Lens finishing and modifying machine

Claim 2

In a lens finishing machine of the type wherein an unfinished lens is adapted to be held for rotation, a rotatable finishing tool is adapted to engage said lens, and independently operable drive means is provided for rotating the lens and the tool, the improvement comprising: a rotatable tubular shaft coupled with one of said drive means in axial alignment with and extending in the direction of said tool; structure mounting said shaft against movement radially away from the axis of rotation of the tool; an elongated, resilient, tubular element coupled with said shaft and radially flexible along a substantial length thereof Relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft; said element being generally concave to present a lens seat for holding the lens at the end thereof proximal the tool; and vacuum means operably coupled with said shaft for applying continuous negative fluid pressure to the seat to hold the lens thereon during the finishing operation.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1, wherein said holder includes an elongated shaft, said flexible element being coupled to the shaft in longitudinal extension thereof, said shaft having an axial bore communicating with the bore of the element, said vacuum means communicating with the shaft bore, the projecting element being free for flexing in any direction responsive to the forces imparted to the lens by said tool.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2, wherein said vacuum means includes control means for selectively varying the negative air pressure at said seat, whereby the amount of deformation of said lens caused by said air pressure may be selectively controlled.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2, wherein said vacuum means includes a conduit adapted to be coupled with a negative air pressure source, and a connector communicating with the conduit and disposed in sliding engagement with said shaft, said connector including structure communicating the bore with the conduit during rotation of the shaft relative to the connector.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 2, wherein said shaft is longitudinally shiftable, and wherein is included means engageable with said shaft for shifting the latter toward and away from said tool.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5, wherein said shifting means includes a fluid piston and cylinder assembly, and positive and negative air pressure means operably coupled with said assembly for selectively advancing or retracting the piston of the assembly, said piston including means engageable with said shaft for shifting the latter toward the tool when the piston is advanced by said air pressure.

Claim 8

In a lens finishing machine of the type including a rotatable lens holder adapted to hold an unfinished lens during a finishing operation; first drive means operably coupled with said holder for rotating the latter; a rotatable finishing tool adapted to engage said lens while the latter is on said holder for imparting a finishing operation to the lens; second drive means independent of said first drive means for rotating said tool whereby different rotative movements may be imparted simultaneously to said lens and tool during the finishing operation; means mounting said tool for movement on a reciprocating path of travel about an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the tool; and power means operably coupled with said mounting means for reciprocating the tool on said path of travel, said mounting means including a frame, tool support structure, and means pivotally mounting the support structure being manually swingable about said pivot for selectively varying the angular relationship between the axis of rotation of the tool and the axis of rotation of the lens holder, the improvement comprising: said support structure including a standard, a turret member movably mounted on the standard, and a plurality of spaced-apart spindles rotatably mounted on said turret member, each spindle including a projection adapted to receive and hold a tool.

Claim 9

In a lens finishing machine of the type including a rotatable lens holder adapted to hold an unfinished lens during a finishing operation; first drive means operably coupled with said holder for rotating the latter; a rotatable finishing tool adapted to engage said lens while the latter is on said holder for imparting a finishing operation to the lens; second drive means independent of said first drive means for rotating said tool whereby different rotative movements may be imparted simultaneously to said lens and tool during the finishing operation; means mounting said tool for movement on a reciprocating path of travel about an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the tool; and power means operably coupled with said mounting means for reciprocating the tool on said path of travel, said mounting means including a frame, tool support structure, and means pivotally mounting the support structure being manually swingable about said pivot for selectively varying the angular relationship between the axis of rotation of the tool and the axis of rotation of the lens holder, the improvement comprising: said support structure including a standard, a turret member movably mounted on the standard, and a plurality of spaced-apart spindles rotatably mounted on said turret member, each spindle including a projection adapted to receive and hold a tool.

Claim 10

In a lens finishing machine of the type wherein is included a frame; a rotatable lens holder mounted on the frame; a rotatable finishing tool adapted to engage the lens when the latter is mounted on the holder; and means for rotating the holder and tool respectively, the improvement comprising: tool support structure for carrying the tool and pivotally secured to the frame for reciprocation through an arc about the axis of pivoting to the frame, said axis being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the lens holder; first tool aligning means for limited adjusting of the axis of arcuate movement of the structure; second tool aligning means For adjusting the position of the first aligning means with respect to the axis of rotation of the tool holder; and means for reciprocating said structure through said arc.

Claim 11

In a lens finishing machine of the type wherein is included a frame; a rotatable lens holder mounted on the frame; a rotatable finishing tool adapted to engage the lens when the latter is mounted on the holder; and means for rotating the holder and tool respectively, the improvement comprising: tool support structure for carrying the tool and pivotally secured to the frame for reciprocation through an arc about the axis of pivoting to the frame, said axis being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the lens holder; first tool aligning means for limited adjusting of the axis of arcuate movement of the structure; second tool aligning means For adjusting the position of the first aligning means with respect to the axis of rotation of the tool holder; and means for reciprocating said structure through said arc.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8, wherein said second aligning means includes an elongated arm secured to the support structure and extending radially from said pivot, and lock means on the arm and frame respectively for releasably locking the arm in any selected position for disposing the tool at a corresponding angle with respect to said lens holder.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 9, wherein said lock means includes a detent carried by the arm and engageable with the frame.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 8, wherein said support structure includes a standard, a turret member movably mounted on the standard, and a plurality of spaced-apart spindles rotatably mounted on said turret member, each spindle including a projection adapted to receive and hold a tool.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 9, wherein said first aligning means includes a crank having one leg rigidly secured to the tool support structure for pivoting about the pivotal axis of the latter, the other leg of the crank being pivotally secured to said elongated arm of the second aligning means in spaced relationship from the pivotal axis of the support structure; and means carried by the crank and arm respectively for selectively varying the point of pivotal connection between the crank and arm to vary the axis of reciprocation of the tool holder.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 12, wherein said rotatable finishing tool comprises: a cylindrical body having a recess in one end thereof; a covering of flexible material disposed over the recessed end of said body and extending around said end; and a band received over the end of the body and said material for frictionally securing the latter to the body and over said recess.