Ophthalmic lens gripper

Flexible gripper head (10, 20) for gripping an ophthalmic lens (4), in particular a contact lens such as a soft contact lens,

• the gripper head (10, 20) comprising:
• a gripping portion (16, 26) arranged at a distal longitudinal end of the gripper head (10, 20), the gripping portion comprising a convex contact surface (160, 260) for contacting the ophthalmic lens (4) to be gripped;
• a mounting portion (17, 27) arranged proximal to the gripping portion (16, 26);
• a pivot portion (15, 25) arranged between the mounting portion (17, 27) and the gripping portion (16, 26), wherein the gripping portion (16, 26) is flexibly pivotable with respect to the mounting portion (17, 27) about the pivot portion (15, 25);
• and
• a principal vacuum supply channel (12, 22);
• wherein
• the gripping portion (16, 26) comprises at least three suction openings (161, 261) arranged in the contact surface (160, 260) along a circle (163, 263) about a longitudinal axis (14, 24) of the gripper head (10, 20), the circle (163, 263) having a diameter (dc) in a range of 5 millimeters to 12 millimeters, in particular 7 millimeters to 9 millimeters, and especially 8 millimeters;
• and wherein
• the gripper head (10, 20) further comprises a plurality of secondary vacuum supply channels (13, 23), each secondary vacuum supply channel (13, 23) of the plurality of secondary vacuum supply channels comprising a proximal end (131, 231) fluidically connected to the principal vacuum supply channel (12, 22) and a distal end (132, 232) fluidically connected to one of the at least three suction openings (161, 261) arranged in the convex contact surface (160, 260).