US4038783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for generating optic lenses
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-09-03
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Granted: 1977-08-02
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Expires: 1996-09-03
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus are provided for grinding ophthalmic lenses by mounting the lens blank on a rotatable pedestal having three additional degrees of freedom on respective orthogonal axes one of which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the mounting pedestal. A grinding wheel is mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to a second of these orthogonal axes and mounted for oscillation in a plane parallel to the third. While the grinding wheel is rotated and oscillated the base and cross radius constraints for the finished lens are superimposed on the lens blank along its axis of rotation and the lens blank pedestal is moving along the second orthogonal axis. This permits the grinding wheel to complete a grind on the blank by traversing only from one outside position to a central position and substantially precludes edge breakage in the blanks.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon Rosenthal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:04
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B13/00; B24B13/06; B24B13/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A lens grinding apparatus, comprising: first mounting means mounting a lens blank substantially for linear motion on X, Y and Z orthogonal coordinate axes and for selective rotation on its X-axis; first drive means selectively driving said lens blank in rotation; second drive means indexing said lens blank along said Y-axis; toroidal grinding means; second mounting means mounting said grinding means for simultaneous oscillation and rotation in an X-Z plane; and template means superimposing cross radius and base radius lens parameters on said lens blank mounting means along said X-axis and constraining said lens blank into engagement with said grinding means in cooperation with said second drive means to generate an opthalmic lens surface on said lens blank; said second drive means indexing said lens blank during selective rotation thereof along said Y-axis to cause said grinding means to traverse half the diameter of said lens blank and thereby generate a complete ophthalmic surface on said lens blank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A lens grinding apparatus, comprising: first mounting means mounting a lens blank substantially for linear motion on X, Y and Z orthogonal coordinate axes and for selective rotation on its X-axis; first drive means selectively driving said lens blank in rotation; second drive means indexing said lens blank along said Y-axis; toroidal grinding means; second mounting means mounting said grinding means for simultaneous oscillation and rotation in an X-Z plane; and template means superimposing cross radius and base radius lens parameters on said lens blank mounting means along said X-axis and constraining said lens blank into engagement with said grinding means in cooperation with said second drive means to generate an opthalmic lens surface on said lens blank; said second drive means indexing said lens blank during selective rotation thereof along said Y-axis to cause said grinding means to traverse half the diameter of said lens blank and thereby generate a complete ophthalmic surface on said lens blank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said template means comprises: base and cross radius templates mounted in respective magazines; a machine yoke mounting said lens blank, a base radius template and a cross radius template from said magazine for displacement in the X-Y plane of said apparatus in unison; third drive means engaging said yoke mounted base radius template and constraining said lens blank and said yoke to follow the base radius contour thereof during Y-axis displacement by said second drive means; and fourth drive means oscillating in unison with said grinding means in said X-Z plane engaging said cross radius template and constraining said lens blank and said yoke to follow the cross radius contour thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said template means further comprises: fine grind base radius templates mounted in a third magazine; and fifth drive means interengaged with a fine grind template from said third magazine and said first mounting means for superimposing a base radius parameter on said lens blank in response to Y-axis displacement thereof by said second drive means; and wherein, when said fifth drive means is operative said lens blank is precluded from rotating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention defined in claim 1, which further includes Z-axis drive means for superimposing a decentration displacement on said lens blank to provide a vertical prism therein.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
188 words
The method of grinding an ophthalmic surface on a lens blank with a toroidal grinding means comprising: mounting said toroidal grinding means for oscillation and rotation in a first common plane and oscillating and rotating same; mounting said lens blank for selective rotation on an axis of rotation parallel with said first common plane and for orthogonal coordinate displacement in three directions including said axis of rotation as one coordinate axis; superimposing base radius and cross radius parameters on said lens blank in a second plane orthogonal to said first plane and parallel to said axis of rotation; said cross radius parameter being generated in unison with the oscillation of said grinding means; said base radius parameter being generated in response to displacement of said lens blank on a second axis orthogonal to said axis of rotation and in said second plane; displacing said lens blank on said second axis no more than half the diameter of said lens blank while engaging said blank with said grinding means; and simultaneously rotating said lens blank during the last said displacement to provide a complete rough ground ophthalmic surface thereon.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
188 words
The method of grinding an ophthalmic surface on a lens blank with a toroidal grinding means comprising: mounting said toroidal grinding means for oscillation and rotation in a first common plane and oscillating and rotating same; mounting said lens blank for selective rotation on an axis of rotation parallel with said first common plane and for orthogonal coordinate displacement in three directions including said axis of rotation as one coordinate axis; superimposing base radius and cross radius parameters on said lens blank in a second plane orthogonal to said first plane and parallel to said axis of rotation; said cross radius parameter being generated in unison with the oscillation of said grinding means; said base radius parameter being generated in response to displacement of said lens blank on a second axis orthogonal to said axis of rotation and in said second plane; displacing said lens blank on said second axis no more than half the diameter of said lens blank while engaging said blank with said grinding means; and simultaneously rotating said lens blank during the last said displacement to provide a complete rough ground ophthalmic surface thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said last displacement is increased to no more than the diameter of said lens blank; wherein said lens blank is kept from rotation; and wherein said base radius and cross radius parameters are superimposed on said rough ground ophthalmic surface in a Cartesian coordinate scan to provide a finished ground ophthalmic surface on said lens blank.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
115 words
The method of grinding an ophthalmic lens from a lens blank comprising: mounting and rotating a lens blank on a rotatable lens mounting pedestal; mounting said pedestal for movement in three orthogonal axes one of which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said mounting pedestal; rotating a grinding wheel on an axis parallel to a second of said orthogonal axis; and oscillating said grinding wheel in a plane parallel to the remaining one of said axes while engaged with said lens blank; and superimposing cross and base radius constraints on said lens blank along the axis of rotation of said blank while moving said blank pedestal along said second of said orthogonal axes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
115 words
The method of grinding an ophthalmic lens from a lens blank comprising: mounting and rotating a lens blank on a rotatable lens mounting pedestal; mounting said pedestal for movement in three orthogonal axes one of which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said mounting pedestal; rotating a grinding wheel on an axis parallel to a second of said orthogonal axis; and oscillating said grinding wheel in a plane parallel to the remaining one of said axes while engaged with said lens blank; and superimposing cross and base radius constraints on said lens blank along the axis of rotation of said blank while moving said blank pedestal along said second of said orthogonal axes.
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) | 1980-08-01 | 1981-01-31 | 1981-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-01 | 1985-01-31 | 1985-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-01 | 1989-01-31 | 1989-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |