Eyeglass Lens Shaft Alignment Positioning to Avoid Hole Overlap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shaft alignment apparatuses for eyeglass lenses often result in defects due to interference between the lens holding shaft and the hole forming device, particularly when the shaft alignment position is at the geometric center, leading to inappropriate hole formation due to overlapping with processing inappropriate regions.

Innovation Solution

A shaft alignment apparatus that sets the shaft alignment position based on acquired hole arrangement information and processing inappropriate region data, ensuring the position is not at the geometric center if the inappropriate region overlaps with the hole, thereby preventing interference and ensuring accurate hole formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the shaft alignment position is set at the geometric center of the target lens shape, then the lens holding shaft is positioned at the center for stable processing, but the processing inappropriate region overlaps with the hole formation position causing defects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaft alignment stabilityVSAvoidhole formation precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by deliberately positioning the shaft alignment position off-center relative to the geometric center of the target lens shape. The controller calculates a shaft alignment position that intentionally creates asymmetric positioning to ensure the processing inappropriate region does not overlap with the hole formation position, thereby resolving the contradiction between central stability and hole formation precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positional parameter of the shaft alignment position from the conventional geometric center to a calculated optimal position. The controller computes the shaft alignment position based on lens shape information and processing inappropriate region data, dynamically adjusting the position parameters to avoid overlap with the hole formation position while maintaining processing stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the shaft alignment position is shifted from the geometric center to avoid the processing inappropriate region, then hole formation precision is improved, but the shaft alignment position becomes asymmetric requiring complex calculation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehole formation precisionVSAvoidposition calculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically calculating the optimal shaft alignment position through the controller. The controller acquires lens shape information and processing inappropriate region data, then autonomously computes the appropriate shaft alignment position without requiring manual intervention or complex external calculations, simplifying the overall system operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by calculating and determining the optimal shaft alignment position before the actual hole formation process begins. The controller pre-computes the shaft alignment position based on the lens shape and processing constraints, ensuring that the position is optimized in advance to prevent overlap with the hole formation position, thereby simplifying the subsequent processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3165341B1Shaft alignment apparatus and shaft alignment position setting method
Publication Date: 2019.07.10 NIDEK CO LTD
  • EP3165341B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3165341B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3165341B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shaft alignment apparatus sets a shaft alignment position (45), which is a mounting position with respect to an eyeglass lens (LE), of a lens holding shaft that holds the eyeglass lens (LE) interposed therein during the processing of the eyeglass lens (LE). A controller of the shaft alignment apparatus sets a shaft alignment position (45), other than at a geometric center (GC)of a target lens shape (60) to be processed, at which a processing inappropriate region (50) in the vicinity of the shaft alignment position (45) and the position of a hole (43) to be formed do not overlap each other, in at least a portion of cases where the shaft alignment position (45) is set with respect to the eyeglass lens (LE) having a hole formed through a lens surface thereof.