System for preparing eyeglass lenses with a high volume curing unit

• US 6,758,663 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Inventors: Joel, Larry, Foreman, John T., Lattis, Matthew C., Lossman, Loren C., Powers, Galen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heckenberg, Donald
• Application Number:
  US09/788,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20030049344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 425/155, 425/174.4, 425/808, 425/DIG.108, 264/1.38
• US Class Current: 425/155
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0827 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0805 using electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00134 Curing of the contact lens material
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00432 Auxiliary operations, e.g. machines for filling the moulds B29D11/00125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0016 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/808 Lens mold

Abstract

A high volume lens curing system is described. The high volume lens curing system may be configured to cure multiple eyeglass lenses in a continuous manner. An embodiment of a system may include a lens curing apparatus, a mold assembly and a controller. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly through the lens curing units. The controller may include controller software operable to receive an eyeglass prescription, identify the first and second mold members that will produce an eyeglass lens having the eyeglass prescription and/or determine curing conditions.

Claims

1. A system for preparing an eyeglass lens, comprising:

a mold assembly, the mold assembly comprising a first and second mold member, wherein the first and second mold members at least partially define a mold cavity;

a lens curing apparatus, wherein the lens curing apparatus comprises;

a first lens curing unit wherein the first lens curing unit is configured to direct activating light toward a mold assembly during use;

a second lens curing unit, wherein the second lens curing unit is configured to direct activating light toward a mold assembly during use; and

a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly through the lens curing apparatus;

wherein the lens curing apparatus is configured to produce greater than about 25 eyeglass lenses per hour;

a mold filling apparatus, wherein the mold filling apparatus is configured to dispense a lens forming composition into the mold cavity of the mold assembly during use; and

a controller computer, wherein the controller computer comprises controller software executable on the controller computer, wherein the controller software is operable to;

receive an eyeglass prescription;

identify the first and second mold members that will produce an eyeglass lens having the eyeglass prescription; and

determine curing conditions based on the eyeglass prescription;

wherein the lens curing apparatus, the mold filling apparatus, and the controller computer are located proximate to each other.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mold assembly holder, the mold assembly holder comprising a body and an indentation formed in the body, wherein the indentation is complementary to the shape of the mold assembly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source, wherein the first activating light source is an ultraviolet light source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source, wherein the second activating light source is an ultraviolet light.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source, and wherein the first and second activating light sources are ultraviolet lights.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source, and wherein the first and second activating light sources have substantially the same spectral output.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source, and wherein the first and second activating light sources have a peak light intensity at a range of about 385 nm to about 490 nm.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source, and wherein the first activating light source comprises a first set of lamps and a second set of lamps, and wherein the first and second set of lamps are positioned on opposite sides of the lens curing unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and a filter disposed directly adjacent to the first activating light source;

the filter being configured to manipulate an intensity of the activating light emanating from the first activating light source.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source and a filter disposed directly adjacent to the second activating light source;

the filter being configured to manipulate an intensity of the activating light emanating from the second activating light source.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and a first filter disposed directly adjacent to the first activating light source;

the filter being configured to manipulate an intensity of the activating light emanating from the first activating light source and wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source and a second filter disposed directly adjacent to the second activating light source;

the filter being configured to manipulate an intensity of the activating light emanating from the second activating light source.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens curing unit further comprises an air distributor positioned within the second lens curing unit, the air distributor being configured to circulate air within the second lens curing unit during use.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises an anneal unit, the anneal unit comprising an anneal unit heating system, wherein the anneal unit heating system is configured to heat the interior of the anneal unit.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises an anneal unit, the anneal unit comprising an anneal unit heating system, wherein the anneal unit heating system is configured to heat the interior of the anneal unit, and wherein the anneal unit heating system is configured to heat the interior of the anneal unit to a temperature of up to about 250°

F.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises an anneal unit, the anneal unit comprising an anneal unit heating system, wherein the anneal unit heating system is configured to heat the interior of the anneal unit, and wherein the anneal unit further comprises an anneal unit conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly through the anneal unit.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises a programmable controller configured to substantially simultaneously control operation of the first lens curing unit and the second lens curing unit during use.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises a programmable controller configured to control operation of the first lens curing unit as a function of the eyeglass lens prescription.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source wherein the first activating light source comprises a fluorescent lamp and wherein the first activating light source further comprises a flasher ballast system coupled to the fluorescent lamp.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source, wherein the second activating light source comprises a fluorescent lamp and wherein the second activating light source further comprises a flasher ballast system coupled to the fluorescent lamp.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source, wherein the first activating light source comprises two or more lamps and wherein the lamps are independently operable.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor system comprises a continuous flexible member, wherein the flexible member is configured to interact with a mold assembly to convey the mold assembly through the lens curing apparatus.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor system comprises two discrete conveyors, wherein the first conveyor is configured to convey the mold assembly from the first lens curing unit to the second lens curing unit and wherein the second conveyor is configured to convey the mold assembly through the second lens curing unit.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor system comprises a flexible member configured to interact with a mold assembly and wherein the flexible member is coupled to a motor configured to move the flexible member through the conveyor system.

24. The system of claim 1, further comprising a coating apparatus for applying a coating to at least one of the mold members or the eyeglass lens during use.

25. A system for preparing an eyeglass lens, comprising:

a mold assembly, the mold assembly comprising a first and second mold member, wherein the first and second mold members at least partially define a mold cavity;

a lens curing apparatus wherein the lens curing apparatus comprises;

a first lens curing unit wherein the first lens curing unit is configured to direct activating light toward a mold assembly during use;

a second lens curing unit, wherein the second lens curing unit is configured to direct activating light toward a mold assembly during use; and

a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly through the lens curing apparatus; and

a controller computer, wherein the controller computer comprises controller software executable on the controller computer, wherein the controller software is operable to;

receive an eyeglass prescription;

identify the first and second mold members that will produce an eyeglass lens having the eyeglass prescription; and

determine curing conditions based on the eyeglass lens prescription.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a mold assembly holder, the mold assembly holder comprising a body and an indentation formed in the body, wherein the indentation is complementary to the shape of the mold assembly.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source, wherein the first activating light source is an ultraviolet light source.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the second lens curing apparatus comprises a second activating light source, wherein the second activating light source is an ultraviolet light.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source, wherein the first and second activating light sources are ultraviolet lights.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source, wherein the first and second activating light sources have substantially the same spectral output.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source, wherein the first and second activating light sources have a peak light intensity at a range of about 385 nm to about 490 nm.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source wherein the first activating light source comprises a first set of lamps and a second set of lamps and wherein the first and second set of lamps are positioned on opposite sides of the first lens curing unit.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and a filter disposed directly adjacent to the first activating light source;

the filter being configured to manipulate an intensity of the activating light emanating from the first activating light source.

34. The system of claim 25, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source and a filter disposed directly adjacent to the second activating light source;

the filter being configured to manipulate an intensity of the activating light emanating from the second activating light source.

35. The system of claim 25, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and a first filter disposed directly adjacent to the first activating light source;

the filter being configured to manipulate an intensity of the activating light emanating from the first activating light source and wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source and a second filter disposed directly adjacent to the second activating light source;

the second filter being configured to manipulate an intensity of the activating light emanating from the second activating light source.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein the second lens curing unit further comprises an air distributor positioned within the second lens curing unit, the air distributor being configured to circulate air within the second lens curing unit during use.

37. The system of claim 25, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises an anneal unit, the anneal unit comprising an anneal unit heating system, wherein the anneal unit heating system is configured to heat the interior of the anneal unit.

38. The system of claim 25, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises an anneal unit, the anneal unit comprising an anneal unit heating system, wherein the anneal unit heating system is configured to heat the interior of the anneal unit, and wherein the anneal unit heating system is configured to heat the interior of the anneal unit to a temperature of up to about 250°

F.

39. The system of claim 25, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises an anneal unit, the anneal unit comprising an anneal unit heating system, wherein the anneal unit heating system is configured to heat the interior of the anneal unit, and wherein the anneal unit further comprises an anneal unit conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly through the anneal unit.

40. The system of claim 25, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises a programmable controller, wherein the programmable controller is configured to substantially simultaneously control operation of the first lens curing unit and the second lens curing unit during use.

41. The system of claim 25, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises a programmable controller configured to control operation of first lens curing unit as a function of the eyeglass lens prescription during use.

42. The system of claim 25, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source, wherein the first activating light source comprises a fluorescent lamp, and wherein the first activating light source further comprises a flasher ballast system coupled to the fluorescent lamp.

43. The system of claim 25, wherein the second lens curing unit comprises a second activating light source, wherein the second activating light source comprises a fluorescent lamps and wherein the second activating light source further comprises a flasher ballast system coupled to the fluorescent lamp.

44. The system of claim 25, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source, wherein the first activating light source comprises two or more lamps and wherein the lamps are independently operable.

45. The system of claim 25, the conveyor system comprises a continuous flexible member, wherein the flexible member is configured to interact with a mold assembly to convey the mold assembly through the lens curing apparatus.

46. The system of claim 25, wherein the conveyor system comprises two discrete conveyors, wherein the first conveyor is configured to convey the mold assembly from the first curing unit to the second curing unit and wherein the second conveyor is configured to convey the mold assembly through the second curing unit.

47. The system of claim 25, wherein the conveyor system comprises a flexible member configured to interact with a mold assembly, and wherein the flexible member is coupled to a motor configured to move the flexible member through the conveyor system.

48. The system of claim 25, further comprising a coating apparatus for applying a coating to at least one of the mold members or the eyeglass lens during use.