Lens Cleaning Machine With Movable Chambers for Low-Contamination Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lens cleaning and inspection systems are inefficient, prone to contamination, and costly, especially for edged lenses, due to complex conveyor systems, cross-contamination, and separate inspection processes, which increase the risk of lens loss and defect misidentification.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a handling unit and movable processing units that integrate cleaning, rinsing, drying, and inspection functions, using a circular conveyor and movable processing units to minimize contamination and streamline operations, allowing for precise handling and real-time quality assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a long tunnel conveyor system with multiple cleaning stations is used, then comprehensive cleaning can be achieved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into multiple independent cleaning stations (ultrasonic cleaning, solvent cleaning, brush cleaning, rinsing) that can be selectively activated. Each station operates as a separate module, allowing comprehensive cleaning without requiring all stations to be present in a single long tunnel, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining cleaning quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is designed to accommodate different cleaning methods and can be configured for various cleaning scenarios. The same conveyor infrastructure supports multiple cleaning stations with different functions (ultrasonic, chemical, mechanical, thermal), making the system versatile and reducing the need for separate dedicated systems for each cleaning method.
2Device complexity
If a basic minimal holding system conveyor is used, then device complexity is reduced, but it can only securely handle uncut lenses with large ratio between diameter, curvature and thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system incorporates adjustable holding mechanisms that can dynamically adapt to different lens geometries. The holding system can be reconfigured to securely grasp lenses with varying diameters, curvatures, and thicknesses, including edged lenses, by adjusting the position and configuration of holding elements rather than requiring a fixed complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system allows changing of holding parameters such as grip force, holding position, and support points to match different lens characteristics. By adjusting these parameters, the same basic conveyor system can securely handle various lens types from uncut to edged lenses, eliminating the need for separate specialized conveyors for each lens type.
3Reliability
If main conveyor moves slowly through cleaning stations, then cleaning process is completed thoroughly, but cleaning liquids are transferred between stations creating contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is designed to minimize the transfer of cleaning liquids between stations by extracting or removing excess liquid at each station before the lens moves to the next one. Drying elements or liquid barriers are introduced between stations to prevent cross-contamination while maintaining thorough cleaning at each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system allows for rapid passage through certain cleaning stations where liquid transfer is problematic, using optimized holding mechanisms to quickly move lenses between stations without prolonged exposure to cleaning liquids. This reduces the time and opportunity for cross-contamination while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If wide distances between neighboring stations are provided, then sealing openings is easier, but machine length and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Sealing elements such as gaskets, flaps, or barriers are introduced as intermediary components between neighboring cleaning stations. These intermediaries prevent contamination from spreading between cells even when stations are positioned close together, eliminating the need for wide distances while maintaining effective sealing. The intermediaries act as barriers that block contamination paths without requiring increased spacing.
5Measurement precision
If separate inspection station is used, then inspection quality can be maintained, but additional handling and transfer operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection function is merged with the cleaning system by integrating inspection stations directly into the conveyor path. Inspection units are positioned at strategic points within the cleaning tunnel, allowing lenses to be inspected during the cleaning process without requiring separate transfer operations. This integration maintains inspection quality while eliminating additional handling steps and reducing overall system complexity.
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 integrated system ensures thorough and consistent cleaning, reduces contamination risks, saves space and resources, and facilitates efficient lens handling, enabling real-time quality control with minimized handling and reduced costs.
Implementation Method 1
Different cleaning methods, such as ultrasonic cleaning, solvent cleaning, brush cleaning and rinsing with specialized solutions, are known
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for cleaning lenses, like eyeglass lenses. The machine comprises a handling unit for carrying and transferring a lens along a processing path, and at least one processing unit having a processing chamber for processing the lens carried by the handling unit at a processing position along the processing path, wherein the processing unit comprises a cleaning unit having a cleaning chamber as the processing chamber for cleaning the lens. The processing unit is movable along a movement path between: (i) a retracted position in which the lens carried by the handling unit is able to be transferred by the handling unit along the complete processing path outside and relative to the at least one processing unit, and (ii) a receiving position in which the lens carried by the handling unit at the processing position is received in the processing chamber to allow the lens be processed.