E-facet optical lens

• US 20060167758A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virgil T. Yancy
• Original Assignee: Virgil T. Yancy
• Inventors: Yancy, Virgil T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/23 Gem and jewel setting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/03 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/08 with means to regulate operation by use of templet, tape, card, or other replaceable information supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/16 with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/175 to control relative positioning of Tool and work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/545 Rotary, work-supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30112 Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/302688 with provision for circumferential relative movement of cutter and work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/3028 including tracer adapted to trigger electrical or fluid energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/303808 including infeeding

Abstract

A method and system design and manufacture of the monogrammed faceted and stone adorned eyeglass lenses via a computer program allowing a design, intricate facet cuts and stone placement on a computer lens model. Software may utilize a touch probe or laser scanner to gather point data from a previously designed lens, converting the data to a computer model. The data is then used to send signals to an articulated robotic arm holding a lens shape. The robotic arm receives the commands from the computer, moving and rotating the lens shape against an abrasive wheel, rotating cutter blade or rotating drill thereby duplicating the facet cuts, slots notches or depressions or other designs contained in the computer lens model. Varying pressure is applied by the articulated arm and various degrees of abrasiveness of the abrasive wheel.

Claims

1. A method for finishing lenses for eyeglass frames, comprising:

(a) providing a server central processing unit and first software executing therein for storing within or retrieving from a database in communication therewith, one or more eyewear lens shapes and design artistry for each of a plurality of lens styles and sizes;

(b) providing at least one client central processing unit in communication with the server central processing unit to request of the server central processing unit one or more eyewear lens shapes and design artistry stored within the database of (a);

(c) selecting and retrieving one or more desired eyewear lens shapes and design artistry from among a group of shapes and designs stored in (a) and communicating the selected design and artistry to a second software program executing with he client central processing unit of (b);

(d) using the second software probing a eyewear lens blank to determine data-points defining the edge of the lens blank, the thickness of the lens blank and top of the lens blank;

(e) converting the retrieved data-points of (d) to polar coordinates with the coordinates calculated from the probing of (d);

(f) utilizing the second software communicating retrieved lens design data of (c) to an articulated robotic arm pattern cutter controller; and

(g) faceting, drilling, jewelling or otherwise sizing the retrieved lens design data to conform to the selected style of (c) and data-points probed in (d) and calculated in (e).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing at least one client central processing unit in communication with the server central processing unit is to request of the server central processing unit one or more eyewear lens shapes or design artistry stored within the database of (1a).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting and retrieving of one or more desired eyewear lens shapes and design artistry from among a group of shapes and designs stored in (1a) and communicating the selected design or artistry to a second software program executing with the client central processing unit of (1b.).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second software further comprises probing a eyewear lens blank and determining sufficient data-points to calculate either the true base convex or true base concave curvature of the lens, said true base curvature subsequently communicated to a robotic drilling apparatus and one or more flush or otherwise perpendicular partial or complete bores are made to said lens surface.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising having the optical center of the lens blank serve as a common center of rotation.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of cutting, facing, drilling adorning or otherwise sizing the retrieved lens design data to conform to the selected style of (c) and data-points probed in (d) and calculated in (e) further comprises a mechanical adjustment of a lens pattern cutter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step cutting, facing, drilling adorning or otherwise sizing the retrieved lens design data to conform to the selected style of (c) and datapoints probed in (d) and calculated in (e) further comprises manually adjusting a rotatable pattern blank work table of the pattern cutter to offset the axis of rotation of the work table from the center of the lens blank.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the adjusting of a rotatable work table further comprises automatically shifting the work table with respect to its rotational axis to provide an offset equal to the decentration of the lens optical center with respect to the selected lens blank.

9. A system for producing lenses for eyeglass frames, comprising:

(a) a server central processing unit and first software executing therein for storing within or retrieving from a database in communication therewith, one or more eyewear lens designs for each of a plurality of lens styles and sizes;

(Review Note;

designed faceted, monogramed, jewelry adorned) (Dep. Claims for additional functions of server program—

subsequent to inventor review);

(b) at least one client central processing unit in communication with the server central processing and executing second software therein to request of the server central processing unit one or more eyewear lens shapes or design artistry stored within the database of (a);

(Review Note”

Determining “

design”

to download); and

(c) a lens cutter at a location geographically distant from the first location and central processing unit for producing more eyewear lens shapes or design artistry according to a software instructed means corresponding to at least one lens design requested by the second software of (b).

10. The system of claim 9 where the lens cutter in located in and area geographically proximate to the server central processing unit.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the lens cutter includes a pattern cutter and microprocessor for operating the pattern cutter in accordance with the retrieved lens design.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein lens design data is stored in the server database as polar coordinates having their origin basis located at the geometric center of the lens.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the lens cutter means further comprises a work table for receiving a pattern blank having a geometrical center of rotation;

a means for rotating the work table about an axis;

a cutter; and

means for reciprocating the work table toward and away from the cutter, the rotation and reciprocation of the work table being under the control of the retrieved lens design data to produce a lens pattern having a design and dimension corresponding to the requested one or more eyewear lens shapes or design artistry.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the cutter further comprises a work table having a first support plate;

a second support plate slidably movable with respect to the first plate only along a first horizontal axis; and

a third support plate slidably movable with respect to the second plate only along a second horizontal axis; and

means for selectively moving the second and third support plates along their respective horizontal axis to offset the center of the third support plate with respect to the first support plate.