JPH05131305A - Device for cutting and forming material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent damage caused by corrosion and excessive abrasion by preventing the ingress of foreign matters into the spindle of a cutting and shaping apparatus for a lens in particular. CONSTITUTION: This apparatus is provided with a shaft 12 relatively rotatable in a hollow sleeve member 11, a bearing race assembly 15, and an end cup 13. Fluid is introduced into the hollow sleeve member 11 at a point between the bearing race assembly 15 and the end cup 13, at least a part of fluid is caused to flow between respective structural members and discharged without passing the bearing race assembly 15 to prevent the ingress of undesirable foreign matters into a structure. Fluid is preferably air.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a material cutting / forming apparatus, and more particularly to a lens material cutting / forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, most eyeglass lenses manufactured for commercial use are made of a polymer material such as CR39. Many of these materials tend to accumulate shavings in the form of fine particles when the lens material is subjected to forming operations such as lathe processing, and this swarf is produced by washing the lens material with the flow of cooling liquid. , Suspended in the cooling liquid and captured. As expected, this mixture of coolant and particulate debris is highly abrasive and suffers from the drawback of excessive wear of the materials of construction of these parts in the presence of relative moving parts. Have.

Many lens manufacturing apparatuses perform a lathe-type lens material cutting operation. Therefore, these lens manufacturing apparatuses have a hollow shaft whose one end is exposed in the environment around the place where the actual cutting operation is performed. The environment, of course, contains a mixture of the cooling liquid and particulate debris. In such prior art devices, no special measures were taken to prevent this mixture from penetrating between the relative moving members, in addition to the means for high production quality and low error operation. ..

[0004]

Therefore, under certain operating conditions, a mixture of cooling liquid and particulate debris penetrates between the members in relative motion, resulting in corrosion and / or corrosion.
Or damage due to excessive wear may occur. In normal operation, the member that is relatively moving (rotating) rotates at a speed of 8000 rpm or more with respect to the other member. It is clear that this results in a high frictional force that dissipates in the form of heat. As a result, the lens-making member, particularly the hollow shaft, in the vicinity of these members that move relative to each other is affected by heat.

During normal use of the lens manufacturing apparatus, the temperature of these members rises considerably, and so does the internal environment of the lens manufacturing apparatus in the vicinity of the relative movement member. This excludes air in the heated area, a portion of which passes through the space between the relative motion members. When the lens making device is at rest, air is drawn back into the evacuated area to make up for the evacuated air during operation of the device. This pullback of air introduces a mixture of cooling liquid and particulate debris between the relative motion members, causing significant corrosion and wear.

When corrosion or wear occurs in the lens manufacturing apparatus,
It is obvious that the operation efficiency and the processing accuracy are lowered, and the maintenance work of the lens manufacturing apparatus is increased. The present invention aims to prevent damage due to corrosion and excessive wear in the above-mentioned prior art.

[0007]

A material cutting / forming apparatus according to the present invention has at least one bearing structure, and the bearing structure is installed in a hollow sleeve member and the hollow sleeve member. On the other hand, a relatively rotatable shaft, a bearing race assembly installed between the hollow sleeve member and the shaft to facilitate relative rotation between the two, and to encapsulate and protect the bearing structure. , An end cap installed to close the hollow sleeve member, a fluid being introduced into the hollow sleeve member at a point between the bearing race assembly and the end cap, at least one of which The parts flow and drain between the components without passing through the bearing race assembly.

In the present invention, if the introduction of the fluid into the inner space of the hollow sleeve member is continued during the cooling of the heat-affected member and the environment, a considerable fluid discharge flow rate is maintained, and as a result Intrusion of cooling liquid and particulate dust is prevented. In this way, the corrosion and wear damage mentioned above is avoided and the best protection is obtained. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid introduced into the interior space of the hollow sleeve member is a gas, the best being air.

This gas is preferably introduced into the internal space at a pressure of 4-5 psi higher than the ambient atmospheric pressure. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lens manufacturing device having the above-mentioned bearing structure. The invention will be described in more detail on the basis of the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0010]

1 and 2 show a lens manufacturing apparatus having a bearing structure according to the present invention. This lens manufacturing device
Basically the same as what is currently on the market,
Therefore, only a brief explanation will be given here. This lens manufacturing apparatus comprises a main body 1 which is substantially hollow and on which other parts of the lens manufacturing apparatus are attached, a control means 2 for controlling the operation of the lens manufacturing apparatus, a microprocessor, and a lens. It has a cutting area 3 and a cutting debris removal system comprising a hood 4 connected by a hose 5 to the suction side of a pump housed in the body 1.

The lens cutting area 3 is, like many other lathe-type cutting devices, a lens material holding means and a lens material cutting / polishing means which are mounted around the lens material holding / rotating means by rotating them around their axes. It comprises a motor 6 for rotating the wheel, a lens material mounted on a block whose position can be adjusted, and a hollow shaft.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a bearing structure mounted on one end of the hollow shaft of the lens manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.
The bearing structure is usually covered by a hood 4. However, it should be noted that the bearing structure is not installed only in this position, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In this bearing structure, the hollow shaft includes a hollow metal sleeve 11, a rotatable shaft 12 mounted in the hollow sleeve, and the rotatable shaft when mounted around one end of the hollow metal sleeve 11. An end cap 13 having an orifice 14 through which the shaft 12 can pass, and a bearing installed between the rotatable shaft 12 and the hollow metal sleeve 11 such that the shaft and the sleeve can rotate relative to each other. It comprises a race assembly 15 and an adjusting nut 16 located at one end of the hollow metal sleeve 11 and having an orifice 17 through which the rotatable shaft 12 can pass.

The hollow metal sleeve 11 has a through hole 17 in which a rotatable shaft 12 is installed.
Most of the through hole 17 has a constant diameter, but has a larger diameter at one end of the hollow metal sleeve. In this way, the shelf 18 is formed in the hollow metal sleeve 11. A first circumferential groove 19 is provided adjacent to the shelf 18.

A second circumferential groove 20 is formed near the end of the hollow metal sleeve 11. A thread 39 is provided in a region 39 between the second circumferential groove 20 and the end of the hollow metal sleeve 11. On its outside, the hollow metal sleeve 11 has a main part 22 with a constant diameter and an end section 23 with a slightly larger diameter.
A circumferential groove 21 separates these parts 22, 23.

The end of the hollow metal sleeve 11 is provided with a protruding ring 24 integrated with the sleeve.
The protruding ring 24 has an inner diameter substantially the same as the end region 23 of the sleeve 11, but its outer diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the sleeve 11 and projects along the axis of the sleeve. Threads are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the protruding ring 24.

The rotary shatter 12 comprises a main section 25, a bearing section 26, a threaded section 27 and an end section 28. The bearing area 26, the threaded portion 27 and the end area 28 are directly adjacent to each other, the end areas being steps 45, 46.
Are separated by. The end cap 13 comprises a substantially disk-shaped member having a hub-shaped central member 29 that projects inwardly to define the orifice 14 and is rotatable when the lens making apparatus is completed. Extend through the orifice. The inner peripheral surface of the hub-shaped central member is provided with a thread to be screwed with the threaded portion 27 of the shaft 12, and the shaft 12 and the end cap 1
3 are held in place relative to each other.

The disk-shaped member also comprises two inwardly projecting flange-shaped members 29,30. One flange 29 is located at the end of the disk-shaped member, and the other flange 30 is provided between the hub-shaped central member and the first flange and forms two annular spaces 31 and 32. The bearing race assembly 15 includes two ball bearing race structures. Each ball bearing structure includes an inner race member 33 that engages with the shaft 12.
And an outer race member 34 in contact with the large diameter area of the through hole 17. A ball bearing 35 is mounted between the inner race member 33 and the outer race member 34 to facilitate relative movement between the two.

The adjusting nut 16 comprises two upright members 36,3.
7 is a ring-shaped member. The first upright member 36 is provided on the outer edge of the ring-shaped member with respect to the hollow shaft,
It has a threaded portion 38 that engages a thread provided in the region 39 of the hollow metal sleeve 11 and holds the adjusting nut 16 and the relative position of the hollow metal sleeve member. The 2nd upright member 37 is installed apart from the 1st upright member 36 inside, and forms the annular space between both.

Around the edge of the adjusting nut 16, a skirt member 43 extends inward in the longitudinal direction on the side where the members 36 and 37 do not exist. The skirt member 43 comprises a plurality of holes 44, the holes being the skirt member 4
3 communicates with the space formed inside. In the assembled state, the rotating shaft 12 has a hollow metal sleeve 1
1 is installed in the through hole 17.

The ball bearing race structure is installed between the shaft 12 and the inner surface of the large-diameter through hole 17 beyond the bearing portion 16. The innermost ball bearing race structure is pushed into place where its outer race member 34 abuts the shelf 18 of the hollow metal sleeve 11 so that both ball bearing race structures are in contact with each other.

The adjusting nut 16 is mounted around the rotary shaft 12 and its threaded portion 38 is screwed into the region 39 of the hollow metal sleeve. The adjusting nut 16 is turned until it correctly positions the ball bearing race structure within the hollow metal sleeve 11, where it locks the position of the ball bearing race structure. And the end cap 13
Is installed at the end of the shaft 12, and the threaded portion of the hub-shaped central member 29 of the end cap is the shaft 12
Is screwed onto the threaded portion 27 of the. Next, the end cap 1
3 descends around the threaded portion 27 of the shaft 12 and the flange member 29 is located outside the protruding ring 24. The protruding ring 24 is located in the annular space formed between the flanges 20 and 30 together with the upright member 36 of the adjusting nut 16. Furthermore, the upright member 37 of the adjusting nut 16 is located in the annular space defined by the second flange 20 and the hub-shaped central member 29 of the end cap 13.

As described above, the arrangement of these members in each annular space is relatively close, and therefore a sealing effect is obtained to prevent the liquid, for example, the cooling liquid containing the particulate dust generated in the lens manufacturing process from entering and exiting. Be done. According to the invention, the hollow metal sleeve 11 comprises a connecting part 40 in the vicinity of the end provided with the protruding ring 24. The connecting portion 4
No. 0 in this example has a threaded inner peripheral surface 41 in which a threaded hose nipple can be secured. The connecting passage 42 extends from the base of the connecting portion 40 to the second circumferential groove 2
It extends to zero and allows the passage of gases such as air from the hose to the location between the bearing race assembly and the end cap 13.

This gas is introduced into the communication passage 42 at a slightly higher pressure of about 4 to 5 psi than the ambient atmosphere, and the second
Flow through the circumferential groove 20. And this gas is the adjustment nut 1
6 between the hollow metal sleeve 11 and the skirt 43
Through the hole into the space formed in the adjusting nut 16. Further, this gas is adjusted by adjusting nut 16 and end cap 13.
Between the end cap 13 and the hollow metal sleeve 1
1 and the protruding ring 24, from which it is discharged into the atmosphere.

When the lens manufacturing apparatus is operating normally, the bearing race assembly and the members in the vicinity thereof are affected by the heat generated by the frictional force between the moving members. This causes the air in this region to expand, creating a substantial air flow between the end cap 13 and the adjusting nut 16 that follows a similar route as previously described. When the lens making device is at rest, the bearing race assembly and the surrounding components cool, creating a substantial air flow into the area along the aforementioned route. Under normal conditions, most of the gas drawn into the region is ambient atmospheric air. However, in most cases some amount of the cooling liquid used in the lens making process (including the particulate debris generated from the lens blank) is drawn into this region.

As a result, damage is caused to the end cap and the adjusting nut 16 due to corrosion and wear unless some measures are taken. In the present invention, during cooling,
It is proposed that gas be allowed to continuously flow through the hose and the communication passage. By doing this, the end cap 13 and the protruding ring 24 of the hollow metal sleeve 11 are
A substantial air flow is maintained from the area between and to prevent any foreign matter from being drawn into the bearing structure from the vicinity where the lens making operation is being performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent corrosion and damage due to wear caused by particulate debris in the cooling liquid.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the bearing structure used in the hollow shaft of the lens manufacturing apparatus constructed according to the present invention. The bearing structure shown here is basically the same as that of FIG. 3 and corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 12 has a hollow structure, the end region 28 of which is separated from the threaded portion 27 by a shelf 30 and a groove 31, which threaded portion 27 comprises a step 52 and a groove. It is separated from the bearing area 26 by 53. A skirt member 54 is circumferentially provided around the rotary shaft 12,
It is fixed by a plurality of splines 55.

Further in this example, the bearing section 26 is integral with the main part of the shaft 12. In the assembled state, the end cap 13 is in contact with the shaft 50. An inner race member of the innermost ball bearing race structure abuts the skirt member 54, and a circumferential ring is provided that abuts the inner race member of the outermost ball bearing race structure and the step 53. Positioned in position.

When assembled, this rotating shaft and its accessories are inserted into a pre-assembled hollow metal sleeve 11. The action of the gas flow is the same as in the first embodiment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a lens manufacturing apparatus configured according to the present invention.

2 is an end view of the lens manufacturing apparatus of FIG.

3 is a side sectional view of a first embodiment of a bearing structure used in the lens manufacturing apparatus of FIG.

4 is a side sectional view of a second embodiment of the bearing structure used in the lens manufacturing apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body part 2 ... Control means 3 ... Cutting area 4 ... Hood 5 ... Hose 6 ... Motor 13 ... End cap 12 ... Rotating shaft 11 ... Hollow metal sleeve 15 ... Bearing race assembly 14 ... Orifice 16 ... Adjusting nut 17 ... Orifice 18 ... Shelf 19, 20 ... Circumferential groove

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A material cutting / forming apparatus having at least one bearing structure, comprising: a hollow sleeve member; a shaft that is installed in the hollow sleeve member and is rotatable relative to the hollow sleeve member; A bearing race assembly installed between the sleeve member and the shaft for facilitating relative rotation therebetween, and installed to close the hollow sleeve member to enclose and protect the bearing structure. An end cap, wherein fluid is introduced into the hollow sleeve member at a point between the bearing race assembly and the end cap, at least a portion of which does not pass through the bearing race assembly. Material cutting / forming equipment that flows between members and is discharged. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid introduced into the interior of the hollow sleeve member is a gas, most preferably air. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the gas is introduced at a pressure that is 4-5 psi above the pressure of the ambient environment. 4. A lens manufacturing apparatus having a bearing structure, comprising a hollow sleeve member, a shaft installed in the hollow sleeve member and rotatable relative to the hollow sleeve member, the hollow sleeve member and the shaft. A bearing race assembly that is installed between and to facilitate relative rotation between the two and an end cap that is installed to close the hollow sleeve member to enclose and protect the bearing structure. Fluid is introduced into the hollow sleeve member at a point between the bearing race assembly and the end cap, at least a portion of which does not pass through the bearing race assembly and flows between the components. A lens manufacturing device that is ejected. 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the fluid introduced into the interior of the hollow sleeve member is a gas, most preferably air. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gas is introduced at a pressure that is 4-5 psi above the pressure of the ambient environment.