JP2013146940A - Transfer apparatus of mold for molding plastic lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably improve working efficiency of plastic lens molding by automating processes until each mold is held by a holder of a tape sticking device.SOLUTION: A mold 601 is conveyed from an upstream side to a downstream side by a conveyance mechanism part 100 as a conveyance means. It is moved to a transition mechanism part 300 as a transition part positioned nearby by a chucking mechanism part 200 as a chucking means positioned downstream of the conveyance mechanism part 100. In a state that the mold 601 is sucked and held by the transition mechanism part 300, it is reversed in an orthogonal direction. It is held by a mold holding and transferring mechanism part 400A as a mold holding and transferring means and transferred to a suction unit 500 side forming a part of a tape sticking device which is not illustrated.

Description

  The present invention relates to molding of plastic lenses for use in eyeglasses and the like, and in particular, molding of plastic lenses using a matrix mold consisting of a set of two sheets forming a cavity (filling gap) of a desired lens material. The present invention relates to a plastic lens molding mold transfer device suitable for automation.

  For example, in the lens field of eyeglass products, in response to demands for mass production and cost reduction, the lens itself is shifting to a so-called plastic lens that uses a plastic material that can be molded. In this case, the plastic lens processing requires a mold that forms a cavity (filling gap) of a predetermined lens material in the middle. To form this type of plastic lens mold, generally two molds (concave glass) with an appropriate diameter and curvature face each other so that a desired lens material cavity is obtained between them. To.

  In this state, by sticking a fixed width adhesive tape across both outer peripheral edges of these molds, a mother mold in which a cavity of a lens material is formed in both molds is obtained. Moreover, in the operation | work which fills a lens material in the cavity of a mother mold, for example, the end of the adhesive tape stuck across both outer peripheral edge parts of each mold is peeled off a little, and a filling port is provided, and the filling port This is done by injecting the lens material. And after the lens material with which it filled in the cavity fully hardened | cured, a plastic lens is shape | molded by removing both molds. In addition, when forming a cavity with both molds facing each other, the respective surfaces facing each other will be the molding surfaces of the plastic lens, but when molding a good quality plastic lens, Consideration is required so that scratches, dust, fingerprints, and the like are not attached to the respective molding surfaces.

  As a method for molding such a plastic lens, in Patent Document 1, each of the two molds is held by each holder so that the optical axes thereof coincide with each other, and one holder is placed on the other holder side. The mold is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position where each mold faces each other, and an adhesive tape is wound around the side surface of each mold to form a predetermined cavity between the molds. A plastic lens casting method has been proposed in which each formed mold is removed from the holder, and then a plastic raw material is injected into the cavity to be cured.

  Also, in Patent Document 2, as in Patent Document 1, each of the two molds is held by each holding tool so that the optical axes thereof coincide with each other, and one holding tool is moved to the other holding tool side. Then, each mold is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position facing each other, and an adhesive tape is wound around the side surface of each mold to form a predetermined cavity between the molds. A plastic lens molding method is proposed in which a plastic lens material is injected into a tee and cured.

  In Patent Document 3, a lower mold and an upper mold to which an IC tag having dimensional information is attached are respectively held by a first mold holding part and a second mold holding part, and the dimensions of the IC tag are determined by relative movement means. A molding mold assembling apparatus is proposed in which the lower mold and the upper mold are moved relative to each other based on the information, and the tape is wound around the peripheral surfaces of both molds by the tape winding means. Both molds around which the tape has been wound are transferred to the resin injection device side, and the resin raw material is injected into the cavities of both molds.

  Further, in Patent Document 4, each of the two molds is temporarily held in parallel on both sides of the cylindrical split mold holder, and either one of the left and right suction units is moved to the mold holder side to be temporarily held. The mold holder is pushed out to the other suction unit through the mold, the respective suction unit sucks each mold, and once the suction unit is retracted to remove the mold holder, the other suction unit is again sucked. Proposing a mold lens tape sticking device for plastic lens molding that moves the unit to the other suction unit side to bring both molds close together and winds adhesive tape around the peripheral surfaces of both molds. . Both molds wound with the adhesive tape are removed from the suction unit, and then the lens material is injected into the cavities of both molds.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-2483 Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-15366 JP 2006-272575 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-238538 (Patent No. 4360676)

  By the way, in patent documents 1 and 2 mentioned above, after holding each mold with a holder and positioning each mold at a predetermined position, by winding an adhesive tape around the side surface of each mold, Since the cavity is formed between them, a plastic lens of good quality is molded because scratches, dust, fingerprints and the like are not attached to the molding surface of the plastic lens. However, the work of holding each mold with a holder and the work of determining the interval between the molds (the space for forming a predetermined cavity) are artificial, so the plastic lens is molded. The work efficiency was low.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 3 described above, since the lower mold and the upper mold are relatively moved by the relative moving means based on the dimension information of the IC tag, the distance between the lower mold and the upper mold is determined. Since the work for determining is automatically performed, the workability can be expected to be improved, but the work for holding the lower mold and the upper mold on the first mold holding part and the second mold holding part, respectively. Since this is artificial, the efficiency of plastic lens molding is still low.

  Further, in Patent Document 4 described above, since one suction unit can move forward and backward with respect to the other suction unit, the operation of automatically determining the interval between both molds sucked by each suction unit is automatically performed. However, since the work to temporarily hold each mold in parallel on both sides of the mold holder is artificial, the efficiency of plastic lens molding is still high. It was low.

  As described above, when molding a plastic lens, positioning is performed so that predetermined cavities of both molds are obtained, and the operation until the adhesive tape is wound around the side surfaces of each mold is automatically performed. However, if the process of holding each mold on the holder of the tape applicator is artificial, the work efficiency will be low. End up. Therefore, it has been desired to develop a device that can dramatically improve the working efficiency when molding a plastic lens by automating the process until each mold is held by the holder of the tape sticking device. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and by automating the process until each mold is held by the holder of the tape applicator, the working efficiency of plastic lens molding is dramatically improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plastic lens molding mold transfer device that can be improved to a high level.

  In the present invention, two plastic lens molding molds having appropriate diameters and curvatures face each other in a state where a predetermined filling gap is obtained, and an adhesive tape is attached around the outer peripheral edge of each of the molds. A plastic lens molding mold transfer device for transferring the mold to the tape sticking device side, a transfer means for transferring the mold from the upstream side to the downstream side, and located on the downstream side of the transfer means, Chucking means for chucking and transferring the mold conveyed by the conveying means, and adsorbing and holding the mold transferred in the vicinity of the chucking means and adhering to the mold, Holding the mold that is positioned in the vicinity of the transfer means and inverted by the transfer means, The lifting the said mold, characterized in that it comprises a mold holding transfer means for transferring the tape adhering apparatus.

  In this case, the mold is conveyed to the chucking means side by the conveying means, transferred to the transfer means side by the chucking means and sucked and held. When the mold is reversed in the orthogonal direction by the transfer means, the mold is held by the mold holding and transfer means. And transferred to the tape sticking device side.

  The conveying means includes belt conveyors arranged in parallel and a pedestal on which a plurality of the molds protruding at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the belt conveyors are placed, and the chucking The means has an engaging portion that is arranged face to face and engages with an outer peripheral edge of the mold, and the transfer means supports the suction head that holds the mold by suction, and supports the suction head to support the suction head. A gripper provided with a plurality of holding claws for gripping the outer peripheral edge of the mold that is sucked by the suction head on the left and right sides. It has a mechanism part.

  In this case, when the mold is placed on the pedestal of the belt conveyor and conveyed to the chucking means side, the outer peripheral edge portion is engaged by the engaging portion arranged opposite to the chucking means, and the transfer means. When it is moved to the side, sucked and held by the suction head of the transfer means, and tilted in the orthogonal direction by the head support arm, its outer peripheral edge is gripped by the holding claws of the gripper mechanism part of the mold holding and transfer means, and the tape is attached. It is transferred to the device side. In addition, when forming the filling gap with both molds facing each other, the respective surfaces facing each other are the molding surfaces of the plastic lens, but non-molding on the opposite side of the molding surface By placing the surface side on the pedestal of the belt conveyor, none of the holding by the chucking means, the suction holding by the transfer means, and the pinching by the holding claws of the gripper mechanism part will contact the molding surface. . For this reason, each mold can be safely and reliably transferred to the tape sticking apparatus side without scratching the molding surface of each mold.

  The mounting surface of the pedestal is circular.

  In this case, when the convex side of the mold is placed on the mounting surface of the pedestal, the circular mounting surface comes into contact with the convex surface of the mold, so that even if the mold slightly fluctuates during conveyance, The contact with the convex surface side of the mold is maintained, and the mold is stably placed on the pedestal. Also, when the concave side of the mold is placed on the mounting surface of the pedestal, the circumferential edge of the mounting surface comes into contact with the concave surface of the mold, and the fluctuation of the mold during conveyance is suppressed, and the mold is placed on the pedestal. Placed stably.

  Further, on the upstream side of the conveying means, there is provided a mold centering mechanism portion having an engaging portion which is arranged face to face and repeatedly engages and disengages from the outer peripheral edge portion of the mold.

  In this case, even if the center position of the mold placed on the pedestal and the pedestal is misaligned, the mold is reliably centered by repeating the engagement and disengagement by the engaging portion of the mold centering mechanism. Is called.

  The gripper mechanism part has four holding claws.

  In this case, the holding of the mold for molding a myopic lens having a uniform thickness at the outer peripheral edge and the holding of the mold for molding an astigmatic lens having a non-uniform thickness at the outer peripheral edge are performed respectively. This can be performed stably without replacing the holding claws with which the molds fit.

  According to the plastic lens molding mold transfer device of the present invention, the mold is transported to the chucking means side by the transport means, transferred to the transfer means side by the chucking means, and sucked and held, and orthogonally moved by the transfer means. When it is reversed, it is held by the mold holding and transferring means and transferred to the tape sticking device side, so the process until each mold is held by the holder of the tape sticking device is automated. It is possible to dramatically increase the working efficiency of plastic lens molding.

It is a top view which shows one Embodiment of the transfer apparatus of the mold for plastic lens shaping | molding of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the conveyance mechanism part of FIG. 1, a mold centering mechanism part, and a chucking mechanism part. It is a figure which shows the principal part of the mold centering mechanism part of FIG.1 and FIG.2, (a) is a perspective view which shows the engaging part, (b) is the centering of the mold by the engaging part. It is a top view for demonstrating. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the chucking mechanism part of FIG. It is a side view for demonstrating the case where the mold from a conveyance mechanism part is passed to a mold holding | maintenance transfer mechanism part by the transfer mechanism part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the principal part of the gripper mechanism part of the mold holding | maintenance transfer mechanism part of FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is arrangement | positioning etc. of a holding nail | claw in the case of hold | maintaining the outer peripheral part of the mold by making the convex surface side of a mold into an inner side FIG. 4B is a side view for explaining the arrangement of holding claws and the like when holding the outer peripheral edge of the mold with the concave surface side of the mold facing inward. It is a figure for demonstrating the case where a mold is passed from the mold holding | maintenance transfer mechanism part of FIG. 1 to the adsorption | suction unit side of a tape sticking apparatus, Comprising: (a) is from the gripper mechanism part of a mold holding | maintenance transfer mechanism part by an adsorption | suction unit. FIG. 5B is a front view for explaining a case where the mold is held by suction, and (b) shows that each suction unit approaches after the mold holding and transport mechanism moves backward, and the molds face each other while holding a predetermined cavity. It is a front view for demonstrating the case. It is a figure at the time of sticking an adhesive tape around the outer periphery part of two standing molds, Comprising: (a) is explanatory drawing which shows the winding start of an adhesive tape, (b) winds an adhesive tape It is explanatory drawing which shows the mother mold which formed the cavity of the predetermined | prescribed lens material inside, (c) is a side view which shows an example of the mold for shape | molding the lens for astigmatism.

  Hereinafter, the details of an embodiment of a plastic lens molding mold transfer device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plastic lens molding mold transfer device (hereinafter simply referred to as a transfer device) includes a transport mechanism unit 100 and a mold core disposed on the upstream side of the transport mechanism unit 100. The feeding mechanism unit 110, the chucking mechanism unit 200 disposed on the downstream side of the transport mechanism unit 100, the transfer mechanism unit 300 disposed in the vicinity of the chucking mechanism unit 200, and the inner side of the transfer mechanism unit 300 The mold holding / transferring mechanism 400A is provided. Reference numeral 500 in the drawing sucks and holds each mold 601 (described later) held by the mold holding / transfer mechanism 400A so that each mold 601 forms a desired cavity (filling gap) of the lens material. The adsorbing unit constituting a part of a tape adhering device (not shown) for adhering an adhesive tape 610 having a predetermined width around the outer peripheral edge of each mold 601 to be close to each other and facing each other. Yes.

  Next, the specific configuration of each part will be described. First, the transport mechanism unit 100 includes a belt conveyor 101 that is arranged in parallel on both sides of the mold holding and transport mechanism unit 400A. Each belt conveyor 101 is suspended by a respective conveyor roller 103 mounted on a conveyor shaft 104 provided on the upstream side and the downstream side. Each belt conveyor 101 has a plurality of cylindrical pedestals 102 protruding at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. These pedestals 102 are for mounting the mold 601 and are made of, for example, silicon rubber. Here, the mold 601 has a predetermined lens diameter and curvature, and the convex surface side of the mold 601 is placed on the pedestal 102 of the left belt conveyor 101 as shown in part A of FIG. It has become. On the other hand, on the pedestal 102 of the right belt conveyor 101, the concave side of the mold 601 is placed as shown in part B of FIG.

  That is, when a later-described adhesive tape 610 is attached by a tape attaching device (not shown), when each mold 601 is positioned at a position where a predetermined cavity is formed, both molds 601 face each other. However, when molding high-quality plastic lenses, scratches, dust, fingerprints, etc. will not be attached to each molding surface. Consideration is needed.

  Therefore, a convex surface that is a non-molding surface opposite to the molding surface of the mold 601 is placed on the pedestal 102 of the left belt conveyor 101, and the molding of the mold 601 is molded on the pedestal 102 of the right belt conveyor 101. The concave surface which is the non-molding surface opposite to the surface is placed. In this case, since each of the pedestals 102 has a circular mounting surface, the mounting surface abuts on the convex side of the mold 601 as shown in part A of FIG. Even if the 601 slightly fluctuates, contact between the mounting surface and the convex surface side of the mold 601 is maintained, so that the convex surface side of the mold 601 is stably mounted on the mounting surface of the pedestal 102. Further, as shown in part B of FIG. 1, the circumferential edge of the mounting surface abuts on the concave side of the mold 601, thereby suppressing the fluctuation of the mold 601 during the conveyance by the belt conveyor 101. It will be stably placed on the pedestal 102. In addition, mounting of the mold 601 on each pedestal 102 is performed manually.

  Each pedestal 102 is sequentially sent out in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 as the belt conveyor 101 rotates from the upstream side to the downstream side. The rotation of each belt conveyor 101 is synchronized so that the movement from the upstream side to the downstream side of each pedestal 102 is the same.

  Further, the mold 601 placed on each pedestal 102 is centered with respect to the center of the pedestal 102 by a mold centering mechanism 110 arranged on the upstream side of the transport mechanism 100. . That is, the mold centering mechanism part 110 has an engaging part 113 attached to the movable arm 111 disposed on both sides of the belt conveyor 101. As shown in FIG. 3A, the engaging portion 113 includes an engaging piece 114 provided on the left and right, a fitting taper 115 inclined from the engaging piece 114 toward the center, and the fittings. The engagement step portion 116 provided at the lower portion of the combined taper 115 is included. In addition, the code | symbol 112a in the figure has shown the screw hole in which the screw | thread not shown is mounted | worn when the engaging part 113 is attached to the movable arm 111. FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), each engaging portion 113 performs the operation in the direction of the arrow, that is, the operation of contacting and releasing (engaging and disengaging) the mold 601 by the action of the movable arm 111. It is supposed to be repeated about 3 times. At that time, the outer peripheral edge portion of the mold 601 rides on the engaging step portion 116 and the outer peripheral end portion thereof abuts on the fitting taper 115, thereby correcting a slight deviation from the center of the pedestal 102 and performing centering. It has come to be. The centering of the mold 601 by the mold centering mechanism 110 is performed while the belt conveyor 101 is temporarily stopped when the mold 601 is transferred to the transfer mechanism 300 by the chucking mechanism 200 described later. It has come to be.

  That is, in the state of FIG. 1, each belt conveyor 101 stops once when the pedestal 102 on the front side of the chucking mechanism unit 200 is sent to the position of the chucking mechanism unit 200, and the pedestal is stopped by the chucking mechanism unit 200. After the mold 601 placed on 102 is held and transferred to the transfer mechanism unit 300, a series of rotation operations are performed in which the next pedestal 102 is sent again to the position of the chucking mechanism unit 200. In addition, such a series of operations is controlled by using a pulse motor (not shown), detecting one pitch by a sensor (not shown), and feeding the conveyor shaft 104 described above once.

  Each chucking mechanism 200 holds a mold 601 conveyed by the belt conveyor 101 and passes the mold 601 to the transfer mechanism 300. For example, as shown in FIGS. An engaging portion 203 fixed by a screw 202 is provided at the lower end of 201.

  The engaging portion 203 has the same shape as the engaging portion 113 of the mold centering mechanism portion 110 described above, and is inclined toward the center from the engaging pieces 204 provided on the left and right. The fitting taper 205 is configured to include a fitting taper 205 and an engaging step portion 206 provided below the fitting taper 205. The engaging unit 203 repeats a series of operations up to the arrows a to f along with the movement of the movable arm 201, thereby holding the mold 601 and transferring the held mold 601 to the transfer mechanism unit 300. I do.

  That is, the engaging part 203 of the chucking mechanism part 200 stands by at a position slightly higher than the mold 601 conveyed by the belt conveyor 101 (see FIG. 5A). Further, in this standby position, the respective engaging portions 203 are at positions separated so as to be slightly wider than the diameter of the mold 601. And if the mold 601 is conveyed by the belt conveyor 101 to the position of the engaging part 203 of the chucking mechanism part 200, rotation of the belt conveyor 101 will stop once. At this time, each engaging portion 203 moves down in the direction of arrow a shown in FIG. 4 and then moves horizontally in the direction of arrow b. At this time, the mold 601 has an outer peripheral edge that rides on the engagement step portion 206 and an outer peripheral end portion that abuts on the fitting taper 205, so that the mold 601 can move with respect to the center of the base 102 during the conveyance by the conveyance mechanism unit 100. While the slight deviation is corrected, the engagement portion 203 is engaged.

  In this state, each engaging portion 203 moves up in the direction of arrow c and then moves in the direction of arrow d, and when the mold 601 reaches the upper part of a later-described suction head 305 of the transfer mechanism portion 300 (FIG. 5B). Each of the engaging portions 203 moves in the direction of arrow e in FIG. As a result, the mold 601 engaged by the engaging portion 203 is transferred onto a suction surface of a suction head 305 described later of the transfer mechanism portion 300 and placed on the suction head 305 (FIG. 5B). reference).

  The engaging portion 203 moves from this state to a standby position in the direction of arrow f in FIG. 4 and waits until the next mold 601 is conveyed by the belt conveyor 101. That is, each engaging portion 203 repeats a series of operations up to the arrows a to f described above. These series of operations are controlled by a pulse motor (not shown). In addition, when the respective molds 601 are transferred onto the suction surface of the suction head 305 (to be described later) of the transfer mechanism unit 300 by the engaging portion 203 of the chucking mechanism unit 200, there is no change in the orientation of each mold 601. Each non-molding surface side is placed on the suction surface of the suction head 305. Further, since the suction head 305 has the same shape and the same size as the base 102 on the belt conveyor 101 described above, the transferred mold 601 is stably sucked and held.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the transfer mechanism 300 is supported by a rotating shaft 301, and a base 302 that rotates in the orthogonal direction toward the mold holding and transferring mechanism 400A with the rotating shaft 301 as a fulcrum. A movable body 303 that is movable in the direction of the arrow gh on the base 302, a head support arm 304 attached to the movable body 303, and a suction head provided at the tip of the head support arm 304 305. Here, a suction hole (not shown) connected to a suction pipe 306 extending from a compressor (not shown) is formed inside the head support arm 304 and the suction head 305, and the suction hole has a negative pressure. As a result, the mold 601 is sucked by the suction head 305. Further, the position of the suction head 305 at the tip of the head support arm 304 is displaced in accordance with the movement of the moving body 303 in the arrow gh direction.

  When the mold 601 is sucked by the suction head 305, the base 302 rotates to a position of 90 degrees with the rotation shaft 301 as a fulcrum, as shown in FIG. At this time, the head support arm 304 is tilted to a horizontal position, but the mold 601 is sucked and held by the suction head 305 in a stable state regardless of the movement of the head support arm 304. In this state, when the moving body 303 moves in the arrow g direction, the suction head 305 provided at the tip of the head support arm 304 has a mold holding / transfer mechanism 400A having a plurality of holding claws 404 shown in FIG. To the gripper mechanism 400 side described later, and the mold 601 is transferred to the gripper mechanism 400 side. When the mold 601 is passed to the gripper mechanism 400 side, the moving body 303 moves in the direction of arrow h, so that the suction head 305 moves backward from the gripper mechanism 400 side, and then the base 302 uses the rotating shaft 301 as a fulcrum. It is returned to the standby position of 90 degrees. That is, in FIG. 5B, the position where the suction head 305 faces in the vertical direction as shown by the solid line is the standby position.

  In this standby position, the position of the suction surface at the tip of the suction head 305 and the tip of the pedestal 102 provided on the belt conveyor 101 are flush with each other. As a result, the amount of movement of the pedestal 102 and the suction head 305, such as the lowering of the engaging portion 203 of the chucking mechanism portion 200, is the same. The series of operations described above of the transfer mechanism 300 is controlled by a pulse motor (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5C, the mold holding / transfer mechanism 400 </ b> A includes a slider 401 that moves in the direction of an arrow ij when the ball screw 410 is driven, and a gripper body 402 mounted on the slider 401. And a gripper mechanism 400 provided on both sides of the gripper main body 402. The gripper mechanism 400 includes a holding claw holder 403 and a plurality of holding claws 404 that are movably provided on the holding claw holder 403. Further, among the holding claws 404, the holding claw 404 located on the right side is provided with a contact step portion 405. The role of the contact step portion 405 will be described later.

  Here, the holding claws 404 are configured and arranged as shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 6A shows the holding claw 404 provided on the right holding claw holder 403 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5C, and FIG. 6B shows FIG. The holding claw 404 provided in the left holding claw holder 403 shown in c) is shown. Note that there are four holding claws 404 shown in FIG. 6A, and there are three holding claws 404 shown in FIG. 6B. 6A and 6B both show the standby position of the holding claw 404.

  Further, each holding claw 404 is bent perpendicularly to the distal end of the moving portion 406, and a moving portion 406 which is movable forward and backward (in the direction of the arrow in the figure) with respect to the center of the holding claw holder 403 by driving the ball screw 408. Holding portion 407. Note that the contact step 405 is provided only on the holding claw 404 side shown in FIG. The contact step 405 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the mold 601. The outer peripheral surface portion is on the molding surface side of the plastic lens, but the contact step portion 405 is made of a material such as a resin so that it will not be damaged even if it contacts the mold 601. .

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the mold 601 sucked by the suction head 305 of the transfer mechanism section 300 described above is pushed into the holding section 407 of the holding claw 404, the ball screw 408 is driven. As a result, the moving portion 406 of the holding claw 404 moves from the standby position toward the center of the holding claw holder 403. At this time, each holding part 407 contacts the outer peripheral edge of the mold 601 and holds the mold 601 in between. At the same time, the suction of the mold 601 by the suction head 305 is released.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5C, the holding claw 404 shown in FIG. 6A sandwiches the mold 601 in a state where the convex surface side of the mold 601 is directed to the holding claw holder 403 side. In this case, the outer peripheral surface portion of the mold 601 is stably held by the holding claw 404 because the outer peripheral surface portion on the convex surface side of the mold 601 is in contact with the contact step portion 405 of the holding claw 404. In the case of the mold 601 for molding a myopic lens, the holding claws 404 shown in FIG. 6A may be three because the thickness of the outer peripheral edge of the mold 601 is uniform. In the case of the mold 601 for molding, the thickness of the outer peripheral edge 603 of the mold 601 is non-uniform as shown in FIG. Can be held. In other words, since the number of holding claws 404 shown in FIG. 6A is four, both the mold 601 for forming a myopic lens and the mold 601 for forming an astigmatic lens are held. The nail | claw 404 can be hold | maintained stably, without replacing | exchanging.

  On the other hand, the holding claw 404 shown in FIG. 6B grips the mold 601 in a state where the concave surface side of the mold 601 is directed to the holding claw holder 403 side, as shown in FIG. In this case, since the outer peripheral edge portion of the mold 601 contacts the moving portion 406 of the holding claw 404, the outer peripheral edge portion of the mold 601 is stably held by the holding claw 404 even if there are three holding claws 404. . When the mold 601 sucked by the suction head 305 is sandwiched between the holding claws 404, the outer peripheral edge of each mold 601 comes into contact with the holding portion 407, so that the molding surface of each mold 601 is damaged. Each of the molds 601 can be sandwiched without attaching the etc.

  And the mold holding | maintenance transfer mechanism part 400A which hold | maintained the mold 601 from the transfer mechanism part 300 is a tape sticking apparatus (illustration omitted) which sticks the adhesive tape 610 with the slider 401, as shown in FIG.1 and FIG.7. It is sent out to the suction unit 500 side which constitutes a part. After holding the mold 601 to each suction unit 500 on the suction unit 500 side, the mold holding / transfer mechanism unit 400A moves backward to a position for receiving the next mold 601 from the transfer mechanism unit 300. The series of operations described above by the mold holding / transferring mechanism 400A is controlled by a pulse motor (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the suction unit 500 has a unit base portion 502 mounted on an electric slider 501, and a unit main body 503 attached to the unit base portion 502. A rotating body having a suction head 504 connected to a suction pipe connected to a compressor (not shown) and a plurality of centering and supporting shafts 505 that can be retracted to the periphery of each unit body 503 on opposite sides. 506 is provided. The centering / supporting shaft 505 is provided with a buffering spring (not shown) at the base, and a known cylinder chuck mechanism (not shown) is provided at the end of the shaft.

  When the mold holding / transferring mechanism unit 400A moves to the suction unit 500 side, each suction unit 500 is moved by the electric slider 501 to the gripper mechanism unit 400 side of the mold holding / transferring mechanism unit 400A. At this time, the suction head 504 of each suction unit 500 comes into contact with the surface of the mold 601 and sucks it. Here, the suction head 504 of the right suction unit 500 abuts on the concave surface side (non-molding surface side) of the mold 601. The suction head 504 of the left suction unit 500 contacts the convex surface side (non-molding surface side) of the mold 601. When the respective molds 601 are sucked by the respective suction heads 504, the holding claws 404 of the gripper mechanism 400 move in a direction away from the center of the holding claw holder 403, thereby releasing the holding on the mold 601.

  When each suction head 504 sucks the mold 601, each suction unit 500 moves backward from the gripper mechanism 400 by the electric slider 501. In accordance with this, the mold holding / transferring mechanism unit 400 </ b> A is retracted by the slider 401 to a position where the next mold 601 can be received from the transfer mechanism unit 300.

  Further, on the suction unit 500 side, the suction head 504 contacts the surface of the mold 601 (concave surface, convex surface side) and at the same time the centering and support shaft 505 contacts the surface of the mold 601 (concave surface side, convex surface side). Thus, the suction action by the suction head 504 and the pressing action by the centering / supporting shaft 505 act on the mold 601, and the mold 601 is centered.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the unit main bodies 503 of the respective suction units 500 are moved inward by the electric sliders 501 and stopped at positions where desired cavities 602 are obtained in the respective molds 601. The amount of movement is controlled by a pulse motor (not shown) of the electric slider 501.

  Further, when a desired cavity 602 is obtained in each mold 601, each mold 601 uses a tape adhering device (not shown) arranged at the top of each adsorption unit 500 as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b). By sticking the adhesive tape 610 around the outer peripheral edge 603 of 601, the master mold 600 having a predetermined cavity 602 is formed. FIG. 8C shows a mold 601 for forming an astigmatic lens as described above. In addition, after the adhesive tape 610 is attached, the rear end portion is cut, but the rear end portion is formed with a folded portion (part where the adhesive surfaces are attached) (not shown) by a well-known technique. It has come to be.

  When the adhesive tape 610 is attached, one suction unit 500 moves backward to a position where the next mold 601 can be received from the gripper mechanism 400, but only the other suction unit 500 is attached to the adhesive tape 610. The state where the stuck mother mold 600 is stopped while being sucked is maintained. At this time, the master mold 600 is gripped by another take-out device (not shown) and transferred to a predetermined location. Then, the other suction unit 500 moves backward to a position where it can receive the next mold 601 from the mold holding / transferring mechanism unit 400A.

  In this way, the master mold 600 formed by sticking the adhesive tape 610 is sent to a separate lens material filling step. The actual lens material filling operation is performed, for example, by slightly peeling off the above-mentioned folded portion of the adhesive tape 610 attached so as to straddle the respective molds 601 and providing a filling port.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the mold 601 is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side by the transport mechanism unit 100 as the transport unit, and is close by the chucking mechanism unit 200 as the chucking unit located on the downstream side. When the mold 601 is attracted and held by the transfer mechanism 300 and is inverted in the orthogonal direction, the mold holding and transferring means as the mold holding and transferring means is transferred It was made to move to the adsorption unit 500 side which is held by the mechanism part 400A and forms a part of a tape adhering device (not shown). Thereby, the process until each mold 601 is held by the suction unit 500 corresponding to the holder of the tape sticking device can be automated, and the working efficiency of molding the plastic lens can be dramatically increased.

  In this embodiment, when the mold 601 is placed on the pedestal 102 of the belt conveyor 101 and transported to the chucking mechanism unit 200 side, the engaging unit 203 disposed to face the chucking mechanism unit 200. When the outer peripheral edge is engaged and transferred to the transfer mechanism unit 300 side, and further held by suction by the suction head 305 of the transfer mechanism unit 300 and tilted in the orthogonal direction by the head support arm 304, the mold holding and transfer mechanism The outer peripheral edge portion is gripped by the holding claws 404 of the gripper mechanism portion 400 of the portion 400A and transferred to the tape sticking device side.

  Here, when forming the cavity 602 with the two molds 601 facing each other, as described above, the respective surfaces of the two molds 601 facing each other are used as the molding surfaces of the plastic lens. By holding the non-molding surface side opposite to the molding surface on the pedestal 102 of the belt conveyor 101, holding by the chucking mechanism unit 200, suction holding by the transfer mechanism unit 300, mold holding and transfer mechanism unit Any pinching by the holding claws 404 of the gripper mechanism 400 of 400A does not contact the molding surface. For this reason, each mold 601 can be safely and reliably transferred to the tape applicator side without scratching the molding surface of each mold 601.

  The present invention is not limited to a spectacle lens having a small diameter configuration, and can also be applied to a molding apparatus for a master mold for molding binoculars, a telescope, and other various large diameter plastic lenses.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Conveyance mechanism part 101 Belt conveyor 102 Base 110 Mold centering mechanism part 200 Chucking mechanism part 111, 201 Movable arm 113, 203 Engagement part 114, 204 Engagement piece 115, 205 Fitting taper 300 Transfer mechanism part 301 Rotating shaft 302 Base 303 Moving body 304 Head support arm 305 Suction head 400 Gripper mechanism 400A Mold holding / transfer mechanism 401 Slider 402 Gripper main body 403 Holding claw holder 404 Holding claw 405 Abutting step 406 Moving unit 407 Holding unit 500 Adsorption unit 501 Electric Slider 504 Adsorption head 505 Centering and supporting shaft 600 Master mold 601 Mold 602 Cavity 603 Outer peripheral edge 610 Adhesive tape

Claims (5)

Two molds for molding a plastic lens having an appropriate diameter and curvature face each other in a state where a predetermined filling gap is obtained, straddle the outer peripheral edge of each mold, and the circumference of the outer peripheral edge A plastic lens molding mold transfer device for transferring the mold to a tape sticking device side for sticking an adhesive tape along a direction,
Conveying means for conveying the mold from the upstream side to the downstream side;
Chucking means that is located downstream of the conveying means and chucks and transfers the mold conveyed by the conveying means;
Transfer means located in the vicinity of the chucking means, sucking and holding the mold transferred by the chucking means, and reversing the mold in an orthogonal direction;
A plastic holding unit that is located near the transfer unit, holds the mold inverted by the transfer unit, and transfers the held mold to the tape applicator side. Lens molding mold transfer device. The conveying means includes belt conveyors arranged in parallel, and a pedestal on which a plurality of the molds protruding at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of these belt conveyors are placed.
The chucking means is disposed facing each other, and has an engaging portion that engages with an outer peripheral edge portion of the mold,
The transfer means includes a suction head that holds the mold by suction, and a head support arm that supports the suction head and tilts the suction surface side of the suction head in an orthogonal direction,
The said mold holding | maintenance transfer means has the gripper mechanism part which provided the several holding nail | claw which grasps the outer periphery part of the said mold adsorb | sucked by the said adsorption | suction head on right and left. Transfer device for plastic lens molding.   The plastic lens molding mold transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the mounting surface of the pedestal is circular.   A mold centering mechanism having an engagement portion that is disposed to face each other and repeats engagement and disengagement with respect to the outer peripheral edge of the mold is provided on the upstream side of the conveying means. The plastic lens molding mold transfer device according to claim 2.   The apparatus for transferring a mold for molding a plastic lens according to claim 2, wherein the number of one holding claws of the gripper mechanism is four.

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