Abrading – Precision device or process - or with condition responsive... – Computer controlled
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-23
2001-04-24
Eley, Timothy V. (Department: 3723)
Abrading
Precision device or process - or with condition responsive...
Computer controlled
C451S010000, C451S065000, C451S195000, C451S209000, C451S210000, C451S255000, C451S256000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220927
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an eyeglass lens grinding apparatus which grinds a lens to be processed, so that the lens fits into an eyeglass frame.
An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus is known, which has a rough grinding wheel having a particle size of about # 100 to # 120 depending on the material of a lens to be processed, and a finishing grinding wheel having a particle size of about #400. These rough grinding and finishing grinding wheels are coaxially mounted on a grinding wheel rotary shaft. The finishing grinding wheel is provided with a single bevel groove. In the lens grinding apparatus, the lens to be processed is held on the lens rotary shaft, and pressingly contacted with the grinding wheels so that a bevel is finally formed in a peripheral portion of the lens. That is, the lens is roughly processed by the rough grinding wheel and then processed by the finishing grinding wheel having the bevel groove, into a final shape in which the lens fits into an eyeglass frame.
When the number of lenses to be processed is large, the degree of wear of a grinding wheel is increased in proportion to the number. Particularly when the finishing grinding wheel which is used in the final finishing processing is largely worn, this wear tends to produce an error in the finished size. Furthermore, wear of a grinding wheel reduces the processing accuracy due to a lowered processing performance of the grinding wheel.
In order to avoid the size error and reduction of the processing accuracy, the finished size must be periodically checked to make an appropriate size adjustment. For lenses such as sunglass lenses which are processed in large quantities by the manufacturer, however, frequent size checks result in a reduced production efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the problem discussed above, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which can process a large number of lenses efficiently while suppressing a size error.
It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus which can shorten the processing time period, suppress a size error due to wear of grinding wheels, and performs the processing accurately.
To achieve the above-noted objects, the present invention provides the followings:
(1) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus for processing an eyeglass lens based on processing data obtained from target lens configuration data indicative of an eyeglass frame shape, the apparatus comprising:
lens rotating means for holding and rotating a lens;
a grinding wheel group having a finishing processing wheel for performing finishing a periphery of the lens, the finishing processing wheel having at least first and second bevel forming surfaces for forming first and second bevels on the same lens; and
processing control means for controlling the finishing processing wheel to finish the lens by consecutively using the first and second bevel forming surfaces.
(2) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), wherein:
the finishing processing wheel includes an intermediate finishing processing wheel having the first bevel forming surface, and an accurate finishing processing wheel smaller in particle size than the intermediate finishing processing wheel and having the second bevel forming surface; and
the processing control means controls the finishing processing wheel such that a surface portion of the lens, which has been processed by the intermediate finishing processing wheel, is processed by the accurate finishing processing wheel.
(3) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (2), wherein the processing control means controls the finishing processing wheel such that the surface portion of the lens, which has been processed by the intermediate finishing processing wheels, is further processed by the accurate finishing processing wheel during processing by the intermediate finishing processing wheel.
(4) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (2), wherein the processing control means sets a larger processing amount for the intermediate finishing processing wheel and a smaller processing amount for the accurate finishing processing wheel.
(5) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (2), wherein:
each of the intermediate and accurate finishing processing wheels has a plurality of beveling grooves each for forming a bevel; and
the processing control means controls the finishing processing wheel to finish each of plural lenses by sequentially selected one of the beveling grooves on each of the intermediate and accurate finishing processing wheels.
(6) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), wherein:
the finishing processing wheel has a plurality of beveling grooves each for forming a bevel; and
the processing control means control the finishing processing wheel to finish each of plural lenses by sequentially selected one of the beveling grooves on the finishing processing wheel.
(7) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), wherein:
each of the first and second bevel forming surfaces has surface portions having the same particle sizes; and
the processing control means selectively use the first and second bevel forming surfaces so that the surface portions are worn uniformly.
(8) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (7), wherein the first and second bevel forming surfaces are provided on the same finishing processing wheel.
(9) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), further comprising:
correction means for correcting an error due to wear of each of the first and second bevel forming surfaces.
(10) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), wherein the first and second bevel forming surfaces are provided on a plurality of finishing processing wheels rotatable about different axes, respectively.
(11) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), wherein the finishing performed by the finishing processing wheel does noe include polishing or mirror processing.
(12) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (1), wherein the processing control means controls the finishing processing wheel such that a surface portion of the lens, which has been processed by the first bevel forming surface, is further processed by the second bevel forming surface during processing by the first bevel forming surface.
(13) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus for processing an eyeglass lens based on processing data obtained from target lens configuration data indicative of an eyeglass frame shape, the apparatus comprising:
a finishing processing wheel having a plurality of bevel grooves each for finishing a periphery of a roughly processed lens; and
a processing control unit which sequentially selects one of the bevel grooves for processing.
(14) An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus according to (13), further comprising:
a correction system which corrects an error due to wear of each of the bevel grooves of the finishing processing wheel.
According to the invention, even when a large number of lenses are processed, a size error can be reduced to a very low level and the processing can be efficiently performed.
Further, the processing time can be shortened, a size error due to wear of grinding wheels can be suppressed, and the process can be accurately performed
The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese patent application Nos. Hei. 9-337995 and Hei. 9-337996 (both filed on Nov. 21, 1997), which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
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Mizuno Toshiaki
Obayashi Hirokatsu
Eley Timothy V.
Nidek Co. Ltd.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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