Method for marking a plastic eyeglass lens using a mold assembly holder

• US 6,723,260 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Inventors: Foreman, John T., Powers, Galen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heckenberg, Donald
• Application Number:
  US09/539,296
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 264/1.36, 264/1.38, 425/808, 249/103, 249/104
• US Class Current: 264/1.36
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/24 Feeding the material into the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/38 Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/44 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00413 made by moulding between two mould parts which are not in direct contact with one another, e.g. comprising a seal between or on the edges B29D11/00019 - B29D11/00355, B29D11/00423, B29D11/00432 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00442 Curing the lens material
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00528 Consisting of two mould halves joined by an annular gasket
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2988 for protecting the lamp against abnormal operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/808 Lens mold

Abstract

A mold assembly holder is described that will facilitate the positioning and the conveyance of mold assemblies. The mold assembly holder includes at least one, preferably two, portions configured to hold a mold assembly. In one embodiment, the portions are indentations machined into a plastic or metal block that is configured to hold a standard mold assembly. The mold assembly may be placed in the indentation.

Claims

1. A method for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:

placing a liquid lens forming composition in a mold cavity of a mold assembly, wherein the mold assembly comprises a front mold member and a back mold member, the lens forming composition comprising a monomer composition and a photoinitiator;

placing the mold assembly in a mold assembly holder, the mold assembly holder comprising;

a body, wherein the body is configured to allow activating light to reach the mold assembly;

an indentation formed in the body, wherein the indentation is complementary to the shape of the mold assembly;

placing the mold assembly holder on a conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system transports the mold assembly from a first lens curing unit to a second lens curing unit;

directing activating light toward at least one of the mold members in the first lens curing unit to initiate curing of the lens forming composition; and

directing activating light and heat toward at least one of the mold members in the second lens curing unit subsequent to initiating curing of the lens to form the eyeglass lens.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indentation defines an opening, and wherein the opening is positioned such that activating light passes through the opening and onto the mold assembly during use.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the opening is substantially centered within the indentation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a diameter of the opening is less than the diameter of a mold of the mold assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising additional indentations for holding a mold or a gasket of the mold assembly.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a ridge disposed on a bottom surface of the mold assembly holder, wherein the ridge is configured to interact with a conveyor system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising an additional indentation for holding an additional mold assembly, wherein the additional indentation has a shape that is complementary with the additional mold assembly.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the mold assembly holder is configured to hold a job ticket.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the indentation extends into the body to a depth such that an upper surface of the mold assembly is positioned at or below the upper surface of the body.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein curing of the lens forming composition is initiated by directing activating light toward at least one of the mold members for less than 100 seconds.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein treating the lens forming composition with activating light and heat comprises directing activating light toward at least one of the mold members and applying heat to both mold members.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying heat to the lens in the absence of activating light, subsequent to directing activating light and heat toward at least one of the mold members.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the lens forming composition prior to placing the lens forming composition in a mold cavity.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly holder is a tray.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly holder is a portable tray.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly holder is reusable.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly holder comprises indicia to identify one or more elements of the mold assembly.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly holder comprises indicia to identify properties of the lens being formed by the mold assembly.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly holder further comprises a second indentation and a third indentation formed in the body, wherein the second and third indentations are complementary to the shape of a mold member.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly holder further comprises at least five additional indentations formed in the body, wherein at least four of the additional indentations are complementary to the shape of a mold member, and wherein at least one of the additional mold members is complementary to the shape of a mold assembly, and wherein the mold assembly holder is configured to simultaneously hold at least two mold assemblies and at least four mold members.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the conveyor system transports the mold system through the second lens curing unit.