Support structure for an optical coating machine, optical coating machine and optical coating method

By designing a support structure and flipping mechanism for the optical coating machine, the machine's automatic flipping and protection are achieved, solving the problems of complex operation, long cycle, and high energy consumption in the existing technology, thus improving coating efficiency and reducing costs.

CN122344708APending Publication Date: 2026-07-07MEISHAN BOYA OPTICAL CO LTD
View PDF 0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
MEISHAN BOYA OPTICAL CO LTD
Filing Date
2025-01-06
Publication Date
2026-07-07

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing optical coating machines are complex to operate, have long coating cycles, high energy consumption, and high production costs when performing double-sided coating.

Method used

A support structure for an optical coating machine is designed, including a support body and a flipping mechanism. The support body can rotate around a first rotating axis, and the mounting part can flip around a second rotating axis. The workpiece surface is automatically flipped by a flipping drive, and a lifting cover mechanism is provided to automatically protect the uncoated surface and reduce manual operation.

Benefits of technology

It simplifies the coating process, shortens the coating cycle, reduces energy consumption, improves coating efficiency, and saves production costs.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN122344708A_ABST
    Figure CN122344708A_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

This specification provides a support structure for an optical coating machine, an optical coating machine, and an optical coating method. The optical coating method uses the optical coating machine to perform coating, and the optical coating machine includes a support structure. The support structure includes: a support body rotatable about a first axis; a mounting assembly on the support body, the mounting assembly including a mounting member, the mounting member being flip-mounted on the support body about a second axis, the mounting member being used to mount one or more workpieces; the first axis and the second axis extend in different directions; a flipping mechanism including a first connector and a flipping drive, the first connector being connectable to or detachable from the mounting member; when the first connector is connected to the mounting member, the flipping drive can drive the mounting member to flip about the second axis to change the orientation of the surface of the workpiece currently to be coated; when the first connector is detached from the mounting member, the support body is rotatable about the first axis.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This specification relates to the field of optical lens coating technology, and in particular to a support structure for an optical coating machine, an optical coating machine, and an optical coating method. Background Technology

[0002] Optical coating refers to the process of depositing one or more layers of metal or dielectric thin films onto the surface of optical components. The purpose of coating optical components is to reduce or increase light reflection, beam splitting, color separation, filtering, polarization, and other requirements. A high-vacuum coating machine for optical lenses (optical coating machine) is a specialized piece of equipment used to deposit thin films on the surface of lenses, widely used in the manufacture of optical components such as eyeglasses, camera lenses, and telescopes. During the coating process, lenses typically need to be coated on both sides to ensure optical performance. Therefore, the lens needs to be mounted on the umbrella-shaped fixture of the coating machine, coating one side of the lens first, then flipping it over to coat the other side. This process requires high precision and stability to ensure the uniformity and quality of the coating. Currently, optical coating machines still suffer from problems such as complex operation, long coating cycles, and excessive energy consumption when performing double-sided coating.

[0003] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a support structure, an optical coating machine, and an optical coating method for use in an optical coating machine, so as to simplify operation, shorten the coating cycle, reduce energy consumption, and save production costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This specification provides one or more embodiments of a support structure for an optical coating machine. The support structure includes: a support body rotatable about a first axis; a mounting assembly on the support body, the mounting assembly including a mounting member, the mounting member being rotatably mounted on the support body about a second axis, the mounting member being used to mount one or more workpieces; the first axis and the second axis extending in different directions; and a flipping mechanism including a first connector and a flipping drive, the first connector being connectable to or detachable from the mounting member; when the first connector is connected to the mounting member, the flipping drive can drive the mounting member to flip about the second axis to change the orientation of the surface of the workpiece currently to be coated; when the first connector is detached from the mounting member, the support body is rotatable about the first axis.

[0005] In some embodiments, the mounting member is provided with a first mating member; the first connecting member includes a guide rod and a second mating member, the second mating member being disposed at one end of the guide rod and capable of mating with the first mating member; the flipping drive member is connected to the other end of the guide rod, the flipping drive member including a flipping drive structure and a push-pull drive structure; the flipping drive structure can drive the mounting member to rotate around the second rotating axis through the guide rod, and the push-pull drive structure can push and pull the guide rod along the extension direction of the second rotating axis.

[0006] In some embodiments, one of the first mating member and the second mating member includes a spline, and the other of the first mating member and the second mating member includes a spline sleeve.

[0007] In some embodiments, the support structure further includes an elastic element, one end of which abuts against the support body, and the other end of which abuts against the mounting member; a limiting mechanism is provided between the mounting member and the support body, the limiting mechanism including a first limiting portion disposed on the mounting member and a second limiting portion disposed on the support body; the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion can cooperate to fix the mounting member to the support body; when the push-pull drive structure drives the guide rod to move toward the mounting member, the elastic element is compressed, and the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion disengage; when the push-pull drive structure drives the guide rod to move away from the mounting member, the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion cooperate under the elastic restoring force of the elastic element.

[0008] In some embodiments, one of the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion includes a limiting hole, and the other of the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion includes a limiting pin; the extending directions of the limiting hole and the limiting pin are both parallel to the second rotating shaft.

[0009] In some embodiments, the mounting assembly includes a plurality of mounting elements disposed around the first pivot.

[0010] In some embodiments, the mounting assembly further includes a protective cover that is disposed on the mounting member and thereby covers other surfaces of the workpiece, the other surfaces being surfaces of the workpiece other than the surface currently to be coated; the support structure further includes a cover-lifting mechanism, the cover-lifting mechanism including a second connector and a cover-lifting drive member, the second connector being capable of engaging or disengaging with the protective cover; when the second connector is engaged with the protective cover, the cover-lifting drive member is capable of driving the protective cover to be disposed on or away from the mounting member; when the second connector is disengaged from the protective cover, the support body is capable of rotating about a first pivot axis.

[0011] In some embodiments, the protective cover includes a cover body and a handle disposed on the cover body, wherein the second connector is capable of engaging or disengaging from the handle.

[0012] In some embodiments, an insertion space is formed between the handle and the cover; the second connecting member includes a connecting rod and a insert, one end of the connecting rod being connected to the insert; the cover lifting drive includes a rotary drive structure and a lifting drive structure, both of which are fixedly connected to the connecting rod; the rotary drive structure can drive the connecting rod to rotate around its own axis so that the insert is inserted into or removed from the insertion space; when the insert is inserted into the insertion space, the lifting drive structure can drive the connecting rod to move up and down to lift the protective cover from the mounting member or to place the protective cover on the mounting member.

[0013] In some embodiments, the mounting assembly includes a plurality of mounting members disposed around the first pivot; the mounting assembly includes a plurality of protective covers disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of mounting members.

[0014] This specification provides one or more embodiments of an optical coating machine, including the aforementioned support structure, vacuum coating chamber, and coating mechanism for an optical coating machine, wherein the support structure and the coating mechanism are both disposed within the vacuum coating chamber.

[0015] This specification provides one or more embodiments of an optical coating method, which performs coating using an optical coating machine, the optical coating machine including the aforementioned support structure and coating mechanism; the optical coating method includes the following steps: coating a first surface of a workpiece using the coating mechanism; pausing the coating mechanism; rotating the support body so that the mounting member is in a flipped position; the flipped position being a position where the first connector can connect to the mounting member; driving the mounting member to flip around a second rotating axis using a flipping drive so that the second surface of the workpiece faces the coating mechanism; and coating the second surface of the workpiece using the coating mechanism.

[0016] In some embodiments, the optical coating machine further includes a vacuum coating chamber, and the support structure and the coating mechanism are both disposed within the vacuum coating chamber; the optical coating method further includes: evacuating the vacuum coating chamber before coating the first surface of the workpiece by the coating mechanism; and releasing the vacuum in the vacuum coating chamber after coating is completed on the second surface of the workpiece.

[0017] In some embodiments, the support structure further includes a cover-lifting mechanism, which includes a second connector and a cover-lifting drive. The second connector can engage or disengage with the protective cover. When the second connector engages with the protective cover, the cover-lifting drive can move the protective cover onto or away from the mounting member. When the second connector disengages from the protective cover, the support body can rotate around a first pivot axis. The optical coating method further includes: before flipping the mounting member using the flipping drive, the cover-lifting mechanism can move the protective cover away from the mounting member; after coating is completed on the second surface of the workpiece, the cover-lifting mechanism can move the protective cover onto the mounting member. Attached Figure Description

[0018] This specification will be further described by way of exemplary embodiments, which will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are not limiting; in these embodiments, the same reference numerals denote the same structures, wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 These are schematic diagrams of the support structure shown in some embodiments of this specification;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the mounting component and the flipping mechanism according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first mating part and the second mating part according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the lid lifting mechanism and the protective cover in cooperation according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of an optical coating machine according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0024] Figure 6 This is an exemplary flowchart of an optical coating method according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0025] In the picture:

[0026] 100. Supporting structure;

[0027] 1. Support body; 11. Mounting assembly; 101. Mounting part; 102. Connecting part; 111. Mounting component; 1111. Workpiece clamp; 1112. Mounting groove; 1113. First mating part; 112. Protective cover; 1121. Cover body; 1122. Handle; 12. Limiting mechanism; 121. First limiting part; 122. Second limiting part;

[0028] 2. Flipping mechanism; 21. First connecting piece; 211. Guide rod; 212. Second mating piece; 22. Flipping drive piece; 221. Flipping drive structure; 222. Push-pull drive structure; 23. Support structure; 231. Support part; 2311. Guide rail; 232. Sliding part; 2321. Slide groove;

[0029] 3. Elastic components;

[0030] 4. Lid lifting mechanism; 41. Second connecting piece; 411. Connecting rod; 412. Insert plate; 42. Lid lifting drive component; 421. Rotation drive structure; 422. Lifting drive structure;

[0031] 5. Supporting drive structure;

[0032] 200. Optical coating machine;

[0033] 210. Vacuum coating chamber; 220. Coating machine housing. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments in this specification, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some examples or embodiments of this specification. For those skilled in the art, these drawings can be applied to other similar scenarios without creative effort. Unless obvious from the context or otherwise specified, the same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same structures or operations.

[0035] It should be understood that the terms “system,” “device,” “unit,” and / or “module” used herein are one way to distinguish different components, elements, parts, sections, or assemblies at different levels. However, if other terms can achieve the same purpose, they may be replaced by other expressions.

[0036] As indicated in this specification and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," and / or "the" do not specifically refer to the singular and may also include the plural. Generally speaking, the terms "comprising" and "including" only indicate the inclusion of expressly identified steps and elements, which do not constitute an exclusive list, and the method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements.

[0037] Flowcharts are used in this specification to illustrate the operations performed by the system according to embodiments of this specification. It should be understood that the preceding or following operations are not necessarily performed in exact order. Instead, the steps can be processed in reverse order or simultaneously. Furthermore, other operations can be added to these processes, or one or more steps can be removed from them.

[0038] An optical lens coating machine is a specialized piece of equipment used to deposit thin films on the surface of lenses. It is widely used in the manufacture of optical components such as eyeglasses, camera lenses, and telescopes. During the coating process, lenses typically require coating on both sides to ensure optical performance. In an optical lens coating machine, the lens is mounted on a frame fixture. After coating one side of the lens, it is removed from the frame, flipped over, and then mounted again for coating the second side. However, this process of removing the lens from the machine, flipping it, and reinstalling it takes a considerable amount of time. This is because before removing the coated lens, the machine temperature needs to be lowered (e.g., from 250°C–270°C to 40°C–50°C), and after reinstalling the lens, the heating chamber temperature needs to be reheated to 250°C–270°C. If it is a high-vacuum coating machine, the coating chamber also needs to be released from vacuum (from 1×10⁻⁶) while lowering the temperature. -3 Pa returns to normal pressure 1×10 5 PA, and after the lens is reinstalled, the coating machine must be evacuated to a high vacuum of 1×10. -3 The entire process takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours. To save time spent in intermediate steps, a support structure, an optical coating machine, and an optical coating method for an optical coating machine are proposed.

[0039] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the support structure shown in some embodiments of this specification.

[0040] This specification provides a support structure (hereinafter referred to as the support structure) for an optical coating machine, as illustrated in some embodiments. Figure 1As shown, the support structure 100 includes a support body 1 and a flipping mechanism 2. The support body 1 is rotatable around a first pivot M1. A mounting assembly 11 is provided on the support body 1. The mounting assembly 11 includes a mounting member 111, which is rotatably mounted on the support body 1 around a second pivot M2. The mounting member 111 is used to mount one or more workpieces (not shown in the figure). The flipping mechanism 2 includes a first connecting member 21 and a flipping drive member 22. The first connecting member 21 can be connected to or separated from the mounting member 111. When the first connecting member 21 is connected to the mounting member 111, the flipping drive member 22 can drive the mounting member 111 to flip around the second pivot M2, thereby changing the orientation of the surface of the workpiece currently to be coated. When the first connecting member 21 is separated from the mounting member 111, the support body 1 is rotatable around the first pivot M1.

[0041] The support body 1 is the main structure of the support structure 100. In some embodiments, the support body 1 can be used to support or install other components of the support structure 100. For example, mounting component 11, etc.

[0042] In some embodiments, the support body 1 can be designed in various structural forms. For example, the support body 1 can adopt a structure similar to an umbrella or a disc. When the support body 1 adopts a structure similar to an umbrella, the support body 1 can be referred to as an umbrella frame body.

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, the support body 1 may include a mounting portion 101 and a connecting portion 102. The connecting portion 102 is located in the center of the mounting portion 101. The mounting portion 101 can be used to mount other components (such as mounting component 11), and the connecting portion 102 can be used to connect the support drive structure 5 (see Figure 5). Figure 5 The mounting part 101 can be designed as a disc, a plate, etc., and the connecting part 102 can be designed as a cylinder, etc. The support drive structure 5 refers to the device used to drive the support structure 100 to rotate around the first rotating shaft M1. For example, the support drive structure 5 may include a servo motor, a combination of a motor and a synchronous belt, etc.

[0044] The first axis of rotation M1 refers to the rotation axis of the support body 1. In some embodiments, the first axis of rotation M1 can be the central axis of the support body 1 (such as the connecting part 102). The central axis refers to the axis located at the geometric center of the object (such as the support body 1). The support body 1 can rotate around the first axis of rotation M1 in various ways. For example, the connecting part 102 of the support body 1 can be connected to the support drive structure 5, and the support drive structure 5 can drive the connecting part 102 to rotate, thereby enabling the support body 1 to rotate around the first axis of rotation M1.

[0045] In some embodiments, the mounting portion 101 of the support body 1 has a movable space, and the mounting component 11 can be engaged within the movable space.

[0046] Mounting component 111 is a member on mounting assembly 11 used to fix a workpiece. A workpiece refers to an element or part that requires optical coating. For example, a workpiece may include, but is not limited to, lenses.

[0047] In some embodiments, the mounting component 111 may be provided with at least one workpiece clamp 1111, and each workpiece clamp 1111 may be provided with one or more mounting slots 1112 for mounting one or more workpieces. Exemplary mounting methods may include snap-fit ​​connections, etc. In some embodiments, the workpiece clamp 1111 may be fixed to the mounting component 111 by means of threaded connection, snap-fit ​​connection, adhesive connection, etc. In some embodiments, the mounting clamp 1111 may also be integrally formed with the mounting component 111.

[0048] For multiple mounting slots 1112 on the same workpiece fixture 1111, their structural shapes may be the same or different. For example, the same workpiece fixture 1111 may be provided with both circular and elliptical mounting slots to install workpieces with different structural shapes. It should be understood that the structural shape and dimensions of the mounting slots 1112 can be determined according to the structural shape and dimensions of the workpiece.

[0049] In some embodiments, the mounting assembly 11 includes a plurality of mounting members 111, which may be arranged around the first pivot M1. This is merely an example. Figure 1 As shown, four mounting components 111 can be evenly distributed around the first rotating shaft M1 in four directions of the support body 1. Each mounting component 111 includes two workpiece clamps 1111, and each workpiece clamp 1111 has multiple mounting slots 1112 for mounting multiple workpieces.

[0050] The mounting assembly 11, by setting multiple mounting parts 111, which are arranged around the first rotating shaft M1, enables the support structure to install and process multiple workpieces in the same batch, reducing the number of loading and unloading operations, improving coating efficiency, and shortening the coating cycle.

[0051] As mentioned above, the mounting part 101 of the support body 1 has a movable space, and the mounting component 11 can be locked in the movable space. Therefore, the mounting part 111 set on the mounting component 11 can be rotated around the second rotating shaft M2 in the movable space under the drive of the flipping mechanism 2. That is, the mounting part 111 can be rotated around the second rotating shaft M2 and set on the support body 1.

[0052] Wherein, the second rotating shaft M2 refers to the rotation axis of the mounting member 111. In some embodiments, the extending directions of the first rotating shaft M1 and the second rotating shaft M2 are different, that is, there is an angle between the extending directions of the first rotating shaft M1 and the second rotating shaft M2. For example, the extending directions of the first rotating shaft M1 and the second rotating shaft M2 can be perpendicular to each other, that is, the angle between the extending directions of the first rotating shaft M1 and the second rotating shaft M2 is 90°. It should be understood that when the mounting assembly 11 includes multiple mounting members 111, the rotation directions of the multiple mounting members 111 can be the same or different, that is, the extending directions of the second rotating shaft M2 of different mounting members 111 can be the same or different. Figure 1 As shown, the extension directions of the second rotating shafts M2 of two adjacent mounting parts 111 are perpendicular to each other, and the extension directions of the second rotating shafts M2 of two opposite mounting parts 111 are the same.

[0053] The flipping mechanism 2 is a mechanism of the support structure 100 for flipping the mounting member 111 when the support body 1 is not rotated. In some embodiments, the flipping mechanism 2 includes a first connector 21 and a flipping drive 22. The first connector 21 can be connected to or separated from the mounting member 111. When the first connector 21 is connected to the mounting member 111, the flipping drive 22 can drive the mounting member 111 to flip around the second axis M2 to change the orientation of the surface of the workpiece to be coated; when the first connector 21 is separated from the mounting member 111, the support body 1 can rotate around the first axis M1.

[0054] The first connecting member 21 is a component of the flipping mechanism 2 used to connect to the mounting member 111. The first connecting member 21 can be designed in various structural forms to achieve connection or separation with the mounting member 111. For example, the first connecting member 21 can be a connecting rod, etc. For another example, the first connecting member 21 can at least include a protruding structure, and the mounting member 111 can be provided with a corresponding groove structure. By cooperating or separating the protruding structure and the groove structure, the connection or separation of the first connecting member 21 and the mounting member 111 can be achieved.

[0055] The flipping drive component 22 is a component of the flipping mechanism 2 used to flip the mounting component 111 and to connect or disconnect the first connecting component 21 from the mounting component 111. Exemplary flipping drive components 22 may include, but are not limited to, combinations of motors and hydraulic pumps.

[0056] In some embodiments, the flipping drive 22 can be used to connect or disconnect the first connector 21 from the mounting member 111. For example, the flipping drive 22 is a combination of a motor and a hydraulic pump, wherein the output end of the hydraulic pump can be fixedly connected to the first connector 21, and the connection or disconnection of the first connector 21 from the mounting member 111 can be achieved by extending or retracting the output end of the hydraulic pump.

[0057] In some embodiments, the flipping drive 22 can also be used to drive the mounting member 111 to flip around the second rotating shaft M2. Similarly, the flipping drive 22 adopts a combination of a motor and a hydraulic pump, wherein the output end of the motor can be fixedly connected to the first connecting member 21, and the mounting member 111 can be driven to flip around the second rotating shaft M2 by rotating the first connecting member 21 through the output end of the motor. In some embodiments, the extending direction of the first connecting member 21 can be the same as the extending direction of the second rotating shaft M2.

[0058] In some embodiments, the flipping drive component 22 can be fixedly connected to the first connecting component 21 by means of threaded connection, welding, or other methods. In some embodiments, the flipping drive component 22 and the first connecting component 21 can be integrally formed.

[0059] As an example only, when the first connector 21 is connected to the mounting member 111, the motor can drive the first connector 21 to rotate, thereby driving the mounting member 111 to rotate around the second axis M2, thus changing the orientation of the surface of the workpiece to be coated. For example, the surface that has been coated is rotated so that the surface to be coated is facing upwards. When the first connector 21 is separated from the mounting member 111, the support body 1 can rotate around the first axis M1 to switch the position of each mounting member 111.

[0060] It should be noted that the flipping mechanism 2 can also adopt any other feasible structural form, as long as it can drive the mounting part 111 to flip around the second rotating shaft M2.

[0061] For more information on support structures, please refer to [link / reference]. Figures 2-5 And its related descriptions.

[0062] In some embodiments of this specification, the support structure includes a support body and a flipping mechanism. The support body is rotatable about a first axis and has an mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a mounting member, which is rotatably mounted on the support body about a second axis. The flipping mechanism includes a first connector and a flipping drive. The first connector of the flipping mechanism can be connected to or separated from the mounting member. This configuration ensures that the rotation of the support body is not affected when the first connector is separated from the mounting member. Furthermore, when the first connector is connected to the mounting member, the flipping drive can drive the mounting member to flip, eliminating the need for manual removal of the workpiece from the mounting member, flipping, and reinstallation before double-sided coating. This effectively improves operational convenience and coating efficiency.

[0063] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the mounting component and the flipping mechanism according to some embodiments of this specification; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first mating component and the second mating component according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0064] In some embodiments, such as Figures 2-3 As shown, the mounting component 111 is provided with a first mating component 1113. The first connecting component 21 includes a guide rod 211 and a second mating component 212. The second mating component 212 is disposed at one end of the guide rod 211 and can mate with the first mating component 1113. The flipping drive component 22 is connected to the other end of the guide rod 211. The flipping drive component 22 includes a flipping drive structure 221 and a push-pull drive structure 222. The flipping drive structure 221 can drive the mounting component 111 to rotate around the second rotating shaft M2 through the guide rod 211. The push-pull drive structure 222 can push and pull the guide rod 211 along the extension direction of the second rotating shaft M2.

[0065] The first mating member 1113 is a component of the mounting member 111 used to connect the first connecting member 21. For example, the first mating member 1113 may include a protruding structure, etc. In some embodiments, the first mating member 1113 may pass through the support body 1 and mate with the second mating member 212 to realize the connection between the mounting member 111 and the first connecting member 21.

[0066] The guide rod 211 is the main structure of the first connector 21. In some embodiments, a second mating member 212 is provided at one end of the guide rod 211 near the mounting member 111.

[0067] The second mating member 212 is a component of the first connecting member 21 used to mate with the first mating member 1113. For example, the second mating member 212 may include a groove structure, etc.

[0068] In some embodiments, such as Figures 2-3 As shown, one of the first mating part 1113 and the second mating part 212 includes a spline, and the other of the first mating part 1113 and the second mating part 212 includes a spline sleeve.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first mating member 1113 and the second mating member 212 are correspondingly provided. When the first mating member 1113 is a spline, the second mating member 212 can be a corresponding spline sleeve; when the second mating member 212 is a spline, the first mating member 1113 can be a corresponding spline sleeve. When the spline is inserted into the spline sleeve, the first mating member 1113 and the second mating member 212 mate, and the first connecting member 21 is connected to the mounting member 111.

[0070] The first mating part 1113 and the second mating part 212 adopt the combination of spline and spline sleeve, so that the teeth of the spline and the groove of the spline sleeve are precisely matched, ensuring efficient torque transmission and precise axial and radial alignment, reducing vibration and noise during transmission, and improving the stability of the entire support structure 100.

[0071] The flipping drive structure 221 is a component of the flipping drive member 22 used to drive the mounting member 111 to flip. In some embodiments, the flipping drive structure 221 is a motor, such as a servo motor or a stepper motor.

[0072] In some embodiments, the flipping drive structure 221 may be located at the end of the guide rod 211 away from the mounting member 111 and fixedly connected to the guide rod 211. For example, the output shaft of the motor may be connected to the end of the guide rod 211 away from the mounting member 111 via a coupling.

[0073] In some embodiments, the flipping drive structure 221 can drive the guide rod 211 to rotate, thereby causing the mounting member 111 to rotate around the second rotating shaft M2. At this time, the second rotating shaft M2 can be coaxial with the guide rod 211.

[0074] The push-pull drive structure 222 is a component of the flipping drive 22 used to move the push-pull guide rod 211. In some embodiments, the push-pull drive structure 222 is a cylinder.

[0075] In some embodiments, the push-pull drive structure 222 may also be disposed at the end of the guide rod 211 away from the mounting member 111 and fixedly connected to the guide rod 211. For example, the push-pull drive structure 222 may be connected to the end of the guide rod 211 away from the mounting member 111 by other structures (such as bearings).

[0076] In some embodiments, the push-pull drive structure 222 can push and pull the guide rod 211 along the extension direction of the second rotating shaft M2 via the telescopic drive guide rod 211, thereby enabling the first connector 21 to be connected to or separated from the mounting member 111.

[0077] In some embodiments of this specification, the precise engagement of the first mating part 1113 and the second mating part 212 ensures the stability and reliability of the connection, preventing misoperation. The combined use of the flipping drive structure and the push-pull drive structure allows the guide rod to move in multiple directions, improving operational accuracy and reliability.

[0078] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the flipping mechanism 2 may further include a support structure 23. The support structure 23 can be used to support or fix other components of the flipping mechanism 2. In some embodiments, the support structure 23 includes a support portion 231 and a sliding portion 232. One end of the support portion 231 is fixedly connected to the coating machine described later. The sliding portion 232 is slidably disposed on the support portion 231 and fixedly connected to the end of the guide rod 211 away from the mounting member 111. A push-pull drive structure 222 is provided on the sliding portion 232. The push-pull drive structure 222 can drive the guide rod 211 to slide on the support portion 231 along the extension direction of the second rotating shaft M2.

[0079] The sliding part 232 can be slidably disposed on the support part 231 in various ways. For example, the support part 231 can be provided with a guide rail 2311 along the extension direction of the second rotating shaft M2, and the sliding part 232 can be provided with a corresponding groove 2321. By cooperating with the guide rail 2311, the sliding part 232 can be slidably disposed on the support part 231.

[0080] By setting up a support structure 23 to support or fix other components of the flipping mechanism 2, the stability of the support structure 100 can be guaranteed to a certain extent when the flipping mechanism 2 is moving while the drive guide rod 211 is moving.

[0081] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the support structure 100 also includes an elastic member 3. One end of the elastic member 3 abuts against the support body 1, and the other end of the elastic member 3 abuts against the mounting member 111. A limiting mechanism 12 is provided between the mounting member 111 and the support body 1. The limiting mechanism 12 includes a first limiting part 121 provided on the mounting member 111 and a second limiting part 122 provided on the support body 1. The first limiting part 121 and the second limiting part 122 can cooperate to fix the mounting member 111 and the support body 1 relative to each other.

[0082] When the push-pull drive structure 222 drives the guide rod 211 to move toward the mounting part 111, the elastic element 3 is compressed, and the first limiting part 121 and the second limiting part 122 disengage; when the push-pull drive structure 222 drives the guide rod 211 to move away from the mounting part 111, the first limiting part 121 and the second limiting part 122 engage under the elastic restoring force of the elastic element 3.

[0083] The elastic element 3 refers to a component or part that has elastic properties. Exemplary elastic elements 3 may include, but are not limited to, springs, rubber, bellows, etc.

[0084] In some embodiments, one end of the elastic member 3 can be fixedly connected to the support body 1, and the other end of the elastic member 3 can be located in the mounting hole on the mounting member 111 to abut against the support body 1 and the mounting member 111 respectively. By providing the elastic member 3 between the mounting member 111 and the support body 1, the first limiting part 121 and the second limiting part 122 can return from the disengaged state to the engaged state under the action of their elastic force.

[0085] The limiting mechanism 12 refers to the mechanism used to fix the mounting component 111 and the support body 1. The first limiting part 121 is a component of the limiting mechanism 12 provided on the mounting component 111, and the second limiting part 122 is a component of the limiting mechanism 12 provided on the support body 1.

[0086] In some embodiments, the elastic element 3 and the limiting mechanism 12 are arranged opposite to each other along the extending direction of the second rotating shaft M2, and are respectively located on both sides of the mounting member 111. This is merely an example. Figure 3 As shown, one of the first limiting part 121 and the second limiting part 122 is disposed on the side of the mounting member 111 near the first connecting member 21, and the elastic member 3 is disposed in the mounting hole on the side of the mounting member 111 away from the first connecting member 21.

[0087] In some embodiments, the first limiting part 121 and the second limiting part 122 are correspondingly provided and can cooperate with each other to fix the mounting member 111 to the support body 1. For example, the first limiting part 121 may be a protrusion, and the second limiting part 122 may be a recess, etc.

[0088] In some embodiments of this specification, an elastic element and a limiting mechanism are provided between the mounting component and the support body. When the elastic element is compressed, the first and second limiting parts of the limiting mechanism disengage, allowing the mounting component to move freely and automatically flip under the drive of the flipping drive component. When the elastic element automatically resets under the action of elastic restoring force, the first and second limiting parts of the limiting mechanism engage, fixing the mounting component to the support body and ensuring the stability and reliability of the entire support structure. Furthermore, this arrangement not only ensures that the mounting component does not wobble when the support body rotates around the first axis for coating, thus guaranteeing the coating effect, but also enables flexible flipping of the mounting component, improving coating efficiency.

[0089] In some embodiments, one of the first limiting portion 121 and the second limiting portion 122 includes a limiting hole, and the other of the first limiting portion 121 and the second limiting portion 122 includes a limiting pin. The extending directions of the limiting hole and the limiting pin are both parallel to the second rotating shaft M2.

[0090] In some embodiments, when the first limiting part 121 adopts a limiting hole, the second limiting part 122 may correspondingly adopt a limiting pin; when the first limiting part 121 adopts a limiting pin, the second limiting part 122 may correspondingly adopt a limiting hole. When the limiting pin is inserted into the limiting hole, the first limiting part 121 and the second limiting part 122 cooperate, and the mounting member 111 is fixed to the support body 1.

[0091] In some embodiments, the dimension (i.e., length) of the limiting pin in the extending direction can be set to be small, so that when the limiting pin disengages from the limiting hole, that is, when the mounting member 111 disengages from the support body 1, the gap between the mounting member 111 and the support body 1 is small, making disengagement easier. It should be noted that the length of the limiting pin can be determined based on the maximum deformation of the elastic member 3, etc.

[0092] In some embodiments, the number of limiting mechanisms 12 is at least two, and they are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the location of the first mating member 1113, so as to achieve stable positioning and fixation of the mounting member 111 and the support body 1.

[0093] The limiting mechanism 12, by employing a combination of limiting pins and limiting holes, can improve the space utilization of the support structure 100 while simultaneously fixing the mounting component 111 to the support body 1. It should be noted that other components can be used to replace the limiting mechanism 12 between the mounting component 111 and the support body 1. For example, a friction element can be provided between the mounting component 111 and the support body 1 to increase the friction between them and achieve fixation. In this case, the elastic element 3 is not required.

[0094] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the lifting mechanism and the protective cover in cooperation according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0095] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the mounting assembly 11 also includes a protective cover 112, which is disposed on the mounting member 111 and covers other surfaces of the workpiece. These other surfaces refer to surfaces of the workpiece other than the surface currently to be coated. In some embodiments, the protective cover 112 may be disposed on opposite sides of the support body 1, respectively, along with the coating mechanism described later.

[0096] In some embodiments, the support structure 100 further includes a cover-lifting mechanism 4, which includes a second connector 41 and a cover-lifting drive 42. The second connector 41 can engage with or disengage from the protective cover 112. When the second connector 41 engages with the protective cover 112, the cover-lifting drive 42 can drive the protective cover 112 to cover or move away from the mounting member 111; when the second connector 41 disengages from the protective cover 112, the support body 1 can rotate around the first pivot M1.

[0097] The protective cover 112 is a component used to protect the optical element to be coated from external contamination. In some embodiments, the protective cover 112 can be attached to the mounting member 111 by means of plugging or snapping, thereby covering other surfaces of the workpiece. As an example only, the protective cover 112 may be provided with a positioning pin, and the mounting member 111 is provided with a corresponding positioning hole. The protective cover 112 is fixed to the mounting member 111 by the positioning pin engaging with the positioning hole.

[0098] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 , Figure 4As shown, the mounting assembly 11 includes a plurality of mounting members 111, which are arranged around the first rotating shaft M1. The mounting assembly 11 also includes a plurality of protective covers 112, which are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of mounting members 111.

[0099] For example only, such as Figure 1 As shown, the mounting assembly 11 includes four mounting pieces 111, which are evenly distributed around the first rotating shaft M1 in four directions of the support body 1. Each mounting piece 111 is provided with a protective cover 112.

[0100] Understandably, each mounting piece 111 is equipped with a protective cover 112, which helps to protect the workpiece on each mounting piece 111 from external contamination, thereby ensuring the coating quality of the workpiece.

[0101] The cover-lifting mechanism 4 is a mechanism within the support structure 100 used to open and close the protective cover 112. For example, the cover-lifting mechanism 4 may include, but is not limited to, a robotic arm.

[0102] The second connector 41 is a component of the lifting mechanism 4 used to connect with the protective cover 112. The second connector 41 can be designed in various structural shapes, such as L-shaped.

[0103] The lid-lifting drive component 42 is a part of the lid-lifting mechanism 4 used to drive the movement of the second connecting member 41. An exemplary lid-lifting drive component 42 may include a hydraulic cylinder, etc.

[0104] In some embodiments of this specification, the protective cover covers the mounting component, protecting the optical element to be coated from external contamination, ensuring the cleanliness of the coating process, and improving coating quality. The second connecting member of the cover-lifting mechanism can engage or disengage with the protective cover, enabling automatic opening and closing of the cover, reducing manual operation and improving operational convenience. Furthermore, the automated design of the cover-lifting and flipping mechanisms reduces manual intervention, shortens the coating cycle, improves production efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and saves production costs.

[0105] In some embodiments, the protective cover 112 includes a cover body 1121 and a handle 1122 disposed on the cover body 1121, and the second connector 41 can engage or disengage from the handle 1122.

[0106] The cover 1121 is the main structure of the protective cover 112, used to protect the optical components to be coated from external contamination. The shape and size of the cover 1121 can be determined according to the shape and size of the mounting component 111.

[0107] The handle 1122 is a component of the protective cover 112 used to connect with the cover lifting mechanism 4. The handle 1122 can be designed in various structural shapes such as L-shape. In some embodiments, the handle 1122 can be fixed to the top center of the cover body 1121 by means of adhesive bonding, threaded connection, etc. In some embodiments, the handle 1122 can also be integrally formed with the cover body 1121.

[0108] In some embodiments, an insertion space is formed between the handle 1122 and the cover 1121. The insertion space refers to the space for the insertion of the second connector 41. In some embodiments, the second connector 41 can be separated from or engaged with the handle 1122 under the drive of the cover-lifting drive 42, thereby enabling the second connector 41 to engage or disengage with the protective cover 112.

[0109] In some embodiments of this specification, the protective cover is fixed by a locating pin, and a handle is provided on the protective cover, making installation and removal more convenient and quick. Furthermore, the insertion space between the handle and the protective cover allows the cover-lifting mechanism to easily operate on the protective cover, improving operability.

[0110] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the second connecting member 41 includes a connecting rod 411 and a insert 412, with one end of the connecting rod 411 connected to the insert 412. The cover lifting drive member 42 includes a rotary drive structure 421 and a lifting drive structure 422, which are uniformly connected to the connecting rod 411. The rotary drive structure 421 can drive the connecting rod 411 to rotate around its own axis, causing the insert 412 to insert into or leave the insertion space. When the insert 412 is inserted into the insertion space, the lifting drive structure 422 can drive the connecting rod 411 to move up and down, so as to lift the protective cover 112 from the mounting member 111 or cover the mounting member 111 with the protective cover 112.

[0111] The connecting rod 411 is the main structure of the second connecting member 41, used to connect the lid-lifting drive member 42 and the insert 412. The insert 412 is a structure that allows the second connecting member 41 to be inserted into the insertion space. In some embodiments, the insert 412 can be fixed to one end of the connecting rod 411 by means of threaded connection or the like. In some embodiments, the extending direction of the insert 412 is different from the extending direction of the connecting rod 411; for example, the extending direction of the insert 412 is perpendicular to the extending direction of the connecting rod 411.

[0112] The rotary drive structure 421 is a component of the lid-lifting drive member 42 used to drive the connecting rod 411 to rotate about its own axis. In some embodiments, the rotary drive structure 421 may be a rotary cylinder.

[0113] In some embodiments, the output end of the rotary drive structure 421 can be fixedly connected to the end of the connecting rod 411 away from the mounting member 111 by means of snap-fit ​​or other methods. For example, a slot is provided in the axial direction of the connecting rod 411, and a locking block is provided in the output end of the rotary drive structure 421. The locking block and the slot cooperate to achieve a fixed connection between the rotary drive structure 421 and the connecting rod 411, while enabling the rotary drive structure 421 to drive the connecting rod 411 to rotate around its own axial direction, thereby allowing the insert 412 to be inserted into or removed from the insertion space.

[0114] In some embodiments, the insert 412 and the handle 1122 can be connected by at least two pins engaging with shaft holes. For example, at least two pins can be provided on the top side of the handle 1122 near the insertion space, and at least two corresponding pin holes can be provided on the insert 412. When the insert 412 is inserted into the insertion space, the pins can engage with the pin holes, thereby achieving a stable connection between the insert 412 and the handle 1122.

[0115] It should be understood that the pin and the pin hole can be interchanged, for example, the pin is set on the insert 412 and the pin hole is set on the handle 1122.

[0116] The lifting drive structure 422 is a component of the lid-lifting drive member 42 used to drive the connecting rod 411 to perform lifting and lowering movements. In some embodiments, the lifting drive structure 422 can be a cylinder.

[0117] In some embodiments, the output end of the lifting drive structure 422 can be fixed to the end of the connecting rod 411 away from the mounting member 111 by means of threaded connection or other means.

[0118] In some embodiments, after the rotary drive structure 421 drives the connecting rod 411 to rotate about its own axis to insert the insert 412 into the insertion space, the lifting drive structure 422 can drive the connecting rod 411 to move upward to lift the protective cover 112 from the mounting member 111; or, drive the connecting rod 411 to move downward to cover the protective cover 112 on the mounting member 111.

[0119] In some embodiments described in this specification, the rotary drive structure ensures that the insert can be accurately inserted into the insertion space, while also ensuring that the insert can be smoothly lifted and lowered from the protective cover, thus improving operational reliability. Furthermore, the combined use of the rotary drive structure and the lifting drive structure allows the second connector to move in multiple directions, improving the flexibility and adaptability of the entire support structure.

[0120] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of an optical coating machine according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0121] Some embodiments of this specification also provide an optical coating machine 200. For example... Figure 5As shown, the optical coating machine includes the aforementioned support structure 100 for the optical coating machine, as well as a vacuum coating chamber 210 and a coating mechanism (not shown in the figure). The support structure 100 and the coating mechanism are both located inside the vacuum coating chamber.

[0122] For more information on support structures, please refer to [link / reference]. Figures 1-4 And its related descriptions.

[0123] A coating mechanism refers to a mechanism used to coat a workpiece mounted on a support structure 100. In some embodiments, the coating mechanism may include a vapor deposition assembly, a cooling assembly, and an electrical assembly. The vapor deposition assembly includes resistance heating, electron gun evaporation, magnetron sputtering, etc. The cooling assembly is used to maintain the temperature of the workpiece during the coating process and prevent overheating. The electrical assembly is used to control various components of the optical coating machine 200, including power supply and process control. In some embodiments, the electrical assembly may at least include a controller. The controller may be electrically connected to other components of the optical coating machine and control the operation of those other components. Exemplary controllers may include CPU controllers, microcontrollers, etc. In some embodiments, the controller may also be integrated into other components of the optical coating machine.

[0124] Vacuum coating chamber 210 refers to the vacuum chamber of optical coating machine 200, used to provide a vacuum environment for coating workpieces. In some embodiments, optical coating machine 200 may include coating machine housing 220, which may be equipped with an exhaust assembly and an inlet valve. The exhaust assembly is used to evacuate the space enclosed by the coating machine housing 220 to form a vacuum environment, and the inlet valve is used to release the vacuum in the vacuum coating chamber. The exhaust assembly may include a mechanical pump, a Roots pump, or a vacuum pump, etc., and the inlet valve may include a solenoid valve, etc.

[0125] In some embodiments, the support structure 100 and the coating mechanism can be disposed at preset positions within the vacuum coating chamber 210, and the coating mechanism can coat the workpiece located on the support structure 100 by means of vacuum sputtering or the like, thereby changing the reflectivity and transmittance of the element to incident light. Specific coating methods can be found later (e.g., ...). Figure 6 The relevant description in )

[0126] The optical coating machine provided in some embodiments of this specification employs the aforementioned support structure, vacuum coating chamber, and coating mechanism. Both the support structure and the coating mechanism are located within the vacuum coating chamber. The support structure includes a support body and a flipping mechanism. The first connecting member of the flipping mechanism can be connected to or separated from a mounting component located on the support body. This configuration ensures that the rotation of the support body is not affected when the first connecting member is separated from the mounting component. Furthermore, when the first connecting member is connected to the mounting component, the flipping drive can drive the mounting component to flip, eliminating the need for manual removal of the workpiece from the mounting component, flipping, and reinstallation before double-sided coating. This approach improves coating efficiency, shortens the coating cycle, reduces energy consumption, and saves production costs while maintaining coating quality.

[0127] Some embodiments of this specification also provide an optical coating method, in which coating is performed using an optical coating machine, which includes the aforementioned support structure and coating mechanism. For more information on the support structure and coating mechanism, please refer to the previous... Figures 1-5 And its related descriptions.

[0128] Figure 6 This is an exemplary flowchart of an optical coating method according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 6 As shown, process 600 may include the following steps.

[0129] Step S610: The first surface of the workpiece is coated by a coating mechanism.

[0130] The first surface of a workpiece refers to the surface on which the first coating is applied. In some embodiments, the controller can control the coating mechanism to apply a coating to the first surface of the workpiece by means of vacuum sputtering or the like.

[0131] Step S620: Pause the coating mechanism.

[0132] In some embodiments, the controller can automatically pause the coating mechanism in response to the completion of coating on the first surface of the workpiece. The controller can determine whether coating has been completed on the first surface of the workpiece based on a preset coating program. The preset coating program may include at least the coating steps and their control durations. In some embodiments, the preset coating program can be pre-set by the operator.

[0133] In some embodiments, the coating mechanism can also be manually paused by the operator.

[0134] Step S630: Rotate the support body so that the mounting part is in the flipped position.

[0135] The flip-over position refers to the position where the first connector can connect with the mounting component. That is, the position where the first mating component on the mounting component and the second mating component on the first connector can engage with each other. In some embodiments, the flip-over position can be determined according to the actual structure.

[0136] In some embodiments, the controller may, in response to the coating mechanism pausing, control the support drive structure to operate, thereby driving the support body to rotate by a preset angle, thus positioning the mounting component in the flipped position. The preset angle refers to a pre-defined rotation angle of the support body. In some embodiments, the preset angle may be determined by the operator based on the actual structure, such as 90°.

[0137] It should be understood that when there are multiple mounting components, the controller can respond to the coating mechanism pausing by controlling the support drive structure to operate, thereby driving the support body to rotate at a preset angle at preset time intervals, so that the multiple mounting components are sequentially positioned at the flipped-over position. In some embodiments, the preset time interval can be set in advance by the operator.

[0138] In step S640, the mounting component is driven to rotate around the second pivot by the flipping drive component so that the second surface of the workpiece faces the coating mechanism.

[0139] The second surface of the workpiece refers to the surface of the workpiece to be coated, that is, the opposite or opposing surface of the first surface. In some embodiments, the controller may control the push-pull drive structure to operate in response to the mounting member being in the flipped position, so as to push the guide rod to move towards the mounting member along the extension direction of the second rotating shaft, so that the second mating member engages with the first mating member; at the same time, the controller may control the flipping drive structure to operate to drive the guide rod to rotate, thereby causing the mounting member to rotate 180° around the second rotating shaft, so that the second surface of the workpiece faces the coating mechanism.

[0140] In step S650, a coating is applied to the second surface of the workpiece using a coating mechanism. The method for coating the second surface of the workpiece is similar to the method for coating the first surface of the workpiece, and will not be described in detail here.

[0141] It should be noted that the above description of process 600 is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the scope of this specification. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes to process 600 under the guidance of this specification. However, these modifications and changes remain within the scope of this specification.

[0142] The optical coating methods provided in some embodiments of this specification are implemented using the aforementioned optical coating machine. By automatically flipping the coating, the need for multiple heating and cooling cycles is avoided, significantly shortening the production cycle, reducing energy consumption, and saving production costs. At the same time, it also reduces the complexity and error of manual operation, improving the consistency and reliability of the coating.

[0143] In some embodiments, the optical coating machine further includes a vacuum coating chamber, in which the support structure and the coating mechanism are both located.

[0144] In some embodiments, the optical coating method further includes: evacuating the vacuum coating chamber before coating the first surface of the workpiece by the coating mechanism; and releasing the vacuum in the vacuum coating chamber after coating the second surface of the workpiece.

[0145] In some embodiments, the controller can, based on a preset coating program, control the exhaust assembly to evacuate the vacuum coating chamber before the coating mechanism coats the first surface of the workpiece; and control the intake valve to release the vacuum in the vacuum coating chamber after the second surface of the workpiece has been coated.

[0146] Some embodiments of this specification maintain a vacuum state within the coating chamber during the coating process to remove gases and impurities, which helps ensure the quality and adhesion of the coating and prevents air pollution and oxidation corrosion. Furthermore, unlike manual flipping, which requires releasing the vacuum in the coating chamber, flipping the workpiece, and then re-vacuuming the coating chamber, the optical coating machine and coating method provided in some embodiments of this application are simple to operate and can effectively reduce energy consumption, improve coating efficiency, and save production costs.

[0147] In some embodiments, the support structure further includes a cover-lifting mechanism, which includes a second connector and a cover-lifting drive. The second connector can engage with or disengage from the protective cover. When the second connector engages with the protective cover, the cover-lifting drive can cause the protective cover to be placed on or away from the mounting member. When the second connector disengages from the protective cover, the support body can rotate about a first pivot.

[0148] In some embodiments, the optical coating method further includes: before the mounting component is flipped by the flipping drive, the cover lifting mechanism can move the protective cover away from the mounting component; and after coating is completed on the second surface of the workpiece, the cover lifting mechanism can move the protective cover onto the mounting component.

[0149] In some embodiments, the controller may, based on a preset coating program, control the lifting mechanism to perform relevant operations to move the protective cover away from the mounting component before the flipping drive flips the mounting component; and control the lifting mechanism to perform relevant operations to move the protective cover onto the mounting component after the second surface of the workpiece has been coated.

[0150] As an example only, the controller can control the rotary drive mechanism to rotate the drive link about its own axis to insert the insert into the insertion space, and control the lifting drive mechanism to move the drive link upward to lift the protective cover from the mounting; or, drive the link to move downward to place the protective cover on the mounting.

[0151] In some embodiments of this specification, by promptly placing the protective cover on the mounting component before and after coating, the workpiece on the mounting component is protected from external contamination, thereby ensuring the coating quality.

[0152] The basic concepts have been described above. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, the detailed disclosure above is merely illustrative and does not constitute a limitation of this specification. Although not explicitly stated herein, those skilled in the art may make various modifications, improvements, and corrections to this specification. Such modifications, improvements, and corrections are suggested in this specification and therefore remain within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments described herein.

Claims

1. A support structure for an optical coating machine, characterized in that, include: A support body is provided, which is rotatable about a first axis; the support body is provided with an installation assembly, which includes an installation member, which is rotatably mounted on the support body about a second axis, and the installation member is used to install one or more workpieces; the first axis and the second axis extend in different directions; A flipping mechanism, comprising a first connector and a flipping drive component, wherein the first connector is capable of being connected to or detached from the mounting component; When the first connector is connected to the mounting component, the flipping drive component can drive the mounting component to flip around the second rotating axis to change the orientation of the surface of the workpiece to be coated. When the first connector is separated from the mounting component, the support body is able to rotate about the first axis.

2. The support structure for an optical coating machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting component is provided with a first mating component; The first connector includes a guide rod and a second mating component, wherein the second mating component is disposed at one end of the guide rod and can mate with the first mating component; The flipping drive component is connected to the other end of the guide rod. The flipping drive component includes a flipping drive structure and a push-pull drive structure. The flipping drive structure can drive the mounting component to rotate around the second rotating axis through the guide rod. The push-pull drive structure can push and pull the guide rod along the extension direction of the second rotating axis.

3. The support structure for an optical coating machine as described in claim 2, characterized in that, One of the first mating component and the second mating component includes a spline, and the other of the first mating component and the second mating component includes a spline sleeve.

4. The support structure for an optical coating machine as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The support structure also includes an elastic element, one end of which abuts against the support body, and the other end of which abuts against the mounting component; A limiting mechanism is provided between the mounting component and the support body. The limiting mechanism includes a first limiting part disposed on the mounting component and a second limiting part disposed on the support body. The first limiting part and the second limiting part can cooperate to fix the mounting component and the support body. When the push-pull drive structure drives the guide rod to move toward the mounting component, the elastic element is compressed, and the first limiting part and the second limiting part disengage; When the push-pull drive structure drives the guide rod away from the mounting component, the first limiting part and the second limiting part cooperate under the elastic restoring force of the elastic element.

5. The support structure for an optical coating machine as described in claim 4, characterized in that, One of the first limiting part and the second limiting part includes a limiting hole, and the other of the first limiting part and the second limiting part includes a limiting pin; The extension directions of both the limiting hole and the limiting pin are parallel to the second rotating shaft.

6. The support structure for an optical coating machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting assembly includes a plurality of mounting elements arranged around the first pivot.

7. The support structure for an optical coating machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting assembly also includes a protective cover, which is disposed on the mounting member and thereby covers other surfaces of the workpiece, the other surfaces being surfaces of the workpiece other than the surface currently to be coated; The support structure also includes a cover lifting mechanism, which includes a second connector and a cover lifting drive, wherein the second connector can cooperate with or separate from the protective cover. When the second connector engages with the protective cover, the cover-lifting drive can move the protective cover onto or away from the mounting component. When the second connector is separated from the protective cover, the support body can rotate around the first axis.

8. The support structure for an optical coating machine as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The protective cover includes a cover body and a handle disposed on the cover body, and the second connector can be engaged with or detached from the handle.

9. The support structure for an optical coating machine as described in claim 8, characterized in that, A connection space is formed between the handle and the cover; The second connector includes a connecting rod and a insert, with one end of the connecting rod connected to the insert; The lid lifting drive includes a rotary drive structure and a lifting drive structure, both of which are fixedly connected to the connecting rod. The rotary drive structure can drive the connecting rod to rotate about its own axis, so that the insert can be inserted into or removed from the insertion space; When the insert is inserted into the insertion space, the lifting drive structure can drive the linkage to move up and down to lift the protective cover from the mounting member or place the protective cover on the mounting member.

10. The support structure for an optical coating machine as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The mounting assembly includes a plurality of mounting components, which are arranged around the first rotating shaft; The mounting assembly includes a plurality of protective covers, each of which is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of mounting components.

11. An optical coating machine, comprising a support structure, a vacuum coating chamber, and a coating mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, Both the support structure and the coating mechanism are located inside the vacuum coating cavity.

12. An optical coating method, characterized in that, The coating is performed using an optical coating machine, which includes the support structure and coating mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; The optical coating method includes the following steps: The coating mechanism is used to coat the first surface of the workpiece. Pause the coating mechanism; Rotate the support body so that the mounting component is in the flipped-over position; the flipped-over position is the position where the first connector can connect to the mounting component. The mounting component is driven to rotate around the second pivot by the flipping drive component, so that the second surface of the workpiece faces the coating mechanism; The second surface of the workpiece is coated using the coating mechanism.

13. The optical coating method as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The optical coating machine also includes a vacuum coating chamber, and the support structure and the coating mechanism are both located inside the vacuum coating chamber; The optical coating method further includes: Before coating the first surface of the workpiece by the coating mechanism, the vacuum coating chamber is evacuated. After the coating is completed on the second surface of the workpiece, the vacuum coating chamber is released from vacuum.

14. The optical coating method as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The support structure also includes a cover lifting mechanism, which includes a second connector and a cover lifting drive, wherein the second connector can cooperate with or separate from the protective cover. When the second connector engages with the protective cover, the cover-lifting drive can move the protective cover onto or away from the mounting component. When the second connector is separated from the protective cover, the support body can rotate around the first axis; The optical coating method further includes: Before the mounting component is flipped by the flipping drive, the cover lifting mechanism can move the protective cover away from the mounting component; After the coating is completed on the second surface of the workpiece, the lifting mechanism can drive the protective cover to be placed on the mounting component.