Abstract:
A lens layout block device comprising a seal feeding device that supplies an elastic seal to a seal sticking position (A 5 ). The elastic seal is loaded in a tape loading part in the form of a seal tape covered by a mount and a protective sheet and wound in a roll shape and fed by driving a motor. The protective sheet is separated by a protective sheet separating mechanism. At the seal sticking position (A 5 ), a sensor detects the leading edge of a positioning hole in the mount and stops the conveyance of the seal tape after the seal tape is fed from the detection position for a specified time. The stop position is determined as the reference sticking position of the elastic seal and a lens holder is pressed against the elastic seal from above. The mount is pulled down by the seal separating mechanism to separate the mount from the elastic seal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/203,669, filed Apr. 24, 2003, which is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/JP01/01307 filed on Feb. 22, 2001 and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 043792/2000 filed on Feb. 22, 2000 and Japanese Patent Application No. 043794/2000 filed on Feb. 22, 2000, which disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     NOT APPLICABLE  
       REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK  
       [0003]     NOT APPLICABLE  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Spectacle lenses (to be also referred to as lenses hereinafter) include different types such as a single-vision lens, a multifocal lens, and a progressive multifocal lens, and their diameters, outer diameters, lens powers, and the like differ from one lens type to another. Hence, a large number of types of lenses must be fabricated.  
         [0005]     Conventionally, edging of such lenses is performed in accordance with the following procedure. For example, assume that a single-vision lens is to be edged. When the prescription lens is determined, if it is an ordinary prescription, a corresponding prescription lens is selected from the stock lenses (mass-production products of the regular inventories). If the prescription lens is a lens not available from the stock lenses (a custom-made article not available from the regular inventories), it is manufactured by the factory in accordance with the order. A stock lens has an upper surface (convex lens surface) and lower surface (concave lens surface) finished with predetermined lens curvatures (curves) on the basis of the optical design to have a predetermined lens power, and is completed until the final step of a surface process such as hardwearing coating or antireflection coating. Regarding a custom-made article, a lens material for it is prepared in advance in the form of a semi-finished product (semi-finished lens blank). The lens material is subjected to roughing-out, polishing, and the like in accordance with the ordered prescription power, and then to a surface process, so it is used as the prescription lens.  
         [0006]     Once a prescription lens is manufactured, it is horizontally stored in a lens storing tray, together with a processing instruction slip, with its concave lens surface facing down, and is conveyed to an edging line. The operator takes out this prescription lens from the tray, places it on the inspection table of a predetermined inspecting unit such as a lens meter to check its lens power, cylinder axis, and the like. A processing center, the mounting angle of a processing jig (to be referred to as lens holder hereinafter) with respect to the lens, and the like (optical layout) are determined from the lens information, lens frame shape data, and prescription data about a wearer. On the basis of this information, the lens holder is mounted to the processing center of the lens (positioning). The lens holder is mounted on an edger together with the lens. The lens is edged by a grind stone or cutter, thereby processing the lens into a shape conforming to the shape of an eyeglass frame.  
         [0007]     Conventionally, a layout for a lens and lens positioning with a lens holder, which are included in the pre-process for edging of the lens, are performed by an operator using specialized devices. This process is very inefficient and low in productivity, and hence becomes a serious hindrance to labor savings. In particular, an elastic seal is adhered to a lens holder so as to prevent damage to a lens and to hold the lens by this seal, and this adhering operation is cumbersome. In addition, since an operator must handle the lens with great care so as not to soil, damage, and break it, a significant burden is imposed on the operator.  
         [0008]     For these reasons, demands have recently arisen for the development of an apparatus for single-vision lenses and multifocal lenses (APS; Auto Positioner for Single Vision Lens, and APM; Auto Positioner for Multi-focus Lens), which is designed to automatically perform a layout for a lens and lens positioning with a lens holder, thereby improving operation efficiency. In the present invention, this apparatus will be referred to as a layout block device.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated lens layout positioning system, which includes an automated lens layout positioner, elastic seal supplying apparatus and a method for adhering an elastic seal to a lens holder in order to solve the conventional problems described above and meet their demands.  
         [0010]     More specifically, it is the first object of the present invention to provide a lens layout block device which automatically performs layout and positioning operations for a lens in order to edge the lens, so the operability and productivity are improved and labor savings are enabled.  
         [0011]     It is the second object of the present invention to provide an elastic seal supplying apparatus and method for a lens holder which can automatically supply an elastic seal to a lens holder, so operability and operation efficiency are improved.  
         [0012]     It is the third object of the present invention to provide, in the layout block device used for edging a lens, an elastic seal adhering method for a lens holder which can automatically adhere an elastic seal to a lens holder, so operability and operation efficiency are improved.  
         [0013]     In order to achieve these objects, a lens layout block device of the present invention comprises: a seal supply unit for automatically supplying, to a seal adhering position, an elastic seal which is to be adhered to a lens holder in order to hold a lens, wherein the seal supply unit has a tape loader on which a seal tape formed by covering the elastic seal with a mount and a protector paper and wound in a roll shape is to be loaded, a tape feed mechanism for intermittently feeding the seal tape from the tape loader, a protector paper separating mechanism for separating the protector paper of the seal tape fed from the tape loader, and a seal separating mechanism for separating the elastic seal from the mount when a lens holder is urged against the elastic seal at the seal adhering position.  
         [0014]     An elastic seal supplying method of the second present invention is a method of automatically supplying, to a seal adhering position, an elastic seal which is to be adhered to a lens holder in order to hold a lens, comprising the first step of loading a seal tape formed by covering the elastic seal with a mount and a protector paper and wound in a roll shape, the second step of intermittently feeding the loaded seal tape, the third step of separating the protector paper of the fed seal tape, and the fourth step of separating the elastic seal from the mount when a lens holder is urged against the elastic seal at the seal adhering position.  
         [0015]     An elastic seal supplying method of the third present invention is an elastic seal supplying method of automatically supplying, to a seal adhering position, an elastic seal which is to be adhered to a lens holder in order to hold a lens, comprising the first step of intermittently feeding a seal tape formed by covering the elastic seal with a mount and a protector paper and wound in a roll shape, the second step of separating the protector paper of the fed seal tape, and the third step of separating the elastic seal from the mount when a lens holder is urged against the elastic seal at the seal adhering position.  
         [0016]     An elastic seal supplying unit of the fourth present invention is an elastic seal supplying unit for automatically supplying, to a seal adhering position, an elastic seal which is to be adhered to a lens holder in order to hold a lens, comprising a tape loader on which a seal tape formed by covering the elastic seal with a mount and a protector paper and wound in a roll shape is to be loaded, a tape feed mechanism for intermittently feeding the seal tape from the tape loader, a protector paper separating mechanism for separating the protector paper of the seal tape fed from the tape loader, and a seal separating mechanism for separating the elastic seal from the mount when a lens holder is urged against the elastic seal at the seal adhering position.  
         [0017]     An elastic seal adhering method of the fifth present invention is a method of adhering an elastic seal to a lens holder in which the method comprises a seal tape supply unit having a convey mechanism for conveying, to a seal adhering position at a predetermined convey speed in a state wherein a protector paper is separated, a seal tape which is formed by adhering elastic seals to a mount having positioning holes formed at a predetermined pitch so as to coincide the central holes of the elastic seals with the positioning holes, and covers the surfaces of the mount and the elastic seals with the protector paper, and a holder hold unit for holding a lens holder to be vertically movable and to be pivotal within a horizontal plane, and the lens holder is conveyed to the seal adhering position by the holder holding unit and is moved downward, thereby urging the lens holder against the elastic seal to be adhered thereto, wherein when the seal tape is conveyed to the seal adhering position, a sensor detects a front edge of a positioning hole of the mount, conveyance of the seal tape is stopped after the seal tape is fed from the detection position for a predetermined time period, the stop position is determined as a reference adhering position of an elastic seal, and the holder hold unit is driven and controlled on the basis of reference adhering position information to urge the lens holder against the elastic seal to be adhered thereto.  
         [0018]     An elastic seal adhering method of the sixth present invention is a method of adhering an elastic seal to a lens holder, which adheres elastic seals to a mount having positioning holes formed at a predetermined pitch so as to coincide the central holes of the elastic seals with the positioning holes, conveys a seal tape formed by covering the surfaces of the mount and the elastic seals with a protector paper to a seal adhering position at a predetermined convey speed in a state wherein the protector paper is separated, holds a lens holder to be vertically movable and to be pivotal within a horizontal plane, conveys the lens holder to the seal adhering position, and moves the lens holder downward, thereby urging the lens holder against the elastic seal to be adhered thereto, wherein when the seal tape is conveyed to the seal adhering position, a sensor detects a front edge of a positioning hole of the mount, conveyance of the seal tape is stopped after the seal tape is fed from the detection position for a predetermined time period, the stop position is determined as a reference adhering position of an elastic seal, and the holder hold unit is driven and controlled on the basis of reference adhering position information to urge the lens holder against the elastic seal to be adhered thereto.  
         [0019]     An elastic seal adhering method of the seventh present invention comprises: the step of conveying a seal tape formed by covering surfaces of a mount and an elastic seal with a protector paper to a seal adhering position in a state wherein the protector paper is separated, the step of outputting a detection signal obtained by detecting a front edge of a positioning hole formed in the mount, the step of stopping conveyance of the lens holding portion at a reference adhering position after an elapse of a predetermined time period from output of the detection signal, the step of, when the elastic seal is positioned and stopped at the seal adhering position, making a clamp unit holding a lens holder move above the seal adhering position and be stopped by pivoting a pivotal arm of a holder supply unit on the basis of information of the reference adhering position, and the step of adhering the elastic seal by urging a lens holding surface of the lens holder against an upper surface of the elastic seal by moving the clamp unit downward. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are front and rear views, respectively, of a lens holder;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a view showing a state in which a lens is held by the lens holder through an elastic seal;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 3A, 3B , and  3 C are an enlarged sectional view taken along the line III-III of  FIG. 1A , a view showing a lens holding surface, and an enlarged sectional view of this lens holding surface, respectively;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an APS for a single-vision lens;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the APS for the single-vision lens;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 6A, 6B , and  6 C are a sectional view of a holder storing cassette, a plan view showing the locked state of the lens holder, and a plan view showing the unlocked state of the lens holder, respectively;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the central portion of the cassette away from pin positions;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a view showing a shutter mechanism of the lens holder;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are a plan and front views, respectively, of a holder support mechanism;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are top and sided views showing a holder supplying state to the holder support mechanism;  
         [0030]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are top and sided views showing the lens clamping state by the holder support mechanism;  
         [0031]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  and  12 C are views showing centering operation for the lens holder performed by a centering mechanism;  
         [0032]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view of a holder holding unit;  
         [0033]      FIG. 14  is a view showing a relationship among positions of holder mounting, holder transfer, lens holding, seal adhering, and the like;  
         [0034]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  are views showing transfer of lens holder to a holder holding apparatus, which show a state before holding a holder and a holder holding state, respectively;  
         [0035]      FIG. 16  is a front view of a seal supply unit;  
         [0036]      FIG. 17  is a sectional view taken along the line A-A shown by the arrows in  FIG. 16 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 18  is a view showing a feeding roller;  
         [0038]      FIG. 19  is a plan view showing a seal adhering position and the vicinity thereof;  
         [0039]      FIG. 20  is a sectional view of the seal adhering position;  
         [0040]      FIGS. 21A and 21B  are plan and side views, respectively, of a seal separating mechanism;  
         [0041]      FIG. 22  is a view showing a seal tape; and  
         [0042]      FIG. 23  is a flow chart showing the adhering operation of an elastic seal. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0043]     An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0044]     Structures of a lens and lens holder which are processed by an APS for a single-vision lens will be described on the basis of  FIGS. 1A, 1B ,  2 ,  3 A,  3 B, and  3 C.  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A  to  3 C, a spectacle single-vision lens  1  (to be merely referred to as a lens hereinafter) made of plastic has a convex lens surface  1   a  and concave lens surface  1   b . The edge of the lens  1  is edged by an edger to conform to the shape of a lens frame.  
         [0046]     The types of lens  1  are almost infinite since one lens power D (diopter) can be combined with convex and concave surface curves, and are actually determined considering the optical aberration and inventory management. More specifically, a lens design in which the number of types of convex surface curves is decreased while different concave surface curves are used is employed. For example, regarding a progressive multifocal lens, up to 8 types of lenses, ranging from a 2-curve lens to 9-curve lens, may be prepared. In the case of a single-vision lens, as it generally copes with a wide range of power, for example, 12 types of lenses, ranging from a 0-curve lens to 11-curve lens, are sometimes prepared. A 0-curve lens is a lens with a flat convex lens surface.  
         [0047]     The lens power D is expressed by a difference in curvature between a convex surface curve D 1  and a concave surface curve D 2 . In the semi-finished lenses such as single-vision lenses or progressive multifocal lenses, their lens powers are classified in accordance with only the convex surface curves D 1 . For example, a single-vision lens with a convex-surface lens power D of 4 is called a 4-curve lens, and its radius of curvature is calculated by D=(N−1)×1000/R (mm) where N is the refractive index of the lens, which is 1.50 when the lens material is diethyleneglycol bis allylcarbonate, which is used most generally, and R is the radius of curvature of the convex lens surface. Hence, in the case of a 4-curve lens, when this value is substituted in the above equation, 4=(1.5−1)×1000/R yields R=125 mm. Similarly, in the case of a 7-curve lens, it is converted into a radius of curvature of about 71 mm. In the case of an 11-curve lens, its radius of curvature is about 45 mm.  
         [0048]     A lens holder  2  holds the convex lens surface  1   a  of the lens  1  through an elastic seal  3 . As the lens holder  2 , to enable stable holding of the lens  1 , using specially prepared lens holders for individual lenses with different lens powers D is most desirable, but this considerably increases the types of holders. To prevent this, the several types of lens holding surfaces  9  with gradually different curvatures are prepared and selectively used in accordance with the convex lens curve such that one type of lens holder can actually cover some types of lenses with different convex lens curves. More specifically, for 12 types of single-vision lenses ranging from a 0-curve lens to 11-curve lens, the lenses are classified into three lens groups in accordance with the magnitude of curves, e.g., a first lens group of 0- to 3-curve lenses, a second lens group of 4- to 6-curve lenses, and a third lens group of 7- to 11-curve lenses. The three types of lens holders  2  having lens holding surfaces  9  with different curvatures are prepared in correspondence with the three lens groups, thereby making a lens holder  2  common.  
         [0049]     This lens holder  2  is formed of a metal such as stainless steel into a collared cylindrical member, which includes a fitting shaft portion  4 , and a flange  5  and lens holding portion  6  integrally formed on the outer surface of the fitting shaft portion  4 , closer to the distal end, and at the distal end, respectively. The fitting shaft portion  4  has, for example a length of 35 mm, an outer diameter of about 14 mm, and a central hole  7  with a hole diameter of about 10 mm.  
         [0050]     The flange  5  defines the amount of fitting of the fitting shaft portion  4  into a clamp shaft of the edger, and has a thickness of about 5 mm and an outer diameter of about 20 mm. A notched groove  8  is formed in the outer surface of the flange  5  to serve as a rotation preventive portion that prevents rotation of the lens holder  2  with respect to the clamp shaft. A taper surface  8   a  is formed on that opening portion of the notched groove  8  which is opposite to the lens holding portion  6 , and is open outward so the fitting shaft portion  4  can be fitted on the clamp shaft easily.  
         [0051]     The lens holding portion  6  is formed on the outer surface of the distal end of the fitting shaft portion  4 , and has a thickness and outer diameter almost equal to those of the flange  5 . A gap of about 5 mm is formed between the lens holding portion  6  and flange  5 . That surface of the lens holding portion  6  which comes into tight contact with the elastic seal  3  forms a concave spherical lens holding surface  9  corresponding to the convex lens surface  1   a  of the lens  1 . Since the radii of curvatures of the lens holding surfaces  9  differ in the first, second, and third lens groups, as described above, the three types of the lens holder  2  are prepared.  
         [0052]     If the radius of curvature of the lens holding surface  9  is larger than that of the convex lens surface  1   a , only the central portion of the lens holding surface  9  comes into contact with the convex lens surface  1   a , while the peripheral portion thereof does not come into contact with it. Then, the lens  1  is held unstably. On the contrary, if the radius of curvature of the lens holding surface  9  is smaller than that of the convex lens surface  1   a , only the peripheral portion of the lens holding surface  9  comes into contact with the convex lens surface  1   a , while the central portion thereof does not come into contact with it. Thus, the lens  1  is held stably. Therefore, the lens holder  2  is set to have the radius of curvature of the lens holding surface  9  almost equal to or smaller than the minimum one of the radii of curvatures of lenses in a lens group corresponding to this lens holder  2 . This makes it possible to stably hold a lens by the peripheral portion of the lens holding surface  9 . If, however, a difference in radius of curvature between the convex lens surface  1   a  and lens holding surface  9  is large, the degree of adhesion between these two surfaces is low. Therefore, the smaller this difference, the more desirable.  
         [0053]     For this reason, in this embodiment, the three types of lens holders  2  having the lens holding surfaces  9  corresponding to 4-curve, 7-curve, and 11-curve lenses, respectively, are prepared. The 4-curve, 7-curve, and 11-curve lens holders are used for the first lens group of 0- to 3-curve lenses, the second lens group of 4- to 6-curve lenses, and the third lens group of 7- to 11-curve lenses, respectively. Note that only the radii of curvature of the lens holding surfaces  9  are different, and except for that the structures of the three types of lens holders  2 , 4-, 7-, and 11-curve holders are completely the same.  
         [0054]     A large number of fine projections  10  are radially formed on the entire lens holding surface  9  in order to increase the adhesion bond strength with the elastic seal  3 . Each fine projection  10  has an isosceles triangular section. Hence, a wall surface  10   b  in the rotational direction of the lens holder  2  and a wall surface  10   c  opposite to it form slants of the same angle of inclination (e.g., 45°) with respect to a vertex  10   a  of the projection  10  as the boundary. When the slants have the same angle in this manner, the elastic seal  3  comes into tight contact with the two slants evenly. As the contact area increases, the appropriate flexibility and deformability of the seal are utilized, so that the lens holding force can be increased. Since the elastic seal  3  comes into press contact with the two slants of the same angle of inclination evenly, an unbalance rotation force is canceled and is not generated. Therefore, the rotational shift of the elastic seal  3  that decreases the holding precision of the lens does not occur.  
         [0055]     A rotation preventive portion  11  is formed on the outer surfaces of the flange  5  and lens holding portion  6  to engage with the engaging portion of a holder storing cassette that stores the lens holder  2 . The rotation preventive portion  11  is a groove formed by cutting part of the outer surfaces of the flange  5  and lens holding portion  6  from a direction perpendicular to the axis. The rotation preventive portions  11  and  8  are formed to be phase-shifted from each other by 180° so they are back to back.  
         [0056]     A member  13  for discriminating the type of the lens holder  2  is pressed into the lens holder  2  on the proximal end of the fitting shaft portion  4 . One end face of the member  13  forms almost one surface together with the proximal end face of the lens holder  2 . The member  13  is formed of a synthetic resin into a cylindrical member colored in a required color. The color of the member is as follows. For example, for a 4-curve holder, the member  13  is colored white. For a 7-curve holder, the member  13  is colored red. For a 11-curve holder, the member  13  is colored blue. Therefore, by seeing the color of the member  13 , the operator can discriminate at a glance whether the lens holder  2  is a 4-, 7-, or 11-curve holder.  
         [0057]     As the elastic seal  3 , one which is formed of thin rubber with a thickness of about 0.5 mm to 0.6 mm into a ring shape with an outer diameter (about 22 mm) larger than that of the lens holding surface  9  and an inner diameter (about 8 mm) smaller than the hole diameter of the lens holder  2 , and is coated with an adhesive mass on the two surfaces is used.  
         [0058]     The structure of an APS for a single-vision lens and the like will be described next with reference to FIGS.  4  to  23 .  
         [0059]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an APS  20  for a single-vision lens is set adjacent to the edger, has a holder conveying unit  22  formed on a base  21 , a holder holding unit  23 , a seal supply unit  24 , a lens supply unit  25 , a lens meter  26 , and the like, and adopts a batch method of sequentially processing  12  types (0- to 11-curve lenses) of single-vision lenses with different convex surface curves in a random manner.  
         [0060]     The holder conveying unit  22  serves to sequentially supply three types of lens holders  2 , 4-, 7-, and 11-curve holders to the holder holding unit  23  in accordance with prescription lenses, and has a holder supply mechanism  28  and holder support mechanism  29 .  
         [0061]     The holder supply mechanism  28  has three chutes  30  which are inclined at such an angle (e.g., 20°) that the lens holders  2  can slide on them by their own weights in the holder supply direction (a direction of an arrow  27  of  FIG. 5 ), and are arranged parallel to each other in the widthwise direction. Three holder storing cassettes  31  each storing a necessary number of (e.g.,  42 ) lens holders  2  for each type are detachably set upstream of the chutes  30  at the same angle as that of the chutes  30 .  
         [0062]     Referring to  FIGS. 4, 5 ,  6 A and  6 B, each cassette  31  is formed of a metal, a synthetic resin, or the like into a thin, rectangular hollow body with two open ends. Thus, the cassette  31  stores the lens holders  2  that are aligned in a line while the rotation preventive portions  11  are set in one direction. An opening  33  is formed on the center, in the widthwise direction, of an upper plate  32  of the cassette  31  throughout the entire length. That portion of the lens holder  2  which is closer to the proximal end than the flange  5  projects upward from the cassette  31  through the opening  33 . Therefore, the member  13  attached on the proximal end of the lens holder  2  can be visually confirmed from above the cassette  31 . When different types of lens holders  2  are mixedly stored in the cassette  31 , they can be checked at a glance. Also, erroneous mounting of the cassette  31  can be prevented. In other words, since the cassette  31  itself is identified by the color of the member  13 , a mistake that a certain cassette is erroneously set on a chute other than a chute where it should be, and a mistake that a plurality of cassettes which store identical lens holders are set on a plurality of chutes can be prevented.  
         [0063]     The width of the opening  33  is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the fitting shaft portion  4  of the lens holder  2 . The opening  33  slidably supports the lower surface of the flange  5 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , the upper plate  32  is formed with different heights such that its one plate portion  32   a  is slightly higher than its other plate portion  32   b  through the opening  33  by almost the thickness of the cassette  31 . An end edge  32   a   1  of one plate portion  32   a  is inserted in the rotation preventive portion  11  of the lens holder  2 . An inverted L-shaped bracket  34  to be inserted in the rotation preventive portion  11  is fixed to the lower surface of the plate portion  32   a . This sets the direction of the lens holder  2  and prevents free rotation of the lens holder  2 . In the cassette  31 , a pair of removal preventive pins  35  for preventing removal of the lens holder  2  are disposed near the downstream opening so as to be movable to the left-and-right direction. These pins  35  are connected to each other at their lower ends through a tension coil spring  36  and are biased in directions to come close to each other. Thus, the pins  35  are normally in contact with the lens holding portion  6  to prevent the lens holder  2  from being removed. When the cassette  31  is mounted on the chute  30 , the pins  35  move in directions to separate from each other against the tension coil spring  36 , thereby unlocking the lens holder  2 . The pins  35  are moved in the separating directions by an appropriate member  37  provided to the chute  30 .  
         [0064]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the central portion of the cassette separated from the pin positions. This cassette is different from that in  FIG. 6A  in that it does not have the pair of removal preventive pins  35 .  
         [0065]     The lens holders  2  in this cassette  31  slide on the holder storing cassette  31  and chutes  30  by their own weights and sequentially discharge one by one by a shutter mechanism  38 . The lens holders  2  are then supported by the holder support mechanism  29 .  
         [0066]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 8 , the shutter mechanism  38  has a pair of stopper pins  39  for locking a first lens holder  2 A by normally closing a discharge port  30   a  of the chute  30 , and an air cylinder  40  for vertically moving the stopper pins  39 . When the air cylinder  40  is driven by a supply signal from a controller (not shown), the lens holder  2  is discharged from the chute  30 . More specifically, when the air cylinder  40  is driven to move the stopper pins  39  downward so as to be retreated from the path of the chute  30 , the first lens holder  2 A is released from the stopper pins  39 , so it is discharged from the discharge port  30   a  of the chute  30  by its own weight and moves onto a terminal end  30   b . The terminal end  30   b  is set with a small angle of inclination in order to decrease the slide speed of the lens holder  2  and to decrease the impact produced when the lens holder  2  abuts against a stopper  47  (to be described later) of the holder support mechanism  29 . When the first lens holder  2 A passes, the stopper pins  39  are moved upward to restore to the initial state. Thus, after sliding on the chutes  30  until the positions of the stopper pins  39 , a second lens holder  2 B is locked by the stopper pins  39 , and serves as a new first lens holder. This operation is repeated so the lens holders  2  are automatically supplied one by one. The chute  30  is formed almost identical to the cassette  31 , and is fixed on the base  21 . Sensors  41  for detecting the absence/presence of the lens holders  2  are attached to two portions, i.e., the downstream and intermediate portions, of the chute  30 . The upstream sensor  41  is turned on when the number of lens holders  2  left in the chute  30  is  9 , and prompts the operator to replenish. The downstream sensor  41  is turned on when the number of lens holders  2  left in the chute  30  is  1 , and stops the layout positioner.  
         [0067]     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIGS. 8, 9A  and  9 B, the holder support mechanism  29  is disposed on the base  21  to oppose the terminal end of the chutes  30 , and has a stage  43  which is movable in the back-and-forth direction of the APS  20  (direction of the arrow Y of  FIG. 5 ) to reciprocally move between terminal end positions A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  of the chutes  30  and a holder mounting position A 4 . The stage  43  is movably held by a pair of left and right rails  44  and a ball screw  45  which are formed on the base  21 . When a driving motor  46  is driven to rotate the ball screw  45 , the stage  43  moves along the rails  44  and ball screw  45 . The terminal ends  30   b  of the chutes  30  are positioned at the terminal end positions A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  of the respective chutes  30 .  
         [0068]     A stopper  47  for receiving the lens holder  2  supplied to the terminal end  30   b  of the chute  30 , a pair of holder hands  48 A and  48 B for supporting the lens holder  2 , and an air cylinder  49  for actuating the holder hands  48 A and  48 B in synchronism to move in directions to be close to and separate from each other are disposed on the upper surface of the stage  43 . One holder hand  48 A is formed of a rod-like member with a circular section, and holds the rotation preventive portion  11  of the lens holder  2  with the outer surface of its distal end. The other holder hand  48 B is formed of a rod-like member with a rectangular section, and has a V-shaped recess  50  in that side surface of its distal end which opposes the lens holder  2 . The recess  50  holds the outer surfaces of the flange  5  and lens holding portion  6  on that side of the lens holder  2  which is opposite to the rotation preventive portion  11 . When the lens holder  2  is to be supplied, this stage  43  has moved in advance to the terminal position of that chute of the three chutes  30  to which the lens holder  2  is to be supplied, i.e., the position A 1 , and waits there with the holder hands  48 A and  48 B being open ( FIGS. 9A and 9B ). When the lens holder  2  is supplied onto the terminal end  30   b  of the chute  30 , the stopper  47  receives it ( FIGS. 10A and 10B ), and the pair of holder hands  48 A and  48 B are closed to clamp it ( FIGS. 11A and 11B ). After that, the clamped lens holder  2  is conveyed to the holder mounting position A 4  to perform centering of the lens holder  2 , and the processed lens holder  2  is then transferred to the holder holding unit  23 .  
         [0069]     Referring to  FIGS. 12A, 12B  and  12 C, a centering mechanism  53  is disposed at the holder mounting position A 4  to perform centering of the lens holder  2  supported by the holder hands  48 A and  48 B. The centering mechanism  53  is constituted by an elevating table  54  and an air cylinder  55  for vertically moving the elevating table  54 . The upper surface of the elevating table  54  has a comparatively shallow recess  56  with a hole diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lens holding portion  6  of the lens holder  2 . A circular projection  57  is formed at the center of the recess  56 , and has a diameter slightly smaller than a central hole  7  ( FIG. 3 ) of the lens holder  2 . The elevating table  54  is usually located almost immediately below the lens holder  2  to be separate from it ( FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12C ). In centering the lens holder  2 , when the air cylinder  55  is driven to move the elevating table  54  upward ( FIG. 12B ), the recess  56  receives the lens holding portion  6  of the lens holder  2 , and the projection  57  fits in the central hole  7  so the center of the lens holder  2  and that of the projection  57  coincide with each other, thereby centering the lens holder  2 . At this time, the air cylinder  49  is deenergized to make the pair of the holder hands  48 A and  48 B flexible, thus enabling centering, so the lens holder  2  is held to be movable in the left-and-right and back-and-forth directions. After the lens holder  2  is centered, the air cylinder  49  is reenergized to clamp the lens holder  2 , and the elevating table  54  moves downward successively to restore to the original initial position, thus ending centering.  
         [0070]     Referring to  FIG. 5  and FIGS.  13  to  15 A and  15 B, the holder holding unit  23  is disposed, on a side of the holder support mechanism  29 , in a space between the seal supply unit  24  and lens supply unit  25 . At the holder mounting position A 4 , when the holder holding unit  23  receives the lens holder  2  centered from the holder support mechanism  29 , it conveys the lens holder  2  to a seal adhering position AS to adhere the elastic seal  3  to the lens holding surface  9  of the lens holder  2  it holds. After that, the holder holding unit  23  conveys the lens holder  2  to a lens holding position A 6 , so the lens  1  is held by the elastic seal  3 . The holder holding unit  23  has a pivotal arm  60 , a clamp unit  61  attached to the distal end of the pivotal arm  60  to hold the lens holder  2 , an arm driving motor (arm driving unit)  62  for pivoting the pivotal arm  60  within a horizontal plane, a clamp driving unit  63  for vertically moving the clamp unit  61 , and the like.  
         [0071]     The pivotal arm  60  is fixed to the upper end of a vertical rotating shaft  165  standing upright on the base  21 . The rotating shaft  165  is disposed in a cylinder  166 , standing upright on the base  21 , to be rotatable through radial bearings  167  and thrust bearing  168 . A toothed pulley  169  is fixed to the lower end of the rotating shaft  165 . The driving motor  62  is vertically fixed to an attaching member  170  formed on the base  21 , with its output shaft  71  facing up. The output shaft  71  is connected to a shaft  72  through a coupling  73 . The shaft  72  has a toothed pulley  74 . A timing belt  75  extends between the pulleys  74  and  69 . When the driving motor  62  is driven to rotate the output shaft  71 , this rotation is transmitted to the rotating shaft  165  through the coupling  73 , shaft  72 , pulley  74 , timing belt  75 , and pulley  69 , so it can pivot the pivotal arm  60  within a horizontal plane. The pivot angle of the pivotal arm  60  is 300° in this embodiment.  
         [0072]     The clamp unit  61  is constituted by a cylindrical main body  82  to fit on the fitting shaft portion  4  of the lens holder  2 , a holder fixing mechanism  83  for fixing the lens holder  2  to the main body  82  to prevent it from removing, and the like. The main body  82  is fixed to the lower end of a holding shaft  85  disposed to the distal end of the pivotal arm  60  to be vertically movable and rotatable. The holder fixing mechanism  83  has a holder fixing member  84  axially supported by a support pin  86 , formed on the main body  82 , to be pivotal in the direction of an arrow  87  in  FIG. 13 , and the like. The holder urging member  84  fixes the lens holder  2  to the main body  82  by urging, has an urging portion  84   a  at its lower end to urge the fitting shaft portion  4  of the lens holder  2 , is disposed in an elongated hole  88  formed in the outer surface of the main body  82  and long in the axial direction, and is biased by a tension coil spring  89  counterclockwise in  FIG. 13 . Thus, usually, the urging portion  84   a  projects to the outside of the main body  82 . This allows the lens holder  2  to be fitted in the main body  82  easily.  
         [0073]     Furthermore, the holder fixing mechanism  83  has an air cylinder  90  for operating the holder fixing member  84 . The air cylinder  90  is attached to the outer surface of the main body  82  with its operational rod  90   a  opposing the holder fixing member  84 . When the fitting shaft portion  4  of the lens holder  2  is fitted in the main body  82 , air is supplied to the air cylinder  90  to actuate it. Thus, the movable rod  90   a  urges the holder fixing member  84  to pivot it clockwise against the tension coil spring  89 . Therefore, the urging portion  84   a  of the holder fixing member  84  urges the fitting shaft portion  4  of the lens holder  2  against the inner surface of the main body  82 , thereby preventing the lens holder  2  from being removed.  
         [0074]     The shaft  85  extends through an outer cylinder  94  fixed to the distal end of the pivotal arm  60  to be vertically movable and rotatable. The upper end of the shaft  85  is connected to the clamp air cylinder  63  through a coupling  95 , and the lower end thereof extends through a sleeve  102 , disposed in the lower portion of the interior of the outer cylinder  94 , to be rotatable and vertically movable. The coupling  95  is constituted by a columnar first coupling  95 A fixed to the movable rod  63   a  of the air cylinder  63 , and a cylindrical second coupling  95 B connected to the first coupling  95 A through a connection pin  96 . The coupling  95  rotatably axially supports the upper end of the shaft  85  with bearings  97  disposed in the second coupling  95 B, and prevents the shaft  85  from dropping from the second coupling  95 B with a set screw  98 . The two ends of the connection pin  96  are slidably supported by an inner cylinder  100  arranged in the outer cylinder  94  to project upward. This prevents rotation of the second coupling  95 B. A pair of guide holes  101  for guiding the connection pin  96  are formed in the wall portions of the inner cylinder  100  to be long in the axial direction. When the air cylinder  63  is driven to move the movable rod  63   a  downward, the clamp unit  61  is moved downward together with the shaft  85 .  
         [0075]     A driving motor  105  for pivoting the clamp unit  61  is set on the upper surface of the pivotal arm  60  to face down. The driving motor  105  serves to pivot the clamp unit  61  in accordance with the angle of cylinder axis. An output shaft  105   a  of the driving motor  105  is connected to the upper end of a driven shaft  107  through a coupling  106 . The driven shaft  107  is rotatably axially supported by bearings  108  provided to an attaching member  110 , and a small-diameter gear  109  is fixed to its intermediate portion. The attaching member  110  is fixed to the pivotal arm  60 . A transmission shaft  111  is disposed on a side of the driven shaft  107  to be parallel to it. The transmission shaft  111  is rotatably axially supported by bearings  112  provided to an attaching member  115 . A toothed pulley  113  is fixed to the upper end of the transmission shaft  111 , and a large-diameter gear  114  to mesh with the small-diameter gear  109  is fixed to the intermediate portion of the transmission shaft  111 . The attaching member  115  is fixed to the pivotal arm  60 .  
         [0076]     A toothed pulley  116  is disposed at the intermediate portion of the shaft  85  to correspond to the toothed pulley  113 . A timing belt  117  extends between the pulleys  113  and  116 . The toothed pulley  116  is disposed between the inner cylinder  100  and sleeve  102  to be rotatable through bearings  119 , and is attached to the shaft  85  through spline fitting to be slidable relative to it. Hence, a groove  120  long in the axial direction is formed in the outer surface of the shaft  85 . A projection to slidably fit in the groove  120  projects from the inner surface of the toothed pulley  116 . Therefore, rotation of the driving motor  105  is decelerated by the gears  109  and  114 , and is transmitted to the shaft  85  through the toothed pulleys  113  and  116  and timing belt  117 , to pivot the clamp unit  61  through the angle of cylinder axis.  
         [0077]     An origin sensor  121  for positioning the shaft  85  at the position of origin and a limit sensor  122  for limiting the pivot range of the shaft  85  to 360° are disposed on the outer cylinder  94 .  
         [0078]     An arm fixing unit  127  is attached to the cylinder  166  through an attaching plate  128 . A rotation preventive member  129  is fixed to the lower surface of the pivotal arm  60  to correspond to the arm fixing unit  127 . Upon pivot motion of the pivotal arm  60 , when the clamp unit  61  is moved to the lens holding position A 6  and is stopped there, the arm fixing unit  127  temporarily fixes the pivotal arm  60  at this pivot position, to prevent rotation of the clamp unit  61  when the clamp unit  61  is urged against the lens  1 . An air cylinder is used as this arm fixing unit  127 , and is fixed to the attaching plate  128  with its movable rod  127   a  facing up. An inverted V-shaped engaging member  130  is attached to the upper end of the movable rod  127   a . A V-shaped groove  129   a  is formed in the lower surface of the rotation preventive member  129 , and engages with the engaging member  130  when the clamp unit  61  moves to the lens holding position A 6  and stops there.  
         [0079]     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the holder mounting position A 4 , the seal adhering position A 5 , the lens holding position A 6 , and a holder transfer position A 7  are formed to be located on one circumference with a rotation center O of the pivotal arm  60  as the center and a radius corresponding to the distance to the clamp unit  61 . The holder mounting position A 4  is where the clamp unit  61  receives the lens holder  2  from the holder support mechanism  29  and holds it. The seal adhering position A 5 , holder transfer position A 7 , and lens holding position A 6  are shifted from the holder mounting position A 4  counterclockwise by 120°, 230°, and 270°, respectively. The seal adhering position A 5  is where the elastic seal  3  is adhered to the lens holder  2  held by the clamp unit  61 . The lens holding position A 6  is where the lens  1  is held by the lens holder  2 , held by the clamp unit  61 , through the elastic seal  3 . The holder transfer position A 7  is where the lens holder  2  (held by the clamp unit  61 ) that holds the lens  1  is transferred to a convey robot so it is supplied to the edger. A stand-by position A 8  where the clamp unit  61  is set in the stand-by state is formed between the holder mounting position A 4  and lens holding position A 6 .  
         [0080]     When the clamp unit  61  is to hold the lens holder  2 , the pivotal arm  60  is pivoted to move the clamp unit  61  to above the holder mounting position A 4 , as shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B  ( FIG. 15A ). When the clamp unit  61  is stopped above the holder mounting position A 4 , the air cylinder  63  ( FIG. 13 ) is driven to move the shaft  85  downward, and the main body  82  of the clamp unit  61  is fit on the fitting shaft portion  4  of the lens holder  2  from above ( FIG. 15B ).  
         [0081]     Subsequently, the air cylinder  90  is driven to pivot the holder fixing member  84  clockwise against the tension coil spring  89 , so the urging portion  84   a  of the holder fixing member  84  is urged against the fitting shaft portion  4 . When the holder arms  48 A and  48 B of the holder support mechanism  29  are opened to release the lens holder  2 , the lens holder  2  is held by the clamp unit  61 . Thus, transfer of the lens holder  2  from the holder support mechanism  29  to the clamp unit  61  is ended. The clamp unit  61  moves upward again, to convey the lens holder  2  it holds to the seal adhering position A 5  with the pivot motion of the pivotal arm  60 .  
         [0082]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  and FIGS.  16  to  22 , the seal supply unit  24  serves to intermittently supply the elastic seal  3  to the seal adhering position A 5  in accordance with supplying of the lens holder  2  by the holder conveying unit  22 , and is disposed at the seal adhering position A 5  to oppose the holder supply mechanism  28  through the holder support mechanism  29 .  
         [0083]     The elastic seal  3  supplied to the seal adhering position A 5  is loaded in a tape loader  68  ( FIG. 16 ) in the form of a seal tape  67  which is formed by covering the elastic seal  3  with a mount  65  and protector paper  66  and wound in a roll shape, as shown in  FIG. 22 . The mount  65  has a width of 32 mm and positioning holes  69  on the center in the widthwise direction at the pitch of 24 mm. The elastic seal  3  is adhered to the mount  65  so as to match a central hole  70  of the elastic seal  3  with the positioning hole  69 . The positioning hole  69  and the central hole  70  of the elastic seal  3  have the same diameter (8 mm). The protector paper  66  has the same width as that of the mount  65 .  
         [0084]     The seal tape  67  is wound around a spool  71 , and both ends of a shaft  72  of the spool  71  are inserted, to be removable from upward, into bearing holes  74  formed on a pair of side plates  73  which form the tape loader  68  and oppose each other to support the seal tape  67 . A protector paper separating mechanism  75  for separating the protector paper  66  from the mount  65 , and a feed roller  76  for feeding the seal tape  67  from which the protector paper  66  is separated are disposed on the pair of left and right side plates  73 . The protector paper separating mechanism  75  is constituted by a first roller  78  disposed above the bearing hole  74  by a support member (not shown), and a second roller  79  disposed to be rotatable between the upper rear end portions of the pair of side plates  73 . The protector paper  66  separated from the seal tape  67  comes into contact with the rollers  78  and  79  to be dropped down by its own weight when the seal tape  67  is fed. The feed roller  76  is rotatably axially supported by a bearing hole  80  formed on the upper surface of the pair of side plates  73  on the front end side, and brought into contact with the lower surface of the seal tape  67  from which the protector paper  66  is separated (the lower surface of the mount).  
         [0085]     An elongated hole  82  is formed in one of the pair of side plates  73  in front of the unit  FIG. 16 , and a remaining tape amount detection sensor  83  for detecting the remaining amount of the seal tape  67  is disposed in the elongated hole  82 . The elongated hole  82  is formed in the radial direction of the seal tape  67  and has a length larger than the difference between the maximum diameter and minimum diameter of the seal tape  67 . One end of the elongated hole  82  positions near the outer surface of the spool  71 , and the other end positions outside the maximum diameter of the seal tape  67 . The remaining tape amount detection sensor  83  is attached on the terminal end portion of the elongated hole  82  on the spool  71  side. When the remaining amount of the seal tape  67  reaches the predetermined amount, the remaining tape amount detection sensor  83  turns on to detect the remaining amount and sends a detection signal to the controller. Since the seal tape  67  can visually be confirmed through the elongated hole  82 , visual confirmation of a remaining tape amount can be performed.  
         [0086]     A tape feed mechanism  85  for intermittently feeding and supplying the seal tape  67  loaded on the tape loader  68  to the seal adhering position A 5  is disposed on the left side of the tape loader  68 . The tape feed mechanism  85  is constituted by a stepping motor  86  attached on the lower surface side of the base  21 , a gear  88  to which rotation of the motor  86  is to be transmitted through a timing belt  87 , an urging roller  89 , and the like, and the urging roller  89  urges the used-up mount  65  against the gear  88  at a predetermined pressure. When, accordingly, the stepping motor  86  is driven to rotate the gear  88  and urging roller  89  in the tape feed direction, the seal tape  67  is fed from the tape loader  68 . The tape feed mechanism  85  also has a mount feeding roller  90  disposed above the base  21  to be rotatable. A mount storage portion  91  for collecting the used-up mount  65  guided downward by the gear  88  and urging roller  89  is formed below the base  21 .  
         [0087]     The mount storage portion  91  is formed by a metal plate  92  of stainless steel or the like and the lower surface of the base  21 . The metal plate  92  has a curved portion  92   a  which is formed by folding and curved in an arc shape and an inclined portion  92   b  which is formed to extend from the lower end of the curved portion  92   a  and inclined toward the extending direction. The upper end of the curved portion  92   a  positions below the urging roller  89 , and a tape is adhered to the entire surface of the metal plate  92  to make the mount  65  easily slide thereon.  
         [0088]     A box convey path forming member  96  is disposed on the upper surface of the base  21 , and has the central portion of an upper surface forming a seal convey path  97  of the seal tape  67 . Inverted L-shaped tape guides  98  ( FIGS. 19 and 20 ) for guiding both end portions, in the widthwise direction, of the seal tape  67  are formed on the both sides of the seal convey path  97 . The front portion of the seal convey path  97  is set at the seal adhering position A 5 , where a press roller  100  for urging the both end portions, in the widthwise direction, of the mount  65  of the seal tape  67  against the seal convey path  97  to prevent the mount  65  from floating is disposed. The press roller  100  has a pair of bearings  101  and crosses the seal convey path  97 , and both end portions of the press roller  100  are biased downward by coil springs  102 , thereby urging the mount  65  against the upper surface of the convey path forming member  96  by using outer ball races of the bearings  101 . The pair of bearings  101  are used to reduce a frictional force between the mount  65  and press roller  100  to smoothly convey the seal tape  67 , and attached to the press roller  100  at a gap larger than the outer diameter of the elastic seal  3  so as to contact only the end portions of the mount  65 .  
         [0089]     An elastic member  104  of rubber or the like is disposed at the seal adhering position A 5  ( FIG. 20 ) through a metal plate  105 . The upper surface of the elastic member  104  forms a single surface together with the upper surface of the convey path forming member  96  to form a portion of the seal convey path  97 . The outer ball races of the bearings  101  contact the portion of the upper surface of the elastic member  104  on the tape loader  68  side. A circular hole  106  is formed to extend through almost the central portion of the elastic member  104 . The hole  106  has a diameter equal to that of the center hole  70  of the elastic seal  3 , and its center coincides with that of the seal adhering position A 5 . A hole  107  having a diameter which is equal to and coincides with that of the hole  106  is also formed on the metal plate  105 . A photosensor  108  in a reflecting form for detecting the positioning hole  69  of the mount  65  is disposed in the hole  107 . The photosensor  108  is used to stop the elastic seal  3  at the seal adhering position A 5 , and turns on when a front edge  69   a  (a hole edge on the tape conveying side) of the positioning hole  69  is detected. When the detection signal is sent to the controller, the controller stops the stepping motor  86  after an elapse of a predetermined time period. The time period since the photosensor  108  detects the front edge  69   a  of the positioning hole  69  until the controller sends the signal to the stepping motor  86  to stop it is equal to a time period required for moving the seal tape  67  by a radius of the positioning hole  69 , so that the elastic seal  3  is accurately positioned and stopped at the center of the seal adhering position A 5 . This stop position sets as a reference adhering position of the elastic seal  3 .  
         [0090]     A seal separating mechanism  110  for separating the elastic seal  3  from the mount  65  when the lens holder  2  is urged against the elastic seal  3  is disposed immediately behind the seal adhering position A 5 . As shown in  FIGS. 21A and 21B , this seal separating mechanism  110  is constituted by a pair of clamping members  111 A and  111 B which are disposed to sandwich the seal convey path  98  ( FIGS. 19 and 20 ) immediately behind the seal adhering position A 5  therebetween and to oppose each other via the seal convey path, a first air cylinder  112  for making the clamping members  111 A and  111 B move synchronically in a direction to be close to and apart from each other, and a second air cylinder  113  for making the clamping members  111 A and  111 B move downward together with the first air cylinder  112  by a predetermined distance after the clamping members clamp the mount  65 . The clamping members  111 A and  111 B are made of symmetrical plate members, and grooves  114  are formed at the centers of the clamping surfaces of the clamping members. The first air cylinder  112  is fixed to a bracket  115 . The second air cylinder  113  is fixed to a bracket  116  formed on the base  21 , and the bracket  115  is fixed on a movable member  113   a  by a set screw  117 .  
         [0091]     In this the seal supply unit  24 , when the seal tape  67  is supplied from the tape loader  68 , and the elastic seal  3  is positioned and stopped at the seal adhering position A 5 , the clamp unit  61  of the holder holding unit  23  is moved, upon pivot motion of the pivotal arm  60 , above the seal adhering position A 5 , and is stopped there. Subsequently, the clamp unit  61  moves downward to urge the lens holding surface  9  of the lens holder  2  against the upper surface of the elastic seal  3 , so the projections  10  bite the elastic seal  3 . At this time, the first air cylinder  112  is driven to move the clamping members  11 A and  111 B to be close to each other, so the clamping members  111 A and  111 B clamp the end portion of mount  65 . Subsequently, the second air cylinder  113  is driven to move the bracket  115  downward by a predetermined distance. Thus, the clamping members  111 A and  111 B are also moved downward by the predetermined distance, so the mount  65  clamped by these clamping members is drawn. On the other hand, since the elastic seal  3  is adhered to the lens holding surface  9  of the lens holder  2 , it is separated from the mount  65 . By moving the clamp unit  61  upward to be restored, the elastic seal  3  is completely separated from the mount  65 , so that supplying the elastic seal  3  to the lens holder  2  is ended. After that, the clamp unit  61  is moved to the lens holding position A 6  with the pivot motion of the pivotal arm  60 . The clamp unit  61  is moved downward to urge the elastic seal  3  adhered to the lens holder  2  against the lens  1  supplied to the lens holding position A 6 , so that the elastic seal  3  comes into tight contact with the lens  1 . The lens  1  is thus held by the lens holder  2  through the elastic seal  3 .  FIG. 2  shows this state.  
         [0092]     Note that, other than the photosensor  108  described above, the seal supply unit  24  is comprised of the lens holder  2  itself and a photosensor  120  in a reflecting form ( FIGS. 17 and 18 ) for detecting whether the elastic seal  3  has been adhered to the lens holding surface  9  of the lens holder  2 .  
         [0093]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the lens supply unit  25  has two guide rails  130 , a Y-table  132  which is moved in the Y-axis direction by a ball screw  131 , an X-table  136  set on the Y-table  132  through two guide rails  134  and a ball screw  135  so as to be movable in the X-axis direction, and a Z-table  137  set on the X-table  136  and movable in the Z-axis direction, driving motors (not shown) for driving these tables, and the like. The Z-table  137  has a pair of left and right hands  138 A and  138 B, and holds the edge of the lens  1  supplied to the lens supply unit  25  at four points with these hands. Upon receiving the lens  1  supplied to the lens supply unit  25  and holding it, the pair of hands  138 A and  138 B convey it to the lens meter  26 . Measurement of the lens is performed. When measurement is ended, the hands  138 A and  138 B convey the lens  1  to the lens holding position A 6  and place it on a lens support table, and the lens holder  2  held by the clamp unit  61  then holds the lens  1 . During this period of time, the height of the concave lens surface of the lens is measured.  
         [0094]     The lens meter  26  measures the lens power, optical center, cylinder axis, and the like of the lens  1  supplied to the lens supply unit  25 , performs optical layout of the lens  1 , and calculates and determines the attaching position, angle, and the like of the lens holder  2  with respect to the lens  1  on the basis of lens frame shape data. The lens meter  26  outputs the determined result to the controller.  
         [0095]     When the lens, holder  2  holds the lens  1  at the lens holding position A 6 , this lens holder  2  is conveyed to the holder transfer position A 7  and stopped there. Upon removing from the clamp unit  61 , the lens holder  2  is conveyed to the edger by an appropriate convey robot. Thereafter, the lens  1  is edged by an arris process and the like in accordance with a processing program based on the lens frame shape data, and finally, a lens with an outline almost coinciding with the shape of the frame is fabricated.  
         [0096]     A method of adhering a seal to the lens holder  2  will be described next on the basis of  FIG. 23 . The stepping motor  86  is driven to convey the seal tape  67 , from which the protector paper  66  is separated, to the seal adhering position A 5  at a predetermined speed (step  200 ). When the seal tape  67  has been conveyed to the seal adhering position A 5  and the front edge  69   a  of the positioning hole  69  of the mount  65  coincides with the sensor  108 , the sensor  108  turns on to detect the positioning hole  69  (step  201 ), and sends a detection signal to the controller. Upon receiving the detection signal from the sensor  108 , the controller stops conveyance of the seal tape  67  by the stepping motor  86  after the time period set by the diameter of the hole, the rotation speed of the motor, and the like is elapsed (step  202 ). By stopping this conveyance, the position of the positioning hole  69  which has coincided with the sensor  108  is positioned as the reference adhering position of the elastic seal  3 . The set time period is a time period required for moving the center of the positioning hole  69  to the center of the sensor  108  after the sensor  108  detects the front edge  69   a  of the hole  69 .  
         [0097]     When the elastic seal  3  is positioned and stopped at the reference adhering position, the holder holding unit  23  makes the pivotal arm  60  pivot on the basis of reference adhering position information from the controller, and makes the clamp unit  61  holding the lens holder  2  move above the seal adhering position A 5  and stop there. The holder holding unit  23  then makes the clamp unit  61  move downward to urge the lens holding surface  9  of the lens holder  2  against the elastic seal  3 , so the projections  10  bite the elastic seal  3  (step  203 ). When the lens holder  2  is urged against the elastic seal  3 , the first air cylinder  112  is driven to move the pair of clamping members  111 A and  111 B in the direction to be close to each other ( FIG. 21B ), to clamp the end portion of the mount  65  (step  204 ). Subsequently, the second air cylinder  113  is driven to move the bracket  115  downward by a predetermined distance. Thus, the pair of clamping members  111 A and  111 B are also moved downward by the predetermined distance, so the clamped mount  65  is drawn (step  205 ). When the clamp unit  61  is moved upward to be restored in synchronization to this, the elastic seal  3  adhered to the lens holding surface  9  of the lens holder  2  is separated from the mount  65 , and adhesion of the elastic seal  3  to the lens holder  2  is ended (step  206 ).  
         [0098]     After that, the clamp unit  61  moves above the lens holding position A 6  with the pivot motion of the pivotal arm  60 . During this movement, the sensor  120  detects whether the elastic seal  3  has been adhered to the lens holder  2  (steps  207  and  208 ). If no elastic seal  3  is adhered to the lens holder  2 , the controller receives a signal from the sensor  120  and then sends an adhesion signal to the holder holding unit  23  to make it perform adhesion operation of the elastic seal again.  
         [0099]     When the lens holder  2  adhered with the elastic seal  3  moves to the lens holding position A 6  and stops there (step  209 ), the clamp unit  61  moves downward and the elastic seal  3  adhered to the lens holder  2  is then urged against the lens supplied to the lens holding position, so that the elastic seal  3  comes into tight contact with the lens  1  (step  210 ). The lens  1  is thus held by the lens holder  2  through the elastic seal  3 . At this time, the lens holder  2  is rotated by a predetermined angle in advance on the basis of the calculated value in the lens measurement, and the elastic seal  3  is then urged against the lens  1  (step  211 ).  
         [0100]     According to the APS  20  described above, when the lens holder  2  is supplied to the chutes  30 , the lens  1  is supplied to the lens supply unit  25 , and the lens frame shape data is input to the controller by using a terminal equipment such as a keyboard or touch panel, a series of the steps of supplying the lens holder  2 , centering of the lens holder  2 , supplying the elastic seal  3 , adhering the elastic seal  3  to the lens holder  2 , holding the lens  1  by the lens holder  2 , and measuring the lens  1  are entirely automatically performed. Therefore, the burden to the operator is reduced considerably, the operating efficiency and productivity are improved, and labor saving can be achieved. Also, since the seal supply unit  24  has the seal separating mechanism  110  to forcibly separate the elastic seal  3  from the mount  65 , the elastic seal  3  is reliably adhered to the lens holder  2 .  
         [0101]     In addition, after the seal supply unit  24  positions the elastic seal  3  at the reference adhering position, the clamp unit  61  conveys the lens holder  2  above the reference adhering position and moves it downward, thereby urging the lens holder  2  against the elastic seal  3  to be adhered to it. Therefore, the elastic seal  3  is accurately adhered to the lens holding surface  9  of the lens holder  2 . Accordingly, the operator need not adhere the elastic seal to the lens holder one by one, and the operating efficiency can be improved.  
         [0102]     In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an APS for a single-vision lens. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to an APM for a multifocal lens.  
         [0103]     As has been described above, according to the present invention, there is provided the seal supply unit for supplying the elastic seal, so an operator need not adhere the elastic seal to the lens holder one by one. Therefore, the burden to the operator is reduced considerably, the operating efficiency and productivity are improved, and labor saving can be achieved. In addition, the lens is not soiled or damaged. Further, since the seal separating mechanism is provided, the elastic seal is reliably separated from the mount.  
         [0104]     Furthermore, the seal tape is conveyed to the seal adhering position, the front edge of the positioning hole of the mount is detected by the sensor, and conveyance of the seal tape is stopped after the seal tape is fed from the detection position for a predetermined time period. That position is then determined as the reference adhering position of the elastic seal, and the holder holding unit is driven and controlled on the basis of information of the reference adhering position to urge the lens holder against the elastic seal to be adhered to it. With this operation, an operator need not adhere the elastic seal to the lens holder one by one. Therefore, the burden to the operator is reduced considerably, the operating efficiency and productivity are improved, and labor saving can be achieved. The lens is not soiled or damaged.