Compact Spindle Shaft for Spectacle Lens Polishing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polishing machines for spectacle lenses are complex, require significant constructional volume, and are not suitable for use in compact 'twin' polishing machines, as they need transmission elements that lead to inefficiencies and wear, and are not flexible enough to perform other polishing methods efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A compact polishing device with a spindle shaft mounted in a spindle housing, featuring an electric rotary drive with a rotor and stator arranged coaxially, allowing direct rotational driving and axial displacement of the spindle shaft, which reduces the need for transmission elements and enables faster polishing times without increasing complexity or space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a polishing device uses transmission elements (gears, belts) to drive the polishing tool, then the device can achieve rotational movement, but the device becomes complex and requires significant constructional volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical transmission elements (gears, belts) with a direct electric rotary drive system. The electric motor is integrated directly into the spindle shaft assembly, eliminating the need for intermediate transmission components. This substitution reduces device complexity and constructional volume while improving reliability by removing wear-prone mechanical transmission elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the electric motor with the spindle shaft assembly into a single integrated unit. The motor housing and spindle shaft are combined in a compact arrangement where the motor directly drives the spindle without separate transmission mechanisms. This merging of functions reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall device structure.
2Productivity
If a polishing device uses traditional polishing methods with friction-driven tools, then the device structure can be simple, but polishing times are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic control of the polishing process by allowing the polishing tool to be rotationally driven at variable speeds by the electric rotary drive. This dynamic capability allows optimization of polishing parameters (speed, pressure, contact force) to significantly reduce polishing time compared to fixed-speed friction-driven methods, while the compact integrated design keeps complexity manageable.
3Area of stationary object
If a polishing machine is designed to be compact for 'twin' machine use, then floor space is reduced, but the machine cannot accommodate flexible polishing methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal polishing device that can accommodate multiple polishing methods (traditional friction-driven, rotary-driven, and other variations) within a compact form factor. The integrated electric rotary drive with adjustable parameters and the flexible tool mounting system enable the same compact device to perform diverse polishing operations, making it adaptable to different polishing requirements while maintaining space efficiency for twin machine configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in a significantly more efficient polishing process, reducing machining times by approximately threefold while maintaining a compact and economically simple design, suitable for use in 'twin' polishing machines, and allowing for the use of other polishing methods.
Implementation Method 1
an electric rotary drive, which comprises a rotor and a stator and by which the spindle shaft operatively connected with the rotor is drivable to rotate about the tool rotational axis
Implementation Method 2
an adjusting device, by which the tool mount section is axially displaceable with respect to the spindle housing in the direction of the tool rotational axis
Implementation Method 3
the tools disposed in machining engagement with the workpieces are rotationally entrained by friction
Data Source
AI summary
A device for finish-machining of the optically effective surfaces of, in particular, spectacle lenses has a spindle shaft, which has a tool mount section and which is mounted in a spindle housing to be rotatable about a workpiece rotational axis (A). An electric rotary drive has a rotor and a stator by which the spindle shaft operatively connected with the rotor is drivable to rotate about the tool rotational axis. An adjusting device axially displaces the tool mount section with respect to the spindle housing in the direction of the tool rotational axis (linear movement Z). The rotor and the stator are arranged coaxially with the spindle shaft, wherein at least the rotor together with the spindle shaft is axially displaceable with respect to the spindle housing in the direction of the tool rotational axis by the adjusting device.