Abstract: Methods and apparatus for coating optical articles, such as optical lenses, are provided. In one aspect, an optical article is placed in a holder and a sheet of coating material is discharged from a nozzle, such as from a fan coater nozzle, onto the optical article to form a coating on the optical article.

Abstract: A flexible bumper 11, 14 is provided on an automatic guided vehicle 10 carrying an emitter/receiver photocell 21 thereon in electrical connection with motor circuit 28 and brake circuit 29. When photocell 21 is actuated by a suitable relay, the photocell beam signal 27 (FIG. 1) is transmitted through fiber optic cables 22, 23, emitter 25 and receiver 26 to permit propulsion motor operation through motor circuit 28 and vehicle brake release through brake circuit 29. If vehicle 10 strikes an obstruction safety bumper 11 is deflected, causing the aligned emitter-receiver beam 27 to be interrupted. This interruption of the beam signal to photocell 21 triggers motor circuit 28 to stop the motor and causes brake circuit 29 to set the vehicle brakes. When the obstruction is removed, the bumper deflects back to its normal position and light beam 27 is again transmitted to photocell 21 to permit brake release and motor operation to resume.