A method for the automated production of ophthalmic lenses, for example silicone hydrogel contact lenses, the method being capable of being carried out in a production line according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of:
- concurrently producing a plurality of front curve plastic lens molds (FCM) by injection-molding the front curve plastic lens molds in the production line within a predetermined cycle time of less than ten seconds;
- concurrently producing a corresponding plurality of base curve plastic lens molds (BCM) by injection-molding the base curve plastic lens molds (BCM) in the production line within the same predetermined cycle time of less than ten seconds;
- filling a predetermined amount of a lens-forming material into a predetermined number of the front curve plastic lens molds (FCM);
- placing a corresponding number of base curve plastic lens molds (BCM) having the same age as the predetermined number of front curve plastic lens molds (FCM) onto the front curve plastic lens molds (FCM) containing the lens-forming material to form a corresponding number of closed plastic lens molds (BCM/FCM) containing the lens-forming material;
- transferring the corresponding number of closed plastic lens molds (BCM/FCM) containing the lens-forming material and placing them onto a lens mold tray;
- stacking a plurality of lens mold trays loaded with the closed plastic lens molds containing the lens-forming material to form a stack of lens mold trays;
- loading the stack of lens mold trays loaded with the plastic lens molds (BCM/FCM) containing the lens-forming material into a heatable chamber of an oven;
- heating the chamber of the oven to a predetermined temperature to effect curing of the lens-forming material to form cured lenses (CL) in the closed plastic lens molds (BCM/FCM);
- removing a said stack of lens mold trays loaded with the closed plastic lens molds (BCM/FCM) containing the cured lenses from the chamber;
- destacking the individual trays from the stack of lens mold trays removed from the chamber for allowing access to the closed plastic molds (BCM/FCM) of each individual lens mold tray ;
- transferring a predetermined number of the closed plastic lens molds (BCM/FCM) containing the cured lenses (CL) from a said individual lens mold tray in order for the closed molds (BCM/FCM) being opened and the cured lenses (CL) being released;
- opening the closed lens molds (BCM/FCM) by separating the base curve plastic lens molds (BCM) and the front curve plastic lens molds (FCM) from each other;
- releasing the cured lenses (CL) from the base curve plastic lens molds (BCM) or the front curve plastic lens molds (FCM);
- transferring the released cured lenses (CL) to a treatment carrier tray;
- treating the cured lenses (CL) in a treatment bath to obtain the ophthalmic lenses;
- inspecting the ophthalmic lenses;
- and
- packaging those ophthalmic lenses that have successfully passed the inspection in primary packaging containers.