METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING AN OPTICAL COUPLING ELEMENT MADE OF ELASTOMER

• US 20180001518A1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Published: 01/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PMA/Tools AG
• Original Assignee: PMA/Tools AG
• Inventors: Coenen, Dominik, Westerburg, Detlef
• Granted Patent: US 10,300,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/3846 cutting out discs or the like B26F1/384, B26F1/40 and B26F1/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/004 by means of a fluid jet methods for use of abrasive blasting for cutting B24C1/045; guns for abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet B26F1/26
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/16 by radiation by laser beam B23K26/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/009 Using laser curing using laser B29C2035/0838, welding using laser beams B29C65/16
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0009 Cutting out
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0054 partially cutting through the material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/40 Plastics, e.g. foam or rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/006 Monomers or prepolymers by reaction injection moulding B29C67/246
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/26 Moulds or cores
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 69/005 cutting-off or cutting-out a part of a strip-like or sheet-like material, transferring that part and fixing it to an article if labeling see B65C, in combination with box-making B31B50/81; labelling in general B65C
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/00 Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material

Abstract

A method for producing an optical coupling element made of elastomer includes filling a free-flowing elastomer formulation or its constituents into a mold so as to produce a flat sheet whose thickness is adapted to a thickness of the optical coupling element that is to be produced. The elastomer formulation or its constituents is cured to form an inherently stable elastomer. Individual optical coupling elements are cut out of the flat sheet.

Claims

1. A method for producing an optical coupling element made of elastomer, the method comprising:

filling a free-flowing elastomer formulation or its constituents into a mold so as to produce a flat sheet whose thickness is adapted to a thickness of the optical coupling element that is to be produced,

curing the elastomer formulation or its constituents to form an inherently stable elastomer, and

cutting individual optical coupling elements out of the flat sheet.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cutting step is carried out while the flat sheet is in the mold.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a bottom section of a bottom of the mold is cut out, whereby the bottom section forms a protective element that is detachable from the optical coupling element and that serves to protect the underside of the optical coupling element.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the bottom section and the optical coupling element have surface areas of identical sizes.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the bottom section extends beyond the optical coupling element by at least one handling section.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cutting step is carried out by stamping, water-jet cutting or laser-beam cutting.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a removable protective film is used as a protective element that is removable from the optical coupling element and that protects a top of the optical coupling element.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the protective element has a gripping section that used to facilitate removal of the protective element from the optical coupling element.

9. A device for producing an optical coupling element made of elastomer, the device comprising:

a mold that is fillable with a free-flowing elastomer formulation or with its constituents and is configured to produce a flat sheet whose thickness is adapted to a thickness of the optical coupling element that is to be produced, and

a cutting tool configured to cut individual coupling elements out of the flat sheet.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the mold is made of a plastic material.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the cutting tool is a stamping tool.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the stamping tool has first and second stamping elements that are arranged offset relative to each other as seen in a stamping direction and wherein the first stamping element is configured to at least partially cut the optical coupling element out of the flat sheet and the second stamping element is configured to cut through the flat sheet and to cut out a bottom section of a bottom of the mold.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein a stamping contour of the second stamping element extends beyond a stamping contour of the first stamping element.

14. The device according to claim 9, further comprising an orientation mechanism configured to orient the mold in a horizontal plane.

15. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a suction mechanism configured to affix the mold on a placement surface.