Method for producing optical lens with height-adjustable lens mold
By digitally encoding the lens mold and configuring shims to adjust the height of the mold core assembly, the problem of decreased yield caused by differences in the height of the lens mold core assembly was solved, achieving cost control and improved production efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202512004124.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2045-12-29
AI Technical Summary
In current optical lens production, the height difference of the lens mold core assembly leads to a decrease in yield, and the cost of replacing the core assembly is high.
By digitally encoding the lens mold and configuring shims of different heights to adjust the height of the mold core assembly to keep them at the same height, and using a molding machine during molding, the mold core assembly is ensured to be on the same plane, eliminating defects caused by inconsistent heights.
This improved the lens yield, reduced production costs, extended the lifespan of the mold core assembly, avoided frequent replacements, and enabled precise maintenance and continuity of the production process.
Smart Images

Figure CN121403623A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the technical fields of optical lens manufacturing, electronic digital data processing, and automated design models, and in particular to a method for producing optical lenses with adjustable lens mold height. Background Technology
[0002] In optical lens production, the raw materials for lens production are first fed into a lens mold. The mold, loaded with raw materials, is then fed into a molding machine via a feeding mechanism for compression molding. Different lens manufacturers use different lens molds, and the problems they face in automating production and transfer processes also vary. In existing technology, there is a lens mold comprising a mold outer sleeve, a base, and mold core assemblies. The mold outer sleeve is fitted onto the base, and multiple mold core assemblies are placed at intervals along the circumference of the base. Each mold core assembly includes a mold core sleeve, an upper mold core, and a lower mold core. The mold core sleeve houses the upper and lower mold cores, and the space between the upper and lower mold cores is used to fill the gap between the lens production raw materials or the molded lens. Due to prolonged production use and maintenance, the height of the mold core assemblies may vary, causing a decrease in lens yield. Replacing the mold core assemblies would significantly increase the cost of optical lens production.
[0003] In summary, existing optical lens manufacturing technologies suffer from technical problems such as declining lens yield and significantly increased production costs due to mold core component replacement. Summary of the Invention
[0004] To address the shortcomings of the existing technology, this invention provides a method for producing optical lenses with adjustable lens mold height, thereby improving the yield rate of lenses and avoiding a significant increase in the cost of optical lens production due to mold core component replacement.
[0005] The optical lens manufacturing method with adjustable lens mold height provided by the present invention includes: The lens mold is digitally encoded to obtain a mold number that represents the unique identity of the lens mold, and the different mold core components that make up the lens mold are digitally encoded to obtain mold core component numbers that represent mold core components of different heights. Different height shims are configured for different height mold core components included in lens molds with the same mold number. The higher shims are used to elevate the lower mold core components on the lens mold base, so that the height of all the mold core components in the outer sleeve of the mold on the lens mold base remains the same. During lens production, a molding machine is used to press the raised, level mold core assembly to obtain a lens mold for loading the formed lens.
[0006] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention provides a method for producing optical lenses with adjustable lens mold height. The method includes: digitally encoding the lens mold to obtain a mold number that uniquely identifies the lens mold; digitally encoding different mold core components that make up the lens mold to obtain mold core component numbers that represent mold core components of different heights; configuring shims of different heights for different height mold core components included in lens molds with the same mold number, so that the higher shims elevate the lower height mold core components on the lens mold base, ensuring that all the raised mold core components within the outer sleeve of the lens mold base maintain the same height; and during lens production, molding the raised, equal-height mold core components using a molding machine to obtain a lens mold for loading the formed lens. This invention provides shims of varying heights for different mold core components within a lens mold with the same mold number. The higher shims elevate the lower mold core components on the lens mold base, ensuring that all mold core components within the outer sleeve of the mold base maintain the same height. This directly compensates for height differences in mold core components caused by long-term use or wear during maintenance, ensuring all components involved in molding are on the same plane. It eliminates the root cause of defects such as uneven force application in the molding machine and substandard lens thickness or shape due to inconsistent height, thus guaranteeing lens molding quality and solving the problem of declining yield. Compared to replacing expensive precision mold core components, using specially designed shims for height adjustment is an economical maintenance and adjustment method. Manufacturers can continue to use mold core components with varying heights, avoiding mass replacements to achieve uniform height and thus reducing production costs. The lens mold is digitally encoded to obtain a mold number that represents the unique identity of the lens mold. The different mold core components that make up the lens mold are also digitally encoded to obtain mold core component numbers that represent mold core components of different heights. This allows each lens mold and its mold core components to be given a unique identification. This makes the operation of configuring shims of different heights for different height mold core components of lens molds with the same mold number targeted and traceable, and enables precise maintenance based on data. Attached Figure Description
[0007] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the invention are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation thereof. Some specific embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in an exemplary and non-limiting manner. The same reference numerals in the drawings designate the same or similar parts or components. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic flowchart of a method for producing optical lenses with adjustable lens mold height according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of transporting a lens mold from a molding machine to a lens removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the mechanism of a lens-retrieving device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is an exploded structural diagram of a lens mold according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a mold-separating platform according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another structure of the mold-separating platform according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a mold core gripper structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a mold gripper structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a component transport slide according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Lens mold; 10. Mold core assembly; 100. Upper mold core; 101. Lower mold core; 102. Mold core sleeve; 11. Gasket; 12. Base; 13. Mold outer sleeve; 2. Molding machine; 3. Lens retrieving equipment; 30. Mold splitting platform; 300. Mounting plate; 301. Rotary stepper motor; 302. Lifting screw motor; 303. Vacuum air pressure connector; 304. Hollow rotary gear platform; 305. Floating joint; 306. Mold fixing base; 31. Component handling slide; 310. Placement position; 32. Robot arm; 320. Mold core gripper; 321. Mold gripper; 33. Outer sleeve temporary storage platform; 34. Limiting gripper mechanism; 35. Mold number identification device. Detailed Implementation
[0009] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0010] See Figures 1-9 This invention provides a method for producing an optical lens with an adjustable lens mold 1, the method comprising: S101. Digitally encode the lens mold 1 to obtain a mold number that represents the unique identity of the lens mold 1, and digitally encode the different mold core components 10 that make up the lens mold 1 to obtain mold core component 10 numbers that represent different height mold core components 10. S102. For lens molds 1 with the same mold number, shims 11 of different heights are configured for the mold core assemblies 10 of different heights. The shims 11 of higher height are used to raise the mold core assemblies 10 of lower height on the base 12 of lens mold 1, so that the height of all the mold core assemblies 10 raised in the outer sleeve 13 of the mold on the base 12 of lens mold 1 is kept at the same height. S103. During lens production, the raised equal-height mold core assembly 10 is molded by the molding machine 2 to obtain the lens mold 1 for loading the molded lens.
[0011] In this embodiment, shims 11 of different heights are configured for the different height mold core components 10 included in the lens mold 1 with the same mold number. The higher shims 11 elevate the lower mold core components 10 on the base 12 of the lens mold 1, ensuring that the height of all the mold core components 10 within the outer sleeve 13 on the base 12 of the lens mold 1 remains equal. This directly compensates for height differences in the mold core components 10 caused by long-term use or wear during maintenance, ensuring that all components involved in molding are on the same plane. This eliminates the root cause of defects such as uneven force application by the molding machine 2 and substandard lens thickness or shape due to inconsistent height, thereby guaranteeing lens molding quality from a process perspective and solving the problem of declining yield. Compared to replacing expensive precision mold core components 10, using specially designed shims 11 for height adjustment is an economical maintenance and adjustment method. Manufacturers can continue to use mold core components 10 with varying heights, avoiding batch replacements of mold core components 10 to achieve consistent height, thus suppressing increases in production costs.
[0012] It should be noted that the lens mold 1 is digitally encoded to obtain a mold number that represents the unique identity of the lens mold 1, and the different mold core components 10 that make up the lens mold 1 are digitally encoded to obtain mold core component 10 numbers that represent different height mold core components 10. In this way, each lens mold 1 and its mold core components 10 can be given a unique identity, making the operation of configuring shims 11 of different heights for different height mold core components 10 included in the lens mold 1 with the same mold number targeted and traceable, and realizing precise maintenance based on data.
[0013] It should also be noted that the solution to the height difference of the mold core assembly 10 in this embodiment changes from replacing the mold core assembly 10 in the prior art to configuring a shim 11. The shim 11, as a low-cost and easily manufactured part, is far less expensive than the precision mold core assembly 10. Therefore, the solution of this embodiment can extend the service life of the existing mold core assembly 10, avoid frequent replacements, and achieve the technical effect of controlling and reducing the production cost of optical lenses.
[0014] Preferably, each of the gaskets 11 is digitally encoded to obtain a gasket 11 number representing gaskets 11 of different heights, and the gasket 11 number of each gasket 11 is associated with the mold core assembly 10 number of the mold core assembly 10 corresponding to the height of the gasket 11 to obtain the height correspondence between the gasket 11 and the mold core assembly 10.
[0015] In this embodiment, each of the gaskets 11 is digitally encoded to obtain a gasket 11 number representing gaskets 11 of different heights. This elevates the gasket 11 from an ordinary physical part to a managed object with a unique identifier, allowing the height information of each gasket 11 to be accurately recorded and traced, avoiding confusion and misuse. Furthermore, the gasket 11 number of each gasket 11 is associated with the mold core assembly 10 number of the corresponding height-adjusted mold core assembly 10. This ensures that when reassembling the lens mold 1, each mold core assembly 10 can be quickly and accurately matched back to its dedicated height compensation gasket 11, fundamentally preventing new height differences and yield fluctuations caused by human error in matching gaskets 11. The height correspondence records the optimal height compensation value required for each specific mold core assembly 10. This not only serves current production but also provides a crucial data foundation for subsequent loss prediction, gasket 11 inventory management, and process optimization.
[0016] Preferably, after obtaining the lens mold 1 loaded with the molded lens, the lens mold 1 loaded with the molded lens is transferred from the discharge station of the molding press 2 to the lens taking device 3. The lens taking device 3 transports the lens mold 1 to the mold separating platform 30, separates the mold outer sleeve 13 of the lens mold 1 from all the mold core components 10 inside the mold outer sleeve 13, and separates the mold core components 10 from the pads 11 used for raising them underneath. The mold core components 10 after being separated from the pads 11 are transferred to the component transport slide 31 of the lens taking device 3, and are moved to the lens taking station for lens taking through the component transport slide 31.
[0017] In this embodiment, the lens mold 1, loaded with the molded lens, is transferred from the discharge station of the molding machine 2 to the lens removal device 3. The lens removal device 3 then transfers the lens mold 1 to its mold separating platform 30, thereby establishing an automated connection from molding to subsequent lens removal, ensuring the continuity and efficiency of the production process. The outer mold sleeve 13 of the lens mold 1 on the mold separating platform 30 is separated from all the mold core components 10 within the outer mold sleeve 13, and the mold core components 10 are separated from the pads 11 used for raising them underneath. This removes the mechanical constraints between the outer mold sleeve 13, the mold core components 10, and the pads 11, allowing subsequent operations to be performed directly on the mold core components 10 that carry the lens. This avoids potential lens scratches, cracks, or mold damage that may occur when removing the lens in the presence of the outer mold sleeve 13 and the pads 11, reducing the risk of lens damage and the need for mold maintenance. After separation, the mold core assembly 10 is transferred to a dedicated component transport slide 31 and transported to the lens retrieval station, so that the lens retrieval operation can be carried out on the individual mold core assembly 10 at a dedicated station, thereby improving the accuracy, controllability and efficiency of the lens retrieval operation.
[0018] Preferably, the lens-retrieving device 3 includes a robotic arm 32 located above the mold-separating platform 30. After the mold core assembly 10 is separated from the pad 11, it is gripped by the mold core gripper 320 on the robotic arm 32 and then moved in parallel by the mold core gripper 320 to the component transport slide 31 of the lens-retrieving device 3.
[0019] It should be noted that after the gasket 11 is separated, the mold core assembly 10 (especially its lower mold core 101) loses its physical support at the bottom and is only constrained by the side wall of the mold core sleeve 102. If a conventional transfer method of gripping and lifting, then moving to the component transport slide 31 and then lowering is used, the lower mold core 101 is very likely to loosen and fall out of the mold core sleeve 102 at the moment of lifting. In this embodiment, the requirement of parallel movement means that after gripping the mold core assembly 10, the mold core gripper 320 always moves horizontally on a plane that is basically at the same height as the platform of the mold parting table 30, avoiding vertical lifting movements, eliminating the risk of the lower mold core 101 falling off due to vertical movement, and ensuring the structural integrity of the mold core assembly 10 during the transfer process.
[0020] Preferably, the mold-separating platform 30 is a height-adjustable mold-separating platform; before the mold core assembly 10 is separated from the pad 11 underneath it, the height of the height-adjustable mold-separating platform in the lens-retrieving device 3 is controlled according to the height correspondence between the pad 11 and the mold core assembly 10, so that the lower mold core 101 does not fall off or the mold core assembly 10 in the process of leaving the pad 11 below it and transferring to the component transport slide 31, or the mold core assembly 10 in the process of transfer does not obstruct or interfere with the component transport slide 31.
[0021] It should be noted that for parallel movement to be successfully executed, a key prerequisite is that when the mold core assembly 10 is grasped, the upper surface of the pad 11 at its bottom (the upper surface of the pad 11 physically contacts and supports the bottom surface of the mold core 101 below the mold core assembly 10) and the receiving position of the component transport slide 31 for receiving the mold core assembly 10 must form an unobstructed horizontal path of equal height. In this embodiment, the lifting and lowering of the liftable mold-separating platform in the lens-retrieving device 3 is controlled based on the height correspondence between the pad 11 and the mold core assembly 10. It does not directly measure the mold core assembly 10 itself, but uses the height of the pad 11 as a reference to control the lifting and lowering of the mold-separating platform. The lifting and lowering goal of the liftable mold-separating platform is to adjust the bottom surface of the mold core assembly 10 (whose bottom surface was originally in contact with the upper surface of the pad 11) (i.e., the geometric plane where the original upper surface of the pad 11 was located) to be at the same height as the receiving position of the component transport slide 31. It is understandable that if there is a height difference in the horizontal path, the lower mold core 101 may fall off or the mold core assembly 10 may block the component transport slide 31 during the process of transferring from the pad 11 below it to the component transport slide 31. The receiving surface height of the component transport slide 31 is fixed. In this embodiment, the height-adjustable mold parting platform is adjusted according to the height of the pad 11 at different heights to ensure that the translation from the physical plane of the upper surface of the pad 11 to the fixed receiving surface of the component transport slide 31 is basically on the same plane, avoiding the starting height of the bottom of the mold core assembly 10 being too high or too low.
[0022] Preferably, during the lifting and lowering process of the liftable mold-separating platform, according to the height correspondence between the shim 11 and the mold core assembly 10, if the height of the mold core assembly 10 is high and the height of the shim 11 underneath it is low, the liftable mold-separating platform is controlled to rise so that the upper surface of the low-height shim 11 is at the same height as the placement position 310 of the mold core 100 assembly 10 on the component transport slide 31; if the height of the mold core assembly 10 is low and the height of the shim 11 underneath it is high, the liftable mold-separating platform is controlled to fall so that the upper surface of the high-height shim 11 is at the same height as the placement position 310 of the mold core 100 assembly 10 on the component transport slide 31.
[0023] It should be noted that the direction (ascending or descending) and target of the height-adjustable mold-separating platform are determined by the height of the shim 11 that elevates the mold core assembly 10. The goal of the height adjustment is to ensure that the upper surface of the shim 11 reaches the target height, thereby ensuring that the automation program can adapt to mold core assemblies 10 of various heights. Therefore, in this embodiment, the shim 11 is not merely a passive height compensation component, but rather an active reference plane used to define the correct working position of the mold core assembly 10 in space during the entire automated lens production process. It can accurately offset the overall height difference caused by the difference between the original height of the mold core assembly 10 and the thickness of the shim 11. Ultimately, when all mold core assemblies 10 are gripped and transferred, the plane on which their bottom is located (i.e., the upper surface of the shim 11) is flush with the placement position 310 of the mold core assembly 10 at a fixed height on the assembly transport slide 31, fundamentally eliminating the possibility of the lower mold core 101 falling off or mechanical interference due to height mismatch.
[0024] Preferably, the lens taking device 3 further includes an outer sleeve temporary storage platform 33 disposed on one side of the liftable mold separating platform. After the lens mold 1 is transported to the liftable mold separating platform, the liftable mold separating platform opens a vacuum to adsorb the base 12 of the lens mold 1 onto the platform. The mold gripper 321 on the robot arm 32 above the liftable mold separating platform moves to grab the mold outer sleeve 13 on the base 12 that is fitted with all the mold core assemblies 10, and transfers the grabbed mold outer sleeve 13 to the outer sleeve temporary storage platform 33 for temporary storage.
[0025] It should be noted that fixing the base 12 to the mold-separating platform 30 via vacuum adsorption provides a stable and immovable reference for the subsequent operation of the robot arm 32 to grasp the outer sleeve, ensuring that the base 12 will not shake or shift when the outer sleeve is vertically lifted and moved away. The mold gripper 321 on the robot arm 32 above the liftable mold-separating platform moves to grasp the mold outer sleeve 13 on the base 12, which is fitted with all the mold core components 10, and transfers the grasped mold outer sleeve 13 to the outer sleeve temporary storage platform 33 for temporary storage. This can automatically complete the separation of the outer sleeve from all the mold core components 10 inside the outer sleeve, improving efficiency and consistency. Moving the outer sleeve out of the mold-separating platform 30 area frees up a non-interference working space for the robot arm 32 to switch the mold core gripper 320 and to grasp, separate from and transfer the mold core components 10 and the gasket 11, making the process connection smoother. The coat sleeve storage table 33 provides an orderly temporary storage location for removed coat sleeves, avoiding the chaos, scratches or loss that may be caused by random placement.
[0026] Preferably, the liftable mold-separating platform is a liftable and rotatable mold-separating platform. The lens removal device 3 further includes a limiting gripper mechanism 34 disposed on one side of the liftable and rotatable mold-separating platform. After the outer sleeve of the mold 13 leaves the base 12, the limiting gripper mechanism 34 closes its gripper to surround the mold core assembly 10 and the gasket 11 on the base 12, forming a component removal outlet that allows individual mold core assemblies 10 to move out in parallel. The liftable and rotatable mold-separating platform drives the mold core assemblies 10 on the base 12 to rotate, rotating each mold core assembly 10 to align with the component removal outlet. During the rotation of the mold core assemblies 10 on the base 12, the limiting gripper mechanism 34 limits all mold core assemblies 10 to prevent them from being thrown out.
[0027] It should be noted that the liftable and rotating mold-separating platform drives the mold core assembly 10 on the base 12 to rotate, aligning each mold core assembly 10 with the component removal outlet. This allows the processing mode of the mold core assembly 10 to be sequentially processed at a single fixed station, avoiding the need for multiple parallel and complex gripping mechanisms for multiple mold core assemblies 10. This results in a more compact equipment layout, saving space and reducing equipment complexity and manufacturing costs. Furthermore, by rotating the platform, the circumferentially distributed mold core assemblies 10 can be precisely positioned one by one to the same component removal outlet, creating conditions for the subsequent robotic arm 32 to grasp and transfer each assembly with uniform and repetitive movements. This simplifies the design of the robotic arm 32 and improves the orderliness, reliability, and controllability of the processing cycle. Additionally, after removing the outer sleeve, the multiple mold core assemblies 10 and their gaskets 11 are in a loose state on the base 12. If the platform is rotated directly at this time, centrifugal force can easily cause the components and gaskets 11 to be thrown out, resulting in serious damage and disorder. In this embodiment, the closing gripper mechanism 34 creates a safe physical barrier before rotation begins, and the resulting component removal outlet is the only channel allowing the component to be removed. The limiting gripper mechanism 34 continuously provides circumferential restraint during the rotation of the base 12, eliminating the risk of the mold core component 10 scattering due to rotation. Furthermore, the component removal outlet, on the one hand, constrains the mold core component 10, and on the other hand, provides a fixed, aligned, and unobstructed channel for the parallel movement, gripping, and removal actions of the mold core gripper 320 on the robotic arm 32, ensuring that each mold core component 10 rotated into position can be safely removed in the exact same way and along the same path, achieving highly consistent automated operation.
[0028] Preferably, when the mold-separating platform 30 is a height-adjustable and rotatable structure, its specific structure may include a mounting plate 300 and a lifting screw motor 302 and a mold fixing seat 306 mounted on the mounting plate 300. The lifting screw motor 302 is connected to the hollow rotary gear platform 304 through a floating joint 305. A vacuum air pressure connector 303 is provided on the hollow rotary gear platform 304 and connected to a rotary stepper motor 301. Under the drive of the rotary stepper motor 301, the hollow rotary gear platform 304 is rotated. When the hollow rotary gear platform 304 rotates, it drives the mold fixing seat 306 to rotate. When the mold fixing seat 306 rotates, it drives the base 12 of the lens mold 1 it carries to rotate, thereby driving the pad 11 and the mold core assembly 10 on the base 12 to rotate.
[0029] Preferably, after the current single mold core assembly 10 is rotated and aligned with the component removal outlet, the mold core gripper 320 on the lifting mold separation platform above the robot arm 32 moves to grab the mold core assembly 10 aligned with the component removal outlet, and transfers it parallel from the component removal outlet to the current mold core assembly 10 placement position 310 on the component transport slide 31. After the component transport slide 31 places the current mold core assembly 10, it slides to provide the placement position 310 for the next mold core assembly 10.
[0030] It should be noted that the mold core gripper 320 moves to grasp the mold core component 10 aligned with the component removal outlet, and transfers it parallelly from the component removal outlet to the current placement position 310 of the component transport slide 31. This achieves a buffer for the movement of the mold core component 10, establishing an efficient and orderly transfer path for the mold core component 10 to proceed to the next process (such as the mirror retrieval station) after leaving the mold parting station. After receiving a mold core component 10, the component transport slide 31 actively slides to make room for the next empty placement position 310. This allows the robot arm 32 to immediately return to the component removal outlet of the mold parting table 30 to grasp the next aligned mold core component 10 after completing one placement, without waiting for the component on the slide to be removed by the downstream process. The sliding action to create the next placement position 310 and the rotation of the mold parting table 30 to align the next mold core component 10 can be performed in parallel or efficiently connected in time. This allows the cycle of alignment, grasping, transfer, and placement to be performed continuously with the shortest interval, optimizing the production cycle of the entire mold parting and material handling process and eliminating intermittent waiting. The component transport slide 31 is a linear, step-by-step buffer queue. All mold core components 10 taken out from the mold splitting stage 30 are arranged on the slide in the order they were taken out, providing a stable and controllable supply of mold core components 10 to the downstream lens taking station, thereby improving the stability and predictability of the entire system operation.
[0031] Furthermore, during the process of transporting the lens mold 1 to the mold separating platform 30 by the lens taking device 3, the lens mold 1 is first transported to the numbering identification station. The mold number identification device 35 of the lens taking device 3 identifies the preset identity mark on the lens mold 1. After the mold number identification device 35 identifies the identity mark of the specific lens mold 1, it transmits it to the main control system. The main control system performs mold number matching according to the identity mark to identify the mold number of the lens mold 1. Before the lens mold 1 is transported to the mold separating platform 30, the lifting and lowering of the lifting mold separating platform in the lens taking device 3 is controlled according to the height correspondence between the pad 11 and the mold core assembly 10. This ensures that the first mold core assembly 10 located on the lifting mold separating platform does not fall off or that the mold core assembly 10 in the process of leaving the pad 11 below it and transferring to the component transport slide 31, and that the mold core assembly 10 in the process of transfer does not obstruct or interfere with the component transport slide 31.
[0032] It should be noted that the automatic identification of the lens mold 1 and matching of the mold number provides an index for the main control system to accurately retrieve the height correspondence between the shim 11 and the mold core assembly 10 specific to the lens mold 1 from the database. After identifying the mold number, the main control system immediately retrieves the corresponding height correspondence between the shim 11 and the mold core assembly 10, and accordingly drives the platform to rise and fall to the precise position before the mold arrives at the parting platform 30. This ensures that when the lens mold 1 is placed on the parting platform 30, the plane of the shim 11 at the bottom of the first mold core assembly 10 is already at the same height as the receiving plane of the component transport slide 31. In this way, when the first mold core assembly 10 is gripped and transferred in parallel, no additional adjustment delay is required, which can directly meet the requirement of unobstructed parallel movement, fundamentally preventing the risk of the lower mold core 101 falling off or obstructing interference due to height mismatch, and realizing the immediate start of the process. This embodiment decomposes and advances a series of time-consuming actions that were originally required to be completed sequentially on the mold-separating platform 30, including waiting for the mold to arrive, identifying its identity, retrieving the height correspondence between the shim 11 and the mold core assembly 10, and calculating and executing the lifting and lowering. The identification and platform pre-adjustment are completed in advance during the conveying process of the lens mold 1, so that once the lens mold 1 arrives at the mold-separating platform 30, it can immediately enter the subsequent substantive operations such as separation and gripping, eliminating the waiting time at the process connection and improving the overall production efficiency.
[0033] It should be noted that the above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations 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, and the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A method for producing optical lenses with adjustable lens mold height, characterized in that, include: The lens mold is digitally encoded to obtain a mold number that represents the unique identity of the lens mold, and the different mold core components that make up the lens mold are digitally encoded to obtain mold core component numbers that represent mold core components of different heights. Different height shims are configured for different height mold core components included in lens molds with the same mold number. The higher shims are used to elevate the lower mold core components on the lens mold base, so that the height of all the mold core components in the outer sleeve of the mold on the lens mold base remains the same. During lens production, a molding machine is used to press the raised, level mold core assembly to obtain a lens mold for loading the formed lens.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the gaskets is digitally encoded to obtain a gasket number representing a gasket of different heights. The gasket number of each gasket is then associated with the mold core assembly number of the mold core assembly corresponding to the height of that gasket to obtain the height correspondence between the gasket and the mold core assembly.
3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, After obtaining the lens mold loaded with the molded lens, the lens mold loaded with the molded lens is transferred from the discharge station of the molding machine to the lens retrieval equipment. The lens retrieval equipment transports the lens mold to the mold separating platform, separates the outer sleeve of the lens mold on the mold separating platform from all the mold core components inside the outer sleeve, and separates the mold core components from the pads used for raising them underneath. The mold core components separated from the pads are transferred to the component transport slide of the lens retrieval equipment, and then moved to the lens retrieval station by the component transport slide to retrieve the lens.
4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The lens retrieval device includes a robotic arm located above the mold separation platform. After the mold core assembly is separated from the pad, it is gripped by the mold core gripper on the robotic arm and then moved parallel to the mold core gripper to the component transport slide of the lens retrieval device.
5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The mold-separating platform is a height-adjustable mold-separating platform. Before the mold core assembly is separated from the shim underneath it, the height of the height-adjustable mold-separating platform in the lens-retrieving device is controlled according to the height correspondence between the shim and the mold core assembly, so that the lower mold core does not fall off or the transferred mold core assembly does not obstruct or interfere with the component transport slide during the process of the mold core assembly on the height-adjustable mold-separating platform leaving the shim underneath it and being transferred to the component transport slide.
6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, During the lifting and lowering process of the liftable mold-separating platform, if the height of the mold-separating assembly is high and the height of the raised pad below it is low, the liftable mold-separating platform is controlled to rise so that the upper surface of the low-height pad is at the same height as the placement position of the mold-separating assembly on the component transport slide.
7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, During the lifting and lowering process of the liftable mold-separating platform, if the height of the mold-separating assembly is low and the height of the pad underneath is high, the liftable mold-separating platform is lowered so that the upper surface of the high pad is at the same height as the placement position of the mold-separating assembly on the component transport slide.
8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The lens retrieval device also includes an outer sleeve temporary storage platform disposed on one side of the liftable mold splitting platform. After the lens mold is transported to the liftable mold splitting platform, the liftable mold splitting platform opens a vacuum to adsorb the base of the lens mold onto the platform. The mold gripper on the robotic arm above the liftable mold splitting platform moves to grab the outer sleeve of the mold that is fitted with all the mold core components on the base, and transfers the grabbed outer sleeve to the outer sleeve temporary storage platform for temporary storage.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The liftable mold-separating platform is a liftable and rotatable mold-separating platform. The lens removal device also includes a limiting gripper mechanism disposed on one side of the liftable and rotatable mold-separating platform. After the outer sleeve of the mold leaves the base, the limiting gripper mechanism closes its grippers to surround the mold core assembly and gasket on the base, forming a component removal outlet that allows individual mold core assemblies to move out in parallel. The liftable and rotatable mold-separating platform drives the mold core assemblies on the base to rotate, rotating each mold core assembly to align with the component removal outlet. During the rotation of the mold core assemblies on the base, the limiting gripper mechanism limits all mold core assemblies to prevent them from being thrown out.
10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, After a single mold core assembly rotates and aligns with the component exit point, the mold core gripper on the robotic arm above the liftable mold parting platform moves to grab the mold core assembly aligned with the component exit point, and transfers it parallel from the component exit point to the current mold core assembly placement position on the component transport slide. After the component transport slide places the current mold core assembly, it slides to provide the placement position for the next mold core assembly.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Forming die for glass aspheric lenses
CN110723894A
Multi-station automatic feeding and discharging method applied to lens mold pressing equipment
CN116002957A
Mould spare part management method and device, electronic equipment and storage medium
CN118691222A