Lens mold carrier

A carrier for holding a lens mold having a first mold half defining a first optical surface and a second mold half defining a second optical surface, wherein the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other so that a lens forming cavity is defined between the first optical surface and the second optical surface, said carrier comprising:

• a first frame defining a front surface;
• a holder assembly in operative communication with said first frame and configured to receive said first mold half, said holder assembly being adjustable to rotationally secure said first mold half so that said first optical surface faces outward from said first frame front surface and in any of a plurality of rotational positions with respect to an axis normal to said first frame front surface;
• a second frame configured to receive said second mold half so that said second optical surface faces outward from a front surface of said second frame, said second frame front surface opposing said first frame front surface upon alignment of said first frame and said second frame in an operative position, in which each said first mold half engages an opposing said second mold half to form said cavity;
• and
• a latch mechanism configured to retain said first frame and said second frame in said operative position.

A carrier for holding a lens mold having a first mold half defining a first optical surface and a second mold half defining a second optical surface, wherein the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other so that a lens forming cavity is defined between the first optical surface and the second optical surface, said carrier comprising:

• a first frame defining a front surface;
• a holder assembly in operative communication with said first frame and configured to receive said first mold half, said holder assembly being adjustable to rotationally secure said first mold half so that said first optical surface faces outward from said first frame front surface and in any of a plurality of rotational positions with respect to an axis normal to said first frame front surface;
• a second frame configured to receive said second mold half so that said second optical surface faces outward from a front surface of said second frame, said second frame front surface opposing said first frame front surface upon alignment of said first frame and said second frame in an operative position, in which each said first mold half engages an opposing said second mold half to form said cavity;
• wherein said first frame and said second frame include respective contact surfaces, said first frame contact surface bearing on said second frame contact surface to separate said first frame and said second frame in said operative position by a predetermined distance.

A lens mold carrier system, said system comprising:

• a plurality of lens molds, each said lens mold including
• a first lens mold half defining a first optical surface,
• a second lens mold half defining a second optical surface,
• wherein said first mold half and said second mold half are configured to receive each other so that a lens forming cavity is defined between said first optical surface and said second optical surface;
• a first frame defining a front surface;
• a plurality of holder assemblies in operative communication with said first frame, wherein each said holder assembly is configured to receive a respective said first lens mold half and is adjustable to rotationally secure said first mold half so that said first optical surface faces outward from said first frame front surface and in any of a plurality of rotational positions with respect to an axis normal to said first frame front surface;
• a second frame configured to receive said second mold halves in a pattern corresponding to the disposition of said first mold halves in said first frame and so that said second optical surfaces face outward from a front surface of said second frame, said second frame front surface opposing said first frame front surface upon alignment of said first frame and said second frame in an operative position in which each said first mold half engages an opposing said second mold half to form said cavity;
• wherein said first frame includes a plurality of stops proximate said first frame front surface.

A lens mold carrier system, said system comprising:

• a plurality of lens molds, each said lens mold including
• a first lens mold half defining a first optical surface,
• a second lens mold half defining a second optical surface,
• wherein said first mold half and said second mold half are configured to receive each other so that a lens forming cavity is defined between said first optical surface and said second optical surface;
• a first frame defining a front surface;
• a plurality of holder assemblies in operative communication with said first frame, wherein each said holder assembly is configured to receive a respective said first lens mold half and is adjustable to rotationally secure said first mold half so that said first optical surface faces outward from said first frame front surface and in any of a plurality of rotational positions with respect to an axis normal to said first frame front surface;
• a second frame configured to receive said second mold halves in a pattern corresponding to the disposition of said first mold halves in said first frame and so that said second optical surfaces face outward from a front surface of said second frame, said second frame front surface opposing said first frame front surface upon alignment of said first frame and said second frame in an operative position in which each said first mold half engages an opposing said second mold half to form said cavity;
• and
• a latch mechanism configured to retain said first frame and said second frame in said operative position.

A lens mold carrier system, said system comprising:

• a plurality of lens molds, each said lens mold including
• a first lens mold half defining a first optical surface, and
• a second lens mold half defining a second optical surface,
• wherein said first mold half and said second mold half are configured to receive each other so that a lens forming cavity is defined between said first optical surface and said second optical surface, and
• wherein one of said first optical surface and said second optical surface defines a toric optical zone and the other of said first optical surface and said second optical surface defines lens ballast;
• a first plate defining a plurality of holes therein opening to a front surface of said first plate and including, for each said hole, an annular shoulder extending about an inner circumferential surface thereof;
• a plurality of holder assemblies, each said holder assembly including
• a holding member disposed within a respective said first plate hole and receiving a respective said first mold half so that said respective first mold half and said holding member are rotatable together with respect to said first plate about an axis normal to said first plate front surface upon application of a rotational force to said holding member greater than a threshold level, and
• a spring, said spring bearing on one side against said first plate and on the other side against said holding member;
• a second plate defining a plurality of holes therein in a pattern corresponding to the disposition of said first plate holes in said first plate and opening to a front surface of said second plate, each said second plate hole receiving a respective said second mold half so that said respective second mold half is rotationally fixed within said second plate hole with respect to said axis and so that said second optical surface faces outward from said second plate front surface;
• a first pin disposed in one of said first plate and said second plate and being reciprocally movable along a path of travel parallel to said axis within holes defined in said first plate and said second plate;
• a second pin disposed in the other of said first plate and said second plate and being reciprocally movable, within a hole defined in said other plate, along a path of travel normal to said axis and intersecting said first pin path of travel, said first pin defining a hole therein aligned with the path of travel of said second pin and configured to receive said second pin;
• and
• a pin spring in operative communication with said first pin and biasing said first pin away from said second pin,
• wherein said first plate and said second plate include respective contact surfaces, said first plate contact surface bearing on said second plate contact surface to separate said first plate and said second plate, in an operative position of said first plate and said second plate in which said first plate front surface opposes said second plate front surface, by a predetermined distance so that each said first mold half engages an opposing said second mold half to form said cavity, and
• wherein said threshold level is greater than relative rotational forces applied between said holding member and said annular shoulder during relative movement of said first plate and said second plate to said operative position and during formation of a lens in said lens cavity.

A carrier for holding a lens mold including a first mold half defining a first optical surface and a second mold half defining a second optical surface, wherein the first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other so that a lens forming cavity is defined between the first optical surface and the second optical surface, said carrier comprising:

• a first frame defining a front surface;
• means for receiving said first mold half, said receiving means being adjustable to rotationally secure said first mold half so that said first optical surface faces outward from said first frame front surface and in any of a plurality of rotational positions with respect to an axis normal to said first frame front surface;
• a second frame means for receiving said second mold half so that said second optical surface faces outward from a front surface of said second frame, said second frame front surface opposing said first frame front surface upon alignment of said first frame and said second frame in an operative position, in which each said first mold half engages an opposing said second mold half to form said cavity;
• a latch mechanism configured to retain said first frame and said second frame in said operative position.