Device for polishing an optical lens or an optical mirror and method for polishing an optical lens or an optical mirror

Abstract

A device and a method for polishing an optical lens or an optical mirror use a polishing tool and a workpiece holding ring for accommodating the optical lens or the optical mirror. The workpiece holding ring is arranged above the tool in a vertical direction, and the device has three axes, which are movable during the polishing process, for moving the workpiece holding ring and the polishing tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for polishing an optical lens or an optical mirror using a polishing tool and using a workpiece holding ring for accommodating the optical lens or the optical mirror, wherein the workpiece holding ring is arranged above the tool in a vertical direction,
 wherein the device ( 30 ) comprises three axes (X 1 , Z 1 , B 1 ), which are movable during the polishing process, for moving the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) and the polishing tool ( 23 ).   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) having the two movable axes (X 1 , Z 1 ) and the polishing tool ( 23 ) having the one movable axis (B 1 ) are designed to be movable in an interpolating manner during the polishing process, and wherein a center point of the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) is arranged vertically above a center point of the polishing tool ( 24 ) during the polishing process. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) is arranged so as to rest on the polishing tool ( 23 ) by gravity. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical lens ( 19 ) or the optical mirror is arranged so as to rest on the polishing tool ( 23 ) by gravity. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) is mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis (L W ). 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one smoothing device ( 20 ) for a polishing pad ( 24 ) of the polishing tool ( 23 ) is arranged on a support surface ( 34 ) of the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) arranged in the direction of the polishing tool ( 23 ). 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) is designed to be drivable at a first rotational speed (n 2 ) and the polishing tool ( 23 ) is designed to be drivable at a second rotational speed (n 1 ), and wherein the polishing process is executable at two rotational speeds (n 1 , n 2 ) deviating from one another, wherein a direction of rotation of the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) and a direction of rotation of the polishing tool ( 23 ) are synchronous. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) is exchangeable for a second holding ring ( 29 ) comprising a driveable tool spindle ( 29 ) for machining a surface of the polishing tool ( 23 ). 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein four movable axes (X 1 , Z 1 , B 1 , C 1 ) are designed to be movable during the process of machining the surface of the polishing tool ( 23 ). 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, using the device ( 30 ), spherical optical lenses ( 19 ) or spherical optical mirrors or planar optical lenses or planar optical mirrors are polishable. 
     
     
         11 . A method for polishing an optical lens or an optical mirror using a polishing tool for polishing the optical lens or the optical mirror, in which the optical lens or the optical mirror is arranged in a workpiece holding ring, wherein the workpiece holding ring is arranged above the polishing tool in a vertical direction,
 wherein the polishing process is carried out using three movable axes (X 1 , Z 1 , B 1 ) for moving the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) and the polishing tool ( 23 ). 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) having the two movable axes (X 1 , Z 1 ) and the polishing tool ( 23 ) having the one movable axis (B 1 ) are moved in an interpolating manner during the polishing process such that a center point of the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) is arranged vertically above a center point of the polishing tool ( 23 ) during the polishing process. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the optical lens ( 19 ) or the optical mirror rests on the polishing tool ( 23 ) by gravity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) rests on the polishing tool ( 23 ) by gravity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) is driven so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis (L W ) during the polishing process, and wherein the optical lens ( 19 ) arranged in the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) or the optical mirror arranged in the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) rotates due to friction with the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) about a longitudinal axis (L L ) of the optical lens ( 19 ) or of the optical mirror. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one smoothing device ( 20 ), which is arranged on a support surface ( 34 ) of the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) arranged in the direction of the polishing tool ( 23 ), smooths the polishing pad ( 24 ) during the polishing process. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) is driven at a first rotational speed (n 2 ) and the polishing tool ( 23 ) is driven at a second rotational speed (n 1 ), and wherein the polishing process ( 23 ) is carried out at two rotational speeds (n 1 , n 2 ) deviating from one another, wherein a direction of rotation of the workpiece holding ring ( 11 ) and a direction of rotation of the polishing tool ( 23 ) are synchronous. 
     
     
         18 . A method for machining a polishing pad of a polishing tool comprising a device ( 30 ) having the features according to  claim 8 , wherein the machining process for machining the surface of the polishing tool ( 23 ) is carried out using an interpolating movement with four movable axes (X 1 , Z 1 , B 1 , C 1 ).