# US 10,307,881 B2 · Ophthalmic lens processing apparatus with improved user accessibility > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,881 B2 - Document ID: US10307881B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/439,393 - Filed: 2017-02-22 - Published: 2018-08-23 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-22 - Assignees: National Optronics, Inc. - Applicants: National Optronics, Inc. - Inventors: Robert Kenneth Dewees - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307881B2 ## CPC - B24B 9/14: of optical work, e.g. lenses, prisms {(control of the position of the tool for bevelling optical work B24B47/225)} - B23Q 1/66: Worktables interchangeably movable into operating positions - B24B 13/00: Machines or devices designed for grinding or polishing optical surfaces on lenses or surfaces of similar shape on other work; Accessories therefor (edging optical work, e.g. lenses, prisms B24B9/14) - B24B 41/02: Frames; Beds; Carriages - B24B 41/06: Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies (B24B37/27 takes precedence) - G02C 7/02: Lenses; Lens systems {; Methods of designing lenses} - G02C 2202/08: Series of lenses, lens blanks - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00) ## Abstract An ophthalmic lens processing apparatus is provided that includes a housing, a support structure, and ophthalmic lens processing components configured to perform an ophthalmic process on an ophthalmic lens. The housing includes a case and a user access member. The support structure includes a support plate received within and movably connected to the case. At least one of the ophthalmic lens processing components is mounted to and movable with the support plate. Also provided is a method of improving user accessibility to the at least one ophthalmic lens processing components of the ophthalmic lens processing apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ophthalmic lens processing apparatus, comprising: a housing comprising a case and a user access member; a support structure comprising a support plate, the support structure being received within and movably connected to the case to permit non-linear movement of at least a portion of the support structure; and ophthalmic lens processing components configured to perform a lens shaping process on an ophthalmic lens, the ophthalmic lens processing components comprising a rotatable lens clamp configured to hold and rotate a lens blank and a tool spindle configured to drive a tool to edge the lens blank, the lens clamp and the tool spindle being mounted to and movable with the support structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support plate is movable between a lower position and a raised position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support plate is pivotally connected to the case. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support plate is pivotally connected to the case to permit movement of the support plate between a horizontal position and an obliquely angled raised position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user access member comprises a hood that is movably connected to the case to move upward into an open hood position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens clamp is mounted below the support plate, and wherein the user access member comprises a door that is movably connected to the case to move away from the support plate into an open door position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one of the ophthalmic lens processing components comprises a first ophthalmic lens processing component mounted on a top side of the support plate and a second ophthalmic lens processing component mounted on a bottom side of the support plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user access member comprises: a first user access member configured as a hood that is pivotally connected to the case to pivot upward into an open hood position; and a second user access member configured as a door that is pivotally connected to the case to pivot away from the support plate into an open door position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a hinge pivotally connecting an edge of the support plate to the case and configured to permit upward pivotal movement of an edge of the support plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a hinge pivotally connecting a rear edge of the support plate to the case and configured to permit upward pivotal movement of a front edge of the support plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises the support plate and a stanchion movably connected to the support plate and extending downward directly below the support plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a biasing member mounted below the support plate and connected to the support plate to urge the support plate upwards. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the biasing member comprises a lift gas spring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lock constructed and arranged to lock the support plate in a substantially horizontal position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a majority of the ophthalmic lens processing components configured to perform the ophthalmic process on the ophthalmic lens are mounted to the support structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein all of the ophthalmic lens processing components configured to perform the ophthalmic process on the ophthalmic lens are mounted to the support structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic lens processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic lens processing apparatus is an edger comprising an edger tool. ### Claim 18 An ophthalmic lens edger, comprising: a housing comprising a case and a user access member; a support structure comprising a support plate and a stanchion extending downward directly below the support plate, the support structure being received within and movably connected to the case to permit non-linear movement of at least a portion of the support structure, the stanchion being reciprocally laterally movable relative to the support plate; and ophthalmic lens processing components configured to perform a lens edging process on an ophthalmic lens, the ophthalmic lens processing components comprising a rotatable lens clamp configured to rotate and hold a lens blank and a tool spindle configured to drive a tool to edge the lens blank, the lens clamp and the tool spindle being mounted to and movable with the support structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The ophthalmic lens edger of claim 18, wherein the lens clamp is mounted on the stanchion to reciprocally laterally move with the stanchion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The ophthalmic lens edger of claim 19, wherein the tool spindle is mounted to the support plate, and wherein the stanchion being reciprocally laterally movable relative to the tool spindle to move the lens clamp towards and away from the tool spindle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The ophthalmic lens edger of claim 18, wherein the support plate is pivotally connected to the case to permit movement of the support plate between a horizontal position and an obliquely angled raised position.