DE3724770A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A TEMPLATE FOR AN EYE LENS - Google Patents

Abstract

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 12 for providing coordinate data characterizing the size and shape of the lens opening in the associated eyeglass frame for transmission to a pattern generator 14 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 may be 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 lens opening traced by the frame tracing apparatus to generate the desired pattern from blanks continuously and automatically fed to the pattern generator. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates generally to stencils for optical glasses and relates in particular to a Method and device for producing a Template for one to be made and then into an opening Spectacle lens to be used in a spectacle frame in particular are suitable and for which data, the size and the Mark the shape of the associated lens opening by an eyeglass frame scanner to one Template generator are given, which is connected to it is.

The seat of an optical lens in an associated Eyeglass lens opening in an eyeglass frame is generally determined by the manufacturer of the special glasses frame, which provides a template with nominal dimensions for the opening. Such a template is essentially a replica the shape of the lens opening in an associated Spectacle frame and is typically used as a guide for steering a grinding device used by means of a optical spectacle lens compact by contour copying or grinding is brought into the shape of the lens opening. The stencils supplied by a manufacturer are usually identified and often identified by the Users of such stencils kept in stock.

In the past few years, the multiplication of Spectacle frame types and an increased number of Eyeglass frame manufacturers there for those with one  Stock of stencils work, made impractical, one Template for each of the different types of frames to order and keep in stock because of the increased need for space to store the larger Number of different stencils is required. In addition, the process of selecting one predetermined template from the warehouse more difficult, more uncomfortable and become more time consuming, especially in a large one Workshop where a particular template will be in use and therefore may not be available for selection.

In smaller workshops it can be uneconomical or be unreasonable to maintain a warehouse for stencils. In many of these cases, a stencil is either direct or indirectly after a spectacle frame or due to a Scanning of the lens opening in the eyeglass frame produced. In such a method of making a A template blank is used, the one has grid-like graduation, which consists of distances that left, right, above and below from one to the Blank printed origin have been measured. The origin of the grid coincides with the mechanical center of one Blanks and accordingly with the mechanical center of one template made from the blank together. In the Use of such a blank must be mechanical The center of the lens opening and the mechanical Center of the blank to be properly aligned because of a very small error of only a few tenths of a millimeter can lead to an incorrect fit of the lens. In addition, the horizontal axis of the Eyeglass lens opening in the eyeglass frame and the horizontal Axis of the template to be kept parallel to each other ensure that the optical center, etc. one by one a corresponding template manufactured glasses is positioned correctly in front of the eye when the eyeglass lens  is in the eyeglass opening of the eyeglass frame.

After the eyeglass opening of the eyeglass frame is correct is aligned horizontally and centered, the shape of the Transfer the lens opening to the grid on the blank, by opening the eyeglass lens with a crayon or a other suitable marking device is followed, and the template blank will be along the marked outline cut to make the template. Any Roughness in the template edge is usually done with a File or a grinding wheel smoothed.

A template made using the above Procedure has not been established with certainty same size and shape as the lens opening of the Have eyeglass frames, unless the thickness of the Pen line and the depth of the groove for the lens rim (eyewire) and others be compensated. In addition, there may be changes from Specify a frame for glasses of the same type, in which case is one made for an eyeglass frame opening Do not use a template for another eyeglass frame opening of the same type of spectacle frame needs to be suitable.

The above procedure for copying one Spectacle frame opening and for generating an associated Stencil requires a high degree of skill time consuming, often takes five minutes to draw and making a template and results in an optical Eyeglass lens that is incorrectly centered or dimensioned stencil has been made, not one correct fit in the lens opening and an optical Error. In addition, the above procedure is for the economical production of large quantities of the same or different templates unsuitable.  

The invention accordingly provides a method and a Device for producing a template from a blank, the template created being a copy of the size and size Is in the form of a spectacle lens opening in a spectacle frame and being the data indicating the size and shape of the Mark lens opening from one Eyeglass frame scanner directly to one Template generator are transferred.

Furthermore, the invention provides a device that individual device components, which for Use in close proximity to each other in one place or to a network between one Eyeglass frame scanner and one Stencil generator that is remote from each other different places are arranged with each other are connectable.

The invention also provides an apparatus for manufacturing a large number of differently shaped stencils in a relatively short period of time.

All this is done according to the invention and according to the more detailed description that follows is achieved by a Method and device for Production of eyeglass templates with one Spectacle frame scanner to identify size and the shape of an eyeglass opening in an associated one Spectacle frame and with a device for transmitting the Data on a template generator that is close to the Scanning device or be arranged away from this can and a corresponding template from a blank cuts, which is fed to the generator.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawings.  

The invention thus relates to a method and a Device for carrying out this method of manufacture a template for an eyeglass lens that is manufactured and then be inserted into an opening in a spectacle frame is supposed to be, the data, the size and shape of the mark the assigned lens opening to one Template generator by an eyeglass frame scanner are given, which are connected to the template generator is, the generator from a corresponding template cuts a blank that is fed to the generator.

The eyeglass frame scanner has a button that follows the lens peripheral bead groove on the inner periphery of a lens opening, and a number of data points along the button path are sensed and encoded. A controller in the scanner calculates coordinates for each sensed data point and uses the so-called boxing measurement system to determine dimension data in the form of A and B axis lengths, the effective diameter and length of each radius and its associated angle in certain spaced positions along the circumference of the lens aperture (see the book by Clifford W. Brooks, ESSENTIALS FOR OPHTHALMIC LENS WORK, 1983, The Professional Press, Inc., pp. 224 and 225). The dimension data is fed to a template generator directly or via a central database computer connected to the eyeglass frame scanner.

The template generator has a router that is on a straight path and relative to the rotation of one according to the blank clamped in a work station Control signals moved, generated by a control unit will. The control unit contains a command set, receives the dimension data and calculates the relative movement between the milling cutter and turning the blank around a template manufacture that has the desired size and shape.  

In addition, blanks are in a chain in the invention from blanks to the uninterrupted supply of the Template generator used, the blanks with each other are connectable and can be folded face to face, to form a compact package. Everyone Blank also has marks for identifying the Nasal side of a template cut from the blank.

Embodiments of the invention are described below Described in more detail with reference to the drawings. It shows

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a device according to the invention for making a template for a lens opening in a spectacle frame, wherein the main components of the device are arranged in one place,

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a representation of a number of dimensional parameters that are associated with the Kastenmeßsystem,

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the scanning device which is used in the apparatus of Fig. 1, with the lid removed, the arrangement of donor arms and their attachment are shown on the pushbutton assembly,

Fig. 4 in plan view a number of blanks in a chain which is particularly suitable for the automatic supply of the stencil making means,

Fig. 5 is a side view of a number of blanks in a chain, which are arranged in a compact folded package,

Fig. 6 is a schematic front view of the template generating device used in the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the cover removed, and

Fig. 7 is a functional block diagram of the apparatus according to the invention, wherein a number of eyeglass frame scanners are connected to a remotely located stencil generator via a central database computer which communicates with the eyeglass frame scanners via a data link.

Fig. 1 shows an overall designated 10, apparatus according to the invention for manufacturing a template for a spectacle lens in a spectacle frame opening. The apparatus 10 includes an eyeglass frame scanner 12 and a template generator 14 connected to the eyeglass frame scanner by a multi-wire electrical line 16 which transmits electrical signals between the eyeglass frame scanner and the template generator in a direction shown by part 18 . The scanning device 12 has a housing 20 with a lower part 22 and a cover 24 . The housing 20 also has a substantially planar surface 26 along which a button assembly 28 is moved in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the surface 26 . In the embodiment shown, the scanning device 12 is shown as it is used for scanning an eyeglass lens opening in an eyeglass frame. However, it will be appreciated that an optical lens or template can be scanned to provide the characteristic data for use by the template generator 14 .

The lid 24 has a keyboard 30 for inputting data, commands and other information in the form of digitally encoded electrical signals, which is connected to electronic components on an electronic circuit board 32 , to which the control circuit, the arithmetic circuit and other circuits of the Scanning device 12 belong. The circuit board 32 is connected to the various subassemblies which the scanning device 12 has and to the keyboard 30 via an electrical multi-wire line 34 .

A control device or microprocessor 36 is arranged on the circuit board 32 and has a memory for receiving an instruction set forming a control program. The program causes the controller 36 to direct the operation of the scanner 12 in accordance with the command set based on the various electrical signals input and sensed.

An option selector switch 38 is arranged on the circuit board 32 and is electrically connected to the control device 36 . Switch 38 is an 8-bit switch with a dual in-line or plug housing that can be placed in a number of desired positions. Each of these positions generates a different binary-coded digital signal with which it is selected whether a corresponding combination of a number of predetermined combinations of output information, which are associated with the identification of the size and shape of a scanned spectacle lens opening, a scanned spectacle lens or a scanned spectacle frame, on one alphanumeric display device 50 is displayed or printed out on a printer 49 . The marking of the size and shape of a spectacle frame opening, a spectacle lens or a template is shown dimensionally using the box measuring system.

Fig. 2 shows a diagram illustrating the appearance of a number of dimensional parameters that are associated with the Kastenmeßsystem. The box center M is defined as the center point of the smallest rectangle that encloses a lens shape 40 using horizontal lines 42 and vertical lines 44. The template size or dimension A is defined as the distance between the two vertical sides 44 of the box. The dimension B is defined as the distance between the horizontal lines 42. The center of the box M corresponds to the mechanical center of the box and accordingly to the spectacle lens or the template in those cases in which decentration is not required. After the box dimensions and the mechanical center have been determined, the longest or effective diameter ED that goes through the box center M can be determined. The effective diameter ED is used when selecting a minimum size of a spectacle lens compact, in order to ensure that a desired shape can be cut therefrom, ie an eyeglass lens is neither ground thicker than necessary nor too thin at its edges for a particular selected spectacle frame.

Referring to Figure 1, consider the options that are selectable by operating switch 38, each of which causes radius lengths at a certain number of spaced locations along the path being scanned and other dimension data such as dimensions A and B and the effective diameter ED , can be displayed or printed out. For example, one selected option causes the command set to display radius lengths at 90 ° intervals along the scanned path and another selected option causes the command set to display radius lengths at 45 ° intervals along the scanned path. Combinations that differ from the predetermined combinations can be realized by modifying the command set. Only a predetermined number of radius lengths of the total number of radius lengths calculated by the command set is displayed according to a particular option selected. The command set in the preferred embodiment identifies a particular scan by computing 400 radius lengths and their associated angles.

The alphanumeric display device 50 is fastened on the cover 24 and connected to the electronic circuit arrangement on the circuit board 32 , by means of which it is also electrically controlled. The display device 50 serves as an operator guidance by displaying messages and commands for executing the scanning procedure and also displays the status of the scanning device 12 during the scanning sequence. The display device 50 also, as mentioned above, displays the value of dimension data associated with the identification of the size and shape of a scanned spectacle lens opening, a scanned spectacle lens or a scanned template. The display mode is activated to sequentially display the dimension data after a scan is completed by operating the DISPLAY function key 52 on the keyboard 30 .

The printer 49 is connected to the scanner 12 via an electrical multi-wire line 47 and is electrically controlled by an electronic circuit arrangement arranged on the circuit board 32 . The printer 49 is activated by pressing the PRINT function key 51 on the keyboard 30 .

An eyeglass frame support bridge 54 is used to hold an eyeglass frame, shown in phantom in FIG. 1 and designated 56, so that the eyeglass lens opening to be scanned is held over the area through which the button assembly 28 moves. The bridge 54 can perform a limited pivoting movement about an axis 58 to allow adjustment of the plane of an eyeglass aperture in an eyeglass frame 56 held on the bridge 54 so that it is parallel to the surface 26 .

A spectacle frame holding device 60 is fastened on a platform 62 which is arranged next to the bridge 54 and can be moved in the direction of a circle 64 . The spectacle frame holding means 60 includes a self-jamming Brillenfassungseinspannteil 66, along the surface of a rod of the holding device is displaceable coaxially 68 60th The eyeglass frame is placed on the bridge 54 and aligned over the surface 26 so that the eyeglass frame contacts a front edge surface 70 of the bridge 54 and a front edge surface 72 of the platform 62 . The edge surfaces 70 and 72 are substantially aligned so that when an eyeglass frame is in contact with the edge surfaces, the axis A of the eyeglass frame is properly aligned with the axis A of an eyeglass lens or template associated with the eyeglass aperture in the eyeglass frame is. After the eyeglass frame is properly positioned, the thumb 66 is moved until it comes into contact with the eyeglass frame, which clamps it in contact to hold the front edge surface 70 without warping the eyeglass frame.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the pushbutton assembly 28 is pivotally connected about a longitudinal axis 74 having two encoder arms 76, 78. The encoder arm 76 has a variable length and has an axially elongated rod, the free end 80 of which is supported by a rotary encoder device 82 . The encoder arm 76 is designed to be reciprocable in a direction indicated by an arrow 84 , since the length of the arm changes when the stylus assembly 28 is moved along the surface 26 . The encoder arm 78 has essentially the same structure as the encoder arm 76 , has a variable length and has an axially elongated rod, the free end 86 of which is supported by a rotary encoder device 88 .

The encoder devices 82 and 88 are fixed at a mutual distance from one another and form one side of a triangle. The data representing the distance C and corresponding to this distance are used by the command set in the control unit 36 in connection with data which represent the change in the length of the encoder arms 76 and 78 and correspond to this change in length by the encoder devices 82 and 88 is sensed. The lengths of the encoder arms 76 and 78 are represented by distances A and B , respectively, and each forms one side of the triangle defined by sides A , B and C.

The encoder devices 82 and 88 are electrically connected to electronic circuitry which is disposed on the circuit board 32 and senses the electrical signals generated by the encoder devices when the lengths of the encoder arms 76 , 78 change as the stylus assembly 28 lengthways of the scanning path moves. Since the change in lengths of distances A and B with respect to an initial calibration position in each sensed position along the scan path is known and because distance C is predetermined and known, the coordinates associated with each sensed data point can be used using known trigonometric ones Relationships are determined. With regard to further details of the scanning device, reference is made to a further German patent application filed simultaneously by the applicant, for which priority of the US patent application, serial no. 06/8 96 624, dated August 14, 1986 has been claimed.

Next Figure 1 is a JOB-function button 90 is in accordance. Used on the keyboard 30 to a set of dimensional data for a given scan assign a Indentifizierungszahl and thus permit a later access and retrieval in a memory in the scanner 12 or in a data base computer to what is described in more detail below.

The scanner 12 includes circuitry for converting the dimension data of a scan into digitally encoded words for transmission to the template generator 14 or to a database computer as described with reference to FIG. 7 using known data transmission techniques. In one embodiment, scanner 12 includes circuitry located on circuit board 32 for converting the digitally encoded words to the known RS-232 data format and for providing the necessary monitoring, transmit, and receive command signals. Data is transmitted by actuating a SEND key 92 , which causes the associated circuitry to send the appropriate monitoring signals and data to the template generator 14 via line 16 which connects the scanner 12 to the template generator 14 .

The template generator 14 has a blank feed and input area, generally designated 92 , through which a blank moves in a direction shown by an arrow 94 on a path into the generator. The blanks can be fed one at a time, but are preferably fed as a chain 96 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 shows a number of blanks 98 arranged end to end as they could be fed along the feed and input area 12 of the template generator. Figure 7 shows a number of blanks 98 arranged face to face to form a compact pack. Each blank 98 has a rectangular, relatively thin body which has an upper surface 100 and a lower surface 102 and can be connected in a hinge-like manner, edge to edge, with adjacent blanks. The lower surface 102 of each blank 98 has teeth 104 which form a rack and pinion drive along each edge 106 , 108 of the blank. A blank that is suitable for use with the template generator 14 is described in yet another German patent application filed simultaneously by the applicant, for which the priority of the US patent application, serial no. 06/8 96 840, dated August 14, 1986 in Has been claimed. With regard to further details regarding the blank, reference is made to this further German patent application by the applicant.

The template generator 14 has a hinged lid 110 in the area of the blank feed and entry area 92 , and the lid opens in a direction indicated by an arrow 112 and pivots about an axis 114 when fasteners 116 are actuated to release the lid . A button 118 is located on an outer front wall 120 of the blank feed and separation area and is coupled to drive gears which have teeth which mesh with teeth 104 along the edges 106 , 108 of a blank. Rotation of the button causes the drive gears to rotate to facilitate insertion of a blank 98 into a chain 96 of blanks into the template generator 14 .

The template generator 14 also includes a keyboard 122 for selecting various functions of the template generator and for entering information into the template generator. A display device 124 is used as an operator guidance for displaying messages and commands and for displaying other information and data. A microprocessor or controller 126 is included on a circuit board 128 along with other electrical components that form the electronic circuitry required to control the operation of the template generator 14 . Controller 126 has an instruction set memory and operates in accordance with the instruction set to direct the cutting and other operations performed by template generator 14 .

A hinged access panel 130 opens in the direction of arrow 132 about a pivot axis 134 to allow access to the components in the area of the work station that are located in the area below the panel. A template 136 that has been cut in the work station is dispensed on one side 138 of the template generator in the direction of an arrow 140 , and debris 142 that is generated as a result of cutting a template from a blank is removed from the template generator in the direction of an arrow 144 issued.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic front view of the template generating device 14 which is used in the device according to the invention and is shown with the cover removed. The template generator 14 contains a drive device, denoted overall by 146 , for moving blanks along a path 148 into a workstation denoted overall by 150 . The drive means 146 comprise a set of drive gears 152 and 154 which are opposed to one another on either side of the path 148 and spaced apart from each other so that the teeth of the drive gears 152 , 154 correspond to the teeth on the lower surface of the blanks 98 , which are fed along path 148 , present a constant division. A stepper motor 156 has a drive pulley 158 which is coupled to the drive gears 152 , 154 by a drive belt 160 for synchronously rotating the gears.

A sensor 162 is arranged along an edge of the path 148 and cooperates with a light-emitting diode 164 which is fastened in the cover 110 . The light emitting diode 164 is located opposite and aligned with the sensor 162 when the lid is in its closed position so that a blank 98 moving on the path 148 passes a light beam which is between the sensor 162 and the light emitting diode 164 is present. Sensor 162 and light-emitting diode 164 are spaced a predetermined distance from work station 150 to allow accurate switching or intermittent movement of a blank on path 148 through gears 152 , 154 when stepper motor 156 is out of control according to the control signals Control unit 126 works. When the light beam between the sensor 162 and the light emitting diode 164 is interrupted by the presence of a blank 98 moving forward on the path 148 , the light beam interruption is detected by the controller 126 and a counter is set in the controller to the stepper motor 156 to cause the drive gears 152 , 154 to rotate a certain number of steps, thereby advancing the blank a predetermined distance on the way.

In addition to sensing the edge of a blank, the presence of the light beam that passes through an opening 166 in the body of the blank is detected by controller 126 to determine the nasal side orientation of a blank in workstation 150 . The determination of the nasal side orientation of a blank in the work station is necessary in order to transform the data, which characterize the size and the shape of a template to be cut from the blank, such that the data, which correspond to the nasal side, with the nasal side one from the Blank cut template are correlated. As shown in FIG. 4, each blank 98 has an opening 166 on one side of the blank, the position of the opening corresponding to the nasal side of the blank, which is denoted by the letter N. The letter N is stamped on the blank and allows identification of the nasal side of a template.

Since the number of blanks between work station 150 and sensor 162 is known, controller 126 responds to the presence of the light beam passing through opening 166 in the blank body at a predetermined time after the edge of the blank has been detected determine the orientation of a blank in the work station. Since the blanks are fed in an alternating nasal side arrangement, the command set in the control unit 126 knows in advance the detection of the presence of the light beam for every second blank that passes the sensor. If this sequence is not followed, the command set causes a message to be displayed to alert an operator to the incorrect order.

The work station 150 includes a jig 167 and a blank separator 168 for severing a blank 98 from an immediately adjacent blank connected thereto by pushing the blanks apart at the hinge connection point between the blanks. The blank separator 168 has a separator plate 170 , which is pivotally hinged at one end 172 to a hinge axis 174 , which has a hinge part 176 on the surface 178 of a frame 180 on the side of the workstation 150 , which is closest to the discharge side 138 of the template generator 14 is attached. The opposite end 182 of plate 170 is connected to a pull-down or shift rail 184 , which in turn is connected to a stepper motor 186 by a screw shaft 188 attached to the shift rail 184 and via a nut 190 which is held within the stepper motor 186 and is rotated, connected. The nut 190 is rotated by the stepping motor 186 to the plate to the stepping motor 1 SS6 toward and to move away in a direction indicated by an arrow 192 direction. The plate 170 further includes a tapered countersink 194 attached to the lower surface 196 of the plate so that the tapered countersink is aligned with a central mounting pin 198 associated with the jig 166 . When the stepping motor is operated in a direction 186 to separate adjacent blanks, the tapered countersink 194 comes with a central clamping hole in a blank in the work station 150 and pushes the blank on the central fixing pin 198, whereby the pin 198 in a Cavity 200 of a spindle body 202 of the clamping device 167 is pressed. Additional clamping holes in the blank are aligned with dowel pins 204 and engage the dowel pins when the blank is separated from the chain of blanks. In addition, the blank is pressed from an input feed plane into a lower working plane so that a blank that is clamped on the spindle body 202 can be rotated without coming into contact with other blanks in the chain in the input feed plane.

After a template has been cut from a blank in work station 150 , stepper motor 186 is activated to raise plate 170, thereby releasing a template cut from a blank and held on spindle body 202 . The central fastening pin 198 is pushed upwards out of the cavity 200 by a spring 206 , whereby the template is separated from the dowel pins 204 . The next blank moving into work station 150 touches a template that rests on spindle body 202 and pushes the template away to dispense it from the generator.

The stepper motor 186 is mounted on a motor bracket 208 , which is pivotally connected at one end 210 to a surface 212 of the frame 180 so that the stepper motor can rotate and alignment with the screw shaft 188 and the shift rail 184 can be maintained when the distance between the stepper motor and one end 182 of the partition plate 170 enlarged and reduced when the end 182 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow 192 .

The clamping device 167 , which has the spindle body 202 , is rotatably fastened in the work station 150 in bearings 214 and 216 and has a drive pulley 222 which is axially connected to the spindle body. A stepper motor 218 has a drive pulley 220 which is connected to the drive pulley 222 by a drive belt 224 to rotate the spindle body 202 about its longitudinal axis 226 . The stepper motor 218 is connected to the control device 126 and is activated and deactivated according to signals from the control device in order to rotate the spindle body 202 and accordingly a blank clamped on the spindle body. The stepper motor 218 rotates the spindle body 202 about its longitudinal axis 226 with a resolution of 8000 steps per 360 °, ie one revolution of the spindle.

A cutting device, designated as a whole by 228 , moves relative to the rotation of a blank clamped in the work station 150 and in a direction essentially perpendicular to the path 148 . The cutting device 228 has a milling apparatus 230 which is attached to a carriage 232 for movement with it towards and away from the work station. The carriage 232 moves on guide rods 234 and 236 which are arranged on opposite sides and substantially parallel to each other. The guide bars 234 and 236 are attached to the frame 180 by mounting clips 238 and 240, respectively, at one end of the guide bars and by other clips, not shown, to the opposite end of the guide bars. Carriage 232 moves in a straight line toward and away from work station 150 by stepper motor 242 with a screw shaft 244 connected to a ball nut assembly 246 which is mounted on carriage 232 .

Milling apparatus 230 has a milling body 248 , a milling spindle 250 which extends longitudinally through body 248 so that an axis 252 extending longitudinally through the center of the milling spindle is substantially perpendicular to the plane of path 148 in which the blanks move. The milling spindle 250 is provided with a cutter chuck 254 at one end closest to the work station 150 and with a drive pulley 256 at its opposite end. A motor 258 has a motor shaft 260 and an attached pulley for rotation with the shaft and is connected to the drive pulley 256 by a drive belt 262 to transmit drive energy to the milling apparatus and to rotate a cutter held by the cutter chuck 254 .

The template generator 14 cuts a template according to the data indicating the size and shape of an eyeglass opening in an eyeglass frame and is supplied by the eyeglass frame scanner 12 , as explained above. The command set in controller 126 transforms the 400 dots that identify the size and shape of a lens opening into 8000 dots along the perimeter that forms the edge of the template. A linear interpolation algorithm in the instruction set is used to smooth the resolution differences between the 400 points provided by the eyeglass frame scanner and the 8000 points generated by the template generator. The cutting algorithm included in the instruction set is similar to that used in a computer controlled milling machine to produce parts that have smooth cut edges.

A template is cut from a blank in the work station after a START button 264 has been actuated, which causes the template generator to wait for data from the eyeglass frame scanner 12 when the template generator is operating in a local mode of operation defined by an OPERATING MODE (BTA ) Function key 266 is selected.

For further details regarding the template generator 14 , reference is made to yet another applicant's German patent application filed simultaneously, for which the priority of the US patent application, Serial No. 06/8 96 615, dated August 14, 1986 has been claimed.

FIG. 7 shows a functional block diagram of the device according to the invention, according to which eyeglass frame scanners 12 are connected to a remotely located stencil generator via a central database computer 268 which is connected to the eyeglass scanner 12 through a data transmission section. In some cases, a practitioner may have multiple locations where eyeglass frames are selected and customized for a eyewear buyer, such as locations represented by a chain of optical centers, each location sending its orders to a central workshop for processing, which then completes them Send order back to the place where it came from. The speed of such an operation is greatly increased when the device according to the invention is used, in which an eyeglass opening is scanned in a desired eyeglass frame at the location where the eyeglass frame is fitted to a glasses buyer. The data indicative of the size and shape of the lens opening and an associated order number is transmitted to the database computer 268 in the central workshop by a conventional communication unit using standard telephone lines. After the scan by the eyeglass frame scanner is complete, the SEND function key 92 is actuated to cause the glasses frame scanner to actuate the transmission unit 270 which is connected to an output data channel of the eyeglass frame scanner by a data cable 272 . The actuation of the SEND key 92 signals the transmission unit that the identifying data and their assigned order identification number, which are in the form of digitally coded words, are ready for transmission by the transmission unit 270 . The transmission unit 270 can be constructed as an automatic dialing unit which dials a telephone number which is assigned to a compatible transmission unit, for example the transmission unit 274 , which is located in the central workshop. The mode of operation of a transmission unit is known, which is why it is sufficient to state that the transmission unit can be operated at any desired transmission speed, which is only limited by the transmission devices via which the transmission unit transmits the data.

The data base computer 268 in the central workshop is connected to the communication unit 274 by a data cable 276 to receive the digitally encoded words which identify the identifying data and the associated order identification number. The received digital information is stored in a memory in the database computer 268 along with other information received from eyeglass frame scanners at other locations. Such a different location is represented, for example, by a transmission unit 278 , which is connected to the eyeglass frame scanner 12 by a data cable 280 . The transmission unit 278 sends the digitally coded words, which represent the identifying data and an assigned identifying order number, via a transmission section to the transmission unit 282 , which is located in the central workshop. The transmission unit 282 is connected to the data base computer 268 connected via a data cable 284 for transmitting the digitally coded words to the memory of the computer 268th

A printer 290 is connected to the database computer 268 by a cable 292 and forms a device for listing or displaying all job identification numbers that have associated identifying data stored in the memory when such jobs exist. An operator can access each job in the database computer memory by entering the desired job number into the template generator 14 via the keyboard 122 when the generator is in the remote mode.

To use the template generator 14 in the remote mode, the MODE button 266 on the keyboard 122 is operated. In the remote mode, controller 126 in template generator 14 requests information from the memory of database computer 268 about electrical signals that are sent between the database computer and the template generator via a data cable 286 that connects an output channel of the computer to an input data channel that is the template generator assigned. After the requested information has been transferred from the database computer 268 to the template generator 14 , the START function key 264 on the template generator keyboard 122 is actuated to cause the template generator to machine a template according to the identifying data which is requested via the job identification number and by have been received at a remote location via the central database computer.

Because the operation of the pattern generator 14 is essentially automatic, the pattern generator can process data that is sent to the database computer from a number of remote locations. In some cases, there may be more remote eyeglass frame scan locations than the capacity of a single template generator allows. Therefore, two or more than two template generators can be connected to the database computer, each template generator being able to enter the memory of the database computer containing the data associated with the order and the shape of an eyeglass lens by entering a job identification number identify which was input from an eyeglass frame scanner at a remote location.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a Template for one to be made and then into an opening in an eyeglass lens to be used, in which Data indicating the size and shape of the associated Mark lens opening, a template generator be supplied by an eyeglass frame scanner, which is connected to the template generator are shown in  described various preferred embodiments been. It is clear that modifications within the Invention are possible.

Claims (15)

1. A method for producing a template for an eyeglass lens to be shaped and then inserted into an opening in an eyeglass frame, the template being cut from a blank in a computer-controlled device by means of a driven cutting tool, characterized by the following steps:
Scanning the lens opening in the eyeglass frame and recording a series of data points along the scan path;
Computing a set of coordinate data indicative of the size, shape and selected dimensions of the lens opening;
Sending at least a portion of the coordinate data set to the cutter;
Rotating the blank relative to the cutting tool; and
Controlling the relative movement between the rotating blank and the cutting tool according to the coordinate data set to cut a template from the blank. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized by the further step of sending the part of the Coordinate record of the selected dimensions represents to a printer. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the following further steps:
Feeding a first blank in a chain of blanks to the cutter in the area of the cutting tool;
Separating the first blank from the chain of blanks to rotate it in the area of the cutting tool;
Cutting the first blank to form a template; and
Advance the next blank in the chain of blanks to eject the template cut from the first blank. 4. Device for producing a template for an eyeglass lens, which is to be shaped and then inserted into an opening in an eyeglass frame, characterized by:
means ( 12 ) for generating a set of coordinate data indicative of the size and shape of an eyeglass aperture in an associated eyeglass frame;
at least one blank ( 98 ) from which a template is cut;
means ( 14 ) for cutting the blank;
means ( 16 ) for connecting the data coordinate generating means ( 12 ) to the cutting means ( 14 );
means ( 126 ) associated with the cutter ( 14 ) for receiving the set of coordinate data; and
means ( 126 , 146 , 150 ) for controlling the cutting means ( 14 ) to cut the blank according to the characterizing data and to produce a template having the size and shape of the lens aperture associated with the lens frame. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the data coordinate generating device ( 12 ) comprises:
means ( 54 , 60 ) for holding an eyeglass frame aperture in a plane substantially parallel to a reference plane ( 26 ), the reference plane containing a number of data points forming a data space;
a scanning device ( 28 ) which is movable in the vicinity of the eyeglass frame holding device ( 54 , 60 ) and parallel to the reference plane in order to track the inner circumference of an eyeglass lens opening in an eyeglass frame which is arranged on the holding device ( 54 , 60 ), the Sensing means ( 28 ) for complementary contact with the lens peripheral bead groove is formed along the inner periphery of the lens opening;
sensing means ( 76 , 78 , 82 , 88 ) connected to the sensing device ( 28 ) for sensing the sensing device in a number of data points in the data space along the path of the sensing device; and
computing means ( 32 ) which, upon sensing means ( 76 , 78 , 82 , 88 ), calculates the set of coordinates associated with the number of sensed data points along the path for those adjacent data points which are at a predetermined distance from one data point sensed immediately before. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the computing device ( 32 ) further contains a first command set for controlling the operation of the data coordinate generating device. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the command set comprises a device for generating information, which represents the so-called box dimensions of a spectacle lens opening in a spectacle frame, the dimensions of two axis lengths ( A , B ), the length of the effective diameter (ED ) and its associated angle and the length of each radius and its associated angle for a predetermined number of the number of sensed data points along the scanner path; and means ( 49 ) for printing out the information representing the dimension data. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the data coordinate generating device ( 12 ) has a display device ( 50 ) for displaying operator messages and operator prompting commands and for displaying the value of the dimension data. 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the data coordinate generation device ( 12 ) has a device ( 32 ) for coding the dimension data in binary-coded words in digital format and a data transmission device ( 16 , 92 ) for transmitting the digitally coded words to the cutting device ( 14 ) . 10. Device according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the cutting device ( 14 ) comprises:
a work station ( 150 );
means ( 146 , 152 , 154 ) for feeding the blank to the work station;
a cutter ( 228 ) connected to the cutter ( 14 ) and movable in a straight line to and away from the work station; and
means ( 167 ) for clamping the blank in the work station for rotational movement relative to the movement of the milling cutter. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the control device ( 126 ) has a device for receiving a second set of commands for controlling the operation of the cutting device ( 14 ). 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the blank feed device ( 146 , 92 ) has a sensing device for determining the nasal side orientation of the blank in the work station. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the blank has:
a relatively thin, rectangular body with an upper surface ( 100 ) and a lower surface ( 102 ), a first and a second side edge, which are parallel and
are opposite to each other, and a first and a second end edge that are parallel and opposite to each other and perpendicular to the side edges;
a series of teeth ( 104 ) disposed along the first and second side edges ( 106 , 108 ) for engaging the feeder to move the blank in a direction parallel to its side edges;
nasal side fixation means ( 166 ) having an aperture extending through the body between the upper and lower surfaces and substantially near a corner of the body a predetermined distance from the first and second edges, around a beam of light, which is generated by a light emitting source in the sensing device ( 164 ) to permit passage so that it is detected by a light sensor ( 162 ) in the sensing device when the aperture and the light beam are in register;
first hinge means disposed adjacent the first end edge;
a second hinge device, which is arranged adjacent to the second end edge, the hinge device, which is arranged at one of the two end edges, is designed for snap engagement with the hinge device, which is arranged at one of the two end edges of a same blank, the hinge device , which is arranged on the first end edge of a blank, cooperates with the hinge device which is arranged on the first end edge of a same front blank which is arranged on the first end edge, so that the blank and the same front blank are relative to one another Rotate axis of rotation associated with the first end edge, and wherein the second hinge device, which is arranged on the second end edge of the one blank, cooperates with the hinge device which is arranged on the second end edge of a same rear blank, which is located on the second end edge is arranged so that the Rohlin g and the same rear blank can rotate relative to each other about an axis of rotation of the hinge device associated with the second end edge, the axis of rotation of the hinge device associated with the first end edge being coplanar with the top or bottom surface, and wherein The axis of rotation of the second hinge device, which is assigned to the second end edge, is coplanar with the upper or lower surface. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the blank has a device for clamping of the blank and one cut from the blank Template. 15. The device according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized by a central database computer ( 268 ) for receiving the dimension data from a number of the data coordinate generation devices ( 12 ), the database computer having a device for receiving a third set of commands, which comprises a device for identifying each data coordinate generating device and for correlating the data received from the identified data coordinate generating device for subsequent retrieval and transmission to the control device which is assigned to the cutting device.