Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
109~78B
S P E C I F I C A T I 0 N
The present invention relates generally to mirror-type
binoculars or similar viewing instruments and has particular
reference to a mechanism for simultaneously forming eight
(four pairs~ mirrors of either the replicated or the con-
ventional type and then positioning the mirrors which form a
part of the optical system of a mirror-type binocular accurately
in porro relation~hip within the binocular shell.
In a binocular which employs porro-related mirrors, if
any one of the eight mirrors deviates a few thousandths of an
inch in any plane with respect to the other mirrors, proper
collimation will be lost. Moreover, with such a mirror
deviation, it is practically impossible to determine which
mirror is at fault or out of proper ad~ustment and, even if
detection could be made, read~ustment thereof would be a tedious
task and hardly worth the effort from the standpoint of binocular
production or manufactureO
The sub~ect invention is specifically concerned with a
novel apparatus or mechanism which is adapted in connection with
each operation first simultaneously to form eight mirrors in the
form of four pairs of mirrors and then to mount or install the
pairs of mirrors in the shell of a hinocular in accurate porro
relationship, and is further adapted to be repeatedly operated,
there~y largely eliminating the skilled hand labor that has
heretofore prevented the mass production of mirror-type binoculars.
Moreover, by utilizing the present mechanism, any existing small
manufacturing tolerances which may ~e present in successive
binocular shells or in successive mirror blanks are automatically
compensated for and the mirrors are delivered durins each cycle
of operation and accurately positioned in their porro relation-
ship and, thereafter, remain accurately and properly positionedin the binocular shell.
~ riefly, the mechanism constitutino the prPsent invention
~09`~78B
press in that it includes or embodies a bed or base and a
vertically shiftable cooperating press head. Facilities are
provided on the press base for selectively sup~orting the
binocular shell in either an upright or an inverted position.
In between the base and head, i.e., above the base and beneath
the head, there is removably disposed a ~lock-supporting stage
having mounted thereon four prism-like master blocks, each of
which is provided with two accurately ground right-angle master
surfaces, there being eight such surfaces in all with the
surfaces being presented generally up~ardly. Each master
surface is designed to have formed thereon or applied thereto
a reflective, mirror-forming layer in the form of a coating or
a conventional mirror for subsequent transfer to a mirror blank.
Directly above the block-supporting stage and in vertical
alignment with the four prism-like master blocks are four prism
caps having pairs of downwardly facing right angle surfaces
which are shaped correspondingly to and precisely complement
the eight up~,ardly facing right-angle master surfaces of the
four prism-like master blocks, such pr~sm caps being mounted on
and movable bodily with the vertically shiftable press head.
Each pair of do~wardly facing right-angle surfaces of a prism
cap is designed to receive thereon in substantially coextensive
relationship a right-angle mirror blank the inner or opposed
sides of ~ch constitute mounting surfaces which are adapted
to receive thereon the reflective, mirror-forming layers ~ich
previous1y were applied to the master surfaces of the associated
or subjacent prism-like master block on the block-supporting
stage. With the latter in pos;tion beneath the Dress head, an
initial lowering of the head brings the mounting surfacec of
the riaht-angle mirror blanks into effective engc,gement with
the reflect~ve, mirror-forming layers on the master surfaces
of the prism-like master blocks ~nd a su~sequent raising of the
10~4788
press head causes the layers to be picked off or removed from
said master surfaces as the result of adherence to the mounting
surfaces of the mirror blanks, the right-angle mirror blanks
with the transferred, reflective, mirror-forming layers thereon
constituting the eight mirrors for the hinocular being formed
by use of the aforementioned press-type mechanism. ~hereafter,
with the block-supporting stage removed from its normal operative
posit10n in the press-type mechanism and with the binocular
shell assuming e~ther its upright or its inverted position on
the press base, a second lowering or downward shifting of the
press head will lower one set of two right-angle mirror blanks
with the adhered reflective, mirror-forming layers thereon into
the proper posit~on in the binocular shell, thus supplying the
optical system of the binocular with four of its mirrors.
Reversing of the binocular shell on the press base and lowering
the press head a second time in the same manner will bring the
other set of two right-angle mirror blanks with the adhered
reflective, mirror-forming layers thereon into position in the
shell, thus supplying the remain~ng four mirrors for the optical
system of the binocular. An important feature of the present
invention resides ~n the fact that a suitable epoxy or other
ce~entit~ous coating is applied to either the edges of the
mirror ~lanks, the mirror-receiving edges of the binocular shell,
or to both sets of such ed~es before either of the two mirror-
carrying blanks is lowered into position with respect to the
binocular shell which is intentionally made to be somewhat
oversize for loose fit of the hlanks with the mirrors thereon,
and the further fact that the press head is maintained in its
lowered position for a period of time which is adequate for the
30 epoxy or other cementitious material to hecome fully set or
hardened, Thus, any discrepancies arising due to l~ide manu-
facturing tolerances in the construction Qf either the right-
angle mirror blanks or mirror~seating apertures in the ~in~cular
10~788
shell will not affect the correct positioning of the mirrors
in the shell since the press head will hold the mirror-carrying
blanks fixedly positioned in their proper relationship with
respect to the shell while the epoxy sets.
The provision of a press mechanism such as that which has
briefly been outlined above and possesses the stated advantages,
constitutes the principal object of the present invention.
A further object of the invention is to provide a
mechanism which is designed primarily for forming mirrors and
mounting them properly in the shells of mirror-type binoculars
and is characterized by simplicity, high efficiency, and
comparatively low cost of manufacture~
Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention not
at this time enumerated will become readily apparent as the
nature of the invention is better understood from a consideration
of the following specification or detailed description.
The invention consists in the several novel features which
are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly pointed out
by the claims at the conclusion hereof.
In the accompanyin~ three sheets of drawings forming a
part of this specification, one physical and illustrative
embodiment of the invention is shown.
In these drawings:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view, illustrated in somewhat
exploded fashion, showing a press-type mechanism which is to
~orm the necessary number of mirrors for a mirror-type binocular
and then properly to apply the mirrors ~n the binocular shell;
FI~. 2 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a portion
of the press-type mechanism of FI~. l;
FIG. 3 is a perspective v~ew of a hinocular shell into
which the mirrors are adapted to ke placed hy utilizing the
mechanism of FI~,. l;
10~7~8
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front perspective view
of a portion of the press-type mechanism of FIG. 1, illustrating
a method step whereby two pairs of mirrors are placed in the
eyepiece apertures of the bihocular shell of FIG. l; and
FIG. S is an enlarged fragmentary front perspective view
similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating a method step whereby two
pairs of mirrors are placed in the ob~ective apertures of the
binocular shell of FIG. 3.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, and in particular
to FIG. 1, there is disclosed in this view a press-type mechanism
10 by means of wh~ch a plurality of comparatively thin, reflective,
mirror-forming layers that are initially applied to the outside
right-angle faces that exist on a first pair of prism-like
master blocks 12 and 12' are transferred to the inner right-
angle surfaces that exist on a corresponding pair of mirror
blanks 14 and 14', while at the same time a plurality of similar,
reflective, mirror-forming layers that are initially applied to
outside right-angle faces that exist on a second pair of prism-
like master blocks 16 and 16' are transferred to the inner right-
angle surfaces that exist on a corresponding pair of mirrorblanks 18 and 18l~ A first operation of the mechanism 10 serves
to effect the aforementioned transfer of eight reflective, mirror-
forming layers simultaneously from their respective master blocks
12, 12', 16 and 16' to the proper surfaces of the corresponding
mirror blanks 14, 14', 18 and 18'. Thereafter, by a second
operation of the press-type mechanism and after removal from
the mechanism of the hereinafter described removahle supporting
member or stage on which the master blocks are mounted, the
mirror blanks 14 and 14' with the mirror-forming layers thereon
are caused to be applied to or inserted in the body of a binocular
shell such as the shell which is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the
drawings and designated in its entirety by the reference numeral
20, the binocular shell at this time being supported by the
10~4788
press-type mechanism 10 in what will be referred to herein as
an inverted position as shown in FIG. 4 where certain shell
surfaces or edges present themselves upwardly for reception
thereon of the mirror blanks 14 and 14'. Application of the
mirror-carrying blanks 18 and 18' to, or insertion thereof in,
the binocular shell 20 is then effected by inverting the shell
so that it is supported with certain other shell surfaces or
edges presented upwardly and a third press mechanism operation
is resorted to in order to cause the mirror-carrying blanks
18 and 18' to be placed on such surfaces or edges as shown in
FIG. 5.
As will be set forth in detail subsequently when the nature
of the press-type mechanism 10 is better understood, deposition
of the mirror-carrying blanks on or in the binocular shell is
made with extreme accuracy so that the.various resultant binocular
mirrors assume their desired and necessary porro relationship
in the optical system of the binocular, the exactitude of their
positioning being the result of an epoxy bonding of such mirror-
carrying blanks in place so that any small discrepancies in the
manufacture of successive mirror-carrying blanks or binocular
shells will be compensated for.
Referring now to FIG5. 1 and 2 of the drawings wherein
the details of the press-type mechanism 10 are best illustrated,
such mechanism involves in its geberal organization a press base
30 which is in the form of a generally rectangular block-like
body and has the medial region thereof formed with a transversely
extending stepped trough~ e recess 32. Projecting vertically
upwardly from the base 30 at a location adjacent to the rear
side face of the press base is a cylindrical column 34 on which
there is mounted for vertical sliding movement a press head 36.
The lower end of the column 34 is fixedly secured to the base
30 in any suitable manner. The press head is provided with a
13~788
vertically extending sleeve 38 which closely encompasses the
column 34 and constitutes the means by which the head is
vertically slidable on the column.
The illustrated press-type mechanism 10 is essentially a
hand press, and vertical movements of the head 36 on the column
34 are effected under the control of a lever 40 which is provided
on one end portion with a hand grip 42 and has a central portion
pivoted to the sleeve 38 by way of a horizontal pivot-forming
bolt 44 which extends through a horizontal hole in the lever
and into a screw-threaded socket in the sleeve 38 and ~ermits
the lever to swing up and down in a vertical plane. The other
end portion of the lever 40 constitutes one link 46 of a two-link
to~gle joint 48, the other lin~ 50 of the toggle joint having
one end thereof pivotally connected by a horizontal pivot pin
to the free or outer end of the link 46 and its other end
pivotally connected by a horizontal pivot pin 52 to one side of
a reaction collar 54 which is normally fixedly fastened by a
set screw 56 to the upper end region of the column 34. When the
lever 40 as viewed in FIG. 2 is swung in a counterclockwise
direction, it operates through the medium of the toggle joint
48 to slide the press head 36 dou~wards, and when the lever is
swung in the opposite direction, i.e., clockwise, it operates
through the medium of said togqle ~oint to slide the press head
upwards on the cylindrical column 34. If it is desired to change
or vertically adjust the up and down sliding movement of the
press head, the s~t screw 56 is loosened and then the collar 54
i5 adjusted upwards or downwards, depending upon whether the
stroke of the press head is to be raised or lowered. After
proper vertical adjustment of the collar 54 on the upper end
region of the column 34, the set screw 56 is tightened so as to
lock the co~lar in its adjusted position. Whereas the press-
type mechanism 10 has been described and illustrated as a hand-
operated mechanism, it is, of course, contempla~.ed that the
10~788
mechanism may be power-operated.
The vertically shiftable press head 36 includes a body
portion 58 which is generally of inverted L-shape design and
has a horizontal upper portion 60 and a vertical lower portion
62. The upper portion 60 is suitably fixedly connected to the
vertically extending sleeve 38 and projects laterally and
forwardly therefrom. The lower portion 62 carries at its lower
end a blank-supporting fixture 64, the nature and function of
which will be described in detail presently. The press base 30
is horizontally elongated and embodies at its end portions a
pair of upstanding posts 66 and 68 h~ving the upper ends thereof
~rovided with notches 70, such notches being designed for
removable reception therein of the reduced ends 72 of an
elongated horizontally extending supporting member or stage 74
for the aforementioned prism-like master blocks 12, 12' and 16,
16'. For convenience of description herein, such master blocks
will be referred to hereinafter as "master prisms" or simply
as ~prisms~" while the supporting mem~er 74 will be referred to
as the ~pris~support~ng stage,~ such terminolo~y also being
employed in the claims at the conclusion hereof.
Before entering into a description of the specific nature
of the blank-supporting fixture 64, the prism-supporting stage
74 and the means whereby the hinocular shell 20 is supported
on the press base 30 for reversal of its position thereon as
previously described, it is deemed expedient to îndicate the
nature of the four mirror blanks 14, 14' and 18, 18', as well as
the nature of the ~inocular shell 20 to which such hlanks are to
be applied in porro relationship. Actually, the aforementioned
binocular shell 20 is in the form of an assemhly which comprises
two principal parts in the form of a pair of shell h~lves 75 an~
76, e2ch of which is provided with an internally-thre3ded
objective rim 78 into which a lens-containing ohjective ~arrel
(not shown3 is ada~ted to he threadedly received~ ~nd an
` ~0~71~8
internally-threaded eyepiece rim 80 into which a lens-containing
eyepiece barrel (also not shown) is adapted to be threadedly
or cementitiously received. As ~s conventional practice,
the two ob~ective rims 78 of the shell halves 75 and 76 are
hingedly connected together by a suitable hinge arrangement 82
in order that the interpupillary distance between the eyepiece
lenses which are fitted into the eyepiece rims 80 of the two
shell halves may be ad~usted either outwards or inwards. The
hinge arrangement 82 is hidden from view in FIG. 3 of the
drawlngs but appears in FIG. 4 and will be discussed subseauently.
Each of the two hingedly connected shell halves is provided with
a generally right angular hollow shell body 84 which presents
two sets of generally arched edges which are adapted to receive
thereover the peripheral regions or edges of one of the afore-
mentioned mirror-carrying blanks, i.e., mirror blank 14, mirror
blank 14~, mirror blank 18 or mirror blank 18'. When the
mirror-carrying blanks are properly positioned with respect to
the bodles 84 of the shell halves, they are fixedly or perma-
nently secured in place by an epoxy bonding operation as will
be descr~bed presently, and when the various mirror blanks to
which reflective, mirror-form~ng layers have been applied are
all in place on the bodies of the shell halves and the eyepiece
and ob~ective barrels are threadedly received in the rims 78
and 80, the formerly open shell halves 75 and 76 are closed and
the binocular is then complete and in readinee for use. When
each shell halve is completed with the various mirrors and
lenses installed therein, it forms one of the two telescopes
of the binocular which is formed by way of the mechanism and
method which constitutes the present ~nvention.
Considering now the nature of the four mirror blanks
14, 14' and 18, 18' 9 the two mirror blanks 14 and 14' are
smaller in size than are the two mirror blanks 18 and 18'.
~0~4788
They fit on the bodies 84 of the shell halves 75 and 76 of the
binocular shell 20 in the vicinity of the internally-threaded
eyepiece rims 80 and, therefore, they will be hereinafter
referred to as ~eyepiece mirror blanks.~ The mirror blanks
18 and 18' ~it on the bodies 84 of the two shell halves in the
vicinity of the threaded ob~ective rims 78 and, therefore, they
will be hereinafter referred to as "objective mirror blanks."
Each eyepiece mirror blank, 14 or 14' as the case may
be, is comprised of two generally oval flat plates 90 which
are of unequal size and extend at a right angle to one another
and are connected together by a short, flat, narrow bridge
piece 92. As will be described presently, the inside or
opening faces of the plates 90 constitute mounting surfaces
that are adapted to receive thereon reflective surfaces that
are adapted to recelve thereon reflective, mirror-forming
layers. The larger ob~ective mirror blanks 18 and 18' are
similarly constructed and the parts thereof have been respect-
ively designated by the same reference numerals.
The aforementioned blank-supporting fixture 64 which is
2C; carr~ed at the lower end of the vertical portion 62 of the
vertically slidable press head 36 of the mechanism 10 is of
rectangular block-like design and the undernearh side thereof
is provided with a downwardly facing rectangular recess 100
which is of major proportions and has fixedly but shiftably
secured therein ~y means of horizontally extending anchoring
screws 102, a pair of side-by-side elongated prism caps 104 and
104', the latter, although not so illustrated in ~IG. 1 of the
drawinas, are of slightly less length than the downwardly facing
rectan~ular recess 100 and are adapted to h~ve between their ends
and the ends of the recess one or more shims ~not shown) in order
that they may be lenothwise adjuste~ as desired and then locke~
in place by tightening of the anchorin~ screws 102. Said ~r-sm
788
caps 104 and lO4' are shaped to form downwardly facing inverted
V-shaped recesses the surfaces of which extend at a right angle
to one another and precisely complement the outer faces of the
two ob;ective mirror blanks 18 and 18'. A saddle-like memher
106 is fixedly secured to the underneath side of the blank-
supporting fixture 64 at one end thereof and in side-by-side
relation with the recess lO0. It extends at right angles to
sa~d recess lO0 and is formed with two downwardly facing
rectangular recesses 108 and 108' within which there are
respectively mounted and shiftably held by anchoring screws
llO, two prism caps 1l2 and 112'. The latter are longitudinally
or lengthwise adjustable by way of shims (not sho~) in the
same manner as the prism caps 104 and 104' and are shaped to
form down~!ardly faclng inverted V-shaped recesses the surfaces
of which are at a right angle to one another and precisely
complement the outer faces of the two eyepiece mirror blanks
14 and 14'. As will be described in greater detail subsequently,
when the replicated mirror-forming method of the present
invention which ~s carried out by the use of the press mechanism
Z0 lO is set forth, the opposed right angle surfaces of the inverted
V-shaped recesses which are formed in the various prism caps
lO4, 104' and 112 and 112' are precis~on ground or lapped to
an extremely high degree SG that they are smooth and planar
and hence are so des~gned or formed as to receive thereon by
vacuum adherence the mirror blanks 18, 18' and 14, 14'
respectively.
Consi~ering further the nature or design of the afore-
mentioned prism-supporting stage 74, such stage is in the form
of an elonaated ~ar-li~e member 1l4 the reduced ends 72 of which
are desianed for removable reception in the aforementioned
notches 70 in the upper ends of the posts 66 and 68. An
elevated cradle 1l6 is mounted on a medial region of the mem~er
114, extends lengthwise of said memher, and serves to support
109~78B
therein the aforementioned master prisms 16 and 16' in side-by-side
relation, suitable horizontally extending anchoring screws 118
at one end of the cradle being provided for fixedly but shiftably
holding said prisms in position within the cradle 116. It is
to be understood that the master prisms 16 and 16' are of less
length than the distance between the upstanding end walls of the
cradle 116 and also that shims (not shown) adjacent to the ends
of the master prisms 16 and 16' will be employed in order length-
wise to adjust said master prisms into their proper operative
positions. It is also to be understood that after proper
pos~tioning of the shims, the anchoring screws 118 will be
tightened in order to lock said prisms in their adjusted
positions. A cradle 120 which is similar to the cradle 116
but disposed at a lower level extends transversely of the bar-
like member 114~ It is secured in a recess 122 in a medial
region of said bar-like member and is, itself, formed with a
pair of longitudinally aligned recesses 124 which receive therein
the master prisms 12 and 12', suitable horizontally anchoring
screws 126 being provided for holding such prisms fixedly but
shiftable in place. Shims (not shown) are used at the ends of
the recesses 124 in order lengthwise to adjust the master prisms
12 and 12' to their proper operative positions.
When the prism-supporting stage 74 is in its operative
position on the posts 66 and 68, the prisms 16 and 16' directly
~nderlie the prism caps 104 and 104' respectively and are in
precise vertical alignment therewith. Similarly, ~hen the stage
74 is in place on the posts 66 and 68, the prisms 12 and 12'
directly underlie the prism caps 112 and 112' respectively and
are in precise vertical alignment therewith. Such vertical
ali~nment of parts is to a certain extent made possible by reason
of a vertically extending, shouldered, anti-torque guide post
127 which depends from the collar 54. The upper end of such post
-12-
~0~7flB
is screw-threaded, extends through a vertical hole in the collar,
and is fixedly secured in place by means of a nut 128. The
intermediate and lower portions of the anti-torque post project
into an open-sided slot 129 in the sleeve 38 with the res~lt
that the sleeve is free to slide vertically on the column 34 but
is prevented from rotating relatively to said post. Instead of
employing or using the anti-torque post 127 to prevent the
sleeve 38 from rotating relatively to the column 34, a second
column (not sho~!n) in side-by-side relation with the column 34
may be utilized.
As previously stated, the binocular shell 20 is capable
of being removably mounted on the press base 30 and is also
capable of being reversed thereon so that it may assume either
the inverted position in which it is shou~ in FIG. 4 or the
upright position in which it is shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly,
and with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 of the drawings, an
elongated transversely extending hinge mount 130 is fixedly
secured to the upper face of the press base and has secured
thereto the fixed hinge leaves 132 of a pair of side-by-side
but spaced apart precision hinge assemblies 134. The swinging
or movable hinge leaves 136 of the assemblies 134 serve to
support a shell mounting plate 138 so that it is capable of
being swung ~ack and forth between an extended horizontal
position as shou~ in FIG. 4 and a folded or retracted position
as shown in FIG. 5. In its extended horizontal position, the
mounting plate pro;ects partially across the stepped trough-like
recess 32 and in its folded or retracted position the mounting
plate extends in reentrant fashion over the upper face of the
press base 30 (see FI~S. 1 and ~), overlies the hinge mount 130,
and finds reaction support on a rectangular plate 140 which is
suitably fixedly mounted on the upper face of the press base 30.
As best shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the binocular
shell mounting pla+e 138 is formed with a p~;r of semi-circular
1()9~788
recessess 142 which are adapted removably to receive therein
the objective rims 78 of the binocular shell 20. Anchoring
screws 144 extend diagonally through the distal edge region of
the shell mounting plate 138 and into the restricted mouth
portions of the recess 142 and serve when tightened to hold
said ohjective rims 78 securely in the recesses to the end that
the binocular shell 20 is fixedly secured to the mounting and
hence capable of swinging back and forth with it. As shown in
FIG. 4, when the objective rims 78 of the binocular shell 20
are properly installed in the recesses 142 and the binocular
mounting plate 138 is in its horizontal extended position
where~n it overlies the recess 32 in the press base, the shell
assumes its inverted position (see FIG. 4). When the mounting
plate 138 is folded back over the upper face of the press base
30 as shown in FIG. 5, the binocular shell 20 assumes its upright
position as portrayed in FIG. 3. In the upright position of the
shell, one set of arched edges of the bodies 84 of the shell
halves 75 and 76 underlie and are in vertical alignment with the
prism caps 104 and 104'~ In the inverted position of the binocular
shell 20 as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, i.e., when the
mounting plate 138 overlies the recess 32, the other set of
arched edges of the bodies of the two shell halves underlie and
are in vertical alignment wi~h the prism caps 112 and 112'.
As heretofore indicated, the reflective, mirror-forming
layers are in the ~orm of either coatings for application to the
downwardly facing mounting surfaces of the mirror blanks 14, 14'
and 18, 18' or conventional mirrors. If the layers are in the
form of coatings, they are applied to such mounting surfaces of
the mirror blanks by way of a so-called ~replication" method.
In the utilization of the press mechanism 10 for the
purpose of creating or forming reflective surfaces or mirrors
by the so-called replic~tion method and then instal~inq them in
binocular she]ls such as the shell 20 or FI~. 3, a separator
10~788
coating and a reflective (mirror) coat~ng are applied in any
suitable or well-known manner to each of the right-angle
surfaces of the four prisms 12, 12' and 16, 16' either before
or after such prisms are mounted in their respective cradles
106 and 116~ With the thus coated prisms properly installed
in the cradles on the stage 74, the latter is mounted in the
notches 70 in the upper ends of its supportin~ posts 66 and 68,
while the press hea~ 38 is maintained in its fully raised
~ position. Thereafter, the mirror blanks 14, 14' and 16, 16'
are caused to receive a coating of an epoxy resin or other
suitable adhesive on their inner or opposed faces and the
blanks are installed in proper registry within the respective
inverted V-shaped recesses in the prism caps 112, 112~ and
104, 104', positioning of the blanks preferably being maintained
by vacuum adhesion as previously mentioned. So far as an
epoxy or other adhesive is concerned it ~s contemplated that
one will be selected which upon harden~ng or drying will not
distort, warp or otherwise damage the reflective coatings on the
right-angle surfaces of the four prisms. Accurate positioning
of the blanks 14, 14' and 18, 18' wlthin their respective prism
caps may be attained ~y means of locating protuherances 150
on the inner surfaces of the inverted V-shaped recesses in
the prism caps. Thereafter, hy means of the lever 40, the
press head 36 is lowered to ~n intermed$ate position, i.e.,
until all eight right-angle prism cap surfaces reoister under
pressure with the corresponding right-an~le surfaces of the
prisms 12, 12' and 16, 16'. The pressure is maintained until
the epoxy or other adhesive on the inner or opposed faces of
the mirror blanks 14, 14' and 18, 18' has hardene~, polymerized
or otherwise beoome set, after which the press head 36 is
raised~ Upon such raising of the press head, the reflective
coatings on the prisms 1~, 12' and 16, 16' are picked up, so
to speak, or transferred to the mirror blanks 14, 14' and
10~788
18, 18' with the press head and mirror blanks assuming the
positions in which they are illustrated in FI~. 4.
If the reflective, mirror-forming layers for application
to the downwardly facing mounting surfaces of the mirror blanks
are in the form of conventional mirrors, they are f~rst positioned
so that their non-reflective or body portions are on the top
and face up~ards and are then manipulated so that their
reflective surfaces are positioned in abutment with the right-
angle surfaces of the four prisms 12, 12' and 16, 16~o It is
contemplated that when conventional mirrors are used as the
reflective, mirror-formina layers, they will be releasably
held in abutment with the right-angle surfaces of the afore-
mentioned four prisms by suitable suction means (not shown).
After proper mounting of the conventional mirrors in place,
the mirror blanks 14, 14' and 18, 18' are caused to receive
a coating of epoxy resin or other suitable adhesive on their
inner or opposed faces and the blanks are installed in proper
registry within the respective inverted V-shaped recesses in
the caps 112, 112' and 104, 104'. Thereafter, by means of
the lever 40, the press head 36 is lowered to an intermediate
position, i.e., until all eight right-angle prism cap surfaces
register under pressure with the corresponding r~aht-angle
surfaces of the pr~sms 12, 12~ and 16, 16'. The pressure is
maintained until the epoxy or other adhesive on the mirror
blanks has hardened or set and thereafter the press head 36
is raised after discontinuance of the suction which is use~
to hold the conventional mirrors releasably on the right-angle
surfaces of the four prisms. Upon raising of the press head
after releasing the aforementioned suction means for releasahly
holdin~ the mirrors on the right-angle surfaces of the four
prisms, the conventional mirrors are in adhered relation ~ith
the do~n~ardly facino mounting s~rfaces of the mirror blanks
with the ~ress head an~ mirror hlanks assuming the positions in
which they are illustrated in FI~,. 4.
` 10~47~38
In the present specification, the term ~reflective,
mirror-forming layers~ is intended to mean mirro~ which are
either formed by the aforementioned replicating method or
are conventional mirrors.
With the binocular mounting plate 138 in the position
in which it is shown in FI5. 4 with the hinocular shell 20
in its inverted position, and with the prism-supporting stage
74 removed from ~ts operative position on the posts 66 and 68,
a coating of epoxy resin or other suitable adhesive is applied
to the outer or peripheral edge portions of the mirror-carrying
blanks 14, 14' or to the inner or mating arched edge portions
of the bodies 84 of the shell halves 75 and 76, or to both
sets of such edges, after which the lever 40 may be again
manipulated to lower the press head 36 and thus bring the
edges of the mirror blanks 14 and 14~ into register with said
inner arched edge portions of the bodies 84, thereby placing
the mirror-carryin~ blanks 14 and 14' accurately in the
binocular shell and for proper collimation with the remaininq
mirror-carrying blanks 18 and 78' which are subsequently to be
applied to the binocular shell 20. The epoxy resin or other
adhesive is allowed to harden or become set so that the
positioning of the blanks 14 and 14' as effected by the press
head 36 becomes a permanent one, after wh~ch the press head
36 is raised, thus leaving the inverted V-shaped recesses in
the prism caps 112 and 112' empty as shou~ in FI~. 5 but
returning the mirror-carrying blanks 18 and 18' to their
raised posit~ons.
With the prism-supportinq stage 74 still removed from
its normal or operative position on the upstanding posts 66
and 68 of the press base 30, the binocular mounting plate 138
is rotated or swung throughout an angle of approximately 180
50 aS to fold it back upon the reaction supporting plate 140
as shown in FIG. 5 and thus bring the binocular shell 20 into
1094788
its upright position as shown ~n FIG. 5 of the drawings.
Thereafter, an epoxy resin or other suitable adhesive coating
is applied to the outer or peripheral edge portions Or the
mirror-carrying blanks 18 and 18', or to the exposed inner or
mating arched edge portions of the bodies 84 of the shell
halves 75 and 76, or to both such sets of edges, and the press
head 36 is again lowered past its intermediate position so as
to bring the thus adhesively-coated edges together and position
the mirror-carrying blanks 18 and 18' ~n proper place in the
binocular shell 20 so that all four mirror blanks are now
accurately positioned for proper collimation. After the epoxy
resin or other adhesive has been allowed to set or harden,
the press head 36 is again raised, thus withdrawing the prism
caps 104 and 104' from the deposited mirror-carrying blanks
i8 and 18'. The binocular is then completed except for the
application to the eyepiece and objective rims 80 and 78 of
their associated eyepiece and objective lens-carrying barrels
which have not been disclosed herein. It is however, con-
templated that so far as the eyepiece barrels of the binocular
are concerned, they with proper lenses fixedly mounted therein
may be applied to the eyepiece rims 80 of the shell 20 at the
same time as the mirror blanks 18 and 18' are mounted in the
binocular shell when the press-type mechanism is used when its
parts are positioned as shown in FIG. 5, In this connection,
it is contemplated that the fixture 64 would be provided
- outwards of the prism caps 104 and 104' with laterally
extending extensions (not shown~ having downwardly facing
sockets for receiving snugly the lens-equipped eyepiece barrels.
Before final lowering of the press head 36 in connection with
application of the mirror-carrying blanks 18 and 18' to the
shell 20, the lens-equipped eyepiece barrels while in the
aforementioned downwardly extending sockets would have their
lower rim regions coated with suitable epoxy material to the
10!~788
end that during final lowering of the press head 36 to effect
application of the blanks 18 and 18' to the binocular shell
20, the lower portions of the lens-equipped eyepiece barrels
would seat within the eyepiece rims 80 where they w~uld become
fixedly mounted ~n place upon hardenina of the epoxy material.
After application of the four palrs of mirror-carrying blanks
to the binocular shell 20, the ob;ective rims 78 of the shell
may then be withdrawn from the recesses 142 by loosening the
anchoring screws 144 thus freeing the binocular shell 20 from
the mounting plate 138. Since the press head 36 now assumes
its fully raised position with the inverted V-shaped recesses
in the prism caps 112, 112' and 104, 104' now devoid of mirror
blanks, the press-type mechanism 10 is ready for a succeeding
cycle of mirror forming and installing operations.
It is to be noted at this point that the present press-
type mechanism 10 as described above insures positive accuracy
of mirror installation in the binocular shell 20. The center-
to-center distance between the rim-receiving recesses 142 in
the mounting plate 138 and between the set-screw adjusted
prisms and the mirror blanks, and all other dimensional aspects
of the press-type mechanism are calculated according to the
engineering exigencies so that ~hen the objective rims 78 of
the the b~nocular shell 20 are received in the recesses 142,
the shell is in every respect properly oriented to receive
the mirror-carrying blanks 14, 14' and 18, 18' accurately
therein. Any discrepancies due to manufacturing tolerances
in making the hinocular shell ~0 or the mirror blanks themselves
is compensated for by epoxy or other adhesive correction ~hich
takes place during setting of the adhesive coatings ~ile the
highly accurate press-type mechan~sm remains effective to hold
the various parts accurately in position, there~y resulting
in the binocular being automatically and accurately collimated.
1094788
The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrange-
ment of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described
in this specification as various changes in the details of
construction may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit or scope of the invention. For example, although the
method of use of the press mechanism 10 results in application
of the mirror-carrying blanks 14 and 14' to the binocular
shell 20 during the first lowering of the press head 36 after
the stage 74 has been removed and the application of the
mirror-carrying blanks 18 and 18' during the second lowering
of the press head, these two operations may be reversed so
that the mirror blanks 18 and 18' are applied to the shell
a55embly prior to application of the mirror blanks 14 and 14'.
Furthermore, by modifying the shape characteristics of the
prism caps 104, 1~4' and 112, 112', the prism-like master
blocks 112, 112' and 116, 116', the shell assembly 20, or
- the mirror blanks 14, 14' and 18, 18', variously as required,
various shapes of mirrors may be applied to a binocular shell
by utilizing the basic principles of the invention as outlined
above. In addition to the above, it is contemplated that the
steps of first applying the reflective, mirror-forming layers
to the mirror blanks 14, 14' and 18, 18' and then mounting
the mirror-carrying blanks in the ~inocular shell 20 may be
accomplished or carried out by the use of two press-type
mechanisms instead of one. Therefore, only insofar as the
invention is particularly pointed out in the accompanying
claims is the same to be limited~
