# US 11,999,026 B2 · Installation and method for processing optical lenses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,026 B2 - Document ID: US11999026B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/487,727 - Filed: 2018-02-16 - Published: 2019-12-26 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-22 - Assignees: Schneider GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Schneider GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Stephan Huttenhuis; Gunter Schneider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999026B2 ## CPC - B24B 13/0031: {Machines having several working posts; Feeding and manipulating devices} - B23Q 7/1426: {with work holders not rigidly fixed to the transport devices (B23Q7/005, B23Q7/035 take precedence)} - B24B 13/005: Blocking means, chucks or the like; Alignment devices - B29D 11/00423: {Plants for the production of simple or compound lenses (B29D11/00259 takes precedence)} - B29D 11/00942: {where the lens material is mounted in a support for mounting onto a cutting device, e.g. a lathe, and where the support is of machinable material, e.g. plastics} - 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 - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) ## Abstract An installation and a method for processing optical lenses, whereby transport carriers and block pieces are conveyed backward after use in each case to a commissioning device or blocking device, and the lens carriers are fitted by machine with unblocked or blocked lenses in order to make possible an automated and optimized process sequence. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Installation for processing eyeglass lenses, comprising: a blocking device for blocking a lens that is to be processed on a block piece by means of a block material, multiple processing devices for processing the lenses, a deblocking device for deblocking the processed lenses, and a transport system for conveying the lenses in or on transport carriers, and a commissioning device for fitting the transport carriers with lenses that are to be processed and block pieces wherein the commissioning device has a device for applying a protective layer or protective film on the lenses. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Installation according to claim 1, further comprising a device for cleaning the transport carriers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Installation according to claim 1, further comprising a device for optical examination of the transport carriers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Installation according to claim 1, further comprising a device for optical examination of the block pieces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Installation according to claim 1, further comprising a device for storing the block pieces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Installation according to claim 1, further comprising a device for sorting the block pieces according to at least one of size or shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Installation according to claim 1, wherein the device for applying the protective layer or protective film is at least one of downstream from the commissioning device or upstream from the blocking device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Installation according to claim 1, further comprising a device for removing the protective layer or protective film from the lenses. ### Claim 9 Method for processing eyeglass lenses by processing devices, comprising: blocking each lens for the processing on a block piece in a blocking device by means of a blocking material and deblocking each lens in a deblocking device after processing, and at least one of the following steps: using transport carriers for conveying the lenses from the blocking device to the processing devices and to the deblocking device, the transport carriers being return-conveyed after the deblocking by means of a return-conveying device and fitting the transport carriers by machine at least one of, at the blocking device, with blocked lenses that are to be processed or, at a commissioning device, with lenses that are to be processed; return-conveying deblocked block pieces by means of at least one of transport carriers or a return-conveying device from the deblocking device to either the blocking device or an upstream commissioning device; at least one of conveying and return-conveying the transport carriers in a circuit and at least one of conveying and return-conveying the block pieces in separate circuit; providing the lenses with a protective layer or protective film on a block side thereof before being blocked, and removing the protective layer or protective film at least one of after the deblocking in the deblocking device, before coating of the block side or before another processing of the lenses. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of cleaning the transport carriers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) Method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of optically examining the transport carriers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) Method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of sorting the block pieces according to at least one of size or shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) Method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of optically examining the block pieces. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) Method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of providing the transport carriers with information or information carriers regarding the processing of the respective lenses and at least one of reading, using, amending and adapting the information by the processing devices. ### Claim 15 Installation for processing eyeglass lenses, comprising: a blocking device for blocking a lens that is to be processed on a block piece by means of a block material, multiple processing devices for processing the lenses, a deblocking device for deblocking the processed lenses, and a transport system for conveying the lenses in or on transport carriers, and at least one of the following features: a return-conveying device for return-conveying at least one of the deblocked block pieces or the transport carriers to the blocking device or commissioning device; at least one of a first and second circuit for the transport carriers and an additional circuit for the block pieces. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) Installation according to claim 15, further comprising a device for cleaning the transport carriers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) Installation according to claim 15, further comprising a device for optical examination of at least one of the transport carriers and the block pieces. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) Installation according to claim 15, further comprising a device for storing the block pieces. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) Installation according to claim 15, further comprising a device for sorting the block pieces according to at least one of size or shape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) Installation according to claim 15, wherein the installation or the blocking device has a device for applying a protective layer or protective film on the lenses.