초록 ▼

An automated means for hydrating and packaging a molded hydrophilic contact lens in one of the mold parts used to mold the lens is provided in which a first robotic assembly removes a plurality of contact lens molds from a production line carrier, each of the lens molds having a contact lens adhered

An automated means for hydrating and packaging a molded hydrophilic contact lens in one of the mold parts used to mold the lens is provided in which a first robotic assembly removes a plurality of contact lens molds from a production line carrier, each of the lens molds having a contact lens adhered therein. The first robotic assembly transports the molds to a first staging area where the lens molds are sandwiched between a lens mold carrier and a top chamber plate to form a first hydration carrier. The hydration carrier is then transported through a plurality of flushing or extraction stations wherein fresh deionized water is introduced into the hydration chambers at each hydration station to flush leachable substances from the hydration chamber. At each flushing station, fresh deionized water is introduced into the hydration chamber to remove previously extracted impurities and the products of hydrolysis. A final robotic dis-assembly device separates the top chamber plate and lens molds in the mold carrier plate, to provide fully hydrated lenses in a concave lens mold ready for transfer to inspection and packaging stations. Following inspection of the lens, the concave lens mold is dosed with saline and used to form part of the package used to distribute the lens.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An automated apparatus for hydrating a molded hydrophilic contact lens, in one of the mold parts used to mold the lens said automated apparatus comprising:(a) a first robotic assembly for removing a plurality of contact lens molds from a preliminary carrier, each mold having a cont

[ We claim:] [1.] An automated apparatus for hydrating a molded hydrophilic contact lens, in one of the mold parts used to mold the lens said automated apparatus comprising:(a) a first robotic assembly for removing a plurality of contact lens molds from a preliminary carrier, each mold having a contact lens therein, and assembling said molds with a mold carrier and a plurality of lens hydration means to form a hydration carrier;(b) a plurality of hydration stations for supplying a hydration fluid to the lens hydration means to hydrate the lenses and release said lenses from said molds;(c) a transport for transporting said hydration carrier through said hydration stations;(d) a second robotic assembly for removing said molds from said mold carrier and transporting said molds and said lenses to a subsequent processing station.