Abrading – Precision device or process - or with condition responsive... – Computer controlled
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-23
2001-06-26
Ortega, Allen (Department: 3725)
Abrading
Precision device or process - or with condition responsive...
Computer controlled
C451S041000, C451S043000, C451S044000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250989
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an eyeglass lens grinding apparatus for grinding a pair of eyeglass lenses such that they conform to the shape of an eyeglass frame.
An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus is known that automatically performs all steps in the grinding process up to the bevelling stage on the basis of the processing information that is determined from the data of measurement for the shape of an eyeglass frame, layout data and the like to process the peripheral edge of an eyeglass lens.
This apparatus has the advantage that processing of the lens to conform to the shape of an eyeglass can be easily accomplished by merely entering the necessary data. Yet, glass and other lenses that do not have very high processability may sometimes fail to be processed with satisfactory precision on account of the mechanical rigidity of the apparatus. To deal with this problem, the processed lens is fitted into the eyeglass frame to see if it has the correct size and, if not, the second grinding, commonly called “double grinding”, is performed to achieve a fine adjustment of the lens size (corrective processing).
In the double grinding, only the lens size is corrected on the basis of the information provided by preceding finishing step and the lens is subjected to another finishing step. This means that if an eyeglass lens for the right eye has been first processed, it must be fitted into the eyeglass frame to see if it has the correct size and, if not, it must be subjected to double grinding before processing of the lens for the left eye can be started. In other words, the lens for the left eye cannot be processed until after the checking of the size of the lens for the right eye (and its corrective processing if this is necessary) is complete and this has lowered the overall efficiency of the grinding operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under these circumstances and has as an object providing an eyeglass lens grinding apparatus with which the steps in the grinding process can be performed in a smooth way to realize a streamlined grinding operation.
To attain the above-noted and other objects, the present invention provides the following:
(1) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus for grinding right and left eyeglass lenses such that they fit into an eyeglass frame, the apparatus comprising:
processing information providing means for providing processing information about the right and left eyeglass lenses based on information about a configuration of the eyeglass frame and information about a layout of each eyeglass lens with respect to the eyeglass frame;
memory means for storing the processing information about the eyeglass lenses even after their processing has ended;
corrective information input means for entering corrective information about size correction to modify the processing information;
computing means for providing lens corrective processing information based on the entered corrective information and the processing information stored in the memory means; and
processing control means which, after sequentially processing the right and left eyeglass lenses based on the processing information provided by the processing information providing means, performs corrective processing based on the lens corrective processing information.
(2) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), wherein the corrective information input means has R/L specifying means for designating which one of the right and left eyeglass lenses is to be subjected to corrective processing.
(3) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), wherein the processing information providing means includes an edge thickness detection means for detecting an edge thickness of each eyeglass lens.
(4) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), wherein the computing means updates the processing information with the lens corrective processing information after the processing control means performs the corrective processing.
(5) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (4), wherein if further corrective information is entered through the corrective information input means after the processing control means performs the corrective processing, then the computing means provides further corrective processing information based on the entered further corrective information and the lens corrective processing information; and
the processing control means performs further corrective processing based on the further corrective processing information.
(6) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (5), wherein the computing means updates the lens corrective processing information with the further lens corrective processing information after the processing control means performs the further corrective processing.
(7) A lens size fine adjustment system for use in an eyeglass lens grinding apparatus, the eyeglass lens grinding apparatus being designed to process a first eyeglass lens based on first lens processing information so as to fit into an eyeglass frame, and thereafter process a second eyeglass lens based on second lens processing information so as to fit into the eyeglass frame, the lens size fine adjustment system comprising:
a data memory which stores the first and the second lens processing information therein;
an input section through which a first correction amount for lens size fine adjustment to the first lens is entered in relation to the first lens if the first lens, which has been processed by the lens grinding apparatus, is still oversized;
a main arithmetic control circuit which calculates first lens corrective processing information based on the first lens processing information stored in the data memory and the first correction amount if the first correction amount is entered through the input section; and
an abrasive wheel group which is controlled by the main arithmetic control circuit and which subjects the first lens to the lens size fine adjustment based on the first lens corrective processing information after the second lens has been processed by the lens grinding apparatus and if the main arithmetic control circuit calculates the first lens corrective processing information.
(8) A lens size fine adjustment system according to (7), wherein:
a second correction amount for lens size fine adjustment to the second lens is entered through the input section in relation to the second lens if the second lens, which has been processed by the lens grinding apparatus, is still oversized;
the main arithmetic control circuit calculates second lens corrective processing information based on the second lens processing information stored in the data memory and the second correction amount if the second correction amount is entered through the input section; and
the abrasive wheel group is controlled by the main arithmetic control circuit and subjects the second lens to the lens size fine adjustment based on the second lens corrective processing information if the main arithmetic control circuit calculates the second lens corrective processing information.
(9) A lens size fine adjustment system according to (8), wherein the second lens is subjected to the lens size fine adjustment after the first lens has been subjected to the lens size fine adjustment.
The apparatus of the invention allows the size of an already processed lens for one eye to be checked for its correctness while the lens for the other eye is being processed and the processed lens can be subjected to double grinding if it is necessary. This reduces the waiting time of the apparatus, thereby shortening the overall processing time to realize an efficient operation.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese patent application No. Hei. 9-190687 (filed on Jun. 30, 1997) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 35898 (1998-09-01), Shibata et al.
patent: 4135333 (1979-01-01), Stith
patent: 4945684 (1990-08-01), Wada et al.
patent: 5138770 (1992-08-01), Matsuyama
patent: 52
Hong William
Nidek Co. Ltd.
Ortega Allen
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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