Abrading – Machine – Rotary tool
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-21
2003-11-04
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Abrading
Machine
Rotary tool
C451S043000, C451S255000, C451S285000, C451S365000, C451S390000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06641466
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for securing and clamping optical lenses requiring edge-machining, in particular spectacle lenses.
Where the term spectacle lenses is used below, it should be understood to mean optical lenses or lens blanks for spectacles made of the usual materials, such as polycarbonate, inorganic glass, CR-39, HI-Index etc., and with circumferential edges of any shape, which lenses or lens blanks may be, but do not have to be, machined on one or both optically effective surfaces prior to machining of the edge thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the field of spectacle lens edge-machining, the purpose of which is to finish the edge of a spectacle lens in such a way that the spectacle lens may be inserted into a spectacle frame, various arrangements or systems are known which serve to mount the spectacle lens for edge-machining and to clamp it between rotatable holding shafts of a spectacle lens edge-machining machine, which shafts are adjustable in the axial direction relative to one another.
These systems accordingly comprise at least the following components:
a securing or blocking member, which may be attached detachably to one side of the spectacle lens, (see for example EP-A-0 235 543: FIGS. 4 and 5; EP-A-0 839 603: FIGS. 1 and 2);
an adapter for the securing or blocking member, which may be connected rigidly to one of the holding shafts of the spectacle lens edge-machining machine and is constructed for rotation angle-oriented rotary drive of the securing or blocking member (see for example EP-A-0 235 543: FIGS. 1 to 3; EP-A-0 839 603: FIG. 5); and
a clamping assembly, which comprises a fastening portion, connectable rigidly to the other holding shaft of the spectacle lens edge-machining machine, and a clamping portion connected to the fastening portion, which clamping portion is constructed for force-locking engagement with the other side of the spectacle lens (see for example EP-A-0 995 546).
With respect to further known designs of the securing or blocking member and the adapter for the securing or blocking member reference is made to the leaflet “WECO Block-up System. D 704. Wernicke & Co. GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany, March 1990” and to document DE-A-198 31 305. Further, it is known in the prior art to attach the securing member to the optical lens by means of an adhesive film portion or pad which is adhesive on both sides (see for example DE-U-92 00 513). Finally, another known design of the clamping assembly is shown in document DE-A-25 06 866.
Taking as a basis the prior art according for example to EP-A-0 235 543, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for securing and clamping optical lenses, in particular spectacle lenses, which is improved with regard to handling relative to the previously known solutions and which is optimised also from the point of view of the rotary drive of the optical lens, which is as free from backlash as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for securing and clamping optical lenses requiring edge-machining, between first and second rotatable holding shafts, having
a securing member, which may be attached detachably to one side of the optical lens,
an adapter for the securing member, which may be connected rigidly to said first holding shaft and is constructed for rotation angle-oriented rotary drive of the securing member, and
a clamping assembly, which comprises a fastening portion connectable rigidly to said second holding shaft and a clamping portion connected to the fastening portion, which clamping portion is constructed for force-locking engagement with a second side of the optical lens,
wherein the clamping assembly has a spherical head with opposing sides and an axis of rotation, which spherical head is provided on each of its opposing sides with a projection having an end zone, and which spherical head is accommodated in a receiving portion with opposing sides and an axis of rotation, which receiving portion is provided on its opposing sides with channels or grooves extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the receiving portion, which channels each have a channel bottom and serve for substantially rotary play-free guidance of the projections, for which the channel bottom of each of the channels displays, in cross section, a shape complementary to the end zone of the associated projection, wherein the clamping portion may be swivelled relative to the fastening portion about a first tilt axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spherical head and extending through the projections, and about a second tilt axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spherical head and to the first tilt axis, while torque may be transmitted via the projections from the fastening portion to the clamping portion.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for securing and clamping optical lenses requiring edge-machining, between first and second rotatable holding shafts, having
a securing member, which may be attached detachably to one side of the optical lens,
an adapter for the securing member, which may be connected rigidly to said first holding shaft and is constructed for rotation angle-oriented rotary drive of the securing member, and
a clamping assembly, which comprises a fastening portion connectable rigidly to said second holding shaft and a clamping portion connected to the fastening portion, which clamping portion is constructed for force-locking engagement with a second other side of the optical lens, and
wherein the securing member and the securing member adapter each comprise rotary drive elements for form-fitting rotary drive of the securing member by the securing member adapter, and positioning elements for orientation with regard to angle of rotation of the securing member relative to the securing member adapter,
wherein the positioning elements on the securing member optionally on the securing member adapter take the form of a plurality of asymmetrically arranged projections with end faces, the end faces of which asymmetrically arranged projections lie in a common plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, while the positioning elements on the securing member adapter optionally on the securing member take the form of recesses associated in complementary manner with the asymmetrically arranged projections, said recesses starting from a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and
wherein the axial distance between the rotary drive elements and the positioning elements on the securing member is different from an axial distance between the rotary drive elements and the positioning elements on the securing member adapter, such that, if the securing member is moved axially towards the securing member adapter and rotation angle orientation has not yet been achieved, first of all the projections come to rest against the flat surface and then, once rotation angle orientation is complete, the projections enter into the recesses, whereupon the rotary drive elements come into engagement with one another.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for securing and clamping optical lenses requiring edge-machining, between first and second rotatable holding shafts, having
a securing member, which may be attached detachably to one side of the optical lens,
an adapter for the securing member, which may be connected rigidly to said first holding shaft and is constructed for rotation angle-oriented rotary drive of the securing member, and
a clamping assembly, which comprises a fastening portion connectable rigidly to said second holding shaft and a clamping portion connected to the fastening portion, which clamping portion is constructed for force-locking engagement with a second side of the optical lens,
wherein the securing member is attachable to the optical lens by means of an adhesive film portion having first and second sides with adhesive on both of said first and second sides of th
Schäfer Holger
Wallendorf Steffen
McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd.
Optikmaschinen AG
Thomas David B.
LandOfFree
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