DEVICE FOR POLISHING OPTICAL LENSES

• US 20140235142A1
• Filed: 09/21/2012
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visioptimum International
• Original Assignee: Visioptimum International
• Inventors: Monnoyeur, Guy
• Granted Patent: US 9,764,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 451/11
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 13/00 Machines or devices designed for grinding or polishing optical surfaces on lenses or surfaces of similar shape on other work; Accessories therefor edging optical work, e.g. lenses, prisms B24B9/14
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 13/012 conformable in shape to the optical surface, e.g. by fluid pressure acting on an elastic membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 13/02 by means of tools with abrading surfaces corresponding in shape with the lenses to be made
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 13/06 grinding of lenses, the tool or work being controlled by information-carrying means, e.g. patterns, punched tapes, magnetic tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 49/16 taking regard of the load

Abstract

The device for polishing optical lenses includes a lens holder; a device for positioning the lens holder; and a device for rotating the lens holder about an axis. There is also a polishing tool; a tool holder; a device for positioning the tool holder; and a device for rotating the tool holder about an axis. The device for polishing also includes a ball joint arranged between a shaft secured to the tool holder and the device for positioning the tool holder, or between a shaft secured to the lens holder and the device for positioning the lens holder, so as to enable a spherical movement of the polishing tool and of the lens. The invention also relates to a method for polishing using the device according to the invention.

Claims

1. Device for polishing optical lenses, comprising:

a lens holder,

means for positioning said lens holder, and

means for rotating said lens holder about an axis,

a polishing tool,

a tool holder,

means for positioning said tool holder,

means for rotating said tool holder about an axis, and

a ball joint arranged between a shaft integral with the tool holder and the means for positioning said tool holder, or between a shaft integral with the lens holder and the means for positioning said lens holder, so as to permit a spherical displacement of said polishing tool or a lens on said lens holder, respectively.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said ball joint is arranged between a shaft integral with the tool holder and the means for positioning said tool holder.

3. Device according to claim 2, further comprising an additional ball joint arranged between a shaft integral with the lens holder and said means for positioning the lens holder so as to enable a spherical movement of said lens.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein said means for positioning the tool holder comprises a supporting shaft movable in rotation about an axis thereof, said supporting shaft having an end, said ball joint on said end, and an eccentric casing integral with the supporting shaft, said eccentric casing comprising means for guiding a hinged axis.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said means for guiding performs a reciprocating motion between a position close to the axis of rotation of the supporting shaft and a position away from said axis.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tool holder is comprised of means for detecting the pressure exerted by the tool on the lens, and a control loop between the means for detecting and the means for positioning, so as to enable a control of said pressure on all the defined areas of the lens.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein said tool is fixed to said tool holder through elastic means.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein said elastic means drives said tool in rotation.

9. Device according to claim 7, further comprising a tool support fixed to said tool holder through said elastic means, said tool being secured to said tool support through a deformable part.

10. Device according to claim 7, wherein said elastic means is comprised of an elastic membrane.

11. Device according to claim 6, wherein said tool holder comprises a tight space, containing gas, adjacent to said elastic means, so that a force applied on said elastic means produces a change in volume of said space.

12. Method for polishing optical lenses using a polishing device according to claim 1, wherein said tool describes a path having a circular sinusoidal shape.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein a full turn does not correspond to an integer number of periods of said path, so that the contact points between the tool and the lens are not identical between two consecutive turns.

14. Method according to claim 12, wherein said lens comprises areas with different radii of curvature, so as to permit a usage as progressive vision lenses, and the combination of adjustments permits to keep the tool always perpendicular to the area of the surface to be polished.