Interactive control method for packaging control of time sensitive products

An interactive method of controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility, said interactive method comprising:

• (a) periodically transferring individual arrays of a first selected amount of discrete contact lens packages each containing a contact lens therein from a first station to an intermediate conveyor where said individual arrays are conveyed to a second station;
• (b) initiating a time stamp for each individual array transferred from said first station and determining elapsed time data for each individual array and for generating position status data indicating a good array or a bad array of defective lenses for each individual array as it is conveyed to said second station;
• and
• (c) shifting said elapsed time data and position status data for each individual array as it is conveyed on said intermediate conveyor for transfer to said second station.

An interactive method of controlling the automatic packaging of products in a product fabrication facility, the manufacture of said products being time sensitive, said interactive method comprising:

• a. periodically transferring individual arrays of a first selected amount of discrete products from a first station to an intermediate conveyor where said individual arrays are conveyed to a second station;
• b. initiating a time stamp for each individual array transferred from said first station and determining elapsed time data for each individual array to generate position status data indicating a good array or a bad array of defective products for each individual array as it is conveyed to said second station;
• and
• c. shifting said elapsed time data and position status data for each individual array as it is conveyed on said intermediate conveyor for transfer to said second station;
• wherein the method includes the steps of determining whether said each individual array is defective and then rejecting products of said array that are determined to be defective prior to transfer to said intermediate conveyor, the method further including the step of consolidating the remaining products for each individual array transferred to said intermediate conveyor to ensure that a second predetermined amount of products is available for transfer to said second station;
• wherein the method further includes the steps of arranging said products into first and second rows of products for conveyance on said intermediate conveyor, and simultaneously gripping said first and second rows of products prior to transferring said products from said intermediate conveyor.