Abstract: In a soft contact lens manufacturing process, an injection molding machine (IMM) produces many thermoplastic injection molded front curve (FC) and back curve (BC) mold parts, each of which mold parts is subsequently used only once to mold a single soft contact lens. An inlay station with alignment assemblies and transfer tubes provide for the precise transfer to and alignment of the FC and BC molds in pallets during their transfer from the IMM to pallets on an assembly line in a high speed automated commercial production operation. A rotatable FC transfer arm and a rotatable BC transfer arm transfer the FC and BC molds from the IMM machine to the pallets in an inlay station. The precisely aligned transfer is provided by two alignment rods of an alignment assembly which pass through two alignment apertures in the pallet and then pass through two alignment apertures in one of the FC or BC alignment arms.

Abstract: This invention provides an arrangement for moving an item from a first station to a transfer tube comprising a transfer tube, a transfer arm for placement of the item on the transfer tube, and alignment means for aligning the item with the transfer tube.

Abstract: In a soft contact lens manufacturing process, an injection molding machine (IMM) produces many thermoplastic injection molded front curve (FC) and back curve (BC) mold parts, each of which mold parts is subsequently used only once to mold a single soft contact lens. An inlay station with alignment assemblies and transfer tubes provide for the precise transfer to and alignment of the FC and BC molds in pallets during their transfer from the IMM to pallets on an assembly line in a high speed automated commercial production operation. A rotatable FC transfer arm and a rotatable BC transfer arm transfer the FC and BC molds from the IMM machine to the pallets in an inlay station. The precisely aligned transfer is provided by two alignment rods of an alignment assembly which pass through two alignment apertures in the pallet and then pass through two alignment apertures in one of the FC or BC alignment arms.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated production of ophthalmic lenses, particularly compound lenses having a plastic coating on a plastic lens is described. A mold, after rotational orientation, is placed in a gimbal assembly to provide for the proper tilt. This gimbal assembly forms part of a fixture attached to an indexing means which moves for complete assembly of a molding fixture and then moves the molding fixture through a chamber to cure the resin. A preform, after rotational orientation, is held, by a preform gripper placed above the mold, and with sufficient clearance between the mold and the preform to allow the correct resin thickness during the curing portion of the process. The fixture is also provided with members to firmly grip the preform gripper so as to maintain its orientation throughout the curing process.