Patent US2670102A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5205083A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5205083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for polishing optical lenses
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-10-24
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Granted: 1993-04-27
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Expires: 2011-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A new and improved method and apparatus for polishing optical lenses using free-flowing polishing fluid (23) passing across a flexible permeable membrane (1). The free-flowing polishing fluid (23) forces the permeable membrane (5) to conform to the shapes and curves of an optical lens (2), polishing and cooling the lens (2) at the same time. In addition, the free-flowing polishing fluid (23) continually replenishes the polishing compound of the polishing fluid (23) during the polishing process.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis R. Pettibone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:18
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B13/00; B24B13/01; B24B13/012; B24B13/02; B24B55/00; B24B55/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of polishing a lens using free-flowing polishing fluid pumped across a flexible permeable membrane, wherein the lens is mounted on a rotatable lens supporting device, comprising the steps of: a) pressurizing the flexible permeable membrane with a free-flowing polishing fluid, whereby the free-flowing polishing fluid is caused to flow across the flexible permeable membrane. b) pressing the flexible permeable membrane against the lens, whereby the pressure of the free-flowing polishing fluid across the permeable membrane exerts a uniform pressure on the lens and causes the flexible permeable membrane to adopt the shape of the lens, c) rotating the flexible permeable membrane atop the lens, and d) rotating the lens supporting device is the counter direction to or the same direction as the rotating flexible permeable membrane, whereby the lens is polished by the action of the flexible permeable membrane, and is cooled by the flow of the free-flowing polishing fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of polishing a lens using free-flowing polishing fluid pumped across a flexible permeable membrane, wherein the lens is mounted on a rotatable lens supporting device, comprising the steps of: a) pressurizing the flexible permeable membrane with a free-flowing polishing fluid, whereby the free-flowing polishing fluid is caused to flow across the flexible permeable membrane. b) pressing the flexible permeable membrane against the lens, whereby the pressure of the free-flowing polishing fluid across the permeable membrane exerts a uniform pressure on the lens and causes the flexible permeable membrane to adopt the shape of the lens, c) rotating the flexible permeable membrane atop the lens, and d) rotating the lens supporting device is the counter direction to or the same direction as the rotating flexible permeable membrane, whereby the lens is polished by the action of the flexible permeable membrane, and is cooled by the flow of the free-flowing polishing fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising, the following steps: prior to step (a) of the method: a) pumping out free-flowing polishing fluid stored in a polishing sump using a metering pump, b) controlling the force with which the polishing fluid flows with the metering pump, c) filling the flexible permeable membrane with the free-flowing polishing fluid, and prior to step (d) of the method: d) rocking the flexible permeable membrane by the action of a radial oscillation arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the permeable membrane and the axis of rotation of the lens supporting device are not collinear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the free-flowing polishing fluid flowing across said lens is continually replenished by the flow of free-flowing polishing fluid pressurizing said flexible permeable membrane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, in which the flexible permeable membrane is made of a natural cloth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, in which the natural cloth is silk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, in which the natural cloth is cotton.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, in which the free-flowing polishing fluid comprises a polishing compound suspended in a liquid medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8, in which the liquid medium is an oil, when polishing "soft" lenses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8, in which the liquid medium is water, when polishing "hard" lenses.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-26 | 1996-10-26 | 1997-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-26 | 2000-10-26 | 2001-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-26 | 2004-10-26 | 2005-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |