An automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens production

By combining negative pressure adsorption components with an automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens production, the problems of low efficiency in manual demolding and high complexity in mechanical demolding are solved, achieving non-destructive synchronous demolding of lenses and improving production efficiency and product quality.

CN224527782UActive Publication Date: 2026-07-21XIAN KESIMEI OPTICAL TECH CO LTD

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
XIAN KESIMEI OPTICAL TECH CO LTD
Filing Date
2026-03-20
Publication Date
2026-07-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the current contact lens production process, manual demolding is inefficient, easily damages lenses, and is difficult to demold multiple lenses simultaneously. Existing mechanical demolding methods have high mold complexity, high cost, and risk of lens damage.

Method used

The system employs a negative pressure adsorption assembly. The vacuum adsorption head makes uniform contact with the lens surface and uses negative pressure to lift the lens from the mold. It is designed with a convex arc surface and densely packed adsorption holes to achieve simultaneous adsorption and demolding of multiple lenses. The support legs use electric lifting rods to ensure parallelism and stability.

Benefits of technology

It improves the integrity and product yield of the lens demolding process, enables the simultaneous demolding of multiple lenses, enhances production efficiency and product consistency, and reduces the risk of lens damage.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of contact lens generation automatic demolding mechanism, belong to contact lens production equipment technical field.The mechanism includes rack, die positioning seat and negative pressure adsorption component.Die positioning seat is set on rack, and multiple positioning female die production seats for placing contact lens are arrayed on die positioning seat.Die positioning seat is set in the upper portion of negative pressure adsorption component, and with rack liftable connection.Negative pressure adsorption component includes door type support and vacuum adsorption component, and the two supporting legs of door type support are electric lifting rod, and stabilizing plate is set on crossbeam, and multiple adsorption heads corresponding with positioning female die production seat are arrayed installed on stabilizing plate, and the working surface of adsorption head is outer convex arc surface and densely set with adsorption hole, and adsorption head is communicated with air pump by vacuum connection pipe.The utility model realizes the nondestructive demolding of contact lens by negative pressure adsorption mode, and realizes batch synchronous operation by array structure, with the characteristics of high production efficiency, high product yield.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of contact lens manufacturing technology, specifically to an automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens manufacturing. Background Technology

[0002] The production process of contact lenses typically includes multiple stages such as material mixing, casting, curing, demolding, hydration, and packaging. Among these, the demolding process refers to separating the cured contact lenses from the concave mold production base for subsequent hydration, testing, and packaging.

[0003] Currently, in the production of contact lenses, demolding is mostly done manually or with simple mechanical assistance. During manual demolding, operators use tools such as tweezers to individually remove the contact lenses from the mold. However, this method has the following problems: First, manual operation is inefficient and cannot meet the needs of large-scale industrial production; second, during the operation, tweezers and other tools can easily come into direct contact with the lenses, potentially causing edge damage, surface scratches, or wrinkles, affecting the product yield; third, prolonged manual operation can easily lead to visual fatigue for operators, further increasing the risk of product damage.

[0004] To address the challenges of manual demolding, some production stages have begun to explore mechanical demolding methods. These include ejecting lenses from the bottom of the mold using ejector pins or using gripper mechanisms to pick up the lens edges. However, ejector pins require ejection holes in the bottom of the mold, increasing complexity and cost. Furthermore, the ejection force acts on the center of the lens, potentially causing deformation or even breakage. Gripper mechanisms, on the other hand, require high precision in lens positioning, and the gripping force is difficult to control precisely, also posing a risk of lens damage. In addition, most existing mechanical demolding mechanisms operate at a single station, unable to demold multiple lenses simultaneously, resulting in lower overall production efficiency. Therefore, developing a new automated demolding mechanism for contact lens production has become a pressing issue for those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides an automated demolding mechanism for contact lens production, comprising:

[0006] frame;

[0007] A mold positioning seat is provided at the bottom of the frame, and the mold positioning seat is provided with a positioning die production seat for placing contact lenses;

[0008] A negative pressure adsorption component is disposed above the mold positioning seat and is vertically and vertically connected to the frame for negative pressure adsorption of the contact lens, causing it to detach from the positioning mold production seat;

[0009] Optionally, the negative pressure adsorption component includes:

[0010] A portal frame is mounted on the frame in a height-adjustable manner;

[0011] A vacuum adsorption assembly is mounted on the portal frame and extends above the positioning die production seat.

[0012] Optionally, the gantry bracket includes two legs and a crossbeam connecting the two legs. The two legs are electric lifting rods, which are used to drive the gantry bracket to rise and fall.

[0013] Optionally, the vacuum adsorption assembly includes:

[0014] A stabilizing plate is mounted on the portal frame;

[0015] At least one suction head is disposed on the stabilizing plate and corresponds to the position of the positioning die production seat;

[0016] air pump;

[0017] The vacuum connecting tube is connected at one end to the air pump and at the other end to the adsorption head.

[0018] Optionally, the working surface of the adsorption head is a convex arc surface, and the adsorption head is densely provided with multiple adsorption holes.

[0019] Optionally, the cavity of the positioning die production seat is an inwardly concave arc surface that is compatible with the outwardly convex arc surface of the adsorption head.

[0020] Optionally, the vacuum adsorption assembly includes a plurality of adsorption heads, which are arranged in an array on the stabilizing plate and correspond one-to-one with a plurality of positioning die production seats arranged in an array on the mold positioning seat.

[0021] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0022] 1. This utility model employs a negative pressure adsorption assembly for adsorption and demolding of contact lenses. The vacuum adsorption assembly makes uniform contact with the surface of the contact lens through the adsorption head and gently lifts the lens from the concave mold production base using negative pressure. Simultaneously, the adsorption head adopts a convex arc design adapted to the shape of the contact lens, and densely packed adsorption holes are formed on it, allowing for uniform distribution of adsorption force. This further ensures the integrity of the lens during the demolding process, thereby significantly improving product yield.

[0023] 2. This invention achieves simultaneous adsorption and demolding of multiple contact lenses by arraying multiple positioning die production seats on the mold positioning base and correspondingly setting multiple adsorption heads in an array on the negative pressure adsorption assembly. Furthermore, the two legs of the portal frame are driven by electric lifting rods, ensuring the parallelism and movement stability of the adsorption assembly during the lifting process. This allows multiple adsorption heads to accurately and synchronously dock with the corresponding die production seats below, ensuring the reliability and consistency of batch demolding. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the contact lens production demolding mechanism provided by this utility model;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a front view structural diagram of the contact lens production demolding mechanism provided by this utility model.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a top view of the demolding mechanism for contact lens production provided by this utility model.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the adsorption pore structure provided by this utility model;

[0028] In the diagram: 1. Frame; 2. Mold positioning seat; 3. Positioning die production seat; 4. Contact lens; 5. Negative pressure adsorption assembly; 51. Gate-shaped bracket; 511. Support leg; 512. Crossbeam; 52. Vacuum adsorption assembly; 521. Stabilizing plate; 522. Adsorption head; 5221. Adsorption hole; 523. Vacuum connection pipe; 524. Air pump. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 As shown, an automated demolding mechanism for contact lens production includes:

[0031] The frame 1 serves as the supporting framework for the entire mechanism. It is welded from steel and possesses sufficient rigidity and stability. A mounting platform is provided at the bottom of the frame 1 to secure the mold positioning seat 2. Guide structures for mounting the negative pressure adsorption assembly 5 are provided on the top and sides of the frame 1.

[0032] The mold positioning seat 2 is fixedly installed on the bottom platform of the frame 1. Multiple positioning die production seats 3 are arranged in an array on the upper surface of the mold positioning seat 2 according to production specifications. Each positioning die production seat 3 has a concave cavity whose shape matches the shape of the contact lens 4, used to accommodate and position the molded contact lens 4. The positioning die production seat 3 can be made of wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials, such as stainless steel or engineering plastics, and can be replaced according to different contact lens models.

[0033] The negative pressure adsorption component 5 is disposed above the mold positioning seat 2 and is vertically connected to the frame 1. It is used to adsorb the contact lens 4 under negative pressure, so that it is detached from the positioning mold production seat 3.

[0034] The negative pressure adsorption component 5 includes:

[0035] A portal frame 51 is vertically mounted on the frame 1;

[0036] The vacuum adsorption assembly 52 is disposed on the gate-shaped bracket 51 and extends above the positioning die production seat 3.

[0037] The portal frame 51 includes two legs 511 and a crossbeam 512 connecting the two legs 511. The two legs 511 are electrically operated lifting rods used to drive the portal frame 51 to rise and fall. The two legs 511 are located on either side of the mold positioning seat 2 and are vertically mounted on the frame 1. The two legs 511 are implemented using electrically operated lifting rods, such as servo electric cylinders or electric push rods. The two electrically operated lifting rods are synchronously controlled by the same control unit to ensure that the portal frame 51 remains horizontal during the lifting process. The crossbeam 512 is fixedly connected to the top of the two legs 511 and rises and falls synchronously with the legs 511.

[0038] The vacuum adsorption assembly 52 includes a stabilizing plate 521, which is disposed on the portal frame 51. The vacuum adsorption assembly 52 is fixedly installed on the crossbeam 512 of the portal frame 51. Specifically, the vacuum adsorption assembly 52 includes a stabilizing plate 521, multiple adsorption heads 522, multiple vacuum connecting pipes 523, and multiple air pumps 524. The cavity of the positioning die production seat 3 is a concave arc surface that corresponds to the convex arc surface of the adsorption head 522. The stabilizing plate 521 is a rectangular flat plate, which is fixedly connected to the lower part of the crossbeam 512 by bolts, and its size is adapted to the size of the die positioning seat 2. Multiple mounting holes are opened on the stabilizing plate 521 in the same array pattern as the positioning die production seat 3 on the die positioning seat 2, and an adsorption head 522 is fixedly installed in each mounting hole. In this way, the position of each adsorption head 522 corresponds one-to-one with the positioning die production seat 3 below.

[0039] At least one suction head 522 is disposed on the stabilizing plate 521 and corresponds to the position of the positioning die production seat 3. The suction head 522 is the core component for achieving non-destructive demolding in this embodiment. The working surface of the suction head 522 is a convex arc surface, and multiple suction holes 5221 are densely arranged on the suction head 522. Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the working surface of the suction head 522 is designed as a convex arc surface. The radius of curvature of this arc surface matches the surface curvature of the contact lens 4 and the curvature of the concave cavity of the positioning mold production seat 3, ensuring that the suction head 522 can fully fit the contact lens 4. Multiple tiny suction holes 5221 are densely arranged on the arc working surface of the suction head 522. These suction holes 5221 are evenly distributed, allowing negative pressure to be applied evenly to the surface of the contact lens 4.

[0040] Each air pump 524 is connected to the internal cavity of its corresponding adsorption head 522 via a vacuum connection tube 523. When the air pump 524 operates, a negative pressure is generated inside the adsorption head 522, which adsorbs the contact lens 4 below through the adsorption hole 5221. This design, with an independent air pump corresponding to a single adsorption head, allows for independent control and pressure adjustment at each adsorption station, improving the system's flexibility and reliability.

[0041] The vacuum connecting tube 523 is connected at one end to the air pump 524 and at the other end to the adsorption head 522.

[0042] In the initial state, the gantry bracket 51 is in the upper position, and there is a sufficient safety distance between the suction head 522 and the positioning mold production seat 3. The cured contact lens 4 is placed in the cavity of the positioning mold production seat 3.

[0043] When demolding is required, the control unit issues a command to start all air pumps 524, creating a stable negative pressure inside the adsorption head 522. Subsequently, the control unit synchronously drives the two electric lifting rods, namely the support legs 511, to extend downwards, causing the gantry bracket 51 and the entire vacuum adsorption assembly 52 to descend smoothly.

[0044] When the suction head 522 descends until its arc-shaped working surface contacts the surface of the contact lens 4, the suction head 522 and the lens fit well due to the compatibility of their curvatures. At this time, the negative pressure at the suction hole 5221 firmly adheres the lens to the suction head 522. Because the suction force is evenly distributed across the entire lens surface, no localized stress concentration occurs, thus preventing damage to the lens.

[0045] After adsorption is complete, the control unit synchronously drives the two electric lifting rods to retract upwards, causing the gantry bracket 51 to rise. During the ascent, the adsorption head 522 overcomes the adhesive force between the lens and the concave mold production seat 3, smoothly removing the contact lens 4 from the positioning concave mold production seat 3. This completes one demolding cycle. Subsequently, a robotic arm or other transfer device can remove the lens from the adsorption head 522 and send it to the next process, while the empty positioning concave mold production seat 3 can continue to receive new molded lenses, entering the next cycle.

[0046] The above description is merely a few embodiments of this application and is not intended to limit this application in any way. Although this application discloses preferred embodiments as described above, it is not intended to limit this application. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the technical solution of this application using the disclosed technical content are equivalent to equivalent implementation cases and fall within the scope of the technical solution.

Claims

1. An automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens production, characterized in that, include: Rack (1); A mold positioning seat (2) is provided at the bottom of the frame (1), and the mold positioning seat (2) is provided with a positioning die production seat (3) for placing contact lenses (4). The negative pressure adsorption component (5) is located above the mold positioning seat (2) and is vertically connected to the frame (1) for negative pressure adsorption of the contact lens (4) so ​​that it is removed from the positioning mold production seat (3).

2. The automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The negative pressure adsorption component (5) includes: A portal frame (51) is vertically mounted on the frame (1); A vacuum adsorption assembly (52) is disposed on the portal frame (51) and extends above the positioning die production seat (3).

3. The automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens production according to claim 2, characterized in that, The portal frame (51) includes two legs (511) and a crossbeam (512) connecting the two legs (511). The two legs (511) are electric lifting rods, which are used to drive the portal frame (51) to lift.

4. The automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens production according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vacuum adsorption assembly (52) includes: A stabilizing plate (521) is mounted on the portal frame (51); At least one suction head (522) is disposed on the stabilizing plate (521) and corresponds to the position of the positioning die production seat (3); Air pump (524); The vacuum connecting tube (523) is connected at one end to the air pump (524) and at the other end to the adsorption head (522).

5. The automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens production according to claim 4, characterized in that, The working surface of the adsorption head (522) is a convex arc surface, and multiple adsorption holes (5221) are densely arranged on the adsorption head (522).

6. The automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens production according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cavity of the positioning die production seat (3) is an inner concave arc surface that is compatible with the convex arc surface of the adsorption head (522).

7. The automatic demolding mechanism for contact lens production according to claim 4, characterized in that, The vacuum adsorption assembly (52) includes a plurality of adsorption heads (522), which are arranged in an array on the stabilizing plate (521) and correspond one-to-one with a plurality of positioning die production seats (3) arranged in an array on the mold positioning seat (2).