Eyeglass Lens Edge Coating With Gravity-Aware Metering Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for coating the edges of spectacle lenses face challenges due to varying geometric shapes and orientations, leading to uneven coatings and potential collisions between the lens and dosing device, which are difficult to manage with high control effort or expensive machinery, and are affected by gravity when the coating surface is not horizontal.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining control data based on geometric data of the spectacle lens edge to maintain a predetermined relative position between the lens and dosing device within specific angular limits, allowing for adjustments during the coating process to ensure a stable and uniform coating, even when the lens is rotated, by aligning the dosing axis within a range of +/- 45° around the gravitational direction and using virtual geometries to manage the dosing axis and surface interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lens and dosing device are moved relative to each other to coat variable edge surfaces, then coating adaptability is improved, but maintaining constant relative position and orientation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the dosing device's position and orientation during the coating process. The control system continuously modifies the dosing device's spatial coordinates and angular orientation based on real-time lens edge geometry data, allowing the system to adapt to varying lens shapes while maintaining optimal coating conditions throughout the motion sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary determination of control data before the actual coating process. The system pre-calculates the required position and orientation of the dosing device for each point on the lens edge based on stored geometric data, creating a complete motion and orientation plan that ensures constant relative positioning is maintained throughout the coating operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If high control effort is used to maintain constant relative position, then coating quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual geometries and digital models of the lens edge to determine control data, replacing complex physical measurement and adjustment systems. The control system references pre-stored geometric data and virtual representations of the lens shape to calculate precise dosing device positions and orientations, significantly reducing the complexity of real-time control while maintaining high coating precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies the dosing device's position parameters (x, y, z coordinates) and orientation parameters (angular orientations) based on the lens edge geometry. By programmatically adjusting these parameters according to pre-calculated control data, the system achieves uniform coating quality without requiring overly complex mechanical control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the dosing axis is aligned with gravity direction, then gravitational effects on coating are reduced, but flexibility in positioning is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the dosing device's orientation during positioning. When the dosing axis deviates from the gravity direction due to lens geometry requirements, the system compensates by adjusting the dosing device's angular orientation to maintain proper alignment, thereby preserving both positioning flexibility and coating stability throughout the variable geometry coating process.
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
This approach enables an economically viable and high-quality coating process by maintaining a consistent relative position between the lens and dosing device, reducing the risk of collisions and ensuring uniform layer thickness, even when the lens is rotated, by iteratively adjusting the dosing axis and movement paths to maintain the desired angular range and prevent gravitational effects from disrupting the coating process.
Implementation Method 1
A needle dispensing device is understood to be a device in which a coating material is applied in a continuous flow from the hollow needle of the device onto the surface to be coated
Implementation Method 2
A jet dispensing device is understood to be a device in which the coating material is ejected drop by drop from the dispensing head towards the surface to be coated. The ejected droplet travels a distance between the dispensing head and the surface to be coated.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for coating eyeglass lenses, in particular for coating the edge of eyeglass lenses by means of a needle metering device or jet metering device, wherein the eyeglass lens and the metering device are moved relative to one another and at the same time a coating material is applied to the eyeglass lens, in particular to the edge thereof, from the metering device. The control data for controlling the movement of the eyeglass lens and/or of the metering device are determined before and/or during the application process on the basis of geometric data of the metering device and geometry data of the eyeglass lens surface to be coated, said geometry data of the eyeglass lens surface to be coated being measured or being drawn from a data store.