Pneumatically assisted unidirectional arcuate diaphragm conformal tool

摘要

A tool for polishing/fining an ophthalmic lens has a housing with an interior open at the ends thereof. Resiliently elastic diaphragms with central spherical work surfaces extend across the ends of the housing. A cluster of rods extends longitudinally in sliding abutment within the housing from one diaphragm work surface to the other. A cap has a rim which fixes the exterior perimeter of the first diaphragm against the top of the housing. The cap defines a pneumatic chamber longitudinally aligned between the exterior surface of the first diaphragm and the interior wall of the cap. A passage through the cap wall admits air under pressure into the chamber. A ring fixes the exterior perimeter of the other diaphragm against the bottom of the housing. Preferably the cap and ring thread onto the housing with the diaphragms therebetween. Pneumatic distortion of one diaphragm is transmitted by longitudinal displacement of individual ones of the cluster of rods to the interior surface of the other diaphragm. This causes the other diaphragm to dynamically comply to the surface of a lens as the other diaphragm and the lens are relatively laterally displaced. Most preferably, the interior opening of the housing will be polygonal and extend through a spherical indention on one end of the housing and a spherical protrusion on the other end of the housing to provide maximum longitudinal control of rod displacement. An hexagonal opening and rod cluster has been found to work very satisfactorily.