Centering apparatus and process

Abstract

Disclosed is a centering apparatus including: a chassis; a holder mounted on the chassis, which is suitable for receiving an ophthalmic lens; and a centering unit mounted on the chassis, which includes: a camera for acquiring images of the ophthalmic lens when received on the holder, and a screen for displaying the images acquired by the camera and a centering target superimposed onto the images, the centering target including two coaxial and parallel outlines.

1 . A centering apparatus including:
 a chassis,   a holder mounted on the chassis, which is suitable for receiving an ophthalmic lens, and   centering means mounted on the chassis, which include:
 a camera for acquiring images of the ophthalmic lens when received on the holder, and 
 a screen for displaying the images acquired by the camera and a centering target superimposed onto said images, 
   wherein said centering target comprises two coaxial and parallel outlines, and wherein the size of at least one outline is modifiable so that the distance between the outlines is adjustable.   
     
     
         2 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said outlines comprises a solid line. 
     
     
         3 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each outline has a circular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each outline has a square shape. 
     
     
         5 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sizes of both outlines are modifiable. 
     
     
         6 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 5 , comprising means for manually modifying the sizes of one of the outlines displayed on said screen. 
     
     
         7 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 5 , comprising means programmed for determining the shape of centering markings situated on the lens, and means programmed for automatically modifying the size of the outlines displayed on said screen as a function of the shape of the centering markings. 
     
     
         8 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising blocking means mounted on the chassis, which are suitable for receiving a blocking accessory arranged to attach to the ophthalmic lens. 
     
     
         9 . Method for centering an ophthalmic lens, comprising steps of:
 positioning the ophthalmic lens on a holder,   acquiring images of the ophthalmic lens received on the holder by means of a camera, and   displaying the images acquired by the camera together with a centering target superimposed onto said images,   manually modifying the position of the ophthalmic lens on the holder,   wherein said centering target comprises two coaxial and parallel outlines and wherein, the size of at least one outline being modifiable, the distance between the outlines is adjusted before the step of manually modifying the position of the ophthalmic lens.   
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the ophthalmic lens comprises centering markings and wherein said method comprises a step of adjusting the distance between the two outlines as a function of the geometry of said centering markings. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 10 , wherein, the centering markings comprising patterns distributed along a contour centered on a point, the distance between said two outlines is adjusted so as to be comprised between once and twice the pattern width, said width being radially measured relative to said point. 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 10 , wherein, the centering markings comprising patterns distributed along concentric circles, each outline has a circular shape. 
     
     
         13 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each outline has a circular shape. 
     
     
         14 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each outline has a square shape. 
     
     
         15 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the sizes of both outlines are modifiable. 
     
     
         16 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the sizes of both outlines are modifiable. 
     
     
         17 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the sizes of both outlines are modifiable. 
     
     
         18 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 2 , comprising blocking means mounted on the chassis, which are suitable for receiving a blocking accessory arranged to attach to the ophthalmic lens. 
     
     
         19 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 3 , comprising blocking means mounted on the chassis, which are suitable for receiving a blocking accessory arranged to attach to the ophthalmic lens. 
     
     
         20 . The centering apparatus according to  claim 4 , comprising blocking means mounted on the chassis, which are suitable for receiving a blocking accessory arranged to attach to the ophthalmic lens.