US 10,947,053 B2Granted

Production system for spectacle lenses

AssigneeCarl Zeiss Vision International GmbH

InventorsRalf Meschenmoser, Arne Schulz, Dennis Klora

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Disclosed is a production system for spectacle lenses made from spectacle lens blanks, having a left-hand outer transport track, multiple left-hand processing devices which are arranged on the left-hand side next to the left-hand outer transport track, a right-hand outer transport track, and a central transport track which is arranged between the left-hand outer transport track and the right-hand outer transport track. The transport direction of the left-hand outer transport track and the transport direction of the right-hand outer transport track are identical, and the transport direction of the central transport track is opposite to the transport directions of the left-hand outer transport track and the right-hand outer transport track or can be reversed. The multiple right-hand processing devices are arranged on the right-hand side next to the right-hand outer transport track. A processing device pair made of left-hand and right-hand processing devices is paired with a transfer device.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system for producing spectacle lenses from spectacle lens blanks, the system comprising:

an outer left transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a first transport direction;
a plurality of left process devices for the spectacle lens blanks, the left process devices being arranged to a left of the outer left transport track and being configured to at least partially convert a respective spectacle lens blank into a final spectacle lens blank or a finished spectacle lens;
an outer right transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a second transport direction;
and
a central transport track arranged between the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a third transport direction, wherein
the first transport direction of the outer left transport track and the second transport direction of the outer right transport track are identical, wherein
the third transport direction of the central transport track is counter to the first and second transport directions of the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track or reversible;
a plurality of right process devices for the spectacle lens blanks arranged to a right of the outer right transport track, the right process devices being configured to at least partially convert the respective spectacle lens blank into the final spectacle lens blank or finished spectacle lens, wherein
one or more of the right process devices are arranged opposite one or more of the left process devices in relation to the left, right, and central transport tracks to form one or more process device pairs, respectively, wherein
the one or more of the process device pairs each have a transfer device, respectively assigned to the respective process device pair the transfer device being configured to transfer the spectacle lens blanks between a respective left process device of the respective process device pair and the outer left transport track and the central transport track and to transfer the spectacle lens blanks between a respective right process device of the respective process device pair and the outer right transport track and the central transport track,
wherein at least one of the transfer devices includes a plurality of rotation/transport devices, and wherein
(i) the outer left transport track includes four outer left rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices,
(ii) the central transport track includes four central rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices, and
(iii) the outer right transport track includes four outer right rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices.

11 more elements

A method for operating a system for producing spectacle lenses from spectacle lens blanks, the method comprising:

providing an outer left transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a first transport direction;
arranging a plurality of left process devices for the spectacle lens blanks to a left of the outer left transport track, the left process devices being configured to at least partially convert a respective spectacle lens blank into a final spectacle lens blank or a finished spectacle lens;
providing an outer right transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a second transport direction;
arranging a central transport track between the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track, the central transport track being configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a third transport direction;
transporting the spectacle lens blanks to one or more of the left process devices via at least one of the outer left transport track, the outer right transport track, or the central transport track;
transporting the spectacle lens blanks with an identical transport direction on the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track;
transporting the spectacle lens blanks on the central transport track in an opposite or in a same transport direction to the spectacle lenses on the outer left transport track and the spectacle lenses on the outer right transport track;
arranging a plurality of right process devices for the spectacle lens blanks to a right of the outer right transport track, the right process devices being configured to at least partially convert the respective spectacle lens blank into the final spectacle lens blank or finished spectacle lens;
arranging one or more of the right process devices opposite one or more of the left process devices in relation to the left, right, and central transport tracks to form one or more process device pairs, wherein
the one or more of the process device pairs each have a transfer device, respectively assigned to a process device pair, the transfer device being configured to transfer the spectacle lens blanks between a respective left process device of the respective process device pair and the outer left transport track and the central transport track and to transfer the spectacle lens blanks between a respective right process device of the respective process device pair and the outer right transport track and the central transport track,
wherein at least one of the transfer devices includes a plurality of rotation/transport devices, wherein
(i) the outer left transport track includes four outer left rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices, wherein
(ii) the central transport track includes four central rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices, and wherein
(iii) the outer right transport track comprises four outer right rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices;
and
transporting the spectacle lens blanks to one or more of the plurality of right process devices, arranged to a right side of the outer right transport track, for the spectacle lens blanks via at least one of the outer left transport track, the outer right transport track, or the central transport track.

13 more elements

A system for producing spectacle lenses from spectacle lens blanks, the system comprising:

an outer left transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a first transport direction;
a plurality of left process devices for the spectacle lens blanks, the left process devices being arranged to a left of the outer left transport track and being configured to at least partially convert a respective spectacle lens blank into a final spectacle lens blank or a finished spectacle lens;
an outer right transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a second transport direction;
a central transport track arranged between the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track, the central transport track being configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a third transport direction, wherein
the first transport direction of the outer left transport track and the second transport direction of the outer right transport track are identical, wherein
the third transport direction of the central transport track is counter to the first and second transport directions of the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track or reversible;
a plurality of right process devices for the spectacle lens blanks arranged to a right of the outer right transport track, the right process devices being configured to at least partially convert a respective spectacle lens blank into the final spectacle lens blank or the finished spectacle lens;
one or more of the right process devices being arranged opposite one or more of the left process devices in relation to the left, right, and central transport tracks to form one or more process device pairs;
the one or more of the process device pairs each having a transfer device, respectively assigned to a process device pair, the transfer device being configured to transfer the spectacle lens blanks between a respective left process device of the respective process device pair and the outer left transport track and the central transport track and to transfer the spectacle lens blanks between a respective right process device of the respective process device pair and the outer right transport track and the central transport track, wherein
at least one of the transfer devices includes a plurality of rotation/transport devices, wherein each rotation/transport device has a dedicated transport drive and a dedicated rotation drive, and wherein
(i) the outer left transport track includes four outer left rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices,
(ii) the central transport track includes four central rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices, and
(iii) the outer right transport track includes four outer right rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices.

10 more elements

A method for operating a system for producing spectacle lenses from spectacle lens blanks, the method comprising:

providing an outer left transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a first transport direction;
providing a plurality of left process devices for the spectacle lens blanks, the left process devices being arranged to a left of the outer left transport track and being configured to at least partially convert a respective spectacle lens blank into a final spectacle lens blank or a finished spectacle lens;
providing an outer right transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a second transport direction;
arranging a central transport track arranged between the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track, the central transport track being configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a third transport direction;
transporting the spectacle lens blanks to one or more of the left process devices via at least one of the outer left transport track, the outer right transport track, or the central transport track;
transporting the spectacle lens blanks in an identical transport direction on the outer left transport track and on the outer right transport track;
transporting the spectacle lens blanks on the central transport track in an opposite or in a same transport direction to the spectacle lenses on the outer left transport track and the spectacle lenses on the outer right transport track, wherein
the production system further includes:
a plurality of right process devices for the spectacle lens blanks, the right process devices being arranged to a right of the outer right transport track and being configured to carry out at least one process step on the respective spectacle lens blank in order to convert the latter into the final spectacle lens blank or finished spectacle lens, wherein
the one or more of the right process devices are arranged opposite one or more of the left process devices in relation to the left, right, and central transport tracks to form one or more process device pairs, wherein
the one or more of the process device pairs each have a transfer device, respectively assigned to a process device pair, the transfer device being configured to transfer the spectacle lens blanks between a respective left process device of the respective process device pair and the outer left transport track and the central transport track and to transfer the spectacle lens blanks between a respective right process device of the respective process device pair and the outer right transport track and the central transport track, wherein
at least one of the transfer devices includes a plurality of rotation/transport devices, wherein each rotation/transport device has a dedicated transport drive and a dedicated rotation drive, wherein
(i) the outer left transport track includes four outer left rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices,
(ii) the central transport track includes four central rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices, and
(iii) the outer right transport track includes four outer right rotation/transport devices of the plurality of rotation/transport devices, and wherein
the spectacle lens blanks are transported to one or more of the plurality of right process devices, arranged to a right side of the outer right transport track, for the spectacle lens blanks via at least one of the outer left transport track, the outer right transport track, or the central transport track.

13 more elements

A system for producing spectacle lenses from spectacle lens blanks, the system comprising:

an outer left transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a first transport direction;
a plurality of left process devices for the spectacle lens blanks, the left process devices being arranged to a left of the outer left transport track and being configured to at least partially convert a respective spectacle lens blank into a final spectacle lens blank or a finished spectacle lens;
an outer right transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a second transport direction;
a central transport track arranged between the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track, the central transport track being configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a third transport direction,
wherein the first transport direction of the outer left transport track and the second transport direction of the outer right transport track are identical, and
wherein the transport direction of the central transport track is counter to the transport directions of the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track or reversible;
a plurality of right process devices for the spectacle lens blanks, the plurality of right process devices being arranged to a right of the outer right transport track, the right process devices being configured to carry out at least one process step on the respective spectacle lens blank in order to convert the latter into the final spectacle lens blank or finished spectacle lens;
a computing device configured to calculate at least one of:
(i) a fastest transport path for transporting a predetermined spectacle lens blank of the spectacle lens blanks to a predetermined process device of the plurality of process devices, or
(ii) a shortest transport path for transporting the predetermined spectacle lens blank of the spectacle lens blanks to the predetermined process device of the plurality of process devices;
and
a control device configured to control a transport of the predetermined spectacle lens blank on the calculated transport path.

9 more elements

A method for operating a system for producing spectacle lenses from spectacle lens blanks, the method comprising:

providing an outer left transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a first transport direction;
arranging a plurality of left process devices for the spectacle lens blanks to a left of the outer left transport track, the plurality of left process devices being configured to at least partially convert a respective spectacle lens blank into a final spectacle lens blank or a finished spectacle lens;
providing an outer right transport track configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a second transport direction;
arranging a central transport track between the outer left transport track and the outer right transport track, the central transport track being configured to transport the spectacle lens blanks in a third transport direction;
transporting the spectacle lens blanks to one or more of the left process devices via at least one of the outer left transport track, the outer right transport track, or the central transport track;
transporting the spectacle lens blanks in an identical transport direction on the outer left transport track and on the outer right transport track;
transporting the spectacle lens blanks on the central transport track in an opposite or in a same transport direction to the spectacle lenses on the outer left transport track and the spectacle lenses on the outer right transport track;
arranging a plurality of right process devices for the spectacle lens blanks to a right of the outer right transport track, the right process devices being configured to carry out at least one process step on the respective spectacle lens blank in order to convert the latter into the final spectacle lens blank or finished spectacle lens;
and
calculating at least one of
(i) a fastest transport path for transporting a predetermined spectacle lens blank of the spectacle lens blanks to a predetermined process device of the plurality of process devices, or
(ii) a shortest transport path for transporting a predetermined spectacle lens blank of the spectacle lens blanks to a predetermined process device of the plurality of process devices.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/444,768Filed 18 Jun 2019 · continuation
Priority: EP 1620510219 Dec 2016
Published: US 2019/0382208 A119 Dec 2019
Granted: 16 Mar 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B65G 37/02
Combinations of mechanical conveyors of the same kind, or of different kinds, of interest apart from their application in particular machines or…:…
B65G 29/00
Rotary conveyors
B65G 35/06
Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for: comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by…
B65G 47/53
Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices: between conveyors which cross one another