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US 5,976,423 AGranted
Methods and apparatus for eyeglass lens curing using ultraviolet light
AssigneeQ2100, Inc.
InventorOmar M. Buazza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for making and coating a plastic lens. Oxygen barrier containing photoinitiator is used to cure incompletely cured lens portions. Radiation pulses are used to control lens curing rate. Lens is postcured while in a mold cavity using a conductive heat source.
Claims86
A method for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- placing a liquid polymerizable lens forming composition in a mold cavity defined by at least a gasket, a first mold member, and a second mold member;
- directing first ultraviolet rays toward at least one of the mold members to substantially cure the lens forming composition so that it forms a lens with a back face, edges, and a front face, and wherein a portion of the lens forming composition proximate the edges of the lens is not fully cured;
- removing the gasket to expose an edge of the lens;
- applying an oxygen barrier comprising a plastic film to an exposed edge of the lens, the plastic film comprising a photoinitiator, such that at least a portion of the oxygen barrier photoinitiator is proximate to the lens forming composition that is not fully cured;
- and
- directing second ultraviolet rays towards the lens such that at least a portion of the oxygen barrier photoinitiator initiates reaction of lens forming composition while the oxygen barrier substantially prevents oxygen from outside the oxygen barrier from contacting at least a portion of the lens forming composition.
3 more elements
A method for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- placing a liquid polymerizable lens forming composition in a mold cavity defined by at least a gasket, a first mold member, and a second mold member;
- directing first ultraviolet rays toward at least one of the mold members to substantially cure the lens forming composition so that it forms a lens with a back face, edges, and a front face, and wherein a portion of the lens forming composition proximate the edges of the lens is not fully cured;
- removing the gasket to expose an edge of the lens;
- applying to an exposed edge of the lens an oxygen barrier comprising a photoinitiator, the oxygen barrier also comprising a flexible film that is at least partially transparent to ultraviolet rays, such that at least a portion of the oxygen barrier photoinitiator is proximate lens forming composition that is not fully cured;
- and
- directing second ultraviolet rays towards the lens such that at least a portion of the oxygen barrier photoinitiator initiates reaction of lens forming composition while the oxygen barrier substantially prevents oxygen from outside the oxygen barrier from contacting at least a portion of the lens forming composition.
3 more elements
A method for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- placing a liquid polymerizable lens forming composition in a mold cavity defined by at least a gasket, a first mold member, and a second mold member;
- directing first ultraviolet rays toward at least one of the mold members to substantially cure the lens forming composition so that it forms a lens with a back face, edges, and a front face, and wherein a portion of the lens forming composition proximate the edges of the lens is not fully cured;
- removing the gasket to expose an edge of the lens;
- applying to an exposed edge of the lens an oxygen barrier comprising a polyethylene film impregnated with a photoinitiator, such that at least a portion of the oxygen barrier photoinitiator is proximate lens forming composition that is not fully cured;
- and
- directing second ultraviolet rays towards the lens such that at least a portion of the oxygen barrier photoinitiator initiates reaction of lens forming composition while the oxygen barrier substantially prevents oxygen from outside the oxygen barrier from contacting at least a portion of the lens forming composition.
3 more elements
A method for making a plastic eyeglass lens, comprising:
- placing a liquid polymerizable lens forming composition in a mold cavity defined by at least a gasket, a first mold member, and a second mold member;
- directing first ultraviolet rays toward at least one of the mold members to substantially cure the lens forming composition so that it forms a lens with a back face, edges, and a front face, and wherein a portion of the lens forming composition proximate the edges of the lens is not fully cured;
- removing the gasket to expose an edge of the lens;
- applying to an exposed edge of the lens an oxygen barrier comprising a film that was made by applying a solution comprising a photoinitiator to a plastic film, such that at least a portion of the oxygen barrier photoinitiator is proximate lens forming composition that is not fully cured;
- and
- directing second ultraviolet rays towards the lens such that at least a portion of the oxygen barrier photoinitiator initiates reaction of lens forming composition while the oxygen barrier substantially prevents oxygen from outside the oxygen barrier from contacting at least a portion of the lens forming composition.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.