Cole National Corporation

International Paper Company

Frank D Sorrells

Charles A Lee

An adapter for holding a lens blank and lens block assembly in a fining and polishing apparatus includes an adapter body having a non-circular socket extending inwardly thereof from one face for receiving a correspondingly shaped projection on a lens block. A central recess in the other face of the adapter body receives a pin on a spindle pressure arm. The non-circular socket provides a reference axis corresponding to the base line for the lens block. Guide rods extend outwardly from the outer periphery of the adapter body parallel to the reference axis for cooperation with a locating rod in a fining and polishing apparatus for maintaining the proper orientation of the lens blank during processing. Apparatus for mounting lens blanks in a desired rotated position includes a plate attached to a spindle pressure arm and having a guide arm extending outwardly therefrom for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. A pointer and indicia on the upper face of the plate are provided for indicating the angular adjustment of the guide arm. A locating rod extending downwardly from the outer end portion of the guide arm cooperates with guide rods associated with the lens blank for maintaining the desired rotated orientation of the lens blank during processing.

Mounting apparatus for processing lens blanks

A chucking method and apparatus for processing a lens blank in a manner requiring only a single mounting of the blank to an associated lens block. The lens block is mounted to the convex lens blank surface by a hot melt type of adhesive so as to extend outwardly thereof substantially coaxial with the lens blank frame center axis. The lens blank and lens block are releasably mounted in a chuck assembly associated with lens surface generating apparatus such that a desired optical center axis in the lens blank and the tailstock of the generating apparatus are coaxial. The chuck includes means for selectively rotating and/or canting the lens blank relative to the tailstock to accommodate desired axis and prism settings as prescribed for the finished lens. Following generation of the desired optical characteristics in the lens blank, additional operations are performed thereon for producing a finished optical lens while the lens block remains affixed thereto. After these additional operations are completed, the lens block is removed from mounted association with the finished optical lens.

Lens processing apparatus

Lens processing method and apparatus

A chucking method and apparatus for processing a lens blank in a manner requiring only a single mounting of the blank to an associated lens block. The lens block is mounted to the convex lens blank surface by a hot melt type of adhesive so as to extend outwardly thereof substantially coaxial with the lens blank frame center axis. The lens blank and lens block are releasably mounted in a chuck associated with lens surface generating apparatus such that the lens blank frame center axis and the tail stock of the generating apparatus are coaxial. The chuck includes means for selectively adjusting and rotating the lens blank relative to the tailstock for accommodating any desired decentration, axis setting and prism prescribed for the finished lens. Following generation of the desired optical characteristics in the lens blank, the blank and associated lens block are mounted and processed first in surface fining apparatus and then in peripheral edge contouring apparatus. In these operations, the lens blank frame center axis is disposed substantially coaxial with the associated apparatus tail stocks or chucks. An adaptor conveniently allows adjusting rotation of the lens blank about its frame center axis in the surface fining and polishing apparatus compatible to any degree of rotation accommodated during surface generation. Following lens blank edge contouring, the lens block is removed from mounted association with the finished optical lens.

Chuck assembly for lens block

A chucking method and apparatus for processing a lens blank in a manner requiring only a single mounting of the blank to an associated lens block. The lens block is mounted to the convex lens blank surface by a hot melt type of adhesive so as to extend outwardly thereof substantially coaxial with the lens blank frame center axis. The lens blank and lens block are releasably mounted in a chuck associated with lens surface generating apparatus such that the lens blank frame center axis and the tail stock of the generating apparatus are coaxial. The chuck includes apparatus for selectively adjusting and rotating the lens blank relative to the tailstock for accommodating any desired decentration, axis setting and prism prescribed for the finished lens. Following generation of the desired optical characteristics in the lens blank, the blank and associated lens block are mounted and processed first in surface finishing apparatus and then in peripheral edge contouring apparatus. In these operations, the lens blank frame center axis is disposed substantially coaxial with the associated apparatus tail stocks or chucks. An adaptor conveniently allows adjusting rotation of the lens blank about its frame center axis in the surface finishing and polishing apparatus compatible to any degree of rotation accommodated during surface generation. Following lens blank edge contouring, the lens block is removed from mounted association with the finished optical lens.

Lens block

Adapter chuck for mounting lens blanks

Lens processing method

Fibers are air laid on a twin-wire machine to form a composite pad. A pair of endless foraminous carriers are passed through a forming chamber where fibers suspended in air are directed between the carriers. A layer of fibers is built up on each of the carriers by applying pressure differential across the carriers in the chamber to force air from the suspension through the carriers. In one form of the invention the air is directed through the respective carriers in different patterns to form a respective fiber layers of different cross section. The carriers converge within the chamber in their direction of motion to join the facing surfaces of the respective layers to form a composite pad of non-uniform cross section. According to one aspect of the invention, excess fibers are removed from the facing surfaces just prior to their being joined.

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Frank D Sorrells