Liquid Adhesive Structural Elements for Spectacle Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching structural elements to spectacle lenses are complex, prone to errors, and lack adaptability to different frame geometries, leading to stress issues, particularly with plastic lenses, and have durability concerns under environmental influences.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of a liquid material that hardens via chemical reaction or electromagnetic waves to form structural elements with customizable geometry, acting as both the element and adhesive, allowing for precise and flexible attachment to spectacle lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a circumferential profile strand or profile band is used to replace the ground bevel, then the adaptation to frame shape is improved and stress transfer is reduced, but the handling and application complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the profile strand application and adhesive bonding into a single integrated adhesive strand. This eliminates the need to handle separate profile strips and adhesives, reducing machine complexity while maintaining the adaptive benefits of profile strands for different frame geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive strand serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the bonding agent and the profile element that adapts to frame geometry. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, simplifying handling while preserving adaptability to various frame shapes.
2Manufacturing precision
If CNC-controlled edging machines are used to adapt bevel course to frame groove, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the process time is greatly lengthened due to additional work steps
Solution Approach 1:
The desired profile shape is pre-formed in the adhesive strand before application to the lens. This eliminates the need for subsequent CNC-controlled bevel grinding and adaptation steps, maintaining precision while dramatically reducing process time and increasing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the time-consuming CNC bevel grinding step from the manufacturing process. By pre-forming the profile in the adhesive strand, the complex edge processing is removed, leaving only the simple application and curing steps.
3Ease of operation
If pressure-sensitive adhesives are used for profile strand attachment, then ease of application is improved, but long-term durability under environmental influences deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the adhesive state from permanently soft (pressure-sensitive) to initially liquid and then hardened through UV irradiation or chemical reaction. This parameter change enables both easy application in liquid form and long-term durability in hardened form, resistant to environmental influences like sunlight and perspiration.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive undergoes a phase transition from liquid to solid through UV curing or chemical hardening. This phase change allows the adhesive to be easily applied in liquid form while achieving permanent, durable bonding in solid form that withstands environmental conditions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a material present in liquid phase is applied and then hardened, then manufacturing flexibility and adaptability are improved, but the process complexity increases due to additional hardening steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the adhesive application and hardening curing into a single integrated process step. The liquid adhesive is applied with the desired profile shape and immediately cured by UV irradiation or chemical reaction, eliminating the need for separate application and curing steps and reducing overall process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The desired structural element geometry is pre-defined by the nozzle configuration before material application. This allows complex geometries to be created without complex tooling or multiple process steps, as the shape is determined during the single application-curing operation.
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 method simplifies the attachment process, enhances durability, and allows for precise adaptation to various frame geometries, reducing stress and improving long-term resilience while enabling quick switching between different frame types and designs.
Implementation Method 1
a material present in the liquid phase is applied to the edge surface and/or the front surface and/or the rear surface, which material bonds to the glass and is hardened by chemical reaction or by exposure to electromagnetic waves
Implementation Method 2
a material present in the liquid phase is applied to the edge surface and/or the front surface and/or the rear surface, which material bonds to the glass and is hardened by chemical reaction or by exposure to electromagnetic waves, in particular UV light
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a spectacle lens (3) which comprises at least one structural element (SE) on the outer edge (4) and/or the front or rear surface thereof, wherein the at least one structural element (SE) is formed by a material which is applied in liquid form on the edge (3) and/or the front/rear surface of the spectacle lens (4), is connected in a bonded manner to the lens and is hardened chemically or by radiation. The invention further relates to a method for the production thereof.