JP2005049625A - Conjugated nozzle and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve coaxiality of nozzle holes for a conjugated nozzle which is suitably used in the manufacture of a light transmitting material or the like having a refractive index distribution in the cross sectional radial direction. <P>SOLUTION: The conjugated nozzle 1 is composed of a plurality of singular nozzles 2-6 each having nozzle holes 2a-6a. A single layer nozzle 3 is provided with a fitting recess 3c for connecting to a single layer nozzle 2 and a fitting projection 3v for connecting to a single layer nozzle 4. The single layer nozzle 4 formed in the same shape as the single layer nozzle 3 is provided with a fitting recess 4c and a fitting projection 4v. The single layer nozzles 3, 4 are engaged with each other by fitting the projection 3c to the recess 4c, and are mutually positioned in a manner that the axes of the nozzle holes 2a, 3a are aligned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a composite nozzle used for manufacturing a plastic optical transmission body or the like having a refractive index distribution in a radial direction of a cross section.

  Conventionally, among plastic optical transmission bodies, rod lenses having a refractive index distribution in the cross-sectional radial direction are used for sensor parts such as copying machines, facsimiles, and scanners, writing devices for LED printers, and the like.

  The rod lens is a light transmission body having a circular cross section having a refractive index distribution in which the refractive index continuously decreases from the center to the outer periphery of the cross section. When light is incident from one end face, the light is sinusoidal. Propagating to the other end while drawing a curve, it is possible to accurately form an image on the image plane ahead, and high optical performance can be exhibited.

  In such an optical transmission body, a plurality of polymers and / or monomer solutions (hereinafter referred to as stock solutions) having different refractive indexes are respectively supplied to a plurality of single layer nozzles stacked in layers. It can be manufactured by laminating the stock solution coaxially and shaping (spinning) it into a yarn. The rod lens precursor ejected from the composite nozzle has a smooth refractive index distribution in the cross-sectional radial direction by interdiffusing components such as monomers of each layer into other adjacent layers. .

  As a composite nozzle for manufacturing such an optical transmission body, the present applicant forms a plurality of single-layer nozzles constituting the composite nozzle by dividing them from a single raw material block, and between each single-layer nozzle, a cylindrical shape is formed. Patent applications have been filed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-212558) having two or more annular stock solution storage portions on the surface of each single-layer nozzle (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-336682).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a composite nozzle composed of a plurality of single-layer nozzles, and schematically shows a state in which two single-layer nozzles are superposed. FIG. 6A is a plan view seen from the discharge port side of the composite nozzle, and FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the composite nozzle in the axial direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the single-layer nozzle 102 of the first layer disposed upstream of the stock solution discharge direction and the single-layer nozzle of the second layer disposed downstream of the single-layer nozzle 102 of the first layer. The layer nozzles are connected so that the axis lines of the nozzle holes 102a and 103a formed at the center portions thereof are the same. A fitting portion 103b of the knock pin 104 (the single layer nozzle 102 side is not shown) is formed on each of the opposing surfaces of the single layer nozzles 102 and 103, and the single layer nozzle 102, 104 is inserted by the knock pin 104 inserted into the fitting portion 103b. 103 are positioned and fixed.

  Although not shown, single-layer nozzles in the third and subsequent layers are connected in a substantially similar structure, and a composite nozzle 101 composed of a plurality of single-layer nozzles is formed. In the center of the composite nozzle 101, a nozzle hole 101a is formed in which nozzle holes of each single-layer nozzle are continuously formed in the axial direction.

  Using the composite nozzle 101 having such a structure, a stock solution for forming the central layer (first layer) of the rod lens precursor is discharged from the single-layer nozzle 102 of the first layer, and from the single-layer nozzle 103 of the second layer, The rod lens precursor can be discharged by discharging the stock solution of the second layer laminated on the outside of the center layer, and then sequentially discharging stock solutions having different refractive indexes from the single-layer nozzles.

  In such a composite nozzle, it is preferable that the axis lines of the nozzle holes of the single-layer nozzles are arranged on the same straight line as much as possible. That is, by increasing the coaxiality of each nozzle hole, it is possible to prevent deterioration of optical characteristics due to fluctuation or eccentricity of the radial composition distribution of the optical transmission body discharged from the composite nozzle. it can.

  However, in the composite nozzle as described above, the pin means is used to obtain the positional accuracy between the single-layer nozzles. Therefore, the component accuracy of the pin itself, the processing accuracy of the fitting portion of the pin, and further when the pin is fitted Due to the shape accuracy of the nozzles, misalignment may occur between the single-layer nozzles.

  Even if these deviations are small between adjacent single-layer nozzles (for example, about several μm), when assembled as a composite nozzle, the deviations accumulate and become a size that cannot be ignored (for example, about several tens of μm). This may result in a loss of coaxiality of the nozzle hole. For example, even if the nozzle hole axis of each single-layer nozzle is designed to be the same, the nozzle hole axis may actually deviate from the designed axis by several tens of micrometers or more. . This problem is likely to manifest as the number of single layer nozzles increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a composite nozzle that is preferably used for manufacturing an optical transmission body having a refractive index distribution in the radial direction, and that has a high coaxiality of its nozzle holes.

  In order to achieve the above object, the composite nozzle of the present invention is configured such that a plurality of single-layer nozzles are connected so as to have the same axis line of each nozzle hole, and the stock solutions respectively supplied from the plurality of single-layer nozzles are coaxially laminated. The connecting portion between the single-layer nozzles is a fitting convex portion formed integrally with one single-layer nozzle and a fitting concave portion formed integrally with the other single-layer nozzle. And are fitted.

  According to the present invention, adjacent single-layer nozzles are connected to each other by fitting a fitting convex portion formed integrally with one single-layer nozzle and a fitting concave portion formed integrally with the other single-layer nozzle. It is made by. Since the fitting convex part or fitting concave part is formed integrally with the single layer nozzle, the positioning of the single layer nozzles does not need to depend only on positioning means such as pins, and the processing accuracy and assembly accuracy of those parts This prevents the position accuracy between the single layer nozzles from being lowered, and the adjacent single layer nozzles are positioned with high accuracy. Therefore, the nozzle holes are arranged in a straight line so that their axis lines are the same, and the coaxiality of the nozzle holes of the composite nozzle finally formed is improved. Moreover, the process of installing positioning pins and the like can be omitted, and the manufacturing process is simplified.

  Further, in the method for manufacturing a composite nozzle according to the present invention, in manufacturing the composite nozzle as described above, at least the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are cut by cutting while rotating the raw material block around the rotation axis. A step of forming one and a step of forming a nozzle hole. Thus, if the fitting recess and the fitting protrusion are formed while the raw material block is rotated around a predetermined rotation axis, the coaxiality between the fitting recess and the fitting protrusion is improved. Such cutting can be easily performed using a lathe or the like, and by forming the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion in the same chucking state, the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are formed. The axes are the same.

  The step of forming at least one of the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion forms a groove portion having a width approximately twice as large as the protrusion amount of the fitting convex portion on the outer periphery of the raw material block, and rotates substantially at the center of the groove portion. Cutting in the direction perpendicular to the axis is preferable because the single-layer nozzle can be manufactured with a high yield, and the labor for attaching the raw material block to the chuck or the like can be reduced.

  By making the shape of the fitting convex portions provided in the plurality of single-layer nozzles the same, it is possible to prepare single-layer nozzles in the same processing step.

  According to the composite nozzle of the present invention, the connecting portion between the single-layer nozzles has a fitting convex portion formed integrally with one single-layer nozzle, and a fitting concave portion formed integrally with the other single-layer nozzle. By fitting, the single-layer nozzles can be positioned with high accuracy, and the coaxiality of the nozzle holes of the composite nozzle can be improved. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the optical characteristics from being deteriorated due to fluctuations in the composition distribution in the radial direction of the cross section of the optical transmission body or the like discharged from the composite nozzle or eccentricity.

  In the composite nozzle manufacturing method of the present invention, the raw material block is cut while rotating around the rotation axis to form at least one of the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion on the single-layer nozzle. The coaxiality between the concave portion and the fitting convex portion can be easily improved, and the single-layer nozzles can be positioned with high accuracy.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing a composite nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view seen from the discharge port side of the nozzle, and FIG. 1 (b) is a sectional view in the axial direction. is there. FIG. 2 is a view showing one of the single-layer nozzles constituting the composite nozzle shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view seen from the discharge port side of the nozzle, and FIG. It is sectional drawing in an axial direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the composite nozzle 1 of the present embodiment is composed of five single-layer nozzles 2 to 6 that can discharge stock solutions having different refractive indexes. The single-layer nozzle 2 of the first layer is disposed on the most upstream side in the stock solution discharge direction, and thereafter, the single-layer nozzles 3 to 6 have the same axis of the nozzle holes in order toward the downstream side. Are arranged as follows. The composite nozzle 1 is capable of stacking coaxially the stock solutions having different refractive indexes discharged from the single-layer nozzles 2 to 6 and discharging them in the form of threads.

  The single-layer nozzles other than the single-layer nozzle 2 and the single-layer nozzle 6 disposed at both ends of the composite nozzle 1, that is, the single-layer nozzles 3 to 5 disposed in the intermediate portion are all formed in substantially the same shape. . Also in the single-layer nozzles 2 and 6, the connecting structure portion described later is formed in the same shape as the single-layer nozzles 3 to 5.

  Hereinafter, the shape of each part of the single-layer nozzle will be described taking the single-layer nozzle 3 as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the single-layer nozzle 3 having a substantially disk-shaped outer shape has a nozzle hole 3 a extending in the axial direction at the center thereof, and a fitting convex portion 3 v formed at the end on the downstream side in the discharge direction. And a fitting recess 3c formed at the end on the upstream side in a shape that can be fitted to the fitting projection 3v.

  Each of the fitting convex portion 3v and the fitting concave portion 3c has a circular cross section perpendicular to the axial direction, and the axis is the same as the axis of the nozzle hole 3a. In addition, the dimensional error between the outer diameter of the fitting convex portion 3v and the inner diameter of the fitting concave portion 3c is up to the tolerance range of the shaft tolerance range class h7 and hole tolerance class H7 of “JIS B 0401”, respectively. It is finished with the level that does not cause damage as the lower limit. In particular, it is preferable that the single-layer nozzles are finished with dimensional accuracy so that they are fixed to each other when they are fitted together. In addition, in order to make fitting easy, you may taper the outer peripheral surface of the fitting convex part 3v and the fitting recessed part 3c.

  On the downstream end face (discharge port face) of the fitting protrusion 3v, a reservoir groove 3h that forms a flow path for the stock solution is formed as an annular groove coaxial with the nozzle hole 3a. On the other hand, a reservoir recess 3g that forms a flow path of the stock solution to the nozzle hole 3a is also formed inside the fitting recess 3c in which the nozzle hole 3a opens. As a result, as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 2B, when the single-layer nozzles are connected to each other (here, the single-layer nozzle 3 and the single-layer nozzle 2 are connected), the storage portion of the single-layer nozzle 3 The reservoir 3g and the reservoir groove 2h of the single-layer nozzle 2 cooperate to form one reservoir.

  Note that when the composite nozzle 1 is actually used, a stock solution supply means or the like is connected to the storage section, and a stock solution having a predetermined refractive index is supplied. The stock solution supplied to the reservoir is discharged from the nozzle hole 3a as the second layer stock solution.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, each of the single-layer nozzles 2 to 6 has a connecting structure portion having the same shape as the fitting convex portion 3v or the fitting concave portion 3c, and the fitting convex portions 2v to 5v, The fitting recesses 3c to 6c are shown. Since the single-layer nozzle 2 is arranged at the most upstream, no fitting concave portion is formed, and the single-layer nozzle 6 arranged at the most downstream side has no fitting convex portion.

  As described above, the single-layer nozzles 2 to 6 having the same connection structure portion can be connected to each other by allowing the adjacent single-layer nozzles to have the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion fitted into the concave and convex portions. This uneven fitting allows relative positioning (centering) of the nozzle holes of the single-layer nozzle, and the axis of each nozzle hole is accurately positioned on a straight line. In particular, in this embodiment, since the fitting convex part and the fitting concave part are formed integrally with the member of the single layer nozzle, adjacent single layer nozzles can be connected without using other positioning means such as pins. Positioning can be performed with relatively high accuracy. As a result, the axis lines of the nozzle holes are aligned, and the coaxiality of the nozzle holes of the composite nozzle is improved.

  In the present invention, other positioning means such as pins are not particularly required, but other positioning means such as pins and bolts and fixing means may be used in combination.

  The manufacturing method of the single layer nozzle of this embodiment is demonstrated below.

  In the present embodiment, the positional accuracy between nozzle holes on adjacent single-layer nozzles is the connecting structure portion formed in the single-layer nozzle, that is, the processing accuracy of the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion, the fitting convex portion or Since it depends on the coaxiality between the fitting recess and the nozzle hole, it is important to manufacture a single-layer nozzle by a method with high processing accuracy and easy to achieve coaxiality.

  3 and 4 are diagrams showing a series of steps of cutting a single layer block from one raw material block. 3 and 4 show a manufacturing process of the single-layer block 3 as an example.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, a columnar raw material block 13 having a size capable of forming one single-layer block is prepared. The material of the raw material block 13 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a stainless steel material (SUS) in consideration of strength, corrosion resistance, workability, cost, and the like.

  Next, the raw material block 13 is fixed to a work piece holding part (chuck or the like) of a machine tool such as a lathe so that the raw material block 13 can rotate around its axis, and the raw material block 13 is moved to the axis line as shown in FIG. The outer peripheral portion is cut while rotating around, and the fitting convex portion 3v is formed on the outer periphery of the raw material block 13 in the substantially axial direction. Further, one end face of the raw material block 13 is cut to form the fitting recess 3c. Here, it is preferable that the diameter of the fitting convex part 3v and the fitting concave part 3c is finished based on "JIS B 0401" as mentioned above.

  The nozzle hole 3a may be formed by using a machine tool different from the above machine tool (such as a lathe). However, the nozzle hole 3a is formed by being drilled while being chucked by the above lathe or the like. Is preferred. Thereby, a nozzle hole having high coaxiality with respect to the fitting convex portion 3v or the fitting concave portion 3c is formed. In addition, the order in which the fitting convex part 3v, the fitting recessed part 3c, and the nozzle hole 3a are formed is not specifically limited.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4A, after unnecessary portions of the raw material block 13 are removed, the reservoir groove 3h and the reservoir recess 3g are formed in the step shown in FIG. 4B. The single-layer nozzles 3 to 5 are manufactured through the series of steps described above. Further, the single-layer nozzles 2 and 6 can be manufactured in substantially the same process as the series of processes described above.

  As described above, by changing the chucking state without changing the chucking state and cutting around the same rotation axis to form the fitting convex part and the fitting concave part of the single-layer nozzle, the fitting convex part The fitting recess can be formed with high coaxiality. Furthermore, the coaxiality of the nozzle hole with respect to the fitting convex part or the fitting concave part is improved by forming the nozzle hole so that the rotation axis is the axis.

  In addition to the method described above, the method for cutting out the single layer block from the raw material block may be as shown in FIG. In the method shown in FIG. 5, two single-layer nozzles 3 and 4 can be obtained from one raw material block 23. The processing means and the like are the same as those in the manufacturing method described above, and the description thereof is omitted.

  First, a raw material block 23 having a size capable of obtaining two single-layer nozzles is prepared (see FIG. 5A).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, a fitting recess 3 c is formed at one end of the raw material block 23. On the outer periphery near the center in the axial direction of the raw material block, a groove portion 9v is formed with a width that is approximately twice the protrusion amount (design value) of the fitting convex portions 3v, 4v of the single-layer nozzle to be manufactured. Further, the nozzle hole 9 a is formed along the axis of the raw material block 23.

  On the other end of the raw material block 23, a fitting recess 4c is formed as shown in FIG. And as shown in FIG.5 (d), the center of the groove part 9v is cut | disconnected in the direction orthogonal to a rotating shaft with cutting means, such as a wire cutter, and the precursor of the single layer nozzles 3 and 4 is cut off. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5E, the single-layer nozzles 3 and 4 are manufactured by forming the reservoir grooves 3h and 4h and the reservoir recesses 3g and 4g.

  In the method described above, in addition to the effects of the method described in FIGS. 3 and 4, a single layer nozzle can be manufactured with a high yield, and the labor for attaching the raw material block to the chuck is reduced, and the single layer nozzle is efficiently manufactured. be able to.

  In the above-described embodiment, the composite nozzle having only one nozzle hole has been described. However, a composite nozzle that includes a plurality of nozzle holes and can discharge a plurality of filaments (porous composite nozzle) is also described. Can adapt. However, the nozzle hole axis is formed to be the same as the axis of rotation, which improves the positional accuracy between the fitting recess or fitting projection and the nozzle hole, and connects the single-layer nozzles together. It is preferable because the coaxiality between adjacent nozzle holes is further improved.

  Further, the opening diameter of the nozzle hole is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately set in consideration of the characteristics of the stock solution to be used, the discharge amount, the refractive index distribution in the cross-sectional radial direction of the optical transmission body, and the like. For example, the diameter of the nozzle hole of the composite nozzle may be increased as it goes downstream as a different diameter for each single-layer nozzle.

  In the above-described embodiment, the single-layer nozzle and the cross-sectional shape in the plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are circular, but the single-layer nozzle can be positioned with high accuracy. For example, they are not limited to a circle but may be a square or more polygons. However, in consideration of workability and shape accuracy, a circular shape is preferable, and in particular, the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are preferably circular in cross section.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the single layer nozzle located in the middle is formed with the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion, respectively, but is not limited to this. For example, the fitting convex portion is provided on both sides. It may be formed, or may be formed with fitting recesses on both sides, and these single layer nozzles may be alternately stacked to form a composite nozzle.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the storage portion is configured by the storage portion recess and the storage portion groove respectively formed in the adjacent single layer nozzles. However, if the stock solution does not interfere with the fluidity, the storage portion recess is provided. The storage section may be configured by only one of the storage section grooves.

It is a figure which shows the composite nozzle of one Embodiment of this invention, Fig.1 (a) is the top view seen from the discharge outlet side of the nozzle, FIG.1 (b) is sectional drawing. FIG. 2 is a view showing one of the single-layer nozzles constituting the composite nozzle shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view seen from the discharge port side of the nozzle, and FIG. It is sectional drawing. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of manufacturing a single layer nozzle from a raw material block. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of manufacturing a single layer nozzle from a raw material block. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the process of manufacturing a single layer nozzle from a raw material block. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the conventional composite nozzle comprised from a several single layer nozzle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compound nozzle 1a-6a Nozzle hole 2-6 Single layer nozzle 2v-5v Fitting convex part 3c-6c Fitting concave part 3h Groove for storage part 3g Concave part for storage part 13, 23 Raw material block

Claims (7)

A plurality of single-layer nozzles are connected so as to have the same axis line of each nozzle hole, and are composite nozzles that discharge coaxially laminated stock solutions respectively supplied from the plurality of single-layer nozzles,
The connecting portion between the single-layer nozzles is a composite nozzle in which a fitting convex portion formed integrally with one single-layer nozzle and a fitting concave portion formed integrally with the other single-layer nozzle are fitted. . The composite nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the fitting convex part and the fitting concave part have a circular cross section. The composite nozzle according to claim 2, wherein a center of the circular cross section is located on an axis of the nozzle hole. The composite nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fitting convex part and / or the fitting concave part are formed in the same shape in any single layer nozzle. It is a manufacturing method of the composite nozzle in any one of Claim 2 to 4, Comprising: At least one of the said fitting convex part and the said fitting concave part is cut by rotating a raw material block around a rotating shaft. A method for manufacturing a composite nozzle, comprising a step of forming and a step of forming the nozzle hole. The step of forming at least one of the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion includes forming a groove portion having a width approximately twice as large as the protrusion amount of the fitting convex portion on the outer periphery of the block, and substantially at the center of the groove portion. The manufacturing method of the composite nozzle of Claim 5 including the process of cut | disconnecting in a direction orthogonal to the said rotating shaft. 7. The composite according to claim 5, wherein the step of forming the nozzle hole includes a step of forming the nozzle hole having the same axis as the rotation axis while rotating the raw material block around the rotation axis. Nozzle manufacturing method.

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