Method for producing individual spectacle lenses in accordance with a prescription order

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11199730-B2
Application number	US-201816184215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2018
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

A method of preparing individual spectacle lenses (L) in accordance with a prescription order comprises the steps of: (i) blocking, a provided lens blank (LR) as workpiece on a block piece provided from a plurality of block pieces (B) from a block piece store (BL), (ii) processing the blocked lens blank at least at a second surface so as to obtain a blocked, processed spectacle lens (L) as workpiece, and (iii) deblocking the processed spectacle lens from the block piece, wherein the workpiece, optionally in the blocked state, is transported between the steps (i) to (iii) in one of a plurality of provided transport boxes (T). In the method, the block pieces prior to the step (i) of blocking are stored in the transport boxes in the block piece store and, for the step (i) of blocking, are provided in the transport boxes from the block piece store.

First claim

I claim:

1. A method for producing individual spectacle lenses (L) in accordance with a prescription order, comprising the steps of:
(i) blocking a provided lens blank (LR) as workpiece, which has a first surface (CX), a second surface (CC) opposite the first surface (CX) and an edge (RD) between the first surface (CX) and the second surface (CC), with the help of a blocking material (M) on a block piece (B) provided from a plurality of block pieces (B) from a block piece store (BL), wherein the first surface (CX) of the lens blank (LR) faces a lens fastening surface (BF) of the block piece (B);
(ii) processing the blocked lens blank (LR) at least at the second surface (CC) so as to obtain a blocked, processed spectacle lens (L) as a workpiece; and
(iii) deblocking the processed spectacle lens (L) from the block piece (B);
wherein the workpiece, which in each instance may be in the blocked state, is transported between the steps (i) to (iii) in one of a plurality of provided transport boxes (T);
Characterized in that the block pieces (B) are transported in the transport boxes (T) to the block piece store (BL) after the step (iii) of deblocking.

2. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the block pieces (B) are stored in the transport boxes (T) in the block piece store (BL) prior to the step (i) of blocking and are provided in the transport boxes (T) from the block piece store (BL) for the step (i) of blocking.

3. A method according to claim 2 , characterized in that block pieces (B) with different predetermined block piece geometries differing with respect to a block curvature (K) of the lens fastening surface (BF) and/or a diameter (D) of the lens fastening surface (BF) are stored in the transport boxes (T) in the block piece store (BL), the store being provided with at least one storage region, wherein at least one of the transport boxes (T) and the block pieces (B) are provided with an information carrier (IT) which when detected by way of a process control (PS), particularly for sorting the block piece store (BL) and in a given case provision of specific block pieces (B) for the step (i) of blocking, imparts at least information about the block piece geometry of the block pieces (B) contained in the respective transport box (T).

4. A method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the block piece store (BL) comprises a flexible box store (KS) as storage region in which the transport boxes (T) with the block pieces (B) received therein are chaotically stored at fixed storage places, wherein an association of the respective storage place with the transport box (T) stored thereat is carried out as a function of the information of the corresponding information carrier (IT).

5. A method according to claim 4 , characterized in that the block piece store (BL) comprises an unsorted buffer store (UPL) as storage region in which the transport boxes (T) with the block pieces (B) received therein are stored unsorted, wherein stacking of the transport boxes (T) is preferably carried out.

6. A method according to claim 5 , characterized in that the block piece store (BL) comprises a sorted buffer store (SPL) as storage region in which the transport boxes (T) with the block pieces (B) received therein are stored and sorted according to block piece geometry in correspondence with the information of the information carrier (IT), wherein stacking of the transport boxes (T) respectively with the same block pieces (B) is carried out.

7. A method according to claim 6 , characterized in that the block piece store (BL) has a store entrance (LE) and a store exit (LA) connected together by way of a conveyor path (FS) for the transport boxes (T), the path being connected with the storage region or storage regions, wherein the transport boxes (T) with the block pieces (B) received therein are conveyed by way of the conveyor path (FS) under control by the process control (PS) selectably from the store entrance (LE) to the respective storage region, from the respective storage region to the store exit (LA) or from the store entrance (LE) directly to the store exit (LA).

8. A method according to claim 7 , characterized in that for the step (i) of blocking the provision of the respective block piece (B) is carried out by way of the process control (PS) as a function of a geometry, which is defined by the prescription order, of the spectacle lens (L), which is to be produced, by output from the block piece store (BL) of the transport box (T) loaded with the corresponding block piece (B) identified by way of the information carrier (IT).

9. A method according to claim 7 , characterized in that for the step (i) of blocking the provision of a specific lens blank (LR) is carried out by way of the process control (PS) as a function of the information of the information carrier (IT) with respect to the block piece geometry of the block piece (B) contained in the transport box (T) currently conveyed by way of the conveyor path (FS) between store entrance (LE) and store exit (LA).

10. A method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the process control (PS) on detection of the information carrier (IT) also has information concerning frequency of use of the block pieces (B) contained in the respective transport boxes (T), wherein a switch (WH) is arranged upstream of the block piece store (BL) and is so controlled by the process control (PS) as a function of this information that the switch (WH) when a predetermined frequency of use is exceeded transfers out the corresponding transport boxes (T) for manual collection and cleaning of the block piece (B) and/or transport box (T), but otherwise passes on the corresponding transport boxes (T) with the block pieces (B) received therein to the block piece store (BL).

11. A method according to claim 10 , characterized in that the information carrier (IT) at the transport boxes (T) and/or the block pieces (B) is not only readable, but also writable with information, wherein for consideration in relation to downstream steps the information of the respective information carrier (IT) is changed or extended by writing:
prior to the step (i) of blocking, with respect to urgency of the respective prescription order, and/or
at the time of the step (i) of blocking, with respect to blocking parameters relevant to the step (ii) of processing, and/or
during the step (ii) of processing, with respect to changes in geometry of the respective block pieces (B), and/or
after the step (iii) of deblocking, with respect to a need for cleaning the respective block pieces (B).

12. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that block pieces (B) with different predetermined block piece geometries differing with respect to a block curvature (K) of the lens fastening surface (BF) and/or a diameter (D) of the lens fastening surface (BF) are stored in the transport boxes (T) in the block piece store (BL), the store being provided with at least one storage region, wherein at least one of the transport boxes (T) and the block pieces (B) are provided with an information carrier (IT) which when detected by way of a process control (PS), particularly for sorting the block piece store (BL) and in a given case provision of specific block pieces (B) for the step (i) of blocking, imparts at least information about the block piece geometry of the block pieces (B) contained in the respective transport box (T).

13. A method according to claim 12 , characterized in that the block piece store (BL) comprises a flexible box store (KS) as storage region in which the transport boxes (T) with the block pieces (B) received therein are chaotically stored at fixed storage places

Assignees

• Satisloh Ag

Inventors

• Kreis Michael

Classifications

• B24B13/0037 Primary

  the lenses being worked by different tools, e.g. for rough-grinding, fine-grinding, polishing · CPC title

• G02C13/006

  Devices specially adapted for cleaning spectacles frame or lenses · CPC title

• B24B13/005

  Blocking means, chucks or the like; Alignment devices · CPC title

• B29D11/00942

  where the lens material is mounted in a support for mounting onto a cutting device, e.g. a lathe, and where the support is of machinable material, e.g. plastics · CPC title

• G02C13/001 Primary

  Assembling; Repairing · CPC title