Apparatus for preparing multiple eyeglass lenses

• US 6,840,752 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Inventors: Foreman, John T., Lattis, Matthew C., Powers, Galen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heckenberg, Donald
• Application Number:
  US09/789,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20030042636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 425/155, 425/174.4, 425/808, 425/DIG.108, 264/1.38
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0827 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0833 using actinic light
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2071/022 Annealing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/001 Shaping in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 31/006 Handling moulds, e.g. between a mould store and a moulding machine movable moulds B29C33/34; for injection moulding B29C45/1756
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/02 Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mouldcold vulcanisation B29C35/18 ; vulcanising tyres, presses therefor B29D30/0601
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0288 Controlling heating or curing of polymers during moulding, e.g. by measuring temperatures or properties of the polymer and regulating the process controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physico- chemical processes in general B01J19/0006
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0805 using electromagnetic radiation
• 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 the lens curing system includes an apparatus for preparing an eyeglass lens. The apparatus may prepare greater than about 25 eyeglasses lenses per hour.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing an eyeglass lens, comprising:

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 first lens curing unit to and through the second lens curing unit;

wherein the apparatus is configured to produce greater than about 25 eyeglass lenses per hour.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly resides on 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 apparatus 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 apparatus 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, wherein the second activating light source is an ultraviolet light.

5. The apparatus 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 apparatus 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 apparatus 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 apparatus 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, wherein the first and second set of lamps are positioned on opposite sides of the first lens curing unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and a second activating light source, and further comprising 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 apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and a second activating light source, and further comprising 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 apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lens curing unit comprises a first activating light source and a second activating light source, further comprising 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 further comprising 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 apparatus of claim 1, further comprising 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 apparatus of claim 1, further comprising 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 apparatus of claim 1, further comprising 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 apparatus of claim 1, further comprising 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 apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a programmable controller configured to substantially simultaneously control operation of the first and second lens curing units during use.

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

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

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

22. The apparatus 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 curing unit to the second curing unit, and wherein the second conveyor is configured to convey the mold assembly through the second curing unit.

23. The apparatus 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.