Ophthalmic mold handling system

An assembly for handling mold parts in an ophthalmic lens manufacturing line between a mold part injection molding station and a mold part monomer filling station, said assembly comprising:

• a.) a mold cartridge for holding and dispensing mold parts therefrom, said mold parts having a height h, said cartridge having front and back panels spaced from each other to define an internal cavity having a width w slightly larger than the height h of said mold parts whereby said mold parts may be dispensed into said cartridge at said injection molding station and become stacked within said cartridge in a side-by-side, substantially planar relationship, said mold cartridge further including an open end wherethrough said mold parts may enter and exit said internal cavity;
• and
• b.) a mold drop plate located adjacent said mold part injection molding station, said mold drop plate having at least one mold part opening and a respective channel having opposite top and bottom ends, said channel connected at said top end thereof to said mold part opening of said drop plate and at said bottom end thereof to said open end of said cartridge, whereby a mold part may be deposited into said mold part opening and drop by gravity through said channel and into said internal cavity of said cartridge.