Abstract:
A clamping apparatus for clamping optical elements ( 100 ) includes a first fixture ( 10 ), a second fixture ( 20 ) and two mounting members ( 30 ). The first fixture defines a plurality of holding holes ( 11 ). The second fixture defines a plurality of holding grooves ( 210 ) corresponding to the holding holes. The holding grooves and holding holes are configured for cooperatively positioning the optical elements. At least one mounting member is configured for adjustably mounting the first fixture and the second fixture so that the first fixture and the second fixture are movable so as to position the optical elements in different positions.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to clamping apparatuses and, in particular, to a clamping apparatus for clamping optical elements such as lenses.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Nowadays, optical elements such as lenses are commonly used in digital cameras or digital video recorders. There is more and more demand for higher quality and serviceability of these optical elements. A film such as an antireflective film or an infra-red cut film is generally applied onto the optical elements, especially on lenses. To improve imaging quality, it is an important first step to wash the optical elements before applying a film thereon. How to wash optical elements effectively before plating is therefore an important area of development.  
         [0003]     Generally, optical elements are washed using ultrasonic waves in a vessel filled with liquid. However, the optical elements are prone to collide with each other during washing by the ultrasonic waves. As a result, a surface of each optical element can easily bercome scraped or damaged. Therefore, optical elements need to be fixed in a clamping apparatus so that the optical elements are separated from each other and do not collide with each other.  
         [0004]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a typical clamping apparatus is a holding board  40  defining a plurality of receiving holes  41 . Each of the receiving holes  41  has a shape and size corresponding to one of optical elements (not shown). In use, each of the optical elements is received in one of the receiving holes  41 , and the holding board  40  is then put in a liquid to be cleaned by concussion of ultrasonic waves. Because all the optical elements are received in the receiving holes  41 , impurities on surfaces of the optical elements touching the holding board  4  are not easy to clean, thus, the washing effect is not good.  
         [0005]     Therefore, a new clamping apparatus for clamping optical elements is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In one aspect, a clamping apparatus for clamping optical elements includes a first fixture, a second fixture and two mounting members. The first fixture defines a plurality of holding holes. The second fixture defines a plurality of holding grooves corresponding to the holding holes. The holding grooves and holding holes are configured for cooperatively positioning the optical elements. At least one mounting member is configured for adjustably mounting the first fixture and the second fixture so that the first fixture and the second fixture are movable so as to position the optical elements in different positions.  
         [0007]     In another aspect, a method for washing optical elements is included, comprising the following steps: providing a clamping apparatus for clamping optical elements, including a first fixture defining a plurality of holding holes, a second fixture defining a plurality of holding grooves corresponding to the holding holes, and at least one mounting member, the first fixture and the second fixture being movably attached to the mounting member; adjusting the first fixture so that the holding holes of the first fixture face the holding grooves of the second fixture; positioning the optical elements between the holding holes and the holding grooves; fixing the second fixture to the two mounting member; immersing the clamping apparatus with the optical element into a clean liquid for washing; adjusting the first fixture together with the optical elements so as to position the optical elements in different positions for effectively washing; taking the clamping apparatus out of the liquid after washing is finished; releasing the optical elements from the clamping apparatus.  
         [0008]     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Many aspects of the clamping apparatus can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the clamping apparatus. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the clamping apparatus, in accordance with a first embodiment;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a first fixture shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the second fixture shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a partly assembled, isometric view of the clamping apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing a second state;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing a third state;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the clamping apparatus, in accordance with a second embodiment; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a typical clamping apparatus.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     Referring now to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 1  shows a clamping apparatus  100  for clamping optical elements such as lenses. In a first embodiment, the optical elements are lenses  50 . The clamping apparatus  100  includes a first fixture  10 , a second fixture  20 , and two mounting members  30 . The first fixture  10  and the second fixture  20  are both attached to the two mounting members  30  so as to clamp a plurality of lenses  50  in an adjustable manner.  
         [0019]     Referring together to  FIG. 2 , the first fixture  10  is an elongated bar with a substantially rectangular cross section, including a holding surface  11  and two sliding portions  12 . The first fixture  101  has a plurality of holding holes  110  evenly defined in the holding surface  11 , and each of the holding holes has a shape corresponding to one of the lenses  50 . A fringe portion (not labeled) of each lens  50  can be partly received in one of the holding holes  110 . One of the sliding portions  12  extends from one end of the first fixture  10 , and the other extends from an opposite end of the first fixture  10 .  
         [0020]     Referring together to  FIG. 3 , the second fixture  20  includes a bar portion  21  and two extending portions  22 . The bar portion  21  evenly defines a plurality of holding grooves  210  corresponding to plurality of holding holes  110  of the first fixture  10 . The bar portion  21  has two end walls (not labeled) and each of the end walls defines a mounting hole  23 , and the mounting hole  23  is a screw thread hole. Each of the extending portions  22  is substantially rectangular in shape. One of the extending portions  22  extends from one end of the bar potion  210 , and the other extends from an opposite end of the bar potion  210 .  
         [0021]     The mounting members  30  are substantially rectangular in shape. Each of the mounting members  30  defines a guiding groove  31 , a sliding groove  32 , and a fixing hole  33 . The guiding groove  31  is arc-shaped and is defined in a corner of the mounting member  30 . The sliding groove  32  is a rectangular groove defined in an end portion of the mounting member  30 . The fixing hole  33  is a screw thread hole defined adjacent to the sliding groove  32 .  
         [0022]     In assembly, one of the sliding portions  12  of first fixture  10  is movably received in the guiding groove  31  of one of the mounting members  30 . One of the extending portions  22  of the second fixture  20  is received in the sliding groove  32  of one of the mounting members  30 . The other one of the sliding portions  12  of first fixture  10  is movably received in the guiding groove  31  of the other one of the mounting members  30 . The other one of the extending portions  22  of the second fixture  20  is received in the sliding groove  32  of the other one of the mounting members  30 . The sliding portions  12  of the second fixture  12  are moved to one end of the sliding groove  32 , and each of the fixing holes  33  in the mounting member  30  is aimed at each of the mounting holes  23  in the second fixture  20  at such a position. By using two bolts (not shown) engaging in the mounting holes  23  and the fixing hole  33 , the second fixture  20  is fixed to the mounting members  30 . After assembly, the mounting members  30  are parallel to each other, and the first fixture  10  and the second fixture  20  can be adjusted between the two the mounting,members  30 .  
         [0023]     Referring together to  FIGS. 4-6 , the clamping apparatus  100  is used in a method to clean lenses  50 . The method for washing lenses  50  includes the following steps. The first fixture  10  is adjusted so that the sliding portions  12  of first fixture  10  are moved to one end of the guiding groove  31 , and the holding holes  110  of the first fixture  10  face the holding grooves  210  of the second fixture  20 . The lenses  50  are put into the holding grooves  210 , and each of the lenses  50  is partly received in each of the holding grooves  210 . The second fixture  20  is moved along the sliding groove  32  towards the first fixture  10  so that each of the lenses  50  is also partly received in each of the holding holes  11 , then the lenses  50  are fixed between the first fixture  10  and the second fixture  20 . By using two bolts engaging in the mounting holes  23  and the fixing hole  33 , the second fixture  20  is fixed to the mounting members  30  for stopping the lenses  50  from falling off the clamping apparatus  100 . The clamping apparatus  100  with the lenses  50  are immersed into a washing liquid for washing. The first fixture  10  is moved together with the lenses  50  along the guiding grooves  31  of the mounting members  30 , thus the position of the lenses  50  is adjustable according to different requirements and the lenses  50  are effectively cleaned. The clamping apparatus  100  is then taken out of the liquid. The first fixture  10  is adjusted so that the holding holes  110  of the first fixture  10  again face the holding grooves  210  of the second fixture  20 . The second fixture  12  is disengaged from the mounting members  30  by disassembling the two bolts from the mounting holes  23  and the fixing hole  33 . The second fixture  12  is moved along sliding groove  32  to one end for taking out the lenses  50  from the clamping apparatus  100 .  
         [0024]     In a second embodiment, referring together to  FIG. 7 , two mounting members  200  each define a plurality of guiding grooves  201 , a plurality of sliding grooves  202  and a plurality of fixing holes  203 . Therefore, each of the mounting members  200  are able to mount a plurality of first fixtures  300  and a plurality of second fixtures  400  so that the efficiency for washing lenses  500  is further improved.  
         [0025]     It is to be understood, the clamping apparatus can only have one mounting member or a plurality of mounting members.  
         [0026]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.