Abstract: A method for machining optical workpieces has the following steps: i) providing the blank that is to be machined at least on the rear side and edge; ii) receiving the blank without a block in order to retain it in a supported manner; iii) machining the blank on the front side by use of a first tool to form a peripheral geometric shape with a depth greater than or equal to the edge thickness of the semifinished product to be formed; iv) receiving the workpiece to retain it in a supported manner on the front side; and v) machining the workpiece on the rear side by use of a second tool to form the semifinished product with the predetermined surface geometry on the rear side.

Abstract: A retainer for the processing of workpieces comprises a housing with a holding arrangement for a workpiece to be processed as well as a support arrangement therefor, which comprises a plurality of longitudinally displaceable pins accommodated in a chamber bounded by the housing. The pins are selectively fixable by a clamping mechanism with their pin ends for firmly supporting the workpiece. The clamping mechanism has at least one force transmission element which is movable with respect to the pins by forces able to be applied by fluid so as to selectively clamp the pins in an unactuated state of the retainer or free them in an actuated state of the retainer.

Abstract: An elastic membrane for a retainer for the processing of optical workpieces is constructed with a securing section for mounting on a housing of the retainer, so as to bound therein a chamber by a retaining section which is connected with the securing section. The retaining section has an outer side, on which a workpiece can be placed over an area by a workpiece surface, and an inner side, which is constructed to contact a support arrangement, for the workpiece. The retaining section has a perforation with at least one opening connecting the inner side and outer side and by way of which a vacuum applied to the chamber can be conducted to the outer side. Associated with the opening is a semi-permeable, functional membrane which extends merely locally in a region directly adjoining the opening.

Abstract: A device including at least one processor, and an analog-to-digital (ADC) circuit, wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate an excitation signal and provide the excitation signal to a crystal in a pierce oscillation configuration, wherein after providing the excitation signal, the ADC circuit is configured to obtain as input a signal output from the crystal and convert the signal to a digital output; the at least one processor is configured to compare the digital output of the ADC circuit to a plurality of thresholds and based on the comparisons is further configured to drive the crystal to cause the crystal to operate as a pierce oscillator and to generate a clock signal from at least of one of the comparisons.

Abstract: The invention relates to a loading system (LS) for an optical machine, that has a carrier (TR), which can be moved in a movement plane (x-y) by way of two linear guide units (LF1, LF2). At least one holder (H1, H2, H3) for a workpiece, block piece and/or tool is mounted on the carrier, which holder can be moved in a transverse direction (z), which is perpendicular to the movement plane. The linear guide units are designed and arranged in the manner of an H gantry or cross gantry, with two stationary drive motors (AM1, AM2) for driving a tension element (ZG) in the same direction or in opposite directions, which tension element is movably arranged on the linear guide units in an H shape or cross shape and is fastened to the carrier.

Abstract: An optical machine (AV) for treatment and/or processing optical workpieces (L) has a machine frame (MG) on which a workpiece holding arrangement (WH) is movably supported and at least two treatment and/or processing devices (DB1, DB2, DB3) for treatment and/or processing a workpiece. The workpiece holding arrangement has a plurality of partition walls (TW) which separate and delimit at least three work spaces (AR1, AR2, AR3, AR4) from one another. The work spaces can be moved, together with the workpiece holding arrangement. To each work space, a workpiece holder (CH) is assigned for the purpose of parallel use of the work spaces. Each work space can be moved, together with the workpiece holding arrangement, with respect to the machine frame in a movement cycle from a loading station (PS) on the machine frame, via stationary treatment and/or processing stations (DS, CS) which are spatially distanced from the loading station.

Abstract: A hydraulic arrangement (HA) for an apparatus (AV) for deblocking optical workpieces (L), from associated block pieces (B), includes a nozzle arrangement (DA) for delivery of high pressure jets of pressure means for deblocking the workpiece from the associated block piece at a first pressure and for cleaning the blocked workpiece and/or block piece at least one second pressure which is different from the first pressure. Furthermore, there is a pump device (PE) which applies pressure in a defined manner to the pressure means and conveys it under pressure to the nozzle arrangement. The pump device has at least one high pressure pump (HP1, HP2) which is drivable by an associated rotary drive (SM1, SM2), the speed of which is modifiable in order to adjust the first pressure or the second pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lens holding block for positioning and retaining a lens substrate in a processing machine, including a bottom part that is able to immobilize the lens holding block in the processing machine and an upper part. The upper part includes a chamber wherein is housed and attached a porous article so as to receive the lens substrate to be processed and which is able to be impregnated with a fluid, and a method for positioning and retaining a lens substrate onto a lens holding block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool spindle for a device for fine machining optically active surfaces on workpieces, having a spindle housing and a tool holding portion which protrudes beyond the housing. The tool holding portion can be axially advanced towards the workpiece along a tool rotational axis via a guiding assembly, which can be rotated about the tool rotational axis in the spindle housing. In order to axially advance the tool holding portion, the guide assembly has a plurality of linear mounting elements, which are distributed about the tool rotational axis in a uniform manner, and respective paired guide rods, which are connected to the tool holding portion in a traction- and pressure-resistant manner.

Abstract: Method for machining an optical surface of an optical lens, including: a lens blank providing step, during which a lens blank blocked on a lens blocker is provided; a clamping step, during which the lens blocker is clamped in a lens machining device; a tilting step, during which the lens blank and lens blocker are tilted relative to the rotation axis of the lens machining device; a surface position determining step, during which the position of the surface to be machined is determined based on the tilt angle of the lens blank and lens blocker relative to the rotation axis of the lens machining device; and a machining tool configuration step, during which the operational parameters of the lens machining tool are configured to manufacture the surface to be manufactured according to the determined surface position so the desired optical properties of the optical lens are respected.

Abstract: A device for blocking workpieces has an aligning station that includes a workpiece support for aligning a workpiece. A blocking station comprises a block piece mount and serves to block the aligned workpiece by use of a block material on a block piece, which can be mounted in the block piece mount in a centered manner in relation to a substantially vertically extending blocker axis. A workpiece carriage carries a holding head for the workpiece and is suitably guided and driven to transport the workpiece from the aligning station to the blocking station to position the workpiece along the blocker axis in a defined manner relative to the block piece held in the block piece mount, and to hold the workpiece during blocking in the defined relative position to the block piece with a gap between workpiece and body piece.

Abstract: A device for fine processing of optically effective surfaces on workpieces has a workpiece spindle which protrudes into a working space and by which a workpiece to be polished can be rotationally driven about a workpiece axis of rotation. Two tool spindles are associated with the workpiece spindle and protrude into the working space oppositely to the workpiece spindle. On each tool spindle, a polishing tool can be rotationally driven about a tool axis of rotation and is retained so that the polishing tool can be axially advanced along the tool axis of rotation. Furthermore, the tool spindles can be moved together in relation to the workpiece spindle along a linear axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the workpiece axis of rotation and can be pivoted about different pivoting adjustment axes, which extend substantially perpendicularly to the workpiece axis of rotation and substantially perpendicularly to the linear axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polishing disc for a tool for fine processing optically active surfaces on spectacle lenses, having a main body which has a central axis and to which an intermediate layer that is softer than the main body and is made of a resilient material is secured, a polishing medium carrier resting on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has at least two regions with different degrees of hardness, said regions being arranged one behind the other in the direction of the central axis of the main body. The intermediate layer region adjoining the main part is softer than the intermediate layer region on which the polishing medium carrier rests.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lens holding block for positioning and retaining a lens substrate in a processing machine, including a bottom part that is able to immobilize the lens holding block in the processing machine and an upper part. The upper part includes a chamber wherein is housed and attached a porous article so as to receive the lens substrate to be processed and which is able to be impregnated with a fluid, and a method for positioning and retaining a lens substrate onto a lens holding block.

Abstract: A sensor is provided for determining at least one rotation characteristic of a rotating element. The sensor includes a sensor wheel, which is connectable to the rotating element, including at least one first reading track. The reading track includes a first plurality of magnetic event timers. The sensor furthermore includes at least one magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic events generated by the first plurality of magnetic event timers. The first reading track is designed in such a way that, over a complete circumference of the sensor wheel, a magnetic field strength of the first plurality of event timers changes step-by-step from a first maximum north pole to a first maximum south pole.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool spindle for a device for fine machining optically active surfaces on workpieces, having a spindle housing and a tool holding portion which protrudes beyond the housing. The tool holding portion can be axially advanced towards the workpiece along a tool rotational axis via a guiding assembly, which can be rotated about the tool rotational axis in the spindle housing. In order to axially advance the tool holding portion, the guide assembly has a plurality of linear mounting elements, which are distributed about the tool rotational axis in a uniform manner, and respective paired guide rods, which are connected to the tool holding portion in a traction- and pressure-resistant manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for processing plastic workpieces. A machine housing surrounds a working chamber located between a workpiece spindle for rotationally driving the workpieces about a workpiece axis of rotation and a fast tool servo for producing an oscillating feeding movement of a rotary tool in the direction of the workpieces. The workpiece spindle is provided with a carriage which can be driven and is guided on at least two guide surfaces of a guiding arrangement in order to produce a relative advancing movement between the workpiece and the rotary tool. The advancing movement runs transversely with respect to the feeding movement and defining therewith a processing plane in which during processing the rotary tool engages with the workpiece. The guiding arrangement is mounted on the machine housing such that the processing plane extends between the two guide surfaces.

Abstract: A device for fine processing of optically effective surfaces on workpieces has a workpiece spindle which protrudes into a working space and by which a workpiece to be polished can be rotationally driven about a workpiece axis of rotation. Two tool spindles are associated with the workpiece spindle and protrude into the working space oppositely to the workpiece spindle. On each tool spindle, a polishing tool can be rotationally driven about a tool axis of rotation and is retained so that the polishing tool can be axially advanced along the tool axis of rotation. Furthermore, the tool spindles can be moved together in relation to the workpiece spindle along a linear axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the workpiece axis of rotation and can be pivoted about different pivoting adjustment axes, which extend substantially perpendicularly to the workpiece axis of rotation and substantially perpendicularly to the linear axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polishing disc for a tool for fine processing optically active surfaces on spectacle lenses, having a main body which has a central axis and to which an intermediate layer that is softer than the main body and is made of a resilient material is secured, a polishing medium carrier resting on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has at least two regions with different degrees of hardness, said regions being arranged one behind the other in the direction of the central axis of the main body. The intermediate layer region adjoining the main part is softer than the intermediate layer region on which the polishing medium carrier rests.

Abstract: A device for blocking workpieces has an aligning station that includes a workpiece support for aligning a workpiece. A blocking station comprises a block piece mount and serves to block the aligned workpiece by use of a block material on a block piece, which can be mounted in the block piece mount in a centered manner in relation to a substantially vertically extending blocker axis. A workpiece carriage carries a holding head for the workpiece and is suitably guided and driven to transport the workpiece from the aligning station to the blocking station to position the workpiece along the blocker axis in a defined manner relative to the block piece held in the block piece mount, and to hold the workpiece during blocking in the defined relative position to the block piece with a gap between workpiece and body piece.