Multiple head lens processing machine

Claim 2

A machine for processing lens material to provide a lens having an axis and a center of curvature disposed upon that axis, comprising: a base; a lens material holder having an axis, said holder being rotatably carried by said base about the axis of said lens material holder, including means for substantially concentrically disposing the lens material about the axis of said lens material holder; first processing means for performing a first operation on the less material including means for carrying a first tool in an arcuate path to perform the first operation; second processing means for separately performing a second operation different than that of the first operation upon the lens material including means for carrying a second tool different than that of the first tool in an arcuate path to perform the second operation; and means for controlling the operation of said lens material holder including means for coordinating the separate operation of each of said processing means.

Claim 3

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 1, wherein: the means for controlling the operation includes first operational means for disposing an imaginary axis of each tool, respectively, to pass through the axis of the lens material holder at the center of curvature of the lens material and further including second operational means for passing each tool over a center most point of the lens material.

Claim 4

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 1, wherein: the first processing means is adapted for carrying a first milling tool for milling a surface upon the lens material.

Claim 5

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 3, wherein: the second processing means is adapted for carrying a second milling tool for fine milling the surface milled by the first milling tool.

Claim 6

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 3, wherein: the second processing means is adapted for carrying an edging tool for edging the lens material.

Claim 7

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 3, wherein: the second processing means is adapted for carrying a polishing tool for polishing the surface milled by the first milling tool.

Claim 8

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 6, wherein: the second processing means is adapted for carrying a polishing tool in fixed relationship relative to a surface of the lens material disposed for polishing.

Claim 9

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 6, wherein: the second processing means is adapted for carrying a polishing tool to oscillate about the center of curvature of the lens over a surface of the lens material disposed for polishing.

Claim 10

A machine for processing lens material to provide a lens having an axis and a center of curvature disposed upon that axis, comprising: a base; a lens material holder having an axis, said holder being rotatably carried by said base for substantially concentrically disposing the lens material about the axis of said lens material holder; first processing means for performing a first operation upon the lens material including means for carrying a first tool in an arcuate path to perform the first operation, said first processing means carried by said base for movement about two transversely disposed axes; second processing means for performing a second operation different than that of the first operation upon the lens material including means for carrying a second tool different than that of the first tool in an arcuate path to perform the second operation, said second processing means carried by said base for movement about two transversely disposed axes; and means for controlling the operation of said lens material holder including means for coordinating the separate operation of each of said processing means.

Claim 11

A machine for processing lens material to provide a lens having an axis and a center of curvature disposed upon that axis, comprising: a base; a lens material holder having an axis, said holder being rotatably carried by said base for substantially concentrically disposing the lens material about the axis of said lens material holder; first processing means for performing a first operation upon the lens material including means for carrying a first tool in an arcuate path to perform the first operation, said first processing means carried by said base for movement about two transversely disposed axes; second processing means for performing a second operation different than that of the first operation upon the lens material including means for carrying a second tool different than that of the first tool in an arcuate path to perform the second operation, said second processing means carried by said base for movement about two transversely disposed axes; and means for controlling the operation of said lens material holder including means for coordinating the separate operation of each of said processing means.

Claim 12

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 9, further including: a tool for the first operation, said tool being a tool for rough milling generation of the lens material and including a tool for the second operation, said last-mentioned tool being a tool for fine milling generation of the lens material.

Claim 13

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 9, further including: a tool for the first operation, said tool being a tool for milling of the lens material and having a tool for the second operation, said last-mentioned tool being a tool for polishing the lens material.

Claim 14

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 9, wherein: the first and second processing means each individually comprises a tool holder radially extending from a support axis, respectively defining the first of the two transversely disposed axes for each processing means, said tool holder concentrically defining a tool axis for operational rotation of a tool.

Claim 15

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 12, further including: means for variably extEnding said tool holder in the direction of the support axis.

Claim 16

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 12, wherein: each radially extending tool holder is pivotable about the support axis at least 180* in a plane transversely disposed to the support axis, the first of the two transversely disposed axes.

Claim 17

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 14, further including: means for alternately moving each processing means relative to the base between a standby position and an operative position for processing the lens material.

Claim 18

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 15, wherein: said last-mentioned means includes means for pivotally moving each processing means about a base axis transversely disposed to the support axis and thereby defining the second of the two transversely disposed axes.

Claim 19

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 16, further including: means for variably extending said tool holder in the direction of the support axis relative to the base axis.

Claim 20

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 16, wherein: the pivotal movement about each respective base axis for each processing means is provided for by mechanical actuators.

Claim 21

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 16, further including: means for variably extending said tool holder in the direction of the tool axis.

Claim 22

The machine for processing the lens material, as defined in claim 16, further including: means for variably extending said tool holder in the direction of the base axis relative to a predetermined fixed point along the base axis.

Claim 23

A machine for processing lens material to provide a lens having an axis and a center of curvature disposed upon that axis, comprising: a base; a lens material holder having an axis, said holder being rotatably carried by said base for substantially concentrically disposing the lens material about the axis of said lens material holder; first processing means having a tool holder for carrying a lens material milling tool rotatably about a tool axis, wherein said first processing means includes first support means carried by said base for pivotable movement about a first base axis and second support means for rotational movement about a first support axis transversely disposed to the first base axis, said tool holder generally extending radially from the first support axis; second processing means having a tool holder for carrying a lens material polishing tool rotatably about a tool axis, wherein said second processing means includes third support means carried by said base for pivotable movement about a second base axis and fourth support means for rotational movement about a second support axis transversely disposed to the second base axis, said tool holder generally extending radially from the second support axis; means for variably extending each tool holder in the direction of its respective tool axis; means for variably extending each tool holder in the direction of its respective support axis relative to its respective base axis; and means for variably extending each tool holder in the direction of its respective base axis relative to a respective predetermined fixed point along its respective base axis.

Claim 24

A machine for processing lens material to provide a lens having an axis and a center of curvature disposed upon that axis, comprising: a base; a lens material holder having an axis, said holder being rotatably carried by said base for substantially concentrically disposing the lens material about the axis of said lens material holder; first processing means having a tool holder for carrying a lens material milling tool rotatably about a tool axis, wherein said first processing means includes first support means carried by said base for pivotable movement about a first base axis and second support means for rotational movement about a first support axis transversely disposed to the first base axis, said tool holder generally extending radially from the first support axis; second processing means having a tool holder for carrying a lens material polishing tool rotatably about a tool axis, wherein said second processing means includes third support means carried by said base for pivotable movement about a second base axis and fourth support means for rotational movement about a second support axis transversely disposed to the second base axis, said tool holder generally extending radially from the second support axis; means for variably extending each tool holder in the direction of its respective tool axis; means for variably extending each tool holder in the direction of its respective support axis relative to its respective base axis; and means for variably extending each tool holder in the direction of its respective base axis relative to a respective predetermined fixed point along its respective base axis.