System for preparing eyeglass lenses with bar code reader

• US 7,139,636 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kasenge, Charles
• Application Number:
  US09/789,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20050077639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,100 Days
• Field of Search: 700/197, 700/198, 700/116, 700/117, 700/266, 264/2.5, 264/1.38, 425/150, 425/162, 425/169, 425/808
• US Class Current: 700/198
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00 Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms grinding or polishing of optical elements B24B; constructional form of optical elements G02B; optical parts of spectacles G02C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/808 Lens mold

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 system for preparing an eyeglass lens, comprising:

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 a first mold member and a second mold member of a mold assembly that will produce an eyeglass lens having the eyeglass prescription;

determine curing conditions;

a job ticket printing device, wherein the job ticket printing device is coupled to the controller computer, and wherein the job ticket printing device is configured to receive prescription information from the controller computer and print a job ticket having the prescription information;

a lens curing apparatus configured to direct activating light toward the mold assembly during use;

wherein the lens curing apparatus comprises;

a heating system configured to heat at least a portion of the interior of the lens curing apparatus during use;

a controller computer; and

a reader, the reader being configured to read information from a job ticket and transfer the information to the controller computer,

wherein the controller computer is configured to determine curing conditions for producing the eyeglass prescription and control the lens curing apparatus to produce the curing conditions.

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 lens curing apparatus 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 lens curing apparatus comprises a first activating light source and a second activating light source, wherein the second activating light source is an ultraviolet light.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus comprises a first activating light source and 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 lens curing apparatus comprises a first activating light source and 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 lens curing apparatus comprises a first activating light source and 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 lens curing apparatus comprises a first activating light source and a second 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 lens curing apparatus.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus 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 system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus 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 system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus comprises a first activating light source and a second activating light source, and 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 system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises an air distributor positioned within the lens curing apparatus, the air distributor being configured to circulate air within the lens curing apparatus 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 lens curing apparatus during use.

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

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus comprises a first activating light source and a second 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 system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus comprises a first activating light source and 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 system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus comprises a first activating light source and a second activating light source, and 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 lens curing apparatus further comprises a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly through the lens curing apparatus, and 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 a 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.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises a conveyor system configured to convey the mold assembly through the lens curing apparatus, and 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 assemblies through the second lens curing unit.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens curing apparatus further comprises a 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.

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.