Optical Lens Machining Sealing via Segmented Bellows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for processing plastic spectacle lenses face challenges in encapsulating the working area effectively, leading to unsatisfactory sealing, wear, and reduced accuracy due to the use of large and expensive wet protection enclosures, which are prone to friction and wear, especially when processing 'high index' materials that produce unpleasant vapors.
Innovation Solution
A compact machine design featuring a linear drive unit and pivoting drive unit, where the linear axis is perpendicular to the pivoting axis and parallel to the workpiece axis of rotation, allowing for easier sealing and reduced friction, with a swivel drive unit that can be encapsulated using rotary feedthroughs and low-wear sealing arrangements, and a modular structure for flexible configuration and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large wet protection enclosure is used to encapsulate the working area, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The working area is divided into separate sealed zones (machining zone and polishing zone) that can be independently enclosed. Each zone has its own sealing arrangement, allowing targeted encapsulation without requiring a single large enclosure for the entire machine
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible sealing arrangements including bellows and curtain seals that can accommodate the movement of workpieces and tools while maintaining sealing effectiveness. These thin film-like sealing elements replace rigid large enclosures
2Reliability
If a combined slider and roller blind cover is used to close the opening in the wet-proof housing, then sealing is achieved, but wear and friction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical slider and roller blind cover system with a bellows sealing arrangement that accommodates linear movement without sliding friction. The bellows expands and contracts to seal the opening while the workpiece spindle moves, eliminating wear and maintaining positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows acts as a flexible sealing element that can deform to accommodate movement while maintaining the seal. This flexible membrane-like structure replaces the rigid mechanical cover system
3Adaptability or versatility
If the workpiece spindle moves along a long X-axis, then machining flexibility is improved, but sealing difficulty and friction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The long X-axis travel is segmented into different zones with separate sealing arrangements. Each machining zone has its own localized sealing, allowing the spindle to move through multiple sealed sections rather than requiring a single long seal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs bellows and curtain seals that flexibly accommodate the long travel distance of the workpiece spindle. These flexible sealing elements can expand and contract or deflect to seal openings throughout the extended X-axis range
Data Source
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AI summary
The machine (10) i.e. CNC controlled, has a work piece spindle (12) rotationally driving the work piece about a work piece rotation axis, and a processing unit that comprises a tool to retain the work piece on the work piece spindle for machining. An adjusting mechanism (26) is provided for causing a relative movement between the work piece spindle and the tool, for enabling loading, unloading or processing of the work piece. A swivel drive unit (28) can rotate the work piece spindle about a swivel axis and a linear drive unit (30) that moves the work piece spindle along a linear axis.