Patents by Inventor Hirokatsu Obayashi

Hirokatsu Obayashi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080248721
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus comprising: an edge position measuring unit for measuring an edge position of the lens; a moving unit that moves a feeler with respect to the lens chuck shaft; and a speed controller that calculates radius vector moving data for the moving unit with respect a rotating angle of the lens chuck shaft based on target lens shape data, and calculates a rotating speed of the lens chuck shaft rotating unit based on a change of the moving data with respect to a change of the rotating angle of the lens chuck shaft. The rotating speed at an area where the change of the moving data with respect to the change of the rotating angle is small is higher than the rotating speed at an area where the change of the moving data with respect to the change of the rotating angle is large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokatsu Obayashi, Kyoji Takeichi
  • Patent number: 7424773
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a hole forming portion that includes a hole forming tool which forms a hole for attaching a rimless frame in an eyeglass lens; and breakage detector that detects whether or not the hole forming tool is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokatsu Obayashi, Motoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7364494
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing an eyeglass lens includes: a lens chuck that holds the lens; a roughing tool; a finishing tool; a finishing data input unit that inputs finishing data; a water supply unit that supplies water to a portion being processed of the lens; a first temperature sensor that senses temperature of the water to be supplied; and an operating unit that corrects the input finishing data based on the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoji Takeichi, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Publication number: 20070232204
    Abstract: A method of dressing a grindstone for processing an eyeglass lens, comprises the step of pressing a melamine resin foam, which is used as a dressing tool, against a rotating grindstone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoji Takeichi, Hirokatsu Obayashi, Ryoji Shibata
  • Publication number: 20070190899
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing an eyeglass lens includes: a lens chuck that holds the lens; a roughing tool; a finishing tool; a finishing data input unit that inputs finishing data; a water supply unit that supplies water to a portion being processed of the lens; a first temperature sensor that senses temperature of the water to be supplied; and an operating unit that corrects the input finishing data based on the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoji Takeichi, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 7255634
    Abstract: A draining device for removing processing water attached to a lens includes: a first lens holding shaft to which a cup attached to a refractive surface of the lens as a processing jig can be fitted; and a rotating unit which rotates the first lens holding shaft to remove the water by centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Mizuno, Yoshinori Matsuyama, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Publication number: 20070058128
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a hole forming portion that includes a hole forming tool which forms a hole for attaching a rimless frame in an eyeglass lens; and breakage detector that detects whether or not the hole forming tool is broken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokatsu Obayashi, Motoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20060270324
    Abstract: A draining device for removing processing water attached to a lens includes: a first lens holding shaft to which a cup attached to a refractive surface of the lens as a processing jig can be fitted; and a rotating unit which rotates the first lens holding shaft to remove the water by centrifugal force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Toshiaki Mizuno, Yoshinori Matsuyama, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 7108590
    Abstract: A draining device for removing processing water attached to a lens includes: a first lens holding shaft to which a cup attached to a refractive surface of the lens as a processing jig can be fitted; and a rotating unit which rotates the first lens holding shaft to remove the water by centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Mizuno, Yoshinori Matsuyama, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Publication number: 20060140731
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a piercing unit that includes a piercing tool for piercing a hole in an eyeglass lens; a first input unit that inputs position data and depth data of a non-through hole to be formed in a refractive surface of the lens; a detecting unit that detects a position of a front end of the piercing tool; and a control unit that controls a process of forming the non-through hole based on the detected front-end position data, and the input position data and the input depth data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Takayasu Yamamoto, Hirokatsu Obayashi, Yoshiaki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 6913510
    Abstract: A lens processing system (1) includes a lens stocking device (400a; 400b) capable of stocking a plurality of lenses (LE); and a lens grinding device (100a; 100b); and a lens conveying device (200) which conveys one of the plurality of lenses between the lens stocking device and the lens grinding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Mizuno, Yoshinori Matsuyama, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Publication number: 20040029496
    Abstract: A draining device for removing processing water attached to a lens includes: a first lens holding shaft to which a cup attached to a refractive surface of the lens as a processing jig can be fitted; and a rotating unit which rotates the first lens holding shaft to remove the water by centrifugal force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Mizuno, Yoshinori Matsuyama, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Publication number: 20040018801
    Abstract: A lens processing system (1) includes a lens stocking device (400a; 400b) capable of stocking a plurality of lenses (LE); and a lens grinding device (100a; 100b); and a lens conveying device (200) which conveys one of the plurality of lenses between the lens stocking device and the lens grinding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: T shiaki Mizun, Yoshinori Matsuyama, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 6641460
    Abstract: In a lens grinding apparatus, an edge corner-portion processing unit has a cutting tool for effecting a facet processing on an edge corner portion of a lens subjected to the finishing process. A region designating unit has a display unit for displaying a shape of the lens before the facet processing on the basis of inputted data. The region designating unit designates a region to be subjected to the facet processing using of the displayed lens shape. A selecting unit selects a facet processing style to be adopted for the designated region of the facet processing from among a plurality of facet processing styles. A computing unit obtains processing data on facet processing on the basis of the selected facet processing style and the position of the edge corner portion in the designated facet processing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Publication number: 20020072299
    Abstract: In a lens grinding apparatus, an edge corner-portion processing unit has a cutting tool for effecting a facet processing on an edge corner portion of a lens subjected to the finishing process. A region designating unit has a display unit for displaying a shape of the lens before the facet processing on the basis of inputted data. The region designating unit designates a region to be subjected to the facet processing using of the displayed lens shape. A selecting unit selects a facet processing style to be adopted for the designated region of the facet processing from among a plurality of facet processing styles. A computing unit obtains processing data on facet processing on the basis of the selected facet processing style and the position of the edge corner portion in the designated facet processing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 6336057
    Abstract: In an eyeglass lens grinding apparatus for grinding a periphery of a lens, a lens holding system holds a lens while clamping the lens. A data input system inputs shape data of an eyeglass frame to which the lens is fitted, and layout data of the lens with respect to the eyeglass frame. An edge-position-data calculating system obtains edge position data of the lens after layout, on the basis of the data inputted by the data input system. A first measuring system measures an edge position of the lens before processing that is held by the lens holding system, on the basis of the edge position data obtained by the edge-position-data calculating system. A second measuring system measures an edge position of the lens after rough grinding, on the basis of the edge position data. A chamfering-process-data calculating system obtains chamfering process data for processing a corner portion of an edge of the lens after finish processing, on the basis of a result of measurement by the second measuring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 6290569
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus, which is designed to process an eyeglass lens so that the lens fits into an eyeglass frame. Frame shape data of an eyeglass frame is input, and a lens edge position on the lens is measured based on said frame shape data. Lens processing data is calculated based on the lens edge position and the frame shape data. The processing data is stored. The grinding wheels are controlled to process a plurality of lenses consecutively based on the same processing data until a signal requiring different processing data is issued. If a next set of lenses are to be processed, i.e. a different processing data is required, a made is switch to measure a lens edge position to newly obtain processing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Mizuno, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 6261150
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus for grinding a periphery of a lens to be processed. The apparatus includes: a lens rotation shaft which holds and rotates the lens; a lens rotating device having a lens rotating motor and a first transmission member which transmits a rotational torque of the lens rotating motor to the lens rotation shaft; an abrasive wheel rotation shaft which rotates a lens grinding abrasive wheel; and an abrasive wheel rotating device having an abrasive wheel rotating motor and a second transmission member which transmits a rotational torque of the abrasive wheel rotating motor to the abrasive wheel rotation shaft. A moving device causes a relative movement between the lens rotation shaft and the abrasive wheel rotation shaft to vary an axis-to-axis distance between an rotation axis of the lens rotation shaft and an rotation axis of the abrasive wheel rotation shaft, thereby brining the lens into pressure contact with the abrasive wheel for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Mizuno, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 6220927
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus is used for processing an eyeglass lens based on processing data obtained from target lens configuration data indicative of an eyeglass frame shape. In the eyeglass lens grinding apparatus, a lens is rotated while being subjected to processing by a grinding wheel group. The grinding wheel group has intermediate and accurate finishing processing wheels respectively formed with a plurality of beveling groove each for forming a bevel on a periphery of a lens. The intermediate and accurate finishing processing wheels are controlled to finish the lens by selectively and consecutively using the beveling grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Mizuno, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 6123604
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens grinding machine, which is designed to effectively utilize the grinding capability of abrasive wheels so as to perform efficient grinding operations. The eyeglass lens grinding machine includes a lens rotating section which holds and rotates a lens to be processed, an abrasive wheel rotating section which rotates an abrasive wheel for grinding the lens on its own axis, an abrasive wheel's rotational state detecting section which detects the state of rotation of the abrasive wheel caused by the abrasive wheel rotating section, and a rotation control section which variably changes the rotation of the lens rotating section on the basis of the result of the detection. The rotation control section issues a command to either stop or slow down the rotation of the lens if the load on the rotation of the abrasive wheel exceeds a predetermined reference level and issues a command to have the lens rotation return to the initial state if the load becomes lower than the reference level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Mizuno, Ryoji Shibata, Hirokatsu Obayashi