Container for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process

A container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process has a longitudinal axis (11) and comprises as separate elements a containment element (2), a mounting element (3), and a retaining element (4). The containment element (2) comprises a tubular section (21) and a bottom (22) arranged at a distal end of the tubular section (21), the bottom (22) protruding convexly towards the outside at the distal end of the tubular section (21) and being provided with a number of apertures (23, 24), the tubular section (21) at a proximal end (25) thereof having a latch (26) protruding from the proximal end (25) of the tubular section (21) towards the mounting element (3). The mounting element (3) comprises a sidewall (31) extending along the longitudinal axis (11) of the container (1), the sidewall (31) being provided with recesses or orifices (32) which are in engagement with the latch (26) of the containment element (2). The mounting element (3) further comprises an access opening (37) arranged at a proximal end of the mounting element (3) remote from the containment element (2). The retaining element (4) is fixedly arranged in between the containment element (2) and the mounting element (3), the retaining element (4) being configured to prevent the ophthalmic lens from being washed out of the containment element (2) and to permit access for a gripper through the access opening (37) of the mounting element (3) into the containment element (2) for insertion and removal of the ophthalmic lens.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a container for the accommodation of an ophthalmic lens during a treatment process.

BACKGROUND

Ophthalmic lenses, such as contact lenses, particularly soft contact lenses, are generally manufactured in automated production processes well known in the art. Depending on the lens forming materials used and according to the production method applied, the contact lenses have to be immersed in specific treatment liquids such as extraction liquids, rinsing liquids, coating liquids, etc., to obtain the final contact lens which is suitable to be worn in direct contact with the wearer's eye. For that purpose it is known to transport the contact lenses through several baths containing such treatment liquids. For example, the contact lenses are introduced into containers arranged in a transport carrier which is moved along the length of the individual baths such that the contact lenses contained in the respective containers are exposed to the treatment liquid of the respective bath. Movement of the transport carrier is performed such that the contact lens in the respective container always is in contact with the treatment liquid of the respective bath. After having passed through one bath, the containers arranged in the transport carrier are transferred to a further treatment bath containing a further treatment liquid.

US 2011/0089053 A1 discloses a container for the accommodation of a contact lens during a lens treatment process such as extraction and/or rinsing and/or coating processes. The container is molded in one piece and comprises an elongated tubular body with a sidewall, and further comprises at a distal end thereof a bottom which protrudes convexly towards the outside. The bottom is provided with a number of apertures which enable flow of a liquid into and out of the tubular body. A retaining element is arranged inside the tubular body which is attached inside the tubular body by means of lugs engaging in corresponding apertures in the sidewall of the tubular body. The retaining element is flexible and allows access of a transfer means into the tubular body towards the bottom thereof for insertion and removal of a contact lens, and also enables a free rising of the liquid inside the tubular body while at the same time preventing the contact lens from being washed out of the tubular body.

US 2014/174956 A1 discloses a similar container having a leg portion comprising four legs (extending along the longitudinal axis of the container) and a convex containment portion at the distal end of the container to hold the contact lens during the transport of the contact lens through the various baths. A retainer ring is arranged inside the leg portion and clamps the circumferential portion of a retaining element against the inner sidewall of the leg portion of the container. The container is molded in one piece. Between the legs of the leg portion flow openings are arranged, so that the container allows for a stacked arrangement of containers in which the bottom portion of one container is arranged within the leg portion of another container and still allows for a good contact of the contact lens held in the containment portion of the “inner” container with the treatment liquid.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the invention to further improve efficiency of the treatment of ophthalmic lenses, in particular contact lenses such as soft contact lenses, in liquid baths. It is a further object of the invention to improve the processes and apparatuses used for the treatment of the lenses in liquid baths.

To achieve these objects, the present invention suggests a device as it is specified by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous aspects of the device according to the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

In the instant application, the terms “distal” and “proximal” refer to the position of the container and its elements under typical operating conditions. Specifically, the term “distal” refers to the respective lower part of the container or element considered, whereas the term “proximal” refers to the upper part of the container or element considered.

In particular, the invention suggests a container for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process, the container having a longitudinal axis. The container comprises as separate elements a containment element, a mounting element, and a retaining element. The containment element comprises a tubular section and a bottom arranged at a distal end of the tubular section, the bottom protruding convexly towards the outside at the distal end of the tubular section. The bottom is provided with a number of apertures for enabling a free flow of a treatment liquid into and out of the containment element. The tubular section at a proximal end thereof has a latch protruding from the proximal end of the tubular section towards the mounting element. The mounting element comprises a sidewall extending along the longitudinal axis of the container. The sidewall is provided with recesses or orifices which are in engagement with the latch of the containment element. The mounting element further comprises an access opening arranged at a proximal end of the mounting element. The retaining element is fixedly arranged in between the containment element and the mounting element. The retaining element is configured to prevent the ophthalmic lens from being washed out of the containment element and to permit access for a gripper through the access opening of the mounting element into the containment element for insertion and removal of the ophthalmic lens.

According to one aspect of the device according to the invention, the mounting element further comprises a plurality of elongated flow openings arranged in the sidewall for allowing a treatment liquid to flow into and out of an inner space of the mounting element.

According to a further aspect of the device according to the invention, the elongated flow openings are tapering, particularly in an elliptic shape, towards a proximal end thereof.

According to a still further aspect of the device according to the invention, the retaining element comprises a through-hole arranged in a circumferential portion of the retaining element, with the latch of the containment element extending through the through-hole of the retaining element.

According to yet a further aspect of the device, the mounting element has at least one lug protruding in longitudinal direction from a distal end of the mounting element towards the proximal end of the tubular section of the containment element, and the retaining element has at least one indentation arranged in a circumferential portion of the retaining element, with the at least one lug of the mounting element engaging into the at least one indentation of the retaining element.

Still in accordance with another aspect of the device according to the invention, the sidewall of the mounting element extends along the longitudinal axis of the container from the access opening to the proximal end of the tubular section of the containment element and defines an inner space of the mounting element which allows for introduction of the containment element of another such container into the inner space of the mounting element of the container through the access opening.

In accordance with a further aspect of the device according to the invention, the sidewall of the mounting element is arranged to conically taper towards the distal end of the mounting element.

According to a further aspect of the device according to the invention, the mounting element is provided with a flange surrounding the access opening, the flange having a square shape.

According to a still further aspect of the device according to the invention, the sidewall of the mounting element is provided with at least one resilient locking tab arranged beneath the flange.

Yet in accordance with another aspect of the device according to the invention, the retaining element comprises a diaphragm having flexible fins which extend from a circumferential portion of the retaining element towards a center of the diaphragm. The flexible fins are inclined towards the bottom of the containment element and are provided with fin through-holes for enabling free passage of treatment liquid into and out of the containment element.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the device according to the invention, the apertures in the containment element comprise bottom through-holes and longitudinal slots, the longitudinal slots extending from the bottom into the tubular section towards the proximal end of the tubular section of the containment element.

Yet in accordance with another aspect of the device according to the invention, at least on an inner surface of the bottom of the containment element the apertures open out into the inner surface of the bottom with rounded edges.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a transport carrier comprising an elongated web as well as two engagement portions capable of engaging with a transport device. One of the two engagement portions is arranged at one longitudinal end of the elongated web and the other one of the two engagement portions is arranged at the other end of the elongated web. The transport carrier further comprises a plurality of adjacently arranged through-holes in the elongated web, with at least one container according to the invention being arranged in the through-holes of the elongated web of the transport carrier, in particular with a container according to the invention being arranged in each of the through-holes of the elongated web of the transport carrier.

An additional aspect of the invention relates to a transport carrier assembly comprising at least two transport carriers according to the invention arranged in a manner stacked one above the other. The at least two transport carriers are stacked one above the other such that the containment element of the at least one container according to the invention arranged in the through-holes of the web of the respective upper transport carrier is arranged in the inner space of the mounting element of a container according to the invention arranged in the through-holes of the respective lower transport carrier, in particular with each containment element of the containers according to the invention arranged in each of the through-holes of the elongated web of the upper transport carrier being arranged in the inner space of the mounting element of each of the containers according to the invention arranged in the through-holes of the web of the lower transport carrier.

Due to the multipart construction, the dimensions of the container according to the invention are more flexible. For example, the container may have an increased length (viewed in direction of its longitudinal axis) in order to ensure that the containment element (holding the ophthalmic lens) is always completely immersed in the treatment baths, even when the treatment baths have different levels of treatment liquid. The enhanced construction thus allows for reliable immersion of the contact lens even with lateral transportation of the carrier in which the container is arranged and if the levels of treatment liquids in the baths are different. Additionally, due to the smaller dimensions of the individual separate elements of the container according to the invention reliability of the manufacture of the separate elements is enhanced while at the same time assembly of the container is simple. The latch engages with the recesses or orifices of the mounting element and holds the retaining element in between the containment element and the mounting element.

The mounting element allows for a secure mounting of the container to a transport carrier with the aid of which a plurality of such containers each containing a lens can be transported together through one or more liquid baths. The mounting element allows the containers to be mounted to the transport carrier such that the containment element is immersed in the treatment liquid while the transport carrier is not immersed in the treatment liquid.

The elongated flow openings arranged in the sidewall allow for flow of treatment liquid into and out of the inner space of the mounting element, hence allowing for a continuous exchange of treatment liquid during movement and transportation of the container through the baths.

The container is stackable, that is to say another container of the same type can be introduced through the access opening at the longitudinal end of the mounting element remote from the containment element (i.e. at the proximal end of the container) into the mounting element to form two containers stacked one within the other. At the same time, however, a good flow of treatment liquid is still ensured into the containment element of the “inner” container of the stacked containers to provide for a good exposure of the ophthalmic lenses contained in the containment elements of both stacked containers.

This provides for a plurality of advantages. For example, if the transportation speed of the containers containing the lenses remains unchanged and two stacked containers are transported through the liquid bath instead of one, the number of ophthalmic lenses that can be treated in the same period of time is twice as much. In case of three stacked containers, the number of lenses that can be treated in the same period of time is three times as much. Alternatively, if the number of ophthalmic lenses to be treated (i.e. the number of ophthalmic lenses transported through a bath) during a predetermined period of time is to remain unchanged, in case of two stacked containers it is possible to reduce the transportation speed to one half of the transportation speed of the conventional transportation speed. This may be advantageous in that the lenses are exposed to the treatment liquid for a longer period of time which is twice as long. For example, in case of exposure of the ophthalmic lenses to an extraction liquid the completeness of extraction can thus be further improved. Alternatively, the baths may be of smaller constructional size so that the exposure time of the ophthalmic lens to the treatment liquid is kept constant due to the slower transportation speed through the treatment baths. Hence, the size of the treatment line within the manufacturing line may be more compact. Similar considerations hold for rinsing, coating and other treatment processes. In both cases (number of ophthalmic lenses to be treated in a predetermined period of time is increased, number of ophthalmic lenses to be treated in a period of time is unchanged but exposure time of the lenses to the liquid is increased) there is no need to make any constructional changes to an already existing apparatus.

In particular, this method also allows for a better and more flexible customization of the production steps or the manufacturing line. For example, in case the space consumption of a manufacturing line is to be decreased while the number of lenses to be treated in a predetermined period of time is to remain unchanged, the transportation speed may be decreased down to one half, one third or less of the original transportation speed, and the length of the liquid baths (in the direction of transport) can be shortened down to one half, one third or less of the original length.

The tapering flow openings reduce the risk that the stacked containers get blocked or interlocked upon removing the stacked second container (the “inner” container) from the inner space of the first container (the “outer” container).

The through-hole at the circumferential portion of the retaining element is designed such that the latch of the containment element extends through the through-hole when the container is assembled. Thus, the latch also holds the retaining element in position.

Similarly, the lug protruding in longitudinal direction from the distal end of the mounting element towards the proximal end of the containment element engages into a corresponding indentation of the retaining element and holds the retaining element in position.

Both measures contribute to a secure mounting of the retaining element in between the mounting element and the containment element when the container is assembled.

The sidewalls of the mounting element conically taper outwardly towards the distal end of the mounting element and thus allow for easy insertion (stacking) of another container through the access opening into the mounting element to form a stack of two containers. Furthermore, this conical taper simplifies insertion of the container (from above) into a through-hole of a transport carrier (where it can be secured with a snap-fit, for example).

The square flange surrounding the access opening at the proximal end of the mounting element allows for insertion of the container into a through-hole provided in a transport carrier until the flange abuts against the transport carrier when introduced in the through-hole thereof so that the container is securely mounted onto the transport carrier. The square shape of the flange permits that a plurality of containers can be arranged next to each other at a very small distance along the length of the transport carrier.

The resilient locking tabs arranged underneath the square shaped flange in the sidewalls of the mounting element allow for an easy securing of the container to the transport carrier by insertion of the container into the through-hole of the carrier. The locking tabs then securely attach the respective container to the transport carrier (snap-fit).

The bottom through-holes and the longitudinal slots in the containment element allow treatment liquid to enter and exit the containment element, where the ophthalmic lens is entrapped while freely floating in the treatment liquid in the containment element.

The flexible fins enable an easy insertion of a gripper or for the insertion and removal of an ophthalmic lens into or from the containment element. Upon insertion of the gripper, the fins bend downwardly towards the bottom of the container. Due to their flexibility they move back to their original retaining position after the gripper has been withdrawn. The fin through-holes enable a free flow of liquid therethrough.

The apertures at the inner surface of the bottom of the containment element opening out into the inner surface of the bottom are provided with rounded edges that allow additional protection of the ophthalmic lens during processing. The rounded edges, in contrast to “sharp” edges, minimize the risk that the ophthalmic lens is getting damaged when coming into contact with such edge during its floating movement in the containment element.

It is to be noted, that every individual feature described herein as well as all combination of two or more of such features are possible as long as such features are not mutually exclusive or are otherwise technically incompatible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As used in this specification, the term “treatment liquid” or “treatment liquids” comprises any type of liquid to which the ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens such as a soft contact lens, may be exposed during a contact lens manufacturing process, and include in particular liquids influencing the physical or chemical properties of the lens. Without being exhaustive, such treatment liquids may comprise extraction liquids, rinsing liquids, coating liquids or any other type of liquid and in particular also may comprise water.

The term “along the longitudinal axis of the main body” is used to describe the general direction in which the mounting element of the container extends. Although possible, the mounting element does not have to run exactly parallel to the longitudinal axis, and in particular the mounting element has a slightly conical shape.

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembled container1according to the invention, andFIG. 2shows an exploded view of the embodiment of container1ofFIG. 1. Container1comprises separate elements, namely a containment element2, a mounting element3, and a retaining element4. Mounting element3comprises elongated flow openings34for allowing the treatment liquid to enter into and exit an inner space of mounting element3, the inner space of mounting element3being surrounded by a sidewall31in which the elongated flow openings34are arranged. Container1further comprises a retaining element4fixedly arranged in between containment element2and mounting element3.

Containment element2of the embodiment of container1shown inFIG. 1is shown in more detail inFIG. 3. Containment element2comprises a tubular section21which has a generally circular cross-section, and a bottom22which convexly protrudes towards the outside at the distal end of tubular section21. Bottom22is provided with a number of apertures in form of through-holes23and slots24. Slots24extend from a transition of bottom22into tubular section21of containment element2and towards the proximal end of containment element2. Through-holes23and slots24allow for a continuous flow of treatment liquid into and out of containment element2and around an ophthalmic lens (e.g. a soft contact lens) contained therein (the lens not being shown in the drawings). Tubular section21of containment element2has a proximal end25remote from the bottom22. At this proximal end25tubular section21four latches26(latching tabs) are arranged which protrude from the proximal end25of the tubular section21towards the distal end of the mounting element3. The four latches26are circumferentially arranged around the longitudinal axis11of the container1at an equal distance from the longitudinal axis11. Adjacent latches26are arranged at an angular displacement of 90° relative to one another. In the assembled state of container1, latches26are in engagement with corresponding orifices32arranged in the sidewall of mounting element3.

At least on an inner surface of the containment element2the through-holes23and slots24open out into the inner surface of the bottom22with rounded edges (not exaggeratedly shown in the drawings).

Mounting element3of container1shown inFIG. 1is shown in more detail inFIG. 4, and comprises sidewall31extending along the longitudinal axis11of the container1. Mounting element3further comprises an access opening37arranged at the proximal end of mounting element3remote from the containment element2and defines an access to an inner space38of mounting element3. Sidewall31is provided with four elongated flow openings34arranged at an equal distance from longitudinal axis11and at an angular displacement of 90° relative to one another. Flow openings34are tapering towards their proximal end, (i.e. in the direction towards the access opening37of the mounting element3). As can be seen inFIG. 4, the elongated flow openings at their proximal end have an elliptic shape, but may have a different tapering shape as well.

In the sidewall31of mounting element3four orifices32are provided which in the assembled state of container1are in engagement with the latches26of containment element2so as to lock the elements in place. The four orifices32correspond to the four latches26of containment element2and are circumferentially arranged around the longitudinal axis11of the container1at an equal distance from the longitudinal axis11. Adjacent orifices32are arranged at an angular displacement of 90° relative to one another.

For additional fixation of retaining element4in the assembled container1, mounting element3has four lugs33protruding in longitudinal direction from the distal end of mounting element3towards the proximal end25of tubular section21of containment element2. The four lugs are circumferentially arranged around the longitudinal axis11of the container1at an equal distance from the longitudinal axis11, and adjacent lugs33are arranged at an angular displacement of 90° relative to one another.

At the proximal end of mounting element3, surrounding the access opening37, mounting element3is provided with a flange35having a square shape. Resilient locking tabs36are arranged beneath the square shaped flange35(at the corners of the square).

The square flange35and the resilient locking tabs36serve for secure attachment of the container1to a transport carrier as will be described in more detail below. This square shape of the flange35is advantageous with respect to an arrangement of a plurality of containers1next to each other in an elongated web of a transport carrier. As can be easily understood, however, the shape of the flange35may generally vary without affecting its function.

InFIG. 1retaining element4is shown fixedly mounted in the assembled container1in between containment element2and mounting element3. Retaining element4is shown in more detail inFIG. 5. Retaining element4comprises a diaphragm40having flexible fins43which extend from a circumferential cylindrical portion towards the center of the diaphragm. Flexible fins43are slightly inclined towards the bottom22of containment element2and are provided with fin through-holes44enabling free passage of treatment liquid into and out of containment element2(which in operation contains the lens to be treated, not shown in the drawings). Instead of the fins43, narrow spokes may also be provided to increase the flow of treatment liquid into and out of containment element2as long as the spokes are adapted to securely retain the lens in containment element2during transport of container1through the liquid.

Retaining element4has a circular shape and has four through-holes41arranged in a circumferential portion of the retaining element4for allowing latches26of containment element2to extend through the through-holes41of retaining element4. Latches26hold the retaining element4in position during and after assembly of container1. For additional fixation of retaining element4in the assembled state of the container1, mounting element3has four lugs33protruding from the distal end of mounting element3in longitudinal direction towards the proximal end25of tubular section21of containment element2, and retaining element4additionally has four indentations42arranged in a circumferential portion of the retaining element4, with the lugs33of the mounting element3engaging into the indentations42of the retaining element4when container1is assembled.

To assemble container1, the retaining element4is placed onto the containment element2such that latches26of containment element2are passed through through-holes41of retaining element4. Retaining element4and containment element2are then pre-assembled. Subsequently, latches26of containment element2are introduced into the distal end of the mounting element3until they engage into the orifices32arranged in sidewall31of mounting element3(the latches26snap into the orifices32). At the same time, the lugs33of mounting element3engage into the indentations42of retaining element4, thus securely fixing retaining element4between containment element2and mounting element3. No retainer ring or any other fixation element is necessary to fixedly arrange retaining element4. Container1is then assembled.

Retaining element4separates the inner space38of mounting element3from the inner space of containment element2accommodating the lens. Mounting element3is at least partly open laterally (elongated flow openings34), and is also open at the proximal end (access opening37). Containment element2, however, is essentially closed (tubular section21, convex bottom22, retaining element4), so that the lens accommodated in the inner space of containment element2cannot get lost during the transport through one or more liquid baths. At the same time, the lens is allowed to freely float within the inner space of containment element2so as to be continuously and completely exposed to the treatment liquid of the respective bath.

As has been described already, mounting element3extends along the longitudinal axis of the container1from the access opening37to the proximal end25of the tubular section21of containment element2so as to enable introduction of the containment element2of another such container1into the mounting element3through access opening37to achieve a stacked arrangement of containers1. To allow for easy introduction, the sidewall31of the mounting element3is conically tapering.

FIG. 6shows two such stacked containers1. It is evident, that even in this stacked arrangement of containers1treatment liquid can easily enter into the inner space of the containment elements2of each of the stacked containers1in which the lenses to be treated are accommodated. The treatment liquid may enter into the inner space of containment element2of the “inner” container1through the flow openings34of the “outer” container1and through the openings23and slots24of the containment element2of the “inner” container1. As regards the “outer” container1, liquid can enter into the inner space of containment element2of the “outer” container1through the openings23and slots24of the containment element2of “outer” container1. Thus, the lens contained in the inner space of the “inner” container1ad well as the lens contained in the “outer” container are sufficiently exposed to the treatment liquid.

Lenses can be introduced into and removed from the containment element2of the respective container1with the aid of a conventional gripper. For introduction of a lens into the containment element2, the gripper with the lens attached thereto is moved downwardly and the flexible fins43of retaining element4are bent downwardly towards bottom22of the containment element. Once the gripper has released the lens and has been retracted, the flexible fins43return to their original position, thus closing containment element2and preventing the lens from escaping from the containment element2during the transport through the liquid bath. Similarly, for removal of the lens from the containment element2, the lens can be gripped by the gripper and can then be removed from the containment element2.

The material retaining element4including diaphragm40is made of is selected in accordance with the treatment liquids used for treatment of the contact lenses and also depending on the required mechanical (elastic, resilient) properties thereof. By way of example, a suitable material is silicone.

Similarly, containment element2as well as mounting element3can be made of a material which his suitable for use in the treatment liquids and which is also suitable from a manufacturing point of view. A suitable material may be an injection-moldable plastic material such as a polyolefin, PET, or may be any other suitable material. By way of example, containment element2and mounting element3may be made from polypropylene, which allows for a reliable and cost-effective manufacturing of these elements through injection-molding and which is suitable for use in the treatment liquids.

As can be seen further fromFIG. 6, the sidewall31extends along the longitudinal axis and is conically tapering. The slight conical taper of the sidewall31is advantageous in that upon insertion of a container1into a through-hole51of a transport carrier5from above, seeFIG. 7(showing a transport carrier assembly comprising two such transport carriers5stacked one above the other), the container1snugly fits in the through-hole52. As the resilient locking tabs36slide past the interior walls surrounding the through-holes52of transport carrier5the resilient locking tabs36snap outwardly and lock the container1to the transport carrier5at the desired position. This snap fit can be released again by pressing the resilient locking tabs36inwardly thereby allowing for removal of the container1from the transport carrier5.

As can be seen further fromFIG. 7, each transport carrier5comprises a plurality of through-holes51arranged in the elongated web50, and in each of the through-holes52a container1as described hereinbefore is arranged and is fixedly mounted to the transport carrier5in the manner explained above. Due to the very narrow space between adjacently arranged containers1, the containers1can be mounted to the transport carrier5with the aid of a suitable mounting tool. When being mounted, the square-shaped flange35of mounting element3of the respective container1rests against the upper surface of elongated web50and prohibits the container1from slipping through the respective through-hole52. The resilient locking tabs36right underneath the square-shaped flange35rest against the lower surface of the elongated web50. The square shape of the sidewall31in the portion of mounting element3right beneath flange35fits into corresponding square-shaped through-hole52so that each container1is mounted at a desired position and with a desired orientation to the respective transport carrier5.

As can be seen further fromFIG. 7, each transport carrier5comprises two engagement portions51which are arranged at opposite ends of the elongated web50of the respective transport carrier5(only one engagement portion51being shown inFIG. 7) for engagement with a transport device (not shown) that moves the transport carriers5through the respective baths. Each transport carrier5further comprises an RFID (radio frequency identification) transponder53. The RFID transponder53allows for identification of the respective transport carrier5and for detection of the position of the respective transport carrier5in the manufacturing line. As the programmable logic control (PLC) of the manufacturing line always knows what type of lens has been introduced into which container1of which transport carrier5, it is always possible to determine what type of lens is contained in the individual containers1of the respective transport carrier5.

As can be seen inFIG. 7, the containers1of the upper transport carrier5are inserted into the inner space37of the mounting element of the containers1of the lower transport carrier5such that the containment element2of the respective container1of the upper transport carrier5is completely inserted into the mounting element3of the respective container1of the lower transport carrier5. However, as can also be seen inFIG. 6andFIG. 7and as is already explained above, the containment element2of the respective container1(“inner” container) of the upper transport carrier5is arranged in the mounting element3of the respective container1(“outer” container) of the lower transport carrier5such that access for the treatment liquid into the containment element2of the “inner” container1of the is established through the elongated flow openings34arranged in the sidewall31of the mounting element3of the respective “outer” container1.

The transport carrier assembly shown inFIG. 7(“piggyback” assembly) can be transported through the liquid bath in a manner well-known in the art. It goes without saying that it is within the scope of this invention to provide a transport carrier assembly with more than two carriers stacked one above the other which works in accordance with the principles already described above.

The container according to the invention can be used in a fully automated production processes for ophthalmic lenses such as, for example, soft contact lenses, in particular soft contact lenses made of a silicon hydrogel (SiHy) material. The container is simple in construction and capable of being manufactured reproducibly in mass production processes, for example by injection molding.

While embodiments of the invention have been described with the aid of the drawings, various changes, modifications, and alternatives are conceivable without departing from the teaching underlying the invention. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to the described embodiments but rather is defined by the scope of the appended claims.