Abstract: A polishing apparatus for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer has a reduced height compared with conventional polishing apparatuses. The height reduction is achieved by disposing a drive motor for rotating a top ring below a turntable, and by making a swing shaft for loading/unloading of the workpiece hollow to accommodate a rotating shaft for transmitting rotation from the motor to the top ring.

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: An optical fiber end-surface polishing device has an improved ferrule fixing device allowing ferrules with optical fibers to be attached to or detached from a holder plate for polishing by a simple operation. The optical fiber end-surface polishing device, having a ferrule fixing device, simultaneously polishes the end surfaces of a plurality of ferrules with optical fibers fixed to and supported by a holder plate. The device includes ferrule accommodating sockets provided on the holder plate and having through holes for accommodating ferrules; and ferrule presser levers supported by stationary shafts substantially parallel to the through holes and biased toward descent by biasing devices, wherein each of the ferrule presser levers is movable between an angular position where the ferrules inserted into the associated ferrule accommodating sockets are downwardly pressed and an angular position where the polished ferrules can be detached.

Abstract: A method of processing a lens is disclosed. A lens blank and a lens block are each provided with a structured surface having a plurality of tapered elements. The lens blank is releasably attached to the lens block by pressing the structured surface of the lens blank against the structured surface of the lens block, followed by subjecting the mounted lens blank to lens processing operations.

Abstract: A device for parallax-free centering of an eyeglass lens blank and for application of markings and optionally a holder before insertion of the eyeglass lens blank into an eyeglass edge grinding machine has a stage for the eyeglass lens blank. An electric drive is connected to the stage which is moveable in an upward and downward direction by the electric drive. A depressor for holding the eyeglass lens blank on the stage is provided. The depressor allows for lateral movement of the eyeglass lens blank in a support plane of the stage. The depressor is moveable in the upward and downward direction. A first proximity detector is operatively connected with the electric drive and with the depressor for positioning at a predetermined height the eyeglass lens blank held between depressor and stage.

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: A lens projector is provided for use with a lens blocking device having an LCD target display plane disposed beneath a work surface and a tower having an upper portion extending above the work surface with a eyepiece therethrough. The lens projector includes a bracket fixed to the tower proximate the eyepiece with a light source rigidly seated on the bracket above the work surface. A viewer mounted in the eyepiece is aligned on a sight line substantially normal to and centered on the work center of the LCD target display plane. An at least partially transmissive mirror intersects the sight line and is fixed to the viewer at an angle such that light emitted from a center of the light source is reflected along the sight line toward the work surface so as to project an image of a multi-focal segment or a lens marking onto the graphic display. A shield fixed to the bracket and extending between the light source and the tower protects the tower from heat dissipated by the light source.

Abstract: A base lens blocking system comprises a blocking member formed of a flange with a rearward directed shank received in a collet of a spindle, preferably, a dead length, recessed collet. The front surface of the flange contains a lens blank engaging region which can be recessed. The lens blank is applied to the flat, front surface of the flange by means of a disc of adhesive tape, either a thermoplastic adhesive or a double-sided pressure sensitive adhesive tape or a very thin film of wax applied to a heated surface of the flange under a pressure from 5-20 pounds. A batch of blocked lens blanks can be cut with base curves and processed to finished lenses without measuring the center thickness of the base curves of each lens.

Abstract: An adhesive blocking system, for generating and for fining and polishing eyeglass lenses, utilizes a collar which slides over and engages a lens block, which lens block is secured to a lens blank by a relatively thick adhesive pad, to uniformly transfer pressure from the cylinder machine to the lens blank without deforming the adhesive pad, which deformation adversely affects the optics. In this manner, a lens blank is blocked only once for both generating and fining and polishing. In addition, the environmental risks and heating effects of current solder blocking systems are avoided.

Abstract: A processing fixture and method of fabricating micromechanical devices, such as digital micromirror devices, that allows fragile structures on wafer 22 to be protected from debris during the saw operation and subsequent cleaning operations. The wafer 22 is attached to a vacuum fixture 26 after partially sawing the wafer 22 to create saw kerfs. The backside of the wafer 22 is then ground down to the saw kerfs 24 to separate the devices 32. Each device 32 is held on the fixture by a vacuum in the headspace above the device 32. In an alternate embodiment the devices are separated by sawing completely through the wafer while in the fixture.

Abstract: An apparatus for custom cutting clip-on sunglasses includes a stop which assists in positioning the eyeglasses or sunglasses on the holder. A centerer is associated with said apparatus for centering the eyeglasses or sunglasses.

Abstract: A lens blocker assembly has a first support table moveable in a first direction. A second support is carried by the first support and is moveable in a second direction, with the second direction being angularly disposed relative to the first direction. Variable output drives are operably associated with the supports for selectively moving the supports in the associated directions. A lens block applicator is operably associated with the second support for applying a lens block to a lens blank disposed on the second support.

Abstract: A lens blocking system in which a button is bonded to a lens surface. The button includes a capsule (2) of flowable substance with a flexible portion (3) that is brought into contact with and bonded to the lens surface. The flowable substance allows the flexible portion to conform to the shape of the lens surface, subsequent to which flow is then inhibited. The flowable substance may be a substance that is molten and then subsequently cooled to solidifying temperature after the button has been bonded to the lens.

Abstract: A device is provided for guiding a workpiece or tool during the machining of toric or spherical surfaces. The device includes an axially movable spindle sleeve disposed on the grinding or polishing machine and having first and second ends. A seating chuck has support for supporting one of a lens and a tool. A connecting means is provided for fitting the chuck concentrically to the first end of the spindle support. The connecting means includes a bell-shaped flange. A ball joint connects the support means to connecting means. A roller bellows is non-resilient in the circumferential direction and connects the support means to the bell-shaped flange. The roller bellows is arranged to form a joint chamber for sealing the space in which the ball joint is situated. A pressure fluid line is connected to the joint chamber. A pressure fluid cylinder-piston assembly is disposed coaxially with the spindle sleeve and the spindle sleeve being movable with the piston.

Abstract: A process, a block or sucker, and an apparatus for machining the edge and optionally the optical surfaces of eyeglass lenses. The block or sucker is of circular shape and has a diameter which, at least in some areas, extends beyond the dimensions of the finished outline of the eyeglass lens. The block or sucker is attached to one major surface of the eyeglass lens blank during the machining operation. The block or sucker is inserted in a holder of a device for machining the edge of the eyeglass lens blank. The edge of the eyeglass lens is machined in accordance with the prescribed outline. The block or sucker may be machined at least in certain areas down to the outline of the eyeglass lens itself, whereafter the block of sucker is detached from the completely machined eyeglass lens and disposed of. Prior to edging the eyeglass blank, the optical surface may also be machined using the same block or sucker.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing ophthalmic, telescopic, microscopic, etc. lenses, the use of a radiation (e.g., UV or visible light) curable adhesive formulation containing a predominant amount of an acrylic capped organic prepolymer; a lesser amount of an ethylenically unsaturated diluent monomer; a minor amount of a non-reactive releasing agent and a suitable photoinitiator for blocking (bonding) and deblocking (debonding) a lens blank to a support member.

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: During polishing of a gemstone (30, 100, 200), a coolant is passed in heat exchange relationship with the gemstone to remove heat. This reduces the risk of temperature degradation of the gemstone. In practice, this can be achieved by passing a fluent coolant through a coolant chamber (34, 124, 214) which forms part of the apparatus that is used to hold the gemstone during polishing and which is in heat exchange relationship with the gemstone held by the apparatus.

Abstract: A holding device for holding an optical element to be ground is arranged such that pressure applied to a receiving face of the optical element on the holder base is made different in the radial direction in order to eliminate deformation, positional deviation or inclination of the optical element due to grinding resistances during grinding or due to high-pressure grinding. An elastic member is employed as an elastic member, or a receiving member capable of absorbing the positional deviation, the inclination, or the like of the optical element during grinding thereof is used.

Abstract: A variable pitch lapping block for use in polishing a range of prescription lenses having different radii of curvatures is obtained by the use of an element made of rubber or the like, which is associated with a pressurized chamber, wherein the element exhibits a range of curvatures depending upon the variation of the pressure in the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting removable markings on an optical lens during grinding thereof to a desired prescription. A mask is placed over the markings prior to application of an adhesive tape, to which a low temperature alloy block is bonded for holding of the lens during grinding. The mask preferably covers only the markings, and is transparent to allow alignment thereof. Preferably the mask is held in place on the lens surface without the use of an adhesive, although a low tack adhesive may be used which does not remove the markings when the mask is peeled away from the lens. A preferred material for the mask is a static cling vinyl.