Chapin Manufacturing, Inc.

Bausch-lomb Incorporated

David L Byron

Rory L Flemmer

Ronald M Odessa

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a sprayer apparatus that includes a disengageable pressurized fluid source, a pressure chamber in fluid communication with the fluid source, a backflow valve, a sealed vessel, and a sprayer outlet. The backflow valve has two one-way valves separated by a weep mechanism and is positioned between the fluid source and the pressure chamber such that the two one-way valves allow fluid flow from the fluid source to the pressure chamber. The sealed vessel is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The sprayer outlet includes a shutoff valve in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The shutoff valve normally prevents fluid flow from the pressure chamber to the sprayer outlet and is operable to allow fluid flow from the pressure tank to the sprayer outlet.

Sprayer apparatus with backflow valve

Ergonomic sprayer handle

A sprayer has a spray shield and a spray shield retainer. The spray shield is removably attached to the spray shield retainer for efficient storage when not in use. The spray shield can be contoured to the body of the sprayer. The spray shield is configured for attachment to a spray wand proximate to a nozzle.

Sprayer having a spray shield and a spray shield retainer

Sprayer having a detachable shield

Sprayer

An eyewinder system 10 has stations 100-108 for straightening, bending, measuring and transporting a wire 11 to form an eyewire 109. A controller 120 controls each station. Using information from tension and length measuring stations 104, 105, the controller 120 can accurately operate the second bending station 107. The eyewire 109 is inspected for accurate bends by an inspection system 140 that compares the bends in the eyewire 109 to predetermined radii of curvature.

Eyewire inspection station

A lens inspection system 10 has two cameras 50, 51 for capturing plan and edge images views of a lens 20 and providing pixel data signals representative of the images. The pixel data signals corresponding to the plan and edge images are analyzed by a computer 70. The computer uses the pixel data signals to calculate the circumference of the image, the lengths of radii to circumferential pixels, and the bevel angle of the lens 20. Such data are compared to data stored in memory 710 and a visual display 74 indicates the difference between the image and the stored data.

Computer vision inspection station

Three dimensional eyewinder method

Three-dimensional eyewinder apparatus

A computer numerical control machine system for edging lenses controls the rotation and displacement of a lens workpiece with respect to a edging tool in accordance with a lens shape stored in memory. The system continuously translates the lens workpiece axially across the surface of the wheel to uniformly distribute wear across the wheel surface, reducing the need to dress the edging tool. The system compares the lens size with predetermined dimensions and compenates for any difference by automatically adjusting the lens trajectory during the edging of subsequent lens workpieces, permitting the edging tool to wear down without appreciable errors in lens size. The system controls the edging tool speed, the lens rotation rate, the lens axial feed velocity and the grinding force between the lens workpiece and the wheel at each discrete point during the entire lens edging operation to optimize production while preventing overheating of the lens workpiece. The optimum values for these parameters are empirically determined in a preparatory programmed trial and error learning process of the invention.

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Honeoye Falls, NY, United States of America

David L Byron