Patent Abstract:
An apparatus ( 10 ) for holding lens holders includes a first board ( 14 ) and a second board ( 16 ). The first board includes a plurality of through slots ( 146 ) defined therein. The second board includes a base portion ( 160 ) and a plurality of elongated protrusions ( 162 ) for insertion in and sliding in the respective slots. The protrusions extend from the base portion. The first board and the second board are attached to each other with the protrusions inserted in the slots. The first board and the second board cooperatively form a plurality of receptacles between the first inner surfaces in the slots and the first surface of the protrusions. A platform ( 12 ) with one of the first board and the second board are secured thereon. A driving device ( 20 ) is configured for driving the other one of the first board and the second board to move relative to the one secured on the table to change a size of the receptacles.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to apparatuses for holding lens holders, and particularly, to an apparatus for holding lens holders in automatic assembly operations. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    With the development of the optical imaging technology, image capturing devices, such as digital cameras and mobile phones, are widely used in electronic devices. 
         [0005]    Most lens modules used in the cameras are assembled by manually rather than by machine. During the assembling process, optical elements (e.g. lenses, spaces, filters) are assembled into a lens holder one by one. However, manual operations have the deficiency of rather inefficient productivity. That is, only one lens module may be assembled at a time. Clearly, automatic lens module assembly operations would provide greater efficiency because multiple lens modules could be assembled in a single step. 
         [0006]    Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus for holding multi lens holders in automatic assembly operations. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An apparatus for holding lens holders includes a first board and a second board. The first board includes a plurality of through slots defined therein. The first board has a first inner surface and an opposite second inner surface in each of the slots. A plurality of spaced grooves is defined in each of the first inner surfaces. A second board includes a base portion and a plurality of elongated protrusions for insertion in and sliding in the respective slots. The protrusions extend from the base portion. Each of the protrusions has a first surface facing the corresponding first inner surface and an opposite second surface facing the corresponding second inner surface. A plurality of grooves is defined in the first surface. The grooves of the protrusions are aligned with the respective grooves in the first surface. The first board and the second board are attached to each other with the protrusions inserted in the slots. The first board and the second board cooperatively form a plurality of receptacles between the first inner surfaces in the slots and the first surface of the protrusions. A platform with one of the first board and the second board are secured thereon. A driving device is configured for driving the other one of the first board and the second board to move relative to the one secured on the table to change a size of the receptacles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Many aspects of the present 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 present apparatus. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an explored perspective view of an apparatus for holding lens holder in accordance with a first embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment before the lens holder being held by the apparatus. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment when the lens holder is held by the apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment when the lens holder is held by the apparatus. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment before the lens holder being held by the apparatus. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment when the lens holder is held by the apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe in detail the preferred embodiments of the present apparatus for holding lens holders in automatic assembly operations. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an apparatus  10  for holding lens holders, according to a first present embodiment, includes a table  12 , a first board  14 , a second board  16 , at least one securing member  18 , and a driving device  20 . 
         [0019]    The first board  14  and the second board  16  are substantially rectangular shaped. The first board  14  includes a first frame  140 , a second frame  141 , and a plurality of paralleled separators  144 . In the present embodiment, the number of the separators  144  is N (N is a natural number). The first frame  140  is parallel with the second frame  141 . The separators  144  are disposed between and perpendicular to both the first frame  140  and the second frame  141 . The separators  144  are evenly spaced from each other. The first frame  140 , the second frame  141 , and the separators  144  are substantially long cubic shaped. The first frame  140  and the second frame  141  can be integrally formed with the separators  144 . 
         [0020]    A plurality of slots  146  is defined between each adjacent separators  144 . In the present embodiment, the number of the slots  146  is N−1. The slots  146  run through both the top surface and the bottom surface of the first board  14 . 
         [0021]    One surface of each of the separators  144  facing to adjacent separators  144  is defined as a first holding surface  1440 . Each of the first holding surfaces  1440  is defined on the same side of each of the separators  144 . A plurality of circular arc grooves  1442  are formed on each of the first holding surfaces  1440 . In the present embodiment, the number of the grooves  1442  on each first holding surface  1440  is M (M is a natural number). The grooves  1442  extend regularly and periodically in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of both the separator  144  and the surface of the first board  14 . 
         [0022]    The second board  16  includes a rectangular shaped substrate  160 . The substrate  160  is supported by the table  12 . A plurality of blocks  162  extends out from the top surface of the substrate  160 . In the present embodiment, the number of the blocks  162  is N−1. The extending direction of the blocks  162  is parallel to one side of the substrate  160 . The arrangement and size of the blocks  162  on the second board  16  are corresponding to those of the slots  146  in the first board  14 . The width of each block  162  is smaller than that of each slot  146 . The length of each block  162  is smaller than or equal to that of each slot  146 . 
         [0023]    A surface of each of the blocks  162  facing to adjacent blocks  162  is defined as a second holding surface  1620 . Each of the second holding surfaces  1620  is on the same side of each of the blocks  162 . A plurality of circular arc grooves  1622  are formed on each of the second holding surfaces  1620 . In the present embodiment, the number of the grooves  1622  on each second holding surface  1620  is M (M is a natural number). The grooves  1622  extend regularly and periodically in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of both the block  162  and the surface of the substrate  160 . The size of the groove  1622  is similar with that of the groove  1442  in the separators  144 . The distance between adjacent grooves  1622  is corresponding to that of the grooves  1442 . 
         [0024]    The blocks  162  of the second board  16  and the slots  146  of the first board  14  are in one-to-one correspondence. The first board  14  and the second board  16  are joined together by inserting blocks  162  into the slots  146 . The second holding surfaces  1620  face to the first holding surfaces  1440 . The grooves  1442  on the first holding surface  1440  and the corresponding grooves  1622  on the second holding surface  1620  cooperatively define a plurality of sockets  24  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). In the present embodiment, the sockets  24  are arranged in an M by N−1 (M×(N−1)) array in an equally spaced relationship. 
         [0025]    The securing member  18  includes a first plate  180  and a second plate  182  perpendicular to the first plate  180 , i.e., the securing member  18  is L shaped. The first plate  180  is attached on the table  12 . The second plate  182  is parallel to the table  12 . The second plate  182  is configured for limiting the movement of the first board  14  in the direction along Z-axis. The second holding surfaces  1620  are set facing to the first plate  180 . One end of the substrate  160  opposite to the first plate  180  is attached on the first plate  180  by screws  184 . The first holding surfaces  1440  are facing in an opposite direction from the first plate  180 . One end of the first board  14  is connected with the first plate  180  by elastic elements, such as elastic spring or elastic trip. In the present embodiment, the elastic elements are two elastic springs  186 . Two spring holes  142  are defined in the first board  14  opposite to the first plate  180  adapted for holding the elastic springs  186 . The depth of the two spring holes  142  are larger than or equal to the compressed length of the elastic springs  186 . The securing member  18  can also be secured on other two sides of the second board  16  for limiting the movement of the first board  14  in the direction along Y-axis. The material of the first board  14  and the second board  16  is selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, plastic, etc. 
         [0026]    The driving device  20  is secured on the table  12  and opposite to the other end of the first board  14  relative to the securing member  18 . In the present embodiment, the driving device  20  is a gas cylinder  200 . The gas cylinder  200  includes a connecting rod  202  connected with the pistons (not shown in the figures) inside the gas cylinder  200 . The connecting rod  202  is connected or in contact with the end of the first board  14  opposite to the driving device  20 . The connecting rod  202  is configured for driving the first board  14  to move relative to the second board  16  linearly. In the alternative embodiments, the driving device  20  can be a step motor or other cylinder. 
         [0027]    The operation principle of the apparatus  10  is described as follows. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , firstly, the first board  14  is driven by the gas cylinder  200  to move towards the securing member  18  relative to the second board  16 . The springs  186  are compressed, whereby potential energies are stored in the springs  186 . The gas cylinder  200  stops working when the sockets  24  are large enough to hold the lens holder  22  (figures only show one lens holder, the number of the lens holders can be smaller than or equal to (N×(M−1))). And then, the lens holder  24  can be placed into one of the sockets  24  automatically by robotic arms. 
         [0028]    Secondly, referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the connecting rod  202  is pulled back by the gas cylinder  200 , and the first board  14  is pushed by the springs  186  to move towards the driving device  20 . In this way, the lens holder  22  is held tightly by the first holding surface  1440  and second holding surface  1620 . After the lens holder  22  being assembled, the first board  14  is driven by the gas cylinder  200  to move towards the securing member  18  again. And then, the space of the sockets  24  becomes large enough for the lens holder  22  to be picked up by the robotic arms. 
         [0029]    It is to be understood that, in the alternative embodiments, the second board  16  can be secured on the table  12  by adhesives or nails. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , an apparatus  30  for holding lens modules, according to a second present embodiment is illustrated. The structure of the apparatus  30  is similar to that of the apparatus  10  in the first embodiment. The apparatus  30  includes a table  32 , a first board  34 , a second board  36 , a securing member  38 , and the driving device  40 . Similar to the apparatus  10 , the first board  34  includes a plurality of first holding surfaces  3400 . The second board  36  includes a plurality of second holding surfaces  3600 . The driving device  40  is a gas cylinder  400  having a connecting rod  402 . The difference between the apparatus  30  in the second embodiment and the apparatus  10  in the first embodiment is that, in the second embodiment, one end of the second board  36  is connected with the first plate  380  of the securing member  38  by two springs  386 , one end of the first board  34  opposite to the first plate  380  is attached on the first plate  380  by screws  384 , and the connecting rod  402  is connected or in contact with the second board  36  opposite to the driving device  40 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 7  again, in the initial status of the apparatus  30 , due to the force of the springs  386 , the space between the first holding surface  3400  and the second surface  3600  is large enough to place the lens holder  42  therein. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the second board  36  is driven by the gas cylinder  400  to move towards the securing member  38  relative to the first board  34 , and then, the lens holder  22  is held tightly by the first surface  3400  and the second surface  3600 . 
         [0033]    While the present invention has been described as having preferred or exemplary embodiments, the embodiments can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the embodiments using the general principles of the invention as claimed. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims or equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8