Polishing machine comprising sliding means transverse to the front face

1. A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:

a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element;

a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; and

a front face provided with a door enabling the access to the spindle and to the polishing tool,

wherein the polishing tool is mounted on a first jack which is rotationally mounted on sliding means by way of a first axis, the sliding means having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the front face, and

wherein the first axis is a pivot axis that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sliding means and generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said spindle and wherein the first jack pivotally rotates about the pivot axis.

2. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first jack is provided with a first and a second outer end, the first axis being located at least at a distance of one quarter of the first jack's length from the first outer end, and the first axis being located at least at a distance of one quarter of the first jack's length from the second outer end.

3. The polishing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the first jack is arranged to rotate up to 15° around the pivot axis.

4. The polishing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the first jack is rotatable between a first position in which the first jack is parallel to the spindle and a second position reached after a rotation of 15° of the first jack around the pivot axis.

5. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first axis is located substantially in the middle with respect to the first jack's length.

6. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the polishing machine further comprises a second jack arranged to rotationally drive the first jack.

7. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the optical element is an ophthalmic lens.

8. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the polishing machine further comprises a second spindle arranged to cooperate with a second polishing tool mounted on a further jack, the two spindles being placed side by side relative to the front face.

9. The polishing machine according to claim 8 wherein the two sliding means are arranged to slide simultaneously.

10. The polishing machine according to claim 8 , wherein the first jack and the further jack are arranged to rotate simultaneously.

11. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the spindle is rotationally driven by a motor located at the same level than the spindle.

12. The polishing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the motor is located behind the spindle relative to the front face.

13. The polishing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the motor and the spindle are mounted on a same platform.

14. The polishing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the motor rotationally drives the spindle by way of a belt.

15. A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:

a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element;

a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; and

a front face provided with a door enabling the access to the spindle and to the polishing tool,

wherein the polishing tool is mounted on a first jack which is rotationally mounted on sliding means by way of a first axis, the sliding means being substantially perpendicular to the front face, and

wherein the sliding means are insulated from the spindle and the polishing tool by means of a dome attached to the first jack and a lip seal closing onto the dome.

16. The polishing machine according to claim 15 , wherein the sliding means are insulated from the spindle and the polishing tool by means of bellows attached to the first jack.

17. The polishing machine according to claim 15 , wherein the sliding means are mounted on a rail which is protected by bellows attached to the sliding means.

18. A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:

a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element;

a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; and

a front face provided with a door enabling the access to the spindle and to the polishing tool,

wherein the polishing tool is mounted on a first jack which is rotationally mounted on sliding means by way of a first axis, the sliding means having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the front face, and

wherein the door is rotationally mounted on an arm.

19. The polishing machine according to claim 18 , wherein the arm is rotationally mounted relative to the front face by way of a second axis.

20. The polishing machine according to claim 19 , wherein the arm is rotationally driven around the second axis by a further jack.