the top block 612's positioning. Fixing the top block 612 by negative pressure can also significantly improve efficiency when changing top blocks 612 of different sizes or materials, meeting the production needs of multi-specification film sheets.

[0075] The negative pressure hole 6111 near the outer side of the annular groove 611 forms a downward additional adsorption force field during the ejection process. This ensures that the film is not only subjected to the positive thrust of the top block 612 but also to a certain downward pressing effect when ejected, effectively suppressing air gaps or curling caused by local warping of the film. Due to the more uniform force distribution, the edges of the film do not undergo significant deformation, which is particularly important for thin or highly flexible film materials. At the same time, the uniform ejection state facilitates the smooth completion of the suction pen 475 of the subsequent film pick-up and placement module 700, reducing pick-up failures caused by warping or offset, thereby significantly improving the overall yield and operational stability of the machine.

[0076] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 5 As shown, the film loading module 500 includes a wafer disk 510, a first Y-axis drive unit 520, and a pressure plate 530. The wafer disk 510 is connected to the first Y-axis drive unit 520, which drives the wafer disk 510 to move along the Y-axis and fixes its position after reaching the target position. The pressure plate 530 is hinged to the wafer disk 510 and can fix its position when pressing the film. It can be fixed to the wafer disk 510 by a clamp on one side of the pressure plate 530, or by electromagnet attraction, etc. The wafer disk 510 and the pressure plate 530 are respectively provided with a pick-up port 531 at the corresponding film position. The pick-up port 531 is located in the middle of the wafer disk 510 and the pressure plate 530 and is square-shaped, which facilitates the film pick-up and placement module 700 to pick up the film. The wafer disk 510 and the pressure plate 530 can be made of metal or engineering composite board with high flatness and good thermal stability. The pressure plate 530 is covered with a soft protective layer to disperse the compression stress. The square pick-up port 531 can maximize the use of the pick-up area and provide a clear boundary. With the lower lighting, it can improve the camera recognition contrast.

[0077] As an optional embodiment, a base film is provided at the bottom of the film plate, and the film plate is attached to the base film. The film plate can be pre-cut with several slits the size of film pieces using a laser and then bonded to the base film. This bonding method does not leave adhesive on the film pieces, and is equivalent to a suction-bonding method. When the top block 612 ejects the film pieces, the slits can be easily ejected. The base film is usually a polyimide film or PET film with moderate peel strength and good dimensional stability. It has good heat resistance and chemical resistance, and can remain stable during long-term operation without easily warping or shrinking. To ensure a balance between film fixation and release, a low-residue pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as a modified acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, can be used on the surface of the base film. Its molecular structure can provide uniform adhesion force, but will not leave impurities when the film pieces separate, avoiding contamination of the optical component surface.

[0078] In some implementations, adhesive may be omitted, and the film can be fixed by electrostatic adsorption between the base film and the film. The surface charge difference creates a stable adsorption force field, ensuring the film's positioning. The laser-cut edges are clean and have minimal heat-affected zone, reducing stress concentration during separation and further improving the film's dimensional consistency. This structure standardizes the entire loading process, resulting in more precise single-film positioning. It avoids the warping and dimensional errors associated with traditional direct ejection separation methods, significantly improving the yield and stability of subsequent assembly processes.

[0079] Reference Figure 6 As shown, both the lens loading / unloading module 400 and the film loading / unloading module include a third Z-axis drive 471, a first X-axis drive 472, a sliding seat 473, a rotating component 474, and a suction pen 475. The third Z-axis drive 471 and the first X-axis drive 472 are connected to the sliding seat 473. The third Z-axis drive 471 drives the sliding seat 473 to move along the Z-axis, and the first X-axis drive 472 drives the sliding seat 473 to move along the X-axis. The suction pen 475 is mounted on the sliding seat 473 and connected to a negative pressure source. The rotating component 474 is connected to the suction pen 475 and drives the suction pen 475 to rotate along the Z-axis axial direction. The rotating component 474 can be a rotating motor, or a rotating motor can drive a pulley to rotate the suction pen 475. The sliding seat 473 is made of lightweight and high-rigidity material and has undergone dynamic balance optimization to ensure the positioning repeatability of high-speed reciprocating motion; the rotating part 474 and the suction pen 475 are coaxially connected, with small radial runout, which is conducive to the accurate execution of the angle correction provided by the lower positioning camera 840; the suction pen 475 is equipped with an independent throttle valve in the negative pressure channel to achieve negative pressure control.

[0080] Reference Figure 6 , Figure 7As shown, the film loading and unloading module's suction pen 475 includes a suction rod 751. The bottom of the suction rod 751 is flat, and a deformable adsorption membrane 752 is provided at the bottom of the suction rod 751. The center of the deformable adsorption membrane 752 has an outward convex structure. The connection part between the deformable adsorption membrane 752 and the suction rod 751 is located on the bottom surface of the suction rod 751 near the outer side. Its outer contour protrudes from the outer wall of the suction rod 751 and forms an outer edge 7521, which curves upward. A directional post 7522 is provided at the center of the side of the deformable adsorption membrane 752 away from the outward convexity, and a corresponding directional groove 7511 is provided on the suction rod 751. The suction rod 751 has a negative pressure chamber 7512 inside. A first negative pressure channel 753 is formed by passing through the suction rod 751 at the corresponding position of the directional column 7522. Multiple second negative pressure channels 754 are opened circumferentially near the outer wall of the suction rod 751 on the deformable adsorption membrane 752. The channel opening of each second negative pressure channel 754 is obliquely facing the center side of the deformable adsorption membrane 752. A third negative pressure channel 755 is also opened on the suction rod 751 between the first negative pressure channel 753 and the second negative pressure channel 754. The third negative pressure channel 755 is connected to the negative pressure chamber 7512 and is set towards the deformable adsorption membrane 752.

[0081] It is worth noting that the aperture and number of the first negative pressure channel 753, the second negative pressure channel 754, and the third negative pressure channel 755 can be adjusted adaptively according to requirements.

[0082] Specifically, during the film suction process, the deformable adsorption membrane 752 at the bottom of the suction rod 751, due to its outward convex structure at the center, will first contact the film. As the suction rod 751 continues to move downward, the deformable adsorption membrane 752 will push the film outward from the center, making the film flatter. Since the channel opening of the second negative pressure channel 754 is angled towards the center of the deformable adsorption membrane 752, it will also provide suction force to the periphery of the film outward under the action of negative pressure, further making the film flatter. The third negative pressure channel 755 will adsorb the deformable adsorption membrane 752 flat under the action of negative pressure, preventing it from popping out.

[0083] When placing the film into the mounting slot 2101 of the assembly tray 210, simply turn off the negative pressure source. The deformable adsorption film 752, with its outward-convex structure at the center, provides a certain degree of external support. It should be noted that during this process, the outer edge 7521 of the deformable adsorption film 752 will adhere to the peripheral wall of the mounting slot 2101 of the assembly tray 210, providing a certain degree of sealing and preventing interference from external air when the film is placed into the mounting slot 2101 of the assembly tray 210.

[0084] Furthermore, the deformable adsorption membrane 752 can be made of aging-resistant silicone rubber or polyurethane film, with its thickness and Shore hardness optimized according to the film thickness to achieve a balance between support and compliance. The cooperation between the directional column 7522 and the directional groove 7511 restricts the relative movement of the membrane and positions it, ensuring that the first negative pressure channel 753 is always in the center, which is conducive to forming a stable central negative pressure zone. The oblique nozzle of the second negative pressure channel 754 generates an additional flow field pointing towards the center during adsorption, which promotes the edge to flatten first and then the whole to be stabilized. The third negative pressure channel 755 is used to converge and adhere the outer edge 7521 during the adsorption stage, improve the sealing performance and suppress the membrane rebound. The negative pressure is gradually released during the release of the film, and the "gentle release" is achieved in combination with the outward rebound of the membrane, reducing the risk of relative slippage with the support or assembly tray 210.

[0085] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 9 as well as Figure 10 As shown, the lens loading module 300 includes a loading component 310 and a picking component 320. The loading component 310 includes a material rack 311 and a fourth Z-axis drive component 312. The material rack 311 is frame-shaped and has multiple slots 3111 or limiting blocks along the Z-axis direction for limiting the installation of multiple loading trays 313 for placing lenses. The fourth Z-axis drive component 312 is used to drive the material rack 311 to move along the Z-axis direction.

[0086] The material handling assembly 320 includes a material handling plate 321 and a second Y-axis drive 322. The second Y-axis drive 322 drives the material handling plate 321 to move into or out of the material rack 311, extending into the gap between adjacent loading trays 313 and removing the loading trays 313 one by one. When the material handling plate 321 is out of the material rack 311, the suction pen 475 of the lens handling module 400 can pick up the lenses on the loading trays 313. The groove 3111 of the material rack 311 has a small gap that matches the shape of the loading trays 313, which both limits the movement and facilitates removal. After the fourth Z-axis drive 312 indexes the layers to the target layer, it is held in position by a mechanical stop or brake to prevent the layers from sinking.

[0087] As an optional embodiment, a low-friction guide block and an anti-collision sensor can be provided at the front end of the picking plate 321 to ensure a smooth and reliable insertion and extraction process. A buffer position is provided between the feeding area and the picking / dispensing area to ensure that the feeding continuity is not affected when the picking / dispensing module waits for a short time.

[0088] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 8As shown, the positioning module 800 includes a top positioning camera 810 and a second X-axis drive 820. In this embodiment, the top positioning camera 810 is a high-resolution industrial-grade CCD camera. CCD cameras have the advantages of low imaging noise, wide dynamic range, and small geometric distortion, and can stably acquire high-contrast images under complex lighting conditions, making them particularly suitable for the assembly and inspection of precision optical components. The top CCD camera is connected to the motion platform via the second X-axis drive 820, and can scan multiple mounting areas 211 in the X direction to achieve rapid cross-regional shooting. In some embodiments, it can also be moved up and down in conjunction with the Z-axis drive to achieve automatic focusing, thereby ensuring that clear images are always obtained under different thickness conditions such as lenses and films. The top CCD camera can be used with a coaxial light source or a ring light source to enhance the boundary contrast of the mounting slots 2101 on the assembly disk 210, avoiding boundary blurring caused by light reflection or refraction.

[0089] The working distance and focal length of the lens are determined based on the size of the mounting area 211 and the camera's pixel accuracy, ensuring sufficient resolution for each mounting point within the field of view, facilitating subsequent image processing and feature extraction. The camera imaging coordinate system and the mechanical coordinate system are calibrated using a calibration plate to establish a transformation matrix, ensuring that the positional information acquired by the camera can be accurately converted into motion commands for the actuators, thereby achieving precise placement of the lens and film. The control system receives image information acquired by the CCD camera and, through built-in image processing algorithms (such as edge detection, sub-pixel localization, and template matching), extracts the geometric center or key positioning points of the mounting area 211. The calculation results are fed back to the lens and film loading / unloading modules 400 and 475 in real time, driving the pen 475 to achieve precise placement. The control system can be based on an embedded motion control card or industrial computer architecture, supporting multi-axis linkage and high-speed data processing, while also possessing a time synchronization mechanism to ensure consistency between camera acquisition and mechanical movement, avoiding placement errors caused by delays.

[0090] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 6 As shown, the positioning module 800 also includes an upper positioning camera 830 and a lower positioning camera 840, both of which are CCD cameras. The upper positioning camera 830 is respectively mounted on the sliding base 473 of the lens picking and placing module 400 and the film picking and placing module. As the sliding base 473 moves, it performs local imaging to obtain the specific positions of the lens on the picking plate 321 and the film on the wafer disk 510, and transmits the image information to the control system. The control system processes the image to obtain accurate pose information and drives the corresponding suction pen 475 to complete the alignment and picking. Because the upper positioning camera 830 and the sliding base 473 move in tandem, they can perform real-time detection and picking confirmation at the picking point, which helps to improve the success rate of picking in one go.

[0091] Two lower positioning cameras 840 are installed, fixed on the platform between the lens loading module 300 and the film loading module 500, respectively. These cameras are used to re-image the acquired lens and film to confirm their angular deviation and center offset. To reduce blurring caused by motion, the fixed lower positioning camera 840 exhibits higher stability during imaging. Its lens is preferably a telecentric optical lens to reduce parallax error and ensure consistency in dimensional measurements at different heights. The angular information acquired by the lower positioning camera 840 is transmitted to the control system, which drives the corresponding rotating component 474 to perform closed-loop angular adjustment of the lens and film for further alignment. The upper and lower CCD cameras are synchronized within the control system to ensure closed-loop consistency between image acquisition and the actuator's actions, thereby avoiding placement errors caused by lag in pose data. Through multi-camera collaborative positioning and closed-loop correction, the entire system can achieve high-precision assembly of the lens and film in terms of X-axis and Y-axis position and angle, ensuring the optical performance and assembly yield of the projection lens.

[0092] Reference Figure 11 , Figure 12 As shown, a pen magazine 900 is installed on the second Y-axis drive unit 322. The pen magazine 900 includes a placement plate 910, on which multiple pen slots 911 are formed. Each pen slot 911 is composed of a large slot 9111 and a small slot 9112 that are interconnected. A sliding clamping plate 920 is slidably mounted on the placement plate 910. A clamping slot 921 is provided on the sliding clamping plate 920 corresponding to each pen slot 911. The diameter of the clamping slot 921 is the same as the diameter of the large slot 9111. An adjusting member 930 is also provided on the placement plate 910. The adjusting member 930 is connected to the sliding clamping plate 920 and is used to drive the sliding clamping plate 920 to clamp and fix the pen 475. During the specific clamping process, if the sliding clamp 920 is driven to move towards the small groove 9112, a smaller diameter suction pen 475 can be clamped; if driven in the opposite direction towards the large groove 9111, a larger diameter suction pen 475 can be clamped, so as to achieve compatibility of suction pens 475 with different diameters.

[0093] To avoid damage to the pen 475 during clamping, the sliding clamp 920 is slidably embedded in the placement plate 910, and rubber pads are installed on its upper and lower sides. The rubber pads have receiving grooves that are slightly smaller than the diameter of the clamping groove 921, so that they first make flexible contact with the outer wall of the pen 475 during clamping, providing a buffer and limiting effect, and preventing the pen 475 from being damaged or tilted due to rigid clamping.

[0094] Furthermore, the adjusting component 930 can adopt a fine-tuning screw or eccentric cam structure to achieve rapid locking and fine adjustment, ensuring that the concentricity of the clamping and the repeatability of the positioning accuracy can still be maintained when frequently changing suction pens 475 of different diameters.

[0095] It should be noted that the pen library 900 is only installed on one side of the lens loading and unloading module 400, and not on the film loading and unloading module side. The main reason is that the lens specifications vary greatly, and the lenses are made of rigid materials, which places higher demands on the diameter matching and suction stability of the suction pen 475. If a single suction pen 475 is used for different lens models, it is easy to encounter problems such as insufficient suction force or misalignment. Therefore, it is necessary to use the pen library 900 to quickly switch between suction pens 475 of different diameters to meet the production needs of multiple lens models.

[0096] The film is an ultra-thin, flexible sheet material with minimal thickness and a high degree of dimensional standardization. Furthermore, its loading and unloading module utilizes a dedicated suction pen 475 structure with a deformable adsorption film 752, effectively adapting to and stably adsorbing the film, thus eliminating the need for an additional pen magazine 900. This differentiated design not only improves the overall flexibility and compatibility of the machine but also avoids structural redundancy, simplifies equipment layout, and further enhances production efficiency and maintenance convenience.

[0097] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A projection lens automatic assembling machine, characterized in that, It includes an assembly module (200), a lens loading module (300), a lens picking and placing module (400), a film loading module (500), an ejection module (600), a film picking and placing module (700), and a positioning module (800) all mounted on a workbench (100), wherein: The assembly module (200) includes an assembly tray (210), which has multiple mounting areas (211) and a film holder is pre-placed in each mounting area (211). The lens loading module (300) is used to transport the lens to the pick-up and put-down position of the lens pick-up and put-down module (400); The lens picking and placing module (400) is used to sequentially pick up the lenses and place them into each corresponding installation area (211); The film feeding module (500) is used to fix and install the film board; The ejection module (600) is used to eject each film sheet sequentially from the film plate; The film pick-up and place module (700) is used to sequentially pick up the film pieces and place them on the film holder in the corresponding installation area (211). After the film pieces are placed on the film holder, the lens pick-up and place module (400) places the lens on the film holder to achieve clamping, positioning and installation of the film pieces. The positioning module (800) is movable and used to position the mounting areas (211) one by one, so that the lens picking and placing module (400) and the film picking and placing module (700) can place the lens and the film into the corresponding mounting area (211) according to the positioning position; wherein: The ejection module (600) includes an ejector rod (610), a movable plate (620), a first Z-axis drive (630), and a second Z-axis drive (640). The top rod (610) is slidably mounted on the movable plate (620) along the Z-axis direction, and its top is detachably connected to a top block (612) matching the size and thickness of the film. The first Z-axis drive (630) is connected to the movable plate (620) and is used to drive the movable plate (620) to move along the Z-axis direction. The second Z-axis drive (640) is connected to the top rod (610), wherein: When the first Z-axis drive unit (630) drives the movable plate (620) to bring the top block (612) into contact with the bottom of the film plate, the second Z-axis drive unit (640) drives the top rod (610) to move along the Z-axis direction by a distance consistent with the thickness of the film, so as to push the film out. The second Z-axis drive component (640) includes a drive motor (641), an eccentric wheel (642), a slotted disc (643), and an angle sensor (644). The drive motor (641) is fixedly mounted on the movable plate (620). The output shaft of the drive motor (641) is connected to the eccentric wheel (642). An extension rod (6121) is fixedly mounted on the top rod (610). The extension rod (6121) slides against the outer wall of the eccentric wheel (642). The slotted disc (643) is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor (641). The angle sensor (644) is mounted on the movable plate (620). The angle sensor (644) is installed correspondingly to the slotted disc (643). The angle sensor (644) is connected to the controller of the drive motor (641). And / or, the top of the top rod (610) is provided with a plurality of annular grooves (611) with the center overlapping, and negative pressure holes (6111) are provided in the annular grooves (6111). The negative pressure holes (6111) are connected to a negative pressure source. The middle part of the top rod (610) is also provided with a negative pressure hole (6111) through the step formed by the annular grooves (611). The negative pressure hole (6111) at this position is used to adsorb the top block (612) so as to realize the detachable installation of the top block (612).

2. The automatic projection lens assembling machine according to claim 1, wherein The film loading module (500) includes a wafer disk (510), a first Y-axis drive component (520), and a pressure plate (530); The wafer disk (510) is connected to the first Y-axis drive (520). The first Y-axis drive (520) is used to drive the wafer disk (510) to move along the Y-axis and fix its position after moving to the target position. The pressure plate (530) is rotatably connected to the wafer disk (510) and can fix its position when pressing the film. The wafer disk (510) and the pressure plate (530) are respectively provided with a feeding port (531) at the corresponding film position. And / or, a bottom film is provided on the bottom of the film plate, and the film plate is attached to the bottom film; And / or, the assembly plate (210) is provided with a plurality of mounting slots (2101), the mounting slots (2101) constitute the mounting area (211), and the mounting slots (2101) are provided with a plurality of vacuum holes.

3. The automatic projection lens assembling machine according to claim 2, wherein, Both the lens loading / unloading module (400) and the film loading / unloading module (700) include a third Z-axis drive (471), a first X-axis drive (472), a sliding seat (473), a rotating component (474), and a suction pen (475), wherein: The third Z-axis drive (471) and the first X-axis drive (472) are both connected to the sliding seat (473). The third Z-axis drive (471) is used to drive the sliding seat (473) to move along the Z-axis direction. The first X-axis drive (472) is used to drive the sliding seat (473) to move along the X-axis direction. The suction pen (475) is disposed on the sliding seat (473) and connected to the negative pressure source. The rotating component (474) is connected to the suction pen (475) and is used to drive the suction pen (475) to rotate along the axial direction of the Z-axis.

4. The automatic projection lens assembly machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The suction pen (475) of the film loading and unloading module (700) includes a suction rod (751). A deformable adsorption membrane (752) is provided at the bottom of the suction rod (751). The center of the deformable adsorption membrane (752) has an outward convex structure. The connection part between the deformable adsorption membrane (752) and the suction rod (751) is located on the bottom surface of the suction rod (751) near the outer side. Its outer contour protrudes from the outer wall of the suction rod (751) and forms an outer edge (7521). The outer edge (7521) is curved upward. A directional post (7522) is provided at the center of the side of the deformable adsorption membrane (752) away from the outward convexity. A corresponding directional groove (7511) is opened on the suction rod (751). The device has an internal negative pressure chamber (7512). A first negative pressure channel (753) is formed by a suction rod (751) passing through the corresponding position of the directional column (7522). The deformable adsorption membrane (752) has multiple second negative pressure channels (754) circumferentially opened near the outer wall of the suction rod (751). The opening of each second negative pressure channel (754) is obliquely facing the center of the deformable adsorption membrane (752). A third negative pressure channel (755) is also opened on the suction rod (751) between the first negative pressure channel (753) and the second negative pressure channel (754). The third negative pressure channel (755) is connected to the negative pressure chamber (7512) and is set towards the deformable adsorption membrane (752).

5. The automatic projection lens assembly machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The lens loading module (300) includes a loading component (310) and a loading component (320). The feeding assembly (310) includes a feed rack (311) and a fourth Z-axis drive (312). The feed rack (311) has multiple slots (3111) or limiting blocks along the Z-axis direction for limiting the installation of multiple feeding trays (313) for placing lenses. The fourth Z-axis drive unit (312) is used to drive the material rack (311) to move along the Z-axis direction; The material handling assembly (320) includes a material handling plate (321) and a second Y-axis drive (322). The second Y-axis drive (322) is used to drive the material handling plate (321) to move into or out of the material rack (311) to extend into the gap between adjacent loading trays (313) and remove the loading trays (313) one by one. When the material pick-up plate (321) is removed from the material rack (311), the suction pen (475) of the lens pick-up and placement module (400) can pick up the lens on the loading tray (313).

6. The automatic projection lens assembly machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The positioning module (800) includes a top positioning camera (810) and a second X-axis drive (820). The second X-axis drive (820) is connected to the top positioning camera (810). The top positioning camera (810) is used to capture the specific placement point of the corresponding installation area (211) and transmit the captured position information to the control system. The control system drives the lens picking and placing module (400) and the film picking and placing module (700) according to the position information to achieve precise placement of the lens and film.

7. The automatic projection lens assembly machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The positioning module (800) further includes an upper positioning camera (830) and a lower positioning camera (840); wherein: The upper positioning camera (830) is respectively set on the sliding seat (473) of the lens picking and placing module (400) and the film picking and placing module (700), and is used to take pictures of the lens on the picking plate (321) and the film on the wafer disk (510), and transmit the position information obtained by the pictures to the control system. The control system drives the suction pen (475) of the lens picking and placing module (400) and the film picking and placing module (700) to pick up the film according to the position information. Two positioning cameras (840) are provided, which are used to take pictures of the lens and film on the lens pick-up and place module (400) and the film pick-up and place module (700) respectively, and transmit the angle information obtained by the pictures to the control system. The control system drives the respective rotating parts (474) to rotate according to the angle information, so as to further adjust and align the lens and film.

8. The automatic projection lens assembly machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second Y-axis drive unit (322) is provided with a pen magazine (900), the pen magazine (900) includes a placement plate (910), the placement plate (910) is provided with a plurality of pen slots (911), the pen slots (911) are composed of a large slot (9111) and a small slot (9112) that are interconnected, the placement plate (910) is provided with a sliding clamp (920), the sliding clamp (920) is provided with a clamping slot (921) corresponding to each of the pen slots (911), the diameter of the clamping slot (921) is the same as the diameter of the large slot (9111), the placement plate (910) is provided with an adjusting member (930), the adjusting member (930) is connected to the sliding clamp (920) and is used to drive the sliding clamp (920) to clamp and fix the pen (475).

Images