Abstract: A tracer is provided for tracing a lens mount of an eyeglass frame, a lens or a lens pattern. The tracer comprises an object engager and an actuator. The object engager is adapted to engage the lens mount, the lens or the lens pattern. The actuator is adapted to move the object engager into contact with and then along the lens mount, the lens or the lens pattern in such a way that during movement therealong, the object engager remains against the object being traced even when the shape thereof includes high wrap. Preferably, the tracer has a shift mechanism adapted to shift the object engager from alignment with the lens mount to alignment with a second lens mount of the eyeglass frame. The actuator preferably is further adapted to trace the second lens mount in substantially the same way as the first. The actuator further includes a rotator and a pivot mechanism. The rotator is adapted to rotate the object engager along the object being traced.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a pivotally actuated tracer which traces an object (e.g., a frame mount of an eyeglass frame, a lens, or a lens pattern) while the object is held in a more-vertical-than-horizontal orientation. The control system comprises a trace control element and a gravity compensation element. The trace control element applies control signals to the pivotally actuated tracer. In response, the object engager of the tracer is pivotally actuated against and along the object to be traced with a biasing force toward the object. The gravity compensation element is adapted to compensate for the effects of gravity on the object engager by causing a varying pivoting force to be exerted on the object engager. The pivoting force varies depending on the rotational orientation of the object engager to keep the biasing force substantially constant along the object. Also provided is a data acquisition system for the tracer.

Abstract: A tracer is provided for tracing a lens mount of an eyeglass frame, a lens or a lens pattern. The tracer comprises an object engager and an actuator. The object engager is adapted to engage the lens mount, the lens or the lens pattern. The actuator is adapted to move the object engager into contact with and then along the lens mount, the lens or the lens pattern in such a way that during movement therealong, the object engager remains against the object being traced even when the shape thereof includes high wrap. Preferably, the tracer has a shift mechanism adapted to shift the object engager from alignment with the lens mount to alignment with a second lens mount of the eyeglass frame. The actuator preferably is further adapted to trace the second lens mount in substantially the same way as the first. The actuator further includes a rotator and a pivot mechanism. The rotator is adapted to rotate the object engager along the object being traced.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a pivotally actuated tracer which traces an object (e.g., a frame mount of an eyeglass frame, a lens, or a lens pattern) while the object is held in a more-vertical-than-horizontal orientation. The control system comprises a trace control element and a gravity compensation element. The trace control element applies control signals to the pivotally actuated tracer. In response, the object engager of the tracer is pivotally actuated against and along the object to be traced with a biasing force toward the object. The gravity compensation element is adapted to compensate for the effects of gravity on the object engager by causing a varying pivoting force to be exerted on the object engager. The pivoting force varies depending on the rotational orientation of the object engager to keep the biasing force substantially constant along the object. Also provided is a data acquisition system for the tracer.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a pivotally actuated tracer which traces an object (e.g., a frame mount of an eyeglass frame, a lens, or a lens pattern) while the object is held in a more-vertical-than-horizontal orientation. The control system comprises a trace control element and a gravity compensation element. The trace control element applies control signals to the pivotally actuated tracer. In response, the object engager of the tracer is pivotally actuated against and along the object to be traced with a biasing force toward the object. The gravity compensation element is adapted to compensate for the effects of gravity on the object engager by causing a varying pivoting force to be exerted on the object engager. The pivoting force varies depending on the rotational orientation of the object engager to keep the biasing force substantially constant along the object. Also provided is a data acquisition system for the tracer.

Abstract: A tracer is provided for tracing a lens mount of an eyeglass frame, a lens or a lens pattern. The tracer comprises an object engager and an actuator. The object engager is adapted to engage the lens mount, the lens or the lens pattern. The actuator is adapted to move the object engager into contact with and then along the lens mount, the lens or the lens pattern in such a way that during movement therealong, the object engager remains against the object being traced even when the shape thereof includes high wrap. Preferably, the tracer has a shift mechanism adapted to shift the object engager from alignment with the lens mount to alignment with a second lens mount of the eyeglass frame. The actuator preferably is further adapted to trace the second lens mount in substantially the same way as the first. The actuator further includes a rotator and a pivot mechanism. The rotator is adapted to rotate the object engager along the object being traced.

Abstract: A machine for cutting/grinding ophthalmic lenses has a lens spindle aligned on a vertical longitudinal axis and a tool spindle aligned on an angled axis in relation to the vertical axis. The lens blank is chucked on the upper end of the lens spindle and a tool is mounted on a lower end of the tool spindle. One motor rotates the lens spindle and the lens blank about the longitudinal axis and a second motor vertically reciprocates the lens spindle and the lens blank. A third motor rotates the tool spindle and the tool about the angled axis and a fourth motor linearly horizontally reciprocates the tool spindle and the tool. A microprocessor coordinates the rotation and reciprocation of the spindles to cause the tool to cut/grind the lens blank to a predetermined contour. The tool has a spherical grinding surface of diameter approximating but not greater than twice the radius of the steepest lens curvature to be cut/ground.

Abstract: A computerized tracing/edging system for the edging of an ophthalmic lens comprises a tracing sub-system for performing a tracing operation with respect to a frame, a pattern or a lens to derive data relating to the dimensions thereof, a storing sub-system for storing the data relating to the dimensions of the traced frame, pattern or lens, and an edging sub-system responsive to the data relating to the dimensions of the traced frame, pattern or lens for edging the ophthalmic lens so as to provide it with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the traced frame, pattern or lens. The computerized tracing/edging system can be implemented as a multi-processor system consisting of a first sub-system for performing the tracing operations, a second sub-system for performing the storage operations (as well as data translation procedures for converting the data from one form to another), and a third sub-system for performing the edging operations.

Abstract: A digital gauge for measuring the sagittal depth and thickness of a lens comprises an encoder for deriving electrical signals corresponding to the saggital depth and thickness of the lens, a first digital circuit responsive to the electrical signals corresponding to the sagittal depth of the lens for producing a first digital output representing the sagittal depth, a second digital circuit responsive to the electrical signals corresponding to the thickness of the lens for producing a second digital output representing the thickness, and a display unit responsive to the first and second digital outputs for displaying the sagittal depth and thickness, respectively, of the lens. A first embodiment employs dual encoders and associated dual moveable plungers, while a second embodiment employs a single encoder and associated moveable plunger, together with a fixed stop in alignment with the plunger.