Elastic Lens Holder Layout for Uniform Dip Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass holding devices for dip coating lens glasses often result in uneven coating due to surface waves during the coating process, leading to defects in the optical quality of the lacquer layer, particularly when the lens glasses are held at few points and cause uneven paint application or removal.
Innovation Solution
A glass holding device with elastic edge holding elements and a peripheral frame design that dampens waves on the dip coating bath surface, ensuring even coating by holding the lens glass at multiple edge points and preventing webbing effects, while allowing for secure clamping and drainage of the paint solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lens glass is held at only a few holding points during dip coating, then the handling of the lens glass is simplified and defects in the lacquer layer can be avoided in the optically relevant area, but the homogeneity of the paint layer deteriorates due to waves caused by the holding devices
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device is segmented into multiple independent elastic holding elements (at least three, preferably four or five) distributed around the periphery of the lens glass. Each holding element independently contacts the lens glass at different positions, allowing the device to hold the lens glass with multiple points while maintaining flexibility to minimize wave generation. This segmentation enables both reliable defect-free zones and improved paint layer homogeneity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding elements are designed with elastic properties and specific geometric parameters (contact area, positioning) that can be adjusted to optimize their interaction with the lens glass and the dip coating bath. By carefully selecting the elastic modulus, contact area, and positioning of these holding elements, the device minimizes disturbance to the paint bath surface while maintaining secure holding, thus improving paint layer homogeneity without sacrificing defect-free zone reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid holding device is used to hold the lens glass, then the structural stability is improved, but the damping of waves on the dip coating bath surface deteriorates, leading to uneven coating
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device employs flexible elastic holding elements instead of rigid structures. These elastic elements act as flexible components that can deform to dampen waves on the dip coating bath surface. The elasticity allows the holding elements to absorb and dissipate energy from wave motions, reducing surface disturbances that would otherwise cause uneven coating. This flexibility maintains structural stability while improving coating homogeneity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic deformation of the holding elements, which might seem like a compromise to structural stability, is actually converted into a beneficial wave-damping mechanism. The flexibility of the elastic materials allows them to interact with the dip coating bath surface in a way that dissipates wave energy, transforming potential harm (waves causing uneven coating) into a benefit (damped waves producing more homogeneous coating).
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 significantly improves the homogeneity and optical quality of the coating layer by minimizing wave-induced defects and ensuring consistent paint application across the lens glass, even when handling different sizes, and allows for efficient automated processing.
Implementation Method 1
a second elastic lens holding device with a second lens edge holding element
Implementation Method 2
for holding the lens glass on an edge of the lens glass, on a first edge side
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a lens holding device for holding an optical lens at its edge, during dip coating in a dip coating bath, comprising: a first flexible lens holding unit with a first lens edge holding element, for holding the optical lens at an edge of the optical lens, on a first edge side, during the dip coating; a second flexible lens holding unit with a second lens edge holding element, for holding the optical lens at the edge of the optical lens, on a second edge side, during the dip coating; and an at least partially surrounding frame, with a third lens edge holding element, for holding the optical lens at the edge of the optical lens, on a third edge side, during the dip coating, wherein the first edge side and the second edge side are respectively arranged on a left-hand side and a right-hand side of the edge of the optical lens and the third edge side is arranged on a lower side of the edge of the optical lens, and wherein the at least partially surrounding frame has a first lateral frame portion and a second lateral frame portion in such a way that, as a result, when the lens holding device is raised out of the dip coating bath, waves caused at the surface of the dip coating bath are damped by the first lens edge holding element and the second lens edge holding element. The invention also relates to a lens holder set comprising a multiplicity of lens holding devices according to the invention, and also to a method for dip coating an optical lens in a dip coating bath by means of a lens holding device according to the invention or a lens holder set according to the invention.