DEVICE FOR POLISHING AN OPTICAL LENS OR AN OPTICAL MIRROR AND METHOD FOR POLISHING AN OPTICAL LENS OR AN OPTICAL MIRROR

Abstract

A device for polishing an optical lens or an optical mirror, using a liquid polishing agent, has a workpiece carrier for establishing at least a first surface of the optical lens or of the optical mirror. The workpiece carrier has a porous and elastic lining for establishing the at least one first surface of the optical lens or of the optical mirror, and the lining is configured as a lining that is permeable for the polishing agent. Furthermore, a method polishes an optical lens or an optical mirror.

Claims

1. A device for polishing an optical lens or an optical mirror, using a liquid polishing agent, wherein the device has a workpiece carrier for establishing at least a first surface of the optical lens or of the optical mirror, wherein the workpiece carrier (1) has a porous and elastic lining (4) for establishing the at least one first surface (3) of the optical lens (2) or of the optical mirror, and that wherein the lining (4) is configured as a lining (4) that is permeable for the polishing agent (8).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein during a polishing process, a layer (10) composed of polishing agent (8) is formed between the first surface (3) of the optical lens (2) or of the optical mirror, and the lining (4).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lining (4) comprises an elastomer that is permeable for liquid, or an elastic form material, in particular foam rubber or sponge rubber.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lining (4) is configured to be adapted to a shape of the first surface (3) of the optical lens (2) or of the optical mirror, and wherein the lining (4) is arranged in or on the workpiece carrier (1) so as to be replaceable.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one line for the polishing agent (8) is arranged in the workpiece carrier (1).

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one line (9) has a pipe (21) that is arranged to slide in the axial direction in the line (9).

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a lens guide ring (11) is provided for alignment, preferably for centered alignment of the optical lens (2) or of the optical mirror on the lining (4).

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein a gap (12) for the polishing agent (8) is arranged between the lens guide ring (11) and the optical lens (2) or the optical mirror.

9. A method for polishing an optical lens or an optical mirror, using a polishing agent, using the device according to claim 1, the method comprising: passing, during a polishing process, the polishing agent (8) through the lining (4), forming a layer (10) composed of polishing agent (8) between the lining (4) and the first surface (3) of the optical lens (2) or of the optical mirror, and forming a layer (13) composed of polishing agent (8) between a polishing tool (6) and a second surface (5) of the optical lens (2) or of the optical mirror.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the polishing agent (8) flows through the gap (12) between the guide ring (11) and the optical lens (2) or the optical mirror after exiting from the lining (4) and after the formation of the layer (10) between the lining (4) and the optical lens (2) or the optical mirror, and wherein the polishing agent (8) is subsequently used on the second surface (5) of the optical lens (2) or of the optical mirror, for polishing the second surface (5).

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the polishing agent (8) cools the first surface (3), a side surface, and the second surface (5) of the optical lens (2) or of the optical mirror.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the polishing agent (8) produces a constant pressure (F.sub.N) on the entire surface area of the first surface (3) of the optical lens (2) or of the optical mirror.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the polishing agent (8) flows through the lining (4) at a constant flow velocity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0088] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention are evident from the related drawings, in which multiple exemplary embodiments of a tool carrier are shown, without restricting the invention to these exemplary embodiments. The drawings show:

[0089] FIG. 1 a workpiece carrier in longitudinal section; and

[0090] FIG. 2 a modified exemplary embodiment of a tool carrier in longitudinal section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0091] FIG. 1 shows the workpiece carrier 1. A lens 2 is arranged in the workpiece carrier 1. The lens 2 lies on a lining 4 with a first surface 3. The lining 4 is configured to be porous and elastic.

[0092] A second surface 5 of the optical lens 2 is processed by a polishing tool 6. For this purpose, the lens 2 is mounted cardanically, so that it can insert itself into a tool surface 7 of the polishing tool 6.

[0093] For this purpose, a polishing agent 8 is passed through the porous lining 4, which agent is supplied to the workpiece carrier 1 from a supply container (not shown). The polishing agent 8 flows through a line 9. The polishing agent 8 passes through the porous lining 4 and forms a layer 10 composed of polishing agent on the first surface 3 of the optical lens 2. The optical lens 2 is mounted to float on this layer 10. In the horizontal direction, the lens 2 is held with play by means of a lens guide ring 11. A gap 12 is provided between the lens guide ring 11 and the optical lens 2. The gap 12 is shown relatively large in FIG. 1, for a better overview. The gap 12 amounts to 1/10 millimeter, for example.

[0094] The polishing agent 9 exits from the porous and elastic lining 4 and flows through the gap 12. The polishing agent 9 is used for polishing on the second surface 5 of the optical lens 2. For this purpose, a further layer 13 composed of polishing agent is formed between the top surface 5 of the optical lens 2 and the top surface 7 of the polishing tool 6. Because of the fact that the polishing agent 9 exits at pressure, preferably one to two bar, through the porous and elastic lining 4, in the direction of the first surface 3 of the optical lens 2, a constant pressure, orthogonal to the first surface 3 of the optical lens 2, is exerted over the entire surface of the first surface 3 of the optical lens 2. The pressure is shown with arrows in FIG. 1. These arrows are marked with F.sub.N for a normal force.

[0095] The forces that act on the lens are composed of the vectors F.sub.V for the vertical force and F.sub.H for the horizontal force. The resulting force F.sub.R that acts on the second surface 5 of the optical lens 2 is composed as follows: F.sub.R=F.sub.N??.

[0096] The lining 4 is arranged on a holding body 14. The lining 4 is releasably connected to the holding body, in the present case by means of screws 15, of which only one screw 15 is shown in FIG. 1. The screws are arranged to be uniformly distributed over the circumference of the workpiece carrier 1. The holding body 14 is arranged in the workpiece carrier 1 so as to replaceable, by means of the releasable firm connection. The holding body 14 can be configured to be adapted to the lens 2 to be processed, in each instance, in other words the first surface 3 of the lens 2 to be processed, in terms of its shape. In FIG. 1, the optical lens 2 has a planar first surface 3. The first surface can, however, also be configured to be convex or concave (not shown).

[0097] The holding body 14 is arranged on a base 18, to which the lens guide ring 11 is attached. The lens guide ring 11 can be configured in such a manner that the lens guide ring 11 holds the lens 2 before it is processed using the polishing tool 6, and that after the processing process, the lens 2 can be removed again, accordingly.

[0098] The holding body 14 with the lining 4 arranged on it is mounted resiliently in the direction of the double arrow A. In this way, a height equalization of the optical lens 2 is possible. Because of this height equalization, it is not necessary to precisely align the polishing tool 6 in terms of height.

[0099] A spring 16 is provided for the resilient mounting. The spring 16 is arranged centrally in the workpiece carrier 1. A base part 17 of the movable part of the workpiece carrier 1, the lens guide ring 11 having the base 18, arranged on the ring, and the lining 4 arranged on that, are arranged to be movable relative to a basic body 19 of the workpiece carrier 1, in the direction of the double arrow A. The basic body 19 has a pin 20 with which the workpiece carrier 1 is clamped into a machine tool (not shown).

[0100] The line 9 leads through the pin 20. It opens into a pipe 21, so as to make height equalization in the direction of the double arrow A possible. Three sealing rings 22 to 24 are provided for sealing off the pipe 21. The sealing rings 22 to 24 are configured as O-rings. Furthermore, slide rings 25 to 27 are provided. Fundamentally, only one slide ring, which has a sealing function, is sufficient. If a slide ring develops a leak, it is advantageous if at least two, in the present case three slide rings 25 to 27, are provided.

[0101] Furthermore, an O-ring 28 is provided. The slide rings, sealing rings, and O-rings 22 to 28 serve to ensure that no polishing agent 8 gets into the space 29 and impairs the spring 16. As further protection against the penetration of polishing agent into the space 29, rubber bellows 30 are provided. The rubber bellows 30 allow a relative movement between the base part 17 and the basic body 19.

[0102] In order for the base part 17 to be able to move, guided in the basic body 19, a slide bushing 31 is provided. The slide bushing serves for linear guidance of the base part 17 in the basic body 19.

[0103] The basic body 19 is put into a rotational movement. This rotational movement is indicated with D?.sub.1. The basic body 19 rotates about the axis A1. The polishing tool 6 is inclined by the angle ?, with the axis of rotation A2, relative to the axis A1. The polishing tool 6 rotates with the speed of rotation D?.sub.2. The directions of rotation of the polishing tool 6 and of the basic body 19 are the same. The speeds of rotation D?.sub.1 and D?.sub.2 are dependent on the angle ? and are different.

[0104] The rubber bellows 30 represent not only the sealing function but also a rotational coupling, so that the rotational movement of the basic body 19 continues on the base part 17.

[0105] The workpiece carrier 1 according to the invention has the advantage that a layer 10, 13 composed of polishing agent is formed, in each instance, on the first surface 3 and on the second surface 5 of the optical lens 2. The formation of the layer 10 on the first surface 3 of the optical lens 2 brings about the result that constant forces F.sub.N act on the first surface of the optical lens. As a result, very thin lenses can be processed, since the static pressure on the first surface 3 of the optical lens 2 has the same static states as on the second surface 5 of the optical lens 2, which represents the contact surface to the polishing tool 6.

[0106] According to FIG. 1, an inner surface 32 of the lens guide ring 11 is configured to be cylindrical. As has already been explained, a gap 12 is provided between the optical lens 2 and the inner surface 32.

[0107] FIG. 2 shows a modified exemplary embodiment of the workpiece carrier 1.

[0108] The same parts are provided with the same reference numbers in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 2, only the differences as compared with FIG. 1 will be discussed.

[0109] According to FIG. 2, the spring 16 of FIG. 1, which is arranged centrally according to FIG. 1, is replaced by multiple springs 33 and 34. The springs 33 and 34 are shown in the section plane. It is advantageous if the springs are distributed over the circumference of the workpiece carrier 1; it is particularly advantageous if they are arranged distributed uniformly over the circumference. This means that in the present case, four springs, which are arranged offset by 90?, in each instance, are provided. The possibility also exists of providing three springs, each offset by 120?.

[0110] Furthermore, according to FIG. 2, the lens guide ring 11 is configured to be spherical with regard to its inner surface 32. The lens guide ring 12 has a spherical inner surface 35. The spherical inner surface 35 has the advantage that the optical lens 2 is mounted cardanically, in other words the lens 2 has cardanic mobility relative to the lens guide ring 11. This mobility serves to allow the lens 2 to insert itself into the polishing tool 6, which is configured as a shaping tool, without any force.

[0111] The gap 12 between the inner surface 35 of the lens guide 11 and the optical lens 2 is clearly shown to be greater in FIG. 2 than it actually is. The gap amounts to 1/10 millimeter, for example.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0112] 1 workpiece carrier [0113] 2 optical lens [0114] 3 first surface of the optical lens 2 [0115] 4 lining [0116] 5 second surface of the optical lens 2 [0117] 6 polishing tool [0118] 7 surface of the polishing tool [0119] 8 polishing agent [0120] 9 line [0121] 10 layer of polishing agent [0122] 11 lens guide ring [0123] 12 gap between lens guide ring and lens [0124] 13 layer of polishing agent [0125] 14 holding body [0126] 15 screws [0127] 16 spring [0128] 17 base part [0129] 18 base of lens guide ring [0130] 19 basic body [0131] 20 pin [0132] 21 pipe [0133] 22 sealing ring [0134] 23 sealing ring [0135] 24 sealing ring [0136] 25 slide ring [0137] 26 slide ring [0138] 27 slide ring [0139] 28 O-ring [0140] 29 space [0141] 30 rubber bellows [0142] 31 slide bushing [0143] 32 Inner surface of the lens guide ring 11 [0144] 33 spring [0145] 34 spring [0146] 35 spherical inner surface of the lens guide ring 11 [0147] A double arrow [0148] F.sub.N normal force [0149] F.sub.V vertical force [0150] F.sub.H horizontal force [0151] F.sub.R resulting force [0152] A1 axis of basic body [0153] A2 axis of polishing tool [0154] ? angle [0155] D?.sub.1 speed of rotation [0156] D?.sub.2 speed of rotation