LENS COATING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A lens coating system, comprising:
- a shaft assembly including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion reversibly engagable with the second portion;
at least one arm coupled to the first portion of the shaft assembly and extending outward therefrom;
a lens holder coupled to each arm of the at least one arm;
a rotating drive coupled to the second portion of the shaft assembly for rotating the at least one arm about an axis of the shaft assembly, when the first portion of the shaft assembly is engaged with the second portion of the shaft assembly, such that the lens holder travels along a pathway surrounding the shaft assembly;
a reciprocating drive coupled to the first portion of the shaft assembly, the reciprocating drive for moving the first portion of the shaft assembly away from the second portion of the shaft assembly, thereby disengaging the first portion from the second portion, and for subsequently moving the first portion back toward the second portion and into engagement with the second portion; and
a plurality of lens processing stations, each station including an opening, the openings located along the pathway;
wherein the rotating drive transfers each lens holder into proximity with each station, in turn, when the first portion of the shaft is engaged with the second portion of the shaft; and
the reciprocating drive transfers a lens held by each lens holder into and out from each station, in turn, through the opening of each station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shaft assembly of a lens coating system includes a first portion reversibly engagable with a second portion. A reciprocating drive disengages and subsequently re-engages the shaft first and second portions. A lens holder is coupled to an arm, which is coupled to the shaft first portion. Another drive, coupled to the shaft second portion, rotates the arm about an axis of the shaft assembly, when the first and second portions are engaged, such that the lens holder travels along a pathway surrounding the assembly. The system includes a plurality of stations, each station having an opening along the pathway, so that the rotating drive may transfer the lens holder into proximity with each station, when the shaft first and second portions are engaged, and the reciprocating drive may transfer a lens, held by the lens holder, into and out from each station through the opening thereof.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A lens coating system, comprising:
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a shaft assembly including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion reversibly engagable with the second portion; at least one arm coupled to the first portion of the shaft assembly and extending outward therefrom; a lens holder coupled to each arm of the at least one arm; a rotating drive coupled to the second portion of the shaft assembly for rotating the at least one arm about an axis of the shaft assembly, when the first portion of the shaft assembly is engaged with the second portion of the shaft assembly, such that the lens holder travels along a pathway surrounding the shaft assembly; a reciprocating drive coupled to the first portion of the shaft assembly, the reciprocating drive for moving the first portion of the shaft assembly away from the second portion of the shaft assembly, thereby disengaging the first portion from the second portion, and for subsequently moving the first portion back toward the second portion and into engagement with the second portion; and a plurality of lens processing stations, each station including an opening, the openings located along the pathway; wherein the rotating drive transfers each lens holder into proximity with each station, in turn, when the first portion of the shaft is engaged with the second portion of the shaft; and the reciprocating drive transfers a lens held by each lens holder into and out from each station, in turn, through the opening of each station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A lens handling assembly for a lens coating system, the assembly comprising:
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a shaft assembly including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion reversibly engagable with the second portion; at least one arm coupled to the first portion of the shaft assembly and extending outward therefrom; a lens holder coupled to each arm of the at least one arm; a rotating drive coupled to the second portion of the shaft assembly for rotating the at least one arm about an axis of the shaft assembly, when the first portion of the shaft assembly is engaged with the second portion of the shaft assembly, such that the lens holder travels along a pathway surrounding the shaft assembly; and a reciprocating drive coupled to the first portion of the shaft assembly, the reciprocating drive for moving the first portion of the shaft assembly away from the second portion of the shaft assembly, thereby disengaging the first portion from the second portion to transfer a lens held by each lens holder into a lens processing station of the lens coating system, and for subsequently moving the first portion back toward the second portion and into engagement with the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification