Patent · US Expired

Control system for eyeglass tracer

US6249991A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
57References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 17, 1999
Grant dateJun 26, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 17, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24B13/005
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

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. The data acquisition system comprises a position monitoring element and a conversion element. The position monitoring element detects pivot information and extension information during a tracing operation. The pivot information and extension information de…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.