Apparatus for drilling, engraving and carving ophthalmic lenses

Abstract

A multipurpose apparatus for drilling, engraving and carving ophthalmic lenses. The apparatus comprises a base in which is mounted an electrical motor, and a tool holder is connected to the shaft of the motor for detachably mounting a drilling, engraving or carving end mill above the upper surface of the base. A working support is also mounted on the upper surface of the base for maintaining and supporting the lenses in the various positions in which they must stand in order to be easily drilled, engraved or carved. The working support comprises a platform detachably mounted onto the upper surface of the base, and a guide holder rigidly mounted onto the platform in parallel relationship with respect to the tool holder. The support also comprises a L-shaped tube having one end fitted into a central hole provided in the platform for giving room to the tool holder, and the other end connected to the guide holder. The tube has an upwardly extending portion with an internal diameter and a height sufficient to receive the tool holder while allowing the end mill mounted thereon to project outwardly from the tube through a small opening. The tube also has a perpendicularly extending portion from the upper surface of which projects the end mill, this upper surface being useful for supporting a lens when the same is drilled, engraved or carved with the end mill. The apparatus may advantageously be connected to a vacuum source for sucking out particles resulting from the drilling, carving or engraving operation through the small opening from which projects end mill and the upwardly expanding portion of the L-shaped tube. The apparatus may also comprise one or more lens guides adjustably mounted onto the guide holder for laterally guiding or retaining the lenses with respect to the end mill.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.