Apparatus for coating lenses including advanced drying techniques

A lens coating apparatus comprising an enclosed area, the lens coating apparatus comprising:

• means for washing and drying at least one side of an optical lens while oriented in a desired orientation by directing an upward spray from a spraying mechanism toward a bottom surface of the optical lens and directing airflow from a plurality of blowing devices toward the optical lens;
• means for receiving the optical lens and maintaining the optical lens in a desired orientation;
• means for controlling position of the optical lens by directing the means for receiving along a linear track to facilitate washing and drying the optical lens;
• and
• a hands-free loading station comprising a loading platform configured to receive the optical lens and maintain the optical lens within the enclosed area for collection by the means for receiving, wherein the means for controlling position is configured to control the means for receiving to move linearly and collect the optical lens from the hands-free loading station without operator handling of the optical lens.

A coating apparatus comprising an enclosed area, the coating apparatus comprising:

• a mechanical arm configured to receive and maintain a lens in a desired orientation;
• a loading station comprising a loading platform configured to receive the lens and maintain the lens within the enclosed area;
• a washing and drying station configured to wash and dry the lens while the lens is oriented in the desired orientation, wherein the washing and drying station comprises:
• a spraying mechanism that directs an upward spray toward a bottom surface of the lens;
• a plurality of blower arrangements configured to direct airflow toward the lens after the lens has been coated;
• a linear track configured to receive and guide the mechanical arm in a linear path;
• and
• a programmable controller configured to control the mechanical arm to:
• collect the lens from the loading station without operator handling of the lens;
• move along the linear track between the loading station and the washing and drying station;
• and
• expose the lens to the coating and curing station for a coating procedure and a curing procedure.