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).

  • Patent number: 10377011
    Abstract: There is provided an eyeglass lens processing apparatus including a first rotational shaft which holds and rotates an eyeglass lens, a finishing tool, a chamfering tool which performs chamfering on an angular portion of an edge of the eyeglass lens, a second rotational shaft to which the chamfering tool is attached, an adjustment unit which adjusts a relative positional relationship between the first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft, a chamfering angle setting portion which sets a chamfering angle formed between a rotational center axis of the first rotational shaft and a processing tool surface, an edge information acquisition portion which acquires information regarding an edge surface shape of the eyeglass lens, an angle correction portion which corrects the chamfering angle based on the information regarding the edge surface shape, and a control portion which controls the adjustment unit and performs chamfering based on the corrected chamfering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 9776293
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing a periphery of an eyeglass lens includes: a lens chuck shaft configured to chuck the eyeglass lens; a shaft angle changing portion configured to change a shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft; a first processing tool unit including at least one spindle at which a first processing tool is provided; a second processing tool unit that is disposed to oppose the first processing tool unit and that includes at least one spindle at which a second processing tool is provided; and a controller configured to change one of the first and second processing tool unit to be used for processing the eyeglass lens to the other of the first and second processing tool by controlling driving of the shaft angle changing portion to change the shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Nakako, Ryoji Shibata, Motoshi Tanaka, Hirokatsu Obayashi, Toshiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9527186
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing system includes: a plurality of processing devices including first and second processing devices, each of the first and second processing devices including a lens processing unit configured to process an eyeglass lens and a processing control unit configured to control the lens processing unit; a memory unit configured to store first processing information based on which the first processing device performs a first process on the eyeglass lens; and a processing setting unit that includes a setting unit configured to set, for each of the first and second processing devices, correction data based on which the first processing information is to be corrected to acquire second processing information. One of the first and second processing devices performs a second process on the eyeglass lens based on the second processing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoshi Tanaka, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 9475242
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes a lens chuck unit that holds an eyeglass lens; a processing unit that has a processing tool to process the eyeglass lens held by the lens chuck unit; and an adjustment unit that adjusts a relative distance between the eyeglass lens and the processing tool. The eyeglass lens processing apparatus operates the processing unit and processes the eyeglass lens by operating the adjustment unit based on processing data. The eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes a check unit that checks whether or not the eyeglass lens is properly processed in a state where the eyeglass lens is held by the lens chuck unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadamasa Yamamoto, Motoshi Tanaka, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Publication number: 20150004884
    Abstract: There is provided an eyeglass lens processing apparatus including a first rotational shaft which holds and rotates an eyeglass lens, a finishing tool, a chamfering tool which performs chamfering on an angular portion of an edge of the eyeglass lens, a second rotational shaft to which the chamfering tool is attached, an adjustment unit which adjusts a relative positional relationship between the first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft, a chamfering angle setting portion which sets a chamfering angle formed between a rotational center axis of the first rotational shaft and a processing tool surface, an edge information acquisition portion which acquires information regarding an edge surface shape of the eyeglass lens, an angle correction portion which corrects the chamfering angle based on the information regarding the edge surface shape, and a control portion which controls the adjustment unit and performs chamfering based on the corrected chamfering angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu OBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20140297016
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes a lens chuck unit that holds an eyeglass lens; a processing unit that has a processing tool to process the eyeglass lens held by the lens chuck unit; and an adjustment unit that adjusts a relative distance between the eyeglass lens and the processing tool. The eyeglass lens processing apparatus operates the processing unit and processes the eyeglass lens by operating the adjustment unit based on processing data. The eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes a check unit that checks whether or not the eyeglass lens is properly processed in a state where the eyeglass lens is held by the lens chuck unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadamasa YAMAMOTO, Motoshi TANAKA, Hirokatsu OBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20140228995
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing system includes: a plurality of processing devices including first and second processing devices, each of the first and second processing devices including a lens processing unit configured to process an eyeglass lens and a processing control unit configured to control the lens processing unit; a memory unit configured to store first processing information based on which the first processing device performs a first process on the eyeglass lens; and a processing setting unit that includes a setting unit configured to set, for each of the first and second processing devices, correction data based on which the first processing information is to be corrected to acquire second processing information. One of the first and second processing devices performs a second process on the eyeglass lens based on the second processing information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoshi TANAKA, Hirokatsu OBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20130232774
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing a periphery of an eyeglass lens includes: a lens chuck shaft configured to chuck the eyeglass lens; a shaft angle changing portion configured to change a shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft; a first processing tool unit including at least one spindle at which a first processing tool is provided; a second processing tool unit that is disposed to oppose the first processing tool unit and that includes at least one spindle at which a second processing tool is provided; and a controller configured to change one of the first and second processing tool unit to be used for processing the eyeglass lens to the other of the first and second processing tool by controlling driving of the shaft angle changing portion to change the shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya NAKAKO, Ryoji SHIBATA, Motoshi TANAKA, Hirokatsu OBAYASHI, Toshiro MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 8333636
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes a processing control unit (50) which in the soft processing mode, roughs the lens such that the torque threshold value is set to a value T?s lower than the threshold value T?N of a normal processing mode, and when torque detected by a sensor unit does not exceed the threshold value T?s, a axis-to-axis distance varying unit or a lens rotating unit is controlled so that a cutting amount per rotation of the lens reaches a threshold cutting amount, and when the detected torque exceeds the threshold value T?s, the axis-to-axis distance varying unit or the lens rotating unit is controlled so that the torque becomes lower than the threshold value T?s to decrease the threshold cutting amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoji Takeichi, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 8303370
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes a processing control unit (50) which in the soft processing mode, roughs the lens such that the torque threshold value is set to a value T?s lower than the threshold value T?N of a normal processing mode, and when torque detected by a sensor unit does not exceed the threshold value T?s, a axis-to-axis distance varying unit or a lens rotating unit is controlled so that a cutting amount per rotation of the lens reaches a threshold cutting amount, and when the detected torque exceeds the threshold value T?s, the axis-to-axis distance varying unit or the lens rotating unit is controlled so that the torque becomes lower than the threshold value T?s to decrease the threshold cutting amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoji Takeichi, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 8235770
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a processing tool which processes a peripheral edge of the lens and includes a roughing tool, a beveling tool and a bevel-modifying tool; a selection unit which is used to select a high curve beveling mode for forming a bevel in the lens fitted into a high curve frame having a protrusion portion; a modifying portion data input unit inputs data of a portion to be modified so as to prevent an interference between the lens and the protrusion portion; a calculation unit which obtains bevel-modifying data on the basis of a bevel path and data of the modifying portion; and a processing control portion which performs the beveling to the lens by the beveling tool in accordance with the beveling data, and removes a part of the bevel shoulder and/or the bevel slope by the bevel-modifying tool in accordance with the bevel-modifying data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 8038507
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: an edge position detector which detects front and rear edge positions of an eyeglass lens based on target lens shape data; a bevel locus setting unit which includes: a) a provisional bevel locus calculator which obtains a provisional bevel locus by obtaining a bevel curve substantially equal to a frame curve; b) a nose-side bevel position determining unit which determines a corrected bevel apex position at a nose-side edge position; c) an ear-side bevel position determining unit which determines a corrected bevel apex position at an ear-side edge position; and d) a corrected bevel locus calculator which obtains a corrected bevel locus which has a curve value equal to the bevel curve; and a processing controller which obtains beveling information based on the corrected bevel locus and controls an operation of the apparatus according to the beveling data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Patent number: 8007344
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokatsu Obayashi, Kyoji Takeichi
  • Patent number: 7731565
    Abstract: In an eyeglass lens processing apparatus for beveling a peripheral edge of an eyeglass lens, if the high curve lens processing mode is selected by the mode selector, a computing unit acquires a high curve bevel path for locating the bevel apex on a front surface curve of the eyeglass lens or for locating the bevel apex at a position shifted by a predetermined quantity from the front surface curve toward the rear side on the basis of the edge position information acquired by the edge position detector, thereby providing high curve beveling data for the rear surface beveling grindstone, or for the front surface and rear surface beveling grindstones; and a beveling controller bevels the peripheral edge of the eyeglass lens by the rear surface beveling grindstone, or by the front surface and rear surface beveling grindstones on the basis of the high curve beveling data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Shibata, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Publication number: 20090247051
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: an edge position detector which detects front and rear edge positions of an eyeglass lens based on target lens shape data; a bevel locus setting unit which includes: a) a provisional bevel locus calculator which obtains a provisional bevel locus by obtaining a bevel curve substantially equal to a frame curve; b) a nose-side bevel position determining unit which determines a corrected bevel apex position at a nose-side edge position; c) an ear-side bevel position determining unit which determines a corrected bevel apex position at an ear-side edge position; and d) a corrected bevel locus calculator which obtains a corrected bevel locus which has a curve value equal to the bevel curve; and a processing controller which obtains beveling information based on the corrected bevel locus and controls an operation of the apparatus according to the beveling data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu OBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20090176442
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes a processing control unit (50) which in the soft processing mode, roughs the lens such that the torque threshold value is set to a value T?s lower than the threshold value T?N of a normal processing mode, and when torque detected by a sensor unit does not exceed the threshold value T?s, a axis-to-axis distance varying unit or a lens rotating unit is controlled so that a cutting amount per rotation of the lens reaches a threshold cutting amount, and when the detected torque exceeds the threshold value T?s, the axis-to-axis distance varying unit or the lens rotating unit is controlled so that the torque becomes lower than the threshold value T?s to decrease the threshold cutting amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kyoji Takeichi, Hirokatsu Obayashi
  • Publication number: 20090142993
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a processing tool which processes a peripheral edge of the lens and includes a roughing tool, a beveling tool and a bevel-modifying tool; a selection unit which is used to select a high curve beveling mode for forming a bevel in the lens fitted into a high curve frame having a protrusion portion; a modifying portion data input unit inputs data of a portion to be modified so as to prevent an interference between the lens and the protrusion portion; a calculation unit which obtains bevel-modifying data on the basis of a bevel path and data of the modifying portion; and a processing control portion which performs the beveling to the lens by the beveling tool in accordance with the beveling data, and removes a part of the bevel shoulder and/or the bevel slope by the bevel-modifying tool in accordance with the bevel-modifying data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu OBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 7503836
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoji Takeichi, Hirokatsu Obayashi, Ryoji Shibata
  • Publication number: 20090011687
    Abstract: In an eyeglass lens processing apparatus for beveling a peripheral edge of an eyeglass lens, if the high curve lens processing mode is selected by the mode selector, a computing unit acquires a high curve bevel path for locating the bevel apex on a front surface curve of the eyeglass lens or for locating the bevel apex at a position shifted by a predetermined quantity from the front surface curve toward the rear side on the basis of the edge position information acquired by the edge position detector, thereby providing high curve beveling data for the rear surface beveling grindstone, or for the front surface and rear surface beveling grindstones; and a beveling controller bevels the peripheral edge of the eyeglass lens by the rear surface beveling grindstone, or by the front surface and rear surface beveling grindstones on the basis of the high curve beveling data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ryoji SHIBATA, Hirokatsu OBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 7437809
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayasu Yamamoto, Hirokatsu Obayashi, Yoshiaki Kamiya