US 5,914,074 A · Mold clamping and precure of a polymerizable hydrogel

Abstract

An apparatus and method for curing a polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture to form a soft contact lens includes a transport device for transporting a plurality of contact lens molds to a precure station in a low oxygen environment, each contact lens mold including a first and second mold half with a polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture therebetween. A clamping member clamps a first contact lens mold half against a second contact lens mold half for a predetermined pressure and time. While the mold halves of the contact lens mold are clamped, the polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture is exposed to a radiant energy source for partially polymerizing the polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture contained in each contact lens mold.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An apparatus for partially curing a polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture to form a soft contact lens, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a clamping member for clamping a first contact lens mold half against a second contact lens mold half at a precure station for a predetermined pressure and time, said first and second mold halves having a polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture therebetween;
(b) a radiant energy source for polymerizing the polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture while said first and second halves are clamped together at said precure station, wherein said radiant energy source is movable from a transport position, in which position the radiant energy source is not capable of partially curing the monomer or monomer mixture, to an exposure position for polymerizing said monomer or monomer mixture;
and
(c) a frame for moving said radiant energy source from said transport position to said exposure position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mold clamping and precure of a polymerizable hydrogel

Life of this patent

Mold clamping and precure of a polymerizable hydrogel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23