Abstract: An injection molding apparatus for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens mold having a front surface comprising a lens forming portion and a rear surface, comprises a first molding tool and a second molding tool. The first and second molding tools are movable towards and away from each other between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the first mold forming portion of the first molding tool and the second mold forming portion of the second molding tool define a cavity between them corresponding in shape to the shape of the ophthalmic lens mold. The surface of the second mold forming portion, at least in a central zone thereof, has a surface roughness Sa in the range of 0.3 ?m to 2 ?m, and a surface roughness Sz in the range of 10 ?m to 50 ?m.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of plastic molds comprises: an injection molding tool comprising a first and second molding tool halves and —a gripper tool comprising a plurality of gripper members to which suction can be applied. The first and second molding tool halves are movable into the closed position and into an open position. A front surface of the first molding members comprises recesses to allow the formation of pins projecting from the rear surface the plastic mold into the recesses to make the plastic molds adhere to the first molding members. The gripper tool is movably arranged only in a direction parallel to the first surface into the space formed between the first and second surfaces for transferring the plastic molds to the gripper members and out of this space again.

Abstract: A method of providing a male mold half (1) for molding a toric contact lens at a predetermined target rotational orientation is disclosed. The male mold half comprises a front face (10) having a toric convex lens-forming surface (100) and a rear face (11) The method comprises the steps of: providing the male mold half (1) at a predetermined rotational orientation (PROM), picking the male mold half (1) up with a gripper (5) having a central axis (55), rotating the gripper (5) with the male mold half (1) about the central axis (55) of the gripper (5) by a predetermined rotational angle (?) towards the predetermined target rotational orientation (TROM), and releasing the rotated male mold half (1) from the gripper (5). Prior to picking the male mold half (1) up, the method comprises centering the gripper (5) and the male mold half (1) relative to each other such that the central axis (55) of the gripper and a central axis (113) of the male mold (1) half coincide.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of plastic molds comprises:—an injection molding tool comprising a first and second molding tool halves and—a gripper tool comprising a plurality of gripper members to which suction can be applied. The first and second molding tool halves are movable into the closed position and into an open position. A front surface of the first molding members comprises recesses to allow the formation of pins projecting from the rear surface the plastic mold into the recesses to make the plastic molds adhere to the first molding members. The gripper tool is movably arranged only in a direction parallel to the first surface into the space formed between the first and second surfaces for transferring the plastic molds to the gripper members and out of this space again.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens mold having a front surface comprising a lens forming portion and a rear surface, comprises a first molding tool and a second molding tool. The first and second molding tools are movable towards and away from each other between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the first mold forming portion of the first molding tool and the second mold forming portion of the second molding tool define a cavity between them corresponding in shape to the shape of the ophthalmic lens mold. The surface of the second mold forming portion, at least in a central zone thereof, has a surface roughness Sa in the range of 0.3 ?m to 2 ?m, and a surface roughness Sz in the range of 10 ?m to 50 ?m.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a molding surface (51) of a reusable lens mold (5), in particular of a reusable lens mold (5) for molding ophthalmic lenses such as soft contact lenses, comprising the steps of: generating a jet (3) of deionized water, exposing the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5) to the jet (3) of deionized water, wherein the jet (3) of deionized water has a circular full cone spray pattern and impinges on the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5), and wherein the circular full cone spray pattern has a uniform distribution of the volume flow of deionized water over the base of the cone of the circular full cone spray pattern.

Abstract: A method of cleaning deposited material from a molding surface (10) of a mold (1) for forming ophthalmic lenses, including bringing a cleaning head (20) into contact with the molding surface (10), the rotational axis (22) of the cleaning head (20) being arranged normal to the molding surface (10), rotating (220) the cleaning head (20) around the rotational axis (22) while maintaining the contact between the cleaning head (20) and the molding surface (10), moving the cleaning head (20) to perform a precession motion (110) around a central normal (11) on the molding surface (10), while rotating (220) the cleaning head (20) around the rotational axis (22) and while maintaining the contact between the cleaning head (20) and the molding surface (10). During the precession motion (110) the rotational axis (22) includes an inclination angle (?1,?2) with the central normal (11) on the molding surface (10).

Abstract: A method for cleaning a molding surface (51) of a reusable lens mold (5), in particular of a reusable lens mold (5) for molding ophthalmic lenses such as soft contact lenses, comprising the steps of: generating a jet (3) of deionized water, exposing the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5) to the jet (3) of deionized water, wherein the jet (3) of deionized water has a circular full cone spray pattern and impinges on the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5), and wherein the circular full cone spray pattern has a uniform distribution of the volume flow of deionized water over the base of the cone of the circular full cone spray pattern.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a molding surface (51) of a reusable lens mold (5), in particular of a reusable lens mold (5) for molding ophthalmic lenses such as soft contact lenses, comprising the steps of: generating a jet (3) of deionized water, exposing the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5) to the jet (3) of deionized water, wherein the jet (3) of deionized water has a circular full cone spray pattern and impinges on the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5), and wherein the circular full cone spray pattern has a uniform distribution of the volume flow of deionized water over the base of the cone of the circular full cone spray pattern.

Abstract: A method of cleaning deposited material from a molding surface (10) of a mold (1) for forming ophthalmic lenses, including bringing a cleaning head (20) into contact with the molding surface (10), the rotational axis (22) of the cleaning head (20) being arranged normal to the molding surface (10), rotating (220) the cleaning head (20) around the rotational axis (22) while maintaining the contact between the cleaning head (20) and the molding surface (10), moving the cleaning head (20) to perform a precession motion (110) around a central normal (11) on the molding surface (10), while rotating (220) the cleaning head (20) around the rotational axis (22) and while maintaining the contact between the cleaning head (20) and the molding surface (10). During the precession motion (110) the rotational axis (22) includes an inclination angle (?1,?2) with the central normal (11) on the molding surface (10).

Abstract: A method of cleaning deposited material from a molding surface (10) of a mold (1) for forming ophthalmic lenses, including bringing a cleaning head (20) into contact with the molding surface (10), the rotational axis (22) of the cleaning head (20) being arranged normal to the molding surface (10), rotating (220) the cleaning head (20) around the rotational axis (22) while maintaining the contact between the cleaning head (20) and the molding surface (10), moving the cleaning head (20) to perform a precession motion (110) around a central normal (11) on the molding surface (10), while rotating (220) the cleaning head (20) around the rotational axis (22) and while maintaining the contact between the cleaning head (20) and the molding surface (10). During the precession motion (110) the rotational axis (22) includes an inclination angle (?1,?2) with the central normal (11) on the molding surface (10).

Abstract: A method for avoiding the entrapment of air bubbles (5) in a lens forming material, in particular in a low viscosity lens forming material, in an ophthalmic lens manufacturing process using mold halves (2; 3) each having a lens forming surface (21; 31) comprises electrostatically charging a predetermined portion of the lens forming surface (21; 31) of the mold half (2; 3) prior to the predetermined portion of the lens forming surface (21; 31) coming into contact with the lens forming material (4).

Abstract: A method for determining residual moisture on and/or within a lens forming surface of a mold half includes the steps of carrying out an infrared inspection of at least a central portion of the lens forming surface of the mold half with the aid of an infrared camera, collecting measurement values resulting from the infrared inspection, which represent a degree of residual moisture on and/or within the lens forming surface, comparing the collected measurement values with a predefined threshold value representing a maximum tolerable residual moisture on and/or within a lens forming surface of a reference mold half, and, upon detection of an exceedance of the predefined threshold value representing the maximum tolerable residual moisture, preventing the inspected mold half from being used further.

Abstract: There are described a method for applying a coating to a surface of an ophthalmic lens mold. The mold includes male and female (20) mold halves, with each of the mold halves being provided with a lens forming surface (21). The method includes applying a temporary coating to at least a portion of at least one of the male and female mold halves (20), the temporary coating being capable of reducing adhesive forces between a lens forming material and the lens forming surface (21); and drying the temporary coating applied to the portion of the lens forming surface (21). Also described is a device (1) for applying such temporary coating to the portion of the lens forming surface (21) of the ophthalmic lens mold.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a molding surface (51) of a reusable lens mold (5), in particular of a reusable lens mold (5) for molding ophthalmic lenses such as soft contact lenses, comprising the steps of: generating a jet (3) of deionized water, exposing the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5) to the jet (3) of deionized water, wherein the jet (3) of deionized water has a circular full cone spray pattern and impinges on the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5), and wherein the circular full cone spray pattern has a uniform distribution of the volume flow of deionized water over the base of the cone of the circular full cone spray pattern.

Abstract: There are described a method for applying a coating to a surface of an ophthalmic lens mold. The mold includes male and female (20) mold halves, with each of the mold halves being provided with a lens forming surface (21). The method includes applying a temporary coating to at least a portion of at least one of the male and female mold halves (20), the temporary coating being capable of reducing adhesive forces between a lens forming material and the lens forming surface (21); and drying the temporary coating applied to the portion of the lens forming surface (21). Also described is a device (1) for applying such temporary coating to the portion of the lens forming surface (21) of the ophthalmic lens mold.

Abstract: A method of cleaning deposited material from a molding surface (10) of a mold (1) for forming ophthalmic lenses, including bringing a cleaning head (20) into contact with the molding surface (10), the rotational axis (22) of the cleaning head (20) being arranged normal to the molding surface (10), rotating (220) the cleaning head (20) around the rotational axis (22) while maintaining the contact between the cleaning head (20) and the molding surface (10), moving the cleaning head (20) to perform a precession motion (110) around a central normal (11) on the molding surface (10), while rotating (220) the cleaning head (20) around the rotational axis (22) and while maintaining the contact between the cleaning head (20) and the molding surface (10). During the precession motion (110) the rotational axis (22) includes an inclination angle (?1,?2) with the central normal (11) on the molding surface (10).

Abstract: A method for avoiding the entrapment of air bubbles (5) in a lens forming material (4), in particular in a low viscosity lens forming material, in an ophthalmic lens manufacturing process using mold halves (2, 3) each having a lens forming surface (21, 31) comprises electrostatically charging (60) a lens forming surface (21, 31) of the mold half (2, 3) prior to the lens forming surface (21, 31) coming into contact with the lens forming material (4).

Abstract: A method for avoiding the entrapment of air bubbles (5) in a lens forming material, in particular in a low viscosity lens forming material, in an ophthalmic lens manufacturing process using mold halves (2; 3) each having a lens forming surface (21; 31) comprises electrostatically charging a predetermined portion of the lens forming surface (21; 31) of the mold half (2; 3) prior to the predetermined portion of the lens forming surface (21; 31) coming into contact with the lens forming material (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold half for making an ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens, wherein the mold half comprises a release sheet removably arranged on the mold surface of said mold half to separate a lens forming material from the mold surface, as well as to a method for applying a removable mold release sheet to said mold half. The mold half of the invention comprises a vacuum means to removably attach said release sheet to said mold surface, and preferably the mold half further comprises a pinch-off rim for forming the edge of said ophthalmic lens.