Manufacturing machine for producing optically active surfaces on workpieces with optical properties
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- OPTOTECH OPTIKMASCHINEN GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-06
Smart Images
Figure EP2025052257_06082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] January 29, 2025
[0002] 80095-0159- PWO - Kr / Kr
[0003] Applicant: OptoTech Optikmaschinen GmbH
[0004] Löbstedter Straße 74
[0005] 07745 Jena
[0006] Germany
[0007] Manufacturing machine for producing optically effective surfaces on workpieces with optical properties
[0008] The invention relates to a manufacturing machine for producing optically effective surfaces on workpieces with optical properties, in particular for producing spectacle lenses from lens blanks according to claim 1.
[0009] When machining workpieces with optical properties such as spectacle lenses made of glass or plastic, optical lenses, waveguides, optical mirror surfaces made of metal, etc., milling, turning, grinding and polishing processes are combined to efficiently achieve defined surfaces.
[0010] In the prior art, lens blanks are used, for example, to manufacture spectacle lenses, particularly lens blanks made of plastics such as polycarbonate, CR39, and so-called "high index" materials. For efficiency reasons, the lens blanks are machined in two stages to create a customized surface, e.g., for prescription spectacle lenses: first with a milling tool and then with a turning tool. Combined milling-turning tools exist [EP 1 291 106 A], as well as machines with separate milling and (linear or rotary) turning machining units. With the latter, the spectacle lenses are machined serially, for example, according to EP 1 719585 A – one and the same spectacle lens is first milled and then turned in the machine's work area – or, for example, according to
[0011] EP 1 719582 A1 parallel processing - different spectacle lenses are processed simultaneously in the machine's work area, with one being milled while the other is turned.
[0012] For example, a manufacturing device is known from DE 202006021 076 U1, in which a machine on a machine frame has a workpiece holder on a slide, a milling tool, and two turning tools. The workpiece holder indirectly receives a lens blank via a block. However, direct receipt without a block is also conceivable. The workpiece holder is first moved with the slide into a working area of the milling tool, and the received lens blank is milled. Subsequently, the workpiece holder is moved into a working area of the first turning tool, and the lens blank is turned. Then, the workpiece holder is moved into a working area of the second turning tool, and the lens blank is turned once more. This allows for the production of spherical, aspherical, toric, atoric, progressive, or freeform geometries.Machining is typically followed by fine grinding or polishing processes to achieve the required surface finish. Coatings and / or hardening steps are also carried out as needed.
[0013] A disadvantage of a device according to DE 202006021 076 U1 is that only a few lens blanks can be processed per unit of time. This results in high manufacturing costs per processed lens blank.
[0014] The device according to EP 1 719582 A1 differs, among other things, from
[0015] DE 202006021 076 U1 states that the turning unit has a workpiece spindle and the milling unit has a separate workpiece holder. This allows two lens blanks to be machined simultaneously, one with the milling tool and one with the turning tool. A loading device removes the milled lens blank from the workpiece holder and immediately inserts it into the workpiece spindle, while a new lens blank is simultaneously inserted into the workpiece holder.
[0016] This increases the efficiency of the manufacturing equipment and reduces the manufacturing costs per machined lens blank compared to DE 202006021 076 U1. However, the efficiency is still low and the manufacturing costs per machined lens blank are high, because turning takes more than twice as long as milling in most cases, often even 2.5 to 3 times as long. Furthermore, vibrations are transmitted from the milling unit to the turning unit, resulting in low precision in the turning process.
[0017] From EP 2998067 A2, a lathe is known which has a first turning station with a rotatable first workpiece spindle for holding a lens blank and a first turning tool for machining a held lens blank, wherein at least one second turning station with a rotatable second workpiece spindle for holding a second lens blank and a second turning tool for machining a held second lens blank is provided. This lathe is used as part of a higher-level manufacturing facility for producing spectacle lenses from lens blanks, which includes an additional milling machine. The milling machine has at least one milling station with a workpiece holder for holding a lens blank and a milling tool for machining the held lens blank.Furthermore, a loading device is provided, designed to automatically remove lens blanks from the milling machine and load them into the workpiece spindles. While this ensures good coordination of the turning and milling process times, the handling of the lenses or lens blanks between the different machines proves to be a disadvantage. The loading device must also be specifically tailored to the lathe on the one hand and the milling machine on the other, making the production setup difficult to adapt to other process configurations.
[0018] The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a solution with multiple workstations that are efficiently supplied with workpieces possessing optical properties via a loading device. The aim is to increase efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs per processed workpiece. The invention should be reliable, easy to use, and cost-effective.
[0019] Features according to the invention are specified in claim 1. Embodiments are the subject of claims 2 to 19.
[0020] The invention relates to a manufacturing machine for producing optically effective surfaces on workpieces with optical properties, in particular for producing spectacle lenses from lens blanks, with two outer and one intermediate middle workstation, wherein the workstations each have a workpiece holding device for holding a workpiece with optical properties (in particular a lens blank) and a processing device which is designed to machine a workpiece with optical properties (in particular a lens blank) held by the workpiece holding device by removing material, and with a loading device which is preferably designed to load workpieces with optical properties (in particular lens blanks) into the workpiece holding devices and to remove them again from these.
[0021] The advantage of this is that the three adjacent workstations in a single production machine enable efficient material handling with the loading device. Depending on customer requirements, the workstations can be designed for different machining processes, and the material flow can be configured, for example, from the middle to the outer workstations or vice versa, or from one outer workstation via the middle to the other outer workstation. For this purpose, the production machine should be designed as a single machine unit, particularly with a common control unit. Preferably, the workpiece holding devices of the workstations are arranged in a row. Furthermore, preferably, the machining devices of the workstations are also arranged in a row.The term "lens blank" should be understood to encompass all processing stages up to the finished spectacle lens, i.e., from the pre-formed blank to the final lens shape.
[0022] According to a more detailed embodiment, the manufacturing machine has a conveyor path for workpieces with optical properties (especially lens blanks) that runs past the workstations. The loading device, preferably its optional main loader (see below), is designed to remove a workpiece with optical properties (especially a lens blank) from this conveyor path and load it into one of the workpiece holding devices of the workstations, and / or to remove a workpiece with optical properties (especially a lens blank) from at least one of the workpiece holding devices of the workstations and feed it into this conveyor path. This enables automated transport of the workpieces to and from the conveyor path, particularly also from upstream processing machines (e.g., lathes, lens machines, etc.).
[0023] Blocking machines, tape machines, cleaning machines) and downstream processing machines (e.g. grinding machines, polishing machines, cleaning machines, coating machines, tape and detape machines, blocking machines).
[0024] Specifically, the conveying path can include a conveyor belt. This belt can be designed either to transport individual workpieces with optical properties (especially lens blanks) or to transport job trays containing pairs of workpieces with optical properties, particularly for the production of the left and right lenses of a pair of spectacles. According to an optional embodiment, the conveying path is designed to fold away, particularly for maintenance of the workstations, and preferably folds upwards. This facilitates maintenance of the production machine.
[0025] Preferably, the conveying path runs linearly from one end of the production machine to the other. This is easy to implement in terms of design and allows for the adjacent placement of upstream and downstream processing machines.
[0026] Optionally, the workstations and the loading device are arranged in a shared machine cabin. This allows for optimized handling of the workpieces to the workstations within the machine cabin, resulting in a high level of occupational safety. The conveyor system can also be located within and / or pass through the machine cabin. This means that the interaction between the loading device and the conveyor system is also preferably located within the machine cabin.
[0027] In a particular embodiment, the manufacturing machine has a special storage location which is assigned to a lock in the machine cabin and / or a measuring device, wherein the special storage location is in particular not located on the conveyor path and does not belong to any of the workstations, wherein the loading device, preferably the optional main loader (see below), is designed to supply a selectively selected workpiece with optical properties (in particular a lens blank) to the special storage location and / or to remove a workpiece with optical properties (in particular a lens blank) from the special storage location and supply it to one of the workpiece holding devices or the conveyor path.This makes it possible to selectively and automatically inspect workpieces with the measuring device and / or selectively and automatically feed workpieces into or remove them from the production machine, even without having to stop the production machine, and without the workpieces being mixed up on the conveyor path by manual manipulation.
[0028] Furthermore, each workstation can have a work area in which at least one workpiece holding area of its workpiece holding device is located and in which the workpiece with optical properties (in particular the lens blank) is processed. This limits the generation of dirt to the individual work areas and prevents any interaction of chips and coolants between the workstations.
[0029] The loading device can be positioned outside the work area and designed only for temporary entry into the work area for loading and unloading. This allows the loading device to operate independently of processing activities within the work area and prevents it from becoming contaminated by these processes.
[0030] Specifically, each work area can have a floor-level outlet connected to an extraction line with a suction device, and in particular with a pipe diameter of more than 5 cm, preferably more than 7 cm. This allows for the combined drainage of fluids and the extraction of aerosols and vapors. The area of the production machine outside the work areas is thus protected from contamination by a single drainage system. For this purpose, the suction device should be designed to extract liquids, gases, and aerosols, and in particular, it should be designed to draw in gases.
[0031] Preferably, each workstation has a separate machine bed for mounting the workpiece holding device and the machining device, with the machine beds being vibration-isolated from one another. This improves the surface quality of the individual material removal operations, which can then be performed simultaneously without any problems. Simultaneous machining in several of the work areas significantly increases efficiency. The machine beds can be made of natural stone. Alternatively, the machine beds can be vibration-isolated from one another using elastic bearings, such as viscoelastic bearings. The vibration-isolated mounting should have a damping property, preferably hysteresis damping. Elastomeric bearings, for example, are suitable for vibration decoupling.
[0032] Optionally, the workstations can be mounted on a common machine frame. This ensures they are correctly positioned relative to each other and to the loading device, and also allows for easy relocation together. The machine beds can be mounted on the machine frame using optional elastic bearings. Furthermore, the machine cabin and / or the conveyor system can be mounted on the machine frame. This allows these components to be vibration-isolated from the workstations.
[0033] Furthermore, the loading device can be mounted or fixed directly on the machine frame or without mechanical connections between the workstations at least on one of the workstations.
[0034] According to a further training plan, the workstations and the loading device are designed to have a common control unit, specifically configured to manage workpieces with optical properties (especially lens blanks) in the production machine and their processing in the workstations. This allows for optimized and centralized control of the processing and workpiece handling.
[0035] In a specific embodiment, the machining devices and workpiece holding devices of the workstations are each driven into an offset position relative to each other, enabling interaction between the workpiece holding device and the loading device. This facilitates easy access to the workpiece holding devices. For this purpose, the machining devices are preferably located on the side facing the loading device, and the workpiece holding devices on the side facing away from the loading device. Preferably, at least the workpiece holding devices are driven and mounted on the respective machine bed so that they can be moved along the row.
[0036] For optimized workpiece handling, the loading device can be configured to have a main loader and two auxiliary loaders. The main loader is designed to load a workpiece with optical properties (in particular, a lens blank) into exactly one, exactly two, or at least two of the workpiece holding devices of the workstations, and / or to remove a workpiece with optical properties (in particular, a lens blank) from exactly one, exactly two, or at least two of the workpiece holding devices of the workstations. The two auxiliary loaders are each designed to transport a workpiece with optical properties (in particular, a lens blank) between one of the outer and the middle workstations. This allows for a rapid exchange of a workpiece from one workstation to an adjacent workstation using the auxiliary loaders.Nevertheless, the auxiliary loader can be of a simple design due to its limited task. The main loader, on the other hand, is primarily responsible for transporting the workpieces at the beginning and end of machining, and in particular for forming the interface between the workstations and the conveyor path.
[0037] In a special configuration, the auxiliary loaders each have a swivel arm that can pivot about a pivot axis, with two of the workpiece holding devices being driven to position themselves on a common radius around the pivot axis. This enables a quick change of a workpiece from one workstation to another.
[0038] In one variant of the manufacturing machine, the machining device at the middle workstation is a milling device, while the machining devices at the outer workstations are each rotary devices. This arrangement better harmonizes the rotary finishing process, which typically takes more than twice as long (often 2.5 to 3 times as long), with the performance of the milling device. Furthermore, it achieves the shortest possible transport distances between the milling and turning devices. The workpieces can then be transported to the turning devices, first to the left and then to the right, particularly after milling.
[0039] The main loader can be configured to load a workpiece with optical properties (especially a lens blank) into the workpiece holding device of the middle workstation and to remove a workpiece with optical properties (especially a lens blank) from the workpiece holding devices of both outer workstations. Thus, the main loader's function is to transport workpieces with the production machine at the beginning and end of the machining process, and in particular to form the interface to the optional conveyor system. The main loader can be configured to perform no further interactions with the workpiece holding devices. Furthermore, the auxiliary loaders can be configured to transfer workpieces from the middle workstation to the outer workstations.
[0040] According to a second variant of the manufacturing machine, the machining device of one of the outer workstations is a milling device, the machining device of the middle workstation is a turning device, and the machining device of the other outer workstations is a finishing device. This allows a workpiece with optical properties (especially a lens blank) to be machined from coarse to fine and, if possible, leaves the manufacturing machine with a surface tolerance ready for coating. The finishing device should be designed to remove material and be suitable for achieving heat treatment or coating readiness. This means that no further mechanical material removal is required after the workpiece leaves the manufacturing machine and before the surface is coated.In particular, the finishing device should achieve a higher surface quality than the milling and turning devices. The finishing device could be, for example, a precision turning device, a grinding device, or a polishing device.
[0041] The main loader can be configured to load a workpiece with optical properties (in particular, a lens blank) into the workpiece holding device of the first outer workstation and to remove a workpiece with optical properties (in particular, a lens blank) from the workpiece holding device of the second outer workstation. Thus, the main loader serves to transport workpieces to the production machine at the beginning and end of the machining process, and in particular to form the interface with the optional conveyor system. The main loader can be configured to perform no further interactions with the workpiece holding devices. Furthermore, the auxiliary loaders can be configured for transferring workpieces between the workstations.
[0042] A configuration with only three workstations is preferred. However, it would also be conceivable to add a fourth and a fifth workstation to the production machine in order to combine two turning devices and two grinding / polishing devices with exactly one milling device, thus fully utilizing the milling device's capacity. The grinding / polishing process typically takes a similar amount of time to the turning process. In such a case with five workstations, a configuration is again suitable in which the workstation with the milling device is located in the center, the workstations with the turning devices are arranged to its left and right, and the workstations with the grinding / polishing devices are arranged on the far left and right.
[0043] Optionally, the workstations can be designed as interchangeable work modules, in particular from the group consisting of milling modules, turning modules, grinding modules, and polishing modules. A milling module comprises a milling spindle with a milling tool as its machining device. A turning module comprises a workpiece spindle for holding and rotating a lens blank as its workpiece holding device and a linear drive (e.g., comprising a plunge-coil actuator, a piezo actuator, or a fast-tool servo) with a turning tool as its machining device. A grinding module comprises a grinding tool as its machining device, and a polishing module comprises a polishing tool as its machining device. This allows the production machine to be configured in different ways, while the loading device and optional components such as the conveyor, machine frame, machine cabin, and control unit can be used uniformly.
[0044] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. It shows:
[0045] Fig. 1 shows a schematic layout of a manufacturing machine.
[0046] Fig. 1 shows a schematic layout of a manufacturing machine 1 for producing optically effective surfaces on workpieces with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f from above, here in particular for the production of spectacle lenses from lens blanks. The manufacturing machine 1 has three workstations 10, 20, 30 and a loading device 40 within a machine cabin 4. The workstations 10, 20, 30 are designed as interchangeable work modules and are arranged adjacent to each other in a row on a machine frame 5. This results in two outer workstations 10, 30 and a middle workstation 20 arranged between them. The machine cabin 4 is also fixed to the machine frame 5.
[0047] Parallel to the series of workstations 10, 20, 30 runs a conveyor path 2 for the workpieces with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f respectively.
[0048] Lens blanks pass by these. Conveyor path 2 is, in particular, a conveyor belt that extends linearly through the machine cabin 4 and is supported on the machine frame 5 (optionally indirectly via the machine cabin). For maintenance purposes, conveyor path 2 can, for example, be designed so that it can be folded away, preferably upwards.
[0049] The workstations 10, 20, 30 each have a separate machine bed 15, 25, 35, preferably made of natural stone or a cast material, which is mounted on the machine frame 5 with elastic bearings to isolate vibrations. This means that the three workstations 10, 20, 30 are mounted on a common machine frame 5 in a vibration-isolated manner.
[0050] The machine beds 15, 25, 35 each serve to support a workpiece holding device 11, 21, 31 and a machining device 12, 22, 32 of the respective workstation 10, 20, 30. Both the workpiece holding devices 11, 21, 31 and the machining devices 12, 22, 32 of the workstations 10, 20, 30 are arranged in a row. The workpiece holding devices 11, 21, 31 are mounted and driven on their respective machine beds so as to be movable along the row of workstations 10, 20, 30, and are designed as workpiece spindles that rotate the workpieces with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f or lens blanks about an axis.Perpendicular to the row of workstations 10, 20, 30, the machining devices 12, 22, 32 are driven on their machine bed 15, 25, 35 so as to be movable towards the workpiece holding device 11, 21, 31, in such a way that a workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f or a held lens blank can be machined by material removal.
[0051] In addition, the workstations 10, 20, 30 each have a work area 13, 23, 33 on their machine bed 15, 25, 35 in which the respective workpiece holding device 11, 21, 31 is arranged at least with the area holding the workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of and the workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of is machined. In addition, the respective tool of the machining devices 12, 22, 32 is also arranged opposite in the working space 13, 23, 33, at least during the machining of a workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of or lens blank.
[0052] Each of the work chambers 13, 23, 33 has a floor-level outlet connected to an extraction line 14, 24, 34 with a suction device. The outlet or extraction line 14, 24, 34 can extend through the respective machine bed 15, 25, 35. The suction device is self-priming for extracting fluid, gas, and aerosol. A portion of the cross-section of the extraction line 14, 24, 34 can thus be used for draining liquids, while the remaining portion is available for extracting gas and aerosols.
[0053] The loading device 40 has a main loader 41 and two auxiliary loaders 42, 43. The main loader 41 is designed to remove a workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of or a lens blank from the conveyor path 2 and load it into one of the workpiece holding devices 11, 21, 31 of the workstations 10, 20, 30, as well as to remove a workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f or a lens blank from at least one of the workpiece holding devices 11, 21, 31 of the workstations 10, 20, 30 and return it to the conveyor path 2. The loading device 40 is located outside of the work areas 13, 23, 33 and only temporarily enters the work areas 13, 23, 33 for loading and unloading. For this purpose, the work areas 13, 23, 33 can, for example, have automatic doors.Parts of the work areas 13, 23, 33 may also consist of bellows or similar to allow the movements of the loading device 40, the respective workpiece holding device 11, 21, 31 and the respective processing device 12, 22, 32.
[0054] The loading device 40 can be fixed directly to the machine frame 5, or it can be fixed, for example, to the machine beds 15, 25, 35 in such a way that no mechanical connections result between the workstations 10, 20, 30. The machining devices 12, 22, 32 and the workpiece holding devices 11, 21, 31 of the workstations 10, 20, 30 are each moved into an offset position relative to each other for the workpiece holding device 11, 21, 31 to interact with the loading device 40.
[0055] In the present case, the machining device 22 of the middle workstation 20 is a milling device with a milling tool, and the machining devices 12, 32 of the outer workstations 10, 30 are each a rotary device with a rotary tool that is driven in an oscillating manner by a linear drive from the group consisting of a moving coil actuator, piezo actuator or Fast Tool servo towards the workpiece holding device 11, 21, 31. The main loader 41 is in particular designed to load a workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10of or a lens blank from the conveyor path 2 into the workpiece holding device 21 of the middle workstation 20, and to remove a workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f or a lens blank from to remove the workpieces from the workpiece holding devices 11, 31 of both of the outer workstations 10, 30 and place them back on the conveyor path 2.The auxiliary loaders 42, 43 are designed exclusively for the alternating transfer of a workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e or a lens blank from the central workstation 20 to one of the outer workstations 10, 30. For this purpose, the auxiliary loaders 42, 43 each have a pivot arm 44, 45 that can be pivoted about a pivot axis A1, A2, wherein the workpiece holding devices 11, 21 are driven to be positionable on a common radius about the pivot axis A1, and the workpiece holding devices 31, 21 are driven to be positionable on a common radius about the pivot axis A2. The pivot arms 44, 45 are also each mounted on the pivot axes A1, A2 such that they can be moved onto the workpiece holding devices 11, 21, 31.
[0056] Furthermore, the production machine 1 has a special storage position 3, which is part of a sluice gate 7 in the machine cabin 4. A workpiece with optical properties 100e, or a lens blank, can be manually inserted or removed through this sluice gate without having to stop the production machine 1. Safety doors and / or sensors in the sluice gate 7 prevent a person from reaching through the sluice gate 7 into the working area of the loading device 40, the conveyor 2, and the workstations 10, 20, and 30. A measuring device 8 is assigned to the special storage position 3. This device measures parameters, in particular geometric data, of the workpiece with optical properties 100e, or a lens blank, placed in the special storage position 3.
[0057] The main loader 41 of the loading device 40 is also designed to supply a selectively selected workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f or lens blank to the special storage location 3, or to remove a workpiece with optical properties 100e or a lens blank from the special storage location 3 and supply it to one of the workpiece holding devices 11, 21, 31 or to the conveyor path 2.
[0058] The workstations 10, 20, 30, the conveyor path 2, the airlock 7 and the loading device 40 have a common control unit 6, which is designed to manage, and in particular also to control, the workpieces with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f or lens blanks in the production machine 1 and their processing in the workstations 10, 20, 30. The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in a variety of ways.
[0059] In contrast to the specific design of the workstations 10, 20, 30 according to Fig. 1, for example, the alternative option is that the machining device 11 of one of the outer workstations 10 is a milling device, the machining device 21 of the middle workstation 20 is a turning device, and the machining device 31 of the other of the outer workstations 30 is a grinding device or a polishing device. Then the main loader 41 can be configured to load a workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of or a lens blank into the workpiece holding device 11 of the first outer work station 10, and to remove a workpiece with optical properties 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of or a lens blank from the workpiece holding device 11, 31 of the second outer work station 30.The auxiliary loaders 42 and 43 serve to transfer material first from the first outer workstation 10 to the middle workstation 20, and then from the middle workstation 20 to the second outer workstation 30. Thanks to the modular workstations 10, 20, and 30, many identical parts can be used for both configurations, and the production machine 1 can be reconfigured even during its service life. While the first configuration is capable of high output, the advantage of the second configuration lies in the fact that already finely machined workpieces with optical properties, or lens blanks, leave the production machine, up to a surface quality suitable for coating.
[0060] All features and advantages arising from the claims, the description, and the drawings, including design details, spatial arrangements, and process steps, can be essential to the invention, both individually and in various combinations. Reference numerals list
[0061] Manufacturing machine 30 outer workstation conveyor path 31 workpiece holding device special storage area 32 machining device machine cabin 33 work area machine frame 34 extraction line control unit 35 machine bed airlock
[0062] Measuring device 40 Charging device
[0063] 41 main loaders
[0064] external workstation 42 auxiliary loader workpiece holding device 43 auxiliary loader machining device 44 swivel arm working area 45 swivel arm extraction line
[0065] Machine bed 100a-e workpiece with optical properties medium workstation
[0066] Workpiece holding device A1 Swivel axis Machining device A2 Swivel axis Working area
[0067] extraction line
[0068] machine bed
Claims
Patent claims 1. Manufacturing machine (1) for producing optically effective surfaces on workpieces with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f), in particular for producing spectacle lenses from lens blanks, with two outer and one middle workstation arranged in between (10, 20, 30), - wherein the workstations (10, 20, 30) each have a workpiece holding device (11, 21, 31) for holding a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f) and a machining device (12, 22, 32) which is designed to machine a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10of) held by the workpiece holding device (11, 21, 31) by material removal, and with a loading device (40) designed to load workpieces with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f) into the workpiece holding devices (11, 21, 31) and to remove them from these.
2. Manufacturing machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a conveying path (2) for workpieces with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) which passes by the workstations (10, 20, 30), wherein the loading device (40) is designed to to remove a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) from this conveyor path (2) and load it into one of the workpiece holding devices (11, 21, 31) of the workstations (10, 20, 30), and / or to remove a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) from at least one of the workpiece holding devices (11, 21, 31) of the workstations (10, 20, 30) and feed it into this conveying path (2).
3. Manufacturing machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the conveying path (2) has a conveyor belt.
4. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the conveying path (2) is designed to be foldable.
5. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the workstations (10, 20, 30) and the loading device (40) are arranged in a common machine cabin (4).
6. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a special storage location (3) which is assigned to a lock (7) in the machine cabin (4) according to claim 5 and / or a measuring device (8), wherein the loading device (40) is configured to supply a selectively selected workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) to the special storage location (3) and / or to remove a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f) from the special storage location (3) and to supply it to one of the workpiece holding devices (11, 21, 31) or to the conveyor path (2) according to claims 2 to 4.
7. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the work stations (10, 20, 30) each have a working space (13, 23, 33) in which at least one workpiece holding area of their workpiece holding device (11, 21, 31) is arranged and in which the workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f) is processed.
8. Manufacturing machine (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the loading device (40) is arranged outside of the working spaces (13, 23, 33) and is designed only for temporary entry into the working spaces (13, 23, 33) for loading and unloading.
9. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the working spaces (13, 23, 33) each have a bottom outlet which is connected to an extraction line (14, 24, 34) with a suction device.
10. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the workstations (10, 20, 30) each have a separate machine bed (15, 25, 35) for mounting the workpiece holding device (11, 21, 31) and the machining device (12, 22, 32), wherein the machine beds (15, 25, 35) are mounted in a vibration-isolated manner.
11. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the workstations (10, 20, 30) and the loading device (40) have a common control unit (6) which is designed in particular to manage workpieces with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f) in the manufacturing machine (1) and their processing in the workstations (10, 20, 30).
12. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing devices (12, 22, 32) and the workpiece holding devices (11, 21, 31) of the workstations (10, 20, 30) are each driven to be movable into an offset position relative to each other for interaction of the workpiece holding device (11, 21, 31) with the loading device (40).
13. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loading device (40) has a main loader (41) and two auxiliary loaders (42, 43), - wherein the main loader (41) is designed to, to load a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) into exactly one, exactly two or at least two of the workpiece holding devices (11, 21, 31) of the workstations (10, 20, 30), and / or to remove a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) from exactly one, exactly two or at least two of the workpiece holding devices (11, 21, 31) of the workstations (10, 20, 30), and - wherein the two auxiliary loaders (42, 43) are each designed to transport a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f) between one of the outer and the middle workstation (10, 20, 30).
14. Manufacturing machine (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the auxiliary loaders (42, 43) each have a pivoting arm (44, 45) pivotable about a pivot axis (A1, A2), wherein two of the workpiece holding devices (11, 21, 31) are driven to be positionable on a common radius about the pivot axis (A1, A2).
15. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machining device (22) of the middle work station (20) is a milling device, and the machining devices (12, 32) of the outer work stations (10, 30) are each a rotary device.
16. Manufacturing machine (1) according to claim 15 in combination with one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the main loader (41) is configured to: o load a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) into the workpiece holding device (21) of the middle work station (10, 20, 30), and o remove a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) from the workpiece holding device (11, 31) of both of the outer work stations (10, 30).
17. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the machining device (11) of one of the outer work stations (10) is a milling device, the machining device (21) of the middle work station (20) is a turning device, and the machining device (31) of the other of the outer work stations (30) is a fine machining device.
18. Manufacturing machine (1) according to claim 17 in combination with one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the main loader (41) is configured to load a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) into the workpiece holding device (11) of the first outer work station (10), and to remove a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 10Of) from the workpiece holding device (11, 31) from the second outer work station (30).
19. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the workstations (10, 20, 30) are designed as interchangeable work modules, in particular from the group consisting of milling module, turning module, grinding module and polishing module, - wherein a milling module comprises a milling spindle with milling tool as machining devices (12, 22, 32); - wherein a rotary module as a workpiece holding device (11, 21, 31) comprises a workpiece spindle for holding and rotating a workpiece with optical properties (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f) and as machining devices (12, 22, 32) a linear drive with rotary tool, - wherein a grinding module comprises a grinding tool as machining devices (12, 22, 32), and - wherein a polishing module comprises a polishing tool as processing devices (12, 22, 32).