Method of entering prescription information

• US 7,025,910 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
• Inventors: Lattis, Matthew C., Powers, Galen R., Lossman, Loren C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vargot, Mathieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/789,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 264/1.36, 264/1.38, 264/2.5, 264/40.1, 264/40.4, 264/40.6, 264/40.7, 425/808, 425/174.4
• US Class Current: 264/1.38
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0827 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2037/903 by means of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0277 Apparatus with continuous transport of the material to be cured B29C35/025, B29C35/06, B29C35/10, B29C35/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0888 using transparant moulds
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/0032 the coating being applied upon the mould surface before introducing the moulding compound, e.g. applying a gelcoat B29C44/14 and B29C44/32 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/003 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/025 for making multilayered articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/04 using movable moulds B29C41/02 takes precedencenot applied
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/38 Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/44 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00442 Curing the lens material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0016 Lenses

Abstract

A high volume lens curing system is described. The high volume lens curing system is configured to cure multiple eyeglass lenses in a continuous manner.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling formation of an eyeglass lens, the method comprising:

receiving prescription information, wherein a portion of the prescription information defines an eyeglass prescription;

verifying that the eyeglass prescription can be formed in a lens curing apparatus the lens curing apparatus comprising a first lens curing unit comprising an activating light source, wherein the first lens curing unit is configured to produce activating light directed toward a mold assembly during use;

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

a conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system is configured to convey a mold assembly through the first lens curing unit into and through the second lens curing unit during use;

displaying a warning message if the eyeglass prescription can not be formed in the lens curing apparatus;

determining a front mold identification marking, a back mold identification marking, and a gasket identification marking of an appropriate front mold, back mold and gasket for producing the eyeglass lens in response to the prescription information, if the eyeglass prescription can be formed in the lens curing apparatus;

determining curing conditions for the eyeglass lens in response to a portion of the prescription information;

controlling the lens curing apparatus in response to the eyeglass prescription information, wherein controlling the lens curing apparatus comprises controlling an activating light source; and

wherein the front mold, the back mold and the gasket together are operable to produce a mold cavity, the mold cavity being configured to hold a lens forming composition which is curable by exposure to activating light to produce the eyeglass lens in response to the prescription information, the front mold member comprising the front mold identification marking, the back mold member comprising the back mold identification marking, and the gasket member comprising the gasket identification marking, and wherein the front mold, back mold and gasket form a mold assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a job ticket with prescription information, wherein the prescription information is entered into a job ticket printing device from an input device, wherein the input device is operable by a user to enter prescription information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription information comprises a sphere power, a cylinder power, and a lens location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription information further comprises a monomer type and a lens type.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription information comprises a sphere power, a cylinder power, an add power and a lens location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the eyeglass lens comprises a spheric single vision lens or an aspheric single vision lens, and wherein the prescription information comprises the sphere and cylinder of the eyeglass lens to be produced.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of eyeglass lenses comprise one or more flattop bifocal lenses or one or more asymmetrical progressive lenses, and wherein the prescription information comprises the sphere, cylinder, axis, and add power of the eyeglass lens to be produced.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the lens curing apparatus comprises controlling the conveyor system configured to convey one or more molds through the lens curing apparatus.

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

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

11. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the lens curing apparatus comprises controlling the conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly through the lens curing apparatus, 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.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining curing conditions for a plurality of eyeglass lenses in response to analyzing the prescription information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the prescription information comprises reading the prescription information from a barcode.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating light source is an ultraviolet source.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein lens curing apparatus comprises a plurality of light sources, and wherein one or more of the plurality of light sources are above the mold members and one or more of the plurality of light sources are below the mold members, and wherein controlling the lens curing apparatus comprises controlling the directing of activating light from the plurality of light sources toward at least one of the mold member.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the lens curing apparatus comprises monitoring a does of activating light transmitted to the lens forming composition;

and varying the intensity or duration of the activating light transmitted to the lens forming composition such that a predetermined dose is transmitted to the lens forming composition.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the lens curing apparatus comprises controlling activating light directed toward the lens forming composition, wherein the directing of the activating light toward the lens forming composition in the lens curing apparatus is effective to cure at least a portion of the lens forming composition into the eyeglass lens.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription information comprises a sphere power, a cylinder power, and a lens location, and further comprising correlating the sphere power, the cylinder power and the lens location to a record in an information database.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein verifying that one or more of the eyeglass prescription can be formed comprises comparing the received prescription information to an information database.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein curing conditions comprise applying activating light to the mold assembly, and applying activating light and heat to the mold assembly.