A polishing device for optical elements includes: a tool shank (1), and a polishing disc base; wherein the tool shank (1) is connected to the polishing disc base and is mounted on a tool shaft of a numerical-controlled processing device; wherein a polishing film (3) is stuck on the polishing disc base; the polishing disc base is a profiling polishing disc base (7), a cylinder polishing disc base (2), a profiling polishing disc base (12) or a spherical polishing disc base (8); wherein the tool shank (1) is independent and universal, thereby reducing the processing cost of the polishing device. A polishing method for optical elements is based on the shapes mentioned above of the polishing disc base, including steps of: fixing a polishing disc connecting rod (11); sticking a polishing film (3); trimming the polishing film (3); and polishing an unprocessed work piece (6).

A blocking device includes a support member configured for providing a rigid support to the semi-finished optical element, the support member including a support element made of a shape-memory material having a rigid state below a predetermined temperature and a plastic state above the predetermined temperature, and assuming in the absence of external forces a predetermined memory shape when heated above the predetermined temperature, the support member having a contact face onto which the first face of the optical element is to be applied, the contact face of the support member being a surface of the support element, the shape-memory material being configured for having adherence properties with respect to the first face of the optical element, the adherence properties being sufficient for attaching the first face of the optical element to the contact face of the support element.

A blocking device includes a support member configured for providing a rigid support to the semi-finished optical element, the support member including a support element made of a shape-memory material having a rigid state below a predetermined temperature and a plastic state above the predetermined temperature, and assuming in the absence of external forces a predetermined memory shape when heated above the predetermined temperature, the support member having a contact face onto which the first face of the optical element is to be applied, the contact face of the support member being a surface of the support element, the shape-memory material being configured for having adherence properties with respect to the first face of the optical element, the adherence properties being sufficient for attaching the first face of the optical element to the contact face of the support element.

A process for machining a lens includes the steps of holding a semi-finished product through a suction holding force which is active during an entire surface machining cycle of the semi-finished product; carrying out the surface machining cycle on a surface to be machined of the semi-finished product; and activating a pressure holding force depending on the level of the mechanical stresses exerted on the semi-finished product during the surface machining cycle on said surface.

A process for machining a lens includes the steps of holding a semi-finished product through a suction holding force which is active during an entire surface machining cycle of the semi-finished product; carrying out the surface machining cycle on a surface to be machined of the semi-finished product; and activating a pressure holding force depending on the level of the mechanical stresses exerted on the semi-finished product during the surface machining cycle on said surface.

A method for manufacturing a spectacle lens according to a prescription includes: blocking or fixing a semi-finished spectacle lens blank having a first face possessing a final curvature and a second face opposite the first face on a block piece or a vacuum or holding chuck, respectively, wherein the first face of the semi-finished spectacle lens blank faces the block piece or the vacuum or holding chuck, respectively; surfacing the blocked or fixed semi-finished spectacle lens blank on the second face to obtain a final curvature of the second face; and deblocking the surfaced spectacle lens blank from the block piece or removing the surfaced spectacle lens blank from the vacuum or holding chuck prior to any subsequent coating step. The first face is coated with a top coating having a surface energy of less than 20 mJ/m.sup.2.

A method for manufacturing a spectacle lens according to a prescription includes: blocking or fixing a semi-finished spectacle lens blank having a first face possessing a final curvature and a second face opposite the first face on a block piece or a vacuum or holding chuck, respectively, wherein the first face of the semi-finished spectacle lens blank faces the block piece or the vacuum or holding chuck, respectively; surfacing the blocked or fixed semi-finished spectacle lens blank on the second face to obtain a final curvature of the second face; and deblocking the surfaced spectacle lens blank from the block piece or removing the surfaced spectacle lens blank from the vacuum or holding chuck prior to any subsequent coating step. The first face is coated with a top coating having a surface energy of less than 20 mJ/m.sup.2.

The invention concerns a method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens, comprising the steps of providing, mounting and blocking a substrate (10) on a machining support unit (65), surfacing an upper face (12) of said substrate, edging a peripheral edge (13) of said substrate, wherein said machining support unit comprises a surfacing member (40) and an edging member (30) which are separable, said surfacing member having a cavity (51) in which said edging member is located during said step of surfacing, said surfacing and edging members being configured so that said substrate is mounted and blocked on said machining support unit in a first predetermined position for the surfacing and the edging and, between said steps of surfacing and edging, the method comprises the step of withdrawing said surfacing member from said machining support unit by retaining said substrate on said edging member.

The invention concerns a method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens, comprising the steps of providing, mounting and blocking a substrate (10) on a machining support unit (65), surfacing an upper face (12) of said substrate, edging a peripheral edge (13) of said substrate, wherein said machining support unit comprises a surfacing member (40) and an edging member (30) which are separable, said surfacing member having a cavity (51) in which said edging member is located during said step of surfacing, said surfacing and edging members being configured so that said substrate is mounted and blocked on said machining support unit in a first predetermined position for the surfacing and the edging and, between said steps of surfacing and edging, the method comprises the step of withdrawing said surfacing member from said machining support unit by retaining said substrate on said edging member.

Disclosed is a lens blocker for attaching a leap block to a machining center of a blank lens to be machined in order to craft an eyeglass lens. The lens blocker comprises: a drive cam (30) of a cylindrical shape having a blocker arm guide groove (32) formed therein; a blocker arm (40) coupled to the drive cam (30) to be movable up and down along the drive cam (30) or to be rotatable about the drive cam (30), and having a blocker arm guide (42) formed at one end thereof, wherein the blocker arm guide (42) is inserted into the blocker arm guide groove (32) of the drive cam 30 and moves along the blocker arm guide groove (32), so as to cause the blocker arm (40) to move up and down along the drive cam (30) or to rotate about the drive cam (30); a leap block mount (50), to which a leap block to be attached to a blank lens is mounted and which is coupled to the other end of the blocker arm (40); a blocker arm base (60) configured to move the blocker arm (40) up and down along the drive cam (30); and a lens mount (70) onto which the blank lens, to which the leap block is to be attached, is mounted.