Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Anne B. Kierman
  • Patent number: 6494021
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a wet object, such as a contact lens, from a first station to a second station includes a probe having a barrel with a passage for communication with a vacuum source and a pressurized gas source, a nozzle at the end of the passage, and a hood around the nozzle in communication with a vacuum source. The barrel is moved in a first direction to place the nozzle adjacent the object in the first station and the vacuum from the nozzle attaches the object to the nozzle. Moving the barrel in a second direction removes the nozzle with the object attached from the first station. The probe is moved to the second station with the object attached. The barrel is moved in the first direction to place the object at the second station, the vacuum is removed from the nozzle and pressurized gas is applied through the barrel passage to remove the object from the nozzle and deposit it at the second station and, at the same time, blow off matter from the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Schlagel, David C. Byram, Darren S. Keene