Polisher-finer apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for finishing a surface of a lens comprising: a frame; first means connected to said frame for providing an orbital, break-up motion to a lapping tool having a polishing surface of a selected base curve and cross curve, said first means including, a first shaft having an upper end and a lower end; means connected to the lower end of said first shaft for rotating said shaft about its axis; means for moving the axis of said first shaft in a circular path such that the path of motion of said axis lies upon the exterior surface of an imaginary cylinder; a second shaft having an upper end, for operable connection to the lapping tool, and a lower end; universal ball joint means for connecting the upper end of said first shaft with the lower end of said second shaft; and generally horizontal gimbal means mounted upon said frame for supporting said second shaft intermediate the ends thereof wherein rotation of said first shaft and movement of the axis thereof in a circular path imparts an orbital, break-up motion to the gimbal mounted lapping tool; second means connected to said frame for providing an orbital, break-up motion to a lens of common base curve and cross curve with the lapping tool, said second means including a first shaft having an upper end and a lower end; means connected to the upper end of said first shaft for rotating said shaft about its axis; means for moving the axis of said first shaft in a circular path such that the path of motion of said axis lies upon the exterior surface of an imaginary cylinder; a second shaft having a lower end, for operable connection to the lens, and an upper end; universal ball joint means for connecting the lower end of said first shaft with the upper end of said second shaft; and generally horizontal gimbal means mounted upon said frame for supporting said second shaft intermediate the ends thereof wherein rotation of said first shaft and movement of the axis thereof in a circular path imparts an orbital, break-up motion to the gimbal mounted lens; means connected to said frame for biasing the lens into engagement with the lapping tool; first adjustment means connected to said first means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lapping tool for adjusting the amplitude of the orbital motion of the lapping tool; and second adjustment means connected to said second means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lens, for adjusting the amplitude of the orbital, break-up motion of the lens, whereby a combination of adjustable, orbital, break-up movements are provided between the lens surface and the lapping tool surface, said second adjustment means including a base means for connection, at one end, with the lower end of said first shaft of said second means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lens; eccentric means rotatably mounted within the other end of said base means for connection, said eccentric means having a central longitudinal axis offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said base means; ball means mounted at one end upon said eccentric means and at the other end within said universal ball joint means, said ball means being mounted upon said eccentric means in a position radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said eccentric means; and means for rotationally adjusting said eccentric means about its central longitudinal axis for selectively varying the distance said ball means is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said base means; and means for locking said eccentric means in an adjusted position following rotational adjustment of said eccentric means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for finishing a surface of a lens comprising: a frame; first means connected to said frame for providing an orbital, break-up motion to a lapping tool having a polishing surface of a selected base curve and cross curve, said first means including, a first shaft having an upper end and a lower end; means connected to the lower end of said first shaft for rotating said shaft about its axis; means for moving the axis of said first shaft in a circular path such that the path of motion of said axis lies upon the exterior surface of an imaginary cylinder; a second shaft having an upper end, for operable connection to the lapping tool, and a lower end; universal ball joint means for connecting the upper end of said first shaft with the lower end of said second shaft; and generally horizontal gimbal means mounted upon said frame for supporting said second shaft intermediate the ends thereof wherein rotation of said first shaft and movement of the axis thereof in a circular path imparts an orbital, break-up motion to the gimbal mounted lapping tool; second means connected to said frame for providing an orbital, break-up motion to a lens of common base curve and cross curve with the lapping tool, said second means including a first shaft having an upper end and a lower end; means connected to the upper end of said first shaft for rotating said shaft about its axis; means for moving the axis of said first shaft in a circular path such that the path of motion of said axis lies upon the exterior surface of an imaginary cylinder; a second shaft having a lower end, for operable connection to the lens, and an upper end; universal ball joint means for connecting the lower end of said first shaft with the upper end of said second shaft; and generally horizontal gimbal means mounted upon said frame for supporting said second shaft intermediate the ends thereof wherein rotation of said first shaft and movement of the axis thereof in a circular path imparts an orbital, break-up motion to the gimbal mounted lens; means connected to said frame for biasing the lens into engagement with the lapping tool; first adjustment means connected to said first means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lapping tool for adjusting the amplitude of the orbital motion of the lapping tool; and second adjustment means connected to said second means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lens, for adjusting the amplitude of the orbital, break-up motion of the lens, whereby a combination of adjustable, orbital, break-up movements are provided between the lens surface and the lapping tool surface, said second adjustment means including a base means for connection, at one end, with the lower end of said first shaft of said second means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lens; eccentric means rotatably mounted within the other end of said base means for connection, said eccentric means having a central longitudinal axis offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said base means; ball means mounted at one end upon said eccentric means and at the other end within said universal ball joint means, said ball means being mounted upon said eccentric means in a position radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said eccentric means; and means for rotationally adjusting said eccentric means about its central longitudinal axis for selectively varying the distance said ball means is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said base means; and means for locking said eccentric means in an adjusted position following rotational adjustment of said eccentric means.

Claim 3

An apparatus for finishing a surface of a lens comprising: a frame; first means connected to said frame for providing an orbital, break-up motion to a lapping tool having a polishing surface of a selected base curve and cross curve, said first means including, a first shaft having an upper end and a lower end; means connected to the lower end of said first shaft for rotating said shaft about its axis; means for moving the axis of said first shaft in a circular path such that the path of motion of said axis lies upon the exterior surface of an imaginary cylinder; a second shaft having an upper end, for operable connection to the lapping tool, and a lower end; universal ball joint means for connecting the upper end of said first shaft with the lower end of said second shaft; and generally horizontal gimbal means mounted upon said frame for supporting said second shaft intermediate the ends thereof wherein rotation of said first shaft and movement of the axis thereof in a circular path imparts an orbital, break-up motion to the gimbal mounted lapping tool; second means connected to said frame for providing an orbital, break-up motion to a lens of common base curve and cross curve with the lapping tool, said second means including a first shaft having an upper end and a lower end; means connected to the upper end of said first shaft for rotating said shaft about its axis; means for moving the axis of said first shaft in a circular path such that the path of motion of said axis lies upon the exterior surface of an imaginary cylinder; a second shaft having a lower end, for operable connection to the lens, and an upper end; universal ball joint means for connecting the lower end of said first shaft with the upper end of said second shaft; and generally horizontal gimbal means mounted upon said frame for supporting said second shaft intermediate the ends thereof wherein rotation of said first shaft and movement of the axis thereof in a circular path imparts an orbital, break-up motion to the gimbal mounted lens; means connected to said frame for biasing the lens into engagement with the lapping tool; first adjustment means connected to said first means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lapping tool for adjusting the amplitude of the orbital motion of the lapping tool; and second adjustment means connected to said second means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lens, for adjusting the amplitude of the orbital, break-up motion of the lens, whereby a combination of adjustable, orbital, break-up movements are provided between the lens surface and the lapping tool surface, said second adjustment means including base means for connection, at one end, with the lower end of said first shaft of said second means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lens; eccentric means connected to the other end of said base means for connection, said eccentric means having a central longitudinal axis offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said base means; ball means mounted at one end upon said eccentric means and at the other end within said universal ball joint means, said ball means being mounted upon said eccentric means in a position radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said eccentric means; and means for rotationally adjusting said eccentric means about its central longitudinal axis for selectively varying the distance said ball means is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said base means, said means for adjusting including collar means mounted about said base means with the lower end of said first shaft; and arm means connected to said eccentric means for rotating said eccentric means with respect to said connection means and being selectively engageable with said collar means to releasably hold said eccentric means in a selected position of rotational adjustment.

Claim 4

An apparatus for finishing a surface of a lens comprising: a frame; first means connected to said frame for providing an orbital, break-up motion to a lapping tool having a polishing surface of a selected base curve and cross curve, said first means including, a first shaft having an upper end and a lower end; means connected to the lower end of said first shaft for rotating said shaft about its axis; means for moving the axis of said first shaft in a circular path such that the path of motion of said axis lies upon the exterior surface of an imaginary cylinder; a second shaft having an upper end, for operable connection to the lapping tool, and a lower end; universal ball joint means for connecting the upper end of said first shaft with the lower end of said second shaft; and generally horizontal gimbal means mounted upon said frame for supporting said second shaft intermediate the ends thereof wherein rotation of said first shaft and movement of the axis thereof in a circular path imparts an orbital, break-up motion to the gimbal mounted lapping tool; second means connected to said frame for providing an orbital, break-up motion to a lens of common base curve and cross curve with the lapping tool, said second means including a first shaft having an upper end and a lower end; means connected to the upper end of said first shaft for rotating said shaft about its axis; means for moving the axis of said first shaft in a circular path such that the path of motion of said axis lies upon the exterior surface of an imaginary cylinder; a second shaft having a lower end, for operable connection to the lens, and an upper end; universal ball joint means for connecting the lower end of said first shaft with the upper end of said second shaft; and generally horizontal gimbal means mounted upon said frame for supporting said second shaft intermediate the ends thereof wherein rotation of said first shaft and movement of the axis thereof in a circular path imparts an orbital, break-up motion to the gimbal mounted lens; means connected to said frame for biasing the lens into engagement with the lapping tool; first adjustment means connected to said first means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lapping tool for adjusting the amplitude of the orbital motion of the lapping tool; and second adjustment means connected to said second means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lens, for adjusting the amplitude of the orbital, break-up motion of the lens, whereby a combination of adjustable, orbital, break-up movements are provided between the lens surface and the lapping tool surface, said second adjustment means including base means for connection, at one end, with the lower end of said first shaft of said second means for providing an orbital, break-up motion to the lens; eccentric means connected to the other end of said base means for connection, said eccentric means having a central longitudinal axis offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said base means; ball means mounted at one end upon said eccentric means and at the other end within said universal ball joint means, said ball means being mounted upon said eccentric means in a position radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said eccentric means; and means for rotationally adjusting said eccentric means about its central longitudinal axis for selectively varying the distance said ball means is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said base means, said means for adjusting including collar means mounted about said base means with the lower end of said first shaft; and arm means connected to said eccentric means for rotating said eccentric means with respect to said connection means and being selectively engageable with said collar means to releasably hold said eccentric means in a selected position of rotational adjustment.

Claim 7

An apparatus for adjusting the amplitude of orbital, break-up motion of a lens finishing machine having at least a first assembly means including a rotating and orbiting first shaft and a gimbal mounted second shaft which operably provides relative motion between a lens and a lens finishing tool wherein said apparatus for adjusting comprises: base means for connection, at one end, to a free end of the first shaft for rotating and orbiting therewith; eccentric means rotably mounted within the other end of said base means and having a central longitudinal axis offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said base means; ball means mounted upon said eccentric means for universal connection to said gimbal mounted second shaft, said ball means being mounted in a position radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said eccentric means; means for rotationally adjusting said eccentric means about its central longitudinal axis for selectively varying the distance said ball means is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said base means; and means for locking said eccentric means in an adjusted position following rotational adjustment of said eccentric means.

Claim 8

An apparatus for adjusting the amplitude of orbital, break-up motion of a lens finishing machine having at least a first assembly means including a rotating and orbiting first shaft and a gimbal mounted second shaft which operably provides relative motion between a lens and a lens finishing tool wherein said apparatus for adjusting comprises: base means for connection, at one end, to a free end of the first shaft for rotating and orbiting therewith; eccentric means rotably mounted within the other end of said base means and having a central longitudinal axis offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said base means; ball means mounted upon said eccentric means for universal connection to said gimbal mounted second shaft, said ball means being mounted in a position radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said eccentric means; means for rotationally adjusting said eccentric means about its central longitudinal axis for selectively varying the distance said ball means is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said base means; and means for locking said eccentric means in an adjusted position following rotational adjustment of said eccentric means.

Claim 14

An apparatus for adjusting the amplitude of orbital, break-up motion of a lens finishing machine having at least a first assembly means including a rotating and orbitating first shaft and a gimbal mounted second shaft which operably provides relative motion between a lens and a lens finishing tool wherein said apparatus for adjusting comprises: base means for connection, at one end, to a free end of the first shaft for rotating and orbiting therewith; eccentric means connected to the other end of said base means and having a central longitudinal axis offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said base means; ball means mounted upon said eccentric means for for universal connection to said gimbal mounted second shaft, said ball means being mounted in a position radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said eccentric means; and means for rotationally adjusting said eccentric means about its central longitudinal axis for selectively varying the distance said ball means is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said base means, said means for rotationally adjusting comprising, collar means mounted about said base means; and arm means connected to said eccentric means for rotating said eccentric means with respect to said base means and selectively engageable with said collar means to releasably hold said eccentric means in a given position of rotational adjustment.

Claim 15

An apparatus for adjusting the amplitude of orbital, break-up motion of a lens finishing machine having at least a first assembly means including a rotating and orbitating first shaft and a gimbal mounted second shaft which operably provides relative motion between a lens and a lens finishing tool wherein said apparatus for adjusting comprises: base means for connection, at one end, to a free end of the first shaft for rotating and orbiting therewith; eccentric means connected to the other end of said base means and having a central longitudinal axis offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said base means; ball means mounted upon said eccentric means for for universal connection to said gimbal mounted second shaft, said ball means being mounted in a position radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said eccentric means; and means for rotationally adjusting said eccentric means about its central longitudinal axis for selectively varying the distance said ball means is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of said base means, said means for rotationally adjusting comprising, collar means mounted about said base means; and arm means connected to said eccentric means for rotating said eccentric means with respect to said base means and selectively engageable with said collar means to releasably hold said eccentric means in a given position of rotational adjustment.