US3902277A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for generating toric surfaces by the use of a peripheral surfacing tool
Assignee: Camelot Industries Corp
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Filing: 1974-04-01
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Granted: 1975-09-02
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Expires: 1994-04-01
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for generating toric surfaces of varying curvature by the use of a single peripheral grinding tool. The toric surface is generated by sweeping the tool across a workpiece along a first curved path having a radius equal to the radius of the curvature to be generated in the direction of one major meridian of the workpiece surface while simultaneously oscillating the workpiece relative to the tool along a second curved path perpendicular to the first curved path and having a radius equal to the radius of the curvature to be generated in the direction of the second major meridian of said toric surface. In the presently preferred embodiment, the relative movement between the tool and workpiece along the second curved path is conveniently accomplished by mounting the workpiece to an adjustable parallelogram support mechanism designed to orbitally oscillate the workpiece in the plane of the second curved path. The system permits either curvature to be independently controlled to enable an entire series of toric surfaces to be generated with the same peripheral tool. The system is especially designed for generating toric concave surfaces on ophthalmic lenses and this is particularly suitable for use in wholesale prescription laboratories.
Inventors
- 👤 Wiktor J Rupp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:58
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
Apparatus for generating a toric surface on a lens comprising: a. means for supporting a lens upon which said toric surface is to be generated, said toric surface having a first curvature in the direction of a first major meridian thereof and a second curvature in the direction of a second major meridian thereof normal to and passing through said first major meridian; b. means for supporting a peripheral surfacing tool adjacent said workpiece for generating said toric surface thereupon, said peripheral surfacing tool having a central tool axis, and a substantially annular peripheral surfacing face symmetrical about said tool axis; c. first drive means for transversely sweeping said tool and said lens relative to one another along a first curved path having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the curvature to be generated in the direction of said first major meridian of said toric surface for generating said first curvature thereon; d. second drive means for transversely oscillating said tool and said lens relative to one another along a second curved path perpendicular to said first curved path and having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the curvature to be generated in the direction of said second major meridian of said toric surface for generating said second curvature thereon, said second drive means including means coupled to said lens support means for oscillating said lens in an orbital manner relative to said tool; and, e. third drive means for rotating said tool about said axis thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
Apparatus for generating a toric surface on a lens comprising: a. means for supporting a lens upon which said toric surface is to be generated, said toric surface having a first curvature in the direction of a first major meridian thereof and a second curvature in the direction of a second major meridian thereof normal to and passing through said first major meridian; b. means for supporting a peripheral surfacing tool adjacent said workpiece for generating said toric surface thereupon, said peripheral surfacing tool having a central tool axis, and a substantially annular peripheral surfacing face symmetrical about said tool axis; c. first drive means for transversely sweeping said tool and said lens relative to one another along a first curved path having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the curvature to be generated in the direction of said first major meridian of said toric surface for generating said first curvature thereon; d. second drive means for transversely oscillating said tool and said lens relative to one another along a second curved path perpendicular to said first curved path and having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the curvature to be generated in the direction of said second major meridian of said toric surface for generating said second curvature thereon, said second drive means including means coupled to said lens support means for oscillating said lens in an orbital manner relative to said tool; and, e. third drive means for rotating said tool about said axis thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the radius of said first curvature is greater than the radius of said second curvature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further including means for independently varying the radius of said first and second curved paths for independently varying the radius of said first and second curvatures to be generated on said toric surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes means for coupling said first drive means to said tool support means for sweeping said tool along said first curved path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said lens support means comprises a parallelogram support mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said parallelogram support mechanism includes: a. a movable support member; b. means for mounting said lens to said support member for movement therewith; c. a base; d. a pair of linkage means coupling said support member to said base for enabling said support member to be reciprocated back and forth relative to said base; and, e. wherein said second drive means comprises means for reciprocating said support member back and forth relative to said base for causing said lens to orbitally oscillate along said second curved path relative to said tool.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 including means for varying the length of said linkage means for varying the radius of said second curved path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein the length of said linkage means are selected such that the length of said linkage means plus the effective radius of said tool will substantially equal the radius of said second curved path and hence the radius of said second curvature to be generated on said toric surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the peripheral surfacing face of said tool includes first and second grinding portions for sequentially performing first and seconD grinding operations on said toric surface.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for generating a toric surface on a lens comprising: a. supporting a lens upon which said toric surface is to be generated; b. supporting a peripheral surfacing tool adjacent said lens for generating said toric surface thereupon; c. transversely sweeping said tool and said lens relative to one another along a first curved path having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the curvature to be generated in the direction of a first major meridian of said toric surface; and, d. simultaneously transversely oscillating said lens relative to said tool in an orbital manner along a second curved path perpendicular to said first curved path and having a radius substantially equal to the curvature to be generated in the direction of a second major meridian of said toric surface.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for generating a toric surface on a lens comprising: a. supporting a lens upon which said toric surface is to be generated; b. supporting a peripheral surfacing tool adjacent said lens for generating said toric surface thereupon; c. transversely sweeping said tool and said lens relative to one another along a first curved path having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the curvature to be generated in the direction of a first major meridian of said toric surface; and, d. simultaneously transversely oscillating said lens relative to said tool in an orbital manner along a second curved path perpendicular to said first curved path and having a radius substantially equal to the curvature to be generated in the direction of a second major meridian of said toric surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
Method as recited in claim 10 including the further step of varying the radius of said second curved path for varying the radius of the curvature to be generated in the direction of said second major meridian of said lens surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-01 | 1979-03-03 | 1979-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-01 | 1983-03-03 | 1983-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-01 | 1987-03-03 | 1987-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |