Patent US4286415A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4286415A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of edging lenses
Assignee: OPTI-VUE Inc
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Filing: 1980-04-28
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Granted: 1981-09-01
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Expires: 2000-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A method of grinding the peripheries of articles such as ophthalmic lenses and the like with a grinding wheel to a predetermined outline or edge configuration, is characterized by the steps of detecting the height of discrete positions on the grinding wheel surface between opposite sides thereof and generating signals having values representative of the height of the positions. The values of the signals are compared, and an indication is generated of the position on the grinding surface whereat the signals represent greatest height. The indication is then used to control movement of the article against the highest position on the grinding surface for being ground. In consequence, the wheel wears evenly, it retains a substantially cylindrical shape, all portions of its grinding surface are effectively used in grinding articles, and formation of a groove in its surface is prevented, whereby the wheel does not require retruing or reshaping and its useful life is significantly increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfredo P. Loreto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:49
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B9/00; B24B9/02; B24B9/06; B24B9/08; B24B9/14; B24B9/148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
In a method of grinding an article with a grinder having a grinding surface and an axis of rotation, comprising the steps of detecting the height of discrete axial positions on the grinding surface between opposite sides thereof and generating signals having values representative thereof; comparing the values of said signals and generating an indication of the grinding surface axial position whereat said signals represent greatest height; and moving the article in accordance with said indication against the axial position of greatest height.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a method of grinding an article with a grinder having a grinding surface and an axis of rotation, comprising the steps of detecting the height of discrete axial positions on the grinding surface between opposite sides thereof and generating signals having values representative thereof; comparing the values of said signals and generating an indication of the grinding surface axial position whereat said signals represent greatest height; and moving the article in accordance with said indication against the axial position of greatest height.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a method of grinding the peripheries of articles such as ophthalmic lenses and the like with a grinding wheel having a grinding surface and an axis of rotation, comprising the steps of detecting the height of discrete axial positions on the grinding surface between opposite sides thereof and generating signals having values representative thereof; comparing the values of said signals and generating an indication of the axial position on the grinding surface whereat said signals represent greatest height; and moving the periphery of an article in accordance with said indication against the axial position of greatest height.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a method of grinding the peripheries of articles such as ophthalmic lenses and the like with a grinding wheel having a grinding surface and an axis of rotation, comprising the steps of detecting the height of discrete axial positions on the grinding surface between opposite sides thereof and generating signals having values representative thereof; comparing the values of said signals and generating an indication of the axial position on the grinding surface whereat said signals represent greatest height; and moving the periphery of an article in accordance with said indication against the axial position of greatest height.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a method as in claim 2, said comparing and indication generating step comprising periodically sampling the values of said signals, storing an indication of the values of said sampled signals and of the detected axial positions on the grinding surface whereat said sampled signals were generated, comparing the relative values of said stored signals, and indicating the axial position on the grinding surface whereat said signals represent greatest height.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a method as in claim 2, said detecting step comprising detecting the height of the grinding surface at incrementally spaced axial positions between said edges thereof and generating signals having values representative thereof, said comparing and indication generating step comprising storing the value of each generated signal, comparing the values of said stored signals, and generating an indication of the axial position on the grinding surface whereat said signals represent greatest height, said moving step comprising moving the article from an initial position and across the grinding surface at a predetermined speed and for a time in accordance with said indication, said indication controlling the time of movement of the article so that the article is positioned to engage the highest position on the grinding surface, and thereafter moving the article against the highest position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a method as in claim 4, including the steps of generating a count having a value in accordance with said indication, and reducing the value of said count at a predetermined rate to a predetermined value, said moving step comprising moving the article from the initial position and across the grinding surface while said count is being reduced to said predetermined value, said count being of an initial value such that the article is positioned to engage the highest position on the grinding surface upon said count being reduced to said predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
In a method as in claim 5 said predetermined value of said count being zero.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of grinding an article, comprising the steps of rotating a grinding wheel, having a grinding surface which is subject to wear, about its axis; supporting and moving the article against the grinding surface; detecting the axial position of the highest point on the grinding surface between opposite sides of said surface; and controlling said supporting and moving step in accordance with said detecting step to locate the article opposite from and to move the article against the highest point position.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of grinding an article, comprising the steps of rotating a grinding wheel, having a grinding surface which is subject to wear, about its axis; supporting and moving the article against the grinding surface; detecting the axial position of the highest point on the grinding surface between opposite sides of said surface; and controlling said supporting and moving step in accordance with said detecting step to locate the article opposite from and to move the article against the highest point position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 7, wherein said detecting step comprises detecting the height of discrete positions on the grinding surface along a line extending between opposite sides of the surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein said detecting step comprises sensing the height of the discrete positions on the grinding surface along the line between opposite sides thereof, generating signals having values representative of the sensed height of the discrete positions, and monitoring the signals and controlling operation of said supporting and moving steps in accordance therewith to move the article against the discrete position on the surface whereat the signals indicate the surface is highest.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said monitoring step includes periodically sampling the values of the signals, storing indications of both the values of the signal samples and the positions on the surface whereat said signal samples are obtained, comparing said stored indications to determine the position on the surface whereat the surface is highest, and controlling operation of said supporting and moving step to move the article against the determined position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of grinding the peripheries of articles such as ophthalmic lenses and the like, comprising the steps of rotating a grinding wheel, having a grinding surface which is subject to wear, about its axis; supporting a lens generally along an axis thereof and moving the edge of the lens against the grinding surface; detecting the axial position of the highest point on the grinding surface between opposite sides of said surface; and controlling said supporting and moving step in response to said detecting step to locate the edge of the lens opposite from and to engage the edge of the lens with the grinding surface at the axial position whereat the surface is highest, whereby the grinding surface wears evenly and uniformly.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of grinding the peripheries of articles such as ophthalmic lenses and the like, comprising the steps of rotating a grinding wheel, having a grinding surface which is subject to wear, about its axis; supporting a lens generally along an axis thereof and moving the edge of the lens against the grinding surface; detecting the axial position of the highest point on the grinding surface between opposite sides of said surface; and controlling said supporting and moving step in response to said detecting step to locate the edge of the lens opposite from and to engage the edge of the lens with the grinding surface at the axial position whereat the surface is highest, whereby the grinding surface wears evenly and uniformly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein said detecting step comprises sensing the height of discrete positions on the surface between opposite sides thereof along a line extending generally parallel to the grinding wheel axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein said detecting step includes generating voltage signals having values in accordance with the height of each discrete sensed position on the surface, and monitoring the values of the signals and generating an indication of the axial position on the surface having the greatest height, said supporting and moving step being responsive to said indication generating step to locate the edge of the lens opposite from and to engage the edge of the lens with said position on the surface having the greatest height.
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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) | 1984-08-31 | 1985-03-02 | 1985-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-31 | 1989-03-02 | 1989-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-31 | 1993-03-02 | 1993-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |