System and method for processing of optical lenses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9840373-B2
Application number	US-201615189310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2016
Priority date	Mar 9, 2012
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A system and a method for processing of optical lenses in which the processing takes place by different processing apparatus between which there is a respective transfer apparatus. The transfer apparatus are used both for longitudinal and also cross conveyance. Each processing apparatus has its own conveyor apparatus which is controlled by the processing apparatus itself. The transfer apparatus are controlled by a central transfer control.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for processing optical lenses, comprising:
several separate processing apparatus for independent processing of the lenses and
a transfer system for conveyance of the lenses to and from the several separate processing apparatus, each processing apparatus having a conveyor apparatus for linear conveyance of the lenses,
wherein the transfer system has a first transport track extending directly through a plurality of the processing apparatus for conveyance of lenses from one processing apparatus directly to a next processing apparatus, and a second parallel transport track for parallel conveyance of lenses, and
wherein a third parallel transport track is provided for at least one of parallel conveyance, return conveyance and circulation of lenses so that the lenses are conveyable to some or all of the several separate processing apparatus in any sequence.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second parallel transport track and third parallel transport track has reversible conveying direction.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second parallel transport track and third parallel transport track have conveying directions which are opposite one another.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transfer system has a transfer apparatus for receiving and temporary intermediate storage in a receiving area and for continued conveyance of at least one lens selectively to the conveyor apparatus of a following of the several separate processing apparatus or to the second transport track, the transfer apparatus and the conveyor apparatus forming the first transport track, and the transfer apparatus being located between processing apparatus.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the transfer apparatus has a longitudinal conveyor apparatus for longitudinal conveyance of at least one lens parallel to one of the transport tracks and a cross conveyor apparatus for cross conveyance of at least one lens.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal conveyor apparatus and cross conveyor apparatus of the transfer apparatus are controllable independently of one another.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal conveyor apparatus for longitudinal conveyance forms or includes the receiving area of the respective transfer apparatus.

8. The system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal conveyor apparatus for longitudinal conveyance is integrated into the first transport track and that is configured for changing between the first and second transport track and vice versa.

9. The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the transfer apparatus forms a shunt.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conveyor apparatus includes a belt conveyor.

11. A system for processing optical lenses, comprising:
several separate processing apparatus for independent processing of the lenses and
a transfer system for conveyance of the lenses to and from the several separate processing apparatus, each of the several separate processing apparatus having a conveyor apparatus for conveyance of the lenses,
wherein the transfer system has a first transport track extending directly through a plurality of the several separate processing apparatus for conveyance of lenses from one of the several separate processing apparatus directly to a next of the several separate processing apparatus and a second parallel transport track for parallel conveyance of lenses, and
wherein the transfer system has a return conveyor connection for at least one of return conveyance and circulation of lenses so that the lenses are able to be conveyed to some or all of the several separate processing apparatus in any sequence or repeatedly.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the return conveyor connection connects the first or second transport track so as to enable circulation of lenses via the first transport track or the second transport track.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the return conveyor connection is connected via corresponding shunts.

14. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the system comprises several return conveyor connections.

15. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the return conveyor connection is connected to the first or second transport track.

16. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the return conveyor connection is configured to enable the return of lenses in a return direction so that conveyance or circulation of the lenses via the second transport track is enabled without reversing the conveyor direction and without changing to the opposite conveyor direction.

17. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the system comprises two groups of the several separate processing apparatus arranged opposite one another or two rows of the several separate processing apparatus arranged opposite to one another.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the two groups or rows of the several separate processing apparatus are arranged such that the-first and second transport tracks of the two groups or two rows run parallel to one another.

19. The system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the return conveyor connection connects the two groups or the two rows of the several separate processing apparatus transversely or to one another.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the return conveyor connection comprises the conveyor apparatus or is formed by the conveyor apparatus.

21. The system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein each group or row of the several separate processing apparatus has a second transport track parallel to the first transport track.

22. The system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the return conveyor connection connects the second transport tracks of the two groups of the several separate processing apparatus to one another.

23. The system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the second transport tracks and the return conveyor connection are arranged or connected to each other such that the lenses are circulated between the two groups or rows of the several separate processing apparatus.

24. The system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first transport track extends through each group or row for conveyance of lenses from one processing apparatus to a next processing apparatus within one of the groups or rows.

25. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the return conveyor connection connects the first or second transport track in a start region and/or an end of the first and/or second transport track.

26. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein a third parallel transport track is provided for at least one of parallel conveyance, return conveyance and circulation of lenses so that the lenses are conveyable to some or all of the several separate processing apparatus in any sequence.

27. The system as claimed in claim 26 , wherein at least one of the second parallel transport track and third parallel transport track has reversible conveying direction.

28. The system as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the second parallel transport track and third parallel transport track have conveying directions which are opposite one another.

29. The system as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the system comprises change-over apparatus for changing between the second transport track and the third transp

Assignees

• Schneider Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Schneider Gunter

Classifications

• B24B27/0069

  with means for feeding the work-pieces to the grinding tool, e.g. turntables, transfer means (see also B24B27/0023, B24B7/16) · CPC title

• B24B13/0037 Primary

  the lenses being worked by different tools, e.g. for rough-grinding, fine-grinding, polishing · CPC title

• B24B27/0023

  grinding machines with a plurality of working posts · CPC title

• B65G37/02 Primary

  Flow-sheets for conveyor combinations in warehouses, magazines or workshops · CPC title

• B29D11/00432

  Auxiliary operations, e.g. machines for filling the moulds (B29D11/00125 takes precedence) · CPC title