Gerber Scientific Products, Inc.

Gerber Optical, Inc.

William Hernandez

David J Logan

Kenneth O Wood

Richard L Edwards

A system and related method or process for producing a pattern for a lens to be formed and then placed in an opening in an eyeglass frame utilizes a frame tracing apparatus for providing coordinate data characterizing the size and shape of the lens opening in associated one specific eyeglass frame for transmission to a pattern generator having a cutter which moves relative to a blank fixtured at a work station in the generator to cut a pattern having the desired size and shape. A number of frame tracing apparatus are arranged to transmit data to a pattern generator via a central data base computer coupled to the frame tracing apparatus by a communications link whereby the pattern generator subsequently receives the dimensional data corresponding to the specific lens opening traced by the frame tracing apparatus to generate the desired pattern from blanks continuously and automatically fed to the pattern generator.

Optical lens pattern making system and method

A blank having a rectangular shaped body from which a lens pattern is cut to the desired size and shape of a frame lens opening is connected to other identical blanks to form a chain for continuous feeding to a lens pattern generator. The blanks have ball and socket hinge members symmetrically arranged on each edge with a ball hinge member on one edge being opposite a socket hinge member on the other edge. The hinge members are offset with respect to a plane passing through the center of the body between the top and bottom faces of the blank so that the pivot axis of the ball and socket hinge members on one edge is in the plane of the top face and the pivot axis of the ball and socket hinge members on the other edge is in the plane of the bottom face. The blanks are connected together in a like edge-to-like edge fashion and indicia provided to identify the nasal side of the blank alternates from side to side when the blanks are interconnected in a chain. Rack gears embossed in the margins of the bottom face are provided for complementary engagement with drive gears in a lens pattern generator to advance the blank along a travel path in the generator.

Blank for use in a lens pattern generator

A method and apparatus for making a pattern from a blank in accordance with a set of coordinates defining a plurality of data points and collectively characterizing the size and shape of a lens opening in an eyeglass frame is presented. A controller includes an instruction set to control the operation of a router coupled to a carraige arranged for rectilinear movement toward and away from a work station and relative to the rotation of a blank fixtured at the work station whereby a pattern is cut with the desired size and shape. The apparatus further includes a sensor and light source in the feeding and staging area of the apparatus to advance a blank to a fixturing spindle located at the work station and to determine the nasal side orientation of the blank at the work station.

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Madison, CT, United States of America

William Hernandez