Machine and method for disassembling a lens mold assembly

A machine for disassembling a lens mold assembly comprising a first mold part, a second mold part, and a molded-lens sandwiched between the first mold part and the second mold part, the machine comprising:

• a centering unit having at least two pusher members movable relative to each other along a centering-movement plane to converge towards a pre-determined position in the centering-movement plane for pushing the lens mold assembly laterally and aligning the lens mold assembly to the pre-determined position;
• a disassembling module comprising
• a mold engagement mechanism having a first engagement member and a second engagement member movable towards each other to provide a first clamping action along a first clamping-axis perpendicular to the centering-movement plane for respectively engaging the first and second mold parts such that the first and second engagement members clamp the lens mold assembly, wherein the first and second engagement members are further movable in a synchronous manner along a movement direction parallel to the first clamping-axis for moving the lens mold assembly held by the first and second engagement members, and
• a molded-lens holder mechanism having at least two clamping members movable towards each other to provide a second clamping action along a second clamping-axis parallel to the centering-movement plane for urging against respective opposite side surface segments of the molded-lens such that the at least two clamping members clamp the molded-lens;
• an alignment guidance module having a sensor to detect relative positions, along the movement direction, between the molded-lens of the lens mold assembly held by the first and second engagement members and the second clamping-axis of the at least two clamping members;
• and
• a processor configured to control synchronous movement of the first and second engagement members of the mold engagement mechanism along the movement direction for aligning the molded-lens of the lens mold assembly with the second clamping-axis of the molded-lens holder mechanism such that the at least two clamping members of the molded-lens holder mechanism are capable of clamping the molded-lens,
• wherein the first and second engagement members of the mold engagement mechanism are configured to individually hold the first and second mold parts and are further movable away from each other in opposite directions to separate the first and second mold parts from the molded-lens held by the at least two clamping members of the molded-lens holder mechanism.