Grinding water tank unit for use in processing eyeglass lens, device for separating processing debris, and eyeglass lens processing apparatus having the tank unit or device

Abstract

A grinding water tank unit which enables reuse of grinding water that has been used for processing an eyeglass lens, includes: a tank in which the grinding water is stored; a filter, disposed in the tank, for filtering the grinding water to be separate from processing debris, the filter having a sealed hollow portion; a first water suction pump; and a first water suction passage which connects the hollow portion to the first pump, and through which the grinding water filtered by the filter is sucked by suction of the first pump.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A grinding water tank unit which enables reuse of grinding water that has been used for processing an eyeglass lens, comprising: 
 a tank in which the grinding water is stored;    a filter, disposed in the tank, for filtering the grinding water to be separate from processing debris, the filter having a sealed hollow portion;    a first water suction pump; and    a first water suction passage which connects the hollow portion to the first pump, and through which the grinding water filtered by the filter is sucked by suction of the first pump.    
     
     
         2 . The tank unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes a substantially plate-like filter which is disposed at a bottom of the tank, and which has a filter surface substantially equal in area to an interior bottom surface of the tank.  
     
     
         3 . The tank unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the filter has the hollow portion defined between the filter and the interior bottom surface of the tank.  
     
     
         4 . The tank unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first water supply passage which connects the first pump to the tank, and through which the grinding water sucked by the first pump is supplied to the tank.    
     
     
         5 . The tank unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an antifoaming device for eliminating bubbles developing in the tank.    
     
     
         6 . The tank unit according to  claim 5 , wherein the antifoaming device has a water ejection opening disposed at a predetermined height in the tank, and eliminates the bubbles using water pressure of water ejected from the water ejection opening.  
     
     
         7 . The tank unit according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a second water suction pump;    a second water suction passage which connects the tank to the second pump, and through which the grinding water in the tank is sucked by suction of the second pump; and    a second water supply passage which connects the second pump to the water ejection opening, and through which the grinding water sucked by the second pump is supplied to the water ejection opening.    
     
     
         8 . The tank unit according to  claim 6 , wherein an ejection direction of the water ejection opening is changeable.  
     
     
         9 . An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing an eyeglass lens, comprising: 
 a processing chamber in which a lens grinding tool is disposed;    a tank in which grinding water is stored;    a drain passage through which the grinding water is drained from the processing chamber to the tank;    a filter, disposed in the tank, for filtering the grinding water to be separate from processing debris, the filter having a sealed hollow portion;    a water suction pump; and    a water suction passage which connects the hollow portion to the pump, and through which the grinding water filtered by the filter is sucked by suction of the pump.    
     
     
         10 . The eyeglass lens processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a water supply unit for supplying the grinding water stored in the tank to the processing chamber.    
     
     
         11 . The eyeglass lens processing apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a water supply passage which connects the pump to the tank, and through which the grinding water sucked by the pump is supplied to the tank.    
     
     
         12 . A processing debris separating device for separating grinding water, used for processing an eyeglass lens and drained to a tank, from processing debris, comprising: 
 a filter, disposed in the tank, for filtering the grinding water to be separate from the processing debris, the filter having a sealed hollow portion;    a water suction pump; and    a water suction passage which connects the hollow portion to the pump, and through which the grinding water filtered by the filter is sucked by suction of the pump.    
     
     
         13 . A grinding water tank unit which enables reuse of grinding water that has been used for processing an eyeglass lens, comprising: 
 a first tank in which the grinding water is stored;    a filter for filtering the grinding water to be separate from processing debris, the filter having a chamber in which the processing debris is accumulated;    a pressurizing pump;    a water suction passage which connects the first tank to the pump, and through which the grinding water in the first tank is sucked by suction of the pump; and    a first water supply passage which connects the pump to the chamber of the filter, and through which the grinding water sucked by the pump is supplied to the chamber under a predetermined water pressure.    
     
     
         14 . The tank unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the filter is disposed in the first tank.  
     
     
         15 . The tank unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the filter is disposed in a second tank provided outside the first tank.  
     
     
         16 . The tank unit according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a second water supply passage which connects the second tank to the first tank.    
     
     
         17 . The tank unit according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 an anti-foaming device for eliminating bubbles developing in the first tank.    
     
     
         18 . An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing an eyeglass lens, comprising: 
 a processing chamber in which a lens grinding tool is disposed;    a tank in which grinding water is stored;    a drain passage through which the grinding water is drained from the processing chamber to the tank;    a filter for filtering the grinding water to be separate from processing debris, the filter having a chamber in which the processing debris is accumulated;    a pressurizing pump;    a water suction passage which connects the tank to the pump, and through which the grinding water in the tank is sucked by suction of the pump; and    a water supply passage which connects the pump to the chamber of the filter, and through which the grinding water sucked by is the pump is supplied to the chamber under a predetermined water pressure.    
     
     
         19 . The eyeglass lens processing apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a water supply unit for supplying the grinding water stored in the tank, to the processing chamber.    
     
     
         20 . A processing debris separating device for separating grinding water, used for processing an eyeglass lens and drained to a tank, from processing debris, comprising: 
 a filter for filtering the grinding water to be separate from the processing debris, the filter having a chamber in which the processing debris is accumulated;    a pressurizing pump;    a water suction passage which connects the tank to the pump, and through which the grinding water in the tank is sucked by suction of the pump; and    a water supply passage which connects the pump to the chamber of the filter, and through which the grinding water sucked by the pump is supplied to the chamber under a predetermined water pressure.