Eyeglass Lens Processing Apparatus Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current eyeglass lens processing apparatuses require excessive labor and time for calibration, leading to inaccuracies and increased lens consumption, especially when calibrating drilling tools, and often necessitate additional costly detecting mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

An automated eyeglass lens processing apparatus that uses edge position detecting units and a control unit to efficiently calibrate lens shapes and drilling tools without the need for a dedicated detecting mechanism, reducing labor and lens consumption through precise motor control and measurement systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual calibration operations are performed by operators using measuring equipment such as slide calipers or visual recognition by loupe, then the calibration can be carried out, but the labor and time required become excessively large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration operationVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement operations with an automated image processing system. The measurement unit captures images of the lens with a camera and uses image processing to automatically determine lens parameters such as diameter, curvature, and position, eliminating the need for operators to use slide calipers or visual inspection with loupes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The calibration system performs self-measurement and self-adjustment. The measurement unit automatically captures lens images, processes them to extract calibration data, and the control unit automatically adjusts processing parameters based on the measured values, enabling the system to calibrate itself without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If one-by-one processing of lenses is performed for each calibration item, then accurate calibration can be achieved, but the number of lenses required for calibration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration accuracyVSAvoidlens consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system processes multiple calibration items continuously in one operational sequence. The measurement unit captures images and the control unit processes multiple parameters (diameter, curvature, position, etc.) in succession using the same lens, eliminating the need to discard lenses between different calibration measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The image processing system serves multiple calibration functions simultaneously. A single measurement and processing cycle can determine multiple lens parameters needed for different calibration items, making the system versatile and reducing the total number of lenses required for comprehensive calibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If visual recognition methods are used by operators for calibration, then no additional detecting mechanism is needed, but calibration accuracy and reliability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetecting mechanismVSAvoidcalibration measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces operator visual recognition with an automated optical measurement system. A camera captures precise images of the lens, and image processing algorithms automatically extract measurement data, providing superior accuracy compared to human visual inspection while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the lens through image capture. The camera takes photographs of the lens from different angles, and the control unit processes these image copies to extract precise measurement data, replacing the need for physical contact measurement tools and human visual assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Measurement precision

If a dedicated detecting mechanism is added for drilling tool calibration, then calibration accuracy can be improved, but the device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling tool calibration accuracyVSAvoiddetecting mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing image processing system is used for multiple purposes including drilling tool calibration. The same camera and image processing unit that measure lens parameters are also employed to detect the position and orientation of the drilling tool, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated detecting mechanism while maintaining calibration accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the drilling tool detection function with the existing lens measurement system. The image processing unit that originally served only for lens calibration now also captures and processes images of the drilling tool, combining multiple measurement functions into a single integrated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2319659B1Eyeglass lens processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 NIDEK CO LTD
  • EP2319659B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2319659B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2319659B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing a peripheral edge of an eyeglass lens, includes: a processing unit including a plurality of processing tools that process the peripheral edge of the eyeglass lens held by a lens chuck shaft; a calibrating lens; a mode selector that selects a calibration mode; a memory that stores calibration processing data for processing the calibrating lens to a predetermined shape; a detecting unit that includes a tracing stylus that contacts a surface of the calibrating lens which is processed by the processing unit based on the calibration processing data to detect the shape of the processed calibrating lens in the calibration mode; and a calculating unit that obtain calibration data by comparing a detected result by the detecting unit with the calibration processing data in the calibration mode.