BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a deodorization system for a lens-grinding machine
for deodorizing bad-smelling air produced when a lens (a lens to be ground) is subjected
to a grinding process on a lens-grinding machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] It is known that when grinding a high-refraction plastic lens or the like by a conventional
lens-grinding machine, the plastic lens produces an offensive smell owing to the effect
of sulfur molecules contained in the plastic lens. Various deodorization systems have
been developed to solve the problems resulting from such an offensive smell.
[0003] A deodorization apparatus disclosed in JP-U No. Hei 6-61444 deodorizes bad-smelling
air having an offensive smell produced when a plastic lens and the like containing
components that produce offensive smells at the time of being ground are ground by
making a deodorization filter suck the bad-smelling air from a tank for storing a
waste water (waste water tank) through a connection pipe provided separately from
a drain hose.
[0004] A deodorization apparatus disclosed in JP-A No. Hei 5-345268 guides a bad-smelling
gas produced by a lens-grinding machine into a body of deodorization device from an
inlet opening disposed near a lens-grinding region on the lens-grinding machine through
a flexible tube, and removes the bad-smelling gas by a deodorization filter which
is a lamination of a dust filter, a paper filter and activated carbon for deodorization.
[0005] However, when the air having an offensive smell is sucked into the deodorization
apparatus, waste water, cut chips and bubbles produced in the waste water are sucked
together with the air into the deodorization apparatus.
[0006] Accordingly, therm is a problem that the deodorization filter of the deodorization
apparatus disclosed in JP-U No. Hei 6-61444 is clogged in a short operating time with
highly humid gas, cut chips or the bubbles sucked through the connection pipe and
is unable to function effectively.
[0007] The deodorization apparatus disclosed in JP-A No. Hei 5-345268 that sucks the bad-smelling
gas by making the gas flow from the inlet opening disposed near the lens-grinding
region into the body of the deodorization device through the flexible tube also has
a problem that the waste water produced in the grinding process is sucked accidentally
to be accumulated in the deodorization apparatus so that the deodorization apparatus
is deteriorated and damaged.
[0008] Moreover, there is also a problem that a deodorizer is unable to function effectively
because the bad-smelling air contains the waste water, the bubbles and the cut chips.
[0009] Besides, problems caused by the offensive smells are not radically solved because
the offensive smells cannot be removed from the waste water storage tank.
[0010] Furthermore, the offensive smells cause troubles in the maintenance of the waste
water tank storing the waste water produced by the grinding process for grinding the
aforementioned high-refraction plastic lens and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a deodorization system for a
lens-grinding machine, which system is able to maintain sufficient deodorizing effect
for a long operating time without clogging of its deodorization means by a waste water
containing bubbles, cut chips and the like produced in a grinding process.
[0012] For achieving the aforementioned object, according to a first aspect of the present
invention, a deodorization system for a lens-grinding machine for grinding a lens,
which system includes a suction hose for sucking bad-smelling air from a grinding
chamber and a waste water tank storing waste water produced in the grinding chamber
through the waste water tank, deodorization means for deodorizing the bad-smelling
air, which is connected to the suction hose, and separation means for separating the
waste water, bubbles and cut chips contained in the bad-smelling air from the air
and removing the same, which separation means is interposed between the suction hose
and the deodorization means.
[0013] It is obtained the effect that the deodorization filter will not be clogged with
the waste water, the bubbles and the like and hence the deodorization system is able
to deodorize the bad-smelling air produced by the grinding process effectively, even
if the air containing the waste water, bubbles, cut chips and the like is sucked and
deodorized. In addition, since the bad-smelling air is sucked through the waste water
tank, offensive smells produced by the grinding machine, as well as those produced
in the waste water tank can be deodorized.
[0014] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deodorization
system further including a water storage tank for storing the waste water separated
from the bad-smelling air by the separation means.
[0015] It is obtained the effect that the water storage tank keeps the components of the
deodorization system from being wet with the waste water to prevent the deterioration
and damaging of the system.
[0016] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deodorization
system further including detection means for detecting the volume of the waste water
stored in the water storage tank.
[0017] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deodorization
system in which the detection means is incorporated into the water storage tank.
[0018] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deodorization
system in which the detection means is incorporated into the separation means.
[0019] In the deodorization systems in the above three aspects from the third to the fifth
of the present invention, it is obtained the effect that the volume of the waste water
separated from the bad-smelling air by the separation means can be known without directly
examining the water storage tank and hence the overflow of the waste water from the
water storage tank can be prevented. Consequently, the deterioration end damaging
of the deodorization system can be prevented and the maintenance of the components
of the deodorization system can be facilitated.
[0020] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deodorization
system further including a fine filter capable of capturing the cut chips and moisture
that are sucked together with the bad-smelling air from the grinding chamber and the
waste water tank.
[0021] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deodorization
system in which the fine filter is interposed between and connected to the separation
means and the deodorization means.
[0022] In the deodorization systems according to the sixth and the seventh aspects of the
present invention, moisture and fine cut chips that could not have been separated
from the bad-smelling air by the separation means can be separated and removed from
the air. Consequently, it is obtained the effect that the cleanliness of the bad-smelling
air supplied to the deodorization means is improved and thereby the life time of activated
carbon, serving as a deodorizer of the deodorization system can be extended.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic front elevation of a deodorization system for a lens-grinding
machine in a first embodiment according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic front elevation of an internal structure of the deodorization
apparatus included in the deodorization system shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a centrifugal separator included in the deodorization
apparatus shown in Fig. 2 taken along a plane parallel to the paper substantially
centered in the centrifugal separator;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an essential part of a separator body included in
the centrifugal separator shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of an internal structure of a deodorization apparatus
included in a deodorization system for a lens-grinding machine in a second embodiment
according to the present invention;
Fig 6 is a front elevation of an internal structure of a deodorization apparatus included
in a deodorization system for a lens-grinding machine in a third embodiment according
to the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a front elevation of an internal structure of a deodorization apparatus
included in a deodorization system for a lens-grinding machine in a fourth embodiment
according to the present invention; and
Fig. 8 is a schematic front elevation of a deodorization system for a lens-grinding
machine in a fifth embodiment according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(1) First Embodiment
Construction
[Lens-grinding Machine]
[0024] Referring to Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a lens-grinding machine(lens
grinder), and numeral 4 designates a lens as an object of grinding. The lens-grinding
machine 1 has a grinding chamber 2 enclosing all the components of the lens-grinding
machine 1 therein, a lens rotating shaft 3 disposed in the grinding chamber 2 to hold
the lens 4 thereon and to rotate the same, a grindstone 5 for grinding the periphery
of the lens 4, having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the
lens rotating shaft 3, and a nozzle 6 for spouting cooling water when grinding the
lens 4 with the grindstone 5. The lens-grinding machine 1 is a well-known one. Only
the least components of the lens-grinding machine 1 necessary for the description
of the present invention are shown in Fig. 1.
[Cooling Water Circulating System]
[0025] Referring to Fig. 1, a cooling water circulating system A includes a waste water
tank 7 disposed below the lens-grinding machine 1, a cover plate 7a covering the open
upper end of the waste water tank 7, and a drain hose 8 for draining cooling water
containing cut chips from the bottom of the grinding chamber 2 into the waste water
tank 7. Waste water 9 is stored in the waste water tank 7. The cooling water circulating
system A has a pump 10 fixed to the cover plate (covering member) 7a with its suction
port 10a immersed in an upper part in the waste water 9.
[0026] The pump 10 has a discharge port connected to the nozzle 6. When grinding a peripheral
part of the lens (raw spectacle lens or the like) 4 with the grindstone 5, the waste
water 9 stored in the waste water tank 7 is pumped up through a filter, not shown,
and is spouted through the nozzle 6 again as cooling water onto a working part of
the grindstone 5 in contact with the lens 4.
[0027] Shown also in Fig. 1 are the upper surface 9a of the waste water 9, bubbles 9b floating
on the upper surface 9a of the waste water 9, a space 11 between the upper surface
9a of the waste water 9 and the covering plate 7a. The bubbles 9b are formed when
the cooling water is drained from the grinding chamber 2 through the drain hose 8
into the waste water tank 7. The space 11 is filled up with bad-smelling air having
an offensive smell produced when the lens 4 is ground.
[0028] One end of a suction hose 12 which is open to the space 11 is connected the cover
plate 7a. Another end of the auction hose 12 is connected to a dehydration filter
(first separation means) 13. A deodorization apparatus (deodorization means) 15 is
connected by another suction hose 14 to the dehydration filter 13.
[Dehydration filter 13]
[0029] The dehydration filter 13 includes a cylindrical vessel 16 having an open upper end,
a cover 17 covering the open upper end of the cylindrical vessel 16, a filter element
18 attached to the cover 17, and a drain valve 19 attached to the bottom of the cylindrical
vessel 16. The corer 17 is provided with an inlet opening 17a and an outlet opening
17b. The inlet opening 17a and the outlet opening 17b are isolated from each other
by the filter element 18. The end of the suction hose 12 on the side of the dehydration
filter 13 is connected to the inlet opening 17a. The end of the auction hose 14 on
the side of the dehydration filter 13 is connected to the outlet opening 17b. That
is, the bad-smelling air sucked through the inlet opening 17a into the dehydration
filter 13 flows necessarily through the filter element 18 to the outlet opening 17b.
The cover 17 is removed from the cylindrical vessel 16 to remove the filter clement
18 from the cylindrical vessel 16, which facilitates work for cleaning the filter
element 18 and replacing the same with another one.
[0030] The bad-smelling air sucked through the suction hose 12 and the inlet opening 17a
into the dehydration filter 13 is filtered by the filter element 18. The filtered
bad-smelling air is sucked through the outlet opening 17b into the suction hose 14.
When the bad-smelling air passes through the filter element 18, most part of bubbles,
cut chips and mist of waste water is captured by the filter element 18 and is stored
in a lower part of the cylindrical vessel 16. The waste water stored in the lower
part of the cylindrical vessel 16 can be drained from the cylindrical vessel 16 by
opening the drain valve 19.
[0031] Any other suitable filter may be used instead of the dehydration filter 13 mentioned
in this embodiment, provided that the filter is capable of separating the bubbles,
the cut chips and the mist of the waste water from the bad-smelling air.
[Deodorization apparatus 15]
[0032] As shown in Fig. 2, the deodorization apparatus 15 has an outer case 20 which is
longer in the perpendicular direction than it is in the horizontal direction. The
outer cast 20 is provided with a side door 21 that opens and shuts in the directions
of the arrows B in a lower part of a side wall thereof, and a top door 22 that opens
and shuts in the directions of the arrows C in a top wall thereof. A centrifugal separator
(second separation means) 23 is disposed in a lower part of the interior of the outer
case 20. A water storage tank 24 is disposed under the centrifugal separator 23 in
the outer case 20.
[Centrifugal Separator 23]
[0033] As shown in Fig. 3, the centrifugal separator 23 includes a main body 25 having a
drawer space 25a in the lower part of the main body 25 and a storage chamber 25b over
the drawer space 25a, and a separator body 26 disposed in the storage chamber 25b.
The main body 25 is provided with an opening to which the end of the auction hose
14 whose another end is connected to the outlet opening 17b of the dehydration filter
13 is connected, and an opening to which a hose 40 is connected.
[0034] Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the separator body 26 has a double tube constitution
of an inner tube 27 and an outer tube 28 which has a diameter greater than that of
the inner tube 27 and a connection hole 28a. And a cylindrical or annular passage
(space) 29 is formed as a gas-liquid-separating passage with the inner tube 27 and
the outer tube 28. The separator body 26 also has an annular bottom wall 30 joined
to the lower ends of the inner tube 27 and the outer tube 28, and a disk-shaped cover
plate 31 covering the open upper end of the outer tube 28. A small gap 32 for air
passage is formed between the upper end of the inner tube 27 and the cover plate 31
by constituting the upper end of the inner tube 27 lower than that of the outer tube
28.
[0035] The bottom wall 30 of the separator body 26 is supported on tubular support members
33 having the shape of a tube and fixed to the bottom wall 25c of the main body 25.
The bottom wall 30 of the separator body 26 is spaced from the bottom wall 25c of
the main body 25 by the tubular support members 33. Therefore, the bad-smelling air
is able to flow through a space between the bottom wall 30 of the separator body 26
and the bottom wall 25c of the main body 25. As shown in Fig. 3, drain passages 33a
are formed through the bottom wall 30 of the separator body 26, the bottom wall 25c
of the main body 25 and the tubular support members 33. Water, cut chips produced
by grinding operation and the like separated from the bad-smelling air by the separator
body 26 are drained through the drain passages 33a into the water storage tank 24
described later.
[0036] The connection hole 28a is formed with its axis extended tangentially to the annular
passage 29 in a lower part of the outer tube 28. The connection hole 28a is connected
by a hose 34 to a connecting opening formed in the main body 25 to which the suction
hose 14 is connected.
[0037] The bad-smelling air sucked from the suction hose 14 flows through the hose 34 tangentially
into the annular passage (space) 29 before flowing into the storage chamber 25b and
whirls in the annular passage 29. Moisture, the cut chips and the like having specific
gravities greater than that of air are forced to move radially outward and pressed
against the outer tube 28 by centrifugal force. The bad-smelling air thus cleared
of the moisture and the cut chips flows through the small gap 32 into a central region
of the separator body 26. Then the bad-smelling air flows through the space secured
between the bottom wall 30 of the separator body 26 and the bottom wall 25c of the
main body 25 by the tubular support members 33 into the storage chamber 25b as indicated
by the arrows in Fig. 3. Finally, the bad-smelling air flows through the other connecting
opening formed in the main body 25 into the hose 40.
[0038] The centrifugal separator 23 can separate the waste water which could not have been
removed by the dehydration filter 13 from the bad-smelling air.
[Water storage tank 24]
[0039] The waste water and the cut chips drained through the drain passages 33a is stored
in the water storage tank 24. The water storage tank 24 is placed in the drawer space
25a so as to be slidable to right and left direction in Fig. 2. The door 21 is opened
and the water storage tank 24 can be pulled leftward out of the outer case 20.
[0040] A volume detection sensor (detection means) 35 is attached to an upper part of the
water storage tank 24 to detect the increase of the volume of the waste water stored
in the water storage tank 24 to a predetermined volume and the rise of the waste water
level to a predetermined level. The volume detection sensor 35 may be disposed at
a position on the side of the centrifugal separator 23. Upon the increase of the volume
of the waste water stored in the water storage tank 24 to a predetermined volume,
by detecting that, the volume detection sensor 35 inputs a detection signal to a control
circuit (control means) 35a. When receiving the detection signal, the control circuit
35a activates an informing device 35b, such as a buzzer, a light-omitting diode or
a liquid crystal display, to inform an operator that the water storage tank 24 has
been substantially fully filled up with the waste water, and stops a blower 39 which
will be described later.
[Deodorization Device and the Associated Devices]
[0041] The deodorization apparatus 15 includes a deodorization device (deodorization means)
36 placed in the outer case 20 for deodorizing the bad-smelling air, a fine filter
37 detachably attached to an upper part of the deodorization device 36 for removing
the moisture and the fine cut chips, a suction box 38 attached to a lower part of
the deodorization device 36 for storing deodorized air temporarily, and the blower
39 disposed between the centrifugal separator 23 and the suction box 38 and held on
the outer case 20 for making the air containing offensive smells flow. An impregnated
activated carbon (a deodorizer as a body of deodorization means) 36a which absorbs
the offensive smell is built-in the deodorization device 36. And the impregnated activated
carbon 36a can be replaced by removing the fine filter 37. Additional separation and
removal of the waste water from the air by the centrifugal separator 23, which water
could not be separated and removed from the air by the dehydration filter 13 can extend
the life time of the impregnated activated carbon.
[0042] In addition, it can not be used only the impregnated activated carbon 36a, but also
any one of porous alumina ceramics, ceramic balls or photo catalysts using zinc oxide
(ZnO), titanium oxide (TiO
2) or the like, or mixtures of impregnated activated carbon and some of those materials
as the deodorizer.
[0043] And the fine filter 37 is capable of further removing the moisture and the fine cut
chips which could not have been removed by the dehydration filter 13 and the centrifugal
separator 23 from the air. The fine filter 37 can be easily taken out of the outer
case 20 by opening the door 22 to replace the same with a new one.
[0044] The storage chamber 25b of the centrifugal separator 23 is connected to the fine
filter 37 by the hose 40. The fine filter 37, the deodorization device 36 and the
auction box 38 communicate with each other. Furthermore, a suction pipe 39a of the
blower 39 is connected to the auction box 38 and a discharge pipe 39b of the blower
39 is connected to an opening formed in a side wall of the outer case 20.
[0045] In the constitution described above, the bad-smelling air discharged from the centrifugal
separator 23 flows into the blower 39 through the hose 40, the fine fitter 37, the
deodorization device 36, the auction box 38 and the suction pipe 39a, and is discharged
to the outside of the outer case 20 through the discharge pipe 39b.
[0046] If the volume detection sensor 35 inputs the detection signal in ease of the increase
of the volume of the waste water stored in the water storage tank 24 to the predetermined
volume, the control circuit 35a activates the informing device 35b and stops the blower
39. Thus the overflow of the waste water from the water storage tank 24 can be prevented.
[Operation]
[0047] The operation of the deodorization system for a lens-grinding machine will be explained
hereinafter.
[0048] Techniques for grinding a peripheral part of the lens 4 by the lens-grinding machine
1 is well-known and hence the description thereof will be omitted. When grinding the
lens 4 in a globe type shape with the grindstone 5 of the lens-grinding machine 1,
the pump 10 is operated. The pump 10 pumps up the waste water 9 through a filter,
not shown, and to spout the waste water as cooling water through the nozzle 6 onto
a part to be ground of the lens 4 by the grindstone 5. Consequently, the part of the
lens 4 ground by the grindstone 5 is cooled.
[0049] The cooling water used for cooling washes off the cut chips from the lens 4, drops
down the same below the lens 4 on cooling the part to be ground of the lens 4 by the
grindstone 5. And this dropped cooling water is drained into the waste water tank
7 through the drain hose 8. Bubbles 9b of the cooling water are produced on the surface
of the waste water 9 on draining the cooling water into the waste water tank 7.
[0050] The waste water 9 drained in the waste water tank 7 contains the cut chips of the
lens 4. And the cut chips contained in the waste water 9 are deposited on the bottom
of the waste water tank 7. On the other hand, the waste water 9 of the cooling water
is pumped up from an upper layer thereof through the auction port 10a of the pump
10 and is spouted again as the cooling water through the nozzle 6 onto the part to
be ground of the lens 4 by the grindstone 5.
[0051] Incidentally, supposing that the lens 4 is a plastic lens, sulfur molecules contained
in the lens 4 produce a sharp offensive smell that assails the nostrils on grinding
this plastic lens by the grindstone 5.
[0052] Therefore, when the lens 4 is made of a plastic material, the blower 39 is operated
to generate a negative pressure on the suction side of the blower 39 in grinding process.
The negative pressure affects the space 11 in the waste water tank 7 through the suction
box 38, the deodorization device 36, the fine filter 37, the hose 40, the centrifugal
separator 23, the suction hose 14, the dehydration filter 13 and the suction hose
12, and affects the grinding chamber 2 of the lens grinding machine through the drain
hose 8.
[0053] Consequently, the bad-smelling air produced in the grinding chamber 2 when grinding
the lens 4 is sucked into the blower 39 through the drain hose 8, the suction hose
12, the dehydration filter 13, the suction hose 14, the centrifugal separator 23,
the hose 40, the fine filter 37, the deodorization device 36 and the suction box 38.
[0054] The bad-smelling air sucked into the suction hose 12 contains inevitably the waste
water and the cut chips which are produced in the grinding process, and bubbles produced
from the waste water. However, the bad-smelling air sucked into the suction hose 12
is sucked into the suction hose 14 from the outlet opening 17b after being filtered
by the filter element 18 of the dehydration filter 13. Most part of the bubbles, the
cut chips, the mist of the waste water and the like contained in the bad-smelling
air is captured by the filter element 18 and stored in a lower part of the cylindrical
vessel 16 when filtering the air by the filter element 18. The waste water stored
in the lower part of the cylindrical vessel 16 is drained from the cylindrical vessel
16 to outside by opening the drain valve 19.
[0055] When the bad-smelling air from which the most part of the bubbles, the cut chips,
the mist of the waste water and the like is removed flows into the centrifugal separator
23, the bad-smelling air whirls in the annular passage 29. Then the waste water still
contained in the bad-smelling air adheres to the inner tube 27 and the outer tube
28 as condensation, the condensed waste water drops down onto the bottom wall 30 and
dropped waste water further drops down into and is stored in the water storage tank
24 which is arranged below through the drain ports (drain passages) 33a. If the bad-smelling
air still contains the cut chips, bubbles or the like, they are forced to move radially
outward and pressed against the outer tube 28 by centrifugal force, and the cut chips,
the bubbles or the like together with the condensation of the waste water drop down
into and is stored in the water storage tank 24 which is arranged below through the
drain ports (drain passages) 33a. Upon the increase of the volume of the waste water
or the cut chips stored in the water storage tank 24 to the predetermined volume,
by detecting that, the volume detection sensor 35 inputs the detection signal to the
control circuit (control means) 35a. Consequently, the control circuit 35a stops the
blower 39 and activates the informing device 35b, such as a buzzer, a light-emitting
diode or a liquid crystal display, to inform the operator that the water storage tank
24 is substantially fully filled up with the waste water.
[0056] The operator opens the door 21, pulls out the water storage tank 24 outside the outer
case 20, empties the tank 24 and returns the tank 24 in its place. Then, the control
circuit 35a cancels the information of the information device 35b informing the state
that the tank 24 is full filled and allows the blower 39 to move.
[0057] The bad-smelling water flowing into the centrifugal separator 23 and removed of the
waste water flows through the small gap 32 into a central region of the separator
body 26. Then the bad-smelling air flows down through the interior of the inner tube
27 into the storage chamber 25b and flows through the hose 40 into the fine filter
37. The fine filter 37 further filters the fine dust and the moisture contained in
the bad-smelling air. When the bad-smelling air filtered by the fine filter 37 flows
into the deodorization device 36, the impregnated activated carbon 36a of the device
36 adsorbs the offensive smell contained in the bad-smelling air. Thus, the deodorized
air is sucked through the suction box 38 into the blower 39 and is discharged through
the discharge pipe 39b into the atmosphere. Moreover, since the fine filter 37 captures
and removes the fine dust (the fine cut chips contained in bubbles 9b floating on
the waste water 9 stored in the water storage tank 7) and the moisture, the impregnated
activated carbon 36a as the deodorizer is able to maintain a long life time.
[0058] The discharge pipe 39b may be connected to the grinding chamber 2 by a hose to return
the filtered and deodorized air into the grinding chamber 2. When the filtered and
deodorized air is returned to the grinding chamber 2, the atmosphere of the room in
which the lens-grinding machine 1 is installed will not be contaminated by the offensive
smell even if the filtered and deodorized air has a slight offensive smell.
[0059] The dehydration filter 13 may be disposed above the cover plate 7a of the waste water
tank 7, the drain valve 19 of the dehydration filter 13 may be connected to an upper
part of the waste water tank 7 by a hose and the waste water stored in the dehydration
filter 13 may be returned through the drain valve 19 into the waste water tank 7.
Furthermore, the waste water stored in the water storage tank 24 may be returned into
the waste water tank 7 through a hose by a pump, both are not shown. If the waste
water (cooling water) contains a defoaming agent, the defoaming agent can be saved
when the stored waste water is thus returned into the waste water tank 7.
(2) Second Embodiment
[0060] An internal structure of a deodorization apparatus included in a deodorization system
for a lens-grinding machine in a second embodiment according to the present invention
will be described with reference to Fig. 5.The deodorization apparatus has an outer
case 20, and an impact separator 50 installed in a lower part of the interior of the
outer case 20. The waste water separated from bad-smelling air by the impact separator
50 is stored in the water storage tank 24. The impact separator 50 includes a case
51, separation plates 52 and 53 extending from the top wall 51a of the case 51 near
to the bottom wall 51b of the same, and the impact separator 50 is able to separate
the waste water, the cut chips or the like from the air by making the air colliding
with the separation plates 52, 53. The suction hose 12 (or the suction hose 14) shown
in Fig. 1 is connected to an inlet opening formed in a side wall of the case 51. The
bad-smelling air having an offensive smell (or having an offensive smell and containing
the bubbles, the cut chips and the like) and sucked into the impact separator 50 through
the suction hose 12 (or the suction hose 14) impacts the separating plate 52. The
bad-smelling air impacted the separating plate 52 flows in turbulent currents and
the turbulent currents of the bad-smelling air further collides with the separation
plate 53. Consequently, components of the waste water stored in the bad-smelling water
adhere as waste water drops on the separation plates 52 and 53, and the waste water
drops drip onto the bottom wall 51b. In this time, if the cut chips and the bubbles
are contained in the bad-smelling air, the bubbles and the cut chips adhere to the
separation plates 52 and 53 and drop together with the waste water drops. The bottom
wall 51b is provided with a drain hole, not shown, to drain the waste water and the
like into the water storage tank 24.
[0061] The separator body 26 of the centrifugal separator 23 shown in Fig. 3 is put on the
fine filter 37 with the inner tube 27 of the body 26 directly communicating with the
fine filter 37. In the body 26 shown in Fig. 3, the drain passages 33a are formed
in the bottom wall 30. In the body 26 according to the second embodiment, the bottom
wall 30 is not provided with any drain hole and the annular passage 29 is connected
to a water storage tank, not shown, by a discharge hose, not shown.
[0062] When the deodorization system is not provided with a device corresponding to the
dehydration filter 13, the suction hose 12 shown in Fig. 1 is connected to a part
of the case 51, and most part of the fine cut chips contained in the bubbles 9b floating
on the surface of the waste water 9 stored in the waste water tank 7 is separated
from the bad-smelling air by the impact separator 50 or the separator body 26 of the
centrifugal separator 23. The fine cut chips that could not have been removed by the
impact separator 50 nor the separator body 26 of the centrifugal separator 23 are
captured and removed together with the moisture from the bad-smelling air by the fine
filter 37. The life time of the impregnated activated carbon 36a as the deodorizer
can be extended by thus capturing and removing the fine dust (the fine cut chips contained
in the bubbles 9b floating on the surface of the waste water 9 stored in the waste
water tank 7) and the moisture by the fine filter 37.
[0063] When the deodorization system is provided with the dehydration filter 13, the filter
13 may be disposed above the cover plate 7a of the waste water tank 7, the drain valve
19 of the filter 13 may be connected to an upper part of the tank 7 by a hose and
the waste water stored in the filter 13 may be returned through the drain valve 19
into the tank 7. Moreover, according to this embodiment, the waste water stored in
the water storage tank 24 and that separated by the separator body 26 from the bad-smelling
air may be returned through a hose, not shown, into the tank 7 by a pump, not shown.
In this case, if the cooling water contains a defoaming agent, the defoaming agent
can be saved when the stored waste water is thus returned into the tank 7.
(3) Third Embodiment
[0064] An Internal structure of a deodorization apparatus included in a deodorization system
for a lens-grinding machine in a third embodiment according to the present invention
will be described with reference to Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 6, the deodorization
apparatus is not provided with any device corresponding to the separator body 26 of
the centrifugal separator 23 included in the deodorization apparatus in the second
embodiment, and the hose 40 in the second embodiment is connected to the fine filter
37. The deodorization apparatus is not provided with any parts corresponding to the
water storage tank 24 and the door 21. As shown in Fig. 6, a drain pipe 54 is connected
to the bottom of the case 51 of the impact separator 50, the drain pipe 54 is projected
outside from the outer case 20, and a faucet 55 is connected to the free end of the
drain pipe 54. The faucet 55 is opened to drain the waste water stored in the bottom
of the case 51.
[0065] When the deodorization system is not provided with any device corresponding to the
dehydration filter 13, the suction hose 12 shown in Fig. 1 is connected to a part
of the case 51, and the most part of the fine cut chips contained in the bubbles 9b
floating on the surface of the waste water 9 stored in the waste water tank 7 is separated
from the bad-smelling air by the impact separator 50. The fine cut chips that could
not have been removed by the impact separator 50 are captured and removed together
with moisture from the bad-smelling air by the fine filter 37. The life time of the
impregnated activated carbon 36 as the deodorizer, can be extended by thus capturing
and removing fine dust (the fine cut chips contained in the bubbles 9b floating on
the surface of the waste water 9 stored in the tank 7) and the moisture by the filter
37.
[0066] When the deodorization system is provided with the dehydration filter 13, the filter
13 may be disposed above the cover plate 7a of the tank 7, and the drain valve 19
of the filter 13 may be connected to an upper part of the tank 7 by a hose. Then the
waste water may thereby be returned through the drain valve 19 into the tank 7. The
waste water stored in the bottom of the impact separator 50 may be returned through
a hose, not shown, into the tank 7 by a pump, not shown. In this case, if the cooling
water contains a defoaming agent, the defoaming agent can be saved when the stored
waste water is thus returned into the tank 7.
(4) Fourth Embodiment
[0067] An internal structure of a deodorization apparatus included in a deodorization system
for a lens-grinding machine in a fourth embodiment according to the present invention
will be described with reference to Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 7, the deodorization
apparatus 15 includes parts different in shape and arrangement from those of the deodorization
apparatus 15 in the second embodiment. That is, in this embodiment, an elongated blower
39 is set in a vertical position, the suction side of the blower 39 is connected to
a suction box 38 by a hose 56. The deodorization apparatus 15 in this embodiment is
not provided with any parts corresponding to the drain pipe 39b, and a plurality of
discharge holes, not shown, are formed in a part of the outer case 20 facing the blower.
The discharge holes are covered with a discharge filter 57, and the air discharged
from the blower 39 is discharged outside after being filtered by the discharge filter
57.
[0068] Furthermore, the deodorization apparatus 15 in this embodiment is provided with a
vertically elongated water storage tank 24 and an impact separator 50 having a vertically
elongated came 51 provided with a single separating plate 52. The impact separator
50 is disposed in an upper part of the deodorization apparatus 15, the deodorization
device 36 is disposed beside the separator 50, the water storage tank 24 is disposed
below the separator 50, and the blower 39 is disposed beside the tank 24.
[0069] Thus, the separator 50 and the tank 24 are disposed in a vertical arrangement, and
the deodorization apparatus 15 has a compact construction.
[0070] The deodorization system in the fourth embodiment was used practically. The most
part of substances stored in the tank 24 was the waste water scarcely containing the
bubbles. By colliding the bad-smelling air with the separation plate 52, it can be
done to extinguish the most part of the bubbles contained in the air. The volume of
the waste water stored in the tank 24 after grinding one hundred lenses was about
1.1 liters. If the waste water (cooling water) contains a defoaming agent, the defoaming
agent can be saved when the deodorization system, similarly to those in the first
to the third embodiments, returns the waste water removed from the bad-smelling air
and stored in the dehydration filter 13 and in the tank 24 through a hose, not shown,
by a pump, not shown, to the waste water tank 7.
(5) Fifth Embodiment
[0071] A deodorization system in a fifth embodiment according to the present invention will
be described with reference to Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 8, a funnel like separator
60 for separating the waste water and the bad-smelling air from each other is disposed
between the drain hose 8 in the first embodiment and the cover plate 7a of the waste
water tank 7 in the first embodiment. The suction hose 12 is connected to this separator
60.
[0072] The separator 60 has a tapered part 61 tapered in a manner such that the diameter
of its lower part is smaller than that of its upper part, a cylindrical part 62 connected
to the lower end of the tapered part 61, and a top wall 63 covering the open upper
and of the tapered part 61. And the cylindrical part 62 penetrates the cover plate
7a of the tank 7 and is hermetically fixed to the cover plate 7a. A lower end part
of the drain hose 8 is inserted in a penetrated hole 63a formed in the center of the
top wall 63 so as to extend into the cylindrical part 62. A small annular gap 64 is
formed between the lower end part of the drain hose 8 and the cylindrical part 62.
[0073] When a negative pressure is applied through the suction hose 12 to a space in the
tapered part 61 of the separator 60 while the cooling water as the waste water is
flowing down through the drain hose 8 into the waste water tank 7, the bad-smelling
air in the grinding chamber 2 and in the tank 7 is separated from the cooling water
as the waste water flowing down in the drain hose 8 and is sucked through the drain
hose 8 and the annular gap 64 into the space in the tapered part 61. Then, the bad-smelling
air which is sucked into the space in the tapered part 61 is guided to the deodorization
apparatus 15 after the dehydration filter 13, and is discharged outside after being
deodorized in the same way as the first embodiment.