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US 5,364,256 AGranted
Apparatus for the production of plastic lenses
AssigneeOphthalmic Research Group International, Inc.
InventorsN. Thornton Lipscomb, Omar M. Buazza, Stephen C. Luetke, John J. Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for making a plastic lens. Mold members are spaced apart to define a mold cavity. Ultraviolet light is directed through a filter and against at least one of the mold members. The mold members are cooled by air.
Claims33
Apparatus for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face;
- a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face, the second mold member being spaced apart from the first mold member during use such that the casting faces of the first mold member and the second mold member define a mold cavity;
- a light generator for generating and directing ultraviolet light against at least one of the first and second mold members during use;
- an air distributor comprising an air jet having a substantially cylindrical bore, the bore having a plurality of openings disposed about the circumference thereof, and the bore position in relationship to the first mold member so as to direct air from the openings to the non-casting face of the first mold member during use;
- and wherein the apparatus is adaptable to make a plastic eyeglass lens during use.
2 more elements
Apparatus for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face with a center and edges;
- a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face with a center and edges, the second mold member being spaced apart from the first mold member during use such that the casting faces of the first mold member and the second mold member define a mold cavity;
- a light generator for generating and directing ultraviolet light against at least one of the first and second mold members during use;
- an air distributor positioned in relationship to the first and second mold members so as to direct air from the edges to the center of the non-casting face of the first mold member during use, and from the edges to the center of the non-casting face of the second mold member during use;
- and
- wherein the apparatus is adaptable to make a plastic eyeglass lens during use.
3 more elements
Apparatus for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face;
- a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face, the second mold member being spaced apart from the first mold member during use such that the casting faces of the first mold member and the second mold member define a mold cavity;
- a light generator for generating and directing ultraviolet light against at least one of the first and second mold members during use;
- an air cooler for cooling air to a temperature below ambient temperature during use;
- an air distributor connected to direct cooled air from the air cooler across the non-casting face of the first mold member during use, and across the non-casting face of the second mold member during use;
- and
- wherein the apparatus is adaptable to make a plastic eyeglass lens during use, and wherein the air distributor comprises an air jet having a substantially cylindrical bore, the bore having a plurality of openings disposed about the circumference thereof, and the bore positioned in relationship to the first mold member so as to direct air from the openings to the non-casting face of the first mold member during use.
4 more elements
Apparatus for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face;
- a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face, the second mold member being spaced apart from the first mold member during use such that the casting faces of the first mold member and the second mold member define a mold cavity;
- a light generator for generating and directing ultraviolet light against at least one of the first and second mold members during use;
- an air cooler for cooling air to a temperature below ambient temperature during use;
- an air distributor connected to direct cooled air from the air cooler across the non-casting face of the first mold member during use, and across the non-casting face of the second mold member during use;
- and
- wherein the apparatus is adaptable to make a plastic eyeglass lens during use, and wherein the air distributor is positioned in relationship to the first and second mold members so as to direct air from the edges to the center of the non-casting face of the first mold member during use, and from the edges to the center of the non-casting face of the second mold member during use.
4 more elements
A system for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- (i) a lens forming apparatus, comprising:
- a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face;
- a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face, the second mold member being spaced apart from the first mold member during use such that the casting faces of the first mold member and the second mold member define a mold cavity;
- a light generator for generating and directing ultraviolet light against at least one of the first and second mold members during use;
- an air distributor connected to direct air across the non-casting face of the first mold member during use, and across the non-casting face of the second mold member during use, and wherein the air distributor comprises an air jet having a substantially cylindrical bore, the bore having a plurality of openings disposed about the circumference thereof, and the bore positioned in relationship to the first mold member so as to direct air from the openings to the non-casting face of the first mold member during use;
- and
- (ii) a lens forming composition adaptable to cure to form a solid ophthalmic quality lens when cured in the apparatus;
- and
- wherein the system is adaptable to cure the lens forming composition to form a solid ophthalmic quality lens in a time period of less than one hour.
6 more elements
A system for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- (i) a lens forming apparatus, comprising:
- a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face;
- a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face, the second mold member being spaced apart from the first mold member during use such that the casting faces of the first mold member and the second mold member define a mold cavity;
- a light generator for generating and directing ultraviolet light against at least one of the first and second mold members during use;
- an air distributor connected to direct air across the non-casting face of the first mold member during use, and across the non-casting face of the second mold member during use, and wherein the air distributor comprises an air cooler for cooling the air to a temperature below ambient temperature during use, and wherein the air distributor comprises an air jet having a substantially cylindrical bore, the bore having a plurality of openings disposed about the circumference thereof, and the bore positioned in relationship to the first mold member so as to direct air from the openings to the non-casting face of the first mold member during use;
- and
- (ii) a lens forming composition adaptable to cure to form a solid ophthalmic quality lens when cured in the apparatus;
- and
- wherein the system is adaptable to cure the lens forming composition to form a solid ophthalmic quality lens in a time period of less than one hour.
6 more elements
A system for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- (i) a lens forming apparatus, comprising:
- a first mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face with a center and an edge;
- a second mold member having a casting face and a non-casting face with a center and an edge, the second mold member being spaced apart from the first mold member during use such that the casting faces of the first mold member and the second mold member define a mold cavity;
- a light generator for generating and directing ultraviolet light against at least one of the first and second mold members during use;
- an air distributor connected to direct air across the non-casting face of the first mold member during use, and across the non-casting face of the second mold member during use, and wherein the air distributor is positioned in relationship to the first and second mold members so as to direct air from the edges to the center of the non-casting face of the first mold member during use, and from the edges to the center of the non-casting face of the second mold member during use.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.