Polishing machine comprising sliding means transverse to the front face

1. A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:

a spindle ( 3 ) arranged to rotationally drive an optical element ( 4 );

a polishing tool ( 5 ) mobile relative to the spindle ( 3 );

a front face provided with a door ( 15 ) enabling the access to the spindle ( 3 ) and to the polishing tool ( 5 );

wherein the polishing tool ( 5 ) is mounted on a body ( 30 ) which is pivotally mounted on a sliding carriage ( 37 ) by way of a shaft ( 36 ), the sliding carriage being mobile in the course of the polishing operations along a direction substantially perpendicular to the font face whereas the shaft ( 36 ) remains substantially parallel to the front face and perpendicular to the spindle ( 3 ), and

wherein the body is a first jack provided with a rod ( 35 ), the rod being arranged to hold the polishing tool ( 5 ).

2. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the body ( 30 ) is provided with a first and a second outer end, the shaft ( 36 ) being located at least at a distance of one quarter of the body length from the first outer end, and the shaft ( 36 ) being located at least at a distance of one quarter of the body length from the second outer end.

3. The polishing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the body ( 30 ) is arranged to pivot up to 15° around the shaft ( 36 ).

4. The polishing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the body ( 30 ) is pivotable between a first position in which the body ( 30 ) is parallel to the spindle ( 3 ) and a second position reached after a rotation of 15° of the body around the shaft ( 36 ).

5. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft ( 36 ) is located substantially in the middle with respect to the body length.

6. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the polishing machine further comprises a second jack ( 53 ) arranged to pivotally drive the body ( 30 ).

7. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the optical element is an ophthalmic lens ( 4 ).

8. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the polishing machine further comprises a second spindle ( 3 ) arranged to cooperate with a second polishing tool ( 5 ) mounted on a second body ( 30 ) which is pivotally mounted on a second sliding carriage, the two spindles ( 3 ) being placed side by side relative to the front face.

9. The polishing machine according to claim 8 , wherein the two sliding carriages ( 37 ) are arranged to slide simultaneously.

10. The polishing machine according to claim 8 , wherein the two bodies ( 30 ) are arranged to pivot simultaneously.

11. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the spindle ( 3 ) is rotationally driven by a motor ( 74 ) located at the same level than the spindle ( 3 ).

12. The polishing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the motor ( 74 ) is located behind the spindles ( 3 ) relative to the font face.

13. The polishing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the motor ( 74 ) and the spindle ( 3 ) are mounted on a same platform ( 23 ).

14. The polishing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the motor ( 74 ) rotationally drives the spindle ( 3 ) by way of a belt ( 27 ).

15. The polishing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the door ( 15 ) is rotationally mounted on an arm ( 17 ).

16. The polishing machine according to claim 15 , wherein the arm ( 17 ) is rotationally mounted relative to the front face by way of a second shaft ( 19 ).

17. The polishing machine according to claim 16 , wherein the arm ( 17 ) is rotationally driven around the second shaft ( 19 ) by a third jack ( 21 ).

18. A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:

a spindle ( 3 ) arranged to rotationally drive an optical element ( 4 );

a polishing tool ( 5 ) mobile relative to the spindle ( 3 );

a front face provided with a door ( 15 ) enabling the access to the spindle ( 3 ) and to the polishing tool ( 5 );

wherein the polishing tool ( 5 ) is mounted on a body ( 30 ) which is pivotally mounted on a sliding carriage ( 37 ) by way of a shaft ( 36 ), the sliding carriage being mobile in the course of the polishing operations along a direction substantially perpendicular to the font face whereas the shaft ( 36 ) remains substantially parallel to the front face and perpendicular to the spindle ( 3 ), and

wherein the sliding carriage is insulated from the spindle ( 3 ) and the polishing tool ( 5 ) by a dome ( 31 ) attached to the body ( 30 ) and lip seal ( 32 ) closing onto the dome.

19. The polishing machine according to claim 18 , wherein the sliding carriage is insulated from the spindle ( 3 ) and the polishing tool ( 5 ) by a bellows ( 33 ) attached to the body ( 30 ).

20. The polishing machine according to claim 18 , wherein the sliding carriage is mounted on a rail ( 42 ) which is protected by bellows ( 33 ) attached to the sliding carriage ( 37 ).