EP0819967B1 - Contour reading device for a spectacles rim, sensor for the same, and application to the edging of the lens to be mounted - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to the reading of contour which is usually carried out on circles or circles a spectacle frame to adapt to them the spectacle lenses which must be mounted there.

This contour reading is commonly done on a device equipped with a suitable sensor or probe.

An outline reading device of this type is for example described in the French patent which, filed on October 6, 1989 under No 89 13 079, was published under No. 2,652,893.

In this French patent, the spectacle frame on which it must a contour reading is kept fixed, and the probe, which comprises, at the end of a rod, a head to be inserted into the bezel of the circle or entourage concerned, is, him, mounted mobile, and it is carried out a location systematic of its position in a determined coordinate system.

In this case, this location involves, on the one hand, coordinates polar, in a plane perpendicular to the probe rod, and, on the other hand, a altitude, perpendicular to this plane, to take into account the meniscus of circles or entourages of the most common spectacle frames.

To date, and this is the case in the French patent mentioned above, the contour reading carried out essentially relates to the contour circumferential of the circle or surrounding of spectacle frame scrutinized.

But no account is taken of the very profile of the bezel of this circle or circle, that is to say the cross section of this bezel.

This cross section can be compared to that of a dihedral; she can also be any, other than that of a dihedral, for example half-round ; moreover, in practice, from one spectacle frame to another, it there is significant diversity between the cross sections of the bezels according to the manufacturers.

Having regard, moreover, to the inevitable manufacturing tolerances of the grinding wheels used for cutting the corresponding bead on the edge a spectacle lens, traditionally referred to as a bevel even when its section has a shape other than that of a dihedral, as well as to the wear of which such a grindstone is just as inevitably the object over time, it is not not uncommon to observe, between the cross section of the bevel of a glass of glasses and that of the bezel of the circle or entourage of glasses frame in which it has to be mounted, enough discrepancies important to compromise the proper maintenance of this spectacle lens in this circle or entourage of spectacle frame.

It therefore appears desirable, when cutting a bevel on the slice of a glass of glasses, to take into account, at best, the real section of the bezel of the circle or surrounding of spectacle frame in which this lens glasses must be fitted.

In European patent application No O 583 915, the value of the opening angle of the cross section, here in the form of a dihedral, is accepted as known. A device for reading the shape and profile of the contour inner of a spectacle frame circle using optical means under mechanical contact is known of FR 2 679 977.

The present invention firstly relates to a method for the actual reading of this cross section; it still has for its object a mechanical probe specific to the implementation of this process.

The process according to the invention is generally characterized in that, having a movable probe whose position can be identified in a given coordinate system, we bring to the right of the bezel what feeler, by having successively aim at the head of this feeler at least two points on at least one of the flanks of this different bezel one of the other, and we deduce the coordinates of these points. The bezel section which can be arbitrary, here we mean by flank each of the walls of bezel located on both sides, axially, from the bottom proper of the bezel.

In the case where the cross section of the bezel is a dihedral, we understands that it may be enough to aim the probe head at two points of one of the flanks to deduce therefrom, from the coordinates of these two points, the slope of this flank.

When the probe available has, conventionally, for the sight of the bezel, an intangible head, that is to say a geometry head determined, we work in isolation on one side of the bezel, without interference with the other of these flanks, and either we extrapolate, by symmetry, for the other flank, the reading taken, or we then intervene on this other flank of the same way as for the first.

Alternatively, when the probe available has, for the sight of the bezel, an interchangeable head, we intervene simultaneously on the two sides of the bezel with a first head, and we then do the same with a second head of a caliber different from that of the first.

In any case, whatever the shape of the section of the bezel, and in addition to the usual measurements relating to the circumferential contour of the circle or entourage of spectacle frame scrutinized, the following statement the invention very simply makes it possible to determine the section of the bezel of this eyeglass frame circle or circle, at least one point on it.

Another object of the invention is the application of the above method when the glass intended to be mounted in said bezel is overflowed, the cross section of which has been raised. It is indeed possible, therefore, to reconstruct completely fitting the glass into the spectacle frame and thus being informed about the position, on the one hand, of the points of contact between the bevel of the glass and the sides of the bezel of the frame and, on the other hand, of the top of the bevel.

More precisely, the reconstitution of the casing of the glass is obtained by approximating, graphically and / or numerically, the section of the bezel and that of the grinding stone intended to overflow the glass, these two sections being of course on the same scale; the section of the grinding wheel is obtained by conventional means, such as profile projector, dimensional machine Or other. The close position where the section of the grinding wheel touches the section of the bezel corresponds to the simulated placement of the lens in the frame, which lets you know the position of the top of the bevel relative to the bezel; therefore, the instructions to be given to the grinding wheel for overflowing the glass are obtained by correcting the contour statement circumference of the bezel taking into account this relative position of the apex bevel.

la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale d'un cercle ou entourage de monture de lunettes, avec, en élévation, en regard de celui-ci, un palpeur susceptible d'entrer en son contact ;

les figures 2A et 2B sont des vues qui, déduites de celle de la figure 1, illustrent deux phases successives de mise en oeuvre du procédé suivant l'invention pour le relevé de la pente d'un des flancs de ce drageoir ;

les figures 3A et 3B sont des vues analogues à celles des figures 2A et 2B, pour le relevé de la pente de l'autre des flancs du drageoir concerné ;

les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues analogues à celles des figures 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, pour une intervention simultanée sur les deux flancs du drageoir à l'aide d'un palpeur suivant l'invention ;

la figure 6 est, de manière éclatée, et avec un arrachement local, une vue d'une variante de réalisation de ce palpeur ;

les figures 7 et 8 illustrent schématiquement l'application du procédé au débordage d'un verre, le palpeur étant du type de celui des figures 1 à 3B ;

la figure 9 est un schéma analogue à celui de la figure 7, le palpeur étant du type de celui des figures 4 et 5, ou 6.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a circle or entourage of spectacle frame, with, in elevation, facing it, a probe capable of coming into contact;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views which, deduced from that of FIG. 1, illustrate two successive phases of implementation of the method according to the invention for recording the slope of one of the sides of this bezel;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views similar to those of FIGS. 2A and 2B, for recording the slope of the other of the flanks of the bezel concerned;

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to those of Figures 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, for a simultaneous intervention on the two sides of the bezel using a probe according to the invention;

Figure 6 is an exploded view, with a local cutaway, a view of an alternative embodiment of this probe;

Figures 7 and 8 schematically illustrate the application of the method to the overflow of a glass, the probe being of the type of that of Figures 1 to 3B;

FIG. 9 is a diagram similar to that of FIG. 7, the feeler being of the type of that of FIGS. 4 and 5, or 6.

In Figure 1, we recognize, in section, the cross section of the bezel 10 of a circle or entourage 11 of any spectacle frame not visible in its entirety, the cut in question being made at a point any of this circle or circle 11, and, in elevation, the terminal part a probe 12, which belongs to any device for reading outline also not shown.

In what follows, for the sake of convenience, for the sake of determination of the points of the scanned bezel, a contact probe is used so that the head of the probe is "carried" on said points; it is obvious that these points can be determined using a contactless probe, by example with optical head.

As we know, the bezel 10, which is to raise the section transverse, forms a groove along the inner periphery of the circle or entourage 11.

In the embodiment shown, it has, in section transverse, a dihedral profile, presenting, obliquely, two sides 13, 13 ', which overlap each other inwards at an opening angle AT.

The probe 12, for its part, comprises a rod 14, which extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the circle or entourage 11, and, cantilevered on this rod 14, in practice at the upper end thereof, a head 15 by which it is suitable for engaging in the bezel 10, for contact with this one.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this head 15 is intangible, insofar as, permanently linked to the rod 14, it has a well defined geometry and, therefore, a caliber also well determined.

For example, and as shown, this is a flat palette, which, perpendicular to the rod 14, is cut in the style of a style.

Whereas, in the contour reading device used, the spectacle frame to which the circle or entourage 11 belongs is fixed, in being for example clamped between jaws suitable for its maintenance, the probe 12 is itself mobile.

To do this, it is linked, by its rod 14, to a mechanism belonging to this contour reading device.

The corresponding provisions are well known in themselves, in particular by the French patent No 89 13 079 mentioned above, and, not falling within the scope of the present invention, they will not be described in more detail here.

It will suffice to indicate that, in the contour reading device in cause, the position of the probe 12 can be identified at any time in a given coordinate system.

For example, and as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the probe 12 is, on the one hand, mobile in a plane P, with respect to which the plane according to which extends the spectacle frame to which the circle or entourage belongs 11 is substantially parallel, and, on the other hand, movable perpendicular to it plane P, along the axis of its rod 14, as shown schematically by a double arrow F1 in figure 1.

In the plane P, the position of the probe 12 is, for example, marked in polar coordinates RT, and this is the case in the reading device of contour which is the subject of French patent No 89 13 079.

Perpendicular to plane P, the position of probe 12 is marked by its altitude Z.

Possibly, and as shown by a double arrow F2 on Figure 1, the probe 12 can also be rotatably mounted around the axis of its rod 14, for controlling the orientation of its head 15.

According to the invention, for reading the cross section of the bezel 10, we generally bring to the bottom of bezel 10 the probe 12, by successively carrying the head 15 of this probe 12 in two points P1, P2, P'1, P'2 of at least one of the sides 13, 13 ° of this bezel 10 different from each other, and we deduce the coordinates of these points P1, P2, P'1, P'2 the slope of this flank 13, 13 '.

When, as shown in Figure 1, the probe 12 which we has present, for contact with the bezel 10, an intangible head 15, one intervenes in isolation on one of the sides 13, 13 ′ of the bezel 10, without interference with the other of these flanks.

For example, and as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 2A and 2B, we first brings the probe 12 to be in contact with the flank 13 by its head 15 in one point P1 of this flank 13 relatively close to the bottom of the bezel 10, FIG. 2A, then, the probe 12 thus being in contact by this head 15 with this flank 13, we slides it in contact with this sidewall 13 to a point P2 thereof relatively close to the outlet of the bezel 10, as shown schematically by the arrow F3 in FIG. 2B.

The coordinates, duly noted, of points P1, P2, give, by an elementary calculation, the slope of the flank 13.

As a first approximation, it is possible to extrapolate, by symmetry, for the flank 13 ', the slope value thus noted for the flank 13.

But, if desired, and as shown schematically in Figures 3A and 3B, it is possible, also, to then intervene on this flank 13 'according to a process of the same type as the previous one.

For example, and as shown, we first carry the probe 12, by its head 15, on the flank 13 'at a point P'1 thereof relatively close to the outlet of the bezel 10, FIG. 3A, then, the probe 12 thus being in contact by this head 15 with this flank 13 ', we slide it along this flank 13 'to a point P'2 thereof relatively close to the bottom of the bezel 10, as shown diagrammatically by arrow F'3 in FIG. 3B.

In FIGS. 4 to 6, it is proposed, as a variant, according to the invention, to use a probe 12 having, for contact with the bezel 10, an interchangeable head 15A, 15B.

The probe 12 can thus comprise, associated with the same rod 14, at minus two heads 15A, 15B of different calibers.

In the form of implementation shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, these two heads 15A, 15B are each respectively permanently arranged at the two ends of a crosspiece 16, which, carried by the rod 14, for example at its upper end, as shown, extends on either side of this rod 14, substantially perpendicular thereto.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the two heads 15A, 15B are spherical heads, with radii RA, RB different.

Anyway, with such an interchangeable head 15A, 15B, it is advantageously possible to operate simultaneously on both sides 13, 13 'of the bezel 10.

For example, at first, figure 4, we intervene thus simultaneously on the two sides 13, 13 ′ of the bezel 10 with a first head 15A, which makes it possible to take the coordinates of a point P1 on the side 13 of this bezel 10 and the coordinates of a point P'2 on the flank 13 'of this one, and, after reversing the probe 12, we then proceed in the same way with a second 15B head, of a different caliber from that of the first, which makes it possible to note the coordinates of a point P2 on the side 13 of the bezel 10 and the coordinates of a point P'1 on the side 13 'thereof.

In the implementation variant represented in FIG. 6, each of the heads 15A, 15B is carried by an end piece 18A, 18B individually by which it is adapted to be removably attached to the rod 14.

For example, and as shown, the tip 18A, 18B is the same type for the two heads 15A, 15B, and it is a nozzle 18A, 18B suitable for cooperate in fitting with a nozzle 19 provided so complementary to this effect on the rod 14.

In the embodiment shown, the tip 18A, 18B of rods 15A, 15B is a male end piece, while the end piece 19 of the rod 14 is a female end cap, but, of course, a reverse arrangement can be adopted.

In the examples which have just been described, the section of the bezel 10 is in the form of a dihedral; it will be readily understood that the invention applies whatever the shape of the bezel section; when it is not in dihedral shape, the coordinates of several points, one hundred per example, are necessary to obtain a good representation of said section.

We will now describe an application of the method according to the invention of glass overflowing.

Figures 7 and 8 show the application of the method in which the probe is of the type described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3B.

In Figure 7, there is shown the bezel 10, the circle or entourage 11, the cross section of which, here the dihedral-shaped flanks 13, 13 ′, has been determined by the above method using the probe 12; this one is in the background bezel, its head 15 touching the sides 13, 13 'in Po, P'o, respectively, and is spaced from the bottom 21 proper, junction line of the sides 13, 13 'from the bezel 10; it is in this position that the probe 12 is moved parallel to the plane P to raise the circumferential contour of the circle or frame entourage, in fact a homothetic Co image of the bottom 21 of the bezel 10, partially visible in plan in Figure 8 which is a view of above with respect to FIG. 7, said image Co being produced from probe readings, here the coordinates of the probe contact points 12 with the sides 13, 13 'of the bezel 10.

In Figure 7, there is also shown section 30 of the grinding wheel intended to overflow the glass to be associated with the bezel 10, this section 30 being at the same scale as that of the bezel 10, these two sections having been close to each other until contact so that is thus simulated mounting the glass in the bezel 10, the section of the grinding wheel having heard a shape strictly complementary to that of the bevel of the glass.

We see that the vertex 31 of section 30, which in fact represents the bottom of the groove of the grinding wheel and the bevel of the cut glass, is at a distance 40 from Co. It will therefore suffice to take this distance or offset into account for define the contour 31, figure 8, to give to the glass for its correct mounting in the bezel 10, which contour 31 gives the perimeter of the glass.

Of course, this offset can also be corrected by a game functional, if desired, for example to limit or eliminate constraints during mounting the glass, especially if it is a mineral glass.

FIG. 9 shows an application similar to that which has just been described, but in the case where the probe is of the spherical head type, as for example the probe 15A in FIGS. 4 to 6. Here, the data of the probe lead to curve 110 ', place of points C100 corresponding to each position of the center of the sphere 15A when the probe examines the bezel, the sides therefore happen to be the envelope of the circular sections of said sphere.

As before, the reconciliation of section 110 of the bezel and that 130 of the grinding wheel gives the difference 140 between the image Co, here the probe point closest to the bottom 121 of the bezel, and the top 131 of the cut glass bevel.

The present invention is moreover not limited to the forms of realization and implementation described and represented, but includes all variant.

Claims (13)

1. A method of reading off the cross-section of the bezel (10) of an eyeglass frame rim or surround (11) at one point at least on the latter, characterized in that a mobile mechanical feeler (12) the position of which can be defined in a given system of coordinates is moved into line with the bezel (10), the head (15) of said feeler (12) successively sighting at least two different points (P1, P2, P'1, P'2) of at least one flank (13, 13') of said bezel (10) in order to deduce therefrom the coordinates of said points (P1, P2, P'1, P'2).
2. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the feeler (12) has an intangible head (15) for sighting the bezel (10) and one flank (13, 13') of the bezel (10) is sighted in isolation without interfering with the other flank (13, 13').
3. A method according to claim 2 characterized in that the other flank (13, 13') of the bezel (10) is then also sighted.
4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the cross-section of the bezel is dihedral in shape, characterized in that the head (15) of the feeler (12) sights two different points (P1, P2, P'1, P'2) on at least one flank (13, 13') of the bezel (10) in succession and the slope of said flank (13, 13') is deduced from coordinates of said points (P1, P2, P'1, P'2).
5. A method according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the feeler (12) is a contact type feeler, characterized in that the head (15) of the feeler (12) is slid along one flank (13, 13') of the bezel (10) when in contact with it.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the feeler (12) is a contact type feeler, characterized in that the feeler (12) has an interchangeable head (15A, 15B) for contact with the bezel (10) and both flanks (13, 13') of the bezel (10) are sighted simultaneously with a first head (15A) of said feeler (12) and then with a second head (15B) of said feeler (12) having a different caliber than the first head (15A).
7. A feeler for implementing a method according to claim 6 characterized in that it includes at least two heads (15A, 15B) of different calibers associated with a common rod (14).
8. A feeler according to claim 7 characterized in that the two heads (15A, 15B) are permanently fixed to two respective opposite ends of a crossbeam (16) carried by the rod (14).
9. A feeler according to claim 7 characterized in that each head (15A, 15B) is carried by an individual coupling (18A, 18B) by means of which it is adapted to be removably attached to the rod (14).
10. A feeler according to claim 9 characterized in that the coupling (18A, 18B) on each of the two heads (15A, 15B) is of the same type and is adapted to cooperate sleeving fashion with a complementary coupling (19) provided for this purpose on the rod (14).
11. A feeler according to any of claims 7 to 10 characterized in that two heads (15A, 15B) are spherical heads with different radii (RA, RB).
12. An application of the method according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the cross-section (13, 13'; 110) of the bezel (10) and the cross-section (30, 130) of the grinding wheel for trimming the lens that said bezel (10) is to receive are moved towards each other until fitting of the lens into the bezel (10) is simulated and instructions to be given to the grinding wheel to trim the lens are deduced therefrom.
13. An application according to claim 12 characterized in that said instructions are based on the measured coupling (40, 140) between the image Co of the circumferential contour of the back (21, 121) of the bezel (10) and the image of the apex (31, 131) of the bevel of the lens represented by the bottom of the groove of the grinding wheel.

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