Fixture for holding an optical lens during tumbling
AssigneeIolab Corporation
InventorDavid S. Akhavi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixture for holding an optical lens during processing which includes a first lens holder having a lens-covering surface and an exterior surface and a second lens holder with a lens-covering surface and an exterior surface. The lens-covering surfaces are placed over the confronting surface of a lens, and the entire assembly is clipped together so that it may be subjected to the manufacturing processes, for example abrasive tumbling to round the exposed edges of the lens.
Claims21
A fixture for holding an optical lens during abrasive tumbling, said lens including a central optical, a peripheral transition zone spaced radially outwardly of said central zone and an edge, said fixture comprising:
- first and second generally cylindrical lens holders each having a lens-protecting surface for covering an optical surface of a lens and an exterior surface spaced axially apart from said lens-protecting surface;
- resilient, unitary means for holding said lens holders with their respective lens-protecting surfaces in confronting relationship to at least the optical zone of an optical surface of said with sufficient force to substantially eliminate relative movement between said lens holders and said lens during abrasive tumbling to finish at least the edge of said lens.
A centering fixture for alinging an optical lens and associated lens holders along a common axis so that the lens and lens holders may be properly aligned to facilitate a subsequent tumbling process comprising;
- an annular housing with a partially closed end and said housing including a slot through the side wall and through the partially closed end of said housing to permit said lens and said lens holders to be clipped together to be held in proper alignment during said tumbling process;
- a groove extending axially along the interior wall of said annular housing;
- a recess in said partially closed end of said housing for receiving projecting extending from one of said lens holders.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.