Apparatus for preparing an eyeglass lens having a heating system

• US 7,004,740 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Inventors: Foreman, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heckenberg, Donald
• Application Number:
  US09/789,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20020168440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 425/135, 425/174.4, 425/808, 425/DIG.108, 264/1.38
• US Class Current: 425/135
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0827 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2037/903 by means of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0038 with sealing means or the like seals on envelopes used in tyre retreading B29D30/542; for injection moulding footwear B29D35/0045
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0077 characterised by the configuration of the mould filling gate mixing chambers situated in the mould opening B29B7/7471; accessories for connecting the mould filling gate with the filling spout
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/30 Mounting, exchanging or centering moulds, mould parts or cores; B29C33/485 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/34 movable, e.g. to or from the moulding station
• 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 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: 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 include ones or more lens curing units, a mold assembly and mold assembly holders. At least one lens curing unit may include a heating system.

Claims

1. A method for handling a log repair action in a logically partitioned (LPAR) multiprocessing system, the LPAR multiprocessing system including a plurality of partitions and the log repair action being responsive to globally reported errors, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) recording the log repair on one of the plurality of partitions;

(b) sending the recording of the log repair action to a single log repair action source, the recording including the log action and a partition identifier of the one of the plurality of partitions; and

(c) sending the log repair action to each of the other of the plurality of partitions from the single log repair action source.

2. The method of claim 1 which further comprises the step of:

(d) recording the log repair by the other of the plurality of partitions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the log repair action is recorded in an error log within each of the other of the plurality of partitions.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, 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, 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 activity light emanating from the second activating light source.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air distributor positioned within the second curing unit, the air distributor being configured to circulate air within the second 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 curing unit and the second curing unit during use.

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

18. The apparatus of claim 1, 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 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 activating light source comprises two or more lamps, and wherein the lamps are independently operable.

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

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly from the first lens curing unit into and through the second lens curing unit, and 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, further comprising a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly from the first lens curing unit into and through the second lens curing unit, and 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.

4. A system for handling a log repair action in a logically partitioned (LPAR) multiprocessing system, the LPAR multiprocessing system including a plurality of partitions and the log repair action being responsive to globally reported errors, the system comprising:

a service action event (SAE) lor for receiving and filtering a plurality of related globally reported errors for a plurality of partitions in the multiprocessing system, wherein the SAE log saves only a first occurrene of the plurality of globally reported errors, wherein the log repair action is recorded on of the plurality of partitions, and wherein the SAE log provides the log repair action to each of the other of the plurality of partitions; and

an error log within each of the partitions for receiving the log repair action from the SAE log and for recording the log repair action therewith.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the SAE log further comprises:

means for receiving the plurality of related globally reported errors from the LPAR multiprocessing system;

means for saving a first occurrence of the plurality of related globally reported errors; and

means for sending the first occurrence to a service agent.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the SAE log further comprises:

means for saving an identification of each portion that has reported a failure.

7. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for handling a log repair action in a logically partitioned (LPAR) multiprocessing system, the LPAR multiprocessing system including a plurality of partitions and the log repair action being responsive to globally reported errors, the program instructions for:

(a) recording the log repair action on one of the plurality of partitions;

(b) sending the recording of the log repair action to a single log repair action source, the recording incuding the log repair action and a partition identifier of one of the plurality of partitions; and

(c) sending the log repair action to each of the other of the plurality of partitions from the single log repair action source.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 which further comprises the step of:

(d) recording the log repair action by the other of the plurality of partitions.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein the log repair action is recorded in an error log within each of the other of the plurality of partitions.

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

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

a second lens curing unit comprising a second activating light source and heating system, wherein the second activating light source is configured to direct activating light toward a mold assembly during use, and wherein the heating system is configured to heat the interior of the second lens curing unit;

wherein the first and second lens curing units are coupled together.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, 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 substantially complementary to the shape of the mold assembly.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first activating light source is an ultraviolet light source.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the second activating light source is an ultraviolet light.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first and second activating light sources are ultraviolet lights.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first and second activating light sources have substantially the same spectral output.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first and second activating light sources have a peak light intensity at a range of about 385 nm to about 490 nm.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, 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 oppoisite sides of the first curing unit.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, 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.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, 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.

34. The apparatus of claim 24, 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 substantially 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 apparatus of claim 24, further comprising an air distributor positioned within the second curing unit, the air distributor being configured to circulate air within the second curing unit during use.

36. The apparatus of claim 24, 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.

37. The apparatus of claim 24, 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.

38. The apparatus of claim 24, 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 futher comprises an anneal unit conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly through the anneal unit.

39. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a programmable controller configured to substantially simultaneously control operation of the first curing unit and the second curing unit during use.

40. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a programmable controller configured to control operation of the first curing unit as a function of the eyeglass lens prescription.

41. The apparatus of claim 24, wheein 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.

42. The apparatus of claim 24, 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.

43. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first activating light source comprises two or more lamps, and wherein the lamps are independently operable.

44. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly from the first lens curing unit into and through the second lens curing unit, and wherein the conveyor system comprises a continuous flexible member extending from the first curing unit through the second curing unit, wherein the flexible member is configured to interact with a mold assembly to convey the mold asembly through the first curing unit, to the second curing unit, and through the second curing unit.

45. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly from the first lens curing unit into and through the second lens curing unit, and 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.

46. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly from the first lens curing unit into and through the second lens curing unit, and 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 coneyor system.