Asymmetric bladder compression for elimination of lamination defects on progressive addition lenses
AssigneeEssilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
InventorsHaifeng Shan, Peiqi Jiang, Steven Weber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for elimination of lamination defects on progressive addition lenses. The lamination method uses a flexible bladder designed to apply pressure evenly across the lens surface. A spacer is positioned between a Hard Multi-Coat carrier and the flexible bladder. The spacer is located in a region of the carrier which is designated to deliver a coating to a section of the lens which is farthest from the carrier. The spacer asymmetrically increases the pressure applied to the carrier to eliminate lamination defects.
Claims20
A method for laminating a coating from a Hard Multi-Coat (HMC) carrier on to a multifocal lens, the method comprising:
- providing a spacer with predetermined dimensions and configuration;
- positioning the spacer between the HMC carrier and a pressurized laminating device such that the spacer is located in a region of the HMC carrier which is designated to deliver a coating to a section of a lens that is farthest from the carrier;
- and
- laminating the coating on to the lens whereby the spacer asymmetrically increases pressure applied to the HMC carrier to eliminate lamination defects on the lens.
An apparatus for laminating a coating from a Hard Multi-Coat carrier on to a multifocal lens comprising:
- a lamination station having a fixed platform to support a carrier, a coating and a multifocal lens, and a flexible membrane sealed along its periphery to form a closed chamber that can be pressurized to expand said flexible membrane toward said fixed platform;
- a gas source for selectively pressurizing said closed chamber so that said flexible membrane applies variable levels of pressure without exceeding a carrier stress limit to laminate the coating on to the multifocal lens, wherein the flexible membrane applies pressure that is radially symmetric with respect to the carrier;
- and
- a dimensioned spacer disposed between said flexible membrane and said carrier to asymmetrically increase the pressure applied to said carrier to eliminate lamination defects without damaging the carrier, wherein the dimensioned spacer has a base portion for contact with the carrier and a top that is narrower and shorter than the base portion, the top for contacting the flexible membrane.
A method for laminating a coating from a Hard Multi-Coat (HMC) carrier on to a multifocal lens, the method comprising:
- providing a spacer with predetermined dimensions and configuration;
- positioning the spacer between the HMC carrier and a pressurized laminating device, wherein said spacer is located in a region of the HMC carrier to have a base for contacting the HMC carrier and a top that is narrower and shorter than said base, the top for contacting a flexible membrane associated with the pressurized laminating device;
- and
- laminating the coating on to the multifocal lens whereby the spacer asymmetrically increases pressure applied to the HMC carrier to eliminate lamination defects on the multifocal lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.