Method for making coated lenses for spectacles and support for lens blanks

Abstract

A method for producing a coated lens for eyeglasses by PVD physical vapor deposition, the method comprising: a stage of preparing a lens blank, the lens blank being provided with a first centering reference; a stage of preparing a support body, the support body being provided with a first support seat and a first molded through hole; and a stage of preparing a centering template, the centering template being provided with a second support seat and a second through hole for the support body. Thus, the method comprises an assembly stage, wherein the lens blank is accommodated in the first support seat, the first centering reference being oriented relative to the second centering reference, and wherein the support body is accommodated in the second support seat, the first and second through holes being aligned. The method also comprises a stage of coating the lens blank by PVD physical vapor deposition, wherein a coating whose exposed contour coincides with the first molded through hole is deposited on the lens blank; and finally a cutting stage, wherein the lens blank is cut along a cutting contour shaped as an eyeglass lens and oriented relative to the first centering reference.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a coated lens of spectacles by PVD physical vapor deposition and a support body for lens blanks.

[0002] The method and the support body concerned are intended for use in the ophthalmic industry for producing ophthalmic lenses in question which are optimally coated with a colored coating, in particular with a mirror coating.

[0003] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the support in question is intended for use in the method in question for producing a coated ophthalmic lens and if the coating is shaped and oriented relative to the edge of the coated ophthalmic lens.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention is applicable to the glasses industry and glasses production fields. Background Art

[0005] In order to make glasses more welcoming to the outside world, glasses with "mirror" lenses or coated lenses that reflect the image of the surroundings at which the glasses are pointed, like a mirror, have been launched on the market over the years.

[0006] To date, two methods of producing mirrored lenses are known, also referred to below as "mirror" methods, whereby eyeglass lenses are coated by physical vapor deposition, which is well known in the industry by the English abbreviation PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition). The coatings deposited by the above methods thus give the eyeglass coated lenses a mirror tinting.

[0007] In particular, the first known mirroring method involves coating the eyeglass lens with a thin layer of a metallic material having good light reflecting qualities, thereby giving the lens the desired mirrored appearance.

[0008] The second known mirror method involves coating the lens with a thin film consisting of several layers of different materials, usually a multilayer structure consisting of alternating layers of two materials.

[0009] In particular, the materials used in the second known mirror method are generally inorganic oxides such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), silicon dioxide (SiO2), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), hafnium dioxide (HfO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silicon oxide (SiO) and magnesium oxide (MgO2), or inorganic salts such as magnesium fluoride (MgF2) and cerium fluoride (CeF2).

[0010] The specular coloration obtained by the second known specular method is not due to the color of the materials forming the individual layers (which are actually transparent or white when used alone), but to optical interference effects between the individual components of light reflected and refracted by each layer.

[0011] In more detail, the individual components of reflected and refracted light may be superimposed on each other, giving rise to optical interference phenomena, which determine that the light radiation reflected by the film is concentrated only at certain wavelengths of the visible spectrum. As a result, a certain color of the film can be perceived, which depends on the type of materials that make up the layers, the number of overlapping layers and their thickness.

[0012] In particular, knowing the reflective and refractive properties of the different materials used, the dimensions of the various layers making up the film can be adjusted to obtain the desired specular coloration.

[0013] Both mirror methods mentioned above involve a method of depositing at least one coating layer (a layer of a metallic material or layers of different materials constituting a thin film) on the lens to be tinted by a PVD process, usually with a thickness in the nanometer range.

[0014] In more detail, the known type of PVD process is usually carried out in a vacuum mirror chamber, and the material to be deposited (for example, zirconium, titanium or chromium in the case of depositing a metal material layer, titanium oxide or silicon oxide in the case of depositing a thin film) is prepared therein and then combined with the lens blank to be coated to achieve a mirror effect.

[0015] In particular, in the following text, the term "lens blank" refers to a lens that is generally circular and has larger dimensions than the coated lens that is mounted on a spectacle frame.

[0016] Furthermore, in the following text, the term "lens" refers to a substantially transparent object, preferably made of plastic or glass, and substantially sheet-like, or having a substantially negligible thickness relative to its surface extension, which may be provided with two flat surfaces or at least one curved surface, and which may be coated with a coating on at least one of its surfaces.

[0017] Advantageously, the above-described lens blanks allow standardization of the production and coating stages of the spectacle lenses, these stages being carried out, in fact, on blanks all having the same shape and size, which are subsequently cut into the desired spectacle lens shape.

[0018] In particular, the above-mentioned known type of PVD process involves placing the material to be deposited on the lens in a special crucible arranged in the mirror cavity. The material is then heated until it sublimates (or evaporates) into a gas phase, thereby generating a gas phase particle flow dispersed in the vacuum mirror cavity.

[0019] The lens blank is usually placed in a support seat formed by a special support, for example of the type shown in FIG. 1A , which is oriented so that the lens can intercept the gas phase flow of the metallic material. In more detail, the support of the known type is usually in the form of a spherical cap placed inside the lens cavity, wherein the crucible is substantially located in the center of the spherical cap.

[0020] Furthermore, the support seat of the support member is provided with a through hole, through which the gas phase particle flow dispersed from the crucible can pass, so as to deposit the coating onto the surface of the lens and close the through hole.

[0021] These known methods using PVD processes have the advantage of producing high-quality coated lenses that are highly resistant to abrasion, scratching and corrosion, and in addition can be obtained in a wide range of shades depending on the material to be deposited. However, these methods have proven themselves in practice to be not without disadvantages.

[0022] A disadvantage of the above-mentioned mirror method is that the coloration obtained by the coating is not distributed uniformly on the lens blank, having a fine distribution, the intensity and coloration of which varies from the periphery to the interior of the lens blank.

[0023] In more detail, the strength and tint of a lens blank coated by the known methods briefly described above is closely related to the thickness of the coating deposited by the PVD process.

[0024] In particular, in the first known mirror method, the intensity of the mirror tinting is related to the thickness of the metal material layer deposited on the lens blank, wherein a thicker metal material layer corresponds to a more obvious and better covered mirror, while a thinner metal material layer corresponds to a lighter and less covered mirror, and the corresponding lens blank is more transparent.

[0025] On the other hand, in the second known mirror method, the depth of the coloring is related to the thickness of the film deposited on the lens.

[0026] As mentioned above, in practice, the second specular method allows obtaining specular colorings of different colors depending on the thickness of the layers constituting the film, so that different thicknesses correspond to different colors.

[0027] Thus, a lens blank coated using a PVD process by methods of known type has a thinner coating around the circumferential edge, fading gradually from the center of the lens blank outward.

[0028] This annular edge is formed due to the gas phase particle flow diffusing in the lens cavity in a substantially random manner, and the gas phase particles that make it up can be intercepted by the centering template before cutting the lens blank.

[0029] In fact, the gaseous particle flow includes particles directed toward the lens blank perpendicular to its surface and particles inclined relative to its surface. In particular, the latter can be intercepted by the centering template and in particular by the peripheral wall defining its through hole, thus preventing these particles from reaching the lens blank.

[0030] Thus, in this way, the peripheral wall of the through hole projects a conical shadow on the lens blank, which becomes more blurred as it approaches the wall, and defines an annular portion of the through hole in which gas phase particles advancing along an inclined trajectory do not reach the lens blank, but are increasingly intercepted by the central template as they approach the peripheral wall.

[0031] Therefore, the area of ​​the lens blank affected by the shadow cone (i.e. the edge of the lens blank located near these peripheral walls) is covered by a thinner coating than the area not intercepted by the shadow cone (i.e. relative to the central area of ​​the blank), producing this progressive edge, which is not affected by the presence of the peripheral walls.

[0032] The extension of this edge depends on the height and inclination of the peripheral wall of the through hole through which the gas phase particle flow intercepting the lens passes. More clearly, a higher peripheral wall will project a larger shadow cone.

[0033] In practice, in the methods of producing spectacle lenses known hitherto, such a gradual edge change of the lens blank is rather complex.

[0034] In more detail, the method for making a coated lens of known type involves cutting the lens blank (excluding the gradient edge) to avoid the presence of even a portion of the above-mentioned gradient edge in the re-cut spectacle lens, which would be negatively perceived on the market. Moreover, the coating on the blank is currently distributed in a covering manner without taking into account the orientation of the blank. Therefore, the final cutting stage does not take into account the orientation of the blank during the coating stage.

[0035] Furthermore, it is also known to date to produce thin supports with shallow through-holes in order to minimize the extension of the gradient edge and to achieve a lens blank with a uniform coating thickness, so that eyeglass lenses with the desired shape and uniform coating can be easily cut out.

[0036] In particular, the eyewear industry needs to launch eyewear whose appearance is popular with consumers.

[0037] In this respect, the progressive edges on the lens blanks obtained by the methods of the above-mentioned known type do not currently provide a lens with a significant aesthetic effect. Moreover, more generally, it is not easy to take into account the position of the lens blank relative to the support during the coating phase, so as to obtain a shape designed with the lens blank oriented and then cut according to the designed shape, taking into account the shape of the lens to be produced. Summary of the invention

[0038] Therefore, in this case, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages shown by the known type of methods by providing a method so as to use PVD physical vapor deposition to produce eyeglass coated lenses and a support body that can be used for this method, so as to easily obtain a lens-oriented shape design.

[0039] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for coating eyeglass lenses so as to obtain an aesthetically pleasing gradient edge effect present inside the final lens.

[0040] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for coating lenses for spectacles in order to obtain a gradual effect of the desired shape and geometry.

[0041] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for coating lenses for spectacles that is easy to implement.

[0042] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for coating lenses for spectacles which can be easily implemented from known methods.

[0043] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for coating eyeglass lenses, which can be implemented using existing equipment plus a support body described in the present invention.

[0044] Another object of the present invention is to provide a support body that can be used in the method for manufacturing coated lenses for spectacles, which is cheap to manufacture and easy to use, and can realize a lens-oriented design. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] In accordance with the above objectives, the technical features and advantages of the present invention are generally embodied in the following detailed description, and the accompanying drawings are provided for reference, which are purely exemplary and non-definitive implementation forms, wherein:

[0046] - Figure 1A Shows a support seat formed by a special support member on which a lens blank is placed according to the prior art;

[0047] - Figure 1B A schematic diagram showing a PVD device according to the present invention, which is intended to be used in a method for manufacturing coated lenses for spectacles;

[0048] - Figure 2 show Figure 1B An enlarged view of the centering template used in the method of the present invention can be seen;

[0049] - Figure 3 A perspective view showing a first embodiment of a support according to the invention and a lens blank associated with said support.

[0050] - Figure 4 It is shown that the method according to the present invention is located Figure 2 A support seat Figure 3 The support body;

[0051] - Figure 5 show Figure 3 a front view of the support body;

[0052] - Figure 6 show Figure 5 Support body Figure 5 A cross-sectional view along line VI-VI;

[0053] - Fig. 7A , 7B , 7C display Figure 6 Three sections of three supports of the type shown, supporting a lens blank and provided with several through-holes delimited by peripheral walls extending to different depths;

[0054] - Figure 8 A blank of a coated lens according to the method of the present invention is shown;

[0055] - Fig. 9 show Figure 8 An enlarged view of the lens in which the gradual edge of the coating deposited on the lens blank is visible;

[0056] - Fig.10 The coated lens blank produced according to the method is shown along the Fig. 9 A section along line XX, where it can be seen that the coating has different thicknesses;

[0057] - Fig.11 and 12 The design stage of the support body according to the present invention is shown.

[0058] - Fig.13 A pair of spectacles is shown equipped with a pair of coated lenses according to the method of the present invention;

[0059] - Fig.14 A front view showing a second embodiment of the support body of the present invention;

[0060] - Fig.15 show Fig.14 Support body Fig.14 A cross-sectional view along line XV-XV;

[0061] - Fig.16 and 17 A lens blank coated with the method is shown in each case (wherein a Fig.14 A support body) and a pair of coated lenses (composed of Fig.16 spectacles obtained from two lens blanks of the type shown;

[0062] - Fig.18 , 19 20 and 21 respectively show a third embodiment of the support body of the present invention, a lens blank coated by the method (wherein the lens blank is coated by the method) Fig.18A support body) and a pair of coated lenses (composed of Fig.19 Front view of a spectacles obtained with two lens blanks of the type shown;

[0063] - Fig.21 A schematic diagram showing the cutting stages provided by the method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] The method for realizing the coated eyeglass lens object of the present invention will be described below with reference to its realization and in particular with reference to the support of the lens blank according to the present invention.

[0065] The method and support to be discussed below are intended to achieve the production of a coated lens by PVD physical vapor deposition, wherein a coating layer 10 is deposited on a lens blank 1 to form a desired coated lens (hereinafter referred to as "final lens L").

[0066] In particular, the method in question is suitable for coating lens blanks 1 with coatings 10 of different shapes.

[0067] Furthermore, the coating 10 deposited by the method is specifically oriented along the lens blank 1, i.e. deposited at a position desired a priori, in order to obtain the desired aesthetic effect. In particular, the method advantageously allows the coating 10 to be deposited at a specific position in the final lens L, in order to be obtained starting from a lens blank 1 coated with the above-mentioned coating 10.

[0068] In particular, in this description, the term "orienting" refers to placing an object in a predetermined position relative to a specific reference center.

[0069] Furthermore, it is preferred that the coating 10 deposited by the method described has a "mirror" coloration, that is, it is capable of reflecting the image of the surroundings at which the glasses are aimed, like a mirror. It is obviously understood that the above-mentioned coating 10 can also have a non-mirror coloration without departing from the scope of this patent.

[0070] The method according to the invention comprises a preparation phase of a lens blank 1 provided with at least one first centering reference point 15 .

[0071] In particular, it is advantageous if the lens blank 1 is of a type known in the eyewear industry for producing ophthalmic lenses, in particular for producing tinted lenses for sunglasses, or tinted lenses for progressive sunglasses.

[0072] Advantageously, the lens blank 1 is made of various materials currently used in the market for lens production, such as plastic / organic materials or glass, in particular mineral glass.

[0073] Furthermore, according to the accompanying drawings, it is advantageous that the first centering datum 15 is realized in the form of one tooth protruding from the lens blank 1, and optimally, in the form of two teeth protruding from the lens blank 1, for example at two diametrically opposite positions of the above-mentioned lens blank 1. Advantageously, in the above-mentioned embodiment, in which the lens blank 1 has two protruding teeth, each protruding tooth is suitable for being used as the first centering datum 15.

[0074] Furthermore, the method of the present invention also involves a stage for preparing a support 2 for the lens blank 1, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 shown.

[0075] In more detail, the support body 2 is provided with a first support seat 3 for receiving the lens blank 1, which is preferably inversely shaped relative to the lens blank 1 so as to hold it inside by form coupling.

[0076] Furthermore, the support body 2 is provided with at least one second centering datum 25 relative to which the first centering datum 15 of the lens blank 1 to be received in the first support seat 3 can be oriented.

[0077] In particular, it is advantageous that the above-mentioned centering reference 25 is realized in the form of a recess recessed in the support body 2 and optimally recessed from the first support seat 3. Moreover, according to the figures, it is advantageous that the recess of the centering reference 25 is inversely shaped relative to the first centering reference 15 and is suitable for coupling with the latter shape.

[0078] Advantageously, in the embodiment in which the lens blank 1 is provided with two first centering references 15 realized in the form of two protruding teeth, the support 2 is provided with two second centering references 25 realized in the form of two recesses capable of accommodating the two protruding teeth.

[0079] Obviously, it should be understood that the subject matter of the present invention also includes the opposite embodiment, in which the first centering reference 15 is realized in the form of a recess recessed in the lens blank 1, and the second centering reference 25 is realized in the form of a tooth protruding from the support body 2, in particular protruding to the inside of the first support seat 3, so as to engage with the recess of the lens blank 1 through shape coupling.

[0080] According to the invention, the support body 2 is also provided with at least one first profiled through-hole 4, which is oriented relative to the second centering reference 25 in a manner such that the relative position is defined and known.

[0081] In more detail, the first profiled through hole 4 is advantageously delimited by at least one peripheral wall 4', as shown in the attached Figure 3 , 5 As shown in FIG. 18 , a first bottom wall 12 of the first supporting seat 3 extends through the supporting body 2 .

[0082] Advantageously, according to a second embodiment of the support 2, Fig.14 and 15 As shown, the first support seat 3 is provided with a plurality of first through holes 4, which are defined by a plurality of peripheral walls 4' arranged at an angle to each other.

[0083] According to the figures, the support body 2 is substantially cylindrical (meaning that it is optimally developed axially, like a plane projected along an axis), and is developed along the longitudinal axis Y between an upper surface 18 from which the first support seat 3 is obtained and an opposite lower surface 19. In particular, it is optimized that the peripheral wall 4' of each first molded through hole 4 is developed between the first bottom wall 12 of the first support seat 3 and the lower surface 19 of the support body 2 to obtain a predetermined height.

[0084] In more detail, it is optimized that according to the first embodiment of the above-mentioned support body 2, as shown in the attached Figure 6 7A-C, this predetermined height coincides with the difference between the height of the support body 2 (defined between its upper and lower surfaces 18, 19) and the depth of the first support seat 3 (defined by the distance between the upper surface 18 and the first bottom wall 12). According to a second embodiment of the support body 2, as shown in the attached Fig.15 As shown, some of the peripheral walls 4 ′ develop from the bottom wall 12 of the first support seat 3 , and their height is less than the predetermined height between the first bottom wall 12 of the first support seat 3 and the lower surface 19 of the support body 2 .

[0085] Advantageously, the peripheral wall 4 ′ of each first molded through hole 4 has a predetermined inclination relative to the longitudinal axis Y of the support body 2 .

[0086] In more detail, according to the attached Figure 6 and 7A In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1-C, the peripheral wall 4' of each molded through hole 4 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the support body 2. Fig.15 In the second embodiment shown, some of the first through holes 4 widen towards the lower surface 19 and are delimited by peripheral walls 4 ′ arranged obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis Y of the support body 2 .

[0087] Furthermore, advantageously, the peripheral wall 4 ′ of each first shaped through hole 4 is arranged along a shaped contour 24 which imparts a predetermined shape (design) to the first shaped through hole 4 .

[0088] Advantageously, according to the method object of the invention, the first shaped through-hole 4 is shaped with shapes and dimensions that vary according to the aesthetic effect that one wants to obtain on the lens blank 1 , as better described below.

[0089] In particular, advantageously, according to the first embodiment of the support body 2, as shown in the attached Figure 3-7CAs shown, the first shaped through hole 4 is shaped in the form of a spectacle lens, in particular in the shape of the desired final lens L. More clearly, the first shaped through hole 4 substantially has the shape and size of a specific final lens L intended to be mounted on a specific spectacle frame M.

[0090] Advantageously, in this first embodiment, the shaping of the first shaped through hole 4 can therefore vary depending on the model of glasses on which the final lens L is intended to be mounted. For example, the first shaped through hole 4 can be teardrop-shaped, or generally circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, or other shapes. Furthermore, advantageously, the first shaped through hole 4 can be shaped in the shape of a right lens or a left lens so as to be mounted on a pair of glasses equipped with a final mirrored lens L relative to the nose pad, as shown in the attached Fig.13 shown.

[0091] In addition, the first molded through hole 4 may be formed in the shape of one eyeglass lens that is not consistent with the shape of the final lens L. For example, the first molded through hole 4 may be made in the same shape as the final lens L, but may have a different size.

[0092] Another difference is that the shape and size of the first molded through hole 4 may not be consistent with the shape of the final lens L to be mounted on the eyeglass frame M. For example, it may be in the shape of a strip (depending on the attached Fig.14 , the second embodiment shown in 15) or in a triangle (according to Fig.18 The third embodiment shown) or other forms do not depart from the protection scope of this patent.

[0093] In particular, in each of the above embodiments, the first molded through hole 4 is oriented relative to the second centering reference 25 and is optimally centered relative to the first support seat 3 .

[0094] In addition, according to the present invention, the method also includes a preparation stage of a centering template 5, which is equipped with at least one second support seat 6 for accommodating the support body 2, and is equipped with at least one second through hole 7, preferably located on the second support seat 6, as shown below.

[0095] Advantageously, the centering template 5 prepared in the method described can be of a known type for receiving lens blanks 1 with known coating methods, so as to be easily available on the market.

[0096] For example, the centering template 5 advantageously has a spherical cap-shaped molding wall with a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, and a plurality of the above-mentioned second support seats 6 are obtained on the wall, such as Figure 1B and 2 shown.

[0097] In particular, each second support seat 6 develops from the outer surface of the center template 5 to a second bottom wall, on which a second bottom wall can be formed according to a known method (such as the attached Figure 1A ) supporting lens blank 1 or supporting body 2 (as shown in the attached Figure 4 shown).

[0098] According to the attached Figure 2 Furthermore, a corresponding second through hole 7 is provided for each second support seat 6, optimally centered with respect to the first shaped through hole 4 of the support body 2 intended to be housed in the second support seat. Advantageously, moreover, each second through hole 7 extends between the second bottom wall of the second support seat 6 up to the opposite inner surface of the centering template 5 in the shape of a spherical cap.

[0099] Furthermore, the method according to the present invention comprises an assembly phase, in which the lens blank 1 is received in the first support seat 3 of the support body 2 which is closed by the first molded through hole 4 .

[0100] In particular, due to the above-mentioned assembly stage, the lens blank 1 is arranged with its inner surface facing the first molding through hole 4 and is partially supported (corresponding to its edge) on the bottom wall 12 of the first support seat 3 of the support body 2 .

[0101] Furthermore, during the above-mentioned assembly phase, the lens blank 1 is housed in the first support seat 3 and the first centering reference point 15 is oriented relative to the second centering reference point 25, in other words, due to the mutual orientation between the two centering references 15 and 25, the lens blank is placed in a known position relative to the support body 2.

[0102] More clearly, the term "orientation" means that the lens blank 1 is accommodated in the first support seat 3, with its first centering datum 15 being arranged in a predetermined known position relative to the second centering datum 25. For example, according to the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, in which the first and second centering datums 15, 25 are realized in the shape of protruding teeth and recesses, during the assembly stage, the lens blank 1 is accommodated in the first support seat 3, and its protruding teeth are inserted into the recesses of the support body 2. Alternatively, according to a different embodiment, the first and second centering datums 15, 25 are realized in the form of reference recesses on the lens blank 1 and the support body 2, respectively, and during the assembly stage, the lens blank 1 is accommodated in the first support seat 3, with its reference recess facing the reference recess of the support body 2. Alternatively, according to another different embodiment, the first and second centering datums 15, 25 are defined by the peripheral shapes of the lens blank 1 and the first support seat 3 that are inversely shaped to each other, and during the assembly stage, the lens blank 1 is oriented so as to be inserted into the first support seat 3 according to size.

[0103] Furthermore, the above-mentioned assembly stage also involves receiving the support body 2 into the second support seat 6 of the centering template 5, and the first molded through hole 4 and the second through hole 7 are substantially aligned with each other (see Figures 7A-C).

[0104] Advantageously, the support body 2 is provided with a peripheral contour which is specifically inversely shaped with respect to the second support seat 6 , so that it can be inserted into the second support seat 6 in a dimensioned manner and retained therein by positive locking.

[0105] In particular, it is optimized that the support body 2 is provided with at least one third centering reference 16 and the centering template 5 is provided with at least one fourth centering reference 26. Operationally, therefore, during the assembly phase, the support body 2 is accommodated in the second support seat 6 and the third centering reference 16 is oriented relative to the fourth centering reference 26.

[0106] For example, according to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the third centering reference 16 is implemented in the form of a protruding ear, and the fourth centering reference 26 is implemented in the form of a recess that is inversely shaped relative to the protruding ear in order to accommodate the protruding ear and optimally fix it by form coupling (see, for example, Figure 4 ).

[0107] Furthermore, it is preferred that the support body 2 is provided with two or more third centering datums 16, for example, it is provided with four protruding ears, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and the centering template 5 is provided with two or more corresponding fourth centering datums 26, in particular, is provided with a number of fourth centering datums 26 at least equal to the number of third centering datums 16, for example, is provided with four recesses.

[0108] In addition, the support body 2 preferably has a hollow step 21 corresponding to the lower surface 19 which is recessed from its peripheral contour (see Figure 6 ), can hit the corresponding peripheral wall of the second through hole 7 of the center template 5, such as Fig. 7A , 7B Advantageously, according to Fig. 7A In the preferred embodiment shown in -C, the support body 2 is partially accommodated in the second through hole 7 of the centering template 5, and the first forming through hole 4 and the second through hole 7 have a common axial development feature.

[0109] Furthermore, preferably, the above-mentioned assembly stage involves mounting a plurality of supports 2 on the centering template 5, each of which is accommodated in a corresponding second support seat 6 and is capable of accommodating a corresponding lens blank 1 (see Figure 1B ).

[0110] In addition, according to the basic idea of ​​the present invention, the method also includes at least one stage of coating the lens blank 1 by PVD physical vapor deposition, in which a gas phase particle flow is directed toward the lens blank 1, passes through the second through hole 7 and the first molding through hole 4, and is deposited on the lens blank 1, thereby forming a coating 10 thereon.

[0111] In particular, the gas phase particles used in the above-mentioned coating phase may advantageously be made of any material deposited by a PVD process or any solid material capable of being transformed from a solid state to a gaseous state and vice versa by physical transformation at room temperature and pressure.

[0112] Advantageously, the gas phase particles used for the coating phase are made of a material that has a specular color itself (such as a metallic material) or a material that reflects the light affecting them and thus produces an optical interference phenomenon that reproduces the specular coloration (such as an oxide or an inorganic salt).

[0113] In more detail, metal materials that can be used in the method are, for example, zirconium (Zr), titanium (Ti) and chromium (Cr). In addition, inorganic oxides that can be used are, for example, titanium dioxide (TiO2), silicon dioxide (SiO2), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), hafnium dioxide (HfO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silicon oxide (SiO) and magnesium oxide (MgO2). In addition, inorganic salts that can be used are, for example, magnesium fluoride (MgF2) and cerium fluoride (CeF2). Obviously, the above list of materials should be understood as not being exhaustive or limiting of the present invention, and other metal materials, inorganic oxides or salts can be used in the above-mentioned coating stage by PVD process without departing from the scope of this patent.

[0114] In operation, the coating stage described above takes place inside a mirror chamber 101 of a device for physical vapor deposition 100 (hereinafter referred to by its English abbreviation PVD). In particular, advantageously, the PVD device 100 used in the method is a type of device known to those skilled in the art, and therefore will not be described in detail below.

[0115] In particular, the coating phase involves placing the lens blank 1 in the mirror chamber 101 of a PVD device 100 and associated with the support 2 and the centering template 5 using one or more materials to be deposited onto the lens blank 1, for example of the type described above.

[0116] In operation, the mirror chamber 101 involved in this coating phase is in a vacuum state, or in any case, a pressure less than or equal to 110 -2 mbar, more preferably the pressure is less than or equal to 10 -4 mbar.

[0117] Furthermore, the coating phase requires heating of the material to be deposited until it is converted into the gas phase. In particular, it is advantageous if this heating of the material to be deposited is carried out by means of electric heating means, such as resistors placed in correspondence with the crucible 102 of the material to be deposited, which resistors are suitable for heating the material to be deposited by the Joule effect.

[0118] Therefore, the heated material to be deposited can be transformed into a gas phase in the form of the above-mentioned gas phase particles, tending to expand in the vacuum mirror 101, thereby generating a gas phase particle flow.

[0119] Advantageously, furthermore, the vapor phase particles can also be condensed substantially instantaneously when in contact with the lens blank 1 , preferably the lens blank being kept at a temperature substantially lower than that of the vapor phase particles, thereby condensing and depositing the coating 10 .

[0120] Furthermore, preferably, the coating phase lasts for 30 to 60 minutes, preferably for about 45 minutes, or until a coating 10 having a desired average thickness, in particular an average thickness of several tens of nanometers to several hundreds of nanometers, is obtained.

[0121] According to the invention, the coating 10 deposited in the above-mentioned coating stage is provided with a bare contour 20 substantially coinciding with the first shaped through hole 4 and preferably smaller in size than the entire lens blank 1 .

[0122] In operation, as described above, when the gas phase particle flow contacts a surface whose temperature is significantly lower than its own temperature, it can be condensed almost immediately, thereby depositing the coating 10. Therefore, only a part of the gas phase particle flow that hits the lens blank 1 located at the closure of the first molding through hole 4 can be deposited on the lens blank 1, and therefore, the exposed profile 20 of the coating 10 is roughly inversely shaped to the molding profile 2 of the first molding through hole 4. Therefore, in this way, it is possible to obtain a coating 10 molded according to a desired shape and size, that is, molded according to the shape and size of the first molding through hole 4.

[0123] Furthermore, advantageously, according to the attached Figure 14-17 In the embodiment shown in , the support body 2 may be provided with a plurality of first molded through holes 4 , and thus the coating 10 may include a plurality of exposed contours 20 whose shapes substantially coincide with the plurality of first molded through holes 4 .

[0124] Furthermore, according to the basic idea of ​​the present invention, the method further comprises a cutting stage, in which the lens blank 1 is cut along a cutting contour 23, the shape of which is formed in the shape of a spectacle lens, and more preferably in a shape consistent with the shape of the final lens L to be obtained.

[0125] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned cutting profile 23 (in Fig.11 and Fig.21The lens blank 1 is oriented with respect to a first centering reference 15 (indicated by a dotted line) of the lens blank 1 in order to cut the lens blank 1 and take into account the molding position of the coating 10.

[0126] In fact, as described above, the first centering reference 15 is oriented relative to the second centering reference 25 of the support body 2 , relative to which the profile contour 24 of the first profiled through-hole 4 is oriented, which in turn coincides with the exposed contour 20 of the coating 10 .

[0127] Therefore, the cutting contour 23 is also oriented relative to the exposed contour 20 of the coating 10 and preferably coincides with this coating, as shown in the attached Figure 8 shown.

[0128] In particular, the cutting stage is optimally performed with the aid of cutting means, for example comprising a laser beam or the like, these cutting means being advantageously automatically driven by a control device capable of guiding them to cut the lens blank 1 along the cutting contour 23; for example Fig.21 , in which the above-mentioned cutting stage is schematically illustrated, wherein a laser beam is used to define cutting lines 32 distributed along a predetermined cutting contour 23 on the lens blank 1 .

[0129] In particular, it is advantageous that according to the attached Fig.21 Prior to the above-mentioned cutting stage, the lens blank 1 is advantageously associated with a second template 30 provided with a fifth centering datum 31 relative to which the first centering datum 15 is repositioned.

[0130] Advantageously, therefore, knowing the position of the fifth centering reference 31 , the position of the exposed contour 20 of the coating 10 is also known and the control device can therefore be programmed to automatically cut the lens blank 1 relative to the position of the coating 10 obtained.

[0131] Furthermore, advantageously, the method allows automating the cutting phase of the lens blank 1 , thus making it possible to speed up the production process of mirrored ophthalmic lenses using the method.

[0132] Advantageously, the method allows achieving many aesthetic effects on the lens blank 1. For example, it allows changing the shape and size of the coating 10 by changing the shape and size of the first shaped through-hole 4. Alternatively, it allows changing the coloring of the coating 10 by changing the material to be deposited on the lens blank 1. Furthermore, the method also allows forming several different coatings 10 on one lens blank 1 by changing the number of coating phases.

[0133] Therefore, some embodiments of the method will be described below, each of which advantageously aims at obtaining a different aesthetic effect.

[0134] As described above, the method can obtain 10 different colors of coating-coated lens blanks 1 by changing the material to be deposited in the coating stage.

[0135] In particular, according to a first embodiment, the coating 10 deposited during the coating phase consists of a metallic material or a plurality of metallic materials mixed together to form a homogeneous compound capable of giving the coating 10 a typical specular coloring of a specific metallic material.

[0136] On the other hand, according to the second embodiment, the coating 10 is composed of a plurality of sub-layers having different materials, and preferably of two or more sub-layers having two materials alternating with each other.

[0137] In particular, in the above-mentioned second embodiment, it is optimized that the materials constituting the various sublayers are inorganic oxides or salts (especially the types listed above), which are capable of reflecting and refracting light and superimposed on each other, capable of producing optical interference phenomena, thereby allowing the coating 10 to obtain surface coloring, which depends on the type of material used to manufacture each sublayer, the amount of overlap of the sublayers and their thickness.

[0138] In practice, the light incident on each sub-layer can be divided into a reflected component and a refracted component, which propagates inside the sub-layer until it is intercepted by the next sub-layer, where it is again divided into a reflected component and a refracted component. The various components of the light reflected and refracted by the superimposed sub-layers are thus added together, very likely according to the laws of optics, and produce optical interference phenomena which determine the formation of the optical radiation reflected by the coating 10, advantageously concentrated only at certain wavelengths of the visible spectrum and thus giving the coating 10 a certain specular color.

[0139] In particular, in the second embodiment described above, the size of each sub-layer of the coating 10 can be adjusted so as to obtain the desired final coloration.

[0140] In operation, the second embodiment involves placing a plurality of materials to be placed inside the mirror cavity 101 in corresponding crucibles 102 , and thus involves heating each crucible 102 at different time intervals so as to generate different gas phase particle flows at different times.

[0141] In this way, each sublayer of the coating 10 advantageously consists of only one material and contains no impurities of other materials.

[0142] Of course, it is also possible to heat simultaneously several crucibles 102 containing different materials to be deposited. In this way, the coating 10 deposited on the lens blank 1 consists of a substantially homogeneous compound containing the different heated materials.

[0143] As mentioned above, the method may also involve a different number of coating stages, in particular may involve two or more coating stages, in which the lens blank 1 is coated with different coatings 10 .

[0144] In particular, if the support body 2 is provided with two or more second centering datums 25, the method may comprise two or more coating stages interspersed with each other by corresponding assembly stages, wherein the lens blank 1 is removed from the first support seat 3 and replaced in the same angular position and the first centering datum 15 is oriented relative to another second centering datum 25.

[0145] In particular, it is advantageous if a first centering datum 15 realized in the form of a protruding tooth meshes into another second centering datum 25 realized in the form of a recess in order to change the orientation of the first centering datum 15 relative to the second centering datum 25 .

[0146] In particular, in each of the above-mentioned assembly stages, the lens blank 1 is oriented in a known manner at an angle preset in the design stage relative to a different second centering reference 25 so as to form a plurality of coatings 10 that at least partially overlap and are at a certain angle to each other on the lens blank 1, thereby obtaining an aesthetic effect, for example, a texture of a fabric formed by the plurality of coatings 10.

[0147] In addition, if the centering template 5 is provided with two or more fourth centering references 26, the method may comprise two or more coating stages interspersed with corresponding assembly stages, wherein the support body 2 is removed from the second support seat 6 and replaced in the same position at another angle, and the third centering reference 16 is oriented relative to another fourth centering reference 26.

[0148] In particular, it is advantageous if the third centering datum 16 embodied in the form of a protruding ear engages into another fourth centering datum 26 embodied in the form of a recess in order to change the orientation of the third centering datum 16 relative to the fourth centering datum 26 .

[0149] In particular, in each of the assembly phases described above, the support 2 is oriented in a known manner relative to a different fourth centering reference 26 according to an angle predetermined in the design phase.

[0150] Furthermore, advantageously, the method may comprise two or more coating stages interspersed with corresponding assembly stages, wherein the lens blank 1 is removed from a first support seat 3 of a support body 2 and placed into a different first support seat 3 of a different support body 2 and having at least one different first molding through hole 4.

[0151] In more detail, the expression "different first shaped through hole 4" is to be understood as meaning that in a subsequent assembly stage a different support body 2 is provided, which support body is provided with a first shaped through hole 4 which develops along a shaped contour 24 different from the shaped contour 24 along which the first shaped through hole 4 of the support body 2 arranged in the previous assembly stage develops. In a different embodiment, the above-mentioned different first shaped through hole 4 is advantageously defined by a peripheral wall 4 having a predetermined height or inclination different from the peripheral wall 4' of the first shaped through hole 4 of the support body 2 prepared in the previous assembly stage.

[0152] Furthermore, advantageously, each coating 10 obtained in the two or more coating stages described above may be provided with a different color to produce a further aesthetic effect.

[0153] Furthermore, it is advantageous if, according to the attached Figure 8 , 13 , 16, 17, 18 and 20, each coating stage produces a gradual edge 11 of the coating 10 by partial interference of the support 2 with the gas phase particle flow intended to be deposited on the lens blank 1.

[0154] In more detail, advantageously, the gas phase particle stream comprises a plurality of particles 103 suspended therein, each particle advancing towards the lens blank 1 on its own trajectory, at least partially randomly arranged within the gas phase particle stream.

[0155] Therefore, the particles 103 moving along a trajectory substantially parallel to the peripheral wall 4' of the first molding through hole 4 can completely pass through the first molding through hole 4 and can be deposited on the inner surface of the lens blank 1. Differently, the particles 103 moving along a trajectory inclined relative to the peripheral wall 4' can be intercepted by the support 2 (or by the centering template 5) and will not hit the lens blank 1.

[0156] In particular, as attached Fig. 7A As shown in Figure 1-C, the lower surface 19 of the support 2 can intercept at least a portion of the particles 103 that advance along a trajectory inclined toward the lens blank 1, especially the portion of the particles 103 that are directed toward the peripheral walls 4' of the first molded through hole 4. Therefore, the coating 10 deposited corresponding to these peripheral walls 4' can have a thickness smaller than that of the central area of ​​the coating 10, which is basically not affected by the presence of the peripheral walls 4' and thus determines the above-mentioned gradual edge 11.

[0157] In particular, if Fig.10 As shown, the coating 10 corresponding to the tapered edge 11 has a thickness that decreases from the central region outwards until it reaches a minimum thickness corresponding to the exposed contour 20. In particular, Fig.10The coating 10 corresponding to the gradual edge 11 is basically reduced in a step shape, but it should be noted that this representation is only schematic and not restrictive, and it is particularly advantageous that the coating 10 corresponding to its gradual edge 11 is reduced in a slope shape, in which no steps are visible.

[0158] Advantageously, the gradient edge 11 has a gradient coloring that fades from the thickest central area of ​​the coating 10 to the thinnest outer edge thereof, such as Fig. 9 and 10 In fact, as mentioned above, the coloring of the coating 10 depends on its thickness or the thickness of the various sub-layers that constitute it.

[0159] Furthermore, advantageously, the tapered edge 11 extends with a proportional width from the exposed contour 20 of the coating 10 to a predetermined height of the peripheral wall 4' of the first molded through hole 4. In fact, in the case of the same inclination angle of the trajectory of the particles 103, the peripheral wall 4' raised to a higher predetermined height can intercept the particles 103 directed towards an annular band of a lens blank 1 of greater width.

[0160] In particular, Fig. 7A , 7B 7C show three different supports 2 having through holes 4 defined by peripheral walls 4' extending at various predetermined heights. From a comparison of these figures, it can be noted that, under the same incident angle α of the particles 103 contacting the inner surface of the lens blank 1, the peripheral walls 4' with a higher predetermined height cast a shadow on the lens blank 1 that roughly coincides with the progressive edge 11 and has a greater width.

[0161] In particular, in the embodiment in which the peripheral wall 4' is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the support 2, the width of this shadow can be assimilated to the extension of an O-shaped conduit of a right triangle, between the peripheral wall 4' and the inclined trajectory of a particle 103. Advantageously, the width of the O-shaped conduit can thus be calculated by the ratio of the predetermined height of the peripheral wall 4' to the tangent of the angle of incidence α:

[0162] O = 4' / tanα.

[0163] That is, for a constant α, as the predetermined height of the peripheral wall 4 ′ increases, the width of the shadow cast by this wall 4 ′ also increases, and therefore the width of the tapered edge 11 of the coating 10 increases.

[0164] Advantageously, the peripheral wall 4 ′ of the first profiled through hole 4 is therefore calibrated to a predetermined height in order to obtain a desired width of the tapered edge 11 .

[0165] Advantageously, in addition, as mentioned above Fig.15As shown in the second embodiment, the peripheral wall 4' of the first molded through hole 4 can be provided with a predetermined inclination relative to the longitudinal axis Y. In particular, the peripheral wall 4' can be provided with a predetermined inclination angle relative to the longitudinal axis Y so as to reduce or eliminate the width of the gradient edge 11. In fact, in operation, the peripheral wall 4' inclined away from the center of the first molded through hole 4 can intercept a reduced portion of the gas phase particle flow, and thus can project a shadow with a smaller extension. Differently, the peripheral wall 4' inclined close to the center of the first molded through hole 4 can intercept an expanded portion of the gas phase particle flow, and thus can project a shadow with a larger extension.

[0166] Advantageously, the method thus involves calibrating the predetermined height and / or inclination of the peripheral wall 4 ′ according to the width of the tapered edge 11 to be obtained.

[0167] Advantageously, without departing from the scope of protection of the present patent, the method may involve calibrating the predetermined height and / or inclination of the peripheral wall 4 ′ so as to obtain a coating 10 substantially without a tapered edge 11 .

[0168] In particular, the coating 10 produced by the method described, either centered relative to the cut edge 20 and provided with a gradual edge 11, can give the final lens L an external effect that is particularly pronounced and cannot be achieved with the coating methods known to date.

[0169] Thus, advantageously, the cutting stage involves cutting the lens blank 1 along a cutting profile 23 , at least a portion of which is situated at the progressive edge 11 , so as to thus obtain a final lens L in which the coating 10 decreases along the progressive edge 11 towards the lens edge.

[0170] The method is therefore advantageously suitable for achieving an aesthetic effect with a specifically calibrated tapered edge 11 which has not been achievable with the coating methods known to date.

[0171] For example, according to the attached Fig.13 , a final lens L completely covered by the coating 10 can be formed, which has a gradual edge 11 arranged corresponding to the edge of the final lens L. Alternatively, according to the attached Fig.17 and 20 , a final lens L partially covered by coating 10 can be formed, which final lens can be formed into countless shapes and sizes, it can be molded in various shapes and sizes, and can be positioned inside the final lens L in a way that produces the desired aesthetic effect.

[0172] The present invention also relates to a support for a lens blank intended for use in a method for producing a coated spectacle mirror lens by PVD physical vapour deposition, in particular intended for use in the method of the invention described above, and in order to simplify the presentation the same reference terms will be used.

[0173] In particular, the support body 2 according to the invention is advantageously intended to be accommodated in a second support seat 6 of the centering template 5, which is known to the person skilled in the art and is commonly used in PVD devices 100, which is also well known to the person skilled in the art.

[0174] Advantageously, the support body 2 has an outer contour shaped to the lens blank 1, or is substantially circular, and preferably has substantially the same dimensions as the lens blank 1. In this way, the support body 2 is configured to be accommodated in the second support seat 6, in particular in size to be accommodated in the second support seat 6.

[0175] In more detail, according to the accompanying drawings, the support body 2 is optimally of a roughly cylindrical shape (meaning that it optimally has an axial extension as projected along an axis in the figure) and extends along the longitudinal axis Y between an upper surface 18 and a relative lower surface 19, intended to rest on a second bottom wall of a second support seat 6 of the centering template 5.

[0176] According to the concept of the present invention, the support body 2 includes a first support seat 3 for supporting the lens blank 1 to be coated.

[0177] In particular, and advantageously, the first support seat 3 is obtained from the upper surface 18 of the support body 2 and is optimally delimited by a bottom wall 12 and an annular shoulder 13 inversely profiled relative to the lens blank 1 .

[0178] In addition, in order to better accommodate the lens blank 1 in the first support seat 3, the bottom surface 12 of the first support seat 3 has a concave portion that is substantially inversely shaped relative to the convex portion of the lens blank 1. Figure 6 , 7A -C and 15.

[0179] Furthermore, according to the concept underlying the invention, the support body 2 also comprises at least one second centering reference 25 relative to which a first centering reference 15 of the lens blank 1 to be received in the first support seat 3 can be oriented (or located in a known relative position).

[0180] According to a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the second centering reference 25 is preferably realized in the form of a recess, recessed from the first support seat 3, in particular from its annular shoulder 13. Moreover, advantageously, the above-mentioned recess is inversely shaped with respect to the first centering reference 15, realized in the form of a tooth protruding from the lens blank 1, and can be engaged in a coupled manner with the lens blank.

[0181] According to another embodiment, the first and second centering references 15 , 25 can be realized in different shapes with respect to the protruding teeth and recesses, for example, they can be made in the form of notches, or they can be the inverse of the first support 3 and the lens blank 1 .

[0182] Advantageously, the support body 2 comprises two or more centering references 25, which are optimally realized in the form of recesses and in particular comprise a number at least equal to and preferably greater than the number of first centering references 15 of the lens blank 1. Advantageously, in this way, the support body 2 is suitable for housing the lens blank 1 in its first support seat 3 in a plurality of predetermined positions oriented relative to the second centering references 25.

[0183] Furthermore, according to the basic concept of the present invention, the support 2 comprises at least one first shaped through hole 4 oriented relative to the second centering reference 25. In particular, the first shaped through hole 4 is intended to allow a gas phase particle flow to pass through in order to deposit a coating 10 onto the lens blank 1 housed in the first support seat 3, the coating having a bare contour 20 whose shape substantially coincides with that of the first shaped through hole 4.

[0184] In particular, according to the Fig.14 and 15 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the support body 2 is provided with two or more first shaped through-holes 4 which are formed in a predetermined shape in order to obtain a coating 10 provided with a desired exposed profile 20 .

[0185] In more detail, each first profiled through hole 4 is advantageously delimited by at least one peripheral wall 4 ′ extending from the first support seat 3 to a predetermined height and distributed along the profiled contour 24 , the position of which is known relative to the second centering reference 25 .

[0186] In particular, the shaped profile 24 along which the peripheral wall 4' of the first shaped through hole 4 is distributed is specially shaped to have the desired shape and size. For example, the shaped profile 24 can be shaped in the form of a spectacle lens, and in particular in the form of a specific final lens L to be mounted on a specific spectacle frame M. Therefore, the shape can vary depending on the model of spectacles to be realized. For example, the shaped profile 24 can be shaped in the form of a water drop, or substantially circular, rectangular, trapezoidal or even other forms, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present patent.

[0187] Differently, the shape of the molding profile 24 may be different from the shape of the final lens L to be obtained from the lens blank 1, for example, it may be in the form of a sector, or may also be in the form of a strip (as shown in FIG. 14 ), or in a geometric form (as shown in FIG. 15 ). Fig.18 As shown), or other forms, do not depart from the scope of this patent.

[0188] Advantageously, the peripheral wall 4' develops between the first bottom wall 12 of the first support seat 3 and the lower surface 19 of the support body 2 and extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the support body 2 to a predetermined height substantially corresponding to the difference between the height of the support body 2 between the upper surface 18 and the lower surface 19 and the depth of the first support seat 3 between the upper surface 18 and the first bottom wall 12. In particular, the peripheral wall 4' extends a predetermined height, approximately between 0.1 and 5 cm, preferably between 0.5 and 3 cm.

[0189] The difference is that according to the Fig.15 , the peripheral wall 4' of the first through hole 4 can develop from the bottom wall 12 of the first support seat 3, and its height is less than the predetermined height between the first bottom wall 12 of the first support seat 3 and the lower surface 19 of the support body 2. In addition, it is advantageous that these peripheral walls 4' can be arranged obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis Y of the support body 2 to define the conical first through hole 4.

[0190] As mentioned above, the first shaped through-holes 4 are intended to be penetrated by a gas phase particle flow in order to deposit the coating 10 on the lens blank 1 .

[0191] In particular, the gas phase particle flow is of the type realized by a PVD device 100, for example for thermally evaporating one or more materials to be deposited, ie metallic materials, inorganic oxides or inorganic salts.

[0192] Furthermore, the gas phase particle flow passing through the first shaped through hole 4 can deposit the coating 10 with a bare contour 20 , the shape of which substantially coincides with the contour 24 of the first shaped through hole 4 .

[0193] Advantageously, the coating 10 described above has, starting from its exposed contour 20, a tapering edge 11 of less thickness, due to the partial disruption of the gas phase particle flow by the support 2 itself.

[0194] Furthermore, advantageously, each first shaped through hole 4 has a predetermined height which is calibrated to obtain a desired width of the tapered edge 11 of the coating 10, and the height of the coating is proportional to the predetermined height, as shown in the method of the present invention.

[0195] Advantageously, the support 2 is specially designed according to the shape of the final lens L to be achieved. Fig.11 and 12 , the design of the support 2 optimally starts from determining the geometrical center of the two final lenses L (left lens and right lens) connected to the spectacle frame M to be obtained. In particular, advantageously, the geometrical center is determined by the rectangular shape of the final lens L and drawing its straight lines, such as one or more diagonals or medians, such as Fig.12 as shown in the example.

[0196] The design of the support body 2 then also takes into account the optimal adjustment of the dimensions of the first receptacle 3 in such a way that it fixes the lens blank 1 to be received by means of a positive fit.

[0197] In particular, the size of the second centering datum 25 is designed according to the first centering datum 15 of the lens blank 1 to be received in the first supporting seat 3 .

[0198] Furthermore, advantageously, the first support seat 3 is arranged inside the support body 2 so that the geometric center of the final lens L to be obtained coincides with the geometric center of the first support seat 3 .

[0199] Therefore, it is advantageous that once the first receiving seat 3 is dimensioned, the first profiled through-hole 4 is dimensioned, the shape specifically profiled along the profiled contour 24 substantially coincides with the exposed contour 20 that is desired to be provided to the coating 10 .

[0200] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the first shaped through hole 4 is located inside the first housing seat 3 so as to position the coating 10 at a predetermined position in the final lens L that is to be obtained, depending on the desired aesthetic effect.

[0201] Finally, advantageously, the design of the support 2 also involves determining a function indicating the position of the peripheral wall 4' of the first shaped through hole 4 relative to the second centering reference 25. Thus, once the position of the peripheral wall 4' relative to the second centering reference 25 is determined, the position of this peripheral wall 4' relative to the first centering reference 15 is also determined. Advantageously, starting from this function, the position of the exposed profile 20 of the coating 10 deposited on the lens blank 1 relative to the first centering reference 15 is thus known.

[0202] Furthermore, advantageously, the design phase of the support body 2 also involves determining the dimensions of its outer contour, so as to allow the support body 2 to be inserted into the second support seat 6 of the centering template 5 according to the dimensions.

[0203] In particular, it is advantageous if the support body 2 comprises at least one third centering reference 16 relative to which the support body 2 can be oriented in the centering template 5 .

[0204] For example, the third centering reference 16 is advantageously realized in the form of a protruding ear 16 , which projects from an outer wall of the support body 2 and can be received in a fourth centering reference 26 of the centering template 5 , more advantageously in the form of a recess.

[0205] In more detail, the fourth centering reference recess 26 is advantageously obtained starting from the second support seat 6 of the centering template 5 , which is usually used to accommodate the protruding tooth of the lens blank 1 in mirror methods of known type.

[0206] Furthermore, it is preferred that the support body 2 has a step 21 recessed from an edge contour 19 of the lower surface thereof.

[0207] In particular, the aforementioned step 21 is intended to touch a corresponding peripheral wall of the second through hole 7 of the centering template 5 obtained from the second supporting seat 6 , so as to ensure a more stable positioning of the support body 2 in the second supporting seat 6 .

[0208] The method and support 2 thus conceived thus achieve the intended purpose, namely to enable the production of spectacle-coated lenses by means of a specifically oriented coating to achieve a desired aesthetic effect.

Claims

1. A method for producing coated lenses for spectacles by PVD physical vapor deposition, characterized in that: The method includes: - a stage of preparing a lens blank (1) provided with at least one first centering reference (15) and from which the desired coated final lens (L) is formed; - a stage for preparing a support body (2) provided with a first support seat (3) for accommodating a lens blank (1), at least one second centering reference (25) and at least one first molding through hole (4) oriented relative to said second centering reference (25); wherein at least one of said first molding through holes (4) is delimited by at least one peripheral wall (4') extending from a first bottom wall (12) of said first support seat (3) through said support body (2); wherein at least one peripheral wall (4') of at least one of said first molding through holes (4) is arranged along a molding contour (24) which imparts a predetermined shape to said at least one of said first molding through holes (4); - a stage of preparing a centering template (5) provided with a second support seat (6) suitable for receiving said support body (2) and with at least one second through hole (7); - an assembly phase, in which: - the lens blank (1) is accommodated in the first support seat (3) of the support body (2), when the at least one first molding through hole (4) is closed, and the first centering reference (15) is oriented relative to the second centering reference (25), wherein, due to the assembly stage, the lens blank (1) is arranged with its inner surface facing at least one first molding through hole (4) and is partially supported on the first bottom wall (12) of the first support seat (3) of the support body (2); and - the support body (2) is accommodated in the second support seat (6) of the centering template (5), and the first forming through hole (4) and the second through hole (7) are basically aligned; wherein the support body (2) is provided with a third centering reference (16), and the centering template (5) is provided with a fourth centering reference (26); wherein the assembly stage accommodates the support body (2) in the second support seat (6) of the centering template (5) by orienting the third centering reference (16) relative to the fourth centering reference (26); - at least one stage of coating the lens blank (1) by PVD physical vapor deposition, wherein a gaseous particle flow is directed toward the lens blank (1) through the second through hole (7) and the first molding through hole (4) and is deposited on the lens blank (1), thereby forming at least one coating (10) thereon, the coating having an exposed contour (20) whose shape roughly coincides with that of at least one first molding through hole (4) of the support body (2); wherein only a portion of the gaseous particle flow that impacts the lens blank (1) located at the closure of at least one of the first molding through holes (4) is deposited on the lens blank (1), thereby limiting the exposed contour (20) of the coating (10) to be roughly inversely molded to the molding contour (24) of at least one of the first molding through holes (4), so that the coating (10) molded according to the desired shape and size, that is, molded according to the shape and size of at least one of the first molding through holes (4) is obtained; - a cutting phase in which the lens blank (1) is cut along a cutting contour (23) shaped in the form of a spectacle lens and oriented relative to the first centering reference (15); wherein the cutting stage is performed with the aid of a cutting device, the cutting device being automatically driven by a control device, the control device guiding the cutting device to cut the lens blank (1) along the cutting contour (23); wherein, before the cutting stage, the lens blank (1) is associated with a second template (30), the second template (30) being provided with a fifth centering reference (31), the first centering reference (15) being repositioned relative to the fifth centering reference (31), so that by knowing the position of the fifth centering reference (31), the position of the exposed contour (20) of the coating (10) can be known, and therefore the control device can be programmed to automatically cut the lens blank (1) relative to the obtained position of the coating (10); Wherein, the support body (2) is specially designed according to the shape of the final lens (L) to be achieved; The design of the support body (2) takes into account the adjustment of the size of the first support seat (3), so that the first support seat (3) fixes the lens blank (1) to be accommodated in the first support seat (3) through shape coupling; wherein, once the size of the first support seat (3) is determined, the size of at least one of the first molded through holes (4) is determined, the shape specifically molded along the molded contour (24) roughly coincides with the exposed contour (20) that is desired to be provided to the coating (10), and at least one of the first molded through holes (4) is located inside the first support seat (3) so that the coating (10) is positioned at a predetermined position within the final lens (L) to be obtained based on the desired aesthetic effect; The design of the support body (2) provides a function for determining a position indicating a peripheral wall (4') of the first molded through hole (4) relative to the second centering reference (25), so that once the position of the peripheral wall (4') relative to the second centering reference (25) is determined, the position of the peripheral wall (4') relative to the first centering reference (15) is also determined; and starting from the function, the position of the exposed contour (20) of the coating (10) deposited on the lens blank (1) relative to the first centering reference (15) can be known.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first centering datum (15) is realized in the form of a tooth protruding from the lens blank (1), while the second centering datum (25) is realized in the form of a recess recessed in the support body (2), is inversely shaped relative to the first centering datum (15), and is suitable for engaging with the first centering datum (15) by shape coupling during the assembly stage.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first molded through hole (4) of the support body (2) is molded in the shape of a spectacle lens.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The cutting contour (23) coincides with the exposed contour (20) of the coating (10).

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The centering template (5) includes two or more fourth centering references (26); The method comprises two or more coating stages interspersed with corresponding assembly stages, wherein the support body (2) is removed from the second support seat (6) and replaced therein at the same angle, and the third centering reference (16) is oriented relative to another fourth centering reference (26) of the centering template (5).

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The support body (2) comprises two or more of the second centering references (25); The method comprises two or more coating stages interspersed with corresponding assembly stages, wherein the lens blank (1) is removed from a first support seat (3) of the support body (2) and replaced therein at the same angle, the first centering reference (15) being oriented relative to another second centering reference (25) of the support body (2).

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method comprises two or more coating stages which are interspersed with corresponding assembly stages, wherein the lens blank (1) is taken out from a first support seat (3) of the support body (2) and inserted into another first support seat (3) of another support body (2), the other first support seat having at least one different first molding through hole (4).

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The support body (2) is provided with a plurality of the first molded through holes (4) and the coating (10), and comprises a plurality of exposed contours (20) whose shapes substantially coincide with the plurality of the first molded through holes (4).

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the coating stage, a gradual edge (11) of the coating (10) is produced by partial interference between the support (2) and the gas phase particle flow; The cutting stage involves cutting the lens blank (1) along the cutting profile (23), at least a portion of which corresponds to the progressive edge (11).

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