Apparatus for vapor deposition of a coating on optical articles
AssigneeBnl Eurolens
InventorVicente ESTEVEZ RODRIGUEZ
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Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus for the vapor deposition of a coating on optical articles, comprising a distribution mask (32) for controlling the vapor deposition of a coating on optical articles that is positioned in the path of some of the molecules emitted by said emitting source in the direction of the rotatable support for optical articles. The distribution mask (32) is fitted with at least one arm (34) positioned so as to mask at least one partial zone (16) of an individual housing (28) on a portion of the revolution turn, this masked partial zone (16) comprising the center of the individual housing (28).
Claims20
-16. (canceled)
An installation for vapor deposition of a coating on optical articles, comprising:
- a source emitting molecules of a material to be deposited on the optical articles during use, the molecules being emitted according to an evaporation cone;
- a rotary support of optical articles comprising individual receptacles intended to receive the optical articles and performing revolutions while the rotary support is rotating during use;
- and
- a distribution mask arranged on the path of a portion of the molecules emitted by said emitting source toward the rotary support of optical articles during use,
- wherein the distribution mask is formed with at least one arm arranged so as to mask a partial zone of an individual receptacle over a part of the revolution during use, this masked partial zone including the center of the individual receptacle.
The installation of claim 1, wherein the individual receptacles of optical articles are arranged in concentric tracks and the at least one arm is arranged so as to be centered facing the concentric track.
The installation of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm is curved, extending along an associated track.
The installation of claim 3, wherein the width of the arm at right angles to the associated track is configured so that the projected print of the arm on the optical articles of the associated track has a width at right angles to the associated track which is less than the width of the optical articles when the latter are borne by the rotary support such that, during use, said arm prevents the deposition of molecules in a central portion of the optical articles and allows the deposition of molecules in two lateral portions of the optical articles arranged on either side relative to the associated track.
The installation of claim 4, wherein the width (LB) of the arm extends in a direction at right angles to the track and is less than the width (LA) of the optical articles intended to be borne by the rotary support.
The installation of claim 1, wherein the mask comprises an arm for each track of the rotary support.
The installation of claim 4, wherein the width (LB) at right angles to the associated track of the projected print of the arm on the optical articles of the associated track lies between 60% and 95% of the width of the optical articles borne by the rotary support.
The installation of claim 3, wherein each arm has a rounded end.
The installation of claim 8, wherein the radius of curvature of the rounded ends corresponds to the radius of curvature of the optical article having to receive the coating during use.
The installation of claim 3, wherein the mask comprises a central portion whose form is configured to compensate for a non-uniformity of the evaporation cone between the different tracks of receptacles of optical articles during use.
The installation of claim 10, wherein it comprises, for each track of receptacles, a first arm and a second arm extending the central portion symmetrically on either side of the central portion.
The installation of claim 2, wherein the length of the arms increases with the distance of the concentric associated tracks from the axis of rotation (A) of the rotary support.
The installation of claim 10, wherein the ends of the arms are inscribed in a form corresponding to the trace of the central portion.
The installation of claim 1, wherein the rotary support has a concave form such that the receptacles of optical articles are arranged equidistant from the emitting source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.