Abstract: The present invention provides novel preformed base blocks that may be used with thermoplastic ophthalmic lens blocking compositions. The preformed base block has a rear portion that is sized and adapted to fit the chuck of a lens processing machine and a front portion that has a textured front surface and preferably a negatively tapered peripheral edge. The front portion is adapted to mechanically retain the thermoplastic blocking composition to form a lens block against a lens blank.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding and cutting an metal tree casting includes a frame having a vertically shiftable cutting blade assembly mounted thereon. A horizontally disposed clamp is mounted on a pivot support for pivoting the clamp horizontally about a vertical axis. The clamp is provided with clamping jaws for clamping the metal casting tree and is rotatable about a horizontal axis. A carriage is mounted on a transverse slide assembly and pivotally supports the pivot support thereon. A longitudinal slide assembly is connected with the transverse slide assembly and cooperates therewith for permitting transverse and longitudinal movement of the clamp and metal tree clamped thereby.

Abstract: A jig for use in washing optical elements. The jig is arranged to receive and hold a plural number of optical elements, which are formed by polishing and cutting into predetermined unit lengths a plural number of glass rods adhesively fixed on a polishing tray, and then heating the polishing tray to kill adhesive power of an adhesive agent bonding the optical elements to the polishing tray. The jig is in the form of a pallet which is constituted by a base member and a cover member of similar grid-like forms, which are closable one on the other in an overlapped state and fixable to each other to form therebetween rows of nesting pockets for securely holding therein rows of optical elements in the same positional relations as on said polishing tray. The base and cover member of the pallet are provided with openings on the opposite sides of the nesting pockets to bring the respective optical elements into contact with a cleaning liquid.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a metal foil sheet to produce magnetic recording media. The method comprises providing an elongate metal foil sheet having a first side and a second side. The sheet is advanced through a plurality of processing stations in equal unit length segments such that each segment receives the same treatment to form a magnetic recording medium from each segment. Method are also provided to prepare the foil surfaces by polishing, texturing, cleaning, and stress relieving, to coat the prepared surfaces with at least one metal layer, to finish the coated layers by buffing, burnishing, and lubricating, and to form disk units from the prepared, coated and finished surfaces.

Abstract: A carrier for semiconductor wafers to be polished comprises a backing pad vulcanized to a pressure plate. The backing pad is formed of a rubber material such as neoprene, SBR or natural rubber. An adhesive film of a thermosetting, thermally reactive material forms an integral bond between the backing pad and pressure plate. The backing pad, adhesive film and pressure plate together comprise a nearly ideally elastic assembly. The exposed face of the backing pad is profiled to a desired profile without effecting crumbling of the rubber material.

Abstract: A fluid deflection device for use in a work piece holder during a semiconductor wafer grinding process is disclosed. The fluid deflection device includes an annular, upstanding splash fence, and an attachment portion associated with the splash fence and configured to attach to the work piece holder, thereby to hold the splash fence in a position to inhibit fluid from flowing between rotatable and non-rotatable parts of the work piece holder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for uniformly deglazing and finishing flat and arcuate surfaces of transmission and other automotive parts. A tapered part support engages a central opening of parts from different models and manufacturers having different size openings. Smaller parts are held in place without tightening or loosening clamps. Larger parts are simply and easily stabilized by a hold down. Operation of a power tool on the working surface of the parts continually rotates the part and part support with respect to a hand held power finishing tool. Working surfaces are thereby uniformly deglazed and roughened for replacement. High productivity is provided with an inexpensive low maintenance tool that even small shops can afford.

Abstract: A new machine for and method of manufacturing fluted pin fasteners and the pins produces thereby are disclosed which utilize a circular grinding arrangement of a plurality of grinders which grind flutes into a threaded pin. An internally threaded collar threads onto the pin. When the collar engages a surface of a work piece, resistance to further threading increases. When sufficient resistance to threading occurs, the driver deforms the lobes of the collar radially inward toward the axis of the collar. Material of the collar positioned internally from the lobes responds to deformation of the lobes and flows radially inward into the flutes of the pin to lock the collar, pin, and work piece together. The driver then rotates freely, and a joint has been made with a predetermined axial load thereby locking the component parts together.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermoplastic ophthalmic lens blocking compositions that have many advantages over traditional metal alloy materials. Preferred compositions comprise a homopolymer or copolymer of epsilon-caprolactone, have a number average molecular weight between 3,000 and 100,000, and a polydispersity less than 10. The composition may also comprise one or more modifiers, fillers or heat absorbing materials. In one embodiment, the composition is used to fill the cavity between a preformed lens block and a lens. In another embodiment the composition is used to form a lens block. Methods of holding a lens blank are taught. Tapes that provide a receptive surface against which the composition may be adhered are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for holding, grinding and polishing a die include a platform (10), a boss (20) on the platform, and a shielding structure (30) attached to at least one of the platform (10) and the boss (20). The boss (20) is configured for supporting a packaged (42) die (41) to be ground and polished and has a supporting topography to accommodate at least one package and lead configuration. The shielding structure (30) is configured to protect such a packaged (42) die (41) from physical and electrical damage when supported on the boss (20).

Abstract: A carrier head assembly including a drive shaft and a system flange connectable to the drive shaft where the system flange includes a number of magnetic plates. The carrier head assembly also includes a carrier head flange. The carrier head flange has more magnetic plates, these magnetic plates generally facing the previous plates. The magnetic plates magnetically engage to couple the carrier head flange to the system flange.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing integrated circuits using a carrier fixture. The carrier fixture does not include transport channels or openings for directing a slurry to a substrate being polished and, as a result, damage to the substrate is reduced because the edges adjacent to the substrate are eliminated. The present invention further provides a carrier fixture having an inner support coupled to a ring member that contacts a substrate during the CMP process. The present invention also provides a carrier fixture having inner and outer supports coupled to a ring member.

Abstract: A workpiece holding mechanism is used for holding a wafer. The wafer is sandwiched between a holding plate of the workpiece holding mechanism and a polishing pad attached to a polishing turn table. The workpiece is pressed against the polishing pad with a predetermined pressure so that the bottom surface of the wafer is polished. Water is confined within a fluid confinement space defined between an elastic membrane and the holding plate so as to press the wafer via the elastic membrane. There is provided a volume adjustment screw that can be advanced toward the fluid confinement space and be retracted therefrom. Through adjustment of the screw, the elastic membrane is caused to have a flat surface, so that the elastic member is in close contact with the entire surface of the wafer. A holding membrane made of polyurethane foam is bonded to the surface of the elastic membrane, and a template is bonded to the surface of the holding membrane so as to improve the holding performance.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is provided for holding at least one fiber optic connector ferrule in an upright position while allowing the face portion the ferrules to be held firmly against a planar sheet of ferrule polishing paper. The apparatus can be manually maneuvered over said polishing paper thereby polishing the face portion of the ferrules inserted therein. The polishing apparatus includes a disc having a polishing surface and an upper surface opposite said polishing surface. A plurality of ferrule receiving apertures are formed in the disc for receiving various connector ferrules. Support skirts surround each aperture, extending upward from said upper surface. The ferrule support skirts define internal circular bores communicating with the polishing surface such that fiber optic connector ferrules may be inserted into the bores with the face portion of said ferrules extending beyond said polishing surface.

Abstract: A grinding apparatus comprises a table having a first bearing surface; a chuck mounted on the table for rotation about a chuck axis and provided with means for holding a workpiece, the chuck having on its underside a second bearing surface, such that when the chuck is stationary, the second bearing surface rests on the first bearing surface; a grinding head having a least one grinding surface capable of grinding a workpiece mounted on the table, the grinding head being mounted for rotation about a head axis substantially parallel to the chuck axis; and transport means for moving the chuck relative to the grinding head in both directions along a transport axis substantially perpendicular to both the chuck axis and the head axis.

Abstract: A semiconductor single crystal ingot cutting jig is shaped as a cylinder having a diameter approximately equal to an ingot diameter. A recess is provided at one end of the jig for receiving a head (or tail) of the ingot. An adhesive is provided in the recess so as to adhere the ingot to the jig when the head (or tail) of the ingot is inserted into the recess. Then, the ingot is fixed on a bed of a band-saw slicing machine. The head (or tail) of the ingot is fixed on the jig and thus will not overturn at the time just before finishing the cutting or at the end of cutting. This can prevent a blade of a band saw slicing machine from being damaged.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a soft, resilient backing pad adapted for attachment to a pressure plate for planarizing work pieces wherein the outer exposed surface of the pad has been abraded by means of dry abrasive particles fixed on a surface of a spherical convex lapping wheel.

Abstract: A backing pad for supporting semiconductor wafer allowing an advanced flatness of its mirror-polished surface even for large sized wafers. A backing pad 1 is smoothly finished on its wafer holding surface 1a, thereon a number of grooves 2, 2 . . . aligned in a lattice form and elongated toward the outer periphery of the backing pad 1. The backing pad is typically made of polyurethane poromerics internally including a number of isolated pores. All of the grooves 2 are equal in the width and depth, which are kept constant along their lengthy direction. Intergroove pitch is also kept constant over the entire wafer holding surface 1a. The backing pad 1 is enlarged in its diameter to allow simultaneous loading of a plurality of wafers W, W . . . .

Abstract: Fluid jet cutting system having an X-Y axis support table adjustable in both the X and Y-axis direction and frame structures that overhang a support platform assembly. The frame structures include overlapping central openings positioned above an opening defined by the platform assembly. A driving system such as a linear motor system shifts the support table. A Z-axis holder is provided for supporting a nozzle head assembly in a central area of the opening defined by the platform assembly. The nozzle head assembly has a main body fixed in position or limited to Z-axis movement with or without fourth and fifth axis rotation capability (i.e., the nozzle head assembly is precluded from movement linearly in the X and Y-axis directions). Workpieces are supported by rails or the like within the open area. The nozzle head assembly directly receives abrasive though a plurality of abrasive ports which receive branch tubes of a multi-branch abrasive feed assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermoplastic ophthalmic lens blocking compositions that have many advantages over traditional metal alloy materials. Preferred compositions comprise a homopolymer or copolymer of epsiloncaprolactone, have a number average molecular weight between 3,000 and 100,000, and a polydispersity less than 10. The composition may also comprise one or more modifiers, fillers or heat absorbing materials. In one embodiment, the composition is used to fill the cavity between a preformed lens block and a lens. In another embodiment the composition is used to form a lens block. Methods of holding a lens blank are taught. Tapes that provide a receptive surface against which the composition may be adhered are disclosed.

Abstract: A fixture for holding mounted specimens for polishing, having an arm; a body attached to one end of the arm, the body having at least one flange having an opening to accommodate a mounted specimen; and a means applying pressure against the outer surface of the mounted specimen to hold the specimen in contact with the polishing surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polishing including a polishing plate having an upper surface on which a polishing pad is attached, a polishing head having a lower surface opposed to an upper surface of the polishing pad on the polishing plate, for holding a substrate to be polished on the lower surface, and a pressure source for applying a polishing pressure to the polishing head, whereby the substrate held by the polishing head is pressed against the upper surface of the polishing pad under the polishing pressure applied from the pressure source to perform polishing of the substrate. The polishing head is provided with a contact pressure adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting an in-plane contact pressure of the substrate against the upper surface of the polishing pad on the polishing plate at every area of the substrate. Accordingly, the uniformity and the planarity in the plane of the substrate surface to be polished can be improved with a high throughput.

Abstract: Parallelism between of two opposite surfaces of a workpiece is assured by referencing off of three features on the edge(s) of the workpiece, the three edge features establishing a single, unique plane within the workpiece for referencing the machining operations performed on the two opposite surfaces of the workpiece. The workpiece is held by corresponding two sets of three fixture points, above the surface of two corresponding fixtures, or of one compound fixture, while machining the two opposite surfaces. In this manner, problems associated with referencing off of the first machined surface, to machine the second surface, are completely avoided. This is particularly useful when machining the opposite faces of an automatic transmission valve body. The one set of fixture points is identical to the other set of fixture points, to ensure accurate positioning of the workpiece from fixture-to-fixture (or from set of fixture points to set of fixture points, in a compound fixture).

Abstract: An adapter (11) is of channel shape, having longitudinal projections (25) at its respective sides for engagement with undercut grooves (24) in a face of a casing of a powered grinding tool (10) with which the adapter is intended to be fitted to sharpened chisels or other planar blades, in use, by means of a grinding wheel (20) of the tool. The adapter has an angularly adjustable guide plate (63) which carrier a slidable plate (70) having magnetic means (71a) for holding an attracted blade of an implement to be sharpened, the angle of the guide plate (63) causing the blade to be correctly sharpened by the wheel (20), in use, as the plate (70) is reciprocated across the wheel with the blade held correctly thereon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dicing a semiconductor wafer in which the wafer is bowed or bent by forcing it into contact with a spherical surface having parallel grooves therein and in which an array of parallel wire saws that are in registration with the grooves is forced against the wafer for sawing parallel channels therethrough. A second array of parallel wire saws that are orthogonal to the wires of the first array is provided spaced therefrom for sawing parallel channels through the wafer that are orthogonal to the channels produced by the first array of parallel wire saws.

Abstract: A template-type wafer polishing method in which a plurality of wafers are polished while they are fitted in the corresponding number of circumferentially spaced engagement holes in a template blank, with the backsides of the respective wafers held by a backing pad, wherein the backing pad has, in its one surface next to the template blank, a plurality of annular grooves each extending along a corresponding one of the engagement grooves in the template blank for relieving a stress concentrated on the peripheral edge of each wafer. The polished wafer is free from deformation, such as declination caused at the peripheral edge thereof due to stress concentration and, hence, has an extremely high degree of flatness. The backing pad and a method of making the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens block and lens generating machine compression sleeve chuck are provided such that the block is of diameter suitable for the lens edging step of the lens generating process. The lens generating chuck consists of a plurality of concentric sleeves mounted on a hub of the spindle shaft and having lengthwise slots permitting compression of the sleeve onto the hub and the block. The sleeves are biased to telescope toward the lens so as to abut the front surface of the lens in a concentric pattern extending outwardly from the outer diameter of the block to support the front surface of the lens against the forces applied to the rear face of the lens during the cutting process. Thus, the combination of the block and the chuck is also suitable for the lens generating, fining and polishing steps of the lens generating process. Consequently, after polishing, the block is left on the lens.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for applying force to an object or workpiece. The invention has a first stationary magnet and second moveable magnet within a housing member. The magnets are arranged such that the magnets repel one another with a force related to the spacing between the magnets. The housing member is coupled to a modifying member, e.g., a motorized grinder or sharpener, with the object or workpiece disposed between the second magnet and the modifying member such that the second magnet forces the object or workpiece against the modifying element. The magnets can be electromagnets. In a preferred aspect, the object is a rotary razor head commonly used in electric razors and the invention sharpens the rotary razor head. In this aspect, the modifying member is a rotating grinding disc and anti-rotation elements prevent the razor head and magnets from rotating with the grinding element. The razor head is forced into the grinding element by the magnetic force formed by the two magnets.

Abstract: The frame holder for prescription glasses (24) of the type featuring two jaws mounted in such manner that they slide in relation to each other so that they can move toward or away from each other, and also featuring a device (22) to center the frame (24) between the jaws (12) so as to hold said frame (24) in a reference plane (P), characterized by the fact that it features a device (30) to support frame (24) approximately in the reference plane (P) before the frame (24) is clamped inside the jaws (12).

Abstract: A device for supporting a workpiece for being ground to size by the use of a grinding means, comprising a base member having a work-supporting means operably associated therewith. The base member supports the work-supporting means by a hinge member, with the base member and the work-supporting means normally being in an aligned relationship, but with the hinge member enabling the relationship of the work-supporting means to the base member to be angularly modified on occasion. The work-supporting means has thereon a work-clamping device constructed and arranged to hold a workpiece in a selected position, such that a portion of the workpiece held in the work-clamping device can be brought into direct contact with the grinding means. A depth-controlling member operably mounted upon the base member is positioned to normally contact a workpiece held in the work-clamping device.

Abstract: A blocking system for supporting a lens blank having a first cut, posterior surface for a contact lens or an intraocular lens and a reference surface includes a block having a forward extension with a cylindrical side wall and front surface complementary to the posterior surface of the lens blank. A disposable, annular collar of synthetic resin surrounds the cylindrical extension. The top edge of the collar abuts the reference surface of the lens blank and serves to determine the location of the posterior surface during cutting the front surface of the lens. The shaped and/or the cylindrical extension may be separable from the blocking member such as a plastic cap having a shank frictionally received in a cavity in the front surface of the blocking member or a plastic cap adhered to the end of the cylindrical extension.

Abstract: The invention provides a new method and apparatus for creating smooth and uniform air-bearing surfaces on disk sliders. A lapping fixture includes a compliant pad which allows substantially uniform pressure to be applied between the slider and a lapping surface. Multiple sliders may be lapped simultaneously, with the compliant pad allowing each slider to float substantially independently of the other sliders against the lapping surface. Positioning surfaces are provided on the lapping fixture to position the sliders relative to the lapping surface and to allow a predetermined force to be applied to each slider independent of the force of the lapping fixture against the lapping surface.

Abstract: An adaptor for aligning the components of a constant velocity joint is disclosed. This adaptor is comprised of a base, a body attached to said base, a screw shaft disposed within said body, a left slide nut mounted on said screw shaft, a first annular peg mounted on said left slide nut, a right slide nut mounted on said screw shaft, a second annular peg mounted on said right slide nut, and rotatable adjustment means for moving said left slide nut and said right slide nut in opposite directions upon the rotation of said adjustment means.

Abstract: A dop, a tang, and the combination of the two structures. The dop has an arc of movement of at least 75 degrees and as much as 95 degrees. The dop has an arcuate surface having an arc of movement of at least 95 degrees and a gear having key ways. The arcuate surface having keys extending substantially the entire arc of movement and the keys interdigitating with the key ways. The tang has a butt end, a neck, a clamp end connected to the neck and opposite the butt end, a clamp connected to the clamp end. The butt end including a platform structure integral to the neck and a support structure having a base. The support structure movably connected to the platform structure by a first adjustment tool. The support structure further including a second plurality of adjustment tools connected to the base.

Abstract: A device for fixing and maintaining a shapeable glass plate (1) in position during its machining. The plate (1) is placed on a support surface (2) and preferably maintained spaced therefrom to allow a usual operating tool to move and act thereon, for example during a chamfering process.

Abstract: A grinding machine includes a working table slidably engaged on the base, an opening is formed in the base, a belt is extended through the opening, a rotating wheel is coupled to the belt for driving the belt, another belt is extended between the working table and the base and includes two ends in which one is fixed to the working table and the other is fixed to a block, a bolt is engaged with the working and one of the blocks for moving the blocks toward each other or away from each other so as to adjust the tension of the belt. The belts are shielded by the working table and will not be splashed by cooling oil used in the grinding machine.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention a holder is provided for an eyeglass frame having a pair of lens rims spaced apart by a bridge. A pair of supports are fixed in spaced apart relationship on a base plate and a cradle is journalled between the supports to rock beneath an axis spaced from and parallel to the base plate. A pair of jaws transversely mounted on the cradle in relation to the axis is biased toward closing and has a mouth accessible from above the axis. One or both of the jaws inwardly tapered from the mouth to a narrow passage and outwardly tapered from the narrow passage to a throat. The throat has inwardly extending seats. Thus, when a frame is inserted transversely into the mouth toward the throat with its upper rims against one of the jaws and its lower rims against the other of the jaws, the jaws open against bias to pass the frame through the narrow passage and then close under bias to secure the frame in the throat and on the seats.

Abstract: A method for determining the deformation of workpiece on a grinding machine is proposed, in which the deformation of workpiece can be determined without using the less reliable initial deformation.Suppose the deflection at the beginning and the final deflection for the last time be T' (s) and T' (e), respectively, and the deformation preset for the grinding completion time be Ta, the deformation T (s) at the operation start time for the workpiece in the present time is approximated by the expressionT(s)=T' (s)-T' (e)+TaSuppose the shift of grinding wheel for the workpiece be .DELTA.A, and the change in diameter be D(x)-D(s), the deformation T(x) at a time for the present time is determined from the expressionT(x)-.DELTA.A+(D(x)-D(s))/2+T(s).