Method and apparatus for the automated manufacture of different toric optical lenses

Abstract

A process for the automatic manufacturing of different toric optical lenses having a front surface and a rear surface having a predetermined rotational orientation relative to one another, and with at least one of the front and rear surfaces having a toric portion, comprises forming a first toric lens by: introducing a starting material into a lens mold (3) comprising a male mold half (30) and a female mold half (31) defining a mold cavity between the shaping surfaces of the male and female mold halves, the shaping surfaces being arranged at a first rotational position relative to one another and at least one of them being toric, and curing the starting material in the mold cavity to form the first toric lens. The process further comprises subsequently forming a second toric lens different from the first toric contact lens using the same male and female mold halves (30,31) by rotating the first and second mold halves (30,31) relative to one another so as to be arranged at a second rotational position relative to one another, and then forming the second lens in a similar manner. The step of rotating the male and female mold halves (30,31) relative to one another is performed automatically in the production line.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the automated manufacture of different toric optical lenses. More specifically, the present invention relates to the automated manufacture of different toric ophthalmic lenses, such as contact lenses / contact lenses. Background technique [0002] It is well known to produce optical lenses, especially ophthalmic lenses, such as contact lenses, by fully automated manufacturing methods. An example of such a method is known eg from WO98 / 42497. In this method, a plurality of molds - for example ten molds - are arranged in a mold carrier, each mold comprising a male and a female half. The formwork consists of two formwork members, in which each half-mold is arranged in two rows and five columns, the male half-mold is arranged in one of the formwork members, and the female half-mold is arranged in the other formwork member . The two frame members are pivotally connected to each other, and the mold ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This resetting of the mold halves entails considerable expense, since the mold bases must first be removed from the production line and production must therefore be interrupted

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