Abstract:
An apparatus and a method for removing and transporting articles from molds. More specifically, the present invention pertains to such an apparatus and method which is particularly well suited for removing the articles from a molding machine having molds in which they are molded, and thereafter carrying the articles within a very short period of time away from the molds and depositing the articles for further processing in a high speed, automated production system. The apparatus removes and transports articles, such as ophthalmic contact lens mold sections or contact lens packaging elements, from a molding station whereby an operating assembly removes the articles from the molding station and transports these in a composite motional displacement enabling rapid conveyance thereof to a first location; a pivotable robotic parts handling element being adapted to receive the articles from the first location and transport these to a further or second location for deposition onto pallets or the like and the continued transport thereof to a treatment or processing facility for producing and/or packaging of the contact lenses.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/654,399, filed May 28, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,192, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/431,884, filed May 1, 1995, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/258,267, filed Jun. 10, 1994, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates, in general, to an apparatus and a method for removing and transporting articles from molds. More specifically, the present invention pertains to such an apparatus and method which is particularly well suited for removing the articles from a molding machine having molds in which they are molded, and thereafter carrying the articles within a very short period of time away from the molds and depositing the articles for further processing in a high speed, automated production system. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Recently, attention has been directed by industry toward economically forming large quantities of high-quality contact lenses in a precisely operating, high-speed automated molding system. In such a lens molding system, each lens is formed by sandwiching a monomer in an interspace which is present between front and back mold sections, normally identified as, respectively, front and base or back curves. The monomer is polymerized to form a contact lens, which is then removed from the mold sections, further treated and then packaged for consumer use. 
     The mold sections used in the above-mentioned process may themselves be formed through the intermediary of injection molding or compression molding processes. These mold sections may be made from the family of materials consisting of thermoplastics; for example, preferably such as polystyrene, which has been determined to constitute an excellent material for making these mold sections. Polystyrene does not chemically react with the hydrophilic material normally employed to make the contact lenses; for instance, such as hydroxyethylene methacrylate (HEMA), therefore, it is possible to form very high quality contact lenses of that type of material in polystyrene molds. In addition, polystyrene is widely available in industry and commerce and, as a result, is relatively inexpensive. Because of the ease and low cost with which polystyrene mold sections may be produced and then employed to mold contact lenses, each pair of complementary front and base curve polystyrene mold sections is typically used only a single time in order to mold only one contact lens, and may then be discarded or the polystyrene disposed of recycled for other uses. 
     In the above-discussed automated contact lens production system, it is desirable to eliminate or to minimize any exposure to oxygen of the hydrophilic monomer used for the manufacture of the contact lenses. Correspondingly, it is desirable to eliminate or minimize the exposure of the lens mold sections to oxygen. Therefore, when the polystyrene mold sections are formed and then used for the purpose of making contact lenses in the above-discussed manner, it is desirable to rapidly transfer these mold sections from the mold in which they are made to a low oxygen (preferably nitrogen) environment. It has been difficult to achieve the desired transfer speed with conventional robot assemblies or controls because presently available robots do not move with adequate rapidity and precisely enough to enter into and exit from the molding apparatus at the desired rate of speed in effectuating the removal of the molded articles. In particular, if these robots are operated at the necessary rate of speed, they tend to waffle and shake or vibrate undesirably as they come to a sudden stop, and the movements of the robot are resultingly not sufficiently precise. On the other hand, if the robots are slowed down so as to be able to move more precisely, the robots no longer possess the desired speed to facilitate the contact lens mass-producing process. 
     Moreover, in the above-mentioned automated contact lens production system, the contact lens mold sections may not be fully solidified when they are ejected or removed from the mold in which they are formed. It is, therefore, important that any robot or apparatus which is used to carry the contact lens-forming mold sections away from that mold will not interfere so as to adversely affect the desired optical qualities of the contact lens mold sections. In particular, it is important that any such robot or apparatus be capable of absorbing the kinetic energy of the lens mold sections as they are being transferred to such transporting robot or apparatus without deleteriously altering the shape, form or dimensions of the lens mold sections. The robot or conveying apparatus employed must, likewise, be able to transport the lens mold sections in a manner that permits those lens mold sections to cool and completely harden in a desired manner. 
     In addition, in order to maximize the optical quality of the contact lenses, it is preferred that the optical surfaces of the front and base curve polystyrene mold sections; that is, the surfaces of those mold sections which touch or lie against the hydrophilic monomer as the lens preform is being molded, not be engaged or contacted by any mechanical handling equipment while the mold sections are being transported by and positioned in the lens molding system. 
     In order to achieve the foregoing kind of transport system, pursuant to the disclosure of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/258,267, now abandoned (Attorney Docket No. VTN-78), there is described an apparatus for removing and transporting ophthalmic or contact lens mold sections from a mold, and which generally comprises first, second and third assemblies. The first assembly removes the lens mold sections from the mold and transports the lens mold sections to a first location, the second assembly receives the lens mold sections from the first assembly and transports the lens mold sections to a second location, and the third assembly receives the lens mold sections from the second assembly and transports the lens mold sections to a third location. Preferably, the first assembly comprises a hand including vacuum structure to receive the lens mold sections from the mold and to releasably hold the lens mold sections, and a support subassembly connected to the hand to support the hand and to move the hand between the mold and the first location. The second assembly preferably includes a support frame, a platform to receive the lens mold sections from the first assembly and supported by the support frame for movement between the first and second locations, and moving means for moving the platform along the support frame and between these first and second locations. The preferred design of the third assembly includes a transport subassembly and a support column. The transport subassembly receives the lens mold sections from the second assembly, releasably holds those lens mold sections, and carries the lens mold sections to the third location; and the support column supports the transport subassembly for movement between the second and third locations. 
     In an effort designed to simplify and provide further improvements on the foregoing transport apparatus, alternative embodiments have been developed more recently, as disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/431,884, now abandoned (Attorney Docket No. VTN-192), which discloses an apparatus for removing and transporting articles, such as ophthalmic contact lens mold sections, or primary contact lens packaging elements, such as the base members of blister packages, from a mold. The apparatus, in one embodiment thereof, which is employed in the manufacture of lens mold base curves, includes first, second, and third assemblies; the first of which removes the articles from the molding station at a first location and transports them to a second location; the second assembly receives the articles from the first assembly and transports them to a third location, and the third assembly receives the articles from the second assembly and transports them to a fourth location. A second embodiment of the apparatus which is used in the forming of lens mold front curves additionally includes a flipper assembly disposed between the first and second assemblies, which flipper assembly receives the articles from the first assembly and inverts them before depositing them onto the second assembly. This second embodiment is useful in conjunction with molded articles which are transported to the flipper assembly in an inverted position. A third embodiment, which produces primary packaging components, such as the base members of blister packages for housing the contact lenses, includes second and third assemblies which further include means for altering the relative spacing between the articles while the articles are being transported. 
     Although the foregoing embodiments and operative versions of the apparatus, as elucidated in the aforementioned copending U.S. patent applications, of which the present application is a continuation-in-part, are employable in providing the molded components constituting mold sections for forming contact lenses, and also primary package elements for contact lenses, such as the contact lens-receiving base members of blister packages, the numerous operating and transfer assemblies and stations which are required for transporting the molded components at high rates of speed from the molding installation in which they are formed to their ultimate depositions onto pallets for further treatment, such as in a low oxygen or nitrogen atmosphere, are of considerable complexity, subject to waffling and vibration and rendering the efficacy of producing acceptable articles difficult to maintain as a result of the multiplicity of operative apparatus components, and transfer and transport paths employed in the various apparatus embodiments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Pursuant to the present invention, there is contemplated the provision of an apparatus of the type described which advantageously incorporates simplified concepts in the transfer and transporting of high quality articles which have been molded, such as contact lens mold sections and primary package elements for contact lenses in a high-speed operation through a significant reduction in movable apparatus components and transfer assemblies between the molding apparatus and an ultimate conveyance, such as a pallet, for transporting these molded articles into a nitrogen or low oxygen environment or other desired location for further processing. 
     An object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified apparatus for removing and transporting articles from molds. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus able to rapidly remove molded articles, which may not yet be completely cured or hardened, from a mold and to carry those articles away from that mold without causing undue plastic deformations of the articles. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a high speed apparatus for removing fragile thermoplastic articles from a mold in which those articles are made, and then transporting those articles through the implementation of precise composite motions, and depositing those articles in a high speed, automated manufacturing system in the absence of any shocks or vibrations being encountered by the apparatus. 
     A further object of this invention is to remove and transport articles made from the family of thermoplastics, such as polystyrene, from a mold in which those articles are made through the intermediary of sophisticated robotics, into a low oxygen environment of an automated contact lens molding system, within a period or time interval of only a few seconds. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having the capability to remove a plurality of discrete molded articles from a mold with the molded articles arranged in a matrix array, and to selectively either preserve that matrix array during subsequent handling of the molded articles, or reorient the matrix and the relative spacing of the molded articles therein according to a second predetermined matrix prior to being transported to a further locale. 
     Yet another object is to provide a method of removing and transporting molded articles from a molding apparatus towards further processing locales, utilizing the apparatus pursuant to the present invention. 
     The foregoing and other objects are attained through the provision of an apparatus for removing and transporting articles, such as ophthalmic contact lens mold sections or contact lens packaging elements, from a molding station whereby an operating assembly removes the articles from the molding station and transports these in a composite motional displacement enabling rapid conveyance thereof to a first location; a pivotable robotic parts handling element being adapted to receive the articles from the first location and transport these to a further or second location for deposition onto pallets or the like and the continued transport thereof to a treatment or processing facility for producing and/or packaging of the contact lenses. 
     Pursuant to a modified embodiment, the pivotable robotic parts handling element which contains a pivotable and vertically displaceable arm for transporting the molded articles from the first location to the second location includes operative structure for inverting the pivotable arm so as to relatively invert the articles picked up at the first location prior to depositing the articles onto pallets at the second location. 
     According to a further embodiment, operative structure is provided proximate the first location for altering the relative spacing or matrix in the array between the articles to which the articles have been transported from the molding station and with the pivotable and vertically reciprocatable arm member of a robotic parts handler being adapted to pick up the articles in their altered relative spacings for conveyance to the second location and deposition onto pallets transportable to further processing facilities. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the invention; and in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a base or back curve adapted to be removed and transported from a molding machine by the inventive apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a front curve; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a typical primary package base member; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of the apparatus utilized for the transport of base curves; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a diagrammatic perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 6; 
     FIGS. 8,  9  and  10  illustrate, respectively, front, side and top views of a nesting arrangement for receiving base curves from a first transfer assembly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate, respectively, top plan and side views of a conveyor system for receiving base curves from a second transfer assembly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the apparatus utilized for the transport of front curves; 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective diagrammatic view of the apparatus of FIG. 13; 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate, respectively, top plan and side views of the conveyor system for receiving front curves from a second transfer assembly shown in FIGS. 13 and 14; 
     FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the apparatus utilized for the transport of primary packaging base members; 
     FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective diagrammatic view of the apparatus of FIG. 17; 
     FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrates plan views of a device for rearranging arrays of the base members received from a first transfer assembly in a first orientation and adapted to be picked up by a second transfer assembly in a second orientation for further conveyance; and 
     FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate, respectively, top plan and side views of a conveyor system for receiving base members from the second transport assembly of FIGS.  13  and  14 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Disclosed hereinbelow are embodiments of an apparatus which relate to the removal of molded articles which are used in the fabrication and/or packaging of contact lenses, and which are transported at regular intervals from a molding installation to a first location, and thereafter to a second location for the subsequent disposition of the articles, such as deposition onto pallets on a conveyor system for further treatment or processing. As such, the present application incorporates, by reference, the specification and disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/258,654 to Martin, et al., now U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,107 (Attorney Docket No. VTN-0092) for “Consolidated Contact Lens Molding.” The present invention is particularly suited for carrying out the above-identified functions in the transporting of the molded articles in an improved manner and simpler mode than through the use of prior or currently employed devices and assemblies. The following descriptions, with references to the corresponding drawing figures as detailed hereinbelow, set forth the salient features and elements of essentially three distinct but inventively interrelated embodiments of the present invention; the first embodiment being directed to the removal from a molding installation and transportation of back curve mold halves for the formation of ophthalmic or contact lenses; the second embodiment being directed to the removal and transportation of front curve mold halves which are designed to eventually mate with the back curves; and the third embodiment being directed to the removal from the molding installation and transportation of molded contact lens packaging elements, such as the base members for contact lens blister packages. 
     The process of fabricating contact lenses, in a manner regarding which the present invention is extremely useful, comprises creating a pair of mold halves, between which a liquid monomer may be disposed, shaped into a lens, and subsequently irradiated to prompt sufficient crosslinking to impart appropriate structural integrity to the lens. The mold half sections which are used in creating the lenses are themselves molded; the molding process being especially intolerant of irregularities to the optical perfection required of the surfaces. The mold sections are created in a rapid injection molding machine which produces a multiplicity of mold sections every six seconds. 
     The molding machine  10 , as illustrated diagrammatically in the various drawings, comprises two opposing elements  12 ,  14  which interface to shape the mold halves; one element having an array of regularly spaced concave recesses, the opposing element having a corresponding array of convex protuberances, and with concave recesses and convex protuberances defining, therebetween, a shaped volume for producing mold half sections. A more detailed description of the molding machine, in conjunction with which the present invention is utilized, may be found in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/257,785, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,470 for “Mold Halves and Molding Assembly for Making Contact Lenses” (Attorney Docket No. VTN-079), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     In operation, the opposing elements  12 ,  14  come together, the material of the mold halves; for example, molten polymer, is injected into the shaped volumes between the surfaces of the opposing elements, and the mold halves are held for a period of time sufficient to set their shapes. 
     FIGS. 1 to  4  show, respectively, base or back and front curve mold sections  20 ,  22  which are used in the manufacture of contact lenses. FIGS. 1 and 2 are top and side views, respectively, of a back curve mold section  20 ; which includes a central lens shaping curved portion  24 , an annular flange portion  26 , and a tab  28 . Because, in the case of the back curve, the central curved portion is used to form or shape the back curve or surface of a contact lens, it is desirable to minimize direct contact therewith; the flange and tab portions are, therefore, used to facilitate handling and positioning of the molded article. The simultaneous molding of the curve surface with the annular flange  26  and tab portions  28  has an additional manufacturing benefit in that it optimizes the injection molding process. 
     Preferably, the mold sections are each integrally molded from a plastic material from the family of thermoplastics such as polystyrene or another suitable material; and preferably each mold section has a thickness, typically 0.8 mm and 0.6 mm, respectively, and rigidity such that the mold section effectively transmits light and withstands prying forces applied to separate the mold sections from the mold in which those sections were made. The mold sections are also described in detail in the above-referenced copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/257,785. 
     Once the shape of the mold half has been set, the opposing elements of the molding machine separate and the mold halves may be removed. The back curve mold halves are referred to as such because they provide the convex optical mold surface which shapes the portion of the contact lens which contacts the eye, whereas the front curve mold halves are so called, because they provide the concave optical surface which molds the front face of the lens. In accordance with methods set forth to maintain optimal optical surface integrity, the molding machine  10  which produces the back curve mold sections is designed specifically so that upon separation of elements  12  and  14 , the non-optically relevant, concave surfaces of the mold halves are exposed (the convex surfaces remaining within the concave recesses). While the machine which produces the front curve mold sections  22  each having portions  32 ,  34  and  36  analogous to portions  24 ,  26  and  28  of the back curve molds  20 , is identical in nearly every functional aspect to the above-described back curve mold half producing machine, when the opposing elements of the front curve molding machine separate, the front curve mold sections remain in contact with the convex protuberances. In either case, it is once the opposing elements of the molding machine have separated that the molded articles may be removed. 
     Although referred to hereinabove with regard to mold sections which are utilized to ultimately produce the ophthalmic or contact lenses, the invention is also applicable to the production of the base members  30  of blister packages, as shown by way of example in FIG. 5, which are intended to provide the primary packaging for the formed contact lenses at some subsequent point during the production cycle. Consequently, with respect to the third embodiment of the inventive apparatus, this in essence is similar in functioning to that of the first embodiment with various modifications thereof, as detailed hereinbelow. 
     (A) Transportation of Base Curves by Apparatus 
     The first embodiment  40  of the inventive apparatus as shown in the plan view of FIG.  6  and FIGS. 7 through 12, and as described hereinbelow, accordingly, is directed to the removal and rapid and non-damaging transport of the back curve contact lens mold halves  20  from the molding machine  10  to a remote location; for example, to a pallet transportable on a belt conveyor of a contact lens fabrication assembly line, as described further on herein. 
     More particularly, referring to the diagrammatic illustration of FIG. 6, the apparatus  40  includes first and second material handling assemblies  42  and  44 . The first assembly  42  is provided for removing the molded articles  20  from the molding machine  10  and transporting the articles to a first location at  46 . The second assembly  44  is positioned for receiving the molded articles  20  from the first assembly  42  and transporting the articles from the first location  46  to a second location. A transport conveyor  50  is provided for receiving the articles  20  from the second assembly  44  and, in essence, comprises the second location  52  at which; for example, pallets  54  which are sequentially transportable on the conveyor upper belt run  56  have the articles  20  deposited thereon so as to position the articles in recesses in the pallets, and are advanced to suitable installations, for instance, a nitrogen atmosphere-containing chamber, for further processing or treatment. 
     The first assembly  42 , as particularly illustrated in the drawing FIGS. 6 and 7, is provided with an arm member  60  which has one free end thereof equipped with a plate  62  having vacuum head  64  for receiving the molded articles  20  when the molding machine  10  has the elements  12 ,  14  separated so as to form an opening  66  enabling insertion therein of the head  64  of the vacuum structure, the latter of which amounts an array of a plurality of article pick-up cups  70  of a resilient material which communicate with a vacuum source (not shown). 
     The arm member is mounted so as to be reciprocable transversely of the axis  72  of the molding machine  10 , whereby the axis  72  is defined as extending along the direction of the opening or closing of the molding machine elements  12 ,  14 , such operative movement being effected in the direction of arrow A. 
     Connected to a structure  85  supporting the opposite end  78  of arm member  60  is a structure mounting a drive motor  84  which is operative so as to impart a reciprocable movement to the structure mounting the arm member in a manner in parallel with the axis of movement of the elements  12 ,  14  of the molding machine  10 , in essence, along the direction of arrow B paralleling axis  72  and arrow A, with the entire first assembly  42  being supported by this drive motor supporting structure. 
     The movement of the arm member  60  and the plate  62  mounting vacuum head  64  and cups  70  of the structure in the direction of arrow C transversely of axis  72  of the molding machine  10 ; i.e., along the longitudinal axis of the arm member  60 , may be effectuated by means of a suitable belt conveyor  79  operable by means of motor  86 , whereas the direction in parallel with the movement of the elements  12 ,  14  of the molding apparatus, in essence, along arrow A, is by means of drive motor  84 , which may be a so-called “kick motor,” and effectuated by means of a cooperating roller and guide rail structure  85 . 
     Furthermore, the end of the arm member  60  distant from that mounting the vacuum head plate  64  and the cups  70  for picking up the molded articles  20  from the molding machine  10  is connected to a rotary joint  88  forming part of the overall first assembly  42  and includes a drive motor  87  so as to enable the arm member  60  to be pivoted about its longitudinal axis as shown by D, and resultingly vacuum plate  62  to be either vertically oriented, as shown in drawing FIG. 7, when in a state of waiting and then being moved into the opening  66  between the molding machine elements  12 ,  14  for picking up molded articles  20 , or rotated 90° into a horizontal orientation to face downwardly upon being retracted into the position at the first location  46  where the articles  20  are adapted to be deposited on a pallet-like nest  90  having recesses  92  from which they are then picked up by a rotary parts handler comprising a component of the second assembly  44 , as described below, for transfer to the second location  52 . 
     The ability of the arm member  60  and the vacuum head  64  thereon to be reciprocably moved in two orthogonal directions; in essence, transversely along the direction of arrows C, and in parallel with the direction of the opening  66  along axis  72 , i.e., arrows A, between the molding machine elements  12 ,  14 , shown by arrow B, enables the structure of the arm member  60  and plate  62  to be constructed relatively thin in thickness and with lightening holes  83  formed therein resulting in a reduced mass, thereby lowering potential vibrations and any “jerking” motions of the movable components. This increases the accuracy in operation and precision in picking up and transporting the molded articles  20  from the molding machine  10  to the first location  46 . 
     The drive motor  84  which imparts the motion to the arm member  60  which is in a direction in parallel with the opening  66  between the molding machine elements  12 ,  14  may be programmed to assume various degrees of arm displacement, such as from zero to a predetermined displacement distance as a function of the mold article type and required size of opening  66 . This adjustability in the prepositioning caused by the “kick motor”  84  is necessary so that different designs of molded articles can be produced with a minimum waiting and motion time after mold opening. Consequently, upon the opening of the mold elements  12 ,  14 , in order to be able to remove the molded articles  20  from the molding machine  10 , prior thereto the arm member  66  possessing the vacuum head  64  may have been displaced in parallel so as to enable the cups  70  to be located as closely as possible to the molded articles  20  which are to be removed from the machine, and advanced transversely of the longitudinal axis  72  of the machine along the direction of arrow A into the opening  66  at a minimum clearance, thereby considerably reducing the time which was previously required for insertion of the vacuum head  64  into the opening  66 , while concurrently reducing vibration and jerking of the molded articles. 
     This precision picking action also results in a reduced need for wide mold openings, since the vacuum head  64  enters into any narrowly defined space required within the mold opening  66  rather than necessitating that the opening be widened to its fullest extent as heretofore prior to the insertion of the vacuum head  64  with the suction cups  70  for picking up the molded articles  20 . 
     Thereafter, upon having picked up the molded articles  20  and retraction thereof from the molding machine  10 , the arm member  60  is then moved again in reverse sequence towards its original position at the first location  46  while, concurrently, the arm member and vacuum head  60 ,  64  are pivoted about rotatable joint  88 , as shown by arrow D, into a horizontal orientation with the suction cups  70  facing downwardly while retaining the molded articles  20  thereto under the effects of an applied vacuum being moved into vertical alignment above the pallet-shaped nest  90 . The nest  90 , as shown in FIGS. 7 to  10 , is raised by means of a suitable hydraulic or pneumatic actuator  100  to cause recesses  92  formed in an upper surface  94  therein to come into seating contact with the molded articles which are located on the cups  70 . The vacuum in the cups  70  is then released and pressure generated to produce a blow off of the articles which causes the molded articles to be positioned in the recesses  92 , and the nest  90  with the molded articles is then lowered. This enables the arm member  60  to return to its previous position, as mentioned hereinbefore, to repeat the cycle of removing a successive batch of molded articles  20  from the machine  10  in continuous repetitive sequences. 
     The second assembly  44  is then operable for the purpose of contacting and picking up the molded articles  20  which are positioned in the upwardly facing recesses of the nest  90 , while the first assembly  42  has the arm member  60  possessing the vacuum plate  62  returned into its waiting or standby position adjacent the molding machine  10  and with the vacuum head  64  being rotated into its vertical orientation to enable its entry into the opening thereafter formed between the molding elements  12 ,  14  in the manner as described hereinabove, facilitating the receipt by the cups  70  of a new batch of molded articles  20 , so as to commence a subsequent cycle of operation. 
     During that period of time, the second assembly  44  is placed into operation as described hereinbelow to pick up the molded articles  20  at the first location  46  from the recesses  92  in nest  90 . 
     The second assembly  44  essentially comprises a rotary parts handling system, including a Cambot Rotary Parts Handler (registered trademark) manufactured by the Camco Corporation, which includes a rotatable cam-controlled member  110  which is also adapted to vertically reciprocate, and which mounts an elongate arm member  112  extending horizontally therefrom. The distal or free end of the arm member  112  has a head end plate  114  having suction cups  116  positioned thereon, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, with the array of the suction cups  116  being in correlation with the spacing of the recesses  92  in nest  90 , as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, and which is adapted to be pivoted through an angle of approximately 90° whereby in one position thereof at the first location  46 , the arm member  112  has the downwardly depending suction cups  116  located above the nest  90 . A vacuum source (not shown) which is connected to the depending suction cups  116 , which as mentioned are equal in number to the number of recesses  92  in the nest  90  containing the molded articles  20  are vertically aligned thereover, and the rotary arm member  112  is then lowered by the rotatable member  110  so as to contact the molded articles  20 . A vacuum is applied to the suction cups  116  on the plate  114  of the arm member  112  so as to cause the suction cups  116  to engage the articles  20 . 
     The arm member  112  is then raised by the rotatable member  110  and pivoted in a reversely directed horizontal displacement back through an angle of 90° so as to extend into a position wherein the plate  114  with the suction cups  116  retaining the molded articles is located above the upper run  56  of horizontal conveyor belt  50  forming a portion of the second location  52 , as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     As shown more specifically in FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, the conveyor belt  50  is adapted to be driven through the intermediary of a suitable motor  118  in synchronism with the reciprocatory pivotal movement of the materials handling arm member  112  of the rotary parts handling system of the second assembly  44 . 
     A plurality of pallets  132  each having an array of molded article-receiving recesses  134  are positioned in contiguous sequence at an upstream position  136  relative to the arm member  112  of the rotary parts member  110  on the conveyor belt upper run  56 , and are adapted to be individually advanced in spaced succession towards a pick-up station  140  for the molded articles  20 , in this instance, the base curves, in synchronism with each pivotal movement of the arm member  112  having the suction cups  116  holding an array of molded articles positioned over the conveyor belt  50 , which articles have been previously retrieved from the recesses  92  in the nest  90  at the first location  42 . 
     As the pallets  132  are advanced, they are separated and individually forwarded by an indexing device  140  a single pallet at one time until a leading pallet is positioned directly in alignment below the arm member  112  of the parts handling system which has been pivoted over the conveyor  50 , as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, with the molded articles  20  being held by the downwardly facing suction cups  116  over the lead in fixture. 
     At that point, a lifting mechanism  150 , which may be either hydraulic or pneumatic, is adapted to raise the pallet  132  upwardly from the upper conveyor belt run  56  to a predetermined extent, while concurrently the arm member  112  of the rotatable cam-controlled member  110  is displaced downwardly so as to enable the cups  116  to deposit the articles or base curves onto the facing recesses  134  formed in the pallet  132  by releasing the vacuum in the cups  116  and, possibly, imparting a slight superatmospheric pressure thereto which will firmly push or blow off the base curves or articles  20  into the recesses  134  of the pallet  132 . The pallet is then permitted to be lowered onto the upper conveyor belt run  56 , and the arm member  112  of the rotary parts handling system raised and pivoted back towards the nest  90  to enable the pick-up of a subsequent batch of molded articles which have been deposited thereon by the first assembly as retrieved from the molding machine  10 . At that time the lead pallet  132  containing the molded articles or base curves  20  is advanced by the conveyor belt  50  so as to form a continuous line with preceding base curve-filled pallets  132  which are then transported into a suitable chamber (not shown) containing, for example, a nitrogen atmosphere. This cycle is then continually repeated in the same manner of operation, rendering the entire apparatus and process of molded article transport extremely simple in comparison with currently employed material handling systems. 
     (B) Transport of Front Curves by Apparatus 
     With regard to the second embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 13 through 16 of the drawings, in this instance any components which are identical or similar in construction and function with those described with regard to the first embodiment are identified by the same reference numerals. 
     In this instance, the molded articles which are transported from the molding machine  10 , rather than being base curves  20  are the front curves  22  of lens forming molds, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     The first assembly  42 , in this embodiment, is basically identical in its design and function as in the first embodiment described hereinbefore; however, the suction cups  70  may be slightly differently dimensioned, since the front curves  22  are removed from the molding machine  10  in a converse orientation to that of the base curves. Consequently, during their transport to the second location  52  from the first location  46 , the molded articles or front curves are inverted by 180° about their plane. 
     As the vacuum head  64  is retracted from the mold elements  12 ,  14 , and rotated into horizontal orientation prior to reaching the first location  46 , rather than the molded articles  22  being deposited onto a nest  90  as the base curves are in the first embodiment, this nest  90  is rendered redundant and consequently is eliminated together with its operative structure, and the arm member  156  of the rotary parts handling system, comprising the rotatable and vertically reciprocable cam-controlled member  158 , and which arm member  156  may be shorter in length than the arm member  112  of the first embodiment for depositing the articles on pallets on a conveyor belt  160  which is adapted to run in simultaneous operative parallel relationship with conveyor belt  50  of the first embodiment, mounts at its distal free end upwardly facing vacuum-supplied cup-shaped article receiving elements  162  on a head plate  164 , which are adapted to be swung into a position for receiving the molded articles to the location where the nest  90  was previously located in the first embodiment. Consequently, as the horizontally oriented vacuum head  64  reaches that first location  46  with the front curves facing downwardly suspended from suction cups  70 , the arm member  156  of the rotary cam-controlled member  158 ; i.e., the Cambot, is rotated 180° therebeneath about its longitudinal axis and then moved upwardly by member  158  into contact with the front curves  22 , a vacuum being applied to the cups  162  on the arm member while the vacuum is released from the vacuum plate  64  and cups  70  and a slight superatmospheric pressure generated to produce a blow off condition enabling the arm member  156  to pick up the front curves by means of cups  162 . 
     At that point, the arm member  156  is lowered by the Cambot member  158  and then swung horizontally 90° towards the conveyor belt  160  while the vacuum head  64  is again transported towards the molding machine  10  and rotated into a vertical standby orientation for receiving molded articles therefrom. 
     As the arm member  156  is swung towards the horizontal conveyor belt  160  supporting a plurality of pallets  170  for receiving therefrom the molded articles, in effect the front curves  22 , the arm member  156  is rotatably inverted or flipped through an angle of 1800° about its longitudinal axis so as to cause the front curves or molded articles retained on the cups  162  to face downwardly towards recesses  172  formed in the pallets  170 . Thereafter, as the pallets are separated and advanced in sequence as in the first embodiment, the leading pallet is then raised by means of a lead in fixture as in the previous embodiment while in alignment with the arm member  156 , the latter of which is then moved downwardly and the vacuum released in cups  162  so as to enable the front curves to be received in the recesses  172  of the pallet  170 . The arm member  156  is thereafter raised by rotatable member  158  as the pallet  170  is advanced forwardly by a motor driving the conveyor belt in operative synchronism so as to form a succession of pallets containing front curves which are advanced into the nitrogen atmosphere-containing chamber (not shown). At that time, the arm member  156  which has been raised is again rotated or flipped through 180° so as to cause the front curve-transporting vacuum cups  162  to be oriented facing upwardly and to be in a position to receive a subsequent batch of front curves from the first assembly  42  as described hereinbefore. In essence, with the exception of the elimination of the nest  90  and the rotatable nature of the arm member  156  about its longitudinal axis so as to be able to invert the molded articles, the function and sequence of operation is identical as with that described with respect to the first embodiment which manipulates and transports the base curves  20 . 
     (C) Transportation of Primary Packaging Base Members by Apparatus 
     With respect to the third embodiment as shown in FIGS. 17 through 22 of the drawings, again this is similar in operation to that of the first embodiment of the apparatus and wherein similar or the like components are identified by the same reference numerals. 
     In this instance, the molded parts, rather than being either the base or front curves  20 ,  22  which are utilized for molding the contact lenses, are those for producing base members  30  of the primary packages for the contact lenses, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings each of which, in this configuration, by way of example only, comprises a generally flat flange  180  and a depending tab  182  at one end thereof, and with a cavity  184  being molded in the flat flange  180  for receiving and sealingly storing a molded contact lens therein while immersed in an isotonic saline solution. 
     In this instance, the arm member  60  of the first assembly  42  mounting the vacuum plate  188  receives the molded components  30 , such as by means of somewhat larger sized and spaced apart suction cups  190  in comparison with cups  70 , and retracts these while being rotated through 90 degrees from a vertical orientation in the space between the mold elements  12 ,  14  into a horizontal orientation at the first location  46 . These primary package or blister package base members  30  are then deposited onto a receiving nest arrangement  200 ,  202  each having an array of recesses so as to be able to receive two batches of molded parts  30  deposited in two passes of the arm member  60  in removing them from the molding machine  10 . These nest arrangements  200 ,  202  are then hydraulically or pneumatically respaced through drive  213  by rotation about 90° and repositioning into 16×2 arrays in specific alignment so as to enable suction cups  210  positioned on head plate  212  at a free end of the pivotable arm  214  of a cambot or rotary parts handling member  216  to pick these up in reoriented arrangement in one pass and to deposit these parts  30  onto pallets  220  sequentially being advanced along the upper run of a conveyor belt  222 . The conveyor belt  222  is also motor-driven by drive  223  in a manner similar to the preceding embodiments and the leading pallet  220  lifted at the second location  52 , while the cambot lowers the arm member  214  and releases the vacuum in the cups  210  and generates a slight superatmospheric blow off condition so as to cause the molded articles  30  to be deposited onto recesses  230  in the pallets  220  for further advance towards a processing station, i.e., a nitrogen atmosphere-containing chamber. 
     As previously mentioned, each of the embodiments enables the first assembly  42  which removes the molded articles  20 ,  22 ,  30  from the molding machine to convey samples of the molded articles to a sampling/testing locale  240  upstream of the first location  46  so as to facilitate periodic testing and/or inspection of the molded articles which have been molded in the molding machine  10 . 
     From the foregoing, it becomes readily apparent that the present embodiments of the molded parts transporting apparatus are simple in construction and in their function in comparison with previous or currently employed types of apparatus of this nature, and wherein the various transfer assemblies and transfer steps have been reduced in number, and in which the essential transport sequence is effected by means of a pivotable and rotatable arm system eliminating intermediate inverting and conveying systems heretofore required for the various molded articles. 
     Furthermore, the use of lightweight components for the transport and molded article pickup arms and the different elements forming the operative components also appreciably reduces and even eliminates any previous shocks and vibrations encountered during operation of the apparatus which would exert a deleterious effect on the quality of the articles being produced. 
     While there has been shown and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the invention be not limited to the exact form and detail herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of the invention herein disclosed as hereinafter claimed.