Injection mold design, method for in-mold coating of lenses, and coated lenses
AssigneeEssilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
InventorsHao-Wen Chiu, Matthew Lockwood, Wilfred Houle
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for coating lenses within an injection molding machine having a concave optical insert with a perimeter edge that meets the receiver ring in an annular contact region. A channel is formed throughout the annular contact region. When molding a lens with the apparatus, and according to the method, a closed-loop coating containment lip is formed by the channel. After the lens has solidified and the mold is opened, a predetermined volume of coating solution is applied and the mold is re-clamped. A uniformly thin layer of coating is cured on to the convex lens surface by avoiding coating run off and preventing mold contamination.
Claims13
A method of coating lenses in an injection molding machine having a concave optical insert with a perimeter edge that meets two receiver rings in an annular contact region, comprising the steps of:
- providing a molding cavity with a channel formed throughout the annular contact region, wherein the channel is formed within the two receiver rings and spans the parting line;
- injection molding a lens within the cavity whereby a coating containment lip is formed by the channel at the lens periphery;
- and
- dispensing a coating solution on to the lens so that the lip contains the coating during coating application spread.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.