Patent ID: 9346224
Filing Date: 2016-05-24
CPC Classification: B29D,B65G

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for transferring contact lenses between two consecutive processing stations being operated at different cycle speeds, said apparatus comprising: a transfer device having a fluid means to transport the removed contact lenses from a preceding processing station having a first cycle speed to a subsequent processing station of said two consecutive processing stations and for introducing them into a plurality of receptacles consecutively arranged in said subsequent processing station, said receptacles being advanced through said subsequent processing station with a second cycle speed faster than said first cycle speed, said transfer device is moved synchronously with and in the direction of advancement of said receptacles in said subsequent processing station, wherein said preceding processing station is a removal station of a contact lens forming line operated, in which contact lenses are in contact lens molds comprising male and female mold halves arranged opened in said removal station with each contact lens resting on one of said male and female mold halves of a respective mold, and wherein said subsequent processing station to which said contact lenses are transferred is a processing station of a contact lens treatment line, said transfer device further comprising at least two feed tubes each having an entry port which is aligned with a respective removal position of said contact lenses in said preceding processing station, each feed tube ending in a respective transfer nozzle which is arranged in the vicinity of a corresponding one of said receptacles in said subsequent processing station and which is aligned with an inlet of said corresponding receptacle for introduction of said contact lens into said corresponding one of said receptacles, said respective transfer nozzle being mounted on a slide movably arranged in a frame in a manner such that said respective transfer nozzle is moved synchronously with and in the direction of advancement of said receptacles.