FR2870016A1 - Apparatus for registering information on the cutting of an optical glass into an automated machine for cutting this glass from a blank - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for registering information for cutting an optical glass (3) in an automated glass cutting machine (2) from a blank, comprises : (a) apparatus (4,5,6,7,8) for the generation and storage of a catalogue of cutting models in the form of data files; (b) apparatus (9,10,11,12) for the distribution of this catalogue close to a cutting machine user; (c) apparatus (13) for selection by the user from the catalogue, of the corresponding file for the glass to be cut; (d) apparatus (13) for charging the selected data file into the machine, to cut the glass.

Description

The present invention relates to an information loading system of

  size of an optical glass in an automated machine of size of this glass from a blank.

  Automated glass size machines from a blank are well known in the state of the art and generally comprise an information processing unit connected on the one hand to input means in the machine, glass size information and secondly to actuators associated with size means of the blank to manufacture the glass.

  However, the loading of size information in the machine 10 is now manually performed by an operator via a more or less sophisticated human-machine interface.

  It is conceivable that this has a number of disadvantages.

  For example, such an operation can give rise to loading errors resulting in an incorrect size of the glass.

  In addition, the increase in the number of frames and glasses suppliers and the increase in the number of models proposed mean that the machine operator must have up-to-date and increasingly abundant documentation. This results in extra work for the operator and difficulties in updating this documentation.

  The object of the invention is therefore to solve these problems.

  For this purpose, the invention relates to a system for loading information on the size of an optical glass in an automated machine for the size of this glass from a blank, characterized in that it comprises: - means generating and storing a catalog of size templates as computer files of size information; means for distributing this catalog to a user of the size machine; means for selection by the user in the catalog, of a file corresponding to the glass to be cut, and means for loading this selected file, in the machine, to cut the glass.

  According to other features: the generation means are associated with means for acquiring size template files from computer-aided design or drawing systems; the generation means are associated with means for acquiring size template files from physical models of glasses already made; - The size information includes information: shape of the glass to be cut, - drilling of the latter, - machining finishing type thereof and / or - material of it.

  the broadcasting means comprise catalog encryption means and the selection means comprise means for decrypting the latter; the broadcasting means comprise catalog compression means and the selection means comprise means for decompressing the latter; the broadcasting means comprise means for controlling access to the catalog; the control means comprise means for billing access to the catalog; the broadcasting means comprise a computer server accessible through an information transmission network, from the selection means; and the broadcast means comprise means for recording the catalog on a computer storage medium suitable for distribution to the user and the selection means comprise means for reading these recording means.

  The invention will be better understood from the following description given purely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawing which represents a block diagram illustrating the structure and operation of a loading system according to the invention. 'invention.

  In this figure, a system for loading information on the size of an optical glass has been illustrated in an automated machine for the size of this glass from a blank.

  The system is designated by the general reference 1, while the automated size machine is designated by the general reference 2, the glass being designated by the general reference 3.

  As automated machines of this type are well known in the state of the art they will not be described in more detail later.

  In fact, the system according to the invention comprises means for generating and storing a catalog of size templates in the form of computer files of size information.

  These generation and storage means are designated by the general reference 4 in this figure and comprise, for example, generation means designated by the general reference 5, associated with means for acquiring size template files from control systems. design or computer aided glass drawing such as for example designated by the general reference 6.

  It is known that these design or computer-assisted design systems are today very widely used to establish the size information of the glasses.

  These systems can then be used to deliver the size information and integrate it into a catalog of size templates as computer size information files.

  However, the generation means 5 can also be associated with template file acquisition means from physical models of lenses, such as for example designated by the general reference 7.

  In this case, physical models of already manufactured glasses are used to conventionally acquire the corresponding size information. Other means such as for example those designated by the general reference 8 can still be considered.

  From this size information, the generation means are therefore adapted to establish a catalog of size templates in the form of computer files of size information and to store them in information storage means designated by the general reference 9 in this figure.

  It will then be noted that the size templates stored may include information relating, for example, to the shape of the glass to be cut, to the various drillings thereof, to the type of machining finish and / or to the material of the glass.

  Of course, other information can still be considered.

  The loading system according to the invention also comprises means for distributing this catalog to a user of the size machine.

  These broadcasting means are designated by the general reference 10 in this figure and in the illustrated example, these broadcasting means comprise a computer server designated by the general reference 11, associated with the storage means 9 and accessible through a transmission network. conventional type of information, designated by the general reference 12.

  In fact, this computer server 11 is accessible through the information transmission network from selection means designated by the general reference 13 in this figure, constituted for example by an information processing unit made available to the user. user of the size machine, to select from the catalog stored in the storage means 9, a file corresponding to the glass to be cut and to load it into the size machine.

  It is then conceivable that the user of the cutting machine when he has a glass determined to cut, access through the selection means 13, the information transmission network 12 and the computer server 11 to the size template catalog. stored in the storage means 9, to select the file corresponding to the glass to be cut.

  Once this selection operation has been performed, this file is loaded by the processing unit 13 into the size 2 machine, to cut the glass according to the size information from the selected template.

  Of course, the broadcasting means as just described may comprise encryption means and / or compression of the catalog and the selection means then include means for decryption and / or decompression thereof.

  In addition, these broadcasting means may include means for controlling access to the catalog.

  For example, these control means may include means for billing this access to the user.

  These different means may have any appropriate structure already known and will therefore not be described in detail.

  According to another embodiment, the broadcasting means comprise means for recording the catalog on a computer storage medium such as a digital disk, able to be broadcast to the user and in this case the selection means comprise reading means of these recording means for extracting the template selected by the user to ensure its loading into the size machine.

  Of course other provisions can be envisaged.

  It is then conceivable that, thanks to the system according to the invention, the catalog can be permanently updated by an expert in the field and that the operator of the machine does not have to update his own documentation.

  In addition, this system also makes it possible to eliminate any error in loading size information into the machine insofar as the size information is loaded directly into it.

Claims (10)

  1. A system for loading size information of an optical glass in an automated machine (2) for the size of this glass (3) from a blank, characterized in that it comprises: - means (4) , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) for generating and storing a catalog of size templates in the form of computer files of size information, - means (9, 10, 11, 12) for broadcasting this catalog from a user of the size machine (2), - means (13) of selection by the user in the catalog, a file corresponding to the glass to be cut, and - means (13) of loading this selected file in the machine (2) to cut the glass (3).   2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the generating means (5) are associated with acquisition means (6) of size template files from computer-aided design or drawing systems. .   3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the generating means (5) are associated with acquisition means (7) size template files from physical models of glasses already manufactured.   4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the size information comprises information: - shape of the glass to be cut, - drilling of the latter, machining finishing type of this- ci and / or, - of matter of it.   5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diffusion means (10) comprise encryption means of the catalog and the selection means (13) comprise decryption means thereof.   6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diffusion means (10) comprise catalog compression means and the selection means comprise decompression means thereof.   7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diffusion means (10) comprise means for controlling access to the catalog.   8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the control means comprise means for billing access to the catalog.   9. System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the broadcasting means (10) comprise a computer server accessible through an information transmission network (12), from the selection means ( 13).   10. System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the broadcasting means comprise means for recording the catalog on a computer storage medium suitable for distribution to the user and in that the selection means (13) comprise means for reading these recording means.