Double-Gripper Lens Transfer for Fast Milling-Turning Changeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processing apparatuses for optical workpieces, such as lenses, face challenges in achieving high throughput, precision, and short changeover times while maintaining a compact and simple design, particularly in the transfer and processing of lenses between milling and turning stations.
Innovation Solution
A processing apparatus with a milling station and a turning station, where the workpiece spindles face each other and a changing device with a double gripper is positioned between them, allowing for optimized lens transfer. The changing device is designed for superimposed rotary and linear movement via a cam mechanism, enabling fast and precise lens switching between stations with minimal stacked axes of motion, and the stations have limited axes of motion to ensure stability and precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a changing device with long linear movement is used to transfer lens blanks between milling and turning devices, then the lens blanks can be transferred between stations, but the changeover time increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The changing device employs a swivel arm that can rapidly pivot between positions, replacing slow linear movements with fast rotational motion. The arm can quickly swing from the milling device to the turning device and back, dramatically reducing changeover time and increasing throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the changing device linearly between stations along the same axis, the invention uses a swivel arm that rotates in a different dimensional plane. This allows the gripping member to access both stations through angular movement rather than long linear travel, reducing transfer time.
2Ease of operation
If workpiece spindles are moved to a loading position for lens changing, then lens transfer is enabled, but the complexity of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The changing device with swivel arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the milling and turning stations. Instead of moving the heavy workpiece spindles back and forth, the lightweight swivel arm carries the lens blanks to the stationary spindles, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than moving the workpiece spindles to a loading position, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the spindles stationary and moving the changing device with the lens blanks to the spindles. This reversal reduces the complexity associated with moving heavy spindle assemblies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple stacked axes of motion are provided in milling and turning stations, then processing flexibility is improved, but vibration increases and stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces multiple stacked linear axes with a dynamic swivel arm mechanism that achieves the same positioning flexibility through rotational motion. The single swivel axis with angular adjustment provides the necessary adaptability while maintaining structural rigidity and minimizing vibration.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing apparatus for optical workpieces and the use of a double gripper are proposed, wherein a swivelable changing device with a double gripper is arranged between a milling station and a turning station. Thus, parallel processing can be performed in the milling station and the turning station and the workpiece changing time can be minimized.