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US 10,967,551 B2Granted
Method for moulding an optical component with the component being directly cooled by a fluid
AssigneeValeo Vision
InventorDamien Revol
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for moulding an optical component by a mould, at least one moulding station, and at least one cooling station including a cooling space, the method including: a step of moulding a moulded component in a moulding station, a step of transferring this component from this moulding station into the cooling space, keeping the moulded component facing at least one of the mould parts, a step of cooling the moulded component by sending a cooling fluid between the moulded component and the walls of the cooling space, the moulded component being kept some distance from these walls.
Claims14
A method for moulding an optical component comprising:
- providing a moulding device comprising:
- a fixed mould part including a base;
- and
- a mobile mould part including a base and a rotary stage that rotates about an axis of rotation, the mobile mould part being movable translationally relative to the fixed mould part along the axis of rotation so as to open and close the moulding device,
- wherein the rotary stage is movable translationally relative to the base of the mobile mould part along the axis of rotation,
- wherein the fixed mould part and the mobile mould part each includes a moulding block fixed to the base of the fixed mould part and to the base of the mobile mould part, respectively, to present a moulding station, each of the moulding blocks including a moulding impression, the moulding impressions cooperating with each other to form a moulding cavity when the moulding blocks face each other and the moulding device is closed,
- wherein the fixed mould part and the mobile mould part each includes a cooling block fixed to the base of the fixed mould part and to base of the mobile mould part, respectively, to present a cooling station, the cooling blocks cooperating with each other to form a cooling space when the cooling blocks face each other and the moulding device is closed, and
- wherein the rotary stage includes insertion openings extending radially about the axis of rotation, the moulding block and the cooling block of the mobile mould part being insertable and slidable inside the insertion openings;
- moving the mobile mould part toward the fixed mould part to close the moulding device;
- moulding a moulded component in the moulding cavity;
- moving the mobile mould part away from the fixed mould part to open the moulding device:
- moving the rotary stage away from the base of the mobile mould part along the axis of rotation:
- transferring the moulded component from the moulding cavity into the cooling space by rotating the rotary stage, the moulded component being held by the rotary stage:
- moving the rotary stage toward the base of the mobile mould part along the axis of rotation:
- moving the mobile mould part toward the fixed mould part to close the moulding device;
- and
- cooling the moulded component in the cooling space by sending a cooling fluid between the moulded component and the cooling blocks.
14 more elements
A mould for an optical component, comprising:
- a fixed mould part including a base;
- and
- a mobile mould part including a base and a rotary stage that rotates about an axis of rotation, the mobile mould part being movable translationally relative to the fixed mould part along the axis of rotation so as to open and close the moulding device,
- wherein the rotary stage is movable translationally relative to the base of the mobile mould part along the axis of rotation,
- wherein the fixed mould part and the mobile mould part each includes a moulding block fixed to the base of the fixed mould part and to the base of the mobile mould part, respectively, to present a moulding station, each of the moulding blocks including a moulding impression, the moulding impressions cooperating with each other to form a moulding cavity when the moulding blocks face each other and the moulding device is closed, the moulding station comprising elements for injecting a material into the moulding cavity,
- wherein the fixed mould part and the mobile mould part each includes a cooling block fixed to the base of the fixed mould part and to base of the mobile mould part, respectively, to present a cooling station, the cooling blocks cooperating with each other to form a cooling space when the cooling blocks face each other and the moulding device is closed,
- wherein the cooling station comprises holding elements allowing the moulded component to be held some distance from the cooling portions when the mould is closed, and comprises elements for injecting a cooling fluid into the cooling housing, and
- wherein the rotary stage includes insertion openings extending radially about the axis of rotation, the moulding block and the cooling block of the mobile mould part being insertable and slidable inside the insertion openings.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.