JP2006224484A - Plastic lens manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact plastic lens manufacturing apparatus with high work efficiency which prevents the occurrence of internal distortion or the like of a polymerized plastic lens.
SOLUTION: A rotary table 2 that circulates and conveys a molding die M into which a plastic composition has been injected, and an active energy ray irradiation unit that irradiates the molding die M mounted on the rotary table 2 with ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet lamp. A2 and a slow cooling part A3 for gradually cooling the molding die M, and the molding die M supplied from the supply / discharge area A1 is such that the rotary table 2 rotates intermittently by 60 ° in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, from the ultraviolet lamps 51 (61) and 71 (81) in which the axes of the ultraviolet lamps are arranged at different positions with respect to the molding die M at the two stop positions S2 and S3 in the active energy ray irradiation area A2. UV light is irradiated.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a plastic lens by a casting method using an active energy ray.

  Cast molding methods are widely used for the production of plastic lenses. In this casting molding method, after a plastic composition is injected into a molding die, the molding die into which the plastic composition is injected is heated or irradiated with active energy rays such as ultraviolet rays, and then polymerized (cured). The plastic mold is obtained by removing the mold. Among them, the method of polymerization by irradiating with active energy rays (active energy ray irradiation polymerization method) has advantages such as shortened delivery time and inventory reduction because polymerization is completed in a short time. Suitable for production of plastic lenses etc.

As a method for producing a plastic lens of an active energy ray irradiation polymerization method, a molding die into which a plastic composition has been injected is transferred by a conveyor to an ultraviolet irradiation furnace in which an ultraviolet irradiation device is placed, and ultraviolet rays are molded. A method of polymerizing by irradiating both sides of the film is widely and generally used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
A so-called continuous ultraviolet curing device that continuously operates the transport conveyor is used in such a manufacturing method in which the molding die is polymerized by the ultraviolet irradiation device while being transported and moved by the transport conveyor or the like.
6 and 7 are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an outline of a conventional continuous ultraviolet curing apparatus. The continuous ultraviolet curing apparatus 100 includes a feeding part 102 to which a molding die 101 to be polymerized is fed, an ultraviolet irradiation part 103 to which ultraviolet rays are irradiated, a cooling part 104 for cooling the molding die 101, and a polymerized molding. The material removal part 105 from which the mold 101 is removed is linearly arranged.

  The transfer conveyor 106 includes a transfer chain 109 made of metal disposed on both sides in the plane direction of the forming mold 101 to be polymerized, and a work chuck made of metal in which the forming mold 101 can be removed from the transfer chain 109. 110. The molding die 101 is held by the work chuck 110 of the conveyor 106, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 103 irradiates both sides of the mold with ultraviolet rays through the transparent glasses 111 and 112 in the ultraviolet irradiation unit 103, thereby supplying the material. Polymerization is carried out from the part 102 to the material removal part 105 on the continuous ultraviolet curing device 100 in the direction of the arrow.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-249953

However, the manufacturing method of the plastic lens by such a continuous ultraviolet curing device is poor in space efficiency due to the lengthening of the curing device in the longitudinal direction, and the worker is caused by the separation of the feeding part and the grading material part of the molding die. Loss of movement occurs. Further, since the molding die into which the plastic composition has been injected is irradiated with ultraviolet rays gradually and in the same posture while being conveyed and conveyed by a conveyer or the like, the ultraviolet irradiation distribution irradiated to the molding die is not uniform. In addition, there is a problem that internal distortion or the like occurs in the plastic lens that is polymerized (cured).
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a compact plastic lens manufacturing apparatus with high work efficiency that prevents the occurrence of internal distortion or the like of a polymerized plastic lens.

  In order to solve the above problems, the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is a plastic lens manufacturing apparatus that polymerizes a plastic composition by irradiating an active energy ray onto a molding die into which the plastic composition has been injected. A rotary table that orbits and conveys the molding die; a supply / discharge unit that feeds and discharges the molding die to and from the rotary table; and an active energy ray lamp in the molding die placed on the rotary table. An active energy ray irradiating unit that irradiates active energy rays from an active energy ray device; and a slow cooling unit that slowly cools the molding die, and the supply / discharge unit around the rotary shaft of the rotary table, The active energy ray irradiation unit and the slow cooling unit are arranged in this order in the rotation direction of the rotary shaft, and the rotary table Is rotated intermittently at a cycle time that can ensure a predetermined stop time by a predetermined amount of rotation obtained by dividing one rotation into a predetermined number, and the active energy ray irradiation unit includes a plurality of molding dies on the rotary table. The active energy ray lamp is disposed in a direction in which the axis of the active energy ray lamp is substantially directed to the rotation axis of the rotary table, and the active energy ray lamp is activated at the stop position where the active energy ray lamp is stopped a plurality of times. The axis of the energy ray lamp and the center of the molding die are arranged so as to substantially intersect with each other.

According to this plastic lens manufacturing apparatus, it is possible to manufacture a plastic lens while the molding die into which the plastic composition placed on the rotary table is injected is rotated once, and the plastic lens is compact and has excellent space efficiency. The manufacturing apparatus can be provided.
Further, the active energy ray lamp is positioned so that the axis of the lamp and the center of the molding die substantially intersect, so that the active energy rays are uniformly irradiated from the central portion of the molding die. Furthermore, the active energy rays are irradiated while the mold is stopped, and the rotary table rotates, so that the active energy rays are irradiated multiple times in different directions with respect to the mold, thereby causing internal distortion. It is possible to obtain a plastic lens in which the occurrence of the above is prevented. The active energy ray device may be fixed with respect to the irradiation surface of the molding die, but may be configured to be rotatable. In this case, a plastic lens that prevents the occurrence of internal distortion can be obtained by appropriately adjusting the position of the active energy ray lamp as necessary.

  In the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the active energy ray lamp is positioned such that the axis of the active energy ray lamp substantially intersects the center of the molding die at the stop position where the active energy ray lamp stops a plurality of times. The relative angle at which the molding die and the axis of the active energy ray lamp intersect with each other is set to be different for each stop position at which the stop is performed a plurality of times.

  According to this plastic lens manufacturing apparatus, the axis of the active energy ray lamp is arranged at a different position for each stop position where the axis of the active energy ray lamp stops a plurality of times with respect to the molding die, so Since the active energy ray is irradiated a plurality of times, a plastic lens in which the occurrence of internal distortion is further prevented can be obtained.

  The fact that the relative angles at which the molding die and the axis of the active energy ray lamp intersect are different from each other means that, for example, if the molding die stops at a plurality of times, there are two stops. The active energy ray lamp at the position is preferably arranged at a position that irradiates the position of the molding die rotated at an angle of about 90 ° with respect to the first irradiation angle to the molding die. Similarly, when there are three stop positions at which the molding die stops a plurality of times, the active energy ray lamps at the three stop positions are approximately 60 at the second position with respect to the initial irradiation angle to the molding die. It is preferable that the third position is arranged so as to irradiate a position rotated by an angle of about 60 ° with respect to the second position at an angle that irradiates the position rotated by an angle of °.

In the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the active energy ray device is configured to be rotatable with respect to a substantially center of the molding die at a stop position where the axis of the active energy ray lamp is stopped a plurality of times. It is characterized by.
According to this plastic lens manufacturing apparatus, a plastic lens in which the occurrence of internal distortion is prevented can be obtained by irradiating the active energy rays a plurality of times in different directions with respect to the mold.

In the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the active energy ray irradiating unit includes the active energy ray devices on both upper and lower sides sandwiching the rotary table, and the rotary table is disposed on the lower side. It is characterized by having at least a light projecting member that transmits active energy rays irradiated from the energy beam device at the mounting position of the molding die.
According to this plastic lens manufacturing apparatus, the molding die injected with the plastic composition is simultaneously irradiated with active energy rays from both the upper and lower sides, so that the plastic that prevents the occurrence of internal distortion within a short time A lens can be obtained.

In the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the active energy ray lamp includes an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates ultraviolet light.
According to this plastic lens manufacturing apparatus, the active energy ray irradiated to the molding die into which the plastic composition is injected is composed of an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates ultraviolet light, so that it is easy to handle illuminance adjustment and the like. A lens manufacturing apparatus can be provided.

Hereinafter, the manufacturing apparatus of the plastic lens of this invention is demonstrated.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a plastic lens manufacturing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a plastic lens manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the positional relationship of the ultraviolet lamp, FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the shutter portion, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the molding die. FIG. 1 shows a cross section taken along line AA in FIG.

First, the structure of a plastic lens manufacturing apparatus for polymerizing (curing) a molding die M into which a plastic composition has been injected will be described.
1 and 2, an ultraviolet curing device 1 as a plastic lens manufacturing apparatus includes a rotary table 2 as a rotary table that circulates and conveys a molding die M into which a plastic composition is injected, and a rotary table 2 that rotates. The servo motor 3 (see FIG. 2) as a driving means to be driven, the controller 4 (see FIG. 2) as a control means for controlling the drive of the servo motor 3, and the molding die M are irradiated with ultraviolet light as active energy rays. It is composed of ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 to 8, a cover 9 (see FIG. 2), a shutter opening / closing cylinder 10 (see FIG. 4), a shutter 11 and the like.

  The turntable 2 is a disk-like turntable, and is a circle that penetrates in the plate thickness direction at a position of every 60 ° divided into six equally around the rotation axis on a concentric circle with a predetermined radius from the rotation center of the turntable 2. Each of the six through holes is fitted with a plate glass 21 as a light projecting member made of transparent glass through which ultraviolet light passes. A mold M to be described later is placed on the glass plate 21.

  The servo motor 3 is operatively connected to a rotary shaft 32 fixed to the rotary table 2. An incremental encoder for detecting the rotation angle of the servo motor is directly connected to the rotation shaft of the servo motor 3. The driving means and the control means of the turntable 2 are not limited to this embodiment as long as they can intermittently rotate by a predetermined amount of rotation.

The controller 4 is a control circuit that outputs a rotation control signal to the servo motor 3, and outputs the rotation control signal to the servo motor 3 that is directly connected to the rotary table 2 or connected via a speed reducer (not shown). The turntable 2 is driven in the left rotation direction by 60 ° at predetermined time intervals. This rotation time interval is set so that a processing time for each intermittent rotation determined from a total time (cycle time) obtained by adding a predetermined rotation driving time and a predetermined stop time becomes a desired time.
Hereinafter, the six positions where the rotary table 2 is driven in the left rotation direction by 60 ° and the rotary table 2 stops will be described as S1 to S6 (S indicates a stage).

  The ultraviolet irradiation device 5 as an active energy ray device irradiates the ultraviolet lamp 51 as a long axis shape active energy ray lamp and the molding die M placed on the plate glass 21 of the rotary table 2 substantially uniformly with ultraviolet light. A reflector 52 having a substantially semicircular arc surface is formed. The ultraviolet irradiation devices 6 to 8 have the same configuration as the ultraviolet irradiation device 5. The ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 and 6 are parallel to the rotary table 2 on both the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the rotary table 2 at the position S2 where the plate glass 21 (that is, the molding die M) of the rotary table 2 stops. (See FIG. 2). Similarly, the ultraviolet irradiation devices 7 and 8 are arranged in parallel to the rotary table 2 on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the rotary table 2 at the position S3 where the plate glass 21 of the rotary table 2 stops.

In the ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 and 6 configured as described above, the axis c of the ultraviolet lamps 51 and 61 is located at the position S2 (molding mold M) as shown in the schematic diagram for explaining the positional relationship of the ultraviolet lamps in FIG. Are arranged so as to substantially intersect with the approximate center O1. The axis c of the ultraviolet lamps 51 and 61 may be arranged in a direction substantially toward the rotation shaft 32 of the turntable 2.
On the other hand, in the ultraviolet irradiation devices 7 and 8, the axis d of the ultraviolet lamp 71.81 substantially intersects the approximate center O2 of the position S3 (molding mold M), and the axis d is centered on the approximate center O2 of the position S3. Thus, the relative angle α with respect to the position of the axis c (indicated by a two-dot chain line) of the ultraviolet lamp 51 at the position S2 is arranged at a position rotated by approximately 90 °. That is, relative to the axes c and d when the axis of the molding die M and the axis of the active energy ray lamp intersect at the positions S2 and S3 (stop positions where the molding die M is irradiated with ultraviolet light). The angles α are arranged differently.

The ultraviolet irradiation device 5 (ultraviolet lamp 51) and the ultraviolet irradiation device 6 (ultraviolet lamp 61) disposed on both the upper surface side and the lower surface side across the rotary table 2 are not necessarily located at the position of the axis c of the lamp. It is not necessary to match on both the upper and lower sides, but by placing ultraviolet light uniformly from the upper and lower sides and both sides of the molding die M into which the plastic composition is injected by being arranged at substantially the same position, It is preferable to prevent the internal distortion of the plastic lens to be polymerized. The positional relationship between the ultraviolet irradiation device 7 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 8 is the same.
Further, each of the ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 to 8 is attached to a turntable (not shown) configured to be rotatable around a substantially center O1 of the position S2 and a substantially center O2 of the position S3. To adjust the position (indicated by arrow b). The rotation of the turntable may be manual or automatic. Moreover, each ultraviolet irradiation device 5-8 may not be rotatable, and in this case, the position is adjusted in advance and fixed.

  In addition, the ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 to 8 have a dimming function in order to always ensure the same illuminance when the illuminance decreases due to the time-dependent change of the ultraviolet lamps 51 to 81. The ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 to 8 are displaced in the direction of arrow a shown in FIG. 2 so that a predetermined amount of light can be obtained by changing the distance from the lamps 51 to 81 to the molding die M (irradiation distance of the ultraviolet lamp). Each has an irradiation distance adjusting means. In addition, as the ultraviolet lamps 51 to 81, a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, or the like can be applied.

  In the cover 9, an upper surface case portion 91, a lower surface case portion 92, and an outer peripheral side surface portion 93 are integrally configured. The upper surface case portion 91 and the lower surface case portion 92 have quartz of a size that can irradiate the two molds M placed on the plate glasses 21 positioned at the positions S2 and S3 when the rotary table 2 is stopped with ultraviolet light. Irradiation windows 94 and 95 are formed by fitting glass (transparent glass), respectively.

  Further, the upper surface case portion 91 and the lower surface case portion 92 have partition walls 96A to 98A and partition walls 96B to 98B at three positions between the positions S1 and S2, S3 and S4, S6 and S1 where the plate glass 21 stops. Each is formed. The partition walls 96 </ b> A to 98 </ b> A and 96 </ b> B to 98 </ b> B are fixed to the outer peripheral side surface portion 93, the upper surface case portion 91, and the lower surface case portion 92 on the outer peripheral side of the rotary table 2. The rotary table 2 is configured to have a rotatable gap and a sectional dimension that allows the rotary table 2 to rotate.

The peripheral portion of the position S1 where the glass plate 21 stops is sandwiched between the upper surface case portion 91 in a range sandwiched between the partition wall 96A and the partition wall 98A, and the partition wall 96A and the partition wall 98A so that the molding die M can be supplied and discharged. The outer peripheral side surface portion 93 extending from the upper surface case portion 91 to the rotary table 2 is cut out.
The partition walls 96 </ b> A to 98 </ b> A installed in the upper surface case portion 91 are formed with concave notches 96 </ b> C to 98 </ b> C on the turntable 2 side through which the molding die M can pass when the turntable 2 rotates. Yes.

  As shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of the shutter portion in FIG. 4, the rotary table 2 is rotated to form the molding die M in the notch portions 96 </ b> C as shown in the schematic sectional view of the shutter portion in FIG. 4. Every time it passes through -98C, the shutter 11 moves up and down. The shutter 11 is moved upward and downward by operating the three shutter opening / closing cylinders 10 respectively installed on the upper surface case 91 of the cover 9, and has concave notches 96 </ b> C to 96 </ b> A to 98 </ b> A. 98C is opened and closed. The notches 96C to 98C are held in a state where the shutter 11 is closed except when the turntable 2 rotates and the molding die M passes through the partition walls 96A to 98A. In this embodiment, a shutter is used as an example of the isolation means in each process, but the shutter is not limited to a shutter as long as each process can be isolated.

  In the state where the shutter 11 is closed, an area surrounded by the partition walls 96A and 98A is a supply / discharge area A1 as a supply / discharge section where an operator supplies and discharges the molding die M. The area surrounded by the partition walls 96A and 96B, the partition walls 97A and 97B, and the outer peripheral side surface portion 93 is an active energy ray irradiation area A2 as an active energy ray irradiation portion that irradiates the molding die M with ultraviolet rays. , 97B, the partition walls 98A, 98B, and the outer peripheral side surface portion 93 are a slow cooling area A3 as a slow cooling portion for slowly cooling the molding die M.

  The outer peripheral side surface portion 93 of the active energy ray irradiation area A2 and the slow cooling area A3 is provided with a supply port 99A and a discharge port 99B for blowing circulating air for maintaining each area at a desired temperature. In each supply port 99A, air temperature-controlled to a desired temperature is supplied from the heaters respectively operated by outputs from the first temperature adjusting unit 12 and the second temperature adjusting unit 13 to the active energy ray irradiation area A2. And the air which was each supplied to the slow cooling area A3 and circulated through each area is discharged | emitted from the discharge port 99B.

  Here, the molding die M into which the plastic composition is injected, which is polymerized by the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, will be described based on the sectional view of the molding die shown in FIG.

The molding die M is formed around the side surface of the outer periphery of the mold dies 120 and 121 while holding the mold dies 120 and 121 made of two glass forming the optical surface of the lens having a desired curved surface at a predetermined interval. For example, an adhesive tape 122 in which a silicone adhesive is applied to the inside of a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film is wound and fixed so as to straddle the two mold dies 120 and 121.
A plastic composition 123 that is polymerized using ultraviolet rays is injected into the space between the two fixed mold dies 120 and 121 using, for example, a syringe.

  The injected plastic composition 123 is a plastic lens composition composed of two or more polymerizable compounds, and has a monofunctional or polyfunctional reactive group, and one or two in the molecule. Compounds having the above radical polymerizable double bonds, for example, epoxy dimethacrylate obtained by reacting bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and methacrylic acid, nonabutylene glycol dimethacrylate and phenyl methacrylate, isophorone diisocyanate, 2-hydroxypropyl It is composed of urethane dimethacrylate obtained by reacting methacrylate, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, tridodecyl phosphate, a photopolymerization initiator, and the like.

  The molding die M polymerized by the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus peels the adhesive tape 122 from the mold dies 120 and 121, and peels the mold dies 120 and 121 from the plastic molding, thereby completing the molding of the plastic lens.

  Next, the operation of the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus configured as described above will be described. The operation will be described step by step in a state where one molding die M is supplied to the rotary table, and the molding die M is transported in a circle and proceeds.

  First, at the position S1 where the supply and discharge of the forming mold M are performed, the forming mold M is placed on the plate glass 21 arranged on the turntable 2 by the operator's supplying operation (supplied to the apparatus). Next, in the molding die M placed on the plate glass 21, the rotary table 2 is rotated left by 60 ° by the servo motor 3 and stops at the position S2.

  Immediately before the rotation of the turntable 2 is started, the shutter opening / closing cylinder 10 is operated to raise the shutter 11 so that the concave notch 96C of the partition wall 96A is opened, and the molding die M is connected to the partition wall. Pass through 96A. The molding die M passes through the partition wall 96A, and immediately after the rotation of the turntable 2 is finished, the shutter opening / closing cylinder 10 is operated, the shutter 11 is lowered, and the concave notch 96C of the partition wall 96A is closed.

  Next, at position S2, the mold M is irradiated with ultraviolet light having a predetermined illuminance from above and below from the two ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 and 6 on the upper surface side and the lower surface side that sandwich the turntable 2. At the same time, the molding die M is supplied with circulating air whose temperature is controlled to a desired temperature from a supply port 99A formed in the outer peripheral side surface portion 93 from a heater that operates according to the output from the first temperature adjusting unit 12. To a desired temperature. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the rotary table 2 is again rotated counterclockwise by 60 ° as in the previous time, and the molding die M reaches the position S3 and stops.

  At the position S3, similarly to the position S2, the molding die M is irradiated with ultraviolet light having a predetermined illuminance from above and below from the upper and lower ultraviolet irradiation devices 7 and 8 sandwiching the turntable 2. The ultraviolet light irradiation from the ultraviolet irradiation devices 7 and 8 is performed simultaneously with the molding die M at the position S2. At this time, the molding die M is managed at the desired temperature by blowing the circulating air whose temperature is controlled to the desired temperature, similarly to the position S2. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the turntable 2 rotates again by 60 ° as in the previous time, and the molding die M reaches the position S4 and stops.

  Immediately before the start of rotation of the turntable 2, the shutter opening / closing cylinder 10 is operated and the shutter 11 is lifted, as in the case of rotation from the position S1 to the position S2, and the concave notch 97C of the partition wall 97A is formed. The mold M is opened and the molding die M passes through the partition wall 97A. The molding die M passes through the partition wall 97A, and immediately after the rotation of the turntable 2 is finished, the shutter opening / closing cylinder 10 is operated, the shutter 11 is lowered, and the concave notch 97C of the partition wall 97A is closed.

At the position S4, the molding die M is supplied with circulating air whose temperature is controlled to a desired temperature from a supply port 99A formed on the outer peripheral side surface portion 93 by a heater that is operated by the output of the second temperature adjusting unit 13. It is blown and gradually cooled to a desired temperature. Then, after a predetermined time has passed, the turntable 2 rotates again by 60 ° as in the previous time, and the molding die M reaches the position S5 and stops.
In this position S5, the circulating air whose temperature is controlled to a desired temperature is blown as in the case of position S4 and is gradually cooled to the desired temperature.

Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the turntable 2 rotates again by 60 ° as in the previous time, and the molding die M reaches the position S6 and stops.
In this position S6, the circulating air whose temperature is controlled to a desired temperature is blown like the positions S4 and S5 and is gradually cooled to the desired temperature. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the rotary table 2 rotates again by 60 ° as in the previous time, and the molding die M reaches the position S1 again and stops.

  When the rotation of the turntable 2 is started, the shutter opening / closing cylinder 10 is operated to raise the shutter 11 and the concave notch 98C of the partition wall 98A is opened as in the rotation from the position S1 to the position S2. Then, the molding die M passes through the partition wall 98A. After the molding die M passes through the partition wall 98A, the shutter opening / closing cylinder 10 is operated, the shutter 11 is lowered, and the concave notch 97C of the partition wall 98A is closed.

At the position S1, the molding die M is removed by the operator. After removing the forming mold M, the forming mold M is supplied to the plate glass 21 at the position S1.
The above operation is a case where one molding die M flows, and since the molding die M is actually supplied at a continuous or arbitrary timing, the shutter 11 is raised every time immediately before the rotation of the rotary table 2 starts. , Descend immediately after the end of rotation.

  The left rotation of 60 ° per position of the rotary table 2 described above is controlled by the controller 4 to a cycle time of 90 seconds in total, for example, a rotation drive time of 5 seconds and a stop time of 85 seconds, for example. To do. Therefore, about 90 seconds are set for removing the material from the molding die M, the ultraviolet irradiation time to the molding die M is about 3 minutes, and the slow cooling time of the molding die M is about 4 minutes 30 seconds.

  Further, in the operation of the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus, in the active energy ray irradiation area A2 surrounded by the partition walls 96A and 96B, the partition walls 97A and 97B, and the outer peripheral side surface portion 93, the first temperature adjustment unit 12 has the molding die M. In order to maintain a uniform temperature, circulating air whose temperature is controlled is supplied from the supply port 99A and the discharge port 99B. The temperature of the circulating air varies depending on the plastic composition injected into the molding die M, but hot air whose temperature is controlled to 80 to 120 ° C. is blown onto the molding die M. In other words, the active energy ray irradiation area A2 is an area surrounded to irradiate the mold M with ultraviolet rays and prevent leakage of ultraviolet rays and hot air.

In the slow cooling area A3 surrounded by the partition walls 97A and 97B, the partition walls 98A and 98B, and the outer peripheral side surface portion 93, the second temperature adjustment unit 13 gradually cools the molding die M, and thus the supply port 99A and the discharge port 99B. The circulating air whose temperature is controlled is blown from. When the temperature of the circulating air is rapidly cooled, the molds 120 and 121 of the molding die M and the plastic composition (plastic lens) 123 are peeled off. Therefore, hot air whose temperature is controlled to 50 to 90 ° C. is used as the molding die M. Spray on.
That is, the slow cooling area A3 is an area surrounded to slowly cool the molding die M and prevent leakage of hot air.

  In addition, in the case of natural cooling, the temperature-controlled hot air is blown onto the molding die M because the cooling rate varies depending on the type and volume of the plastic composition injected into the molding die M. This is to prevent a decrease in yield due to variations in the power of the plastic lens.

As described above, according to the plastic lens manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Provide a plastic lens manufacturing apparatus that is compact and has excellent space efficiency because the plastic lens can be manufactured while the molding die M into which the plastic composition placed on the turntable 2 is injected is rotated once. can do. In addition, the active energy ray (ultraviolet light) is irradiated a plurality of times in different directions with respect to the molding die M by irradiating the active energy ray with the molding die M stopped and rotating the rotary table 2. Irradiated. Furthermore, since the ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 to 8 (ultraviolet lamps 51 to 81) are configured to be rotatable with respect to the molding surface of the molding die M, the positions of the ultraviolet lamps 51 to 81 are appropriately adjusted as necessary. Thus, it is possible to obtain a plastic lens that prevents the occurrence of internal distortion. Further, the ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 to 8 may not be rotatable, and in this case, the same effect can be obtained if the position is adjusted and fixed in advance.
(2) The molding die is set by positioning the ultraviolet irradiation devices 5 to 8 so that the axes c and d of the ultraviolet lamps 51 to 81 substantially intersect the approximate centers O1 and O2 of the molding die M. The ultraviolet lamps 51 to 81 are uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet light from the center of M, and the axis of the ultraviolet lamp is at a different angle with respect to the molding die M at each stop position where the molding die M stops a plurality of times. By being arranged, it is possible to obtain a plastic lens in which the occurrence of internal distortion is further prevented.
(3) Since the molding die M into which the plastic composition is injected is irradiated with ultraviolet light simultaneously from both the upper and lower sides sandwiching the turntable 2, a plastic lens that prevents the occurrence of internal distortion within a short time. Can be obtained.
(4) Manufacture of a plastic lens that is easy to handle, such as illuminance adjustment, because the active energy ray irradiated to the mold M injected with the plastic composition is ultraviolet light using the ultraviolet lamps 51 to 81 An apparatus can be provided.

In the above embodiment, it can also be implemented with the following modifications.
(Modification 1) The rotary table 2 includes six plate glasses 21 at 60 ° plane positions obtained by dividing the rotation center into six equal parts on a concentric circle of the rotation center of the rotary table 2, and the servo motor 3 has a rotary shaft 32. As described in the case where the rotation of the rotary table 2 is divided into six and driven to the left rotation by 60 °, the number of divisions of the rotary table 2 (the number of the plate glasses 21 installed) and the rotation of the rotary shaft 32 are described. The number of divisions or the rotation direction of the turntable 2 can be arbitrarily set according to a desired size of the manufacturing apparatus, a desired cycle time considering the production capacity of the manufacturing apparatus, and the like.

  (Modification 2) Although an ultraviolet lamp is used as the active energy ray, other active energy rays include known X-rays, electron beams, visible light, etc., and the known light source is a known chemical lamp or xenon. A lamp, a low-pressure mercury lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a fusion lamp, or the like can be applied.

  (Modification 3) Although the active energy ray irradiation area A2 for irradiating ultraviolet light has been described in the case where it is arranged in an area extending over two positions including the positions S2 and S3, an area extending over two or more positions may be set. it can. For example, when an area extending over three positions is set, the axis of each ultraviolet irradiation device arranged at the stop position where the molding die M stops is approximately the center of the molding die M that irradiates ultraviolet light. Arranged at different positions rotated. The different positions are preferably arranged at three positions rotated by an angle of approximately 60 °.

  (Modification 4) The plastic composition is a composition for plastic lenses composed of two or more polymerizable compounds, and has a monofunctional or polyfunctional reactive group, and one or two in the molecule. Any combination of the above-described compounds having a radical polymerizable double bond may be used.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a plastic lens manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. The schematic sectional side view which shows the manufacturing apparatus of the plastic lens of this invention. The schematic diagram explaining the positional relationship of an ultraviolet lamp. The schematic sectional drawing of the shutter part of the manufacturing apparatus of the plastic lens of this invention. Sectional drawing of a shaping | molding die. The top view which shows the outline | summary of the conventional continuous type ultraviolet curing device. Sectional drawing which shows the outline | summary of the conventional continuous type ultraviolet curing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultraviolet curing device as a plastic lens manufacturing apparatus, 2 ... Rotary table as a rotary table, 3 ... Servo motor as a drive means, 4 ... Controller, 5, 6, 7, 8 ... Ultraviolet as an active energy ray apparatus Irradiation device, 9 ... cover, 10 ... shutter opening / closing cylinder, 11 ... shutter, 12 ... first temperature adjusting unit, 13 ... second temperature adjusting unit, 21 ... plate glass as light projecting member, 32 ... rotating shaft, 51, 61, 71, 81 ... UV lamp as an active energy ray lamp, 91 ... upper case, 92 ... lower case, 94, 95 ... irradiation window, 96A to 98A, 96B to 98B ... partition wall, 96C to 98C ... notch 99A ... Supply port, 99B ... Discharge port, A1 ... Supply / discharge area as supply / discharge unit, A2 ... Activity as active energy ray irradiation unit Energy beam irradiation area, A3 ... slow cooling area as slow cooling section, M ... mold, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 ... position, c, the axis of the d ... UV lamp.

Claims (5)

In a plastic lens manufacturing apparatus for polymerizing a plastic composition by irradiating an active energy ray to a molding die injected with the plastic composition,
A rotary table that circulates and conveys the molding die;
A supply / discharge unit that supplies and discharges the molding die to and from the rotary table;
An active energy ray irradiating unit that irradiates the forming die placed on the rotary table with an active energy ray from an active energy ray device having an active energy ray lamp;
A slow cooling part for gradually cooling the molding die,
Around the rotary shaft of the rotary table, the supply / discharge unit, the active energy ray irradiation unit, and the slow cooling unit are arranged in this order in the rotation direction of the rotary shaft,
The rotary table rotates intermittently at a cycle time that can ensure a predetermined stop time by a predetermined rotation amount obtained by dividing one rotation into a predetermined number,
The active energy ray irradiation unit has a stop position at which the molding die on the rotary table stops a plurality of times,
The active energy ray lamp is disposed in a direction in which an axis of the active energy ray lamp is substantially directed to a rotation axis of the rotary table, and the axis of the active energy ray lamp and the molding are at a stop position where the active energy ray lamp is stopped a plurality of times. An apparatus for producing a plastic lens, wherein the plastic lens is disposed so as to substantially intersect with the center of the mold. The active energy ray lamp is:
The position of the axis of the active energy ray lamp and the center of the molding die substantially intersect each other at the stop position where the stop is performed a plurality of times,
2. The plastic lens according to claim 1, wherein a relative angle at which the molding die and the axis of the active energy ray lamp intersect each other is arranged to be different for each stop position where the plurality of stop positions are stopped. Manufacturing equipment.   3. The active energy ray device is configured to be rotatable with respect to a substantial center of the molding die at a stop position where the axis of the active energy ray lamp is stopped a plurality of times. The plastic lens manufacturing apparatus described in 1. The active energy ray irradiation unit includes the active energy ray device on both upper and lower sides across the rotary table,
2. The rotary table has at least a light projecting member that transmits an active energy ray irradiated from the active energy ray device disposed on the lower side at a mounting position of the molding die. The manufacturing apparatus of the plastic lens as described in any one of thru | or 3. 5. The plastic lens manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the active energy ray lamp is an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates ultraviolet light. 6.

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