Patent Description:
In recent years, there is a spectacle lens, obtained by patterning a predetermined pattern on a thin film (SnO<NUM> film, Cr film, or the like) on an optical surface of a lens substrate (see, for example, Patent Literature <NUM>).

<CIT> discloses a gripper device for handling devices or industrial robots, which can be used for joining rotationally symmetrical, predominantly lens-shaped optical components in mechanical mounts. It consists of an axially movable vacuum gripper which can hold the rotationally symmetrical component, a centering device for this component and a pincer gripper for fixing the position of the mechanical mount.

Positioning of an optical surface, which is a surface to be processed, is indispensable in order to perform patterning on a lens with high accuracy. However, when the optical surface is a convex curved surface, it is not always easy to accurately perform positioning of the optical surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of easily and highly accurately perform positioning of a lens member having a convex optical surface.

The present invention has been devised to achieve the above object.

A first aspect of the present invention is a lens positioning mechanism according to claim <NUM> and a method for producing a lens member according to claim <NUM>. Further aspects are defined by the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, the positioning of the lens member having the convex optical surface can be easily and highly precisely performed.

First, a spectacle lens will be taken as an example of a lens member to be handled in the present embodiment, and its schematic configuration will be described.

<FIG> is a plan view illustrating a configuration example of the spectacle lens taken as an example in the present embodiment, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view thereof.

A spectacle lens <NUM> has an object-side surface and an eyeball-side surface as optical surfaces. The "object-side surface" is a surface located on an object side when spectacles provided with the spectacle lens <NUM> are worn by a wearer. The "eyeball-side surface" is a surface opposite thereto, that is, located on an eyeball side when the spectacles provided with the spectacle lens <NUM> are worn by the wearer. In general, the object-side surface is a convex surface, and the eyeball-side surface is a concave surface, that is, the spectacle lens <NUM> is generally a meniscus lens.

Hereinafter, the object-side surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> is also referred to as a "first surface", and the eyeball-side surface is also referred to as a "second surface".

In such a case, the spectacle lens <NUM> has the first surface which is a convex optical surface and the second surface which is an optical surface facing the first surface.

In the spectacle lens <NUM> of the present embodiment, a plurality of fine dots <NUM> are isotropically and uniformly arranged on at least one of the first surface and the second surface, and a predetermined pattern is formed by the dots <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. Although an example in which the predetermined pattern is formed on the entire surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> is illustrated in the present embodiment, the predetermined pattern may be partially formed. Further, the predetermined pattern may be formed of, for example, a character, a figure, or the like, instead of being formed of the plurality of dots <NUM>.

Each of the plurality of dots <NUM> forming the predetermined pattern is formed in the identical shape (for example, a circular shape). The expression that these dots <NUM> are "isotropically and uniformly arranged" means that the adjacent dots <NUM> are arranged at a constant pitch P.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the spectacle lens <NUM> having such a predetermined pattern includes: a lens substrate <NUM> which is an optical substrate; hard coat films (HC film) <NUM> formed on both surface sides (that is, each first surface side and the second surface) of the lens substrate <NUM>; a patterning thin film <NUM> formed on the HC film <NUM> on a side of one surface (specifically, the first surface); and antireflection films (AR film) <NUM> formed on both surface sides. Here, the case where the patterning thin film <NUM> is arranged on the first surface side is taken as an example, but it is sufficient that the patterning thin film <NUM> is arranged on at least one surface without being limited thereto. Further, the spectacle lens <NUM> may have other films formed in addition to the HC films <NUM>, the patterning thin film <NUM>, and the AR films <NUM>.

The lens substrate <NUM> is made of a general resin material used for an optical lens and is molded into a predetermined lens shape. The predetermined lens shape may form any of a single focus lens, a multifocal lens, a progressive addition lens, or the like.

As the resin material forming the lens substrate <NUM>, for example, a resin material having a refractive index (nD) of about <NUM> to <NUM> is used. Examples of such a resin material include allyl diglycol carbonate, urethane resin, polycarbonate, thiourethane resin, and episulfide resin. Note that the lens substrate <NUM> may be made of other resin material capable of obtaining a desired refractive index, or may be made of inorganic glass, instead of the resin materials described above.

The HC film <NUM> is formed of, for example, a curable material containing a silicon compound, and is a film formed with a thickness of about <NUM> to <NUM>. A refractive index (nD) of the HC film <NUM> is close to the refractive index of the material of the lens substrate <NUM> described above and is, for example, about <NUM> to <NUM>, and the film configuration is selected according to the material of the lens substrate <NUM>. The durability of the spectacle lens <NUM> can be improved by such coating with the HC film <NUM>.

The patterning thin film <NUM> is formed on the optical surface of the lens substrate <NUM> with the HC film <NUM> interposed therebetween, and thus, is formed by a thin film having a thickness of several nm to several tens of nm, for example. As a material forming the patterning thin film <NUM>, for example, metal or metal oxide having a property of absorbing laser light, which will be described later, is used. That is, the patterning thin film <NUM> is a metal oxide film or a metal film having absorption. Examples of such a film include a film containing at least one type of metal or metal oxide selected from chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), gold (Au), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), and aluminum (Al), and a tin dioxide (SnO<NUM>) film or a Cr film is preferably used. In the following description, the case where the patterning thin film <NUM> is the SnO<NUM> film or the Cr film is mainly given as an example.

Further, the patterning thin film <NUM> has a pattern <NUM> formed by partially removing the thin film. The pattern <NUM> forms the above-described predetermined pattern. Specifically, the pattern <NUM> is formed by arranging a plurality of identically shaped portions <NUM>. The identically shaped portions <NUM> are formed by partial removal of the thin film, and corresponds to the above-described dots <NUM>.

That is, in the present embodiment, the pattern <NUM> forms a dot pattern which is the predetermined pattern, and the identically shaped portions <NUM> form the dots <NUM> in the dot pattern.

The AR film <NUM> has a multilayer structure in which films having different refractive indexes are layered, and is a film that prevents light reflection by interference action. However, the multilayer structure is not necessarily adopted, and a single-layer structure may be adopted as long as the light reflection prevention effect can be obtained.

When the AR film <NUM> has the multilayer structure having a low-refractive-index layer and a high-refractive-index layer, a low-refractive-index film is made of, for example, silicon dioxide (SiO<NUM>) having a refractive index of about <NUM> to <NUM>. Further, a high-refractive-index film is made of a material having a higher refractive index than the low-refractive-index film, and is formed using metal oxides, for example, niobium oxide (Nb<NUM>O<NUM>), tantalum oxide (Ta<NUM>O<NUM>), titanium oxide (TiO<NUM>), zirconium oxide (ZrO<NUM>), and yttrium oxide (Y<NUM>O<NUM>), aluminum oxide (Al<NUM>O<NUM>), and the like in a proper rate.

The visibility of an image through the spectacle lens <NUM> can be improved by such coating with the AR film <NUM>.

The spectacle lens <NUM> having the above-described configuration is produced by a procedure to be described below.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of the producing procedure of the spectacle lens according to the embodiment of the present invention.

When producing the spectacle lens <NUM>, first, the lens substrate <NUM>, which is the optical substrate, is prepared as a first step (step <NUM>, hereinafter the step is abbreviated as "S").

Then, after the lens substrate <NUM> is prepared, a step of forming the HC film <NUM> on both surface sides of the lens substrate <NUM> is subsequently performed as a second step (S102). The HC film <NUM> may be formed by, for example, a dipping method using a solution in which a curable material containing a silicon compound is dissolved.

After the formation of the HC film <NUM>, next, a step of forming a thin film 13a of a SnO<NUM> film or a Cr film, which is to serve as the patterning thin film <NUM>, on the optical surface of the lens substrate <NUM> with the HC film <NUM> interposed therebetween is performed as a third step (S103). Specifically, the thin film 13a of the SnO<NUM> film or Cr film is formed on the HC film <NUM> on the side of the convex surface which is the first surface. Such formation of the thin film 13a may be performed by, for example, vacuum deposition or sputtering.

After the formation of the thin film 13a, next, a step of partially removing the thin film 13a to form the pattern <NUM> is performed as a fourth step (S104). That is, patterning of the thin film 13a is performed by partially removing the thin film 13a. When the patterning of the thin film 13a is performed, the patterning thin film <NUM> having the pattern <NUM> is formed on the HC film <NUM> on the convex surface side.

As a technique for the patterning, for example, there is known a technique of forming a resist pattern is formed on the optical surface by an inkjet recording method and performing the patterning using the resist pattern. However, since the optical surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> is curved, there is a possibility that the resist pattern is not precisely formed on the optical surface in the resist pattern formation using the inkjet recording method, and as a result, it is difficult to perform highly accurate patterning. Therefore, the patterning for obtaining the predetermined pattern (that is, the pattern <NUM>) is performed by laser processing using laser light irradiation in the present embodiment. Specifically, when forming the pattern <NUM>, only a portion of the thin film 13a that needs to be removed is selectively irradiated with laser light, and the energy of the laser light is used to partially remove the thin film 13a.

If the patterning is performed using such irradiation of laser light, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the patterning. Moreover, since the thin film 13a can be directly patterned using the laser light, it is possible to omit the formation and removal of the resist pattern.

Then, after the formation of the patterning thin film <NUM>, a step of cleaning for removing residues and deposits (foreign substances) during the patterning is performed as a fifth step (S105).

Thereafter, a step of forming the AR film <NUM> on each of the side of the convex surface, which is the first surface, and the side of the concave surface, which is the second surface, is performed as a sixth step (S106). When the AR film <NUM> has the multilayer structure, the low-refractive-index layer and high-refractive-index layer are alternately layered and formed in order from the lower layer side. This film formation may be performed by applying, for example, ion-assisted deposition.

As described above, the patterning is performed on the thin film 13a on the convex surface side by the laser processing using the laser light irradiation when producing the spectacle lens <NUM>. It is desirable to perform the patterning with high accuracy. In order to improve the accuracy of the patterning, it is advantageous to irradiate a surface to be processed with laser light using a laser processing machine that supports three-dimensional control of a focal position of the laser light.

As the laser processing machine, used is a laser processing machine including: a laser oscillator which oscillates laser light; a laser optical system which collects the laser light from the laser oscillator and emits the collected laser light; a lens holding unit to which an object to be processed (in the present embodiment, the lens substrate <NUM> after formation of the HC film <NUM> and the thin film 13a) that is irradiated with laser light is fixed. A laser processing machine in which a laser oscillator and a laser optical system are integrated to form a laser head may be used. In the laser processing machine having such a configuration, "supporting the three-dimensional control of the focal position of laser light" means that it is possible to change the focal position of the laser light with which the object to be processed is irradiated not only in the XY direction along the in-plane of the irradiated surface but also in the Z direction along an optical-axis direction of the laser light by at least one of movement of the relative position between the laser optical system and the object to be processed and optical path adjustment by the laser optical system, and it is possible to control a mode of the change.

In the case of supporting the three-dimensional control, positioning of the optical surface, which is a surface to be processed, is indispensable. However, the optical surface, which is the surface to be processed for the patterning, is curved in the case of the spectacle lens <NUM>. In particular, the patterned is performed on the first surface (the object-side surface), which is a convex curved surface, by laser irradiation in the present embodiment. Moreover, the curvature (curve) of the first surface sometimes differs depending on a lens. Therefore, when the optical surface is the convex curved surface, it is not always easy to accurately perform the positioning of the optical surface. A reason thereof will be described hereinafter with specific examples.

<FIG> is an explanatory view illustrating an example of the spectacle lens, which is an object to be processed, in the present embodiment.

The illustrated example illustrates a case where the spectacle lens <NUM> is a prism lens. The prism lens is the spectacle lens <NUM> having a prism prescription. In the case of the prism lens, the lens substrate <NUM> is configured such that the first surface (object-side surface), which is the convex curved surface, and the second surface (eyeball-side surface), which is a concave curved surface, face each other with a prism amount.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, it is conceivable to perform the positioning of the spectacle lens <NUM> using an edge position on the second surface of the lens substrate <NUM> as a reference. Specifically, the lens substrate <NUM> is placed on a smooth surface in a state where the second surface side faces downward, thereby performing the positioning such that the edge position is arranged along the horizontal line using the edge position of the second surface, which is the concave curved surface, as the reference.

Meanwhile, when the spectacle lens <NUM> is the prism lens, the first surface, which is the surface to be processed for patterning, is arranged so as to be tilted by the prism amount with respect to a surface orthogonal to the irradiation direction of the laser light (see an orthogonal surface in the drawing) as illustrated in <FIG> if the positioning is performed using to the edge position of the second surface as the reference. In such an arrangement state, it is difficult to say that the positioning of the first surface, which is the surface to be processed, can be accurately performed, and thus, there is a possibility that it is difficult to precisely perform the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light. Further, it is conceivable to perform data correction or the like in consideration of the prism amount in order to precisely perform the three-dimensional control. In such a case, however, the processing becomes complicated due to the precise control.

That is, in order to improve the accuracy of the patterning of the optical surface while suppressing the complicated processing, it is desirable to perform the positioning using the convex first surface, which is the surface to be processed for patterning, as a reference and perform the patterning on the first surface by laser irradiation in a state where the edge position of the first surface is arranged along the plane orthogonal to the irradiation direction of the laser light (see the orthogonal plane in the drawing) as illustrated in <FIG>. Moreover, desirably, the positioning using the first surface as the reference can be performed easily and highly accurately regardless of whether or not the spectacle lens <NUM> is the prism lens and regardless of the curvature (curve) of the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM>.

Based on the above, the inventor of the present application has come up with a lens positioning mechanism to be described below as a result of repeated diligent studies.

Next, one specific example of the lens positioning mechanism according to the present embodiment will be described.

<FIG> is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration example of the specific example of the lens positioning mechanism according to the present embodiment.

The lens positioning mechanism in the present embodiment is installed in parallel with a laser processing machine <NUM>, and include a lens mounting base <NUM>, a member holding unit <NUM>, an attitude control unit <NUM>, a sensor unit <NUM>, and a controller (not illustrated) when being roughly classified.

The lens mounting base <NUM> allows the spectacle lens <NUM>, which is the object to be processed for patterning by the laser processing machine <NUM>, to be set thereon, and has a smooth flat surface (that is, a lens mounting surface) on which the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> is mounted. Note that the object to be processed is exactly the lens substrate <NUM> after the formation of the HC film <NUM> and the thin film 13a in the present embodiment, but the object to be processed is simply referred to as the spectacle lens <NUM> for the sake of simplicity in the following description. The spectacle lens <NUM> set on the lens mounting base <NUM> is gripped by support claws <NUM> of the attitude control unit <NUM> as will be described later. Therefore, the lens mounting base <NUM> is formed with a notch <NUM> configured to avoid interference with the support claws <NUM> of the attitude control unit <NUM>. Further, the lens mounting base <NUM> is configured such that the lens mounting surface can be raised and lowered.

The member holding unit <NUM> is configured to hold the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> which is the object to be processed. Therefore, the member holding unit <NUM> has a pad <NUM> that holds the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> by vacuum suction, and a joint <NUM> that swingably supports the pad <NUM>. Then, the joint <NUM> is configured to be capable of switching between a movable state and a fixed state of the swinging portion. The switching of the state may be realized by using, for example, a mechanism that performs transition between the fixed state in which the swinging portion is locked and a state in which the swinging portion is not fixed and can move freely, as necessary, while utilizing the presence or absence of the vacuum suction. If the pad <NUM> is supported via such a joint <NUM>, the pad <NUM> can follow a shape of the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> in the movable state. Further, it is possible to maintain an attitude of the spectacle lens <NUM> held by the pad <NUM> in the fixed state.

Further, the member holding unit <NUM> has a function of biasing the held spectacle lens <NUM> from the second surface side toward the first surface side as well as the function of holding the spectacle lens <NUM>. Therefore, the member holding unit <NUM> includes a slide mechanism <NUM> that moves the pad <NUM> and the joint <NUM> along the biasing direction, and an elastic member <NUM> that stretches and contracts along the biasing direction. The illustrated example illustrates a case where the elastic member <NUM> is a compression coil spring. With such a configuration, the elastic member <NUM> of the member holding unit <NUM> bends when an external force is applied from the first surface side to the second surface side of the held spectacle lens <NUM>, and a reaction force of the elastic member <NUM> biases the spectacle lens <NUM> from the second surface side to the first surface side when the external force is mitigated or eliminated.

Further, the member holding unit <NUM> has a brake <NUM> that maintains the bent state of the elastic member <NUM>. The brake <NUM> may be configured using, for example, an electromagnetic brake. With such a configuration, the member holding unit <NUM> can stop the movement of the slide mechanism <NUM> at an arbitrary position and maintain the stopped state regardless of the magnitude of the reaction force of the elastic member <NUM>.

Furthermore, the member holding unit <NUM> includes a first electric actuator <NUM> that integrally moves the pad <NUM>, the joint <NUM>, the slide mechanism <NUM>, and the elastic member <NUM> in a direction along the biasing direction of the spectacle lens <NUM> (see the arrow A in the drawing), and a second electric actuator <NUM> that integrally moves the pad <NUM>, the joint <NUM>, the slide mechanism <NUM>, and the elastic member <NUM> in a direction orthogonal to the direction (see the arrow B in the drawing). That is, the member holding unit <NUM> has a function as an orthogonal biaxial robot that moves the spectacle lens <NUM> held by the pad <NUM>.

Note that the member holding unit <NUM> is configured to hold the spectacle lens <NUM> in the state of being erected in the vertical direction. The state of being erected in the vertical direction refers to a state where the optical surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> is arranged along the vertical direction, particularly refers to a state where the edge position of the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> is arranged along the vertical direction in the present embodiment.

The attitude control unit <NUM> is configured to position the spectacle lens <NUM> in a predetermined attitude. The predetermined attitude refers to, for example, an attitude positioned using the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> as a reference, and particularly refers to an attitude positioned in a state where the edge position of the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> is arranged along the vertical direction in the present embodiment.

In order for the positioning in the predetermined attitude, the attitude control unit <NUM> is configured to regulate edge positions of a plurality of portions on the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> biased by the member holding unit <NUM>. More specifically, the attitude control unit <NUM> has the plurality of (three or more, for example, four) pin-shaped support claws <NUM> arranged so as to correspond to the plurality of portions, respectively, and tapered portions <NUM> are provided for the respective support claws <NUM>. The tapered portions <NUM> are formed so as to spread in the biasing direction of the spectacle lens <NUM>. Then, the movement of the edge position in the biasing direction is regulated as the edge position of the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> abuts on the tapered portion <NUM> arranged on one end side of the support claw <NUM>. Note that details of the attitude control of the spectacle lens <NUM> by the attitude control unit <NUM> will be described later.

Further, the attitude control unit <NUM> has a claw drive unit <NUM> that moves the plurality of support claws <NUM> in a direction orthogonal to a pin-axis direction (see the arrow C in the drawing) to switch between a gripped state and a non-gripped state of the spectacle lens <NUM> by the respective support claws <NUM>. The claw drive unit <NUM> may be configured using, for example, an electric actuator. As the claw drive unit <NUM> moves the respective support claws <NUM> to grip the spectacle lens <NUM>, the attitude control unit <NUM> can lift and move the spectacle lens <NUM> mounted on the lens mounting base <NUM>.

Furthermore, the attitude control unit <NUM> has a claw rotation unit <NUM> that integrally moves the support claw <NUM>, the tapered portion <NUM>, and the claw drive unit <NUM> in a direction of rotating these parts (see the arrow D in the drawing). The claw rotation unit <NUM> may also be configured using, for example, an electric actuator, which is similar to the claw drive unit <NUM>. As the claw rotation unit <NUM> moves the support claw <NUM> and the like, the spectacle lens <NUM> gripped by the support claws <NUM> can transition between the state of being set in the horizontal direction on the lens mounting base <NUM> and the state of being erected in the vertical direction.

The sensor unit <NUM> measures a relative position of a predetermined point on the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> with respect to a regulation position when positioned by the attitude control unit <NUM>. Examples of the predetermined point on the first surface include an apex position of the first surface which is the convex curved surface. In order to measure a position of such a predetermined point, the sensor unit <NUM> has a contact <NUM> that abuts on the predetermined point and a movement mechanism <NUM> that moves a position of the contact <NUM>. Then, the relative position of the predetermined point (for example, the apex position of the first surface) with respect to the regulation position (that is, the edge position of the first surface) of the spectacle lens <NUM> by the attitude control unit <NUM> is measured by recognizing the position of the contact <NUM> when abutting on the predetermined point. Note that the sensor unit <NUM> is not necessarily a contact type as in the present embodiment, but may be a non-contact type using, for example, a laser length-measurement sensor or the like as long as the position of the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> can be measured.

The controller controls the operation of each of the above-described parts <NUM> to <NUM>. Specifically, the controller is configured to control a lifting/lowering operation of the lens mounting surface on the lens mounting base <NUM>, a vacuum suction operation and operations of the first electric actuator <NUM>, the second electric actuator <NUM>, and the brake <NUM> in the member holding unit <NUM>, and operations of the claw drive unit <NUM> and the claw rotation unit <NUM> in the attitude control unit <NUM>. Further, the controller is configured to acquire a measurement result obtained by the sensor unit <NUM>, perform data processing on the measurement result as necessary, and then, notify the laser processing machine <NUM> of such a data processing result.

Such a controller may be configured using, for example, a computer device that executes a predetermined program.

Next, a procedure of a lens positioning method performed using the lens positioning mechanism having the above-described configuration will be described. Note that it is assumed that a processing operation of each part to be described below is controlled by the controller.

<FIG> are explanatory views schematically illustrating an outline of one procedure (process) in the lens positioning method according to the present embodiment.

When positioning the lens, first, the spectacle lens <NUM>, which is the object to be processed, is mounted on the lens mounting surface of the lens mounting base <NUM> in the state where the second surface side of the spectacle lens <NUM> faces downward as illustrated in <FIG>. It is conceivable to mount the spectacle lens <NUM> using a transfer robot, but the spectacle lens <NUM> may be mounted by being held by the operator's hand. Then, after the mounting on the lens mounting surface, the claw drive unit <NUM> of the attitude control unit <NUM> moves the respective support claws <NUM> (see the arrow C in the drawing), and grips the edge of the spectacle lens <NUM> by the respective support claws <NUM>. At this time, the respective support claws <NUM> do not interfere with the lens mounting base <NUM> since the notch <NUM> is formed in the lens mounting base <NUM>.

Note that, for example, when the claw drive unit <NUM> is configured using an electric actuator and the claw drive unit <NUM> has a function of recognizing positions of the respective support claws <NUM>, it is possible to measure a diameter of the gripped spectacle lens <NUM> by gripping the edge of the spectacle lens <NUM> with the respective support claws <NUM>.

After gripping the spectacle lens <NUM> with the respective support claws <NUM>, next, the claw rotation unit <NUM> of the attitude control unit <NUM> is operated in the state where the respective support claws <NUM> grip the spectacle lens <NUM> (see the arrow D in the drawing) as illustrated in <FIG> while retracting the lens mounting surface of the lens mounting base <NUM> by lowering. As a result, the spectacle lens <NUM> is gripped by the respective support claws <NUM> in the state of being erected in the vertical direction.

Thereafter, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first electric actuator <NUM> in the member holding unit <NUM> is operated to integrally move the pad <NUM>, the joint <NUM>, the slide mechanism <NUM>, and the elastic member <NUM> (see the arrow A1 in the drawing) such that the pad <NUM> abuts on the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM>. After the pad <NUM> abuts on the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM>, the slide mechanism <NUM> operates to obtain the bent state of the elastic member <NUM> if the first electric actuator <NUM> is further operated. As a result, even when the pad <NUM> abuts on the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM>, it is unnecessary to control a moving stroke of the first electric actuator <NUM> more precisely than necessary, and the spectacle lens <NUM> is not overloaded.

Further, at this time, the pad <NUM> that abuts on the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> is supported via the joint <NUM>, and thus, the pad <NUM> can follow the shape of the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> if the joint <NUM> is in the movable state.

After the pad <NUM> abuts on the second surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> and the elastic member <NUM> is in the bent state, the spectacle lens <NUM> is temporarily held by vacuum suction on the pad <NUM> (that is, vacuum suction is performed but the pad <NUM> is in a swingable state), and the claw drive unit <NUM> moves the respective support claws <NUM> such that the distance between the respective support claws <NUM> that grip the spectacle lens <NUM> is slightly widened (for example, by about <NUM> to <NUM>). Then, a gripping force of each of the support claws <NUM> is weakened, so that the spectacle lens <NUM> is biased from the second surface side toward the first surface side due to the reaction force that the elastic member <NUM> tries to stretch while remaining in the state of being temporarily held by the pad <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, and is moved to the second surface side so as to be guided by the respective support claws <NUM> (see the arrow A2 in the drawing). Then, when the edge position of the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> reaches the tapered portion <NUM>, the spectacle lens <NUM> abuts on the tapered portion <NUM>, and does not move any further. That is, in the spectacle lens <NUM>, edge positions of a plurality of portions (that is, portions to be gripped by the plurality of support claws <NUM>) on the first surface are regulated by the tapered portion <NUM> of the attitude control unit <NUM>.

After the edge position of the first surface is regulated by the tapered portion <NUM>, the claw drive unit <NUM> moves the respective support claws <NUM> in a direction of narrowing the distance between the respective support claws <NUM>. Then, the spectacle lens <NUM> is gripped by the respective support claws <NUM> in a state where the edge positions of the plurality of portions (that is, portions to be gripped by the plurality of support claws <NUM>) on the first surface are located at boundaries between the support claws <NUM> and the tapered portion <NUM>. That is, the spectacle lens <NUM> is positioned using the first surface as the reference such that the edge position of the first surface is located at the boundary between the support claw <NUM> and the tapered portion <NUM>. At this time, it is assumed that the temporary holding of the spectacle lens <NUM> by the pad <NUM> is released.

Here, the sensor unit <NUM> measures the relative position of the predetermined point (for example, the apex position of the first surface) on the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> with respect to the regulation position when positioned by the attitude control unit <NUM>. Specifically, the movement mechanism <NUM> moves the position of the contact <NUM> until the contact <NUM> abuts on the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> to recognize the position of the contact <NUM> (specifically, the amount of movement to an abutment position) when abutting on the first surface. At this time, a distance value to a boundary position between the support claw <NUM> and the tapered portion <NUM> (that is, the edge position of the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM>) in the attitude control unit <NUM> is a known fixed value for the sensor unit <NUM>. Therefore, if the abutment position of the contact <NUM> is known, it is possible to identify the protruding amount of the apex position of the first surface with respect to the edge position of the first surface.

In this manner, the sensor unit <NUM> can identify the protruding amount of the apex position regarding the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM>. Further, the claw drive unit <NUM> of the attitude control unit <NUM> can measure the diameter of the gripped spectacle lens <NUM> as described above. Therefore, for example, if the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> is spherical, the controller can recognize three-dimensional shape data of a surface shape forming the first surface of the positioned spectacle lens <NUM> based on notification information from the attitude control unit <NUM> and the sensor unit <NUM>. The recognized surface shape data is transmitted from the controller to the laser processing machine <NUM> and is utilized by the laser processing machine <NUM>, for example, as will be described later.

Thereafter, the second surface of the positioned spectacle lens <NUM> is subjected to vacuum suction by the pad <NUM>, and the joint <NUM> that supports the pad <NUM> is switched to the fixed state. Furthermore, the brake <NUM> stops the movement of the slide mechanism <NUM> such that the elastic member <NUM> maintains the bent state. As a result, the spectacle lens <NUM> is held by the member holding unit <NUM> while maintaining the attitude positioned using the first surface as the reference.

When the member holding unit <NUM> holds the spectacle lens <NUM>, the attitude control unit <NUM> causes the claw drive unit <NUM> to move the respective support claws <NUM> in the direction in which the distance between the respective support claws <NUM> is widened, thereby releasing the gripping of the spectacle lens <NUM> by the respective support claws <NUM>. Even if the gripping is released, the spectacle lens <NUM> is maintained in the attitude positioned using the first surface as the reference by being held by the member holding unit <NUM>.

Then, the member holding unit <NUM> operates the first electric actuator <NUM> such that the spectacle lens <NUM> moves in a direction of being away from the attitude control unit <NUM> while keeping the state of holding the spectacle lens <NUM>, and operates the second electric actuator <NUM> so as to move the spectacle lens <NUM> up to a position where the laser processing machine <NUM> can perform laser processing on the spectacle lens <NUM>. Even if the spectacle lens <NUM> is moved to the position where the laser processing can be performed, the spectacle lens <NUM> is maintained in the attitude positioned using the first surface as the reference by being held by the member holding unit <NUM>. Moreover, since the elastic member <NUM> is maintained in the bent state by the brake <NUM>, it is possible to easily and appropriately control the movement of the spectacle lens <NUM> to the position where the laser processing can be performed without requiring the complicated processing. That is, the elastic member <NUM> remains in the bent state even if the regulation by the tapered portion <NUM> is released, and thus, the spectacle lens <NUM> can be accurately moved to a desired position only by controlling the operations of the first electric actuator <NUM> and the second electric actuator <NUM> without requiring complicated position correction processing to reflect the stretching amount of the elastic member <NUM>.

When moved to the position where the laser processing can be performed, the spectacle lens <NUM> is subjected to the laser processing by the laser processing machine <NUM> based on the three-dimensional shape data recognized for the first surface while being maintained in the attitude positioned with respect to the first surface as will be described in detail later. That is, the laser processing machine <NUM> functions as a lens processing unit that performs the laser processing, which is a predetermined process, on the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> positioned in the predetermined attitude by the lens positioning mechanism according to the present embodiment.

The above-described one specific example of the lens positioning mechanism assumes a case where an outer shape of the spectacle lens is circular. However, there may be a spectacle lens, which is an object to be processed, having a so-called edged shape, other than the one having the circular outer shape. Further, there may be a spectacle lens that has been subjected to cutting or polishing for lens thinning, prism prescription, or the like. Such a spectacle lens that has been subjected to at least one of cutting and polishing, represented by the spectacle lens that has been edged, is hereinafter referred to as an "irregular-shaped lens".

The irregular-shaped lens is likely to have a portion where an edge portion becomes sharp due to the influence of cutting and polishing, for example, and thus, it is not always appropriate to perform positioning using an edge position of a first surface of the irregular-shaped lens as a reference. Therefore, a lens positioning mechanism capable of appropriately positioning when the spectacle lens, which is the object to be processed, is the irregular-shaped lens will be described below as another specific example different from the above-described one specific example. Note that only differences from the above-described one specific example will be mainly described in the following description.

In the other specific example described herein, configurations of the member holding unit <NUM> and the attitude control unit <NUM> are different from those in the case of the above-described one specific example.

<FIG> is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a main configuration example of the other specific example of the lens positioning mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The member holding unit <NUM> is configured to hold an irregular-shaped lens 10a via an auxiliary tool <NUM> mounted on a second surface of the irregular-shaped lens 10a which is the object to be processed.

As the auxiliary tool <NUM>, for example, a fixture used in a cutting step, a polishing step, or the like of a spectacle lens can be used. The fixture is attached to a concave surface (that is, the second surface) of the spectacle lens by adhesion action of a low-melting-point metal member called an alloy. However, a jig other than the fixture may be used as the auxiliary tool <NUM>.

It is conceivable to hold the irregular-shaped lens 10a via the auxiliary tool <NUM> using vacuum suction by the pad <NUM> similarly to the case of the above-described one specific example. In such a case, the pad <NUM> performs the vacuum suction on the auxiliary tool <NUM>, instead of the irregular-shaped lens 10a. However, the auxiliary tool <NUM> may be held by a mechanical clamping operation, for example, without being necessarily limited thereto. In either case, it is assumed that swing and non-swing by the joint <NUM> is switched.

The attitude control unit <NUM> is configured to abut on a predetermined portion on the first surface of the irregular-shaped lens 10a to regulate a position of the predetermined portion, and position the irregular-shaped lens 10a in a predetermined attitude. When the object to be processed is the irregular-shaped lens 10a, a portion where an edge portion becomes sharp due to the influence of cutting and polishing, for example, is likely to occur, and thus, it is not always appropriate to perform the positioning using an edge position of the first surface of the irregular-shaped lens as a reference. Therefore, the attitude control unit <NUM> performs the positioning using the predetermined portion on the first surface as the reference, instead of the edge position of the first surface.

Examples of the predetermined portion as the reference include an annular region on the first surface of the irregular-shaped lens 10a having an apex position of the first surface as the center. In such a case, the attitude control unit <NUM> is configured to abut on the annular region on the first surface of the irregular-shaped lens 10a to regulate the position. Specifically, a ringshaped regulating member <NUM> made of a material that is resistant to a scratch and a contact mark, for example, silicon rubber, a fluororesin member, or the like is arranged instead of the tapered portion <NUM> described in the above-described one specific example. The regulating member <NUM> abuts on the first surface of the irregular-shaped lens 10a to regulate the position of the first surface of the irregular-shaped lens 10a. As a result, the irregular-shaped lens 10a is positioned in the predetermined attitude. The predetermined attitude refers to, for example, an attitude positioned using the first surface as the reference, and particularly an attitude positioned in a state where the edge position of the first surface is arranged along the vertical direction in the present embodiment, which is similar to the case of the above-described one specific example.

Note that the predetermined portion as the reference is not necessarily the annular region, and may be, for example, three or more points separated from each other on the first surface having the apex position of the first surface of the irregular-shaped lens 10a as the center. In such a case, the attitude control unit <NUM> is configured to abut on the three or more points, which are separated from each other, on the first surface of the irregular-shaped lens 10a to regulate the position. Even with such a configuration, the irregular-shaped lens 10a is positioned in the predetermined attitude.

Even in the lens positioning mechanism having the above-described configuration, a procedure for lens positioning is the same as that in the case of the above-described one specific example. Accordingly, the description thereof will be omitted herein.

With the lens positioning mechanism according to the present embodiment, the following effect can be obtained in both the case of the above-described one specific example and the case of the other specific example.

In the present embodiment, the spectacle lens <NUM> or the irregular-shaped lens 10a, which is the object to be processed, can be positioned using the first surface, which is the convex curved surface, as the reference. Then, the positioning using the first surface as the reference can be performed easily and highly accurately regardless of whether or not the spectacle lens <NUM> or the irregular-shaped lens 10a is the prism lens and regardless of the curvature (curve) of the first surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> or the irregular-shaped lens 10a.

That is, the positioning of the spectacle lens <NUM> or the irregular-shaped lens 10a having the convex optical surface can be easily and highly accurately performed according to the present embodiment.

Next, the laser processing performed by the laser processing machine <NUM> on the spectacle lens <NUM> or the irregular-shaped lens 10a will be described in detail with a specific example.

Before the laser processing by the laser processing machine <NUM>, first, the lens positioning mechanism positions the spectacle lens <NUM> or the irregular-shaped lens 10a (hereinafter collectively referred to as a "lens member") in the predetermined attitude as described above. Then, the controller recognizes the surface shape data of the first surface of the lens member using a dimensional measurement result of the sensor unit <NUM> for the first surface of the lens member in the state where the lens member is positioned in the predetermined attitude. Thereafter, the first electric actuator <NUM> and the second electric actuator <NUM> move the lens member up to a position where the laser processing machine <NUM> can perform the laser processing on the lens member while maintaining the positioned attitude of the lens member. As a result, the laser processing machine <NUM> can perform the laser processing on the lens member.

That is, the lens member on which patterning by the laser processing has been performed is obtained through at least a step of positioning the lens member having the first surface which is the convex optical surface and the second surface which is the optical surface facing the convex optical surface in the predetermined attitude, a step of recognizing the surface shape data of the first surface using the dimensional measurement result for the first surface of the positioned lens member, and a step of irradiating the first surface of the lens member with laser light to perform the laser processing on the first surface and controlling an irradiation position of the laser light based on the surface shape data.

Note that the lens member, which is the object to be processed, is kept in the state of being erected in the vertical direction in the case of performing each of these steps. As a result, foreign substances (for example, substances removed by the laser processing) or the like fall in the direction of gravity in any step (particularly the step of performing the laser processing), it is possible to prevent the foreign substances from adhering to the optical surface of the lens member.

Here, the step of performing the laser processing on the first surface of the lens member will be described in more detail.

It is desirable that laser light with which the lens member be configured to partially remove the thin film 13a, and not cause damage to the lens substrate <NUM> and the HC film <NUM> other than the thin film 13a due to the irradiation. Therefore, laser light having the following wavelength is used for the irradiation of the laser light in the present embodiment.

When a transmittance of the laser light is high, the energy of the laser light is hardly absorbed by a member irradiated with the laser light (that is, the laser light is easily transmitted), so that it is possible to suppress the damage to the member. On the other hand, if the transmittance is low, an absorption rate of the energy of the emitted laser light becomes high, and thus, it is possible to efficiently perform processing or the like using the energy absorption (for example, partial removal of the member). Therefore, if a transmittance difference between layered members is large, it is possible to perform the processing or the like using the laser light on only one member.

Based on this fact, laser light having a wavelength belonging to a wavelength band in which the difference between a transmittance for the lens substrate <NUM> and a transmittance for the thin film 13a is <NUM>% or more, preferably <NUM>% or more, more preferably <NUM>% or more, and even more preferably <NUM>% or more is used as the laser light to be emitted. Furthermore, in addition to the transmittance for the lens substrate <NUM>, laser light having a wavelength belonging to a wavelength band in which a difference between a transmittance for the HC film <NUM>, which is a non-removal film, and the transmittance for the thin film 13a is <NUM>% or more, preferably <NUM>% or more, more preferably <NUM>% or more, and even more preferably <NUM>% or more is used. Further, laser light having a wavelength belonging to a wavelength band in which a difference between a transmittance for the AR film <NUM>, which is another non-removal film, and the transmittance of the thin film 13a is <NUM>% or more, preferably <NUM>% or more, more preferably <NUM>% or more, and even more preferably <NUM>% or more may be used.

Note that transmittances of the lens substrate <NUM>, the HC film <NUM>, and the AR film <NUM> referred to herein may include a transmittance of a stack of these parts.

Examples of the wavelength band in which the transmittance difference is <NUM>% or more (that is, a more preferable transmittance difference) include a wavelength band of <NUM> to <NUM>. Then, in the removal step (S104), for example, laser light having a wavelength of <NUM> is emitted as the laser light having a wavelength belonging to such a wavelength band. This is because the transmittance difference is <NUM>% or more if the laser light has the wavelength of <NUM>, and the transmittances for the lens substrate <NUM> and the HC film <NUM> are <NUM>% or more, and the influence of the laser light on the lens substrate <NUM> can be suppressed.

When the transmittance difference is set to at least <NUM>% or more in this manner, it is possible to realize the removal of only the irradiated portion since the thin film 13a has a high absorption rate although the laser light passes through (does not cause damage on) the lens substrate <NUM>, the HC film <NUM>, and the like at the time of emitting the laser light. That is, it is possible to directly perform the patterning on the thin film 13a using the laser irradiation. Further, the direct patterning using the laser irradiation can be ensured if the transmittance difference is preferably <NUM>% or more, more preferably <NUM>% or more, and even more preferably <NUM>% or more.

Note that an upper limit of the transmittance difference is about <NUM>% in consideration of the fact that the lens substrate <NUM>, the HC film <NUM>, the thin film 13a, and the like all have light-transmitting properties.

The three-dimensional control of the focal position when irradiating the laser light as described above is performed as follows.

First, the laser processing machine <NUM> acquires the surface shape data for the first surface of the lens member, which is the object to be processed, from the controller of the lens positioning mechanism. On the other hand, the laser processing machine <NUM> acquires pattern data for the pattern <NUM> that needs to be formed on the lens member, which is the object to be processed, from a higher-level device of the laser processing machine <NUM>.

Then, the laser processing machine <NUM> changes the focal position of laser light in the XY direction according to the acquired pattern data, and also changes the focal position of the laser light in the Z direction according to the acquired surface shape data. In this manner, the laser processing machine <NUM> performs the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light to be emitted.

The surface shape data of the lens member, which is the basis of such three-dimensional control, is recognized in the lens positioning mechanism in the state where the lens member is positioned in the predetermined attitude using the first surface as the reference. Moreover, the lens member maintains its positioned attitude even in the state of being arranged at the position where the laser processing by the laser processing machine <NUM> can be performed. Therefore, the laser processing machine <NUM> can accurately perform the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light.

Further, for example, even when the lens member is a prism lens, the surface shape data is recognized in the state of being positioned using the first surface as the reference. Thus, the three-dimensional control is not affected by the prism amount of the lens member, which is different from a case where the second surface is used as the reference. Therefore, the laser processing machine <NUM> can precisely perform the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light without requiring data correction or the like in consideration of the prism amount, and can prevent the processing from becoming complicated due to the precise control.

Further, the surface shape data of the lens member is recognized based on the measurement result by the sensor unit <NUM>. Thus, for example, even if the curvature (curve) of the first surface of the lens member is different for each lens member, the difference in curvature is precisely reflected. In this regard as well the laser processing machine <NUM> can accurately perform the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light.

In other words, as the surface shape data is acquired from the lens positioning mechanism after undergoing the positioning with the lens positioning mechanism, the laser processing machine <NUM> can easily and highly accurately perform the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light regardless of whether or not the lens member, which is the object to be processed, is the prism lens and regardless of the curvature (curve) of the first surface of the lens member. Therefore, when patterning the first surface of the lens member using the laser processing by the laser processing machine <NUM>, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the patterning while suppressing the complicated processing.

Here, the pattern <NUM> in the patterning using the laser processing by the laser processing machine <NUM> will be described by taking a specific example.

In the following description, a case where a lens member, which is an object to be processed, is a prism lens will be given as an example. The prism lens is a spectacle lens with a prism prescription, and is configured such that a first surface (object-side surface) and a second surface (eyeball-side surface) face each other with a prism amount. Having the prism amount means that the prism amount other than "<NUM>" is given.

Even when the object to be processed is the prism lens, the pattern <NUM> formed on the first surface is formed by laser processing after undergoing positioning using the first surface as the reference as described above. Moreover, the laser processing is performed while supporting the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light based on the surface shape data of the first surface. Therefore, the pattern <NUM> is patterned with high accuracy, and specifically, is formed with the accuracy to be described below.

<FIG> is a partially enlarged view illustrating a specific example of the pattern in the spectacle lens according to the present embodiment. Note that the pattern <NUM> is a dot pattern formed of the plurality of dots (identically shaped portions) <NUM> in the illustrated example, and microscopic observation results of the dot pattern arranged in the vicinity of the center of the first surface of the lens member and microscopic observation results of the dot pattern arranged in the vicinity of a peripheral edge of the same optical surface are illustrated side by side. Further, <FIG> illustrates an example of the dot pattern according to the present embodiment obtained by the laser processing, and <FIG> illustrates an example of a dot pattern obtained using an inkjet recording method as a comparative example.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the pattern <NUM>, which is the dot pattern according to the present embodiment, is configured by arranging the dots (identically shaped portions) <NUM> on the optical surface, and a dimensional variation of each of the dots <NUM> is set to ±<NUM>% or less, preferably <NUM>% or less, and more preferably <NUM>% or less.

Further, even when comparing the dots <NUM> forming the dot pattern arranged in the vicinity of the center of the optical surface of the spectacle lens <NUM> and the dots <NUM> forming the dot pattern arranged in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the optical surface, each dimensional variation is set to ±<NUM>% or less, preferably <NUM>% or less, and more preferably <NUM>% or less.

The "dimensional variation" referred to herein refers to at least one and preferably both of (<NUM>) a variation in diameter dimension between the respective dots <NUM> each having a substantially perfect circular shape when viewed in a plane, and (<NUM>) a variation in vertical and horizontal diameter dimensions (aspect ratio) of a certain dot <NUM>. Specifically, regarding the above (<NUM>), the dimensional variation in diameter of each of the dots <NUM> falls within, for example, <NUM> + <NUM> or less, preferably <NUM> ± <NUM> or less, and more preferably <NUM> ± <NUM> or less both in the vicinity of the center and in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the optical surface. Further, regarding the above (<NUM>), the variation in aspect ratio of each of the dots <NUM> falls within, for example, <NUM> ± <NUM> or less, preferably <NUM> ± <NUM> or less, and more preferably <NUM> ± <NUM> or less.

On the other hand, in the dot pattern obtained using the inkjet recording method illustrated in <FIG>, the dimensional variation of each dot exceeds about ±<NUM>%, specifically, <NUM> ± <NUM>. Further, particularly in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the optical surface, there is a possibility that connected dots where dots are connected and satellites (small dots) that appear to be splashed around the original dots are generated due to a time difference of ink landing, and there is a high tendency for the variation in aspect ratio to increase.

That is, when the first surface of the lens member is the convex curved surface, the dimensional variation exceeding about ±<NUM>%, a dot shape collapse (aspect ratio variation), and the like may occur, for example, in the inkjet recording method. On the other hand, if a series of processes are performed through the positioning using the first surface as the reference as described in the present embodiment, the pattern <NUM> formed on the first surface side can be suppressed to have the dimensional variation of ±<NUM>% or less, preferably <NUM>% or less, and more preferably <NUM>% or less even when the object to be processed is the prism lens. In particular, the degree of improvement in the variation in the aspect ratio in the above (<NUM>) is higher than that in the case of the inkjet recording method.

Therefore, even in the case of forming a dot pattern formed by arranging the plurality of dots <NUM> on the curved optical surface, the dot pattern is formed with extremely high accuracy. As a result, stable quality can be ensured for the lens member after patterning.

In particular, when the first surface is the convex curved surface, there is a high possibility that the maximum dimensional variation occurs between the vicinity of the center of the first surface and the vicinity of the peripheral edge. However, the maximum dimensional variation can be suppressed to ± <NUM>% or less if the patterning is performed by the irradiation of laser light while supporting the three-dimensional control of the focal position as described in the present embodiment. Therefore, for example, even when a dot pattern is arranged over the entire first surface, the dot pattern is formed with extremely high accuracy. As a result, stable quality can be ensured for the lens member after patterning.

Note that specific values for the diameter dimension of the dot <NUM> have been given as examples in the above description, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

It is conceivable to set a diameter DD of the dot <NUM> to, for example, <NUM> or more, more preferably <NUM> or more, even more preferably <NUM> or more, and further, for example, <NUM> or less, preferably <NUM> or less, more preferably <NUM> or less, and even more preferably <NUM> or less.

Further, it is conceivable to set a distance AD from the center of one dot <NUM> to the center of another adjacent dot <NUM> to, for example, <NUM> or more, preferably <NUM> or more, and more preferably <NUM> or more, and further, for example, <NUM> or less, preferably <NUM> or less, and more preferably <NUM> or less.

It is conceivable to set the distance AD/diameter DD to preferably more than <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> or more, and even more preferably <NUM> or more, and further, preferably <NUM> or less, more preferably <NUM> or less, and even more preferably <NUM> or less.

In any case, the dimensional variation is suppressed to ±<NUM>% or less, preferably <NUM>% or less, and more preferably <NUM>% or less in the present embodiment.

With the laser processing according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, the laser processing machine <NUM> performs the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light based on the surface shape data acquired from the lens positioning mechanism after undergoing the positioning by the lens positioning mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to easily and highly accurately perform the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light without requiring the data correction or the like in consideration of the prism amount regardless of whether or not the lens member, which is the object to be processed, is the prism lens and regardless of the curvature (curve) of the first surface of the lens member. Therefore, regarding the patterning performed on the first surface of the lens member, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the patterning while suppressing the complicated processing.

Further, since the series of processing is performed in the state where the lens member, which is the object to be processed, is erected in the vertical direction in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent foreign substances and the like from adhering to the optical surface of the lens member in the course of the processing. Therefore, it is suitable for achieving the improvement in quality of the lens member.

Further, the pattern <NUM> formed by the patterning is configured such that the dimensional variation of each of the dots <NUM> forming the pattern <NUM> is set to ±<NUM>% or less, preferably <NUM>% or less, and more preferably <NUM>% or less. When the lens member, which is the object to be processed, is the prism lens, the dimensional variation exceeding about ±<NUM>% occurs, for example, in the inkjet recording method. However, if the patterning is performed while supporting the three-dimensional control of the focal position of the laser light based on the surface shape data of the first surface after undergoing the positioning using the first surface as the reference, the dimensional variation can be suppressed to ±<NUM>% or less, preferably <NUM>% or less, and more preferably <NUM>% or less. Therefore, the patterning can be performed with high accuracy even for the pattern <NUM> formed by arranging the plurality of dots <NUM>.

In particular, when the first surface is the convex curved surface, there is a high possibility that the maximum dimensional variation occurs particularly in the vicinity of the center and the peripheral edge of the first surface. However, if the maximum dimensional variation is suppressed to ±<NUM>% or less, preferably <NUM>% or less, and more preferably <NUM>% or less, the accuracy of patterning on the thin film 13a can be increased, which is extremely suitable for ensuring the stable quality of the lens member.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above disclosed contents illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. That is, a technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiment, and is defined by the claims.

Although the case where the lens member is the spectacle lens <NUM> or the irregular-shaped lens 10a has been mainly described as an example in the above-described embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the lens member, which is the object to be processed, may be a lens member other than the spectacle lens <NUM> or the irregular-shaped lens 10a as long as the first surface which is the convex optical surface and the second surface which is the optical surface facing the first surface are provided.

Further, the case where the spectacle lens <NUM> or the irregular-shaped lens 10a is the prism lens has been given as an example, but a lens member having no prism amount can also be handled by the present invention.

Claim 1:
A lens positioning mechanism comprising:
a member holding unit (<NUM>) that has a function of holding a second surface of a lens member (<NUM>, 10a) having a first surface, which is a convex optical surface, and the second surface, which is an optical surface facing the first surface, and biasing the held lens member (<NUM>, 10a) toward a side of the first surface; and
an attitude control unit (<NUM>) that regulates edge positions of a plurality of portions on the first surface of the lens member (<NUM>, 10a) biased by the member holding unit (<NUM>) to position the lens member (<NUM>, 10a) in a predetermined attitude,
wherein the attitude control unit (<NUM>) is configured to regulate the edge positions by a tapered portion (<NUM>) that extends in a biasing direction of the lens member (<NUM>, 10a), wherein the edge positions are configured to abut on the tapered portion (<NUM>).