US3786600A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contour grinder
Assignee: LEMAY A CO Inc
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Filing: 1972-10-02
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1992-10-02
Abstract
Abstract An industrial shaping system to form various articles including eyeglass lenses. The invention specifically discloses an eyeglass frame pattern generator and edge grinder for shaping eyeglass lenses to fit a particular frame. A sensing wheel makes contact with the internal frame groove which is designed to hold the lens. The frame pattern generator controls an edge cutter by means of a servo system to shape the lens so that it will fit into the frame groove after the grinding operation. A computing device in the frame pattern generator is arranged to correct for the inherent errors generally present in all contour devices employing a tracing mechanism and a grinding cutter where grinding is done along the circumference of the grinding wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bloxsom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:46
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B9/00; B24B9/02; B24B9/06; B24B9/08; B24B9/14; B24B9/144; B24B17/00; B24B17/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/30084; Y10T409/302968; Y10T409/303248
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A contour edger for an object to be ground comprising: (a) a sensing means for determining the size and shape of the groove which is to retain the edge ground object, said sensing means including a rotatable base having an axis of rotation in alignment with the approximate center of a frame the object is to fit, a slidable block mounted on the rotatable base, a rockable arm mounted on said block and including a sensing wheel at the end of the arm which makes contact with the groove in the frame, a ferromagnetic core coupled to the slidable block by flexible means, said core also in alignment with the axis of said rotatable base, and a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of AC power and a secondary winding, both windings surrounding said core and in alignment therewith; b. a servomotor system connected to the secondary of said transformer, said system including a servomotor connected to a means for moving the object toward and away from a grinder wheel; and c. an edge grinding means for grinding the edge of an object to a desired size and shape, said grinding means including a rotatable support for the object, said support coupled to the rotatable base for rotation in synchronism therewith, an edge grinding wheel turned by a grinder motor, and means for moving the rotatable support toward and away from said grinding wheel in accordance with the variations of the sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A contour edger for an object to be ground comprising: (a) a sensing means for determining the size and shape of the groove which is to retain the edge ground object, said sensing means including a rotatable base having an axis of rotation in alignment with the approximate center of a frame the object is to fit, a slidable block mounted on the rotatable base, a rockable arm mounted on said block and including a sensing wheel at the end of the arm which makes contact with the groove in the frame, a ferromagnetic core coupled to the slidable block by flexible means, said core also in alignment with the axis of said rotatable base, and a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of AC power and a secondary winding, both windings surrounding said core and in alignment therewith; b. a servomotor system connected to the secondary of said transformer, said system including a servomotor connected to a means for moving the object toward and away from a grinder wheel; and c. an edge grinding means for grinding the edge of an object to a desired size and shape, said grinding means including a rotatable support for the object, said support coupled to the rotatable base for rotation in synchronism therewith, an edge grinding wheel turned by a grinder motor, and means for moving the rotatable support toward and away from said grinding wheel in accordance with the variations of the sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A contour edger as claimEd in claim 1 wherein a variable contact arm is secured to the servomotor for rotation therewith, said arm engaging a voltage divider whose ends are connected to a source of direct current, said contact arm connected to input terminals of the servoamplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
247 words
A contour edger for eyeglass lenses comprising: (a) a sensing means for determining the size and shape of the groove which is to retain the edge ground lens, said sensing means including a rotatable base having an axis of rotation in alignment with the approximate center of an eyeglass frame the lens is to fit, a slidable block mounted on said rotatable base, a rockable arm mounted on said slidable block, a sensing wheel at the end of the rockable arm which makes contact with the groove in the frame, a ferromagnetic core coupled to the slidable block by a flexible string, said core also in alignment with the axis of said rotatable base, and a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of AC power and a secondary winding, both windings surrounding said core and in alignment therewith; b. a servomotor system connected to the secondary of said transformer, said system including a servomotor connected to a means for moving the lens toward and away from a grinder wheel; and c. an edge grinding means for grinding the edge of an eyeglass lens to a desired size and shape, said grinding means including a rotatable support for the eyeglass lens, said support coupled to the rotatable base for rotation in synchronism therewith, an edge grinding wheel turned by a grinder motor, and means for moving the rotatable support toward and away from said grinding wheel in accordance with the variations of the sensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
247 words
A contour edger for eyeglass lenses comprising: (a) a sensing means for determining the size and shape of the groove which is to retain the edge ground lens, said sensing means including a rotatable base having an axis of rotation in alignment with the approximate center of an eyeglass frame the lens is to fit, a slidable block mounted on said rotatable base, a rockable arm mounted on said slidable block, a sensing wheel at the end of the rockable arm which makes contact with the groove in the frame, a ferromagnetic core coupled to the slidable block by a flexible string, said core also in alignment with the axis of said rotatable base, and a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of AC power and a secondary winding, both windings surrounding said core and in alignment therewith; b. a servomotor system connected to the secondary of said transformer, said system including a servomotor connected to a means for moving the lens toward and away from a grinder wheel; and c. an edge grinding means for grinding the edge of an eyeglass lens to a desired size and shape, said grinding means including a rotatable support for the eyeglass lens, said support coupled to the rotatable base for rotation in synchronism therewith, an edge grinding wheel turned by a grinder motor, and means for moving the rotatable support toward and away from said grinding wheel in accordance with the variations of the sensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A contour edger as claimed in claim 3 wherein the flexible string is threaded through an axial hole in a shaft which turns the rockable arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A contour edger as claimed in claim 3 wherein said primary and secondary windings are positioned in axial alignment with the movement of the core.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A contour edger as claimed in claim 3 wherein said servomotor system includes an amplifier coupled between the transformer secondary winding and the servomotor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A contour edger as claimed in claim 3 wherein the servomotor is coupled to the support for the eyeglass lens by a rack and pinion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A contour edger as claimed in claim 6 wherein said servomotor system includes a demodulator which receives an alternating voltage from the transformer secondary winding and delivers a direct current to the amplifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A contour edger as claimed in claim 3 wherein a variable contact arm is secured to the servomotor for rotation therewith, said arm engaging a voltage divider whose ends are connected to a source of direct current, said contact arm connected to input terminals of the servoamplifier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |