New or Improved Machine for Surfacing Cylindrical and other
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 10th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 10th Mar., 1888
New or Improved Machine for Surfacing Cylindrical and other
I, WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 115 Cannon Street, in the City of London, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Glasses with cylindrical curvatures intended to correct the sight of persons affected
with astigmatism have been produced by means of machines previously patented
by the inventors at moderate prices which have led to a considerable extension of their
use. Their use is still increasing and the object of the present invention is to
provide a machine by which they can be made as well as, and more expeditiously
than, by the aforesaid previously patented machines. This machine is also applicable
to the surfacing of spectacle glasses, large lenses, or mirrors of cylindrical shape.
The Drawing hereto annexed illustrates a machine constructed in accordance with
this invention, but the general arrangement and the forms, materials, and dimensions
of the various parts may obviously be varied according to circumstances without
departing from the nature of the invention.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine on the line 1-2 of Figure 2
which is a plan view of the same.
The frame is shown of wood, but it may be of inetal and of any shape suited to
receive the various parts of the mechanism.
On the table are bolted the bearings for two parallel shafts and d. The front
shaft turns, and slides longitudinally in its bearings and, while the back shaft d
rotates only, its rotary motion being transmitted to the shaft by the gearing ee.
The shaft d is connected to the shaft by the gearing e, e, e placed at the lower
part of the frame. This shaft is furnished with the fast and loose pulleys,
and with the bevil wheels g g gearing with the evil wheels fixed on the vertical
shaftskだ

page_text: The shaft carries a cylinder or drum a which participates in its rotary and
alternating rectilinear movements. The alternating rectilinear motion is communicated
by an excentric m the rod m¹ of which is jointed to the end of the shaft . This
excentric m is fixed on a cross shaft o driven from the shaft d by the bevil gearing ij.
On the cylinder a rests a cylindrical tool which receives a compound curvilinear
and translatory motion. For this purpose the tool is furnished with a projection
axis a embraced by the eye of a long rod 7 the ends of which are jointed to
cranks. These cranks are fixed on or formed with the ends of the vertical
shafts. This arrangement allows the tool to rise or fall according to the
requirements of the enveloping part of the cylinder a; it consequently acts on the
cylinder with its whole weight which may be increased or decreased at pleasure.
or
The outer part of the cylinder a is enveloped with a number of cylindrical segments
proportional to the radii of curvature to be obtained. In the case illustrated the
number of segments is six but the number may be varied.
The glasses to be operated upon, whether for rough grinding, or finishing, being
blocked or cemented on the segmenis, the latter are then fixed on the cylinder by clamps
or bolis s.
The tool is then put in place and the machine set in motion by the driving belt
acting on the fast pulley p. The cylinder a rotates and moves longitudinally with
its shaft and the tool receives its compound curvilinear and translatory movements
so that all the glasses are in turn submitted to the action of the tool under exactly
the same conditions but changing incessantly.
By this machine a much greater number of glasses may be operated upon ai
once than by machines heretofore known, consequently a sensible reduction in cost is
effected.
The machine as above described is adapted for the manufacture of convex glasses
but it will be readily understood that it may casily be adapted for surfacing concave
glasses, and by suitable modifications for surfacing spherical glasses. For the latter
purpose the cylinder or drum a merely rotates with its shaft the arrangements for
giving the horizontal alternating rectilinear movements being suppressed. The
spherical glasses fixed on the said cylinder a will be successively operated upon as the
drum a revolves, by the tool or tools a which have, as above explained, a compound
curvilinear and translatory motion.
The machine may also be employed for surfacing cylindrical glasses without
imparting alternate rectilinear motion to the cylinder or drum a.
Dated this 10th day of Mar 1887
W. H. BECK,
115, Cannon Street, London,
Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Machine for Surfacing Cylindrical and other
Curved Glasses.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 115 Cannon Street, in the City of London, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
that is to say:
Glasses with cylindrical curvatures intended to correct the sight of persons affected
with astigmatism have been produced, by means of machines previously patented by
the inventors at moderate prices which have led to a considerable extension of their
Their use is still increasing and the object of the present invention is to provide
a machine by which they can be made as well as, and more expeditiously than by
the aforesaid previously patented machines. This machine is also applicable to the
surfacing of spectacle glasses, large lenses or mirrors of cylindrical shape.
use.
The drawing hereto annexed illustrates a machine constructed in accordance with
this invention but the general arrangement and the forms, materials and dimensions
of the various parts may obviously be varied according to circumstances without
departing from the nature of the invention.
Figure is a sectional elevation of the machine and Figure 2 is a plan view of
the same.
The frame is shown of wood but it may be of metal and of any shape suited to
receive the various parts of the mechanism.
On the table are bolied the bearings for two parallel shafts and d. The front
shaft & iurns, and slides longitudinally backwards and forwards in its bearings &
and &, while the back shaft d rotates only, rotary motion being transmitted from the
shaft to the shaft by the gearing e e.
to the shaft placed at the lower
the fast and loose pulleys pp, and
fixed on the vertical
The shaft d is connected by the gearing e, c.
part of the frame. This shalt is furnished with
with the bevil wheels yg gearing with the bevil wheels
shafts kk¹.
The shaft carries a cylinder or drum a which participates in its rotary and
alternating rectilinear movements. The alternating rectilinear motion is communicated
by an excentric m the rod m of which is jointed to the end of the shaft b.
This eccentric m is fixed on a cross shaft o driven from the shaft d by the bevil
gearing i j.
On the cylinder a rests by its own weight an ordinary cylindro-concave grinding
or polishing tool the grinding surface of which corresponds to the curvature of the
glasses to be ground. The said tool receives a compound curvilinear and translatory
motion. For this purpose it is furnished with a projection or arme passing loosely
through the eye of a long rod the ends of which are jointed to cranks 2 These
cranks are fixed on or formed with the ends of the vertical shafts This arrange-
ment allows the tool to rise or fall according to the requirements of the glasses
to be ground it consequently acts on them with its whole weight which may be
increased or decreased at pleasure.
The outer part of the cylinder a is enveloped with a number of cylindrical segments a¹
proportional to the radii of curvature to be obtained. In the case illustrated the
number of segments is six, but the number may be varied.

page_text: The glasses to be operated upon, whether for rough grinding or finishing being
blocked or cemented on the segments a' the latter are then fixed on the cylinder a by
clamps or bolis s.
The grinding or polishing tool is then put in place and the machine set in motion
by the driving belt acting on the fast pulley p. The cylinder a rotates and recipro-
cates longitudinally together with its shaft, and the fool receives its compound
curvilinear and translatory movements, so that all the glasses are in turn submitted
to the action of the tool under exactly the same conditions, but changing incessantly.
By this machine a much greater number of glasses may be operated upon at once
than by machines heretofore known, consequently a sensible reduction in cost is
effected.
The machine as above described is adapted for the manufacture of convex glasses,
but it will be readily understood that it may easily be adapted for surfacing concave
glasses, by constructing the cylinder and segments, so that the latter may be secured
in the interior of the former, instead of to the outside as shown. In this case the
grinding tool is cylindro-convex, corresponding to the curvature of the concave glasses
To be ground, and receives motion from one or more cranks and a connecting rod
acting from one end only of the cylinder. The machine may also be adapted by
suitable modifications for surfacing spherical glasses. For the latter purpose, the
drum is made spherical and merely rolates with its shaft. the arrangements for
giving the horizontal alternating rectilinear movements being suppressed. The
spherical glasses fixed on the said spherical drum will be successively operated upon
as the said drum revolves, by the tool or tools, which have, as above explained, a
compound curvilinear and translatory motion, the arm having sufficient play in the
eye of the connecting rod to enable the tool to adapt itself to varying positions
while it always bears correctly on the surface of the glasses being ground.
The machine may also be employed for surfacing cylindrical glasses without
imparting alternate rectilinear motion to the cylinder or drum a if preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First A machine for surfacing cylindrical glasses which consists of a cylinder or
drum on the external or internal surface of which are secured the glasses, lenses,
mirrors, or other objects to be treated, the said cylinder or drum having simultaneous
rotary and alternating rectilinear movements imparted thereto, and of a grinding,
polishing tool having curvilinear and translatory motions over the glasses or other
articles to be surfaced, arranged, combined and operating substantially as herein before
described, and illustrated in the Drawings hercio annexed.
or
Second A machine for surfacing spherical glasses, which consists of a spherical
drun on which are secured the glasses or other objects to be treated, the said cylinder
or drum having a simple rotary motion on its axis, and of one or more grinding or
polishing tools having curvilinear and translatory motions over the glasses, arranged,
combined, and operating substantially as herein before described, and illustrated in the
Drawings hereto annexed.
Third The application and use of the arrangements forming the subject of the
second claim clause hereof, in connection with any suitable machinery for the purpose
of surfacing spherical glasses.