Asymmetric bladder compression for elimination of lamination defects on progressive addition lenses
AssigneeEssilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
InventorsHaifeng Shan, Peiqi Jiang, Steven Weber
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for elimination of lamination defects on progressive addition lenses. The lamination method uses a flexible bladder designed to apply pressure evenly across the lens surface. A spacer is positioned between a Hard Multi-Coat carrier and the flexible bladder. The spacer is located in a region of the carrier which is designated to deliver a coating to a section of the lens which is farthest from the carrier. The spacer asymmetrically increases the pressure applied to the carrier to eliminate lamination defects.
Claims20
A method for laminating a coating from a Hard Multi-Coat (HMC) carrier on to a multifocal lens comprising the steps of:
- providing a spacer with predetermined dimensions and configuration;
- positioning the spacer between the HMC carrier and a pressurized laminating device such that the spacer is located in a region of the carrier which is designated to deliver a coating to a section of the lens which is farthest from the carrier;
- and
- laminating the coating on to the lens whereby the spacer asymmetrically increases the pressure to eliminate lamination defects.
An apparatus for laminating a coating from a Hard Multi-Coat (HMC) carrier on to a multifocal lens comprising:
- a lamination station having a fixed platform to support a carrier, a coating and a multifocal lens and a flexible membrane sealed along its periphery to form a closed chamber which can be pressurized to expand said flexible membrane toward said fixed platform;
- a gas source for selectively pressurizing said closed chamber so that said flexible membrane applies variable levels of pressure within a carrier stress limit to laminate the coating on to the lens, wherein the membrane applies pressure which is radially symmetric with respect to the carrier;
- and
- a dimensioned spacer disposed between said flexible membrane and said carrier to asymmetrically increase the pressure applied to said carrier to eliminate lamination defects without damaging the carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.