Method for manufacturing lenses
First Claim
1. A method for tinting plastic lens comprising:
- (a) arrange a first mold form for receiving molding material;
(b) delivering plastic molding material to said first mold form;
(c) inserting a tinted wafer of solidified plastic material capable of intermolecular bonding with said plastic molding material into said first mold form in contiguous relationship with said plastic molding material;
(d) fixing a second mold form in sealed relationship with said first mold form to form a mold having a cavity between said wafer and said second mold form;
(e) inserting additional plastic molding material into said mold cavity;
(f) said mold forms configured to form a lens of preselected shape;
(g) subjecting said mold to oven curing process to solidify the plastic molding material and to cause intermolecular bonding between the molding material and the wafer; and
(h) removing said molded material from said mold with said wafer in the form of a lens.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing lenses including the use of a wafer in conjunction with liquid monomer to provide a molded plastic lens. In the molding process, a first mold form is sealingly secured to a gasket to form a part of a mold for receiving liquid monomer. The liquid monomer is poured into the first mold form and the wafer material which can be tinted or have a different index of refraction is then placed in contiguous relationship with the liquid monomer. A second mold form is then secured into the gasket in sealing relationship therewith and spaced from the wafer to form a cavity therebetween. Liquid monomer is then introduced into the cavity to fill all the voids. The mold with the material to be molded is then placed in the oven and cured. After the curing process is completed, the mold is removed and the formed lens extracted. An alternative includes the use of a mold form which is of the same material as the monomer such that it ultimately forms part of the lens. In this instance, the mold form is consumed during the molding process as it becomes bonded by intermolecular action with the liquid monomer.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for tinting plastic lens comprising:
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(a) arrange a first mold form for receiving molding material; (b) delivering plastic molding material to said first mold form; (c) inserting a tinted wafer of solidified plastic material capable of intermolecular bonding with said plastic molding material into said first mold form in contiguous relationship with said plastic molding material; (d) fixing a second mold form in sealed relationship with said first mold form to form a mold having a cavity between said wafer and said second mold form; (e) inserting additional plastic molding material into said mold cavity; (f) said mold forms configured to form a lens of preselected shape; (g) subjecting said mold to oven curing process to solidify the plastic molding material and to cause intermolecular bonding between the molding material and the wafer; and (h) removing said molded material from said mold with said wafer in the form of a lens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for manufacturing tinted plastic lenses comprising:
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(a) tinting a plastic preform by dipping the preform into a bath of dye having the desired color; (b) said tinted preform configured to be a first preform of a mold for lenses; (c) fixing a second mold form with respect to said first preform in sealed relationship therewith to form a cavity therebetween; (d) introducing into said cavity plastic molding material capable of intermolecular bonding with said first plastic preform; (e) subjecting said mold to an oven curing process to solidify the moldable plastic material and to cause intermolecular bonding between the plastic material and said first preform; and (f) removing from the mold the preform bonded to the molding material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for manufacturing multifocal lens comprising:
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(a) arranging a first mold form for receiving the plastic molding material; (b) delivering plastic molding material to said first mold form; (c) inserting a wafer having a different index of refraction into said first mold portion in contiguous relationship with said plastic molding material; (d) closing said mold with a second mold form to form a cavity between said second mold form and said wafer; (e) inserting additional plastic molding material into said cavity; (f) subjecting said mold to oven curing process solidifying said plastic molding material and to cause intermolecular bonding between the molding material and said wafer; and (g) removing said molding material from said mold. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for making multifocal lens comprising:
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(a) forming a first plastic preform having at least a portion with a power different than the remainder of the plastic preform and configured to be part of the lens for use in eyeglasses; (b) fixing a second mold form in sealed relationship with said first preform to form a cavity therebetween; (c) introducing into said cavity plastic molding material; (d) subjecting said mold to an oven curing process to solidify the plastic molding material and to cause intermolecular bonding between the molding material and said first preform. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification