JP5476377B2 - Lens processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a highly versatile lens processing apparatus capable of performing polishing processing, grinding processing, and the like on a lens surface by various processing methods.

  As conventional lens surface processing methods, there are known methods such as an Oscar type, an oblique axis type, a ball center swing type, and a planetary swing type. According to the shape and material of the lens, the optimum processing method is selected from these processing methods, and the lens surface is processed using a dedicated lens processing apparatus that performs processing by the selected processing method. Therefore, conventionally, since it is necessary to prepare various types of lens processing apparatuses individually, a large amount of equipment costs and installation space are required, and there is a problem of lack of economic efficiency.

  In the patent document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 3981326), the applicant of the present application enables a plate-type and cup-type lens processing tool to be accurately moved along an arbitrary trajectory without using a cam mechanism. Has proposed a lens processing device capable of processing the lens surface. In this lens processing apparatus, the lens processing tool is applied from below to the lens to be processed that is horizontally held by the lower lens holding surface of the lens holder from above with respect to the processing surface of the upward lens processing tool. Processing is performed by pressing the processing surface. In addition, the movement of the lens processing tool in the Z-axis direction (vertical direction), the movement in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction), and the turning around the θ-axis orthogonal to the Z-axis and the X-axis are controlled. Thus, the lens surface can be processed by various lens processing methods.

Japanese Patent No. 3981326

  Here, in the conventional Oscar-type, oblique-axis type, and planetary-oscillation-type lens processing apparatuses that are used for lens curved surface processing, the rotation axis of the lens processing tool and the lens holder axis are inclined at a predetermined angle. The lens cannot be kept horizontal. During processing, the lens follows a rotation of the lens processing tool and rotates, and a force that always tries to return to the horizontal state due to the inertial force due to the rotation acts on the lens. For this reason, the pressing stress generated between the lens and the lens processing tool is not uniform, and the processing accuracy of the lens processing surface may be lowered.

  Also, if the rotation axis of the lens processing tool and the lens holder axis are tilted, when the lens is replaced, the pressure applied to the lens holder axis is released and the pressing force of the lens on the lens processing tool is released. In addition, there is a risk that the lens slides down from the processing surface of the lens processing tool and is damaged.

  Furthermore, if the inclination of the lens at the time of completion of processing is not constant, it is difficult to attach and detach the lens by the automatic conveyance device, and the lens must be manually replaced. For this reason, it is not possible to automate the lens exchange and increase the work efficiency.

  In view of the above, the problem of the present invention is that a lens is sucked and held by a lens holder that is rotatably supported by a tip of a lens holder shaft via a pivot bearing, and a lens processing tool is attached to the lens. In a lens processing apparatus for processing a lens curved surface by relatively moving a lens and a lens processing tool in a pressed state, the lens curved surface can be processed by various processing methods while the lens is always kept horizontal.

In order to solve the above problems, the lens processing apparatus of the present invention is:
A lens holder shaft extending vertically,
Downwardly mounted in coaxially through the pivot bearing to the lower end of the lens holder shaft, and the rotation and pivotable lens holder about the pivot bearings,
A Z-axis moving mechanism for moving the lens holder axis in the Z-axis direction which is a vertical direction;
An X-axis movement mechanism for moving the lens holder axis in the X-axis direction, which is a horizontal direction;
A lens processing tool having a convex or concave arcuate processing surface arranged upward to process the lens held by the lens holder;
A θ axis turning mechanism for turning the lens processing tool about a θ axis extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the X axis;
A lens processing tool rotating mechanism for rotating the lens processing tool around a central axis of the lens processing tool passing through the θ axis;
Driving and controlling the X-axis moving mechanism, the Z-axis moving mechanism, and the θ-axis turning mechanism to move the lens holder attached to the lens holder shaft in the X-axis direction, and to move the lens holder in the Z-axis direction. And a drive control means for executing a plurality of types of lens processing modes by controlling the movement of the lens processing tool and turning about the θ axis of the lens processing tool.

  In the lens processing apparatus of the present invention, in the lens processing mode by the drive control unit, the lens of the lens holder with respect to the arc-shaped processing surface of the lens processing tool that rotates about the θ axis. A lens processing mode for drivingly controlling the X-axis movement mechanism, the Z-axis movement mechanism, and the θ-axis turning mechanism so that the lens to be processed held on the holding surface is pressed horizontally from above. Is included.

  In the lens processing apparatus of the present invention, the lens to be processed that is sucked and held by the lens holder by the feeding operation of the lens holder in two orthogonal directions (Z-axis and X-axis directions) Can be moved along an arbitrary trajectory on a vertical plane including. Further, on the vertical plane, the arc-shaped processing surface of the lens processing tool can be turned along a circular locus centering on the θ axis. Therefore, it is possible to realize a lens processing mode in which the lens surface is processed while maintaining the state in which the lens is pressed horizontally from above with respect to the arc-shaped processing surface of the lens processing tool.

  In the lens processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the lens processing tool has a Y-axis moving mechanism that moves the lens processing tool in a Y-axis direction parallel to the θ-axis.

  The lens processing tool is positioned at an arbitrary position in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis moving mechanism, and the lens holder is reciprocated in the X-axis direction by the X-axis moving mechanism at this position, so that the lens processing corresponding to the conventional Oscar method is performed. The lens surface can be processed according to the mode. In addition, the X-axis movement mechanism, the Z-axis movement mechanism, and the θ-axis rotation mechanism are individually controlled, and the lens holder and the lens processing tool are moved and fixed to predetermined positions, thereby supporting the conventional oblique axis system. The lens surface can be processed by the lens processing mode.

  According to the lens processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to perform lens processing in a lens processing mode in which the lens surface is processed while the lens is always kept horizontal. In this lens processing mode, the pressing stress of the lens against the arc-shaped processing surface of the lens processing tool is uniform in each part of the lens surface. In addition, when the pressing force of the lens holder shaft is released and the lens held by the lens holder supported on the tip is released, the lens slides down along the arc-shaped processing surface of the lens processing tool. There is no damage. Furthermore, since the posture of the lens at the time of completion of processing is always in a horizontal state, it is possible to efficiently exchange the lens with respect to the lens holder using the automatic conveyance device.

  In addition, the single lens processing apparatus of the present invention is highly versatile because it can perform processing in various lens processing modes such as an Oscar type, an oblique axis type, and a planetary swing type. Therefore, since it is not necessary to prepare various types of lens processing apparatuses individually, the equipment cost and installation space can be created, which is extremely economical.

It is a mechanism figure of the lens processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows the lens processing mode performed in the state which maintained the lens horizontal by the lens processing apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows another lens processing mode by the lens processing apparatus of FIG.

  Embodiments of a lens processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the lens processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an upper shaft unit 10, a lower shaft unit 30 disposed immediately below the upper shaft unit 10, and these It has the conveyor unit 50 arrange | positioned in the height position between the upper shaft unit 10 and the lower shaft unit 30, and the drive control unit 70 which manages drive control of each part.

  The upper shaft unit 10 holds a lens holder 12 for holding the lens 11 to be processed in a downward state. The lower shaft unit 30 holds a lens processing tool 31 for lens surface processing in an upward state. The conveyor unit 50 supplies the lens 11 to be processed to the lens holder 12 and collects the lens 11 after processing from the lens holder 12.

  The upper shaft unit 10 includes a lens holder shaft 13 arranged in the vertical direction, and the lens holder 12 is attached to the lower end of the lens holder shaft 13 through a pivot bearing mechanism 14 in a downward state. . The lens 11 to be processed can be adsorbed and held on the downward lens holding surface 12a of the lens holder 12 by, for example, vacuuming.

  The upper shaft unit 10 has an X-axis moving mechanism 15 for sending the lens holder shaft 13 in the X-axis direction extending in the horizontal direction, and a Z-axis movement for sending the lens holder shaft 13 in the Z-axis direction extending in the vertical direction. And a mechanism 19. In this example, the X-axis moving mechanism 15 includes an X-axis guide 16 that extends in the horizontal direction, an X-axis table 16a that is slidable along the X-axis guide 16 in the X-axis direction, and an X-axis table 16a in the X-axis direction. And an X-axis servomotor 18 as a drive source. The Z-axis moving mechanism 19 includes a Z-axis guide 20 that is attached to the surface of the X-axis table 16a and extends in a direction perpendicular to the X-axis, and a Z-axis table 20a that is slidable along the Z-axis guide 20 in the Z-axis direction. A Z-axis feed screw 21 for feeding the Z-axis table 20a in the Z-axis direction, and a Z-axis servo motor 22 as a drive source.

  A holder shaft base 23 is fixed to the Z-axis table 20a of the Z-axis moving mechanism, and the lens holder shaft 13 is vertically supported by the holder shaft base 23 in a rotatable state. The lens holder shaft 13 is always urged downward by a holder pressing spring 24. The pressure applied by the holder pressure spring 24 can be adjusted by a pressure adjustment bolt 25. In addition to the spring, the pressurizing method may be a weight, a pneumatic cylinder, or a hydraulic cylinder. The lens holder shaft 13 can be rotated around its central axis 13 a by a holder shaft driving motor 26 mounted on the holder shaft base 23.

  Various structures can be employed as the pivot bearing mechanism 14 between the lens holder shaft 13 and the lens holder 12, and the lens holder 12 can swing around a back position 12 b supported by the lens holder shaft 13. And it should just be attached in the state which can rotate around the central axis 13a. When the lens 11 is sucked and held on the lens holding surface 12 a of the lens holder 12 by vacuum suction, a vacuum suction path for vacuum suction of the lens 11 is drawn out via the lens holder shaft 13 and the pivot bearing mechanism 14. It is necessary to form the lens holder 12 so as to open in the lens holding surface 12a. It is desirable to employ a pivot bearing mechanism 14 suitable for forming such a vacuum suction path.

  Next, the lower shaft unit 30 includes a θ-axis turning mechanism 33 that turns the lens processing tool 31 about a θ-axis 32 that extends horizontally in the front-rear direction orthogonal to both the X-axis and the Z-axis, and the lens processing tool 31. A Y-axis moving mechanism 36 for moving in the horizontal direction parallel to the θ-axis 32 is provided. The θ-axis turning mechanism 33 includes a θ-axis servomotor 34 provided with a rotation shaft 34a having the θ-axis 32 as a central axis, and an L-shaped θ bracket 35 attached to the tip of the rotation shaft 34a. The Y-axis moving mechanism 36 includes a spindle case 37 and a Y-axis micro head 38 that defines the position of the spindle case 37 in the Y-axis direction. The spindle case 37 is mounted on the θ bracket 35 so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction.

  A spindle 39 is rotatably supported on the spindle case 37, and the spindle 39 is rotationally driven by a spindle drive motor 40. A lens processing tool 31 is attached to the upper end of the spindle 39 upward in a coaxial state. The spindle case 37, the spindle 39 and the spindle drive motor 40 constitute a rotation mechanism 41 of the lens processing tool 31.

  On the other hand, the conveyor unit 50 includes a conveyor 52 that conveys the lens case 51 and a conveyor drive motor 53 that rotates the conveyor 52. The conveyor 52 and the conveyor drive motor 53 can be moved by a conveyor front / rear cylinder 54 to a position between the upper shaft unit 10 and the lower shaft unit 30 and a position retracted in the Y-axis direction therefrom.

  An example of lens conveyance operation by the conveyor 52 will be described. At the retracted position, the conveyor 52 conveys the lens case 51, exchanges the lens case 51 containing the processed lens and the lens case 51 containing the unprocessed lens, and reaches the end of the conveyor 52. The lens case 51 is transferred to the conveyor of the next process, and the lens case 51 discharged from the conveyor of the previous process is received.

  Thereafter, the conveyor 52 moves forward, positions the lens case 51 below the upper shaft unit 10, supplies the lens 11 to the lens holder 12, or receives the processed lens 11 from the lens holder 12, and reaches the retracted position. Moving.

  The upper shaft unit 10 positions the lens holder 12 directly above the lens case 51 mounted on the advanced conveyor 52, and sucks the lens of the lens case 51 to the lens holder 12 by, for example, vacuuming and temporarily retracts. Let After the lens case 51 moves backward together with the conveyor 52, the lens 11 held by the lens holder 12 is moved to a processing position by the dish-type or cup-type lens processing tool 31.

  After the processing by the dish-type or cup-type lens processing tool 31 is completed, the lens 11 is retracted from the lens processing tool 31 by the lens holder 12, and the conveyor 52 advances to wait for the lens case 51 to be positioned below. Then, immediately above the lens case 51, the lens holder 12, for example, cancels the suction, drops the lens 11 onto the lens case 51, and stores it here. Thereafter, the lens holder 12 is retracted.

(Operation example)
An operation example of the lens processing apparatus 1 having this configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a lens processing mode in which processing is performed while the lens 11 is kept horizontal. As the movement conditions, a processing radius r (m), a left movement amount L (m), and a right movement amount R (m) are set. The processing surface 31a of the lens processing tool 31 is a convex arc-shaped processing surface, and the lens processing tool 31 is attached to the upper end of the spindle 39 so that the apex 31b of the processing surface 31a is located on the θ axis 32. In the initial position, it is assumed that the center axis 13a of the lens holder shaft 13 and the rotation center line 31c of the lens processing tool 31 coincide with each other.

The coordinate position on the upper shaft unit 10 side at the initial position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 2 is Xo (m) in the X-axis direction and Zo (m) in the Z-axis direction, and the turning angle on the lower shaft unit 30 side is Let θo (degrees). In this case, in order to slide the lens surface 11a and the convex arcuate processing surface 31a of the lens 11 in a state where the lens 11 is pressed against the convex arcuate processing surface 31a of the lens processing tool 31 while maintaining the horizontal state, X In accordance with the feed amount Xd in the axial direction, the feed amount Zd in the Z-axis direction and the turning amount θd around the θ-axis are set as follows.
X = Xd (m)
θd = sin ⁻¹ (Xd / r) (degrees)
Zd = r (1-cos θd) (m)

  The feed amount Xd in the X-axis direction is gradually increased and moved from the initial position Xo to L (m). The Z-axis direction feed amount Zd (m) and the turning angle θd (degrees) corresponding to the feed amount Xd are calculated, and in synchronization with the X-axis direction feed, the Z-axis direction feed operation and the rotation around the θ-axis Performs a turning motion. After the feed amount Xd becomes L (m), the feed amount Xd is gradually decreased and moved from the initial position Xo to the negative side to R (m). Also at this time, the feed operation in the Z-axis direction and the turning operation around the θ-axis are performed in conjunction with the feed in the X-axis direction. Thereby, the lens surface 11a can be processed while the lens 11 is kept horizontal.

In the lens surface processing operation, the lens processing tool rotation mechanism 41 rotates the lens processing tool 31 about its rotation center line 31c. Since the lens surface 11 a of the lens 11 is pressed from the upper side to the processing surface 31 a of the lens processing tool 31, the lens 11 rotates following the rotation of the lens processing tool 31. The processing operation is performed in a state where the lens 11 is vacuum-sucked on the lens holding surface 12a of the lens holder 12, or in a state where the vacuum suction is released.

  Here, when the movement stroke of the lens holder shaft 13 in the Z-axis direction is larger than the maximum value of the feed amount in the Z-axis direction, calculation of Zd and drive control of the Z-axis movement mechanism can be omitted.

  Also, by giving a positive value to the processing radius r, as shown in FIG. 2, the convex lens surface 11a can be processed, and by giving a negative value, the concave lens surface can be processed.

  On the other hand, if the processing radius r is infinite, only lateral movement (feeding in the X-axis direction) occurs, so that when combined with movement in the Y-axis direction, an Oscar-type lens processing mode can be realized. In addition, the movement in the X-axis, Z-axis, and Y-axis directions is prevented, and the rotation around the θ-axis is prevented, and the lens 11 and the lens processing tool 31 are fixed at an arbitrary position and angle to perform processing. If this is done, an oblique axis lens processing mode can be realized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lens processing tool 31 is fixed in a vertical state, and in this state, the lens processing tool rotating mechanism 41 is rotated to drive the Z-axis moving mechanism 19 and the X-axis moving mechanism 15, It is also possible to process the lens surface 11a by sliding the lens 11 along the lens processing surface 31a of the lens processing tool 31.

(Other embodiments)
When there are a small number of workpieces (lenses), or when the outer diameter is large, or in order to construct an inexpensive and simple means, a turntable that is rotated by electric and air indexes is arranged instead of the conveyor unit 50. You may make it perform supply and collection | recovery of a workpiece | work. Of course, the workpiece may be attached and detached manually without using the workpiece changer.

  It is also possible to replace the Y-axis microhead 38 of the lower shaft unit 30 with a Y-axis moving mechanism including a feed screw and a servo motor. In this case, the lens surface processing by the planetary system can be realized by simultaneously driving the Y-axis moving mechanism and the X-axis moving mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lens processing apparatus 10 Upper shaft unit 11 Lens 11a Lens surface 12 Lens holder 13 Lens holder shaft 13a Center axis 14 Pivot bearing mechanism 15 X-axis moving mechanism 16 X-axis guide 16a X-axis table 17 X-axis feed screw 18 X-axis servo motor 19 Z-axis moving mechanism 20 Z-axis guide 20a Z-axis table 21 Z-axis feed screw 22 Z-axis servo motor 23 Holder shaft base 24 Holder pressure spring 25 Pressure adjusting bolt 30 Lower shaft unit 31 Lens processing tool 31a Processing surface 31b Vertex 31c Rotation center line 32 θ axis 33 θ axis turning mechanism 34 θ axis servo motor 34a rotation axis 35 θ bracket 37 spindle case 38 Y axis microhead 39 spindle 40 spindle drive motor 41 lens processing tool rotation mechanism 50 conveyor unit 51 lens case 52 Conveyor 53 Conveyor Drive Motor 70 Drive Control Unit

Claims (3)

A lens holder shaft extending vertically,
A lens holder that is attached to the lower end of the lens holder shaft downward in a coaxial state via a pivot bearing, and that can rotate and swing around the pivot bearing;
A Z-axis moving mechanism for moving the lens holder axis in the Z-axis direction which is a vertical direction;
An X-axis movement mechanism for moving the lens holder axis in the X-axis direction, which is a horizontal direction;
A lens processing tool having a convex or concave arcuate processing surface arranged upward to process the lens held by the lens holder;
A θ-axis turning mechanism for turning the lens processing tool about a θ-axis extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the X-axis;
A lens processing tool rotating mechanism for rotating the lens processing tool around the central axis of the lens processing tool passing through the θ axis;
Driving and controlling the X-axis moving mechanism, the Z-axis moving mechanism, and the θ-axis turning mechanism to move the lens holder attached to the lens holder shaft in the X-axis direction, and to move the lens holder in the Z-axis direction. Drive control means for executing a plurality of types of lens processing modes by controlling the movement of the lens processing tool and turning about the θ axis of the lens processing tool ,
In the lens processing mode by the drive control means, the lens to be processed held on the lens holding surface of the lens holder with respect to the arc-shaped processing surface of the lens processing tool turning around the θ axis. Lens processing that drives and controls the X-axis moving mechanism, the Z-axis moving mechanism, and the θ-axis turning mechanism so as to maintain a state where it is pressed horizontally from above, and that performs processing while maintaining the lens horizontal. A lens processing apparatus including a mode . In the lens processing mode in which processing is performed with the lens maintained in a horizontal state,
As the movement conditions, a machining radius r (m), a left movement amount L (m) in the X-axis direction, and a right movement amount R (m) in the X-axis direction are set.
In the initial position, the center axis of the lens holder shaft and the rotation center line of the lens processing tool are matched,
When the coordinate position of the lens holder at the initial position is Xo (m) in the X-axis direction and Zo (m) in the Z-axis direction, and the turning angle of the lens processing tool is θo (degrees), the lens holder According to the X-axis direction feed amount X = Xd (m), the Z-axis direction feed amount Zd of the lens holder and the turning amount θd about the θ-axis of the lens processing tool, respectively,
θd = sin ^-1 (Xd / r) (degrees)
Zd = r (1-cos θd) (m)
The lens processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The lens processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a Y-axis moving mechanism that moves the lens processing tool in a Y-axis direction parallel to the θ-axis.

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