# US 7,607,910 B2 · Device provided with pivotable supports for moulding an optical lens, in particular an ophthalmic lens > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,910 B2 - Document ID: US7607910B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/558,399 - Filed: 2004-06-09 - Published: 2007-01-18 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-06-11 - Assignees: Essilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique) - Inventors: David Freson; Jean-François Cailloux - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607910B2 ## CPC - B29D 11/00413: {made by moulding between two mould parts which are not in direct contact with one another, e.g. comprising a seal between or on the edges (B29D11/00019 - B29D11/00355, B29D11/00423, B29D11/00432 take precedence)} - B29D 11/00009: {Production of simple or compound lenses} - B29D 11/00432: {Auxiliary operations, e.g. machines for filling the moulds (B29D11/00125 takes precedence)} - Y10S 425/808: Lens mold - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract The inventive device includes a first shell holder (6) for fixing a first shell (12), a second shell holder (27) for fixing a second shell (29), a first support (1) on which the first shell holder (6) is mounted and a second support (2) on which the second shell holder (27) is mounted, the first (1) and second (2) supports being pivotable with respect to each other. When the first (1) and second (2) supports are in a first relative position thereof they are arranged oppositely to each other, thereby bringing the first (12) and second (29) shells into a predetermined relative moulding position thereof. When the first (12) and second (29) shells are brought into the second relative position thereof, the first (1) and second (2) supports are removed from each other by pivoting motion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined orientation is a flat orientation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first support (1) and the second support (2) are opposite each other in said second relative position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first support (1) and the second support (2), in an open configuration, are in said second relative position and each is flat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the respective faces of the first support (1) and the second support (2) that face each other in said first relative position each face upward in said open configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first support (1) and the second support (2) each have a reference surface, said reference surfaces being disposed against each other when the first support (1) and the second support (2) are against each other in said first relative position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first support (1) and the second support (2) are connected by a hinge (5). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising: two wheels perpendicular to the articulation axis of the two supports (1, 2) and each situated on either side of that articulation axis so that the axis of each of the wheels coincides with said articulation axis of the two supports (1, 2), a first of these wheels being rotationally connected to the first support (1) and a second of these wheels being rotationally connected to the second support (2) so that rotation of the first wheel drives pivoting of the first support (1) relative to the second support (2) and rotation of the second wheel drives pivoting of the second support (2) relative to the first support (1). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein said wheels are toothed wheels each adapted to be driven by a gear connected to a motor or a rack connected to a cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first shell support (6) cooperates slidingly with the first support (1) to enable mutual closing or opening movement of the first shell (12) and the second shell (29) when the first shell (12) and the second shell (29) are in said molding position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, wherein sliding of the first shell support (6) relative to the first support (1) is driven by a servocontrolled cylinder (19) which also immobilizes the first shell support (6) relative to the first support (1) except for closing movement of the first shell support (6) and the second shell support (27). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the second shell support (27) is rotatable relative to the second support (2). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined position of the first shell (12) relative to the first shell support (6) is defined by an annular seat (8) adapted to position the first shell (12) in two orthogonal directions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device according to claim 13, wherein the first shell support (6) includes at least one cylinder (24) adapted to hold the first shell (12) against said annular seat (8). ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined position of the second shell (29) relative to the second shell support (27) is defined by a set of concentric jaws (28) adapted to clamp the circumference of the second shell (29). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein opening and closing of said jaws (28) are controlled by a cam ring (32). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method of obtaining an optical lens from a polymerizable material, using the device according to claim 1, the method comprising: polymerizing the polymerizable material between the first shell (12) and the second shell (29) with the device in said second configuration so that a rigid block is formed by said shells (12, 29) and the solidified material; moving from said second configuration to said first configuration of the device; then evacuating said rigid block with the device in said first configuration.