Method and apparatus for edging an optical lens
AssigneeGerber Optical, Inc.
InventorsKenneth O. Wood, David J. Logan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three axis, computer controlled apparatus for edging optical lenses maps the surfaces of a lens blank along a path defining the shape of the lens to be cut from the lens blank and from which mapping a computer controlled cutting algorithm directs the movement of the lens in the R, Z and theta axes direction. The apparatus provides rough cuts, finished cuts and automatic placement of bevels and grooves along the edge of the lens with minimal operator intervention.
Claims20
Apparatus for edging an optical lens blank having front and rear surfaces and a thickness into a lens having the size and shape of a lens opening in an eyeglass frame, said apparatus comprising:
- means for providing a plurality of data points collectively representative of the peripheral size and shape of the lens opening in an associated eyeglass frame for which the lens is being edged;
- a lens chucking station;
- means for chucking the lens blank at said lens chucking station;
- means for rotating the lens blank chucked at the chucking station, said lens blank being rotated about a rotation axis;
- cutter means for edging the lens blank and forming a bevel or groove feature in the periphery of the finished lens;
- means for independently translating the chucked lens for relative movement in two axes with respect to said cutter, one axis being substantially radial relative to said axis of rotation of the chucked lens, said one axis being defined as the R-axis, and a second axis being substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of the chucked lens, said second axis being defined as the Z-axis, and
- means for containing an instruction set to control said apparatus to provide continuous path control of said relative movement of said chucked lens along said R-axis and said Z-axis and relative to said rotation axis of the chucked lens in accordance with said plurality of data points and the curvature of the lens surfaces to engage the edge of the lens blank in the cutter and edge a lens having the size and shape of the lens opening in the associated eyeglass frame with the bevel or groove feature positioned on the periphery of the finished lens.
A method for edging an optical lens blank having front and rear surfaces and a thickness into a lens having the size and shape of a lens opening in an eyeglass frame, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of data points collectively representative of the peripheral size and shape of the lens opening in an associated eyeglass frame for which the lens is being edged;
- chucking the lens blank for rotation about a rotation axis, said rotation axis passing through the lens blank transversely to the front and rear surface;
- rotating the chucked lens blank about said rotation axis;
- edging the lens blank with a cutter and forming a bevel or groove feature in the periphery of the finished lens;
- independently translating the chucked lens for relative movement in two axes with respect to said cutter, one axis being substantially radial relative to said axis of rotation of the chucked lens, said one axis being defined as the R-axis, and a second axis being substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of the chucked lens, said second axis being defined as the Z-axis, and
- programming an edging apparatus with an instruction set to control said apparatus to provide continuous path control of said relative movement of said chucked lens along said R-axis and said Z-axis and relative to said rotation axis of the chucked lens in accordance with said plurality of data points and the curvature of the lens surfaces to engage the edge of the lens blank in the cutter and edge a lens having the size and shape of the lens opening in the associated eyeglass frame with the bevel or groove feature positioned on the periphery of the finished lens.
Apparatus for edging an optical lens blank having front and rear surfaces and a thickness into a lens having the size and shape of a lens opening in an eyeglass frame, said apparatus comprising:
- means for providing a plurality of data points collectively representative of the peripheral size and shape of the lens opening in an associated eyeglass frame for which the lens is being edged;
- means for chucking the lens blank for rotation about a rotation axis, said rotation axis passing through the lens blank transversely to the front and rear surfaces;
- means for rotating the chucked lens blank about said rotation axis;
- cutter means for edging the lens blank and forming a bevel or groove feature in the periphery of the finished lens, and
- means for providing relative movement in a radial and a transverse direction between said chucked lens and said cutter means in accordance with an instruction set as the chucked lens rotates relative to said cutter to track the edge of the lens on a portion of the cutter and to make a lens having the size and shape of the lens opening in the associated eyeglass frame and corresponding to said plurality of data points.
Apparatus for edging an optical lens blank having front and rear surfaces and a thickness into a lens having the size and shape of a lens opening in an eyeglass frame, said apparatus comprising:
- means for providing a plurality of data points collectively representative of the peripheral size and shape of the lens opening in an associated eyeglass frame for which the lens is being edged;
- means for chucking the lens blank for rotation about a rotation axis, said rotation axis passing through the lens blank transversely to the front and rear surfaces;
- means for rotating the chucked lens blank about said rotation axis;
- cutter means for edging the lens blank and forming a bevel or groove feature in the periphery of the finished lens;
- means for providing relative movement in a radial and a transverse direction between said chucked lens and said cutter means as the chucked lens rotates relative to said cutter to track the edge of the lens on a portion of the cutter and to make a lens having the size and shape of the lens opening in the associated eyeglass frame and corresponding to said plurality of data points, and
- means for mapping the front and rear surfaces of the lens blank at a plurality of positions along a path corresponding substantially to the peripheral outline shape of the lens to determine the profile of the front and rear surface of the lens, said plurality of positions collectively representing mapping data and corresponding to at least a portion of said data points which collectively represent the size and shape of the lens opening in the associated eyeglass frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.