EP4244018A2

EP4244018A2 - System for processing ophthalmic lenses

Info

Publication number: EP4244018A2
Application number: EP21830945.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Helwig Buchenauer; Gunter Schneider
Original assignee: Schneider GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Schneider GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-11-10
Filing date: 2021-11-09
Publication date: 2023-09-20
Also published as: CN116438037A; DE102020006895A1; WO2022101214A3; WO2022101214A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for processing ophthalmic lenses, the system comprising: a plurality of processing devices for independently processing the ophthalmic lenses; a conveying device which interconnects the processing devices and is intended for transporting the ophthalmic lenses or the lens carriers to and from the processing device (3), the conveying device (4) comprising at least two transport tracks (T1, T2), a first transport track (T1) being used to convey the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers from one processing device to the next, and a second transport track (T2) being used to convey, in parallel, the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers; and transfer devices for transporting the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers from one transport track (T1, T2) to the other transversely to the conveying direction (F1, F2) as required, for temporary reception/intermediate storage as required, and for onward transportation of the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers as required. According to the invention: the conveying device comprises at least one continuous conveyor belt; at least one drive system is provided for the at least one conveyor belt; each processing device is immediately adjacent to the first transport track (T1); and each transfer device is in the form of a pushing device which pushes the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers transversely to the conveying direction (F1, F2) from one transport track (T1, T2) to the other.

Description

Plant for processing ophthalmic lenses

The present invention relates to a system for processing ophthalmic lenses according to the preamble of claim 1.

The processing of ophthalmic lenses, in particular spectacle lenses, takes place in several separate processing devices. The processing can in particular include shaping, preferably machining, polishing, testing or measuring, marking, cleaning and/or coating.

To link the processing devices, conveyor systems with belt and belt conveyors are used for serial processing, which transport the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers loaded with ophthalmic lenses from one processing device to the other.

EP 2 822 883 B1 discloses a system for the independent processing of optical lenses, in particular for spectacles, in a number of separate processing devices. Each processing device is assigned its own conveying device for conveying the lenses or lens carriers to and from the processing devices. A transfer system with a first transport track TI for transporting the lenses or lens carriers from one processing device to the next and a second parallel transport track TZ for parallel transport of lenses or lens carriers is used to promote the lenses or lens carriers. Furthermore, the transfer system has transfer devices arranged between the processing devices for receiving and temporarily storing them as well as for further conveying the lenses or lens carriers to the conveyor device of a processing device or to the second transport track T2 as required. The first transport track TI consists of the transfer devices and the conveyor devices assigned to the processing devices, which can each be controlled and driven independently. In the system of the generic type known from EP 2 822 883 B1, the first transport track TI is composed of the transfer devices and the conveyor devices assigned to the processing devices, each of which has its own drive system and two conveyor belts each. In addition, the second transport track of the generic system is assigned to a separate conveyor with two conveyor belts.

Furthermore, the transfer devices of the generic system known from EP 2 822 883 B1 are composed of several separately driven sections.

The conveyor system of the generic installation thus has a very complex structure with a number of partial conveyor belts, a number of sections of the transfer devices and, as a result, numerous drives or drive systems.

The object of the present invention is to further simplify a generic system for processing ophthalmic lenses.

The above object is achieved by a system according to claim 1.

The system according to the proposal has several separate processing devices for the independent processing of ophthalmic lenses, in particular lenses for spectacles. The processing devices are positioned on a continuous conveyor. The conveyor device serves to feed the ophthalmic lenses, in particular on lens carriers, to and from the individual processing devices.

The continuous conveying device preferably has two transport tracks, in particular so that independent parallel processing of the ophthalmic lenses in the separate processing devices is possible. The first transport track serves in particular to transport the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers from one processing device to the next and the second transport track for parallel conveyance, in particular as an overtaking lane, on which the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers that should not or cannot be fed to a processing device , to be transported further. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the conveyor device has at least one continuous conveyor belt and at least one drive system.

The system according to the proposal has a significantly simplified structure compared to the prior art, since the conveying device is now continuous with respect to the conveying direction and is not composed of separate sub-units. According to a first aspect of the present invention, only one continuous conveyor device is provided for both transport lanes, particularly preferably with only one continuous conveyor belt. As a result, in particular significantly fewer drive systems, particularly preferably only one drive system, are required to operate the conveyor device. This allows a much lower control and assembly effort.

An essential aspect of the present invention that can also be implemented independently is that each processing device is immediately adjacent to the first transport track TI, i.e. the first transport track TI preferably runs directly past the processing devices and not, as described in EP 2 822 883 B1 , through the processing facilities.

The expression "immediately adjacent" is therefore primarily to be understood in the context of the present invention that the first transport track TI runs directly past the processing devices and not through the processing devices.

The processing devices are preferably positioned directly or directly, in particular essentially without any spacing or gaps, on the first transport track TI. This enables simpler maintenance work and less complex assembly or expansion of the system with additional processing devices, since these now only have to be pushed directly to the conveyor device or transport track TI and connected. Preferably, therefore, the term “immediately adjacent” is also to be understood as meaning that the processing devices and the transport track TI or the conveyor device directly adjoin one another, in particular at least essentially without any spacing or gaps.

Optionally, however, the processing devices can also be spaced apart from the conveyor device, in particular from the first transport track TI. The distance is preferably limited by the range of the respective handling device for loading and unloading the processing devices.

In principle, all known lens carriers are suitable for the proposed system. The most common lens carriers have, in a manner known per se, two receiving positions for receiving up to two ophthalmic lenses, as is customary in the manufacture of lenses or spectacles. The mounting positions of the lens carriers are used to pre-position the ophthalmic lenses in such a way that the loading of the processing devices can be carried out particularly reliably. The ophthalmic lenses can also be removed individually from the lens carriers.

The distance between the receiving places for the ophthalmic lenses within a lens carrier is preferably exactly the same as the distance between a receiving place in a lens carrier and the neighboring receiving place in a directly neighboring lens carrier. This simplifies the handling or positioning of the ophthalmic lenses, in particular in the holding area of the processing devices for loading and unloading the processing devices with ophthalmic lenses.

Transfer devices are required to transport the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers from one transport track to the other. According to a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention that can also be implemented independently, each transfer device is designed as a pushing device that pushes the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers, in particular transversely to the conveying direction, from one transport track to the other.

The conveyance of the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers by means of the shifting device from one transport track to the other preferably takes place transversely to the conveying direction, particularly preferably along the shortest path, i.e. at an approximately right angle relative to the conveying direction. However, transverse conveying can also take place at other angles in relation to the conveying direction. In particular, diagonal conveying can take place with respect to the conveying direction, preferably both along and counter to the conveying direction. The lens carriers are conveyed transversely by the sliding devices in particular in such a way that the lens carriers are conveyed from one transport track to the other in a particularly reliable manner and as quickly as possible.

This configuration of the transfer device as a sliding device is conducive to a significantly simplified and more cost-effective design due to the omission of the transfer devices composed of several subunits and drive systems known from EP 2822883 B1. In particular, a transverse conveyance while the conveyor belt is running or a transverse conveyance without a lift are made possible. In other words, easier and faster transfer is possible.

Conveyor belts are preferably provided with a particularly smooth surface, in particular without shoulders and unevenness, particularly preferably link belts with a smooth surface. One advantage of the conveyor belts in the form of continuous link belts is that the lens carriers, unlike in EP 2 822 883 B1, do not have to move precisely on a transport track, but that lens carriers of different dimensions can be conveyed with the proposed system. For example, it is possible to convey lens carriers of different widths on a conveyor belt, provided that the lens carrier is not wider than the respective transport track. After ophthalmic lenses have been processed on a processing device, the ophthalmic lenses can be transported to their receiving places of the respective lens carrier on the first transport track to the shifting device downstream of the respective processing device. If the ophthalmic lenses are not to be processed at the closest processing facility but at a more distant one, the lens carrier with the processed ophthalmic lenses is pushed by means of the sliding facility from the first to the second transport track transversely to the conveying direction, so that the next one in the conveying direction can be overtaken Processing device is enabled on the second transport track. The ophthalmic lenses to be processed or the lens carrier that are now on the second transport track can, as soon as they reach a shifting device that is located in front of the processing device on which the next processing is to take place, can be moved by means of the shifting device from the second transport track to the first transverse to the Conveying direction are pushed.

In the event that it is necessary or desirable to stop the lens carriers, e.g. when there are a large number of lens carriers, in the stopping area in front of the processing devices or in front of a pushing device, in particular to avoid a collision with lens carriers, stopping devices are provided on the transport tracks, in particular such that the conveyor can continue to be operated continuously.

Advantageous developments are the subject of the subclaims.

According to a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention that can also be implemented independently, each sliding device has a fork that can be moved, in particular, transversely to the conveyor device. This is used in particular to take the lens carriers from one transport track to another as required. The fork is preferably designed in such a way, or the opening of the fork is preferably oriented opposite to the conveying direction, that the lens carriers can pass through or under the fork while the conveyor belt is running, especially since the lens carriers are not between the holding arms of the fork be clamped (see below). The fork of the sliding device ensures that only one continuous conveying device and no separate sub-units of a transfer device for transverse conveying are required.

Another aspect of the present invention that can also be implemented independently is that the sliding device has a height-adjustable fork. An advantage of this further embodiment is that the lens wearers can leave the sliding device more quickly by quickly raising the fork while the conveyor belt is running. This serves in particular to prevent a build-up of lens wearers or to achieve a higher throughput.

If lens carriers accumulate, in particular in front of a sliding device, i.e. either in front of a fork occupied by a lens carrier or on the opposite transport track onto which the lens carrier is to be pushed by means of the fork, stop devices are provided to stop the lens carriers. These are preferably positioned on the conveyor device in such a way that the following lens carriers do not accumulate behind another lens carrier or collide with it when the conveyor belt is running, or that the waiting position to which a lens carrier is to be pushed using the fork of the pushing device is not occupied. before the cross promotion has taken place through the pushing device.

Particularly preferably, the sliding device has a linear drive for the transverse transport of the fork, which in particular pushes the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers from one transport track to the other. Compared to the system known from EP 2 822 883 B1, whose transfer devices are composed of several sub-units, each with its own drive or motor, this leads to a significantly lower control and assembly effort.

The fork of the sliding device can preferably be moved in both directions transversely to the conveying direction. This allows a much lower material and assembly costs, since only a single-drive pushing device, which pushes the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers from one transport track to the other, is necessary instead of transfer devices consisting of a plurality of separately driven sub-units.

The pushing devices are particularly preferably arranged on the conveyor device, preferably between two processing devices or before and/or after each processing device. This has the advantage that the arrangement of the shifting devices is independent of the location or the position of the processing devices.

Alternatively or additionally, the sliding devices can also be attached directly to the processing devices, in particular on the side of each processing device that can be reached first for the lens wearer with regard to the conveying direction. This means that when the system is modified, for example by adding additional processing devices, no further sliding devices have to be attached to the conveyor device, but instead these can be pushed directly onto the conveyor device with the processing devices.

It is also conceivable to arrange several, preferably two, sliding devices directly one behind the other on the conveyor device or also on the processing devices. This primarily serves the purpose of achieving a higher throughput and a process that is as smooth and delay-free as possible. If, for example, a first lens carrier is to be pushed from the second transport track onto the first while the conveyor belts are running, so that the corresponding ophthalmic lenses of the first lens carrier can be processed at a subsequent processing device with regard to the conveying direction, while a second lens carrier is on the first transport track is located in the area in front of the shifting devices in relation to the conveying direction, which must first be pushed onto the second transport track so that the area on the first transport track in front of the processing device for the first lens carrier to be processed is free, so can the second lens carrier can be pushed from the first transport track onto the second transport track by means of a first pushing device, while a subsequent pushing device in relation to the conveying direction can push the first lens carrier to be processed from the first transport track to the second.

It is of course also conceivable that two lens carriers conveyed one behind the other on a transport track each enter the fork of the two sliding devices arranged one behind the other and are pushed parallel onto the other transport track.

If there are fewer lens carriers, the lens carriers can also be pushed separately from one transport track to the other, depending on the desired position of the lens carriers on the conveying device, either via the first or second sliding device in relation to the conveying direction.

A possible embodiment of the proposed system provides that the conveyor has a conveyor belt with two transport tracks and a common drive system. This is associated with low assembly costs and a particularly simple transverse conveyance, since the two transport tracks run on a common conveyor belt and the fork of the shifting device thus only has to be displaced transversely to the conveying direction on a running conveyor belt.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the conveyor device has two separate conveyor belts, each in the form of a transport track and preferably a common drive system. A distance is preferably provided between the two separate conveyor belts, which forms an intermediate space. Various measuring devices, such as stop devices and sensors, can be accommodated in this intermediate space, which, due to the inward displacement between the two conveyor belts, leads to a lower space requirement for the system. As a result, more space is available for the processing devices and for an operator. In addition, this ensures a more favorable connection of the processing devices to the conveyor device. However, it is also conceivable for the conveyor device to have two conveyor belts in the form of one transport track each, with either one drive system per conveyor belt or particularly preferably a common drive system, in particular with a planetary gear known per se, being provided. This configuration allows the conveyor belts or transport tracks to be operated independently, in particular at different speeds. This can be advantageous, for example, if several lens carriers are to be guided past several processing devices in the fast lane in order to avoid a build-up of lens carriers or to convey lens carriers loaded with ophthalmic lenses more quickly to a processing device that is further away and/or to achieve a higher throughput .

The particularly preferred embodiment of the proposed system with two spaced conveyor belts provides that each sliding device is assigned an intermediate plate arranged between the conveyor belts. This serves to bridge the distance between the conveyor belts in such a way that the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers can be conveyed transversely from one conveyor belt to the other in a particularly reliable manner.

The intermediate plate can also be used to temporarily store a lens carrier, i.e. as a waiting position, for example to achieve a higher throughput. If, for example, a first lens carrier is to be overtaken on a transport track so that a subsequent second lens carrier can reach the subsequent processing device first, e.g. if this is free at this point in time for processing the corresponding ophthalmic lenses of the second lens carrier, the first lens carrier can use the The fork of the sliding device can be pushed onto the intermediate plate and temporarily stored there so that the second lens wearer can overtake the first.

Expediently, the width of the intermediate plate preferably corresponds to at least the width of a lens carrier. Another aspect of the present invention that can also be implemented independently is that the width of the conveyor device or conveyor belts is determined by the width of the lens carrier.

The width of a transport track preferably corresponds to at least the width of a lens carrier. It follows from this that the width of the conveyor preferably corresponds to at least the number of transport tracks multiplied by the width of the lens carrier.

In the previously explained proposed embodiment with two transport tracks on a conveyor belt on a conveyor device, the width of the conveyor belt and the conveyor device is at least twice the width of the lens carrier.

In the particularly preferred embodiment of two conveyor belts or transport tracks spaced apart from one another on a conveyor device, the width of the conveyor device is at least twice the width of the lens carrier plus the width of the distance between the conveyor belts and the width of the respective conveyor belt corresponds at least to the width of the lens carrier.

In general, in the case of several, i.e. at least two, conveyor belts, the width of the conveyor device corresponds at least to the product of the number of conveyor belts and the width of the lens carrier, in particular plus the respective distance between the conveyor belts.

The system according to the proposal preferably has guide webs, in particular on the edge side of the conveyor belts, in particular for guiding the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers, parallel to the conveying direction. This allows the lens carriers to be guided at least essentially in a straight line along the transport tracks on the conveyor belts and prevents the lens carriers from running at an angle or being able to fall off the system. In the area of the sliding devices, in the case of at least two spaced conveyor belts, recesses in the guide webs are preferably provided, in particular corresponding to the dimensions of the lens carriers. This configuration allows for a simple, rapid transverse conveyance without lifting or lifting the lens carrier from one conveyor belt to the other. The guiding of the lens carriers parallel to the conveying direction through or into the fork is taken over in particular by the side elements of the fork.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the proposed system is designed in such a way that ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers can be circulated in a circuit. This makes it possible for the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers to approach the processing devices repeatedly or in any order, and for the processing sequence, the utilization of the processing devices and the processing sequences to be varied or optimized. In this way, a build-up on lens carriers, in particular in front of or on processing devices, can be prevented.

A possible configuration of the circulation provides that the conveying device of the proposed plant is or can be expanded or combined to form a plant system. This allows in particular a circulation or a circulatory promotion of the ophthalmic lenses or lens wearers. Such a plant system can consist of one or more conveyor belts, in particular ring-shaped or elliptical, with one or two transport tracks. In the case of several conveyor belts, these can be at a distance from one another and/or directly adjoin one another.

The conveying device of such a plant system is particularly preferably driven by a common drive system, but can also have several drive systems. The processing devices are preferably arranged on the long, at least essentially straight sections of the preferably elliptical plant system, but can also be arranged at any other location, such as, for example, inside or on the shorter sides of the plant system. According to another aspect of the present invention, several conveyor devices can also form a plant system.

A preferred embodiment of such a plant system of the proposed plant is a U-shaped or ring-like arrangement with two opposite conveyor devices, one conveyor belt with one or two transport tracks or two spaced-apart conveyor belts in the form of one transport track each being provided.

In a manner known per se, a plurality of processing devices are preferably arranged in a row along the opposite conveyor devices, which are preferably directly adjacent to the first transport track.

Connecting elements are preferably provided for the circulation of the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers, for example curved pieces or cross-connecting pieces, which connect the two conveyor devices located opposite one another, in particular around the corner or around the curve. The curve conveyance ensures that the orientation of the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers remains constant with respect to the respective conveying direction.

According to a particularly preferred aspect of the aforementioned embodiment of the proposed system, each of the two conveyor devices located opposite one another has two conveyor belts in the form of one transport track each, which are connected to one another via sliding devices. The second transport tracks of the conveyor devices are particularly preferably connected to one another via connecting elements, such as curved pieces or cross-connecting pieces, in order to ensure circular conveyance. The shifting devices have the function of transporting the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers from one transport track to another or of shifting all ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers that are to be transported from one transport device to the opposite transport track onto the second transport track. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the system according to the proposal has more than two transport tracks, particularly preferably a third transport track for parallel transport, in particular reclaiming, of ophthalmic lenses or lens wearers.

The first and second transport tracks preferably have conveying directions that are opposite to the third transport track.

A preferred embodiment of the proposed system provides that the first and second transport tracks run in one direction and a third transport track runs parallel thereto with the opposite transport direction. The third transport track serves to convey back the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers. A number of processing devices are therefore preferably arranged along the first transport track, while the third transport track is only used for reclaiming.

According to a particularly preferred aspect of the aforementioned embodiment of the present invention, only one common drive system is provided for all three transport tracks on a respective conveyor belt on a common conveyor device. The reversal of the conveying directions or the drive of the third transport track takes place, for example, in a manner known per se by means of an epicyclic gear.

Furthermore, for changing the transport tracks, sliding devices are preferably arranged transversely to the transport direction, in particular between the processing devices, which can push the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers over two or three transport tracks. The sliding devices running over three transport tracks allow a circulation or circular transport of the ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers on the three-track transport device. In particular, the conveyed ophthalmic lenses or lens carriers can be repeatedly conveyed to and from the processing devices. According to a particularly preferred aspect of the proposed embodiment, by means of the shifting devices preferably arranged between the processing devices, a reclaim can be initiated after each processing device, in particular via the third transport track and not only at the end of the conveyor device. This makes it possible to avoid accumulations of lens carriers and, in particular, a higher throughput, since the lens carriers can be circulated over shorter distances and do not have to be conveyed back over the entire route of the third transport track before they are pushed back onto the first transport track adjacent to the processing machines via a pushing device will.

The previously described three-track embodiment of the conveyor belt or the conveyor device can also be integrated into more complex processing systems, as are known from EP 2 822 883 B1.

According to a particularly preferred aspect of such a proposed system, the three-lane conveyor can be connected to at least one other, preferably opposite, conveyor. The connection can be made, for example, via the connecting elements mentioned above. Conceivable here are connections on both sides of the conveyor devices to form a ring or also U-shaped arrangements in which one side of the conveyor belts remains open by omitting the connecting elements and the space between the two conveyor devices, which preferably run parallel, remains accessible to an operator.

The two conveyor devices or rows of processing devices in this installation system are preferably spaced apart in such a way that the intermediate space forms an access possibility for an operator. In the case of a U-shaped arrangement, this is particularly easy for an operator to reach. In the case of a ring-like arrangement, the connecting elements are designed in such a way that they can be loosened or opened or folded away as needed to make the intermediate space accessible. Alternatively or additionally, these can also be raised or lowered and/or, for example, via vertical conveyors or downhill sections, so that preferably free access to the intermediate space is ensured.

Alternatively or additionally, the intermediate space can be used in a manner known per se for operating material containers of the processing devices, such as containers for chips, polishing agents or coolants. However, the containers can also be arranged below the conveyor belts. As a result, the gap can be used for other purposes or reduced if necessary, and the entire plant system can thus be kept narrower in order to save space.

In a further embodiment of the proposed system, the processing devices are not arranged outside of the ring-like or U-shaped system, but rather in the space between the two conveyor devices and preferably in relation to one another in such a way that the space is kept as narrow as possible, but an operator can easily and can quickly reach any processing facility. In addition to a considerable saving in space due to the elimination of the processing devices projecting outwards, another advantage of this alternative embodiment is that the operator has a shorter route from one processing device to another.

The three-track conveyor device is particularly preferably combined with a two-track conveyor device with two transport tracks running in the same direction, in particular a first and a second transport track. In this embodiment, several processing devices are arranged along the conveyor devices, in particular along the first transport tracks, preferably in a row. The three-track conveyor device with the returning third transport track preferably serves as an express line with the task of ensuring a high throughput.

According to a further aspect of the proposed system, the third transport track and the above-mentioned connecting elements can also be combined if necessary. For example, an embodiment is conceivable in which the second transport track is connected to the third transport track running parallel and in the opposite direction with respect to the second transport track around the curve or corner by connecting elements known per se.

A further aspect of the present invention that can also be implemented independently consists in a simplification or optimization of the automation of the entire conveyor system of the proposed installation compared to the generic installation known from EP 2 822 883 B1.

In the system known from EP 2 822 883 B1, the conveyor devices associated with the first transport track and assigned to the processing devices are each controlled separately by the machine controller and do not form part of the transfer controller, i.e. the conveyor system is not controlled centrally by one controller, but by several controllers, viz a central and a machine control.

In the proposed system with all the above-mentioned embodiments, on the other hand, a particularly central controller is provided, which controls the entire conveyor system, i.e. the conveyor device including conveyor belts or transport tracks, pushing devices and stopping devices, in the holding area in front of the respective processing devices. In order to continue to allow independent processing, the processing devices are detached or controlled independently of the central control, i.e. controlled by their own machine control. Of course, it is also possible for the stopping devices to be controlled by the machine control as well.

This shifting of the automation to a central control enables assembly, conversion and maintenance work on the proposed system to be significantly less complex, in particular since the processing devices with their own machine controls are only connected to the centrally controlled conveyor device and to no additional processing processing facilities associated separate conveyors must be connected. As a result, an expansion of the proposed plant to include further processing devices or to form a plant system is made significantly easier.

Individual aspects and features of the present invention mentioned above and below can be combined with one another as desired, but can also be implemented independently of one another.

Further aspects, features, advantages and properties of the present invention result from the claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment based on the figures. It shows in a schematic representation, not true to scale:

1 shows a schematic section of a proposed system with a conveyor device, two processing devices and a pushing device arranged between them, in a plan view;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial representation of the conveying device of the proposed system according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the sliding device of the proposed system according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the sliding device according to FIG. 3;

5 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the sliding device;

FIG. 6 shows the sliding device according to FIG. 5 in a different perspective; FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a lens carrier in a plan view.

In the figures, the same reference symbols are used for the same components and parts, resulting in corresponding properties and advantages, even if a repeated description is omitted.

1 shows a schematic section of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a proposed system 1 for processing, in particular ophthalmic, lenses 2.

The ophthalmic lens 2 is preferably a spectacle lens, ie a lens for spectacles. However, it can optionally also be another lens, such as a contact lens.

The ophthalmic lens 2 is preferably made of plastic, but can also be made of glass or another material if desired.

The system 1 according to the proposal preferably has a plurality of separate processing devices 3 for the independent processing of the ophthalmic lenses 2 in particular.

As is known from EP 2822 883 B1, the system 1 can have several separate processing devices 3, such as for blocking, for shaping, in particular machining, for polishing, for testing or measuring, for marking and for cleaning and coating ophthalmic lenses 2 have.

As is also known from EP 2 822 883 B1, not only different, but also several similar processing devices 3 can be integrated into the system 1 for the same processing.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the proposed system 1 has a conveyor device 4 for transporting the ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carrier 5, in particular from one processing device 3 to the other. The conveyor device 4 has the task to feed the ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 to the respective processing device 3, to convey them from one processing device 3 to another processing device 3 after processing has taken place and/or to convey them away from a processing device 3.

As is known from EP 2 822 883 B1, ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carriers 5 can be conveyed onto the conveying device 4, for example by a receiving station (not shown). The lenses 2 or lens carriers 5 can be transported away from the conveyor device 4 by means of a delivery station (not shown).

The conveyor device 4 has at least one continuous conveyor belt 6, preferably two continuous conveyor belts 6, 6', as indicated in FIGS.

Furthermore, the conveyor device 4 preferably has two transport tracks TI, T2, in particular with the conveyor belts 6, 6' each being formed by at least one transport track TI, T2.

In the illustrated example, the conveyor belts 6, 6' correspond to the respective transport lane TI, T2 (FIGS. 1 and 2). In particular, the conveyor belts 6, 6' form the respective transport tracks T1 and T2.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), at least one conveyor belt 6, 6' has several, in particular two, transport tracks TI, T2.

The conveying direction of the conveyor belts 6, 6' is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by an arrow F1 or F2. The conveying direction of the transport tracks TI, T2 is therefore preferably based on the conveying direction of the conveyor belts 6, 6'.

Preferably, the second conveyor belt 6′ in the illustrated embodiment of the proposed system 1 and thus the transport track T2 conveys in the same direction as the first conveyor belt 6 or the first transport track TI. However, other constructive solutions are also possible here.

The first transport track TI is preferably directly adjacent to the processing devices 3 . In particular, the first transport track TI serves to convey the lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 from one processing device 3 to the next or connects the processing devices 3 to one another.

According to the above definition of the expression "immediately adjacent", the processing devices 3 and the transport track TI or the conveyor device 4 preferably border one another directly, in particular at least essentially without any spacing or gaps.

The processing devices 3 can therefore be positioned in particular directly on the conveyor device 4 or on the transport track T1.

Therefore, a particular advantage of the proposed system 1 is that the system 1 can be expanded very easily to include additional processing devices 3 as required, since these only have to be pushed up to the conveyor device 4 or the transport track TI.

The second, at least substantially parallel, transport track T2 is used for parallel conveyance or further transport of the respective ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 Processing device 3 are not to be supplied, are further transported.

A distance is preferably provided between the, in particular separate, conveyor belts 6, 6' such that an intermediate space is formed between the conveyor belts 6, 6'. This has the advantage that various components, in particular measuring devices such as stopping devices 31 and/or sensors 32, can be accommodated. 1 shows several stopping devices 31 in the form of isolations. These serve in particular to stop a lens carrier 5 when the conveyor belts 6, 6' are running. The lens carriers 5 are stopped in particular in order to position the lens carriers 5 individually at the corresponding points on the conveyor device 4 - such as, for example, on the transport track TI in the area of the processing devices 3, in particular for loading and unloading the processing devices 3 with ophthalmic lenses 2 , and on both transport tracks TI and T2 in front of a shifting device 10. The stopping devices 31 are preferably located in front of the respective shifting devices 10 with respect to the conveying direction Fl, F2, preferably at a distance from the shifting device 10 or from one another, in particular by at least one length of the Lens carrier 5. Stop devices 31 are also provided in the holding area of the processing devices 3, which are spaced apart from one another in particular in such a way that the loading and unloading of the lens carrier 5, in particular with ophthalmic lenses 2, can be carried out particularly reliably.

The proposed system 1 preferably has sensors 32, such as light sensors, in particular for detecting the presence and position of lenses 2 or lens carriers 5, and/or barcode readers, in particular for identifying ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carriers 5 .

In the example shown, the conveyor belts 6, 6', which in particular each form a transport lane TI, T2, are driven by a common drive system 7 (Fig. 2), preferably in such a way that the two conveyor belts 6, 6' or the transport lanes TI, T2 , in particular at the same speed, in the same direction. In a particularly preferred embodiment, this is achieved by a drive shaft connecting the two conveyor belts 6, 6' to one another in a manner known per se.

Another variant of the conveyor 4 of the proposed system 1 provides that the two conveyor belts 6, 6 'of the conveyor 4 by two separate drive systems 7, 7' or preferably by a common drive system 7 with planetary gear are driven. This allows in particular variations in the circulating speed of the conveyor belts 6, 6' or the transport lanes T1, T2. For example, it is conceivable to select the speed of the conveyor belt 6′ and thus the transport track T2 higher than that of the conveyor belt 6 or the transport track TI in order to avoid a build-up of lens carriers 5 when there is a high volume of lens carriers 5 or to achieve a higher throughput to allow. Opposite conveying directions F1 and F2 are also conceivable in such an embodiment.

In a further embodiment, the conveyor device 4 of the proposed system 1 can also (only) have a conveyor belt 6, which is divided into two separate areas, i.e. two transport lanes TI and T2, and a drive system 7.

The conveyor device 4 of the proposed system 1 preferably has guide webs 8 arranged in particular on the edge side of the conveyor belts 6, 6'. Each conveyor belt 6, 6' is particularly preferably delimited by two guide webs 8 each.

The guide webs 8 enable the lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 to be guided, in particular at least essentially in a straight line, along the transport tracks TI, T2, in particular parallel to the transport directions F1 and F2.

As can also be seen from FIG. 1, the system 1 according to the proposal has sliding devices 10 which are preferably arranged between the processing devices 3 . In a particularly preferred manner, shifting devices 10 are arranged between all of the respective adjacent processing devices 3 . However, embodiments are also possible in which sliding devices 10 are arranged not between all but only some processing devices 3 . Optionally, the sliding devices 10 can also be assigned to a processing device 3, in particular directly or indirectly adjoining a processing device. In the illustrated example, the processing devices 3 are preferably arranged one behind the other with respect to the conveying direction F1, F2, in particular in a row, particularly preferably on a common side of the conveyor device 4 or a conveyor belt 6, 6'.

The sliding devices 10 preferably serve to transport the lenses 2 or lens carriers 5 from one transport track TI, T2 to the other and/or from one conveyor belt 6, 6′ to the other, in particular transversely to the conveying direction F1, F2.

The transverse conveyance can take place in both directions RI, R2 transversely to the conveying direction F1, F2. In the example shown, the transverse conveyance can be in the direction RI from the first transport track TI or the first conveyor belt 6 to the second transport track T2 or the second conveyor belt 6' and vice versa in the direction R2 from the second transport track T2 or the second conveyor belt 6' to the first transport track TI or the first conveyor belt 6 take place.

For the sake of simplicity, the directions RI, R2 in FIG. 1 are shown perpendicular or at a right angle relative to the conveying direction F1, F2. However, as already mentioned above, the transverse conveyance can also take place at any other angles, in particular diagonally, in relation to the conveying direction F1, F2.

Furthermore, the sliding devices 10 are designed to receive and temporarily store the ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 as required.

The proposed system 1 preferably has an intermediate plate 9, in particular in the area of the sliding devices 10 between the conveyor belts 6, 6'. The intermediate plate 9 serves in particular to bridge the distance between the conveyor belts 6, 6', in particular when the ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 are transported transversely by means of the sliding device 10 from one conveyor belt 6, 6' to the other.

Furthermore, in the area of sliding devices 10, in particular in the area of intermediate plate 9, recesses or openings in guide webs 8 are preferably provided (see FIG 1, 3, 5 and 6) in order to enable, in particular, a transverse conveyance of the lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 without a stroke.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the intermediate plate 9 is particularly preferably higher than the conveyor belts 6, 6' itself and/or has bevels 9a, 9b on the edges facing the conveyor belts 6, 6'. These serve in particular to move the lens carrier 5 up onto the intermediate plate 9, preferably without the lens carrier 5 having to be lifted. The higher level of the intermediate plate 9 in relation to the conveyor belts 6, 6' in turn serves the purpose, in particular, that the lens carrier 5 does not hit the edge of the respective conveyor belt 6, 6' gets stuck.

The transport or the transverse transport of the ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 by the sliding devices 10 can take place on the one hand from one conveyor belt 6, 6' to the other, in particular independently of the number of transport lanes on a conveyor belt. The transverse displacement can take place both between two spaced conveyor belts 6, 6', which are connected to one another in particular by an intermediate plate 9, and between two conveyor belts 6, 6', which directly adjoin one another or are not spaced apart from one another.

Alternatively, the ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carriers 5 can also be conveyed transversely by the shifting devices 10 between a plurality of transport tracks T1, T2 on a common conveyor belt 6, 6'.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the sliding device 10 preferably has a fork 11, in particular with two side elements 11a, 11b. In the example shown, the side elements 11a, 11b are connected to a holding surface 12, preferably in one piece. In the example shown, the sliding device 10 preferably has a vertical stopper cylinder 13, which is in particular embedded in the holding surface 12. The stopper cylinder 13 is particularly preferably designed as a pneumatic cylinder.

The stopper cylinder 13 is preferably provided for stopping the lens carrier 5, in particular when the conveyor belt 6, 6' is running. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4, the stopper cylinder 13 in the example shown has an extendable piston 13a. If the piston 13a is extended vertically downwards towards the conveyor belts 6, 6', the lens carrier 5 is stopped by the piston 13a or comes to rest against this when the conveyor belts 6, 6' are running. If the piston 13a is in the retracted state, the lens carrier 5 can continue to run on the conveyor device 4 or the conveyor belts 6, 6'.

It can also be seen from FIG. 3 that the holding surface 12 of the fork 11 or the fork 11 is connected, in particular via a mounting bracket 14, to a driver 15, preferably in the form of a carriage.

The driver 15 serves in particular to take along the fork 11 and thus to convey the lens carrier 5 transversely from one transport track TI, T2 to the other.

The driver 15 is preferably arranged to be linearly movable, in particular on a transfer cylinder 17.

The transfer cylinder 17 is preferably designed as a linear drive, in particular as a pneumatic cylinder.

The transfer cylinder 17 is mounted on a carrier 18 in the example shown. A guide or rail 19, which is preferably designed as a linear guide, is preferably fastened or fitted on one longitudinal side, in particular on the underside 18a, of the carrier 18. The fork 11 can preferably be moved or positioned along the guide or rail 19, in particular linearly, in particular via a carriage 16 guided in a displaceable manner.

In the example shown, the transverse conveyance of the fork 11 takes place in particular via the linear drive of the transfer cylinder 17. The in particular linear displacement or movement of the fork 11 or the carriage 16 along the guide or rail 19 enables a particularly reliable or targeted transverse conveyance of the fork 11 or the lens carrier 5. The transverse conveyance is particularly stable due to the two linear guide components, i.e. the transfer cylinder 17 on the one hand and the guide or rail 19 on the other.

According to a further aspect of the present invention that can also be implemented independently, the following method can be carried out with the sliding device 10 in combination with the conveyor device 4 of the proposed system 1:

As soon as a lens carrier 5 moves into the fork 11, the lens carrier 5 is stopped by the piston 13a of the stopper cylinder 13 being lowered. To transport the lens carrier 5 transversely from one transport track TI, T2 to the other or from one conveyor belt 6, 6' to the other, the fork 11 is moved by means of the transfer cylinder 17 and in particular the supporting linear guide along the guide or rail 19 via the intermediate plate 9 from a transport track T1 , T2 to the other or from one conveyor belt 6, 6' to the other, with the lens carrier 5 being entrained between the side elements 11a, 11b of the fork 11. If the lens carrier 5 is to be conveyed further on a transport track TI, T2 in the conveying direction Fl, F2, the piston 13a of the stopper cylinder 13 moves up in such a way that the lens carrier 5 can pass through the fork 11 on the running conveyor belt 6, 6'. This is made possible in particular by the fact that no lateral clamping forces from the side elements 11a, 11b act on the lens carrier 5. Optionally, the lens carrier 5 can also pass the fork 11 directly while the conveyor belt 6, 6' is running, ie without the lens carrier 5 being transported transversely from one transport track T1, T2 to the other. This is provided, for example, if a lens carrier 5 conveyed on the second transport track T2 is not to be processed at the closest processing device 3 in relation to the conveying direction F1, F2, but only at a subsequent processing device 3.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show a further embodiment of a sliding device 20 of the proposed system 1.

The sliding device 20 preferably has a fork 21, in particular with two side elements 21a, 21b. In the example shown, the side elements 21a, 21b are connected to an (upper) holding surface 24, preferably in one piece. In the example shown, the sliding device 20 has a vertical lifting cylinder 23, preferably a pneumatic cylinder, which is in particular embedded in the (upper) holding surface 24 and whose lower end is preferably fastened to the lower holding surface 22.

According to a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention that can also be implemented independently, the fork 21 of the sliding device 20 can be adjusted in height, in particular along the arrow H.

Preferably, the height of the lifting cylinder 23 can be adjusted or displaced, in particular by means of a piston 23a, in particular along the arrow H. By the vertical displacement of the lifting cylinder 23 along the arrow H, the fork 21, in particular via the upper holding surface 24, shifted in height.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fork 21 is in the raised state. In this state, the lens carrier 5 can pass under the fork 21 while the conveyor belt 6, 6' is running. As can be seen in Fig. 6, a stop element, in particular a substantially vertical holding arm 25, is used to hold the lens carrier 5 on the, in particular circulating, conveyor belts 6, 6'.

If the lifting cylinder 23 is not raised on the lower holding surface 22, the lens carrier 5 is stopped by the holding arm 25 when the conveyor belts 6, 6' are running, while the lens carrier 5 continues to run with the conveyor device 4 or the conveyor belts 6, 6' can when the lifting cylinder 23 connected to the fork 21 via the upper holding surface 24 is raised along the piston 23a.

In the case of the sliding device 20, the transverse conveyance of the ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 takes place in an identical manner to that in the case of the sliding device 10 (see above).

A particular advantage of the sliding device 20 and in particular of the preferably height-adjustable fork 21 of the sliding device 20 is that the lens carrier 5 can leave the sliding device 20 more quickly by quickly raising the fork 21 or can be carried along with the conveyor belt 6, 6'. As a result, a jamming of lens carriers 5 can be prevented or a higher throughput can be achieved. For the transverse conveyance of the ophthalmic lenses 2 or lens carrier 5 from one transport track TI, T2 to the other, the fork 21 with the lens carrier 5 always remains on the conveyor belt 6, 6' or the intermediate plate 9.

The fork 11, 21 of the sliding device 10, 20 is preferably wider than the lens carrier 5, in particular to ensure that the lens carrier 5 can be retracted into or through the lens carrier 5 through the fork 11, 21 with essentially no resistance. The width of the fork 11, 21 is expediently selected in particular in such a way that the lens carrier 5 can be moved particularly reliably, in particular with little play, from one transport track TI, T2 to the other or from one transport track TI, T2 to the other or from one Conveyor belt 6, 6 'can be pushed to the other. 7 shows, in a schematic top view, a preferred embodiment of a lens carrier 5 for receiving at least one, in particular two, ophthalmic lenses 2 in the example shown.

Preferably, two ophthalmic lenses 2 to be processed or a pair of lenses are held by a lens carrier 5, as is customary in the manufacture of lenses or spectacles.

The lens carrier 5 preferably has two receiving positions 41, in particular for receiving ophthalmic lenses 2. The receiving places are designed in particular in such a way that slipping of the ophthalmic lenses 2, in particular when the lens carrier 5 is being conveyed and/or stopped, can be avoided. In particular, this allows the ophthalmic lenses 2 to remain particularly stable in their spatial position on the lens carrier 5 and therefore the loading and unloading, particularly in the holding area of the processing devices 3, can be carried out particularly reliably.

Preferably, the distance between the ophthalmic lenses 2 or the mounting positions 41 within a lens carrier 5 in the example shown is at least essentially the same as the distance between an ophthalmic lens 2 or a mounting position 41 in a lens carrier 5 and the adjacent ophthalmic lens 2 or to the adjacent receiving space 41 in an immediately adjacent lens carrier 5. This simplifies the handling and positioning of the ophthalmic lenses 2, in particular on the transport lane T1 on the processing devices 3 for loading and unloading the processing devices 3 with ophthalmic lenses 2.

The distance a between the centers of the receiving positions 41 of the lens carrier 5 is approximately 130 mm in the exemplary embodiment shown, with an error tolerance of 10 mm. The length I of the lens carrier 5 is preferably twice the distance a, ie approximately 260 mm with an error tolerance of 10 mm. The width b of the lens carrier 5 is preferably approximately 220 mm with an error tolerance of 10 mm. Another aspect of the present invention that can also be implemented independently is that the width of the conveyor device 4 or the conveyor belts 6, 6' is preferably determined by the width of the lens carrier 5, in particular by the number of transport tracks.

The width of a transport track T1, T2 preferably corresponds to at least the width b of a lens carrier 5.

Furthermore, the width of the conveyor belts 6, 6' preferably corresponds to the number of transport tracks per conveyor belt. In other words, the width of a conveyor belt preferably corresponds to at least the number of transport tracks multiplied by the width b of the lens carrier 5.

In the exemplary embodiment, the width of the conveyor belts 6, 6' is at least the width b of a lens carrier 5, i.e. at least approximately 220 mm, taking into account the error tolerance.

The width of the conveyor device 4 preferably corresponds at least to the number of transport tracks multiplied by the width b of the lens carrier 5.

In the case of several, i.e. at least two, conveyor belts 6, 6', the width of the conveyor device 4 preferably corresponds at least to the number of conveyor belts 6, 6' multiplied by the width b of the lens carrier 5, i.e. preferably at least the multiple of approx. 220 mm below Consideration of fault tolerance.

In the case of mutually spaced conveyor belts 6, 6', the width of the conveyor device 4 preferably corresponds to at least the number of transport lanes T1, T2 multiplied by the width b of the lens carrier 5, in particular plus the distance between the conveyor belts 6, 6'. According to the proposal, the width of the conveyor device 4 is preferably at least twice the width b of the lens carrier 5, i.e. at least approx. 440 mm in the illustrated embodiment, taking into account the error tolerance, in particular plus the distance between the conveyor belts 6, 6'.

In the case of the embodiment with two transport tracks TI, T2 on a common conveyor belt 6, the width of the conveyor belt 6 corresponds to the width of the conveyor device 4 and is preferably at least twice the width of the lens carrier 5.

In addition to the exemplary embodiment of the lens carrier 5 mentioned, narrower variants of the lens carrier 5 are also conceivable, which are generally known to the person skilled in the art. These can, for example, have a length l of between 245 and 265 mm, in particular approx. 250 mm, a width b of between 120 and 130 mm, in particular approx approx. 130 mm. Other dimensions are of course also conceivable.

Furthermore, embodiments known per se, in particular stackable, such as, for example, double trays, of the lens carrier 5 can also be used. In the case of lens carriers 5 stacked on top of one another, it is advisable to take their height into account. This is possible, for example, by raising or lowering the conveyor device 4 or the processing devices 3 by the respective height of the additional lens carrier 5.

Reference List

Attachment 21 height-adjustable fork ophthalmic lens 21a, 21b side elements of the fork 21 processing device 22 holding surface conveyor 23 lifting cylinder lens carrier 24 upper holding surface of the, 6' conveyor belt fork 21, 7' drive system 25 holding arm

guide rails

Intermediate plate 31 stop devicea, 9b edge bevels 32 sensor of the intermediate plate 9 0 sliding device 41 receiving place 1 fork 42 profile 1a, 11b side elements of the fork 11 2 holding surface Fl conveying direction along TI3 stopper cylinder F2 conveying direction along T23a piston of 13 H arrow H 4 fastening brackets RI, R2 directions transverse to the conveying direction 6 carriage TI first transport track 7 transfer cylinder T2 second transport track 8 carrier a distance between the receiving locations 8a underside of the carrier 18 41 of the lens carrier 59 rail b width of the lens carrier 50 sliding device with I length of the lens carrier 5 height-adjustable fork 21

Claims

34

System (1) for processing ophthalmic lenses (2), in particular for spectacles, with a plurality of, in particular separate, processing devices (3) for the independent processing of the ophthalmic lenses (2), with a conveyor device (4) connecting the processing devices (3) to one another for transporting the ophthalmic lenses (2) or lens carriers (5) to and from the processing device (3), the conveyor device (4) having at least two transport tracks (TI, T2), a first transport track (TI) for conveying the ophthalmic lenses (2) or lens carriers (5) from one processing device (3) to the next and a second, in particular parallel, transport track (T2) for the parallel conveyance of the ophthalmic lenses (2) or lens carriers (5); with transfer devices for transporting the ophthalmic lenses (2) or lens carriers (5) from one transport track (TI, T2) to the other transversely to the conveying direction (Fl, F2), if necessary, for temporarily receiving/intermediate storage and for transporting the ophthalmic lenses (2 ) or lens carrier (5), characterized in that the conveyor device (4) has at least one continuous conveyor belt (6), that at least one drive system (7) is provided for the at least one conveyor belt (6), that each processing device (3) is immediately adjacent to the first transport track (TI), that each transfer device is designed as a shifting device (10, 20) which moves the ophthalmic lenses (2) or lens carrier (5) transversely to the transport direction (Fl, F2) from a transport track (TI, T2) to the other pushes. 35 Plant (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding device (10,

20) has a fork (11, 21) which can be moved transversely to the conveying device (4) or transversely to the conveying direction (F1, F2). System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding device (10, 20) has a linear drive for transversely conveying the fork (11,

21). System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fork (11, 21) of the pushing device (10, 20) can be moved in both directions (RI, R2) transversely to the conveying direction (Fl, F2). Installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pushing device (10, 20) is arranged on the conveyor device (4) and/or on a processing device (3). Installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor device (4) has a conveyor belt (6) with two transport tracks (TI, T2) and a common drive system (7). Plant (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the conveyor device (4) has two separate conveyor belts (6, 6'), which each form the transport tracks (TI, T2). Installation (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the conveyor device (4) has a common drive system (7) for driving the separate conveyor belts (6, 6'). Installation (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the conveyor device (4) has a drive system (7, 7') for each conveyor belt (6, 6'). Plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that each pushing device (10, 20) is assigned an intermediate plate (9) arranged between the conveyor belts (6, 6'). System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that guide bars (8), in particular for guiding the ophthalmic lenses (2) or lens carriers (5) parallel to the conveying direction (Fl, F2), on the edge of the conveyor belts (6, 6 ') are provided. System (1) according to Claim 11, characterized in that recesses in the guide webs (8) are provided in the area of the sliding devices (10, 20) and/or in the area of the intermediate plate (9).