Device provided with pivotable supports for moulding an optical lens, in particular an ophthalmic lens

A device for producing an optical lens from a polymerizable material, the device comprising:

• a first molding shell (12);
• a second molding shell (29);
• and
• means for holding said first molding shell (12) and said second molding shell (29) in a predetermined molding position to face each other at a distance in a predetermined relative position and with a predetermined orientation,
• wherein the means for holding comprises i) a first shell support (6) configured to immobilize said first shell (12) in a predetermined position relative to said first shell support (6) and a second shell support (27) configured to immobilize said second shell (29) in a predetermined position relative to said second shell support (27), a first support (1) on which said first shell support (6) is mounted, and ii) a second support (2) on which the second shell support (27) is mounted, the first support (1) and the second support (2) being articulated to each other about a fixed hinge (5) with respect to which the first support (1) and the second support (2) are each configured to pivot,
• wherein the first support (1) and the second support (2) are configured to assume i) a first relative position in which the first support (1) and the second support (2) are one against the other with the first shell (12) and the second shell (29) in said predetermined relative position and ii) a second relative position in which, compared to said first relative position, the first support (1) and the second support (2) are moved away from each other by virtue of a relative pivoting movement, said device having a molding configuration in which the first support (1) and the second support (2) are in said first relative position and the first shell (12) and the second shell (29) have said predetermined orientation, and
• wherein the device further comprises a first configuration in which the first support (1) and the second support (2) are in said first relative position and each is oriented flat with the first support (1) above the second support (2), and a second configuration in which the first support (1) and the second support (2) are in said first relative position and each is oriented flat with the second support (2) above the first support (1).