Patent ID: 6129042
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: B29D

Abstract:
A machine for automatically coating a surface of an ophthalmic lens comprising:an enclosure having an inlet door for receiving the lens to be coated and an outlet door for discharging the coated lens;means in said enclosure proximate said inlet door for washing and drying the lens surface;means in said enclosure spaced apart from said washing and drying means for coating the lens surface;means in said enclosure spaced apart from said washing and drying means and said coating means and proximate said outlet door for curing the coated lens surface:first means in said enclosure for transporting the lens from said washing and drying means to said coating means and for transporting the lens from said coating means to a pick-up station in said enclosure, said first transporting means having a carriage reciprocally slidable along vertical and lateral paths, means for driving said carriage on said vertical path, means for driving said carriage on said lateral path, and a vertical rotatable shaft mounted on said carriage having a drive means connected to its upper end and a chuck on its lower end for securing the lens to be coated with a concave surface thereof facing approximately downwardly with a radial center thereof approximately aligned with a rotational axis of said shaft;second means in said enclosure for transporting the lens from said pick-up station to said curing means and from said curing means through said enclosure outlet door; anda computer means controlling the operation of said washing and drying means, said coating means, said curing means and said first and second transporting means for automatically washing the received lens, drying the washed lens, transporting the dried lens, coating the surface of the transported dried lens, transporting the coated lens, curing the coated surface of the transported lens and extending the cured lens through said enclosure outlet door.