Patent ID: 9527187
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: B24B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A tool operating assembly for a lens shaping machine to finish the peripheral edge of a corrective lens wherein said tool operating assembly is disposed in operative relationship relative to a lens operating assembly comprising a lens support assembly to support the corrective lens to be finished and a multi-axis lens positioning assembly to move the corrective lens relative to said tool operating assembly during the finishing operation to finish the peripheral edge of the corrective lens, said tool operating assembly comprising a multi-station tool support assembly including a plurality of tool assemblies to selectively position one of a plurality of tools in operative position relative to a finishing station to engage the peripheral edge of the corrective lens to be finished wherein each said tool assembly includes a lower drive or clutch assembly and a tool drive assembly to rotate the selected tool positioned at said finishing station during the finishing operation to finish the peripheral edge of the corrective lens, said tool drive assembly includes a clutch assembly to operatively couple the selected tool and said tool drive assembly to rotate the selected tool during the finishing operation wherein said tool drive assembly comprises a substantially vertical tool drive shaft movable between an upper and a lower position disposed in vertical alignment relative to said finishing station having said upper drive or clutch element coupled to the lower portion thereof and movable between an upper position and a lower position by a clutch positioning device such that said upper drive or clutch element engages said lower drive or clutch element of said tool assembly located or positioned at said finishing station when said substantially vertical tool drive shaft is in said lower position to operatively couple the selected tool to said tool drive assembly to rotate the selected tool during the finishing operation.