Elastic Lens Retainer Membrane With Local Vacuum-Liquid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retainer systems for processing spectacle lenses experience undesired elastic deformations and deflections during processing, leading to inaccuracies in complex surface geometries, particularly due to unsupported cavities and mechanical clamping, which detract from processing quality.
Innovation Solution
An elastic membrane with a perforation and a semi-permeable functional membrane is integrated into the retainer, allowing for controlled vacuum holding and preventing liquid ingress, while maintaining flexibility to adapt to the workpiece surface, thus reducing deformation risks and enhancing processing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical clamping is used to hold the workpiece, then the workpiece can be securely held during processing, but elastic deformations and deflections occur leading to inaccuracies in complex surface geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs vacuum suction through the elastic membrane to hold the workpiece in place, replacing mechanical clamping forces with distributed suction pressure. This pneumatic holding method secures the workpiece reliably while avoiding the concentrated mechanical stresses that cause elastic deformations and deflections, thereby maintaining surface geometry accuracy during processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible elastic membrane as the holding surface that can conform to the workpiece geometry. This flexible film provides uniform contact and distributed holding forces across the workpiece surface, preventing localized stress concentrations that would cause deformations, while still maintaining secure holding during machining operations
2Manufacturing precision
If the retainer structure is made rigid to prevent deformation, then processing accuracy improves, but the retainer loses flexibility to adapt to workpiece surface variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic membrane that inherently combines flexibility with precision. The membrane's elastic properties allow it to adapt to variations in workpiece surface geometry while maintaining sufficient rigidity under vacuum pressure to prevent unwanted deformations during processing, thus achieving both adaptability and manufacturing precision simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic membrane's ability to change its physical parameters (flexibility, contact pressure distribution) in response to workpiece geometry variations. By adjusting the vacuum pressure and utilizing the membrane's elastic deformation capabilities, the system adapts to different workpiece surfaces while maintaining processing accuracy through controlled physical state changes
3Reliability
If the perforation is left open for vacuum application, then vacuum holding is effective, but liquid cooling lubricant can ingress into the chamber causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different functional properties to different regions of the membrane system. The bulk membrane material provides gas permeability for vacuum holding, while a specifically positioned semi-permeable functional membrane at the perforation location provides liquid blocking. This local differentiation of material properties allows simultaneous achievement of effective vacuum holding and liquid protection
Solution Approach 2:
The semi-permeable functional membrane acts as an intermediary element between the open perforation and the chamber interior. It selectively permits gas molecules to pass through for vacuum application while blocking larger liquid molecules, thus mediating between the need for open vacuum access and the need to prevent liquid ingress damage to the chamber components
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 elastic membrane provides reliable and flexible support for spectacle lenses, minimizing deformations and ensuring high-quality processing by maintaining precise geometry and preventing liquid-induced damage, thereby improving the retainer's ability to hold and support workpieces without compromising processing accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a semi-permeable functional membrane which extends merely locally in a region directly adjoining the opening and which is permeable by gas, but opposes passage of liquid through the at least one opening
Implementation Method 2
an elastic membrane for a retainer for the processing of optical workpieces... having a retaining section, on the outer side of which the workpiece can be laid over an area
Implementation Method 3
by way of which a vacuum applied to the chamber of the retainer can be conducted to the outer side
Data Source
AI summary
An elastic membrane for a retainer for the processing of optical workpieces is constructed with a securing section for mounting on a housing of the retainer, so as to bound therein a chamber by a retaining section which is connected with the securing section. The retaining section has an outer side, on which a workpiece can be placed over an area by a workpiece surface, and an inner side, which is constructed to contact a support arrangement, for the workpiece. The retaining section has a perforation with at least one opening connecting the inner side and outer side and by way of which a vacuum applied to the chamber can be conducted to the outer side. Associated with the opening is a semi-permeable, functional membrane which extends merely locally in a region directly adjoining the opening.