The invention relates to a loading system (LS) for an optical machine, that has a carrier (TR), which can be moved in a movement plane (x-y) by way of two linear guide units (LF1, LF2). At least one holder (H1, H2, H3) for a workpiece, block piece and/or tool is mounted on the carrier, which holder can be moved in a transverse direction (z), which is perpendicular to the movement plane. The linear guide units are designed and arranged in the manner of an H gantry or cross gantry, with two stationary drive motors (AM1, AM2) for driving a tension element (ZG) in the same direction or in opposite directions, which tension element is movably arranged on the linear guide units in an H shape or cross shape and is fastened to the carrier.

Disclosed is a lens holding block for positioning and retaining a lens substrate in a processing machine, including a bottom part that is able to immobilize the lens holding block in the processing machine and an upper part. The upper part includes a chamber wherein is housed and attached a porous article so as to receive the lens substrate to be processed and which is able to be impregnated with a fluid, and a method for positioning and retaining a lens substrate onto a lens holding block.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can harm the eye. Fortunately, a spectacle lens can be coated with a UV anti-reflection (AR) coating to reduce the amount of UV radiation incident on the eye. If the AR coating is on the back side of the lens (the convex surface closest to the eye), the AR coating will reduce the amount of UV light that is transmitted through the lens to the eye. It will also reduce the amount of UV light that is reflected off the back side of the lens toward the eye. The AR coating may include five or more alternating layers of silicon nitride and silicon dioxide or other suitable dielectric materials. It can be sputtered onto the back side of the lens as part of an on-block manufacturing (OBM) process while the ophthalmic lens blank is still attached to the block, before the ophthalmic lens blank is removed and edged.

A lens processing system used for removing a lens blank (98, 110) from an edging block (40). The system includes an elongated collet (22) that engages the mating edging block (40). The block (40) includes an enlarged groove (41) that receives a pair of blades (65, 66) extended upwardly from the floor (75) of the collet (22). Each lens blank (98,110) is formed to include a series of surface markings (191,192) to verify proper functioning of the edging machine that forms a finished lens. Each lens blank also includes a series of circular markings (117,133) arranged in diagonal rows to verify the accurate drilling of bores with the lens blank (98,110).

The invention relates to an edging pad for releasably connecting a material blank that is to be edged to a holder, wherein the edging pad has a polymeric carrier layer and adhesive coatings which are applied to both sides of the polymeric carrier layer, wherein one side of the polymeric carrier layer, which is to be connected to the holder, has an adhesive coating formed of a first adhesive, and the other side of the polymeric carrier layer, which is to be connected to the material blank, has an adhesive coating formed of a second and a third adhesive which are different from one another, such that the second adhesive provides adhesiveness to the material blank and the third adhesive is an adhesive which limits twisting and slippage of the polymeric carrier layer relative to the material blank, wherein the second adhesive and the third adhesive are applied to the other side of the polymeric carrier layer in separate regions.

A method and associated implementing system eliminates much of the stress presently introduced by the bonding of ophthalmic lens blanks, or blanks to a holding device, namely a metal block. The method of attaching ophthalmic lens blanks to a blocking assembly comprises the steps of shaping a blocking assembly to take the shape of an ophthalmic lens blank surface of an ophthalmic lens, wherein the blocking assembly is not attached directly to the ophthalmic lens blank during shaping of the blocking assembly; and following the shaping of the blocking assembly, attaching the lens blank to the shaped blocking assembly.

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 workpiece has an optical lens blank with a first lens face and a second lens face, which are arranged opposite each other and are delimited at a lens circumference, and a cover film on the first lens face, wherein a first recess in the lens blank is formed, which is open in the direction of the first lens face and which is at least partially spanned in the direction of the first lens face by the cover film. A method for the production thereof and a method for the machining thereof. The machining method is distinguished, in particular, by the cover film being gripped for the purpose of pulling it off in the area that spans the first recess.

A lens blocking/deblocking method/device to adhere an ophthalmic lens to a lens holding block A method for blocking an optical lens component (100) on holding unit (200) having bottom part (230) inserted and fixed in lens machining tool (400) and an upper part (250) having upper assembling surface (210) and external side parts (241). The method provides the optical lens component (100) with layer (320) of one-side adhesive tape arranged on bottom of component (100) to cover at least partially bottom (120); (S20) providing thermoplastic material on upper assembling surface (210). The thermoplastic material is heated where a part thereof flows under moderate pressure; (S30) placing the optical lens (100) with layer (320) on thermoplastic material when the thermoplastic is softened; (S40) applying pushing force (P1) on the optical lens (100), to spread the thermoplastic between layer (320) and upper assembling surface (210) and covers external side parts (241).

A hydraulic arrangement (HA) for an apparatus (AV) for deblocking optical workpieces (L), from associated block pieces (B), includes a nozzle arrangement (DA) for delivery of high pressure jets of pressure means for deblocking the workpiece from the associated block piece at a first pressure and for cleaning the blocked workpiece and/or block piece at least one second pressure which is different from the first pressure. Furthermore, there is a pump device (PE) which applies pressure in a defined manner to the pressure means and conveys it under pressure to the nozzle arrangement. The pump device has at least one high pressure pump (HP1, HP2) which is drivable by an associated rotary drive (SM1, SM2), the speed of which is modifiable in order to adjust the first pressure or the second pressure.