Device, tool and method for machining of an optical lens

• US 9,089,944 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Schneider GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Schneider, Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, GEORGE BINH MINH
• Application Number:
  US13/885,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20130273815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 451/5, 451/6, 451 8- 10, 451/21, 451/58, 451/66, 451/69, 451/70, 451/362, 451/277, 483 8- 9, 483/5, 483/1, 483/33, 409/194, 409/187
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/0909 Detection of broken tools
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15546 Devices for recognizing tools in a storage device, e.g. coding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 13/0037 the lenses being worked by different tools, e.g. for rough-grinding, fine-grinding, polishing
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 13/0055 Positioning of lenses; Marking of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 13/06 grinding of lenses, the tool or work being controlled by information-carrying means, e.g. patterns, punched tapes, magnetic tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 13/147 comprising assemblies of felted or spongy material; comprising pads surrounded by a flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/021 with pattern for identification or with cosmetic or therapeutic effects methods and processes take preference, e.g. printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; surface treatment of glass C03C15/00 - C03C23/00; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/134 Identifying information on tool or tool holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/174 Abrading wheel

Abstract

A device, a tool, and a method for machining, especially polishing, of an optical lens by means of a tool are proposed, an information medium on one working surface of the tool being optically acquired and removed as the lens is machined and thus the state of the tool being indicated.

Claims

1. A device for machining of an optical component, comprising:

at least one of a machining apparatus and a polishing apparatus for machining of the optical component,

at least one tool for the machining of the optical component, and

an acquisition apparatus for identification of said at least one tool,

an information medium on a working surface of the at least one tool and having identification information relating to the at least one tool and an indication of the state of the tool, the information medium being removable for displaying of the state of the tool,

wherein the acquisition apparatus being adapted for identification of the tool and also for acquisition of the state of the tool from the information medium,

wherein said at least one tool is a plurality of tools,

wherein a magazine is provide for the plurality of tools, and

wherein the acquisition apparatus is adapted for identification of the tools and the respective location of each in the magazine for enabling each tool to be replaced at the same location in the magazine after use for machining of the component.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one tool comprises a polishing tool.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the information medium is located on a polishing surface of the tool.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information medium is imprinted onto a working surface.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information medium comprises a bar code.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acquisition apparatus is an optical device for optical identification of at the tool from the information medium.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acquisition apparatus is assigned to a holding apparatus for the at least one tool.

8. A device for machining of an optical component, comprising:

at least one of a machining apparatus and a polishing apparatus for machining of the optical component,

at least one tool for the machining of the optical component, and

an acquisition apparatus for identification of said at least one tool,

wherein said at least one tool is a plurality of tools and wherein a magazine is provide for the plurality of tools, wherein the acquisition apparatus is adapted for identification of the tools and the respective location of each in the magazine for enabling each tool to be replaced at the same location in the magazine after use for machining of the component.

9. A method for machining of an optical component by means of at least one tool, comprising the steps of:

using an information medium on a working surface of the tool for identification of the tool, and

removing the information medium when the optical component is being machined for displaying the state of the tool,

wherein said at least one tool comprises a plurality of tools kept ready in a magazine for alternate use in machining, and

wherein said method comprises the step of identifying the tools and the respective location of each in the magazine, and replacing each tool at the same location in the magazine after use for machining of the component.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the information medium is optically acquired.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the information medium comprises a bar code and the acquisition device comprises a bar code reader which is used to read the bar code.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a polishing tool is used as the tool.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the information medium is located on a polishing surface of the polishing tool.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the information medium is imprinted on the tool.

15. A method for machining of an optical component by means of at least one tool, wherein a plurality of tools is kept ready in a magazine for alternate use in machining, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

identifying the tools and the respective location of each in the magazine, and

replacing each tool at the same location in the magazine after use for machining of the component.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a new tool added to the magazine is initially identified along with its location in the magazine using an information medium, and the information later used for returning the tool to the same position in the magazine after use.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said method comprises the step of reading out an information medium on a working surface of the tool for acquiring the state of the tool after its use.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the state of the tool or the working surface is acquired from the readability or nonreadability of the information medium.

19. A device for machining of an optical component, comprising:

at least one of a machining apparatus and a polishing apparatus for machining of the optical component,

at least one tool for the machining of the optical component, and

an acquisition apparatus for identification of said at least one tool,

an information medium on a working surface of the at least one tool and having identification information relating to the at least one tool and an indication of the state of the tool, the information medium being removable for displaying of the state of the tool,

wherein said at least one tool is a plurality of tools,

wherein a magazine is provided for the plurality of tools,

wherein the acquisition apparatus is adapted for identification of the tools and also for acquisition of the state of the tools from the information medium, said acquisition apparatus being assigned to the magazine or located on it or in it.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the acquisition apparatus is moveable relative to the magazine such that the tools located at different storage sites or their information media can be acquired or read out.

21. A device for machining of an optical component, comprising:

at least one of a machining apparatus and a polishing apparatus for machining of the optical component,

at least one tool for the machining of the optical component, and

an acquisition apparatus for identification of said at least one tool,

an information medium on a working surface of the at least one tool and having identification information relating to the at least one tool and an indication of the state of the tool, the information medium being removable for displaying of the state of the tool,

wherein the acquisition apparatus is adapted for identification of the tool, for acquisition of the state of the tool from the information medium and for detecting possible cracks, chips, or other irregularities or damage of the tool or of the working surface.

22. A method for machining of an optical component by means of at least one tool, comprising the steps of:

using an information medium on a working surface of the tool for identification of the tool, and

removing the information medium when the optical component is being machined for displaying the state of the tool,

wherein said at least one tool is a plurality of tools kept ready in a magazine for alternate use in machining, and

wherein monitoring or acquisition of the state of the tools takes place on the magazine.