Patent ID: 6241577
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A lens grinding apparatus for grinding an eyeglass lens to conform said lens to a shape of an eyeglass frame, said lens grinding apparatus comprising:input means for inputting an angle of one of a cylindrical and an astigmatic axis;a first lens rotating shaft having a cup receptacle member attached thereto, said cup receptacle member having a cross-section that is orthogonal to a rotational axis of the first lens rotating shaft and that is substantially prolate in outer shape, the cup receptacle member being adapted to receive either one of a first lens fixing cup for processing of a first lens which is substantially rectangular in shape and relatively smaller in size, and a second lens fixing cup for processing of a second lens of a different shape from said first lens and relatively larger in size, the first lens fixing cup having a first cup portion for holding and fixing the first lens, the first cup portion being substantially prolate in outer shape, and the second lens fixing cup having a second cup portion for holding and fixing the second lens, the second cup portion being substantially circular in outer shape;a second lens rotating shaft having a lens retaining member attached thereto, said lens retaining member having a cross-section that is orthogonal to a rotational axis of the second lens rotating shaft, and that is substantially prolate in outer shape, the lens retaining member being used commonly with said first lens and said second lens;rotating means for rotating said first and second rotating shafts independently of each other;mode switching means for selectively setting a first lens processing mode and a second lens processing mode; andcontrol means for controlling the rotating means based on a switching signal by the mode switching means, the control means controlling a relative rotational angle of the second lens rotating shaft to the first lens rotating shaft to hold either one of said first lens and said second lens therebetween,wherein in said first lens processing mode, a longitudinal direction of the prolate lens retaining member is made identical to a longitudinal direction of the cup receptacle member apart from any input of the angle of one of the cylindrical and the astigmatic axis; andwherein in said second lens processing mode, upon an input of the angle of the one of the cylindrical and the astigmatic axis, an orthogonal direction of the longitudinal direction of the prolate lens retaining member is made coincident with the inputted angle of the one of the cylindrical and the astigmatic axis.