Optical Mold Centering via Trunk and Holding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional molds for optical lenses experience accelerated wear and breakage due to repeated closing and opening, leading to reduced accuracy and shortened lifespan, as they require pulling out of the upper or lower mold from cylindrical rolling objects, causing collisions and deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A mold design featuring a trunk mold that centers the first and second molds coaxially, with a supporting means to keep them aligned and a holding mechanism that prevents separation, allowing the mold to be opened without pulling out the upper mold from the rolling objects, thus reducing wear and enabling repeated use without damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the conventional mold structure with cylindrical rolling objects is used to center the upper and lower molds, then the centering accuracy is improved, but the mold experiences accelerated wear and breakage due to repeated collisions when opening and closing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the mold system into three separate components: the upper mold, the lower mold, and the trunk mold. This segmentation allows each component to have independent functions, with the trunk mold serving as a dedicated centering structure that remains stationary while the upper and lower molds move independently, eliminating the collision problem while maintaining centering accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The trunk mold acts as an intermediary structure between the upper and lower molds. It provides a stable reference frame for centering without being directly involved in the opening/closing motion. The supporting means (rolling objects) now only support the trunk mold and first mold, while the second mold is held by the holding means, preventing direct collision between molds
2Ease of operation
If the upper mold is pulled out from the cylindrical rolling objects to open the mold, then the molded optical component can be taken out, but the repeated pulling out causes hard collisions and deterioration of the mold
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pulling the upper mold out from the rolling objects to open the mold, the invention inverts the approach: the holding means actively holds the second mold to the trunk mold, and the opening operation involves releasing this holding mechanism rather than extracting the mold from supporting objects. This eliminates the harmful pulling-out motion while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a replicated structure where the trunk mold mirrors the centering function of the original cylindrical rolling objects setup, but with the added feature of a holding mechanism. This allows the system to maintain the beneficial centering function while eliminating the harmful collision effect through the holding means that prevents separation
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 design improves centering accuracy, reduces mold deterioration, and extends the lifespan of the mold by allowing it to be repeatedly closed and opened without the need for pulling out the upper mold, facilitating mass production of optical components.
Implementation Method 1
a supporting means which supports the first mold and the trunk mold in such a way that the first mold and the trunk mold move against each other
Implementation Method 2
a holding means which holds the first mold, the trunk mold, and the supporting means in such a way that the first mold, the trunk mold, and the supporting means are not separated from one other
Data Source
AI summary
A method of molding an optical component which includes providing a first mold and a second mold which mold the optical component, a cylindrical body whose rotational symmetry axis is identical with a second symmetry axis about which a second mold is rotationally symmetric, a trunk mold whose rotational symmetry axis is identical with a first symmetry axis about which a first mold is rotationally symmetric, a supporting means which supports the first mold in such a way that the first mold moves relatively to the trunk mold in parallel with the first symmetry axis, and a second tapered surface and a first tapered surface which contacts the second tapered surface, which connect the cylindrical body with the trunk mold in such a way that the second symmetry axis is identical with the first symmetry axis.