LASER FRAME TRACER
A laser frame tracer (12) including a laser measuring unit (20) with a laser (36) and one or more cameras (38, 40) for optically measuring dimensions of eyeglass frames (10). A frame carrier (22) is provided for moving the eyeglass frames (10) through a laser line emitted by the laser (36). The frame carrier (22) includes a linear carriage (44) and a rotary carriage (88). Movement of the linear carriage (44) and the rotary carriage (88) are controlled by an on-board computer (116) which collects image data from the one or more cameras (38, 40). Image data is processed to determine a 3D model from which selected dimensions for the eyeglass frames (10) may be measured. The dimensions may be stored in a cloud database for access by others in cutting lenses to fit the eyeglass frames (10).
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/018,311, filed Sep. 4, 2013, to be issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,316,489 on Apr. 19, 2016, which is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/683,484, filed Nov. 21, 2012, now abandoned, of which the entirety of all is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present disclosure relates in general to automated measurement units, and in particular to units for optically measuring eyeglass frames.
BACKGROUNDPrior art eyeglass frame measurement units have been provided for measuring eyeglass frames to determine the dimensions for cutting lenses for fitting the frames. Prior art units have included units with mechanical measurement probes which make contact with and push against the eyeglass frames to trace the frames and thereby determine dimensions of the frames. The measured dimensions are then stored for later use to cut the lenses to size. Problems often arises with measurement probes running across surfaces of the frames, and debris can also interfere with obtaining accurate measurements.
SUMMARYA laser frame tracer is provided for optically measuring dimensions for eyeglass frames. The laser frame tracer includes an enclosure with an on-board computer which interfaces with a touch screen monitor for operator input. A laser measuring unit has a laser which emits laser light along a line and cameras which are mounted for receiving light emitted by the laser and reflected off the frame. A frame carrier is provided for mounting eyeglass frames and moving the eyeglass frames through the laser line emitted from the laser. The frame carrier includes a linear carriage and a rotary carriage mounted to the linear carriage. Movement of the linear carriage and the rotary carriage are controlled by the onboard computer which collects image data from the cameras. The image data is processed to determine a solid 3D model for the frames from which selected dimensions for the eyeglass frame may be digitally measured. The dimensions may be stored in a cloud database for access by others in cutting lenses to fit other eyeglass frames of the same model.
For a more complete understanding of the embodiments of the laser frame tracer disclosed herein and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which
Detailed embodiments of laser frame tracers are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the laser frame tracers, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.
The second compartment 17 houses onboard electronics 16 which include an onboard computer 116, a hard drive 118, a power supply 120 and interface boards 122. The interfaces boards 122 contain circuitry and drivers for operating the laser measuring unit 20 and the frame carrier 22. The onboard computer 116 and the hard drive 118 together define a data processing unit. The onboard computer 116 has a data processor and memory, and may be connected to a computer or computer network, for example, a global computer network for sharing information. The data processor in the onboard computer 116 emits control signals which control operation of the laser frame tracer 12 and processes recorded images to determine a 3D model for a frame 10 from which selected measurements for the frame 10 may be calculated. A touch screen monitor 18 is provided for data display and user input into the onboard computer 116 for controlling operation of the laser frame tracer 12. A data link is provided between the cameras 38 and 40 and the onboard computer 116 for storing images from the cameras 38 and 40. The cameras 38 and 40 may be directly connected to the motherboard of the computer 116, or in some embodiments connected through the interface boards 122. The interface boards 122 can apply electric power for operating a motor 56, for example, a stepper motor, for the linear carriage 44 and a motor 93, for example, a servo motor, for the rotary carriage 88 in response to control signals from the computer 116.
The platform 46 has a through-hole 74 for receiving a drive nut 70, which is preferably secured in fixed position within the through-hole 74 by threaded fasteners 72. As illustrated, there are three threaded fasteners 72, however it should be appreciated that less than or more than three threaded fasteners may be used. The fasteners 72 secure the drive nut 70 in the through hole 74 in a fixed angular and linear position relative to the platform 46. The lead screw 50 is threadingly received within the drive nut 70 such that rotation of the lead screw 50 within the nut 70 will linearly move the platform 46 along the rods 48. Two bearings 76 are slidingly secured to the rods 48 with snap rings 78. The platform 46 has through openings 80 for receiving and securing respective ones of the bearings 76 therein. The openings 80 extend on an underside of the platform 46, defined by grooves 84 against which clam shells 82 are secured to fixedly secure the bearings 76 there-between and within the openings 80.
The rotary carriage 88 includes two brackets 94 and 96 which are mounted atop the platform 46. The bracket 94 also includes a motor mount 98 to which the motor 92 is secured. The motor 92 may be, for example, a servo motor, and its angular position is controlled by angular position control signals from the computer 116 in the second compartment 17. A carrier 90 is provided as a rod 108 which is formed to have a U-shape. The carrier 90 includes an end 102 which is non-rotatably secured, or fixedly secured, to the drive shaft 100 of the motor 92. The end 102 and the opposite end of the carrier 90 are rotatably secured within the bearing mounting holes 106 of the brackets 94 and 96, respectively, by bearings 104. A mounting boss 110 is fixedly secured to the rod 108 and provides a platform to which a clamp 112 is fixedly secured. As illustrated, the clamp 112 is U-shaped and secures the eyewear frame 10 to the carrier 90. However, it should be appreciated that other securing mechanisms may be used instead of or in addition to the clamp 112 to secure the eyewear frame 10 to the carrier 90. The motor 92 will rotate the carrier 90 to selected positions, to align the frame in different angular positions as it is moved by the linear carriage 44 for different passes beneath the laser measuring unit 20.
In operation the eyeglass frame 10 is placed in the clamp 112. The frame 10 is then shuttled beneath the laser 36 and through the emitted laser light by means of the linear carriage 44 making multiple passes moving in linear directions through the laser light, and the rotary carriage 88 moving in angular directions to index the frame 10 into different angular positions between the different passes through the laser light. The laser light is reflected from the frame 10 during the multiple passes and images of the frame 10 passing through the laser light at different angles are recorded by the cameras 38 and 40. The recorded images are processed by the on board electronics 16 to determine a 3D model from which selected dimensions for the eyeglass frame 10 may be electronically measured. The traced dimensions may then be stored in a database which may also be accessed by others, for example, via a wired or wireless network, such as the Internet.
The disclosure provides a laser frame tracer 12 having a rotary carriage 90 mounted atop a linear carriage 44. An eyeglass frames 10 is mounted atop the rotary carriage 88. The onboard electronics 16 control movement of the rotary carriage 88 and the linear carriage 44 to pass the eyeglass frame 10 through the laser line emitted by the laser 36 and beneath the cameras 38 and 40. Light reflected off the frame 10 is recorded as digital images by the cameras 38 and 40, and the digital images are processed to detect the position of the laser line on the frame 10 in the digital images. Based on the detected positions of the laser line a 3D model of the frame 10 is constructed. Measurements may then be digitally taken from the 3D model of the eyeglass frame 10.
Although certain embodiments have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The present disclosure is thus not to be limited to the precise details of methodology or construction set forth above as such variations and modification are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
Although the laser frame tracer 12 is described as having the laser measuring unit 20, including the laser 36 and cameras 38 and 40, located in a fixed position and a frame carrier shuttle 22 that moves the frame 10 beneath the laser measuring unit 20, the frame 10 may disposed in a fixed position and the laser measuring unit 20 may move above and around the frame 10. Although the laser 36 is described as emitting laser light in a line, such as provided by a line laser, other types of lasers may be used, for example, including a point laser. Further, although the laser frame tracer 12 is described as measuring one frame 10 at a time, the laser frame tracer 12 may be adapted to measure more than one frame 10 at the same time, for example, in parallel or in series.
Further, as used in the disclosure, the term “a” or “one” may include one or more items unless specifically stated otherwise. The phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based at least in part on” unless specifically stated otherwise. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are merely used to distinguish one element from another.
Claims
1. A laser frame tracer, comprising:
- a laser measuring unit including a laser and a camera, the laser selectively emitting laser light and the camera recording images of the laser light reflected from an eyeglass frame passed through the laser light;
- a linear carriage comprising: a moveable platform; and a linear drive motor coupled to the platform, to move the platform with respect to the laser measuring unit;
- a rotary carriage mounted to the platform, the rotary carriage including a carrier pivotally mounted to the platform and a rotary motor connected to the carrier, the rotary carriage rotating the carrier to one or more selected angular positions with respect to the laser measuring unit;
- a clamp shaped to removably secure the eyeglass frame to the carrier; and
- a data processing unit storing the recorded images from the camera.
2. The laser frame tracer according to claim 1, wherein;
- the linear drive motor has a drive shaft; and
- the linear carriage further comprises: two carriage brackets between which is disposed the moveable platform; two rods and a lead screw which extend in parallel between the two carriage brackets; a drive nut fixedly secured to the platform, and rotatably receiving the lead screw; and a motor coupling securing the drive shaft of the linear drive motor to the lead screw.
3. The laser frame tracer according to claim 2, wherein the rotary carriage further comprises:
- a first bracket and a second bracket mounted to the platform;
- a motor bracket secured to the first bracket and to which the rotary motor is secured; and
- the first and second brackets are spaced apart and pivotally secure the carrier therebetween.
4. The laser frame tracer according to claim 3, wherein the data processing unit constructs a 3D model from the recorded images and determines selected measurements representing dimensions for the eyeglass frame based on the 3D model.
5. The laser frame tracer according to claim 4, further comprising an enclosure housing the laser measuring unit, the linear carriage, and the rotary carriage, the laser measuring unit further comprising a mounting frame mounted in a fixed position relative to the enclosure housing, the mounting frame including a laser mounting bracket shaped to secure the laser and a camera mounting bracket shaped to secure the camera.
6. The laser frame tracer according to claim 5, wherein the linear drive motor is a stepper motor and the rotary motor is a servo motor.
7. A laser frame tracer, comprising:
- a laser measuring unit including a laser and a camera, the laser selectively emitting laser light and the camera recording images of the laser light reflected from an eyeglass frame passed through the laser light;
- a linear carriage including; a platform, wherein the platform is movable laterally; and a linear drive motor coupled to the platform, to move the platform with respect to the laser measuring unit;
- a rotary carriage mounted to the platform, the rotary carriage including a carrier pivotally mounted to the platform and a rotary motor connected to the carrier, the rotary carriage rotating the carrier to one or more selected angular positions with respect to the laser measuring unit;
- a clamp shaped to removably secure the eyeglass frame to the carrier;
- a data processing unit storing the recorded images from the camera and controlling the movement of the linear and rotary carriages; and
- a data link electrically connecting the at least one camera and the data processing unit and communicating the images recorded by the at least one camera to the data processing unit, the data processing unit storing the recorded images communicated from the at least one camera.
8. The laser frame tracer according to claim 7, wherein:
- the rotary carriage further comprises: a first bracket and a second bracket mounted to the platform; a motor bracket secured to the first bracket and to which the rotary motor is secured; the first and second brackets are spaced apart and pivotally secure the carrier therebetween.
9. The laser frame tracer according to claim 8, wherein the data processing unit constructs a 3D model from the recorded images and determines selected measurements representing dimensions for the eyeglass frame based on the 3D model.
10. The laser frame tracer according to claim 9, wherein the data processing unit emits control signals which control operation of the linear and rotary carriages.
11. The laser frame tracer according to claim 10, further comprising an enclosure housing the laser measuring unit, the linear carriage, and the rotary carriage, the laser measuring unit further comprising a mounting frame mounted in a fixed position relative to the enclosure housing, the mounting frame including a laser mounting bracket shaped to secure the laser and a camera mounting bracket shaped to secure the camera.
12. The laser frame tracer according to claim 11, wherein the linear drive motor is a stepper motor and the rotary motor is a servo motor.
13. A laser frame tracer, comprising:
- a data processing unit providing control signals and rotary control signals;
- a laser measuring unit including a laser selectively emitting a laser line and at least one camera, the at least one camera recording images of the laser line reflected from an eyeglass frame passed through the laser line;
- a linear carriage including: a platform; two carriage brackets; two rods and a lead screw which extend in parallel between the two carriage brackets; a drive nut fixedly secured to the platform, the drive nut shaped to rotatably receive the lead screw, the platform further including bearings slidably receiving respective ones of the two rods; a motor mount; a linear drive motor having a drive shaft; and a motor coupling shaped to secure the drive shaft of the linear drive motor to the lead screw, wherein the control signals from the data processing system apply power signals to operate the linear drive motor and turn the lead screw;
- a rotary carriage, the rotary carriage rotating the carrier to one or more selected angular positions with respect to the laser measuring unit;
- a clamp mounted to the carrier and shaped to removably secure the eyeglass frame to the carrier for moving therewith through the laser line; and
- a data link electrically connecting the at least one camera and the data processing unit.
14. The laser frame tracer according to claim 13, wherein the rotary carriage comprises:
- a carrier pivotally mounted to the platform;
- a rotary motor connected to the carrier; and
- the rotary control signals applying power signals to operate the rotary motor and rotate the carrier to one or more selected angular positions with respect to the laser measuring unit.
15. The laser frame tracer according to claim 14, wherein the rotary carriage further comprises:
- first and second brackets mounted to the platform spaced apart and adapted to pivotally securing the rotary carrier there-between; and
- a motor bracket secured to the first bracket and to which the rotary motor is secured.
16. The laser frame tracer according to claim 14, wherein the linear drive motor is a stepper motor and the rotary motor is a servo motor.
17. The laser frame tracer according to claim 13, wherein the data link communicates the images recorded by the at least one camera to the data processing unit, the data processing unit storing the recorded images communicated from the at least one camera.
18. The laser frame tracer according to claim 17, wherein the data processing unit constructs a 3D model from the stored images and determines selected measurements representing dimensions for the eyeglass frame based on the 3D model.
19. The laser frame tracer according to claim 13 further comprising:
- an enclosure housing the laser measuring unit, the linear carriage, and the rotary carriage.
20. The laser frame tracer according to claim 19, wherein the laser measuring unit further comprising a mounting frame mounted in a fixed position relative to the enclosure housing, the mounting frame including a laser mounting bracket shaped to secure the laser and at least one camera mounting bracket shaped to secure the at least one camera in spaced apart relation to focus the laser and the at least one camera on a selected lineal location.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 15, 2016
Publication Date: Aug 11, 2016
Inventors: William Todd Hofmeister (Flower Mound, TX), Hoa D. Nguyen (Cedar Hill, TX)
Application Number: 15/130,862