Eyeglass lens processing apparatus

• US 9,776,293 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidek Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nidek Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakako, Yuya, Shibata, Ryoji, Tanaka, Motoshi, Obayashi, Hirokatsu, Matsumoto, Toshiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Cadugan, Erica E
• Application Number:
  US13/788,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20130232774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 29 38 R, 29 38 B, 29 38 A, 29 28, 451256
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/488 followed perpendicularly by a single rotating pair
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/64 characterised by the purpose of the movement indexing equipment B23Q16/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/005 by blowing
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/10 Arrangements for cooling or lubricating tools or work incorporated in tools, see the relevant subclass for the tool , e.g. B23B27/10, B23B51/06, B23C5/28, B23D77/006; for circular saw blades B23D59/02, for cooling grinding surfaces B24B55/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/20 for indicating or measuring workpiece characteristics, e.g. contour, dimension, hardness
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 2039/006 Machines with multi-spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 39/027 consecutive working of toolheads
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 27/0069 with means for feeding the work-pieces to the grinding tool, e.g. turntables, transfer means see also B24B27/0023, B24B7/16
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 27/0076 grinding machines comprising two or more grinding tools
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 41/005 Feeding or manipulating devices specially adapted to grinding machines feeding, loading or unloading work specially adapted to lapping machines B24B37/345
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 9/146 Accessories, e.g. lens mounting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 9/148 electrically, e.g. numerically, controlled
• CPC Class Codes: B28D 1/143 lens-drilling machines
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40938 Tool management
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45157 Grind optical lens
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/511 Grinding attachment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5127 Blank turret
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5128 Rotary work - vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/52 : Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing a periphery of an eyeglass lens includes: a lens chuck shaft configured to chuck the eyeglass lens; a shaft angle changing portion configured to change a shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft; a first processing tool unit including at least one spindle at which a first processing tool is provided; a second processing tool unit that is disposed to oppose the first processing tool unit and that includes at least one spindle at which a second processing tool is provided; and a controller configured to change one of the first and second processing tool unit to be used for processing the eyeglass lens to the other of the first and second processing tool by controlling driving of the shaft angle changing portion to change the shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft.

Claims

1. An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing a periphery of an eyeglass lens, the eyeglass lens processing apparatus comprising:

a lens chuck shaft configured to chuck the eyeglass lens;

a first processing tool unit;

a second processing tool unit;

a shaft angle changing portion configured to change a shaft angle of an axis of the lens chuck shaft with respect to the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit;

the first processing tool unit including at least two spindles, the first processing tool unit including a first processing tool configured to process the periphery of the eyeglass lens, the periphery of the chucked eyeglass lens able to be provided at each of the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit, the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit are arranged side by side such that one of the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit is vertically higher than the other of the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit;

the second processing tool unit includes at least two spindles, the second processing tool unit including a second processing tool configured to process the periphery of the eyeglass lens, the periphery of the chucked eyeglass lens able to be provided at each of the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit, the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit are arranged side by side such that one of the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit is vertically higher than the other of the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit, wherein the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit are on opposite sides of a reference axis extending between the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit; and

a controller configured to change one of the first and second processing tool units to be used for processing the eyeglass lens to the other of the first and second processing tool units by controlling driving of the shaft angle changing portion to change the shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft;

wherein the controller performs a predetermined processing process by controlling the shaft angle changing portion to adjust the shaft angle of the axis of the lens chuck shaft with respect to the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit when processing the eyeglass lens;

the eyeglass lens processing apparatus further comprising a driver configured to linearly move both the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit along the reference axis relative to the shaft angle changing portion,

wherein the at least two spindles of at least one of the first and the second processing tool units includes at least three spindles which are linearly arranged such that a common vertical axis intersects each of the at least three spindles.

2. The eyeglass lens processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft angle changing unit includes a rotating base that supports the lens chuck shaft so as to change the shaft angle of the axis of the lens chuck shaft with respect to the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit, and rotates the rotating base around a central axis of the rotating base perpendicular to the axis of the lens chuck shaft.

3. The eyeglass lens processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit are symmetrical to the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit with respect to the reference axis.

4. The eyeglass lens processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit are opposed to the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit across the reference axis, and

an axis of at least one of the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit and an axis of at least one of the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit are tilted about the reference axis.

5. The eyeglass lens processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the spindle arranged at a lowest position among the at least two spindles of each of the first and second processing tool units is provided with a processing tool for roughing.

6. The eyeglass lens processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

each spindle arranged at a lowest position among the at least two spindles of the first and second processing tool units is provided with a processing tool configured to be used with water.

7. An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing a periphery of an eyeglass lens, the eyeglass lens processing apparatus comprising:

a lens chuck shaft configured to chuck the eyeglass lens;

a first processing tool unit;

a second processing tool unit;

a shaft angle changing portion configured to change a shaft angle of an axis of the lens chuck shaft with respect to the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit;

the first processing tool unit including at least two spindles, the first processing tool unit including a first processing tool configured to process the periphery of the eyeglass lens, the periphery of the chucked eyeglass lens being able to be provided at each of the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit, the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit are arranged side by side such that one of the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit is vertically higher than the other of the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit;

the second processing tool unit includes at least two spindles, the second processing tool unit including a second processing tool configured to process the periphery of the eyeglass lens, the periphery of the chucked eyeglass lens being able to be provided at each of the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit, the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit are arranged side by side such that one of the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit is vertically higher than the other of the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit, wherein the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit are on opposite sides of a reference axis extending between the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit; and

a controller configured to change one of the first and second processing tool units to be used for processing the eyeglass lens to the other of the first and second processing tool units by controlling driving of the shaft angle changing portion to change the shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft;

wherein the controller performs a predetermined processing process by controlling the shaft angle changing portion to adjust the shaft angle of the axis of the lens chuck shaft with respect to the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit when processing the eyeglass lens;

the eyeglass lens processing apparatus further comprising a driver configured to linearly move both the first processing tool unit and the second processing tool unit along the reference axis relative to the shaft angle changing portion,

wherein the first processing tool is provided to one end of one of the at least two spindles of the first processing tool unit, wherein the second processing tool is provided to one end of one of the at least two spindles of the second processing tool unit,

wherein the spindle to which the first processing tool is provided rotates the first processing tool about a first rotational axis, and the spindle to which the second processing tool is provided rotates the second processing tool about a second rotational axis, and wherein the first and second rotational axes of the respective spindles for the first and the second processing tools are inwardly inclined relative to the reference axis such that the rotational axes intersect a vertical plane between the first and the second processing tools containing the reference axis, and

wherein the one end of the spindle to which the first processing tool is provided is the end of the respective spindle that is most proximate to the vertical plane, and wherein the one end of the spindle to which the second processing tool is provided is the end of the respective spindle that is most proximate to the vertical plane.