A method and system for contact lens color pattern pad printing

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of contact lens automatic production, in particular to a contact lens color mold pad printing method and system, which comprises a feeding and discharging work station, a detection unit, a mold carrying unit, a transposition calibration unit, a visual pad printing unit and a mold template set unit, and the steps are as follows: S10. The mold carrying unit carries the mold to be pad printed to the feeding and discharging work station of the transposition calibration unit; S20. The transposition calibration unit moves to the pad printing work station; S30. The mold template set unit moves the pattern template to the pattern transfer work station; S40. The visual pad printing unit dips and prints the pattern on the mold after calibration; S50. The mold after pad printing is detected by the detection unit; S60. The discharging is accompanied by grabbing a new mold to enter the next cycle; The contact lens color mold pad printing method and system realize the whole process from mold feeding, visual pad printing, online detection to discharging through the cooperation of each unit, are suitable for color contact lens research and development, process verification and small batch customization, and realize the flexible matching of equipment cost and production capacity while ensuring precision.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automated contact lens production technology, specifically to a method and system for transferring colored contact lens molds. Background Technology

[0002] In the production of colored contact lenses, the conventional method of printing lens patterns involves printing the pattern into a mold, then molding the liquid material into the mold to achieve the printing effect. This method is relatively complex and cannot quickly produce colored contact lenses in large quantities. In the manufacturing process of colored contact lenses, there are usually several methods for printing patterns, among which mold (concave or convex mold) transfer printing is a commonly used method.

[0003] The main purpose of conventional pad printing equipment is to achieve mass production of color molds. The design focus of the equipment is to improve efficiency, and there is still considerable room for improvement in the layout and compactness of the equipment.

[0004] For production scenarios that do not require large production capacity, such as small-batch production, R&D technology verification, pattern design prototyping, and process optimization, conventional large-scale equipment is costly, has a complex overall layout, and low functional integration. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a solution to address these issues. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method and system for transferring colored contact lens molds. The overall equipment layout is compact, integrating visual positioning while allowing for flexible switching of multiple templates as needed, adapting to the production needs of various scenarios.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A method for pad printing colored contact lens molds includes a loading and unloading station, an inspection unit, a mold handling unit, a position calibration unit, a visual pad printing unit, and a template assembly unit. The specific steps are as follows: S10. The mold handling unit moves the mold to be printed from the loading and unloading station to the loading and unloading station of the transfer calibration unit; S20. The positioning and calibration unit moves the mold to be printed from the loading and unloading station to the printing station; S30. The template unit moves the pattern template to the pattern transfer station as needed; S40. After the visual transfer printing unit calibrates the calibration parameters at the transposition calibration unit as needed, it picks up the pattern of the pattern template at the pattern transfer printing station and transfers it to the mold to be transferred at the transfer printing station to obtain the mold after transfer printing. S50. The transposition calibration unit moves the printed mold to the loading and unloading station, and the mold handling unit moves the printed mold from the transposition calibration unit to the inspection unit for inspection. S60. The mold handling unit transports the mold inspected by the inspection unit to the loading and unloading station for unloading, and the mold handling unit picks up the new mold to be transferred at the loading and unloading station for the next work cycle. In continuous pad printing, the mold handling unit replaces the pad-printed mold with the mold to be printed at the loading and unloading station of the transposition calibration unit; the mold handling unit places the mold to be inspected at the inspection unit and picks up the mold to be printed for the next work cycle.

[0007] Furthermore, the visual pad printing unit includes a pad printing visual component, a pattern visual component, a pad driving device, and a pad printing pad connected to the execution end of the pad driving device; the pad printing pad has a built-in pressure sensor. During calibration, the printing head drive device drives the printing head to the transfer calibration unit to calibrate the preset parameters; during operation, the printing head drive device drives the printing head back and forth between the pattern transfer station and the printing station.

[0008] Furthermore, the pad printing vision component is located at the pad printing station of the transposition calibration unit, and the pattern vision component is located at the pattern transfer station of the template assembly unit.

[0009] Furthermore, the transposition calibration unit includes a transposition driving device, a transposition disk that is driven and connected to the execution end of the transposition driving device, a calibration frame plate mounted on the transposition disk, and at least two mold seats. In S20, the shifting drive device drives the shifting disk, which in turn drives multiple mold holders to cyclically shift positions between the loading / unloading station and the pad printing station; when the pad printing operation requires calibration, the vision pad printing unit calibrates the pad printing parameters at the calibration frame.

[0010] Furthermore, the end face of the calibration frame is horizontal, and the end face of the calibration frame is at the same height as the transfer mold placed on the mold base.

[0011] Furthermore, the template assembly unit also includes an assembly drive device, an assembly plate for mounting pattern templates, and an ink cartridge drive device mounted on the assembly plate; the actuator of the ink cartridge drive device is connected to a pad printing ink cartridge; the ink cartridge drive device is mounted on the pattern template using an assembly frame. The kit plate is slidably mounted on the kit carriage, and the kit drive device drives the kit plate to slide on the kit carriage so that the corresponding pattern template moves to the pattern transfer station.

[0012] Furthermore, the actuating end of the ink cartridge drive device is provided with an ink cartridge holder, and the pad printing ink cartridge is slidably mounted on the ink cartridge holder using a guide member. A buffer spring is wound around the guide member, with one end of the buffer spring connected to the pad printing ink cartridge and the other end abutting against the ink cartridge holder.

[0013] Furthermore, S30 also includes the following steps: S31. The ink cartridge drive device drives the ink cartridge holder to move, thereby causing the pad printing ink cartridge to slide into contact with the pattern template so that the ink is coated on the pattern template; S32. The kit drive device drives the kit plate to slide on the kit carriage so that the pattern template can be moved to the pattern transfer station as needed, waiting for the visual transfer unit to pick up the color pattern.

[0014] Furthermore, the template assembly unit also includes a glue head cleaning mechanism, which allows the visual pad printing unit to clean the pattern ink as needed during the pad printing process.

[0015] Furthermore, the loading and unloading station includes a loading unit, a good product unloading platform, and a defective product unloading platform; the loading unit and the inspection unit are located on one side of the mold handling unit, and the good product unloading platform and the defective product unloading platform are located on the other side of the mold handling unit.

[0016] Furthermore, the mold handling unit includes a handling displacement device, a gripper adjustment device driven and connected to the handling displacement device, and at least two mold clamps driven and connected to the gripper adjustment device. During operation, the conveying and displacement device drives the mold fixture to reciprocate between the feeding unit, the position calibration unit, the detection unit, the good product unloading platform, and the defective product unloading platform; the gripper adjustment device drives the mold fixture to move to the predetermined gripping or releasing position.

[0017] Furthermore, the feeding unit includes a feeding temporary storage platform, and the detection unit is equipped with a detection and unloading platform; the center distance between the two mold fixtures is equal to the center distance between the feeding temporary storage platform and the detection and unloading platform.

[0018] The present invention also provides a contact lens color mold transfer printing system for implementing the above-mentioned contact lens color mold transfer printing method, including a loading and unloading station, a detection unit for detecting transfer printing defects, a mold handling unit for handling the color mold, a transfer calibration unit for mold repositioning and calibrating transfer printing pressure parameters, a visual transfer printing unit for visually assisted transfer printing positioning, and a template assembly unit for quickly switching pattern templates.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: This method and system for printing colored contact lens molds features a compact and rational overall process layout. Each functional unit is modularly integrated, effectively reducing the equipment's footprint. The switching mechanism of the positioning and calibration unit allows for time overlap between the printing and loading / unloading operations, significantly improving the efficiency of a single workstation. The visual printing unit ensures precise and controllable printing operations, resolving quality fluctuations in small batches, trial production, or technical verification stages caused by individual mold differences. The template assembly unit, through its sliding switching structure, meets the flexible production needs for frequently changing patterns.

[0020] Through the coordinated scheduling of various functional units, while maintaining a compact process flow, it fully covers the entire process flow from mold loading, visual positioning and pad printing, online detection and unloading. It is especially suitable for new product development, process verification and small-batch customized production scenarios of colored contact lenses, and achieves flexible matching between equipment investment costs and capacity requirements while ensuring pad printing accuracy. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall planar structure of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the overall structure of the present invention from another perspective.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the transposition calibration unit and the visual transfer printing unit of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the template assembly unit of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the template sleeve unit of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 for Figure 3 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0029] refer to Figure 1-7 As shown, a method for transferring colored contact lens molds includes a loading / unloading station 100, a detection unit 600, a mold handling unit 200, a positioning and calibration unit 300, a visual transfer unit 400, and a template assembly unit 500. The specific steps are as follows: S10. The mold handling unit 200 transports the mold to be transferred from the loading / unloading station 100 to the loading / unloading station 301 of the transfer calibration unit 300; S20. The transfer calibration unit 300 moves the mold to be transferred from the loading / unloading station 301 to the transfer printing station 302; S30. The template assembly unit 500 moves the pattern template 540 to the pattern transfer printing station 501 as needed; S40. After calibrating the calibration parameters at the transfer calibration unit 300 as needed, the visual transfer printing unit 400 moves the pattern template 540 to the pattern transfer printing station 501. After the pattern is applied, it is transferred to the mold to be transferred at the transfer station 302 to obtain the mold after transfer printing; S50. The position calibration unit 300 moves the mold after transfer printing to the loading and unloading station 301, and the mold handling unit 200 transports the mold after transfer printing from the position calibration unit 300 to the detection unit 600 for detection; S60. The mold handling unit 200 transports the mold after detection at the detection unit 600 to the loading and unloading station 100 for unloading, and the mold handling unit 200 picks up the new mold to be transferred at the loading and unloading station 100 for the next work cycle; In continuous pad printing operation, the mold handling unit 200 replaces the pad-printed mold with the mold to be printed at the loading / unloading station 301 of the transfer calibration unit 300; the mold handling unit 200 places the mold to be inspected at the detection unit 600 and picks up the mold to be printed for the next work cycle.

[0030] Specifically, in the actual pad printing operation, after the mold handling unit 200 unloads the pad printing mold in step S50, it simultaneously moves the new pad printing mold to the transfer calibration unit 300; in step S60, while performing the inspection operation, the mold handling unit 200 completes the acquisition of the materials required for the next work cycle, so as to connect the pad printing mold required in S10 of the next work cycle.

[0031] This contact lens color mold pad printing method features a compact and reasonable overall process layout, with each functional unit designed in a modular integrated manner. This effectively reduces the equipment footprint. The switching mechanism of the switching and calibration unit enables the time overlap between pad printing and loading / unloading operations, significantly improving the effective operating efficiency of a single workstation. The visual pad printing unit ensures the precision and controllability of the pad printing operation, solving the problem of pad printing quality fluctuations in small batches, trial production, or technical verification stages caused by individual mold differences. The template assembly unit, through the sliding switching structure of the assembly plate, meets the flexible production needs of frequently changing patterns.

[0032] This method, through the coordinated scheduling of various functional units, fully covers the entire process flow from mold loading, visual positioning and pad printing, online detection and unloading while maintaining a compact process flow. It is especially suitable for new product development, process verification and small-batch customized production scenarios of colored contact lenses. It achieves a flexible match between equipment investment costs and production capacity requirements while ensuring pad printing accuracy.

[0033] In this embodiment, the visual pad printing unit 400 includes a pad printing visual component 410, a pattern visual component 420, a pad driving device 430, and a pad printing pad 440 driven and connected to the execution end of the pad driving device 430. The pad printing pad 440 has a built-in pressure sensor. During calibration, the pad driving device 430 drives the pad printing pad 440 to the transfer calibration unit 300 to calibrate preset parameters. During operation, the pad driving device 430 drives the pad printing pad 440 back and forth between the pattern transfer station 501 and the pad printing station 302.

[0034] Specifically, the pad printing head drive device 430 can adopt a multi-axis linkage robotic arm structure, which can realize the precise positioning and attitude adjustment of the pad printing head 440 in three-dimensional space. The pressure sensor built into the pad printing head 440 provides real-time feedback of contact pressure data. When the head contacts the pattern template 540 or the mold to be printed, the pressure sensor transmits the detection signal to the control system, forming a closed-loop pressure control to ensure that the ink amount and transfer pressure of each printing are highly consistent. Both the pad printing vision component 410 and the pattern vision component 420 can adopt a high-resolution industrial camera with a coaxial light source or a ring light source imaging scheme. The pad printing vision component 410 is used to capture the reference feature position of the mold to be printed, and the pattern vision component 420 is used to identify the boundary and center positioning point of the pattern on the pattern template 540. The two work together to achieve precise alignment between the pad printing head 440 and the mold and pattern template 540.

[0035] In this embodiment, the pad printing vision component 410 is located at the pad printing station 302 of the transposition calibration unit 300, and the pattern vision component 420 is located at the pattern transfer station 501 of the template assembly unit 500.

[0036] Specifically, both the pad printing vision component 410 and the pattern vision component 420 adopt an adjustable cantilever mounting structure, which can adjust the camera height and pitch angle according to the field of view requirements of different mold sizes. The optical axis of the pad printing vision component 410 is perpendicular to the plane of the pad printing station 302 of the transposition calibration unit 300, ensuring distortion-free imaging. The pattern vision component 420's field of view covers the entire area of ​​the pattern transfer station 501. After the template grouping unit 500 switches to different pattern templates 540, the pattern vision component 420 automatically re-identifies the pattern features of the current template and updates the visual positioning coordinate system without manual recalibration.

[0037] The visual pad printing unit combines built-in pressure sensing feedback with visual positioning compensation to ensure precise and controllable contact pressure between the printing head and the mold, thus solving the problem of pad printing quality fluctuations caused by individual mold differences.

[0038] In this embodiment, the shift calibration unit 300 includes a shift drive device 310, a shift disk 320 driven and connected to the execution end of the shift drive device 310, a calibration frame plate 340 installed on the shift disk 320, and at least two mold seats 330. In S20, the shift drive device 310 drives the shift disk 320, thereby driving multiple mold seats 330 to cyclically shift positions between the loading / unloading station 301 and the pad printing station 302. When calibration is required for the pad printing operation, the visual pad printing unit 400 calibrates the pad printing parameters at the calibration frame plate 340.

[0039] Specifically, the shift drive device 310 adopts a drive scheme of servo motor and high-precision reducer. The shift disk 320 is a disc-shaped or rectangular turntable structure. The mold bases 330 are evenly arranged along the circumference or edge of the shift disk 320. In this embodiment, two mold bases 330 are set, corresponding to the loading / unloading station 301 and the pad printing station 302 respectively. The shift angle between the two stations is 180 degrees or a fixed shift stroke set according to the disk structure. A rotary encoder is set at the bottom of the shift disk 320 to provide real-time feedback on the disk angle position, forming a closed-loop position control with the servo motor. The calibration plate 340 is set independently of the mold base 330 and serves as the reference plane for the pressure calibration of the pad printing head 440 and the zero-point calibration of the vision system.

[0040] In this embodiment, the end face of the calibration plate 340 is horizontal, and the end face of the calibration plate 340 is at the same height as the transfer mold placed on the mold base 330.

[0041] Specifically, the mounting reference surfaces of the calibration plate 340 and the mold base 330 are at the same horizontal height. This design ensures that the Z-axis zero point position calibrated by the pad printing head 440 on the calibration plate 340 coincides with the actual mold printing height, eliminating systematic errors caused by height differences. The surface of the calibration plate 340 can be provided with calibration patterns or cross-shaped engravings for the pad printing vision component 410 to perform pixel coordinate and physical coordinate mapping calibration. It can also serve as a pressure zero-point calibration platform for the pad printing head pressure sensor, ensuring the accuracy of pressure detection.

[0042] In this embodiment, the template kit unit 500 further includes a kit drive device 510, a kit plate 521 for mounting the pattern template 540, and an ink cartridge drive device 560 mounted on the kit plate 521; the execution end of the ink cartridge drive device 560 is driven and connected to a pad printing ink cartridge 550; the ink cartridge drive device 560 is mounted on the pattern template 540 via a kit frame 530; the kit plate 521 is slidably mounted on the kit carriage 520, and the kit drive device 510 drives the kit plate 521 to slide on the kit carriage 520 so that the corresponding pattern template 540 moves to the pattern transfer station 501.

[0043] Specifically, the kit carriage 520 can use a high-precision linear guide as its guiding base. The kit plate 521 cooperates with the linear guide via a slider. The kit drive device 510 is a ball screw mechanism or linear motor driven by a servo motor, driving the kit plate 521 to achieve precise position switching of multiple pattern templates 540. Multiple pattern template 540 mounting positions are arranged in an array along the sliding direction on the kit plate 521, each mounting position corresponding to a pattern. In this embodiment, four to eight pattern templates 540 are set to cover specific trial production, verification, or small-batch production needs as required. The kit frame 530 is a vertical plate structure, with the ink cartridge drive device 560 mounted above the pattern templates 540. The ink cartridge drive device 560 uses multiple sets of cylinders or electric cylinders as actuators for linear and lifting movements. Under the drive of the ink cartridge drive device 560, the bottom of the pad printing ink cartridge 550 forms a controllable pressure contact with the surface of the pattern template 540, completing the quantitative coating of ink.

[0044] In this embodiment, the execution end of the ink cartridge drive device 560 is provided with an ink cartridge holder 561. The pad printing ink cartridge 550 is slidably mounted on the ink cartridge holder 561 using a guide member 551. A buffer spring 552 is wound around the guide member 551. One end of the buffer spring 552 is connected to the pad printing ink cartridge 550 and the other end abuts against the ink cartridge holder 561.

[0045] Specifically, the guide member 551 is a guide post or guide rod structure. The housing of the pad printing ink cartridge 550 is equipped with a linear bearing or sliding sleeve that mates with the guide member 551, allowing the pad printing ink cartridge 550 to float with a limited stroke along the axial direction of the guide member 551. The buffer spring 552 is a compression spring, and its pre-compression amount can be selected and replaced according to the surface characteristics of the pattern template 540 and the viscosity of the ink. When the ink cartridge drive device 560 drives the ink cartridge holder 561 downwards, the pad printing ink cartridge 550 first contacts the pattern template 540. As the ink cartridge holder 561 continues to descend, the buffer spring 552 is compressed, generating gradually increasing elastic pressure. This pressure eventually stabilizes within a set range, ensuring both the uniformity of ink coating and preventing damage to the surface of the pattern template 540 from rigid contact. A limit stop is provided at the end of the guide member 551 to limit the maximum floating stroke of the pad printing ink cartridge 550 and prevent derailment.

[0046] In this embodiment, step S30 further includes the following steps: S31. The ink cartridge driving device 560 drives the ink cartridge holder 561 to move, thereby causing the pad printing ink cartridge 550 to slide into contact with the pattern template 540 so that the ink is coated on the pattern template 540; S32. The sleeve driving device 510 drives the sleeve plate 521 to slide on the sleeve carriage 520 so that the pattern template 540 moves to the pattern transfer station 501 as needed, waiting for the visual pad printing unit 400 to pick up the color mold pattern.

[0047] Specifically, in step S31, the downward movement speed and stroke of the ink cartridge drive device 560 are set by the control system according to the ink characteristic parameters. After coating, the ink cartridge drive device 560 drives the ink cartridge holder 561 to reset and move upward. The pad printing ink cartridge 550 is smoothly separated from the pattern template 540 under the action of the buffer spring 552. In step S32, the kit drive device 510 receives the pattern switching command from the host computer and drives the kit plate 521 to slide until the target pattern template 540 is aligned with the pattern transfer station 501. During the sliding process, the pattern vision component 420 monitors the template position in real time. After it is in place, the servo locking function of the kit drive device 510 keeps the position stable, waiting for the dip action of the vision pad printing unit 400.

[0048] In this embodiment, the template assembly unit 500 also includes a glue head cleaning mechanism 570. During the pad printing process, the visual pad printing unit 400 can clean the pattern ink as needed.

[0049] Specifically, the pad cleaning mechanism 570 is located at the end or side of the sleeve carriage 520, adjacent to the pattern transfer station 501. Its structure includes an adhesive tape unwinding device, a tape drive roller group, and a waste recycling reel. The adhesive tape surface has moderate adhesion, which can remove residual ink or impurities from the surface of the pad printing pad 440. When the continuous pad printing operation reaches the set number of times, or when ink accumulation or blurred patterns appear on the surface of the pad printing pad 440, the pad driving device 430 drives the pad printing pad 440 to move to the pad cleaning mechanism 570. The adhesive tape passes over the surface of the pad printing pad 440 at a constant speed under the drive roller group, completing the pad cleaning. The cleaned tape waste is then rolled into the recycling reel, realizing automated pad maintenance, reducing the frequency of manual intervention, and ensuring the long-term stability of pad printing quality.

[0050] In this embodiment, the loading and unloading station 100 includes a loading unit 110, a good product unloading platform 120, and a defective product unloading platform 130; the loading unit 110 and the detection unit 600 are located on one side of the mold handling unit 200, and the good product unloading platform 120 and the defective product unloading platform 130 are located on the other side of the mold handling unit 200.

[0051] Specifically, the loading unit 110, the inspection unit 600, the good product unloading station 120, and the defective product unloading station 130 are arranged symmetrically or nearly symmetrically around the mold handling unit 200, forming a compact workstation layout. The loading unit 110 includes devices such as a vibrating feeder for storing and transporting contact lens molds to be pad-printed; the good product unloading station 120 and the defective product unloading station 130 are used to receive pad-printed products that have passed inspection and those that have failed inspection, respectively. This layout shortens the transport stroke of the mold handling unit 200, and a single transport cycle can cover all process nodes of loading, inspection, and unloading.

[0052] In this embodiment, the mold handling unit 200 includes a handling displacement device 210, a gripper adjustment device 220 drivenly connected to the handling displacement device 210, and at least two mold clamps 230 drivenly connected to the gripper adjustment device 220. During operation, the handling displacement device 210 drives the mold clamps 230 to reciprocate between the loading unit 110, the position calibration unit 300, the detection unit 600, the good product unloading platform 120, and the defective product unloading platform 130. The gripper adjustment device 220 drives the mold clamps 230 to move to a predetermined gripping or releasing position.

[0053] Specifically, the conveying and displacement device 210 uses a linear module to achieve a wide range of rapid movement of the mold clamp 230 in the horizontal plane. The gripper adjustment device 220 is installed at the actuator of the conveying and displacement device 210, using a lifting cylinder or electric cylinder to achieve the vertical movement of the mold clamp 230, and in conjunction with a horizontal rotating cylinder, to ensure that the mold clamp 230 is precisely aligned with the mold placement position at each workstation. The mold clamp 230 can use pneumatic grippers, and the actuating ends of the grippers are covered with anti-slip static silicone to prevent scratches or contamination of the mold surface.

[0054] In this embodiment, the feeding unit 110 includes a feeding temporary storage platform 111, and the detection unit 600 is provided with a detection and unloading platform 610; the center distance between the two mold clamps 230 is equal to the center distance between the feeding temporary storage platform 111 and the detection and unloading platform 610.

[0055] Specifically, two mold clamps 230 are provided, arranged side by side along the moving direction of the gripper adjustment device 220. The center distance between the two mold clamps 230 is equal to the center distance between the loading temporary storage platform 111 and the inspection and unloading platform 610, and also equal to the distance between the loading / unloading station 301 of the transfer calibration unit 300 and the inspection and unloading platform 610. This equidistant design allows the mold handling unit 200 to complete the unloading of the inspected mold and the loading of the mold to be transferred next week in one go when performing step S60, or to simultaneously complete the removal of the transferred mold and the placement of the mold to be transferred at the transfer calibration unit 300, realizing parallel operation of two stations, compressing the auxiliary handling time to the limit, and improving the effective working cycle of the whole machine.

[0056] In this embodiment, the detection unit 600 includes a high-magnification industrial lens and a multi-angle light source system to perform multi-dimensional detection on the color pattern of the pad-printed mold, including integrity, positional accuracy, and color uniformity. The detection results are fed back to the control system in real time, and the control system determines whether the product is qualified or not.

[0057] A contact lens color mold transfer printing system, characterized in that, for implementing the above-mentioned contact lens color mold transfer printing method, it includes a loading and unloading station 100, a detection unit 600 for detecting transfer printing defects, a mold handling unit 200 for handling the color mold, a transfer calibration unit 300 for mold repositioning and calibrating transfer printing pressure parameters, a visual transfer printing unit 400 for visually assisted transfer printing positioning, and a template assembly unit 500 for quickly switching pattern templates 540.

[0058] Through the coordinated scheduling of various functional units, this system fully covers the entire process from mold feeding, visual positioning and pad printing, online detection and sorting and unloading while maintaining a compact equipment form. It is especially suitable for new product development, process verification and small-batch customized production of colored contact lenses. It achieves a flexible match between equipment investment costs and production capacity requirements while ensuring pad printing accuracy.

[0059] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative examples illustrating the spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various modifications or additions to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods to substitute them, without departing from the scope defined by the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for transferring colored contact lens molds, characterized in that, It includes a loading and unloading station (100), an inspection unit (600), a mold handling unit (200), a transfer calibration unit (300), a visual pad printing unit (400), and a template assembly unit (500). The transfer calibration unit (300) is equipped with a loading and unloading station (301) and a pad printing station (302); the template assembly unit (500) is equipped with a pattern transfer station (501). The specific steps are as follows: S10. The mold handling unit (200) moves the mold to be printed from the loading and unloading station (100) to the loading and unloading station (301) of the transfer calibration unit (300); S20. The transposition calibration unit (300) moves the mold to be printed from the loading / unloading station (301) to the printing station (302); S30. The template unit (500) moves the pattern template (540) to the pattern transfer station (501) as needed; S40. The visual transfer printing unit (400) calibrates the calibration parameters at the transposition calibration unit (300) as needed, and then transfers the pattern of the pattern template (540) to the mold to be transferred at the transfer printing station (302) at the pattern transfer station (501) to obtain the mold after transfer printing. S50. The transposition calibration unit (300) moves the printed mold to the loading and unloading station (301), and the mold handling unit (200) moves the printed mold from the transposition calibration unit (300) to the inspection unit (600) for inspection; S60. The mold handling unit (200) transports the mold inspected at the inspection unit (600) to the loading and unloading station (100) for unloading, and the mold handling unit (200) grabs the new mold to be transferred at the loading and unloading station (100) for the next work cycle; In continuous pad printing operation, the mold handling unit (200) replaces the pad printing mold with the mold to be printed at the loading and unloading station (301) of the transposition calibration unit (300); the mold handling unit (200) places the mold to be inspected at the inspection unit (600) and picks up the mold to be printed for the next work cycle.

2. The method for transferring colored contact lens molds according to claim 1, characterized in that, The visual pad printing unit (400) includes a pad printing visual component (410), a pattern visual component (420), a pad driving device (430), and a pad printing pad (440) that is driven and connected to the execution end of the pad driving device (430); the pad printing pad (440) has a built-in pressure sensor. During calibration, the printing head drive device (430) drives the pad printing head (440) to the transfer calibration unit (300) to calibrate the preset parameters; during operation, the printing head drive device (430) drives the pad printing head (440) to move back and forth between the pattern transfer station (501) and the pad printing station (302).

3. The method for transferring colored contact lens molds according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pad printing vision component (410) is located at the pad printing station (302) of the transposition calibration unit (300), and the pattern vision component (420) is located at the pattern transfer station (501) of the template assembly unit (500).

4. The method for transferring colored contact lens molds according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transposition calibration unit (300) includes a transposition drive device (310), a transposition disk (320) driven and connected to the execution end of the transposition drive device (310), a calibration frame plate (340) mounted on the transposition disk (320), and at least two mold seats (330). In S20, the shift drive device (310) drives the shift disk (320) to drive multiple mold holders (330) to cyclically shift between the loading / unloading station (301) and the pad printing station (302); when the pad printing operation requires calibration, the vision pad printing unit (400) calibrates the pad printing parameters at the calibration frame plate (340).

5. The method for transferring colored contact lens molds according to claim 1, characterized in that, The template kit unit (500) further includes a kit drive device (510), a kit plate (521) for mounting the pattern template (540), and an ink cartridge drive device (560) mounted on the kit plate (521); the execution end of the ink cartridge drive device (560) is connected to a pad printing ink cartridge (550); the ink cartridge drive device (560) is mounted on the pattern template (540) using a kit frame (530); The kit plate (521) is slidably mounted on the kit carriage (520), and the kit drive device (510) drives the kit plate (521) to slide on the kit carriage (520) so that the corresponding pattern template (540) moves to the pattern transfer station (501).

6. The method for transferring a colored contact lens mold according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cartridge drive device (560) is provided with a cartridge holder (561) at its execution end. The pad printing cartridge (550) is slidably mounted on the cartridge holder (561) using a guide (551). A buffer spring (552) is wound around the guide (551). One end of the buffer spring (552) is connected to the pad printing cartridge (550), and the other end abuts against the cartridge holder (561).

7. The method for transferring a colored contact lens mold according to claim 6, characterized in that, S30 also includes the following steps: S31. The ink cartridge drive device (560) drives the ink cartridge holder (561) to move, thereby causing the pad printing ink cartridge (550) to slide into contact with the pattern template (540) so that the ink is coated on the pattern template (540). S32. The kit drive device (510) drives the kit plate (521) to slide on the kit carriage (520) so that the pattern template (540) is moved to the pattern transfer station (501) as needed, waiting for the visual transfer unit (400) to pick up the color pattern.

8. The method for transferring colored contact lens molds according to claim 1, characterized in that, The loading and unloading station (100) includes a loading unit (110), a good product unloading platform (120), and a defective product unloading platform (130); the loading unit (110) and the inspection unit (600) are located on one side of the mold handling unit (200), and the good product unloading platform (120) and the defective product unloading platform (130) are located on the other side of the mold handling unit (200).

9. The method for transferring a colored contact lens mold according to claim 8, characterized in that, The mold handling unit (200) includes a handling displacement device (210), a gripper adjustment device (220) drivenly connected to the handling displacement device (210), and at least two mold clamps (230) drivenly connected to the gripper adjustment device (220). During operation, the conveying and displacement device (210) drives the mold fixture (230) to reciprocate between the feeding unit (110), the position calibration unit (300), the detection unit (600), the good product unloading platform (120), and the defective product unloading platform (130); the gripper adjustment device (220) drives the mold fixture (230) to move to the predetermined gripping or releasing position.

10. A contact lens color mold transfer system, characterized in that, The method for implementing the contact lens color mold transfer printing method according to any one of claims 1-9 includes a loading and unloading station (100), a detection unit (600) for detecting transfer printing defects, a mold handling unit (200) for handling the color mold, a transfer calibration unit (300) for mold repositioning and calibrating transfer printing pressure parameters, a visual transfer printing unit (400) for visually assisted transfer printing positioning, and a template assembly unit (500) for quickly switching pattern templates (540).

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