US1520662A - Lens-surfacing machine - Google Patents

Description

v 1,520,662 A. E. MAYNARD ET AL LENS SURFACING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec, 23, 1924.

INVENTORS w./ -.GUNNING A. E, MAYNARD ATTORNEYS Dec. 23, 1924. 1,520,662

A. E. MAYNARD ET AL LENS SURFACING MACHINE Filed April 1o, 1919 4 sheets-sheet 2 Dec, 23, 1924.

A. E. MAYNARD ET AL LENS SURFAGING MACHINE Filed April lO, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 76.17l B H H 1W Dec. 23, 1924. 1,520,662 A. E. MAYNARD ET AL LENS SRFACING MACHINE Filed Ap'rl lO. 1919 4 Shee'r,s.-Sheerl 4 FIG. VI

INVENTORS I BY Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,520,662 PATENT OFFICE.

.ALBERT E. MAYNARD AND WILLIAM A. GUNNNG, 0F SU''[EHIBIRfIDGtE,` MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNOBS T0 AMERICAN OTTICAL COMPANY, `0F SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A. VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

LENS-SURFACING 'MACHINE Application led April 10, 1919. Serial No. 289,067.

To all whoml t may concern:

Be 1t known that we, ALBERT E. MAY- NARD and l/VILLIAM A. GUNNING, citizens of the United States, residing at South-l bridge, inthe county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lens-Surfacing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lens grinding machines, and more particularly to -a machine for grinding spherical, cylindrical and torio" lenses either of the concave or convex type, the primary object of the invention being the provision of alens grinding machine of this character which is simple in construetion and which is thoroughly reliable and eliici-ent in operation.'

Another object of the present invention is the provisionfof a machine wherein the parts thereof are so arranged as to positively break up the movement between the lens and lap during the grinding operation,

' whereby the formation of wave surfaces or other imperfections upon the lenses are prevented.

A further object *of the present invention is the provision of means whereby the amount of pressure of the lens against the tool may be varied, and to so construct thev machines as to permit of a direct pressure of the lens against the tool irrespective of the curve thereon.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of elficient means for operating the machine and to provide means for readily and easily placing the lens s o as to permit the same to bear directly against the curve of the tool.

With the above and other objects in'view the invention consists in the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of part-s liereinafter-more fully set forth in the specification, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings, in' which: f

Figure i is a side elevation of a grinding machine constructed in aceordance wlth our invention, parts thereof being broken .away and illustrated 1n crosssection.

V Figure Il is a front elevation of my 1mprovedgrinding machine.

. Figure III isa detail. top plan View` Figure IV is a detail rear elevation. Figure V is a detail plan view illustrating the manner of shifting the power belt.

Figure VI is a perspective view of the machine. y

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein we have illustrated the embodiment of our invention, the numeral 1 indicates the base of the machine which as illustrated is of hollow formation and provided therein with a socket or bearing portion 2, in which is mounted the lower end of the spindle 3. As illustrated, the lower end of'the spindle ,3 is reduced as at 4 and adapted to lit within a bearing collar 5 to take up the wear within the socket 2. Thenpper end of the spindle is arranged within a bearing 6 formed in the cover 7 and the extreme upper end of the spindle is reduced as at 8 and fitted within a socket in the lap support 9. Y The spindle 3 is retainedfin position within the base by means of the threaded lug 1()v removably secured in ithe lower end of the socket 2.

The supporting member 9 is provided with a stud 11 upon which the lap 12 is mounted, a slot 13 being formed in the lap for engagement with a pin 14 on the stud 11 to prevent rotation of the lap relative to the,

stud and to provide means whereby other laps may be readily and easily applied to the machine.

Arranged within the base 1 and keyed to the spindle 3 is a gear 15 adapted to mesh with the gear 16 mounted. uponthe transverse shaft 17 to thus impart a rotating movement to the lap 12 through the spindle. Mounted upon the shaft 17 at one side of the base and arranged' exteriorly thereof is a pulley 18 connected by means of the belt 19 to the pulley 20 secured to the shaft 21 carried by a swinging carriage. This can# riageconsists of a transverse bearing por-- tion 22 in which the shaft 21 is mounted and integrally connected with this bearing por tion is an arm 23 keyed to a transverse shaft 24 which is mounted in the base 1. The shaft 24 isrotated by means of a hand lever 25 secured to one end of the shaft wherebyl the actuation of said lever will raise and lower the outer end of the carriage, thus raising and loweringl the shaft 21. Thi` lever 25 is held in various adjusted posiadapted to engage with the-teeth of the rack i 27 carried by the base.

In order to impart movement to the var ions parts of the machine the pulley 281ssecured to the end -of the shaft opposite the pulley 18 and is connectedy to any suitable source of-power by means of the belt 29. The pulley 28 is keyedto the shaft 17, and loosely mounted upon the shaft adjacent the pulley 28 is a second pulley .30 whereby the power belt 29 can be readlly' shifted to this pulley 30 when it is desired to stop the movement of the machine. The belt 29l is shifted from-one pulley to the other by ,means of the'spaced arms 31 which are arranged upon opposite sides of the belt and are carried by the bearing 32 secured to the outer end of the longitudinally sliding shaft 33. This shaft 33 is connected at its central portion by means of an arm 34 to one end of a second shaft 35 which extends at right angles to the shaft 33 and having its other end projecting out at the front of the base 1 where a handle member 36 is secured thereto in order to impart movement to the shaft 33 and shift the belt 29 from one ulley to the other.

Rising .vertically from the rear portion of the base 1 is a'bracket 37 having formed in the front face thereof the channel 38,'

and having communication with the said channel-and extending any suitable distance throughout the width thereof is the slot 39 in whichis slidably mounted the supporting stud 40. The stud 40 is provided within its head `41 with a threaded opening 42 throughwhich the screw shaft 43 extends, said shaft having its ends mounted within the side walls of the bracket 37. A suitable guide-way 44 is provided for the jv head 41'whereby upon rotation of the shaft 43 the stud 40vwill be moved laterally within the slot 39. In order to rotate the shaft 43 We provide a handle member 45 which is sc cured to one end thereof upon thel outsideA of one of the walls of the bracket.

The numeral 46 indicates the downwardly projecting bracket portion of the upper or head portion of the machine, which consists of the body portion 47 having extending outwardly therefrom the parallel arms 48 provided with aligned bearing portions 49 dlsposed at the outer ends of the arms.

' Extending upwardly and. rearwardly from the bodyportion 47 is a supporting arm 50\ provided at its outer end with spaced ears 51. The u per ortion of .the machine wh1ch 1s in icate generally by the letter A, 1s mounted for lateral swinging `move ment upon the pin 40,

-To lock the bracket 46 and head associated therewith in desired angularly adjusted position we preferably make use ofthe bolt 52 having a head bearing against the front plate 56 and bracket 46 mounted thereon thruthe screw 43 engaging the head 41 on the bolt 40, as clearly illustrated in Figures I and IV, this adjustment slidingv the entire upper portion laterally with the bolt riding in the slot 53 of themember 37. In this way both transverse and angling adjustments of the head may be readily effected and the parts locked in finally adjusted position by tightening of the respective nuts.

Mounted within the bearings49 and normally disposed in a substantially vertical position is the upper or lens operating spindle 58, the upper end of which is enclosed within a casing 59. This casing 59 is suitably supported upon the uppermost of the bearings 49 and provided at its upper end with a removable top 60, whereby the spindle 58 may be moved freely within the casing and not moved up through the upper end thereof.

The movement of the spindle is controlled by means of the lever 61, one end of which is pivoted between the spaced ears 51 and the other end provided with a handle member 62. The lever 61 is provided adjacent the handle 62 with a yoke or ring member 94 which encircles the casing 59 and' is connected to the upper end of the spindle 58 by means of pins 63 on the thrust collar 100 rotatably held on the stud spindle member 93 as by thewasher 101 and dlock nut 102 whereby the shifting movement of the lever 61 will raise and lower the spindle 58. In

order to retainv the spindle in any desired shifted position we mount upon the lever 61 adjacent the handle 62, a sliding block 64 provided with linger-pieces 65 whereby the saune may be readily actuated. The lever4 at its outer end is provided with a cent-ral bore 66 and mounted therein is a stud 67 'formed on the rear face of they catch 68, which. is movably mounted Within the block 64 and connected therewith by` means of the screws 69.l Thecatch as i1- lustrated is provided with a series ofvteeth Y v 125` adapted for engagement .with the teeth of a rack 70 secure to one side of) the casing 59.'

From the above it will be r'e'adly apparent that when it is desired to shift the'spindle 58 eitherdirection the handlel 62 is grasped with two ngeors engaging the iinemma ger-pieces'- 65 of the block and as the.- block is moved toward the handle it will disenga ethel teeth of the catch from the rack anc permit nmvement;y ofthe lever and as soon as the nger-piecesjare releasedE the catch will be forced into contact with the rack and securely hold the spindleinfits adjusted position. .tg willbe noted that in order to actuate the catch 68, we provide a coil spring 71 which is arrangedwithin the bore. 66 and bearing against the stud-67 of the catch 68 whereby: to. force the teeth of they catch into engagement with the. teeth of the rack.

In orderI` to impart a rotary movement to. the spindle 58, we mounti'upon the spindle between the bearings 49a pulley 72 which is keyed to `the spindle whereby to permit the spindle to move therethrough but-at the same time impart a rotary movement thereto. Movement is imparted to the pulley 72 through a belt 73 which extends around the ulley 72 and outwardly and downwar ly, 'and thence around the pulley 74 mounted upon the shaft 21. Secured to the rear face of the. body 47 ofthe upper por` tion of-.the machine is a bracket 75 having two. spaced arms v76v-in the outer ends of which `a shaft 7 7 is mounted. bluitablev guide pulleys '48 are mounted on this shaft 77 overiwhichthe belt 73 passes in order to transfer the position of the belt from a lon-- gitudi-nal to a transverse position and from a transverse position to a.;longitudinal posi'tion.v llt will Ibe noted thatwhen it is desired to impartmovement tothe spindle. 58 the swinging carriage is lowered by the shifting ofthe lever y25 in order that the belt 73 maybe tightened around the pul- P ley74.v Normally the carriage-is in a raised l position and the pulley 74 runs loosely within the lowerloopof the belt 73. lt will be noted thatthe main purpose of the raising and .lowering ofthe swinging carriage is to apply a pressure uponthe belt 73 according to the `work whichis being done.

lnY order to maintain the belt 73 in its roper. positionweprovidetwo guide pulcysx 79.; which are .mounted 80 carriedbyan angularbracket 8l. This bracket 8l. isfbolted or otherwise secured to the base member. lbv means of the screw bolts 82. Itlwill. be noted that the pulleys y79. are arranged upon opposite sides of the innerstrand `ofthebeltl73 and guide the samein .its movement between. the pulley 7 4 and lone ofthe pulleys 78. From this it willbe apparent. that the shifting of the 'upperl section. Anf .,the.,.machine will not ,interfere with the operation. of. the beltv 73, as it will. -be.;sepui;ely51, held. in; .position by upon a shaftf chine, consists of a tubing member 83 mounted within the casing84 and is provided at its lower end with a transverse opening 85 in which one end of thc crank arm 86 is mounted. The. transverse endof the arm 86.Wh-ich extends through the opening 83 maybe adjusted within this opening and is securely held in various adjusted positions by means of the set screw 87. The arm 86. isprovided at its lower angular endv with an engaging point 88 which engages withthe lens block 89, whereby rotary movement of the spindle 83 will thus impart an advancing. co-nvolute movement tothe iensblock 89'.

' The. .pulley 72, which is mounted upon the casing84, is secured to the casing and the spindle 83 whereby these members will rotate together by means of the key 90. This key 90 is provided with inwardly extending portions 91 which engage Within suitable longitudinal slots 924 whereby to permit the spindle 83 to be raised and lowered within' the casing 84 without interfering with the rotary movement. The upper end of the spindle 83 isconnected to the operating lever 61 which raises and lowers the spindle 83 by means of a movable connecting member 93 which is provided with a thrust bearing 103 resting against the lshoulder 104 of the stud spindle 93, said bearingi including the ring 100 having the laterally extending pins 63 secured to the yoke 94 which encircles the casing 59. The lower end 'of the connecting member 93 is .fitted withinthe spindle 83 and provided with a transverse pin 95, the ends of which are adapted to fit within the oppositely disosed slots 96' formed within the hollow spindle 83, whereby the lower reduced end of the connect-ing member 93: will be movable vithin the spindle 83 to the length of the s ots..

When it is desired to lower the spindle so the point 88 will engage with the lens block 89 the finger-pieces 65V are actuated,

against the tension of the spring-71 to disengage the catch member 68 .from the rack 70. The lever 6l can then be moved down` wardly with respect to the casing 59, which in turn will force the connecting member 93 downwardly into the spindle member 83 and thev pressure against the coil s ring97, which is arranged within the spin le 83, between the end of the connecting member and the lower en-d of the spindle, will tend to force the spindle downwardly within the casin 84thus applying pressure to the lens bloc f 89, which is mounted upon the lap l2 for operation. The swinging carriage at the rear of the base is then.A lowered through the medium ofithe lever 25, whereby pres; surewill be applied to the plilley`7 3 to im.- part a rota movement to the spindle 83. Should it desired to stop the operation of the machine without raising or lowering the swinging carriage, the belt shifter can be operated to transfer the power belt 29 from the pulley 31 to the pulley 30, whereby the movement of the machine can be readily stopped without operating the swinging carj riage.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that we have provided a simple and durable lens grinding machine wherein the parts thereof are so arranged as to positively break up the movement between the lens and lap during the grinding operation, whereby the formation of wave surfaces or other imperfection upon thelenses will be prevented.

It will be noted from the accompanying drawings that the operation of grinding a lens upon our improved machine is .carried out as follows: `The lens is rst attached to the lens block 89 vand then placed in position upon the lap 12. The spindle 83 is then lowered until the point 88 of the arm 86 is engaged with the recess 98 formed in the lens block, and the pressure thereon may be adjusted through the medium of the coil spring 97 disposed within the spindle 83. The belt shifter is then operated to transfer the belt from the pulley 30 to the pulley f 31 to thus impart ifnovemetv to the shaft 17,

which in turn is connected with the shaft 21 through the medium of the belt 19 and the pulleys 18 and 20. The swinging carriage 1s then.y lowered until suflicient pressure has been applied to the belt 73 so that movement will be conveyed to the spindle 8 3 through the pulley 72. Should it be desired to apply greater pressure to the grinding of the lens on the'block 89 this may be done through the adjustment of the lever 61, and in order to provlde more power for this adjustmentthe swinging carrlage is adjusted accordingly by means of the lever 25. l

Claims:

1. lens surfacin machine, including a pair of opposed spindles, one carrying a lap, with ay lens block thereon, the tether for rotating the opposed spindles simultane ously.

2. In a machine of the character -described, the combination with a head,'of an extensible spindle slidable in the head, a Spingholdingrthe parts of the spindle in relatively extended position, a casing enclosing the upper port-ion ofthe spindle, and adjusting mechanism shiftable on the casing and inc-l'udin a yoke encircling the casing having portions projecting through the casing into engagement with the spindle for shifting-the latter.

3. In a machine'of the character described,the combination with a head,.of a spindle slidably supported thereby, a casing on the head enclosing theupper portion of the spindle, said casing beingformed-'with longitudinally extending slots, an adjust'- ing means for thespindle having a portion extending inwardly through` the slots, the

Ycasing being provided with a rack and the adjusting mechanism having a spring latch port-ion for cooperation with the rack to secure position. I

4. In a lens surfacing'machine thelcombination with a head, of a hollow spindle slidably mounted within the head, means for rotating the spindle, a compressible spring' for actuating the spindle in one direction,` a controlling device therefor including a plungerl mem r having projecting pins, the spindle aving slots to receive the pins connectingrv the plunger and spindle for limited sliding movement, one end of the actua-ting spring contacting with the plunger and the other with the spindle, and means for securing the plunger in desired adjusted position to vary at will the position of the spindle or the comp-ression `ot' the spring 5. A machine of the character described including a head, a hollow spindle journaled,l

in the head having intermediately slotted walls, an actuating spring mounted within the hollow spindle, a plunger member itting the parts in desiredadjusted within the spindle and having pins sliding -in the slots of the spindle for connecting the parts, a pivoted lever connected with Vthe plunger, and means for locking the lever in desired adjusted position to control the lposition of the plunger and parts associated therewith.

6. .In combination with a base and .lap

-of a lens surfacing machine, a lixed support mounted on the base, a movable 4head carried by the support, spaced armsl carrled by the head, a movable two part hollow spindle carried by said arms, a crankiarm carr1ed by the lower part of the spindle, an actuating spring mounted within the spindle and being 'under com ression between the two parts of the spind e, and means for raising and lowering the spindle, said means placing the crank arm under spring pressure when in a lowered position. j

7. vA grinding machine including a. base having a rotatable'lap, with alens block lor holder thereon, a fixed support, a movable support carried by the fixed support and adapted for swinging angular adjustment, 'a

plunger,

tubular telescopic spindle carried by the movable support, a crank arm at one end of the spindle, .a coil spring arranged within the spindle and between the telescopic menibers of the spindle, means for adjusting the spindle longitudinally whereby to lower the spindle and at the same time retain the crank'arrn under compression through the medium of the spring when in its lowered position, and vmeans for retaining the Vlongitudinally adjustable spindle in a raised or lowered position.

8. A lenssurfacing machine including` a head1, a spindle slidably and l:rotatably mounted within the head, a plunger member associated with the spindle for relative sliding movement with respect thereto, an actuating spring for the spindle adapted to be compressed by sliding movement of the a lever pivoted to the head and having connection with the plunger, a rack carried by the head, and a latch member on the lever for adjustable engagement with the rack to lock the lever in desired position and secure the plunger in place.

9. A surfacing machine of the class described, including a base, a rotating lap mounted thereon, and including'- a lens block or holder, a bracket carried by the base, a movable vmember carried by the bracket, a hollow spindle1A opposed to the lap and carried by the movable member and provided `with a crank arm at its lower end, a spring within the spindle, a second movable member having a sliding connection with the spindle, a compressionjspring disposed between said second movablemember and the spindle, a lever pivotally mounted upon the first movable member' and connected with the second movable member and adapted 'for manual adjustment, whereby to raise and lower the spindle, and means for retaining the lever in a raised or lowered position.

l0. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a head, of a spindle slidably mounted in the head, a casing enclosing the spindle. said casing having longitudinallyy extending slots formed therein, a lever pivoted to the head and provided with a shift yoke embracing the casing, connections between" the shift yoke and spindle by way of theslots, and a resilient' locking device carried/by the yoke for engagement with the casing to secure the yoke and associated parts in desired relatively adjusted position.

l1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a head, of a spindle slidably mounted .in the head, a casing enclosing the spindle, said casing having longitudinally extending slots formed therein, a lever pivoted to the head and provided with a shift yoke embracing the casing, connections between the shift yoke and spindle by way of the slots, .and a resilient locking device'carried by the yoke for engagement with the casing to secure the yoke and associated parts in desired v relatively O,

adjusted position, the casing having a rack portion tor engagement by said resilient locking device.

A machine ot the character described iiuzludiug opposed rotatable, spindles 'and means for driving the spindles, including a driving shaft operatively associated with one of the spindles, a driven shaft, .a'belt connectionbetween the driving anddriven shafts, and a .second belt connection'b'etwe'en' the driven shaft and the other spindle, and a rock arm support for the driven shaft pivoted intermediate and slightly olf the center line between the driven and driving shafts whereby rocking of the arm will slightly increase the distance between the driving and driven shaft to slightly increase the tension on that connecting belt for a given amount of movement while considerably increasing the tension on the belt to the spindle, and,means for securing the rock arm in various adjusted positions.

13. A lens surfacing machine, including a rotatable spindle, with a lap and lens block or holder associated therewith, a second sectional spindle opposed thereto and )carrying a crank arm, said second spindle including a concentric sleeve portion, an actuating spring contained within the sleeve portion, and a plunger member slidable within the sleeve portion and engaging the spring,A expansion of the spring actuating the crank arm against the irst mentioned spindle and in line with the axis of the secthe spring, a pivoted yoke attached to the other section for moving the spindle longitudinally of its aXis and a spring-pressed latch carried by the yoke to lock same in ladjusted position.

15. In combination with themain frame and lap of a lens surfacing machine, a spindle housing supported byl the frame, a tubular spindle mounted inthe housing and having a crank arm opposed to the lap, aplunger slidable in the'housin'g and having a reduced portion extendingl linto the tubular spindle, a compression spring with- 'n the spindle and' acting; against the plunger, a pivoted yoke surrounding the housing and carrying the plunger, whereby to adjust the spindle longitudinally, und u spring-pressed lockii'lg means carried by the yoke and adapted to engage sel-rations on the exterior of the housing.

16. In u lens surfacing machine, the coinbination with a pair of opposed spindles, of means for rotating the spindles simultaneously, one of the spindles carrying a lap with a, lensblock' thereon, the other consisting of'telescopical sections, a plunger mounted in and having a sliding connection with one of the sections, the sliding connec- Y tion preventing rotation of the plunger, a 15 spring contained within the spindle and coinprcssible by movement of the plunger in one direction with respect tothe spindle, and means for shifting the plunger with respect to the spindle. Y

In testimony whereof We have axed our signatures, in prese-nce of two witnesses.

ALBERT E. MAYNARD. -WILLIAM A. GUNNING.

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