System and method pre-blocking ophthalmic lens for processing including articulation edging

Abstract

A method and system for pre-blocking ophthalmic lenses for processing including articulation edging is described. Lens blanks are blocked in this method without prior knowledge of lens prescription variables or frame size and shape dimensions. This blocking can be done at a remote mass production manufacturing facility. The pre-blocked lenses would then be inventoried at the lens manufacturing location. No de-blocking and re-blocking is required between the surfacing, for those lens blanks requiring surfacing, and edging processes so the lens blanks remain on their blocks from start to finish. If surfacing is required, both surfacing and edging are performed on the same machine with no interruptions between the two processes. Machine readable indicia on the Lens-Block Assemblies for Lens Blank species identification is described. Pre-blocking of finished uncut lenses for edging using articulation edging is also described.