Abstract: A mold unit for molding ophthalmic lenses comprises: A) an adapter piece comprising an opening extending around a longitudinal axis; B) a sleeve fixedly connected to the adapter piece and extending through the opening of the adapter piece; C) a lens mold rigidly mounted to the sleeve; D) an adjustment ring firmly attached to the sleeve to circumferentially surround a portion of the sleeve. The adjustment ring comprises a flat circular outer engagement surface, and the adapter piece comprises at least one clamping block having a flat inner clamping surface. The flat inner clamping surface frictionally clamps the flat circular outer engagement surface to prevent inadvertent rotation of the sleeve relative to the adapter piece) but to allow rotation of the sleeve relative to the adapter piece upon the application of a torque higher than a predetermined threshold torque.

Abstract: A method of providing a male mold half for molding a toric contact lens at a predetermined target rotational orientation is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: —providing the male mold half at a predetermined rotational orientation, —picking the male mold half up with a gripper having a central axis, —rotating the gripper with the male mold half about the central axis of the gripper by a predetermined rotational angle (?) towards the predetermined target rotational orientation, and —releasing the rotated male mold half from the gripper. Prior to picking the male mold half up, the method comprises centering the grippe and the male mold half relative to each other such that the central axis of the gripper and a central axis of the male mold half coincide.

Abstract: To achieve molding insert is properly mounted to the tooling plate of the injection molding machine, a sensor head comprising confocal sensors is used. The sensor heads are placed on the tooling plate at the respective position to determine whether the desired mold insert has been mounted to that position and whether the desired mold insert has been precisely and accurately mounted to the tooling plate.

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 verifying whether a molding insert (1a, 1b) is accurately mounted to a tooling plate (2a, 2b) comprises the steps of: a) providing a confocal sensor (3a, 3b); b) arranging the confocal sensor (3a, 3b) such that a confocal sensor reference plane (32a, 32b) as well as a tooling plate reference plane (22a, 22b) are normal to a mounting axis (21a, 21b) of the tooling plate and spaced from each other by a predetermined first distance (d1, e1); c) measuring a second distance (d2, e2) between the confocal sensor reference plane (32a, 32b) and a central impingement location (11a, 11b) on a molding surface (12a, 12b) of the molding insert (1a, 1b); d) based on the measured second distance (d2, e2) as well as based on the predetermined first distance (d1, e1), determining a third distance (d3, e3) of the central impingement location (11a, 11b) relative to the tooling plate reference plane (22a, 22b); e) comparing the third distance (d3, e3) with a predetermined target distance, and f) determining that the

Abstract: A mold unit (22) for molding ophthalmic lenses comprises: an adapter piece (220) comprising an opening (2200) extending around a longitudinal axis (2201); a sleeve (221) fixedly connected to the adapter piece (220) and extending through the opening (2200) of the adapter piece (220); a lens mold (222) rigidly mounted to the sleeve (221); an adjustment ring (224) firmly attached to the sleeve (221) to circumferentially surround a portion of the sleeve (221). The adjustment ring (224) comprises a flat circular outer engagement surface (2244), and the adapter piece (220) comprises at least one clamping block (2211) having a flat inner clamping surface (2214).

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 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 container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process has a longitudinal axis (11) and comprises as separate elements a containment element (2), a mounting element (3), and a retaining element (4). The containment element (2) comprises a tubular section (21) and a bottom (22) arranged at a distal end of the tubular section (21), the bottom (22) protruding convexly towards the outside at the distal end of the tubular section (21) and being provided with a number of apertures (23, 24), the tubular section (21) at a proximal end (25) thereof having a latch (26) protruding from the proximal end (25) of the tubular section (21) towards the mounting element (3). The mounting element (3) comprises a sidewall (31) extending along the longitudinal axis (11) of the container (1), the sidewall (31) being provided with recesses or orifices (32) which are in engagement with the latch (26) of the containment element (2).

Abstract: A lens mold carrier (1; 2) comprises: a frame (10; 20) extending in a plane (x,y; u,v) and comprising a plurality of individual compartments (100; 200); at least one mold unit (11; 21) arranged in one of the individual compartments (100; 200) in a manner secured against falling out, the at least one mold unit (11; 21) including an adapter piece (110; 210) and a lens mold (112; 212) fixedly connected to the adapter piece (110; 210). The adapter piece (110; 210) is floatingly arranged within the compartment (100; 200) to allow for limited movement of the adapter piece (110; 210) within the compartment (100; 200) at least in a translation plane parallel to or coincident with the plane (x,y; u,v) in which the frame (10; 20) extends.

Abstract: A container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process has a longitudinal axis (11) and comprises as separate elements a containment element (2), a mounting element (3), and a retaining element (4). The containment element (2) comprises a tubular section (21) and a bottom (22) arranged at a distal end of the tubular section (21), the bottom (22) protruding convexly towards the outside at the distal end of the tubular section (21) and being provided with a number of apertures (23, 24), the tubular section (21) at a proximal end (25) thereof having a latch (26) protruding from the proximal end (25) of the tubular section (21) towards the mounting element (3). The mounting element (3) comprises a sidewall (31) extending along the longitudinal axis (11) of the container (1), the sidewall (31) being provided with recesses or orifices (32) which are in engagement with the latch (26) of the containment element (2).

Abstract: A lens mold carrier (1; 2) comprises: a frame (10; 20) extending in a plane (x,y; u,v) and comprising a plurality of individual compartments (100; 200); at least one mold unit (11; 21) arranged in one of the individual compartments (100; 200) in a manner secured against falling out, the at least one mold unit (11; 21) including an adapter piece (110; 210) and a lens mold (112; 212) fixedly connected to the adapter piece (110; 210). The adapter piece (110; 210) is floatingly arranged within the compartment (100; 200) to allow for limited movement of the adapter piece (110; 210) within the compartment (100; 200) at least in a translation plane parallel to or coincident with the plane (x,y; u,v) in which the frame (10; 20) extends.

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.

Abstract: There is described a method of removing excess lens forming material from a molded ophthalmic lens (1), such as the peripheral region of a contact lens. In order to form a lens (1) a lens forming material is polymerized and/or cross-linked within a mold cavity of a mold comprising female and male mold halves. The mold is opened by moving the female and male mold halves apart from each other. The formed lens (1) is supported on a carrier (3) such, that a front surface (2) of the lens (1) is exposed. Residues of non-polymerized and/or non-cross-linked lens forming material are removed mechanically by contacting the exposed surface (2) of the formed lens (1) for a period of time of about 0.5 seconds to about 4 seconds, preferably about 0.8 seconds to about 2 seconds, with a cleaner (7) having a hardness which is smaller than that of the polymerized and/or cross-linked lens forming material. There is also described a device (5) for carrying out the method.

Abstract: There is described a method of removing excess lens forming material from a molded ophthalmic lens (1), such as the peripheral region of a contact lens. In order to form a lens (1) a lens forming material is polymerized and/or cross-linked within a mold cavity of a mold comprising female and male mold halves. The mold is opened by moving the female and male mold halves apart from each other. The formed lens (1) is supported on a carrier (3) such, that a front surface (2) of the lens (1) is exposed. Residues of non-polymerized and/or non-cross-linked lens forming material are removed mechanically by contacting the exposed surface (2) of the formed lens (1) for a period of time of about 0.5 seconds to about 4 seconds, preferably about 0.8 seconds to about 2 seconds, with a cleaner (7) having a hardness which is smaller than that of the polymerized and/or cross-linked lens forming material. There is also described a device (5) for carrying out the method.

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.