Abstract: In a microscope the eyepiece and the objective lenses are separately mounted, the objective being mounted in a cantilever member which is rigidly attached to a rigid portion of a support pillar. The eyepiece is also cantilevered out from the support pillar, the eyepiece cantilever being spaced away from the objective-mounting cantilever and entirely free of contact therewith, except only the remote contact through the pillar. To maintain the most rigid possible relationship between objective and stage, the stage is focusably mounted on a rigid portion of the same support pillar.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of forming ophthalmic lenses and/or semi-finished lens blanks including those of the eye contact type. The apparatus includes molds having cooperating first and second members each of which includes a longitudinal axis and a mold surface which is symmetrical with respect to such axis. In one embodiment these mold members or halves also include cooperating surfaces which, in operation and in cooperation with the selected lens material, both align the respective mold axes and axially position the mold surface of the first member with respect to the mold surface of the second member to thereby form the desired lens mold cavity. Further, each of the assembled molds also includes an annular reservoir which surrounds the mold cavity and is defined by surfaces provided on the first and second mold members. This reservoir is connected to the mold cavity via an annular restriction.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of forming a surface on, for instance, a contact lens. The apparatus includes first and second movable members. The first member is pivotally connected to suitable support structure for rotation about a first axis. The second member, which supports a cutting tool, is pivotally connected to the first member for rotation about a second axis. This second axis is offset from the first axis so that it (the second axis) rotates or pivots about the first axis when the first member is rotated. The apparatus also includes a cam surface and a cam follower. In the first embodiment the cam follower is located on the second member and the cam surface is located on a cam or third member which is pivotally connected to the support structure for rotation about a third axis. This third member is also interconnected with the first member so that rotation of the third member rotates or pivots the first member about the first axis.

Abstract: Measuring apparatus using the vernier fringe concept of measurement to provide a precise digital numeric indication of displacement between two relatively movable members. The apparatus includes an accurately ruled grating or scale, a housing for supporting the scale, a transducer and a transducer support housing. The housing is secured to a flat mounting surface provided on one of the two relatively movable members while the transducer support housing is secured to the other of the two relatively movable members. The transducer includes an index grating supported on a movable carriage which rides on the scale and is held in engagement with the scale by a cantilever spring element. In order to insure readings accurate to 0.0001 inch, the housing is designed so that it holds the scale in close conformity with the flat mounting surface against which the housing is secured.

Abstract: An objective, for use with an optical instrument such as a microscope, includes a housing formed of two generally tubular shaped members, one of which is coaxially and slidably mounted within the other. The objective also includes a rotatable member supported on the side of the outer of the two tubular members. An eccentric provided on the end of the rotatable member cooperates wih a surface of a slot formed on the side of the inner of the two tubular members. By rotating the eccentric, the inner tubular member is coaxially moved relative to the outer tubular member to thereby provide an easy and extremely accurate method of parfocalizing the objective. A locking mechanism is also provided to insure that the parfocality of the objective is not disrupted once it has been set.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a microscope objective and aligning the optical axis of such an objective with the optical axis of the microscope. The apparatus includes a rotatable plural objective nosepiece shell provided with a plurality of through openings. All but one of these openings receives an objective supporting and aligning cell which, in turn, supports the individual microscope objectives. Each cell and the corresponding through opening provided in the nosepiece shell are provided with cooperating surfaces which, in conjunction with a locking ring and a washer formed, preferably, of material exhibiting cold flow characteristics, axially position such cell relative to the nosepiece shell. The washer formed of material exhibiting cold flow characteristics is supported between the locking ring and a flange surface provided on the through opening to prevent shifting of the cell in the axial direction.

Abstract: An electrographic printer employs a constant-force spring to provide a positive means of preventing slack from occurring in the distributed segment of recording material existing between the source and a drive roller powered by a stepper motor. Further, the constant-force spring prevents backlash and, in cooperation with holding devices, skewing from occurring in the distributed segment of recording material.

Abstract: A contact lens storage unit which is formed of first and second mating members. On one of these members, which may be the cap of the lens storage unit, a dome-like contact lens supporting element is provided. A cover, having a concave surface which cooperates with the dome-like contact lens supporting element to encage a contact lens is also provided. Finally, the unit includes a raised annular ring disposed about the dome-like contact lens supporting element. Complementing threads provided on both members and a seal complete the lens storage unit.

Abstract: A carrying case includes first and second contact lens liquid storage chambers which are located on separate axes and have openings which are inverted one from the other. Each respective storage chamber has a plurality of threads for engagement with a compatible set of threads on each removable cap said caps being provided with a seal to promote integrity between the mating parts. Each cap has a convex base for receiving the concave surface of a contact lens and a concave cover pivotally supported to open and close immediately over the convex base to encapsulate the contact lens in the area defined between the convex base and the concave cover.

Abstract: A cam actuated assembly for a microscope. The assembly includes a hollow tubular support member and a nosepiece or multiple objective carrier. The tubular member is provided with a cam surface and is symmetrical with respect to an axis which, in the assembled microscope, is off set from and parallel to the optical axis of the microscope. The carrier, which is also symmetrical with respect to an axis, is partially received within the tubular member and includes a cam follower which cooperates with the cam surface. The carrier also includes at least two openings or cavities each of which is adopted to receive a microscope objective. The axes of these openings are parallel to one another and off set from the axis of the carrier by an amount equal to the off set between the axis of the tubular member and the optical axis.

Abstract: A cartographic means and method employs two or more compound microscopes having optical paths combined through semireflective means. One of the microscopes has means for receiving an input record in its object plane while the other has an output record in a horizontal object plane beneath its objective. Image modification means including a zoom system and preferably an image rotation mechanism and an anamorphic system are included in the input microscope system to permit the input image to be matched to the output image as both are viewed through the eyepieces. Various apparatus and methods for mounting, illuminating and scanning inputs, handling outputs, supporting the instrument, photographing the superimposed images and transferring data from input to output are described.

Abstract: Measuring apparatus using the moire fringe concept of measurement to provide a precise digital numeric indication of displacement between two relatively movable members. The apparatus includes an accurately ruled grating or scale, a transducer head in the form of an index grating supported on a movable carriage and a transducer support housing. The scale is secured in a spar which is preferably mounted to the carriage of a machine tool such as a milling machine. The transducer support housing is mounted to the stationery part or bed of the machine tool and is provided with a cantilever spring element which holds the carriage in direct contact with the scale.

Abstract: Measuring apparatus using the moire fringe concept of measurement to provide a precise digital numeric indication of displacement between two relatively movable members. The apparatus includes an accurately ruled grating or scale, a transducer head in the form of an index grating supported on a movable carriage and a transducer support housing. The scale is secured in a spar which is preferably mounted to the carriage of a machine tool such as a milling machine. The transducer support housing is mounted to the stationery part or bed of the machine tool and is provided with a cantilever spring element which holds the carriage in direct contact with the scale.