Lens Polishing Machine Tool Changer Sealed Bridge Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lens polishing machines face challenges in efficiently and quickly exchanging tools and workpieces, particularly due to the contamination risks associated with the polishing medium, which limits the accessibility and operation of tool changers within the working chamber.
Innovation Solution
The design positions the tool changer at least partially within the working chamber, allowing for manual operation and reducing the need for additional transport axes, while maintaining a sealed environment to prevent contamination. This design includes a pivot axis and stroke axis for the tool changer, enabling efficient movement and positioning of polishing discs within the chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tool changer is disposed outside the working chamber to prevent contamination, then the reliability of the tool changer is improved, but the ease of operation and speed of tool exchange deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A bridge structure with sealed passage serves as an intermediary between the working chamber and tool changer. This bridge allows the tool changer to remain outside the working chamber (maintaining reliability) while providing a sealed pathway for tool exchange (maintaining ease of operation). The bridge acts as a mediator that connects the isolated working chamber environment with the external tool changer location.
2Productivity
If the tool changer is moved into the working chamber for quick tool exchange, then the productivity is improved, but the risk of contamination to the tool changer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge structure with sealed passage acts as an intermediary that enables the tool changer to be positioned within or adjacent to the working chamber for quick tool exchange, while the sealed passage prevents polishing medium from contaminating the tool changer. This resolves the contradiction by providing both fast access and contamination protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed passage in the bridge structure uses sealing elements (flexible shells/films) to prevent contamination while allowing mechanical movement and tool exchange. These sealing elements create a barrier that maintains the isolated environment while permitting the tool changer to operate close to or within the working chamber space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional transport axes are added to move the tool changer, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge structure merges the functions of transport and positioning into a single integrated component. Instead of adding separate transport axes to move the tool changer, the bridge itself provides the positioning function with built-in sealed passages. This combines multiple functions (support, positioning, sealing, and tool exchange facilitation) into one structure, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A polishing machine for lenses with at least one first polishing spindle having a polishing axis (K) and a tool holder disposed on the first polishing spindle for a first polishing disc designed as a tool, further comprising at least one first workpiece spindle having a rotary axis (C) and a workpiece holder disposed on the first workpiece spindle for a lens, wherein the workpiece holder and the tool holder are disposed so as to be movable in translation in the direction of a telescoping axis (Z) disposed parallel to the polishing axis (K) and in the direction of a translation axis (X) disposed at right angles to the rotary axis (C). The polishing machine further has at least one first tool changer for changing the tool and a working chamber formed of at least one wall spatially limiting a spray of polishing medium during processing, wherein at least the workpiece holder and the tool holder are disposed within the working chamber, wherein the first tool changer is disposed at least partially within the working chamber during operation.