Carrier for the simultaneous measurement of a plurality of sealing parameters in a primary packaging line for ophthalmic lenses

A carrier (1) for the simultaneous measurement of the sealing temperature, the sealing time and the sealing force of a sealing plate of a primary packaging line for packaging ophthalmic lenses, the carrier comprising:

• a temperature sensing plate (2), a force sensing plate (3), and a supporting plate (4), wherein the temperature sensing plate (2), the force sensing plate (3) and the supporting plate (4) are arranged one above the other in a stack, with the temperature sensing plate (2) being arranged atop the force sensing plate (3), and with the force sensing plate (3) being arranged atop the supporting plate (4);
• wherein the temperature sensing plate (2) comprises a temperature sensing plate upper surface (20), a temperature sensing plate lower surface (21), a resilient compressible temperature sensor (23) mounted to the temperature sensing plate so as to centrally protrude above the temperature sensing plate upper surface (20) in an uncompressed state as well as to be compressible in a direction towards the temperature sensing plate lower surface (21), and a central hub (22) protruding downwardly below the temperature sensing plate lower surface (21);
• wherein the force sensing plate (3) comprises first and second force sensing plate end portions (31, 32), the first and second force sensing plate end portions (31, 32) each having an upper surface (310, 320) and a lower surface (311, 321), the force sensing plate (3) having an overall plate thickness (34), a flexure beam (33) having a flexure beam upper surface (330) and a flexure beam lower surface (331) as well as a beam thickness (332) which is less than the overall plate thickness (34), wherein the flexure beam (33) is arranged to connect the first and second force sensing plate end portions (31, 32), with the flexure beam upper surface (330) and the upper surfaces (310, 320) of the first and second force sensing plate end portions (31, 32) together forming a force sensing plate upper surface (30), and a flex sensor (35) for measuring the amount of flexure of the flexure beam (33) in response to a force acting on the flexure beam (33);
• wherein the supporting plate (4) comprises a supporting plate upper surface (40);
• and a supporting plate lower surface;
• wherein the temperature sensing plate (2) is arranged atop the force sensing plate (3) with only the central hub (22) of the temperature sensing plate (2) being in physical contact with the flexure beam upper surface (30) whereas a gap (26) is formed between the temperature sensing plate lower surface (21) and the force sensing plate upper surface (30);
• and wherein the force sensing plate (3) is arranged atop the supporting plate (4) with only the lower surface (310, 320) of the first and second force sensing plate end portions (31, 32) being in physical contact with the supporting plate upper surface (40) while a space (333) is formed between the flexure beam lower surface (331) and the supporting plate upper surface (40) to allow the flexure beam (33) to flex in response to a downward force (64) applied to the temperature sensing plate (6) and transmitted to the force sensing plate (2) through the central hub (22) of the temperature sensing plate (2).