Ophthalmic Lens Treatment Container With Segmented Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmic lens treatment processes face inefficiencies in accommodating and treating contact lenses in liquid baths, particularly in ensuring consistent immersion and exposure to treatment liquids with varying levels and during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A container design comprising separate elements such as a containment element, mounting element, and retaining element, with features like convex apertures, tapering flow openings, and flexible fins, allowing for secure immersion, stacking, and continuous liquid exchange, enabling flexible and efficient treatment processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If containers are arranged in a transport carrier to immerse contact lenses in treatment baths, then the contact lenses can be treated with treatment liquids, but the efficiency of the treatment process is insufficient and production capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into three separate elements: a containment element (tubular body with bottom) that holds the contact lens, a mounting element (leg portion with flow openings) that enables stacking and liquid flow, and a retaining element (retainer ring with flexible retaining member) that secures the lens. These separate elements can be assembled independently, allowing for optimized manufacturing of each component while maintaining overall functionality for efficient lens treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables stacking of containers where the mounting element of one container receives and holds another container within it. This nested arrangement allows multiple contact lenses to be treated simultaneously in a compact configuration, increasing production capacity without requiring proportionally more treatment bath space or complexity
2Reliability
If the bottom of the container protrudes convexly to hold the contact lens, then the lens can be retained during treatment, but liquid flow into and out of the container may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom is designed with a specific local quality: it protrudes convexly into the containment element to provide lens retention, but simultaneously incorporates apertures (openings) through it to maintain liquid flow. This localized differentiation allows the bottom to fulfill dual functions - mechanical retention of the lens while permitting treatment liquid to reach and circulate around the lens effectively
3Productivity
If flow openings are arranged between the legs of the leg portion to allow stacking, then containers can be stacked for increased capacity, but the structural integrity and lens containment may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The leg portion is segmented into four separate legs with flow openings arranged between them. This segmentation provides multiple benefits: the flow openings enable liquid circulation when containers are stacked, while the four-leg structure maintains structural integrity to support the weight of stacked containers and securely hold the containment element without compromising strength
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting element (leg portion) serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for stacking containers, enables liquid flow through its flow openings, and holds the containment element in proper position. This multi-functionality increases production capacity through stacking while maintaining both structural integrity and treatment effectiveness
4Reliability
If a retainer ring clamps the retaining element against the inner sidewall to prevent lens washout, then the lens is securely retained, but access for insertion and removal of the lens becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member is designed to be flexible rather than rigid. It can dynamically adjust its position: clamping against the inner sidewall of the mounting element to secure the lens during treatment, while allowing the gripper to pass through the leg portion and access opening to insert or remove the lens. The flexibility enables this dynamic behavior, providing both secure retention and ease of operation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process, has a longitudinal axis (11) and comprises as separate elements a containment element (2), a mounting element (3), and a retaining element (4). The containment element (2) comprises a tubular section (21) and a bottom (22) arranged at a distal end of the tubular section (21), the bottom (22) protruding convexly towards the outside at the distal end of the tubular section (21) and being provided with a number of apertures (23, 24), the tubular section (21) at a proximal end (25) thereof having a latch (26) protruding from the proximal end (25) of the tubular section (21) towards the mounting element (3). The mounting element (3) comprises a sidewall (31) extending along the longitudinal axis (11) of the container (1), the sidewall (31) being provided with recesses or orifices (32) which are in engagement with the latch (26) of the containment element (2). The mounting element (3) further comprises an access opening (37) arranged at a proximal end of the mounting element (3) remote from the containment element (2). The retaining element (4) is fixedly arranged in between the containment element (2) and the mounting element (3), the retaining element (4) being configured to prevent the ophthalmic lens from being washed out of the containment element (2) and to permit access for a gripper through the access opening (37) of the mounting element (3) into the containment element (2) for insertion and removal of the ophthalmic lens.