# US 10,481,302 B2 · Apparatus for coating lenses including advanced drying techniques > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,302 B2 - Document ID: US10481302B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/791,328 - Filed: 2017-10-23 - Published: 2018-02-15 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-24 - Assignees: Jelight Company, Inc. - Applicants: Jelight Company, Inc. - Inventors: Andrew J. Mackinnon; Andrew James Garcia; Marinko Jelic; Dick Amen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481302B2 ## CPC - G02B 1/14: Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings - B05B 12/004: {comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm (B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00)} - B05B 12/04: for sequential operation or multiple outlets - B05B 16/20: Arrangements for spraying in combination with other operations, e.g. drying; Arrangements enabling a combination of spraying operations - B05B 16/90: {comprising conveying means for moving objects or other work to be sprayed in and out of the booth, e.g. through the booth} - B05D 3/067: {Curing or cross-linking the coating} - G02B 1/12: by surface treatment, e.g. by irradiation - B05D 2258/02: The objects being coated one after the other - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) ## Abstract A lens coating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a mechanical arm configured to receive and maintain lenses in a desired orientation, a loading station configured to receive and maintain the lenses within the enclosed area, and a combined washing and drying station including a spraying mechanism that directs an upward spray toward a bottom surface of the lens, and blowing devices configured to direct air toward the lens after the lens has been washed. The coating apparatus includes a coating station where liquid coating is sprayed toward the bottom surface of the lens and a curing station where the coated lens is exposed to the UV energy radiation. A programmable controller controls the mechanical arm to collect the lens from the loading station without operator intervention, and move along a linear track between the loading station and the combined washing and drying, coating and curing stations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 combined washing and drying station configured to wash 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, and a plurality of blowing devices configured to direct air toward the lens after the lens has been coated; and a programmable controller configured to control the mechanical arm to: move linearly and collect the lens from the loading station without operator handling of the lens; and move along a linear track between the loading station and the combined washing and drying station for a predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The coating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coating station, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to control the mechanical arm to move along the linear track between the coating station and the combined washing and drying station and expose the lens to the coating station for a coating procedure for a further amount of time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The coating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to move along the linear track between the loading station, the coating station, and the combined washing and drying station. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of blowing devices comprise at least one blowing station comprising an air filter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The coating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the loading station comprises a probe employed with the programmable controller to sense an attribute of the lens while positioned at the loading station within the enclosed area, wherein the attribute of the lens comprises at least one from the group consisting of lens position, lens curvature, and lens thickness. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The coating apparatus of claim 5, further wherein the probe is configured to operate with the programmable controller to determine a lowest point on the lens and maintain the lowest point on the lens at a desired height in the coating station, and the combined washing and drying station. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanical arm comprises a suction cup configured to maintain the lens. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanical arm comprises an element configured to spin the lens while providing the lens to the combined coating and drying station. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lens coating apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for washing the lens, wherein the means for controlling position of the optical lens is further configured to direct the receiving means along the linear track between the means for coating and the means for washing and drying. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lens coating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for controlling position of the optical lens is further configured to move along the linear track between the hands-free loading station, the means for coating, and the means for washing and drying. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lens coating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the hands-free loading station comprises a probe configured to enable sensing of an attribute of the optical lens while positioned at the hands-free loading station. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The lens coating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the optical lens comprises an ophthalmic lens. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The lens coating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for receiving comprises a suction cup configured to maintain the lens. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The lens coating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for receiving is configured to spin the optical lens while providing the optical lens to the means for washing and drying. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The lens coating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for washing and drying comprises an internal air filter. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The coating apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a washing station, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to control the mechanical arm to move along the linear track between the washing station and the coating and drying and curing station and expose the lens to the washing station for a washing procedure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The coating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to control the mechanical arm to collect the lens from the loading station and move along the linear track between the loading station, washing station, and the coating and curing station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The coating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of blower arrangements comprises at least one air filtering element.