Apparatus for applying a surfactant to mold surfaces
AssigneeJohnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
InventorsTure Kindt-Larsen, Stephen R. Beaton, Wallace A. Martin, Craig W. Walker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of and apparatus for employing a surfactant which is provided in order to assist in the release from each other of mold components of a multi-part mold employed in the molding of polymeric articles; for instance, such as a hydrophilic contact lens, upon completion of the molding process for the polymeric articles. The surfactant is applied in the form of a film or coating on surface portions of one of the mold components in order to facilitate the disengagement between the mold components during demolding, and the removal of excess polymeric molding material adhesively deposited on surfaces thereon.
Claims14
An apparatus for applying a surfactant to a first surface of a first mold part of a multi-part mold having the first mold part engageable with a cooperative second mold part for the molding of polymer articles, wherein the surfactant assists in the release of the first and second mold parts and enables removal of excess polymer molding material adherent to the first surface;
- said apparatus comprising:
- a) a support means mounting the first mold part, the support means being movable;
- b) applicator means comprising a surfactant applicator, the surfactant applicator being arranged in spaced apart relationship with the support means and the first mold part, said surfactant applicator being positionable in vertical alignment with said first mold part;
- c) a pad member disposed adjacent said applicator means containing the surfactant;
- d) first actuating means disposed in communication with said applicator means for imparting a displacement to the applicator means to cause the surfactant applicator to contact said pad member and assume a quantity of the surfactant therefrom;
- and
- e) second actuating means in communication with said applicator means bringing the applicator means into contact with the first surface to an extent such that the surfactant applicator makes contact with the first surface of said first mold part so as to impart a coating of said surfactant thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.