FR2646931A1 - An apparatus for cleaning optical lenses - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is an apparatus for cleaning optical lenses 22. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a fragment of cloth mounted either on a disc or discs 3 which can move or on rotary cylinders 30.

Description

Both the optical test glasses used by the optometrist or ophthalmologist, as well as the raw optical glasses of the optician, often fogged up, dusty or dirty, before their use or assembly, require prior cleaning which makes it possible to return to the glass a perfect transparency essential.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises - two discs (3) of approximately 40 to 70 mm in bevelled diameter
in their upper parts, covered at a level
face and edge by
- a fabric (1) chamois, for example padded -. sponge (2) or equivalent - a foot (4) with base (10) about 14 mm high for
all. The foot (4) with a horizontal leg (11)
fixed to the foot (4) near the lower part of the disc (3)
prevents the glass (22) placed between the two discs from
go down more than you need.

- an arm (5) bent therefore in the shape of an L articulated by its
horizontal end with the foot (4) at the level of the third
lower of the latter (6) - a return spring (7) placed horizontally and joining
the arm and the foot halfway up the foot. Arm (5) and foot (4)
are therefore constantly brought together thanks to this return spring
(7). This method of reconciliation can be obtained by
replacement of the spring (7) thanks to two magnets (8) -fig. 3
or two counterweights (9) -fig. 4- or a fragment of matter
flexible and elastic (33).

One of the faces of the discs (3) is extended by a threaded rod (12) acting as a screw or bolt and allows the discs 13) to be fixed either to the arm (5) or to the foot (4), at their level. upper part, thanks to a simple nut or a wing nut (13).

Each disc (3) is lined with a fragment of round fabric (1), the periphery of which is wedged between the disc (3) and the foot (4) or the arm (5) thanks to the bolt (12) and the 'nut (13). So the fabric, in case of wear or become dirty, can be replaced easily by a spare fabric.

Between the usable internal face of the disc (3) and the fabric (1) is the sponge. The fabric-sponge-disc assembly "is located at the upper part of the foot (4) and of the arm (5). The functional tissue parts (1) of each disc (3) face one another. The existence of the sponge (2) protects and absorbs the glass & cleans and allows the fabric (1) to marry the surface of the glass (22) whatever the configuration of the latter (concave, convex, cylindrical or spherocylindrical).

To clean an optical glass (22), it suffices to manually immerse it between the two discs, several times.

Thus the surfaces of the glass rub on the fabric of the two discs and there follows an effective cleaning.

Two same devices can be used in FIG. 1, one of which the tissues (1) are soaked with products (alcohol, acetone for example for mineral glasses, solutions suitable for organic glasses) intended for a first cleaning step, the other device whose tissues are dry is intended to perfect the cleaning in order to give the glass a perfect transparency.

In one embodiment fig. 5, fig. 6, the cleaning disc has the shape of a pulley (3). The fabric (1), chamois for example, of circular shape is attached to the disc (3) by means of a circular elastic band (14) enclosing the fabric at the level of the groove of the pulley.

The part of the disc not lined with fabric is connected to the shaft (16) of a motor (17) by means of a shoulder secured to the disc by a screw (12). A tab (18) fixes the motor to the lower part of the housing (21). The parallelepipedic housing (21) contains the motor (17) and the batteries supplying the motor (17).

The front face of the housing (21) is pierced with an orifice providing passage to the slightly protruding cleaning disc towards the outside.

The lower half of this orifice has a prominent groove (19). At the lower part of the orifice and in the thickness of the groove, a push-button switch (20) is placed which makes it possible to put the motor (17) into service which rotates the cleaning disc (3).

To use this appliance, simply place the glass to be cleaned in the groove (19). The glass presses the switch and the motor starts to rotate, the glass is pressed against the disc for a few seconds, one of the faces in contact with the disc tissue is therefore cleaned. The same operation is repeated to clean the other face of the glass (22) by turning it over.

The device can have 2 motors (17) with one motor for each disc fig. 7 and fig. 8.

Fig. 7 shows the apparatus in operating position with the two discs which enclose the glass (22) to be cleaned.

Each motor is articulated by means of a lug (23), one end of which is fixed to the motor and the other form a hinge so that the motor can tilt to the right or to the left in a frontal plane.

 The driving gods (17) as well as the two discs move away thanks to the return spring -fig. 8- when the device is in the stopped, resting state. The bringing together of the two discs takes place when one introduces the glass (22) which presses downwards on the tab (32), the two ends of which are "truncated", - one wife follows the shape of the other. This is clearly visible in fig. 9 which is a bottom view of the two legs (32). This allows the glass once introduced to the bottom, to bring the two motors and therefore the two discs.

Under the lugs (32) is the push button switch (20) which allows the engine to be put into service thanks to &

complète du verre entre les deux disques jusqu'au fond. Le raprrochement des deux disques peut avoir lieu grâce à un système de patte aimantée {24) et d'électroaimant (25). La patte aimantée est attachée à la partie postérieure du moteur, l'électro-aimant au niveau du boitier (21).

full glass between the two discs to the bottom. The two discs can be brought together using a magnetic tab system (24) and an electromagnet (25). The magnetic tab is attached to the rear part of the motor, the electromagnet at the level of the housing (21).

The switch (20) ensures both the starting of the motors, and the operation of the electromagnets -fig. 10-.

One of the motors (17) can be fixed, attached to the frame (15), the other motor is attracted by the electromagnet (25) and the movement of the motor is done horizontally by translation thanks to a rod (26) -fig. 11-.

came, actionné par un moteur (17). Le rapprochement des deux disques a lieu grâce à l'appui de l'extrémité du verre sur une bande de cuir (33) liant les 2 tiges (26) près de la partie inférieure des disques (3) -fig. 12-.Another embodiment is envisaged by the design of a back-and-forth movement of the two discs by means of a rod and crank system (26, 281

cam, powered by a motor (17). The two discs are brought together by pressing the end of the glass on a strip of leather (33) connecting the 2 rods (26) near the lower part of the discs (3) -fig. 12-.

Finally, a last embodiment is the following -fig. 14
The fabric (1) in the form of a closed band, simulating a thin and wide belt from 40 to 70 mm, rotating driven by two drums (30) actuated by two motors (17), one motor for each drum. Four rods (31) of the same height as the drums and placed at the vertices of a quadrilateral so that the internal faces of the part of the strip of fabric (1), located between the two drums are brought together and allow on the one hand, the introduction of a glass (22) and on the other hand, the cleaning of the latter by rubbing the fabric on both sides of the verreg tt?
Furthermore, the movement transmission between the drum (30) and the motor (17) is done either directly by the motor shaft, or by means of pulleys and belts.

Finally, for decorative purposes, the case or the cover of the device, can take the form of an animal shell, or the appearance of an animal head, the shape of a vegetable or fruit or any other familiar object or element found in nature. The appearance of a cover in the form of two gloves will give the impression that two hands are cleaning the glass.

LEGEND
1. cloth (chamois for example)
2. sponge
3. disc
4. foot
5. bent arm
6.arm joint
7. return spring
8. magnet
9. counterweight 10. base II. plate (retainer) 12. screw or bolt 13. single nut or wing nut 14. circular elastic band 15. frame 16. motor shaft 17. motor 18. fixing lug 19. groove 20. push button switch 21. container case the batteries and the motor 22. raw optical glass or test glass 23. articulated tab 24. magnetic tab or tab with magnet 25. electromagnet 26. cylindrical or rectangular rod 27. guide 28. wheel 29. guide related to the frame 30. drum 31. rod guide 32. connecting tab 33. strip of elastic material
Various embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention are described below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which FIG. 1 is a front section of a first mode of
production.

fig. 2 is a front view of the internal part of the disc FIG. 3 is a front section of a first mode of
modified realization fig. 4 is a front section of a first mode of
modified realization fig. 5 is a front section of a second mode of
realization fig. 6 is an external view of a second embodiment
of the appliance fig. 7 is a front section of a third mode of
realization of the appliance in operation fig. 8 is a front section of a third mode of
making the device off fig. 9 is a bottom view of the leg of FIGS. 10- and 11 are a frontal cut of a third mode
modified embodiment fig. 12 is a front section of a fourth mode of
realization of the apparatus fig. 13 is a side view of the fourth mode of
realization of the apparatus fig. 14 is an elevational view of a fifth embodiment of
realization of the apparatus fig. 15 is an aerial view of the fifth mode of
realization of the device

Claims (16)

 1. Apparatus for cleaning optical glasses, characterized in that it comprises either one or two discs (3) which can be movable (s), or two drums (30) rotating on the (s) which (s) .is mounted a tissue fragment (1) for cleaning the optical glass (22).  2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the discs are covered with fabric (1) padded with sponge (2);  3. Apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the cleaning discs are fixed to the ends of the foot (4) and the arm (5) of the device.  4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning discs are each fixed to the arm (5) and the foot (4) by means of a threaded rod in the manner of a screw or a bolt (12) and a simple nut or wing nut (13) allowing the fabric (1) to be easily replaced when the latter has become dirty, with clean refill fabric.  5. Apparatus according to claims 1, 2 and 3 characterized in that the cleaning discs face one another and cooperate by their approximation to the friction of the two faces of the glass to be cleaned.  6. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discs are constantly brought together against each other by means of cited means namely is return spring (7), magnet (8), electromagnet (25 ), counterweight (9) or strip of flexible and elastic material (33).  7. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm (4) and the foot (5) are articulated between them (6).  8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a horizontal tab (il) fixed to the foot (4) prevents the glass from coming down lower than normal.  9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fabric (1) can be dry or soaked with cleaning substance.  10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning disc (3) has means for fixing the tissue to the disc (14).  11. Apparatus according to claims 1, 2, 6, 9 and 10 caractéirsé in that it can be provided with a single disc (3) driven by a single motor or bier of two discs each driven by its own motor (17 ).  12. Apparatus according to claims 1, 2, 6, 9 and io characterized in that the approximation of the two discs (3) is done manually by pressing with the glass on the legs (32) integral with the motor (17) while the deL disks (3) in the rest position are separated by the springs (7).  13. Apparatus according to claims 1, 2, 9, and 10 characterized in that the housing (21) containing the batteries and the motor (17) has a prominent groove re in a semicircle (19) with push button switch (20 ), located at the outer and lower part of the orifice of the housing providing passage to the cleaning disc, at the front part of the housing (21).  14. Apparatus according to claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10 characterized in that back and forth movements, thanks to a rod and crank system (26, 28) or cam actuated by a motor (17) are printed on the discs (3) to ensure the cleaning of the glass (22).  15. Apparatus according to claims 1 and 9 characterized in that a strip of fabric (1) running in the manner of a wide and flat belt, around two drums (30) distant from each other and rotating thanks to one or two motors allows the cleaning of the glass (22) to be cleaned.  16. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boot (21) or the device cover can take the form of a familiar object or element existing in nature.