Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for applying a finishing block to a lens. The apparatus displays an alignment pattern representing characteristics of the lens and includes a visual representation of the allowable tolerance in the position of the optical center of the lens and the prism of the lens. An imaging screen is provided for imaging the alignment pattern and reference data applied to a surface of the lens. The lens is positioned in the apparatus with the pattern and the data aligned. With the lens in this position, a determination is made using the visual representation as to whether the lens is within the allowable tolerance. If this is the case, the apparatus automatically attaches the finishing block to the lens in registration with the reference data.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making ophthalmic lenses by vacuum lamination wherein a front lens wafer is laminated to a back lens wafer with a layer of adhesive disposed within the interface between the two wafers forming a composite lens. An upper flexible, transparent sheet is located on the top side of the composite lens, a lower flexible, opaque or transparent sheet is located on the bottom side of the composite lens, and a seam is formed between the upper and lower flexible sheets which defines an evacuation chamber between the sheets for receiving the composite lens. A vacuum pump is connected in fluid communication with the evacuation chamber for evacuating air from the chamber and in turn drawing the upper and lower flexible sheets into engagement with the top and bottom sides of the composite lens, respectively, to press the lens wafers together and spread the adhesive throughout the wafer interface.

Abstract: Ophthalmic lens wafers for forming a composite lens are provided wherein each front lens wafer has a front registration pattern formed on its peripheral edge, and each back lens wafer has a back registration pattern formed on its peripheral edge which is different than the front registration pattern. If the ophthalmic lens wafers include optical axes, such as horizontal axes for multi-focal segments or astigmatism axes, each registration pattern is oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the respective optical axis for facilitating alignment of the optical axes relative to each other when forming a composite lens in accordance with a particular prescription. Each lens registration pattern may be formed by a pair of notches on the peripheral edge of the wafers, or by a pair of lobes on the peripheral edge of the wafers. A receiver is also provided for holding and registering the ophthalmic lens wafers when laminating or otherwise forming a composite lens.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for applying a finishing block to a lens. An imaging screen for imaging an alignment pattern representing characteristics of the lens and reference data on the lens is provided. The lens is positioned in the apparatus with the pattern and the data aligned. With the lens in this position, the apparatus automatically attaches the finishing block to the lens in registration with the reference data.

Abstract: A lens or lap blank surfacing machine, for use in making eyeglass lenses, and related surfacing method and rotary cutting tool, is one wherein the rotary cutting tool is moved point by point over the entire extent of a face of the blank to form a new face surface on the blank with the movements of the tool and blank relative to one another being controlled in three coordinate directions by a computer controller to give the formed surface a shape related to a given eyeglass prescription or similar specification. The rotary cutting tool has a number of peripheral zones surrounding its rotation axis with at least one of the zones having a fine cutting characteristic and with at least one other of the zones having a coarse cutting characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus for blocking an ophthalmic lens blank for working the lens includes an alignment station for supporting and aligning the lens blank relative to a target image and a transport means for moving the lens from the alignment station to a blocking station while maintaining lens orientation. The blocking station includes a support for a lens block, support for the lens, and a mechanism for injecting heated liquid bonding material between lens and block which solidifies on cooling to join the lens and block.

Abstract: A lap blank and holder assembly includes a lap blank having two spaced apart flat surfaces separated by a given thickness and formed from a material capable of compressing about a member inserted into it. The holder has a projection extending outwardly from a front face thereof and is inserted into the material making up the lap to secure it against rotational and shifting movement while being cut in a surfacing machine. This arrangement further allows the assembly to be placed as an assembly in a finishing machine for subsequent polishing of a cut lens surface in an off-axis polishing procedure.

Abstract: A method and related system and article provides a lens blank and block assembly capable of being mounted in any of a surface generating machine, a finishing apparatus and an edging machine without requiring re-blocking of the lens in order to compensate for axis shifts. The method and associated system utilizes a controller which takes data inputted to it in the form of prescription information and a frame opening shape and converts it into two sets of machine operating data together used by a computer to allow the surface to be generated on the blank so as to be readily shaped edgewise according to a selected frame pattern by simply the mounting blank and block assembly in the edging machine thereafter. The blank is separated from the block assembly and readily inserted into a selected glass frame.

Abstract: A lap blank and holder assembly includes a lap blank having two spaced apart flat surfaces separated by a given thickness and formed from a material capable of compressing about a member inserted into it. The holder has a projection extending outwardly from a front face thereof and is inserted into the material making up the lap to secure it against rotational and shifting movement while being cut in a surfacing machine. This arrangement further allows the assembly to be placed as an assembly in a finishing machine for subsequent polishing of a cut lens surface in a polishing procedure.

Abstract: A method and related system and article provides a lens blank and block assembly capable of being mounted in any of a surface generating machine, a finishing apparatus and an edging machine without requiring re-blocking of the lens in order to compensate for axis shifts. The method and associated system utilizes a controller which takes data inputted to it in the form of prescription information and a frame opening shape and converts it into two sets of machine operating data together used by a computer to allow the surface to be generated on the blank so as to be readily shaped edgewise according to a selected frame pattern by simply the mounting blank and block assembly in the edging machine thereafter. The blank is separated from the block assembly and readily inserted into a selected glass frame.

Abstract: A system and related method or process for producing a pattern for a lens to be formed and then placed in an opening in an eyeglass frame utilizes a frame tracing apparatus for providing coordinate data characterizing the size and shape of the lens opening in associated one specific eyeglass frame for transmission to a pattern generator having a cutter which moves relative to a blank fixtured at a work station in the generator to cut a pattern having the desired size and shape. A number of frame tracing apparatus are arranged to transmit data to a pattern generator via a central data base computer coupled to the frame tracing apparatus by a communications link whereby the pattern generator subsequently receives the dimensional data corresponding to the specific lens opening traced by the frame tracing apparatus to generate the desired pattern from blanks continuously and automatically fed to the pattern generator.

Abstract: A three axis, computer controlled apparatus for edging optical lenses maps the surfaces of a lens blank along a path defining the shape of the lens to be cut from the lens blank and from which mapping a computer controlled cutting algorithm directs the movement of the lens in the R, Z and theta axes direction. The apparatus provides rough cuts, finished cuts and automatic placement of bevels and grooves along the edge of the lens with minimal operator intervention.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for making a lens for a pair of prescription eyeglasses a lens blank is shaped and finished on one of its major surfaces through the use of a machine controlled by the prescription information and with a new expendable lap being made each time a new lens is wanted. A machine for cutting a lens blank and/or a lap blank is controlled in three axes by a set of point data related to and obtained in response to the input into the control system for the machine of prescription information. Lap blanks and lens blanks usable by the machine are distinguishable from one another by each lap blank, or each lens blank, having an anomaly, such as a piece of magnetic material detectable by a sensor or the blank is rotated by the machine.