A machine for fining/polishing ophthalmic lenses has a horizontal and vertical plates rigidly fixed in an inverted T. Eccentric shafts journalled 180 degrees out of phase on the horizontal plate orbit tools on one side of the vertical plate. A swing frame pivotally mounted on the other side of the vertical plate has a horizontal shaft parallel to the vertical plate. Shafts orthogonal to the horizontal shaft are journalled for see-saw motion about the horizontal shaft, for rotational motion about their own longitudinal axes and for sliding motion along the horizontal shaft. Block adapters on the orthogonal shafts hold lenses in vertical alignment above the tools. Separate linkages reciprocate the horizontal shaft in parallel relationship to the vertical plate and the orthogonal shafts in orthogonal relationship to the vertical plate. The shaft linkages have a timing ratio such that the block adapters travel in laterally reciprocating horizontal figure eight patterns. The orthogonal shafts are adapted for independent adjustment to permit horizontal and vertical realignment of the block adapters. Air cylinders see-saw the orthogonal shafts to maintain a desired pressure between the tools and lenses. A microprocessor storing data representative of appropriate times of operation of the machine and pressures between the tools and lenses for a plurality of lens materials and fining/polishing operations automatically sets and controls the time of operation of the machine and the pressure between the tools and lenses in response to input in directing the material of the lens to be fined/polished and the selected fining/polishing operation.
A dual ophthalmic lens machining platform comprises a blocked lens mounting structure constructed to simultaneously receive a first and a second blocked lens blank, and configured to rotationally and linearly move each lens blank, wherein the first and second lens blank have at least one common axis of movement on the mounting structure; and at least one machine tool adapted to machine each lens blank. A method of manufacturing ophthalmic lens comprises the steps of mounting at least a first and a second blocked lens blank on the machining platform; and simultaneously performing at least one machining process on the two blocked lens blanks on the machining platform. The dual ophthalmic lens machining platform is configured to simultaneously receive and machine a left and a right blocked lens blank for forming a left and a right lens of a pair of eyeglasses.
A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising: a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element; a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; a front face provided with a door enabling the access to the spindle and to the polishing tool; wherein the polishing tool is mounted on a body which is rotationally mounted on sliding means by way of a first axis, the sliding means being substantially perpendicular to the front face.
A lens machining apparatus is provided that can execute everything required in machining eyeglass lenses, from measurement to various kinds of machining, and still can ensure high-precision machining. A lens holding unit 12 which holds a lens 1 and causes the same to turn, a cutter 131 which cuts (edges) the circumferential surface of the lens in a prescribed cross-sectional shape, an end mill 141 which machines a groove in the circumferential surface of the lens whose circumferential surface has been cut (edged) and chamfers edges at the lens circumferential surface, and a lens measurement unit 15 which measures the shape and the position of the lens held by the lens holding unit are comprised.
A tool for gripping ophthalmic lenses including a vacuum gripper, a shaft associated with said vacuum gripper, the shaft having two ends and being slidably attached at one end thereof to a support structure, a resilient member which biases the vacuum gripper in a direction away from said support structure and a locking member which locks the shaft in a desired position during a lens gripping operation. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a lens hold down mechanism for holding lenses in a lens tray. Another embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic communications scheme for a robotic manufacturing operation. Another embodiment of the present invention includes an ophthalmic lens manufacturing cell layout wherein ophthalmic edging machines have an opening that faces away from a robotic arm. Another embodiment of the present invention includes an arrangement for holding an ophthalmic edging machine within an ophthalmic manufacturing cell.
