LENS HOLDER FOR DIP COATING

Abstract

Lens holding device holding an optical lens at its edge during a dip coating in a dip coating bath. First elastic lens holder having first lens edge holder holds the optical lens at a right edge of the optical lens, second elastic lens holder with second lens edge holder holds the optical lens at a left edge of the optical lens, and a circumferential frame with a third lens edge holder holds the optical lens at a lower edge of the optical lens. The circumferential frame has first and second lateral frame portions such that when the lens holder is raised out of the dip coating bath, waves caused at a surface of the dip coating bath are damped by the right or left lens edge holder, respectively.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A lens holding device for holding an optical lens at its edge, during a dip coating in a dip coating bath, comprising: a first elastic lens holder with a first lens edge holder configured to hold the optical lens at an edge of the optical lens, on a first edge side, during the dip coating; a second elastic lens holder with a second lens edge holder configured to hold the optical lens at the edge of the optical lens, on a second edge side, during the dip coating; and an at least partially circumferential frame with a third lens edge holder configured to hold the optical lens at the edge of the optical lens, on a third edge side, during the dip coating, wherein the first edge side and the second edge side are respectively arranged at a left side and a right side of the edge of the optical lens, and the third edge side is arranged on a lower side of the edge of the optical lens, and the at least partially circumferential frame has a first lateral frame portion and a second lateral frame portion such that when the lens holder is raised out of the dip coating bath, waves caused at a surface of the dip coating bath are thereby damped by the first lens edge holder or the second lens edge holder, respectively.

19. The lens holding device according to claim 18, wherein the first and second elastic lens holder are jointly designed to hold optical lenses of different sizes, whereas the at least partially circumferential frame remains unchanged given a mounting of optical lenses of different sizes.

20. The lens holder according to claim 18, wherein a first clearance between the first lens edge holder and the first lateral frame portion, or a second clearance between the second lens edge holder and the second lateral frame portion, is not more than 22 mm.

21. The lens holder according to claim 20, wherein the first clearance between the first lens edge holder and the first lateral frame portion, or the second clearance between the second lens edge holder and the second lateral frame portion, is not more than approximately 10 mm.

22. The lens holder according to claim 21, wherein the first clearance between the first lens edge holder and the first lateral frame portion, or the second clearance between the second lens edge holder and the second lateral frame portion, is not more than approximately 5 mm.

23. The lens holder according to claim 22, wherein the first clearance between the first lens edge holder and the first lateral frame portion, or the second clearance between the second lens edge holder and the second lateral frame portion, is not more than approximately 2 mm.

24. The lens holder according to claim 18, wherein the first and second elastic lens holders are respectively attached at an upper frame portion of the frame.

25. The lens holder according to claim 18, wherein the first and second elastic lens holders are respectively attached to the frame in a corresponding attachment portion such that the lens holder is configured to submerge an optical lens held by the lens holder entirely into a dip bath, such that the attachment portion remains outside of the dip bath.

26. The lens holder according to claim 18, wherein the first and second lens edge holder, the first and second lens holder, or the first and second lateral frame portion are arranged symmetrically relative to a vertical plane of the lens holder.

27. The lens holder according to claim 18, wherein the frame spans a plane of the frame, and the first, second, and third lens edge holders extend predominantly in a direction out of a plane of the frame.

28. The lens holder according to claim 18, wherein the frame comprises an attachment configured to magnetically attach the lens holder in a dip coating system for dipping the lens holder in and out during the dip coating.

29. The lens holder according to claim 18, further comprising an encoder configured to machine-readably identify the lens holder via a mechanical, optical, electrical, or electromagnetic marking.

30. The lens holder according to claim 18, wherein the first, second, and third lens edge holders are planar in shape, with a width of at least approximately 10 mm.

31. The lens holder according to claim 27, wherein the first, second, and third lens edge holders are planar in shape, with a width of at least approximately 13 mm.

32. The lens holder according to claim 31, wherein the first, second, and third lens edge holders are planar in shape, with a width of at least a height in a region of approximately 7 mm to 15 mm.

33. The lens holder according to claim 32, wherein the first, second, and third lens edge holders are planar in shape, with a width of at least in a range from approximately 10 mm to 12 mm.

34. A lens holder set having a plurality of lens holders according to claim 18, wherein the frames of the plurality of lens holders of the lens holder set conform, whereas the first and second elastic lens holders of the plurality of lens holders at least partially differ to accommodate optical lenses of different sizes.

35. A method for dip coating an optical lens in a dip coating bath using a lens holder according to claim 18, the method comprising holding the optical lens is by the lens holder during an emergence from the dip coating bath, such that the optical lens emerges lastly from the dip bath with a lower retention point at which the optical lens is held by the third lens edge holder.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising holding the optical lens vertically by the lens holder during an emergence from the dip coating bath, such that a first and a second lateral retention point at which the optical lens is held by the first or second lens edge holder are respectively located above a lower retention point at a height in a range of approximately 0.4 to 0.6 times a diameter of the of the optical lens.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising holding the optical lens is vertically by the lens holder during an emergence from the dip coating bath, such that a first and a second lateral retention point at which the optical lens is held by the first or second lens edge holder are respectively located above a lower retention point at a height in a range of approximately 0.45 to 0.55 times a diameter of the of the optical lens.

38. The method according to claim 35, further comprising holding the lens holder magnetically at a mounting rail of a dip coating system during a dip process.

39. The method according to claim 35, further comprising: providing an automatic readout of an encoder at the frame of the lens holder, to identify the lens holder or the optical lens.

40. The method according to claim 35, further comprising: optically inspecting a coating of the optical lens while the optical lens is held by the lens holder.

41. The method according to claim 35 for dip coating of a plurality of optical lenses of different sizes using a plurality of lens holding devices of a lens holding device set having a plurality of lens holders for holding an optical lens at its edge, during a dip coating in a dip coating bath, having a first elastic lens holder with a first lens edge holder configured to hold the optical lens at an edge of the optical lens, on a first edge side, during the dip coating, a second elastic lens holder with a second lens edge holder configured to hold the optical lens at the edge of the optical lens, on a second edge side, during the dip coating, and an at least partially circumferential frame with a third lens edge holder configured to hold the optical lens at the edge of the optical lens, on a third edge side, during the dip coating, wherein the first edge side and the second edge side are respectively arranged at a left side and a right side of the edge of the optical lens, and the third edge side is arranged on a lower side of the edge of the optical lens, and the at least partially circumferential frame has a first lateral frame portion and a second lateral frame portion such that when the lens holder is raised out of the dip coating bath, waves caused at a surface of the dip coating bath are thereby damped by the first lens edge holder or the second lens edge holder, respectively, and, during the emergence from the dip coating bath, the lower retention points at which the optical lenses are held by the respective third lens edge holder emerge simultaneously from the dip bath.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The present disclosure is described in the following using preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thereby shown are:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a conventional lens holder for holding an optical lens.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a lens holding device according to the disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a lens holding device according to the disclosure, and in particular the first/second lens edge holding element and the third lens edge holding element.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a lens holding device according to the disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a lens holding device according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional lens holder 10 for holding an optical lens. The lens holder 10 comprises an attachment element 1 for attachment of the lens holder 10 during a dip coating process. The lens holder 10 also comprises a frame 2 that is not of closed design. A first, second, and third retention element 3, 4, 5 are arranged at the frame 2 in order to hold an optical lens L1, L2 in the lens holder 10.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a lens holding device 200 according to the disclosure. In this embodiment, the lens holding device 200 comprises a frame 210 that is of closed design and therefore exhibits an increased stability relative to vibrations of the frame 210, for example during a dip coating process. This promotes a homogeneous coating. The frame 210 comprises a first lateral frame portion 211 and a second lateral frame portion 212 that are connected with one another via an upper frame portion 214 and a lower frame portion 213.

[0043] In this embodiment, the lower frame portion 213 is of planar design. Due to a surface tension of the dip coating solution, a homogeneous drainage of said dip coating solution from an optical lens L1, L2 inserted into the lens holding device 200 is hereby assisted during an emergence of the optical lens L1, L2. The homogeneous draining enables a formation of a homogeneous coating layer on the optical lens L1, L2.

[0044] The lens holding device 200 additionally comprises a first elastic lens holding unit 201 and a second elastic lens holding unit 202 which are arranged at the frame 210 in an attachment portion 215 of an upper frame portion 214. In the example of a lens holding device 200, the first and second lens holding unit 201, 202 are formed as one part from a continuous component. At the first lens holding unit 201, a first lens edge holding element 203 is arranged which is designed to hold the edge of the optical lens L1, L2. At the second lens holding unit 202, a second lens edge holding element 204 is arranged which is designed to hold the edge of the optical lens L1, L2 essentially opposite the first lens edge holding element 203.

[0045] A third lens edge holding element 205 is also arranged at the lower frame portion 213, which third lens edge holding element 205 is designed to hold the optical lens L1, L2 at a lowermost point of an edge of the optical lens L1, L2. It is hereby ensured that potential coating beads that might form at the lowermost point during the emergence may drain via the third lens edge holding element 205. Via such an arrangement, it is possible to optionally clamp optical lenses L1, L2 with different diameters in the same lens holding device 200 without an alteration of the frame size hereby resulting, and wherein the lowermost point of the optical lens L1, L2 is held essentially by the third lens edge holding element 205.

[0046] In particular, the lens holding device is designed such that an optical lens L1, L2 that is inserted therein may be completely immersed in a dip coating bath while the upper frame portion 214, in particular the attachment portion 215 and upper ends of the lens holding units 201, 202, may remain outside of the dip coating bath. The formation of an unwanted coating skin upon emergence, which may occur given conventional lens holders 10 according to FIG. 1, may therewith be prevented.

[0047] As is apparent in comparison with the present disclosure, for example in FIG. 1, an enclosed surface A is defined by the held optical lens L1, L2, the frame 2, and the holding elements 4, 5. A second enclosed surface B is defined by the hold optical lens L1, L2, the frame 2, and the holding elements 3, 5. Both surfaces are entirely submerged upon dipping the optical lens into the dip coating bath. These surfaces of the lens holder are therefore susceptible to the formation of coating films which cover the areas A, B. These coating films arise during an emergence of the optical lens 10 from a dip coating solution. The dip coating solution hereby wets the surfaces A and B, whereby a thin, liquid coating film arises, also referred to as webbing. The liquid dip coating solution of the coating film continues to drain from the wetted surfaces A, B until the coating film becomes unstable and tears. This may lead to splattering of the dip coating solution, which may lead to coating layer defects on other optical lenses L1, L2 in adjacent lens holders 10. Additionally, waves on the dip coating solution may be generated by the abrupt tearing of the coating films, which waves may likewise cause coating layer defects at adjacent optical lenses.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the first and second lens holding unit 201, 202 are furthermore designed such that an elastic deformation up to a state with a greater mutual clearance of the first and second lens edge holding element 203, 304 leads to a greater clearance of the third lens edge holding element 205 from a straight connecting line between said first and second lens edge holding element 203, 204, or from a straight connecting line between the lateral retention points. In the depicted embodiment, this is achieved in particular in that the lateral lens holding units 201, 202 are connected with the upper frame portion, and therefore are essentially rigid, only in a central region that is narrower than the mutual clearance of the first and second lens edge holding element in the relaxed state (thus without a clamped optical lens), whereas they may otherwise deform elastically. With this it is achieved that, for blank round optical lenses (with circular circumference), the lateral retention points can be positioned relatively well in the region of the height of the center point of the lens even given different lens sizes. A secure retention of the optical lens L1, L2 in the lens holding device 200, and an optimal distribution of the lens edge holding elements 203, 204, 205 for homogeneous draining of the dip coating solution from the optical lens L1, L2, is hereby ensured.

[0049] The lens holding device 200 also comprises an attachment unit 216 for the attachment of the lens holding device 200 to a mounting rail of a dip coating system.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the lens holding device 200, and in particular the first/second lens edge holding element 203/204 and the third lens edge holding element 205. The first/second lens edge holding element 203/204 is hereby planar in shape with width D, and has a transversal area 301 that, due to a surface tension of the dip coating solution, enables a homogeneous draining of said dip coating solution from an optical lens via the first/second lens edge holding element 203/204 during an emergence. The first/second lens edge holding element 203/204 also has a V-shaped recess 302 which is designed to hold the edge of an optical lens and to center said optical lens in said first/second lens edge holding element 203/204. The V-shaped recess is hereby additionally formed with steps in order to ensure a secure retention of the optical lens and prevent a slippage of the optical lens in the lens holding device 200.

[0051] Sides 303 and 304 of the first/second lens edge holding element 203/204 travel parallel to an emergence direction of the optical lens from the dip coating bath in order to prevent the formation of surface waves on said dip coating bath. The rounded side 305 is thereby designed to avoid an abrupt emergence of the first/second lens edge holding element 203/204, wherein additional surface waves might arise. Instead of this, the rounded side 305 enables a gradual emergence of the first/second lens edge holding element 203/204.

[0052] FIG. 3 also clarifies that all components of the lens holding device 200 are arranged essentially on one side of a plane that is spanned by the frame 210. Given a possible deformation of the lens holding device, this enables a simple alignment of the deformed components to be performed, for example in that the lens holding device 200 is pressed against a flat surface.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the lens holding device 200. FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a lens holding device 200 according to the disclosure which differs from the lens holding device 200 from FIG. 4 via a modified arrangement of the attachment unit 216. In particular, the attachment unit 216 is arranged laterally at the upper frame portion 215. The attachment unit 216 also comprises an encoding unit 217 for machine-readable identification of the lens holding device, in the form of a mechanically and/or optically and/or electrically and/or electromagnetically readable marking. The lens holding device 200 may therefore be very simply recognized automatically.

[0054] The present disclosure and its aspects are not limited to the aforementioned combinations of features. Rather, the person skilled in the art may, at their discretion, produce an arbitrary combination of the disclosed features of the aspects, embodiments, and Figures with the technical advantages linked therewith.

REFERENCE LIST

[0055] 10 lens holder [0056] 1 attachment element [0057] 2 frame [0058] 3 first holding element [0059] 4 second holding element [0060] 5 third holding element [0061] L1, L2 optical lens [0062] A first enclosed surface [0063] B second enclosed surface [0064] 200 lens holding device [0065] 201 first lens holding unit [0066] 202 second lens holding unit [0067] 203 first lens edge holding element [0068] 204 second lens edge holding element [0069] 205 third lens edge holding element [0070] 210 frame [0071] 211 first lateral frame portion [0072] 212 second lateral frame portion [0073] 213 lower frame portion [0074] 214 upper frame portion [0075] 215 attachment portion [0076] 216 attachment unit [0077] 217 encoding unit [0078] D width [0079] 301 transversal area [0080] 302 V-shaped recess [0081] 303, 304 sides [0082] 305 rounded side