Abstract: A coating system for coating an optical article includes at least one replaceable cartridge having a reservoir configured for containing a volume of a coating material. a recirculation loop in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a first pump and a second pump in fluid communication with the recirculation loop. The coating system further includes at least one coating apparatus operable to coat at least a portion of the optical article with a select amount of the coating material from an engaged at least one replaceable cartridge. The second pump of each of the engaged at least one replaceable cartridge is operable to aspirate the select amount of the coating material from the recirculation loop and deliver the select amount of the coating material to the at least one coating apparatus.

Abstract: A replaceable cartridge for a coating system includes a reservoir configured for containing a volume of a coating and a recirculation loop having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir. The cartridge further includes a first pump in fluid communication with the recirculation loop. The first pump is configured for recirculating the coating from the reservoir through the recirculation loop. The cartridge further includes a second pump in fluid communication with the recirculation loop, the second pump being configured to selectively aspirate the coating from the recirculation loop and deliver the coating to a coating device.

Abstract: A curing apparatus (100) includes a housing (102) having a loading portion (108) open to ambient atmosphere, a curing portion (110) having a curing chamber (124) with a controlled atmosphere, and a transition portion (112) extending between the loading portion (108) and the curing portion (110). A carrier (128) is movable between the loading portion (108) and the curing chamber (124) via the transition portion (112). The curing apparatus (100) further includes at least one ultraviolet radiation source (150) operative for transmitting ultraviolet radiation into the curing chamber (124). The transition portion (112) includes a plurality of baffles (158) protruding from a sidewall (120) of the transition portion (112) and configured for minimizing mixing between the ambient atmosphere and the controlled atmosphere during movement of the carrier (128) between the loading portion (108) and the curing chamber (124).

Abstract: A curing apparatus (100) includes a housing (102) having a loading portion (108) open to ambient atmosphere, a curing portion (110) having a curing chamber (124) with a controlled atmosphere, and a transition portion (112) extending between the loading portion (108) and the curing portion (110). A carrier (128) is movable between the loading portion (108) and the curing chamber (124) via the transition portion (112). The curing apparatus (100) further includes at least one ultraviolet radiation source (150) operative for transmitting ultraviolet radiation into the curing chamber (124). The transition portion (112) includes a plurality of baffles (158) protruding from a sidewall (120) of the transition portion (112) and configured for minimizing mixing between the ambient atmosphere and the controlled atmosphere during movement of the carrier (128) between the loading portion (108) and the curing chamber (124).

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.