A blocking piece for vacuum blocking a lens blank is disclosed. The blocking piece includes a blank contacting element formed of a rigid fluid-permeable material having an upper surface for contacting the lens blank. The blocking piece further includes a support element having an upper part tightly enclosing the blank contacting element on a peripheral surface of the blank contacting element and a lower part adapted to engage with a clamping device for clamping the blocking piece. The lens blank is fixed to the upper surface of the blank contacting element by applying a vacuum within the blocking piece to provide suction through essentially the entire upper surface of the blank contacting element. The disclosure further relates to a method for blocking a lens blank and a use of an element formed of a rigid fluid-permeable material as a part of a blocking piece.

A blocking piece for vacuum blocking a lens blank is disclosed. The blocking piece includes a blank contacting element formed of a rigid fluid-permeable material having an upper surface for contacting the lens blank. The blocking piece further includes a support element having an upper part tightly enclosing the blank contacting element on a peripheral surface of the blank contacting element and a lower part adapted to engage with a clamping device for clamping the blocking piece. The lens blank is fixed to the upper surface of the blank contacting element by applying a vacuum within the blocking piece to provide suction through essentially the entire upper surface of the blank contacting element. The disclosure further relates to a method for blocking a lens blank and a use of an element formed of a rigid fluid-permeable material as a part of a blocking piece.

A lens holder assembly (49) and method of using the lens holder assembly (49) to mark an ophthalmic lens (3) is provided. The lens holder assembly (49) comprises a stem (61) having a central axis and a first opening (5) extending along the central axis of the body (65), a second opening (7) integrated within the stem (61) such that the second opening (7) is substantially parallel to the first opening (5), and at least one illumination source positioned within the second opening (7). The illumination source is capable of emitting light through the second opening (7) for illuminating at least a portion of an ophthalmic lens (3). At least a portion of the lens (3) is placed over the first opening (5). Suction is applied to the lens (3), and a marking is applied to a surface of the lens (3).

A device and a method for processing, in particular edge processing, an optical lens, wherein the device has a measuring system, a processing system, a loading system, an unloading system, an intermediate conveyor, and a belt conveyor. The loading system is arranged between the measuring system and the processing system. The unloading system is arranged on the opposite side of the processing system. A lens that is to be processed is picked up and oriented at the optical reference point that is determined by the measuring system in order to determine as precisely as possible the blocking point for the subsequent processing. The loading system and unloading system each have a linearly movable swiveling system with linearly movable suction devices arranged therein. The processing system is designed for the simultaneous processing of two lenses.

A device and a method for processing, in particular edge processing, an optical lens, wherein the device has a measuring system, a processing system, a loading system, an unloading system, an intermediate conveyor, and a belt conveyor. The loading system is arranged between the measuring system and the processing system. The unloading system is arranged on the opposite side of the processing system. A lens that is to be processed is picked up and oriented at the optical reference point that is determined by the measuring system in order to determine as precisely as possible the blocking point for the subsequent processing. The loading system and unloading system each have a linearly movable swiveling system with linearly movable suction devices arranged therein. The processing system is designed for the simultaneous processing of two lenses.

A method of polishing a target surface of a waveguide to achieve perpendicularity relative to a reference surface is disclosed. The method includes i) providing a polishing apparatus having a polishing plate with a flat surface defining a reference plane, and an adjustable mounting apparatus configured to hold the waveguide during polishing at a plurality of angular orientations; ii) positioning an optical alignment sensor and a light reflecting apparatus such that a first collimated light beam is reflected off of a surface parallel to the reference plane, and a second perpendicular collimated light beam is reflected off of the reference surface; iii) aligning the waveguide within the polishing apparatus such that the reflections received by the optical alignment sensor align within the optical alignment sensor, thereby being indicative of perpendicularity between the reference plane and the reference surface; and iv) polishing the target surface of the aligned waveguide.

A method of polishing a target surface of a waveguide to achieve perpendicularity relative to a reference surface is disclosed. The method includes i) providing a polishing apparatus having a polishing plate with a flat surface defining a reference plane, and an adjustable mounting apparatus configured to hold the waveguide during polishing at a plurality of angular orientations; ii) positioning an optical alignment sensor and a light reflecting apparatus such that a first collimated light beam is reflected off of a surface parallel to the reference plane, and a second perpendicular collimated light beam is reflected off of the reference surface; iii) aligning the waveguide within the polishing apparatus such that the reflections received by the optical alignment sensor align within the optical alignment sensor, thereby being indicative of perpendicularity between the reference plane and the reference surface; and iv) polishing the target surface of the aligned waveguide.

A system includes a positioning and centering pin (4) configured to be attached to an ophthalmic lens, an attachment member (5) configured to be positioned on and attached to the pin and to be attached to the lens, a tool (20) for positioning the attachment member on the pin, and which includes a body (42) provided with at least one receiving recess configured to at least partially receive at least one of the attachment members and the pin, at least one centering member (48, 56) and at least one guide member (48, 57), which are configured such that, when the attachment member and the pin are mounted on the tool, the attachment member is centered relative to the body and the pin is guided relative to the body, whereby the attachment member is positioned in a predetermined position on the pin.

A system includes a positioning and centering pin (4) configured to be attached to an ophthalmic lens, an attachment member (5) configured to be positioned on and attached to the pin and to be attached to the lens, a tool (20) for positioning the attachment member on the pin, and which includes a body (42) provided with at least one receiving recess configured to at least partially receive at least one of the attachment members and the pin, at least one centering member (48, 56) and at least one guide member (48, 57), which are configured such that, when the attachment member and the pin are mounted on the tool, the attachment member is centered relative to the body and the pin is guided relative to the body, whereby the attachment member is positioned in a predetermined position on the pin.

A blocking unit for a block piece for a spectacle lens comprising a block piece reception body with a reception surface adapted to receive a block piece with a spectacle lens to be blocked and a bottom surface opposite the working surface, and a plurality of light sources fixedly mounted to the block piece reception body. A process of curing a lens on a block piece. The process comprises the steps of defining, in a controller, a pattern of illumination, and sequentially turning on and off the light sources from a plurality of first light sources and optional second light sources based on the determined pattern, for curing a material between the lens and the block piece.