Abstract: A primary packaging line for packaging ophthalmic articles comprises a plurality of individual single shell carriers; a supply belt configured to transport the individual single shell carriers arranged thereon; a primary packaging shell placement robot arranged along the supply belt; a cyclically and intermittently movable singling conveyor belt arranged at the downstream end of the supply belt; a guiding rai arranged at the downstream end of the singling conveyor belt; a pusher arranged at the downstream end of the singling shell conveyor bel; an ophthalmic article placement robot arranged along the guiding rai; an ophthalmic article presence check unit; a shell carrier ejector; a lot sorter; a shell carrier block transportation mechanism arranged at the lot sorter; a sealing device (70).

Abstract: A sealing device for sealing a sealing foil onto a top surface of a primary packaging shell for a contact lens. The sealing device comprises a shell support and a sealing head comprising a contact surface facing downwardly. The sealing device comprises at least one linear actuator for performing a vertical relative movement of the shell support and the sealing head to press the sealing foil against the top surface of the primary packaging shell. The sealing device comprises a foil holder for holding the sealing foil in a vertical gap between the contact surface of the sealing head and the top surface of the primary packaging shell. The sealing foil is sealed to the top surface of the primary packaging shell when the shell support and the sealing head move towards each other.

Abstract: An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises: a production line front end (1) comprising: a first injection-molding machine (10) and a second injection-molding machine (12) a casting module (14) comprising a filling station (144) and a capping station (145); a stacking module (15) and a curing module (16); a destacking module (17) and a demolding and delensing module a production line back end (2) comprising: an inspection module (21); Wherein the inspection module comprising a rail system in which self-driving shuttles carrying the inspection cuvettes are arranged on a closed-loop rail, wherein the rail system can be adapted to the available space in the production plant/hall using curves and straight portions in the manner known from a model railway.

Abstract: A method for calibrating lens grippers prior to use of the grippers in a lens manufacturing line includes providing a remote gripper calibration tool having an assembly plate and a Z-directional position sensor; providing a master gripper having a length dimension terminating in a tip, the length dimension being predetermined to match a desired final extension length of a lens gripper; mounting the master gripper to the assembly plate; measuring the Z-directional position of the tip of the master gripper with the Z-directional position sensor; unmounting the master gripper from the assembly plate; mounting a lens gripper to be calibrated to the assembly plate, the lens gripper having a tip, and calibrating the lens gripper by adjusting the final extension length of the tip of the lens gripper to a predetermined position relative to the measured Z-directional position of the tip of the master gripper.

Abstract: An inspection cuvette for the optical inspection of an ophthalmic lens comprises a hollow cuvette body defining a cavity for receiving the ophthalmic lens and an inspection liquid, a transparent bottom having a concave upper surface delimiting the cavity at a bottom end thereof, a handling channel having an inner circumferential channel wall and a longitudinal channel axis. The handling channel further has an access opening at a proximal end thereof and is connected to the cavity at a distal end thereof. The inspection cuvette further comprises and an inspection window comprising a flat lower surface delimiting the cavity at an upper end thereof and facing towards the concave upper surface of the transparent bottom. At least that portion of the inner circumferential channel wall which is arranged above the flat lower surface of the inspection window when the cuvette is arranged in an inspection position is round.

Abstract: A gripper system comprises: a gripper shaft; a vacuum source; a first valve arranged between the vacuum source and the suction tube; a liquid reservoir; a source of pressurized gas; a second valve arranged between the source of pressurized gas and the suction tube or the liquid reservoir; a control unit for controlling the first valve and the second valve such that: for picking the ophthalmic lens up, suction is supplied to the suction tube; during transporting the ophthalmic lens, the suction tube is filled with liquid from the liquid supply tube; for releasing the ophthalmic lens from the gripper head, liquid is pressed through the fluid channel and through the suction opening of the gripper head.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for photolithographically forming an ophthalmic lens (L) comprises: a container (2) comprising a container bottom (20) with an inner surface (200) including a concave portion (201); a piston (4) comprising a distal piston end face (400) with a convex portion (401); wherein the piston (4) is arranged in the container (2) such that the convex portion (401) faces the concave portion (201), and wherein the piston is movably arranged in the container (2); a light source (5, 50) being arranged beneath the container bottom (20) for emitting light towards the container bottom (20); a mask (6) arranged between the light source (5, 50) and the container bottom (20), the mask (6) comprising a plurality of pixels (60) which are configured to be individually controlled to either allow the light emitted from the light source (5, 50) to pass through the individual pixels (60) and to impinge on that part of the container bottom (20) having the concave portion (201) of the inner surface (200), or to not al

Abstract: A carrier (1) for the simultaneous measurement of sealing temperature, sealing time and sealing force in a primary packaging line for ophthalmic lenses comprises a temperature sensing plate (2), a force sensing plate (3), and a supporting plate (4). Temperature sensing plate (2) is arranged atop force sensing plate (3), which is arranged atop supporting plate (4).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for photolithographically forming an ophthalmic lens (L) comprises: a container (2) comprising a container bottom (20) with an inner surface (200) including a concave portion (201); a piston (4) comprising a distal piston end face (400) with a convex portion (401); wherein the piston (4) is arranged in the container (2) such that the convex portion (401) faces the concave portion (201), and wherein the piston is movably arranged in the container (2); a light source (5, 50) being arranged beneath the container bottom (20) for emitting light towards the container bottom (20); a mask (6) arranged between the light source (5, 50) and the container bottom (20), the mask (6) comprising a plurality of pixels (60) which are configured to be individually controlled to either allow the light emitted from the light source (5, 50) to pass through the individual pixels (60) and to impinge on that part of the container bottom (20) having the concave portion (201) of the inner surface (200), or to not al

Abstract: An apparatus for removal of an ophthalmic lens, such as a contact lens, for example a soft contact lens, from a lens treatment container for the accommodation of the ophthalmic lens during a lens treatment process, comprises: an exhaust air box comprising at least one inlet for allowing ambient air to be drawn into the exhaust box; an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust air box, the outlet capable of being connected to a source of negative pressure; at least one tube having a proximal end connected to the at least one inlet of the exhaust air box, and a distal end having a displaceable nozzle; and an actuator connected to the nozzle, for displacing the nozzle from a standby position to a lens removal position, and back to the standby position.

Abstract: A method for transporting a blister strip of ophthalmic lenses: only one single blister strip is provided at a start location and one magazine compartment of two magazine compartments contains n blister strips while the other magazine compartment contains n+1 blister strips, the single buster strip is picked up at the start location by one of the gripper units of a first gripper and is transported into that magazine compartment containing the n blister strips, by moving the first gripper to that magazine compartment containing the n blister strips and releasing the single blister strip from the first gripper into that magazine compartment, or by moving the first gripper to a hand-over station and releasing the single blister strip from the first gripper into the hand-over station, transporting the single blister strip from the hand-over station into that magazine compartment containing the n blister strips using a second gripper.

Abstract: A cleaner for cleaning grippers for the transport of ophthalmic lenses comprises: an exhaust air box comprising at least one inlet opening for allowing ambient air as well as lenses, lens parts, debris and fluid adhered to the grippers to be sucked into an interior of the exhaust air box, an outlet opening in fluid communication with the interior of the exhaust air box and a cleaner head arranged on the exhaust air box and comprising a plurality of receiver sleeves for receiving the grippers to be cleaned, a plurality of shutters, wherein each individual shutter of the plurality of shutters is arranged to open or close the fluid communication of at least one receiver sleeve (5) of the plurality of receiver sleeves (5) and the interior of the exhaust air box (1).

Abstract: A gripper for the transportation of an ophthalmic lens comprises: a gripper shaft having a longitudinal shaft axis and a fluid channel extending through the gripper shaft; a connector at the proximal end of the gripper shaft for connecting a flexible supply tube and the proximal end of the gripper shaft; a support movably accommodating the gripper shaft; a spring mounted between the support and the gripper shaft, the spring biasing the gripper shaft distally away from the support; and a gripper head attached to the gripper shaft at a distal end portion thereof, the gripper head having a further fluid channel extending therethrough, the gripper head further having a suction opening which is centrally arranged in a distal end surface of the gripper head, the suction opening being in fluid communication with the fluid channel of the gripper shaft through further fluid channel. The gripper head is configured to be pivotable about a pivot portion of the gripper head.

Abstract: An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises: a production line front end comprising: a first and a second injection-molding machine, a casting module, a filling station and a capping station, a stacking module and a curing module, a destacking module and a demolding and delensing module a production line back end comprising: a treatment module, an inspection module, wherein self-driving shuttles in the inspection module can form a queue and act as a buffer for the primary packaging module if an interruption of the primary packaging module and variations of the cycle time in the primary packaging module are buffered so that the extraction module is able to operate largely independently from the upstream and downstream components of the manufacturing line.

Abstract: An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises: a production line front end (1) comprising: a first injection-molding machine (10) and a second injection-molding machine (12) a casting module (14) comprising a filling station (144) and a capping station (145); a stacking module (15) and a curing module (16); a destacking module (17) and a demolding and delensing module a production line back end (2) comprising: an inspection module (21); Wherein the inspection module comprising a rail system in which self-driving shuttles carrying the inspection cuvettes are arranged on a closed-loop rail, wherein the rail system can be adapted to the available space in the production plant/hall using curves and straight portions in the manner known from a model railway.

Abstract: A carrier (1) for the simultaneous measurement of sealing temperature, sealing time and sealing force in a primary packaging line for ophthalmic lenses comprises a temperature sensing plate (2), a force sensing plate (3), and a supporting plate (4). Temperature sensing plate (2) is arranged atop force sensing plate (3), which is arranged atop supporting plate (4).

Abstract: A method for determining whether a sealing area of a primary packaging container for an ophthalmic lens is unacceptable for properly sealing a foil to the sealing area is disclosed. The method involves comparing the temperature of an infrared image of the sealing area to a reference temperature to determine if the difference in temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for calibrating lens grippers prior to use of the grippers in a lens manufacturing line includes providing a remote gripper calibration tool having an assembly plate and a Z-directional position sensor; providing a master gripper having a length dimension terminating in a tip, the length dimension being predetermined to match a desired final extension length of a lens gripper; mounting the master gripper to the assembly plate; measuring the Z-directional position of the tip of the master gripper with the Z-directional position sensor; unmounting the master gripper from the assembly plate; mounting a lens gripper to be calibrated to the assembly plate, the lens gripper having a tip, and calibrating the lens gripper by adjusting the final extension length of the tip of the lens gripper to a predetermined position relative to the measured Z-directional position of the tip of the master gripper.

Abstract: A method for transporting a blister strip of ophthalmic lenses: only one single blister strip is provided at a start location and one magazine compartment of two magazine compartments contains n blister strips while the other magazine compartment contains n+1 blister strips, the single buster strip is picked up at the start location by one of the gripper units of a first gripper and is transported into that magazine compartment containing the n blister strips, by moving the first gripper to that magazine compartment containing the n blister strips and releasing the single blister strip from the first gripper into that magazine compartment, or by moving the first gripper to a hand-over station and releasing the single blister strip from the first gripper into the hand-over station, transporting the single blister strip from the hand-over station into that magazine compartment containing the n blister strips using a second gripper.

Abstract: A cleaner for cleaning grippers for the transport of ophthalmic lenses comprises: an exhaust air box comprising at least one inlet opening for allowing ambient air as well as lenses, lens parts, debris and fluid adhered to the grippers to be sucked into an interior of the exhaust air box, an outlet opening in fluid communication with the interior of the exhaust air box and a cleaner head arranged on the exhaust air box and comprising a plurality of receiver sleeves for receiving the grippers to be cleaned, a plurality of shutters, wherein each individual shutter of the plurality of shutters is arranged to open or close the fluid communication of at least one receiver sleeve (5) of the plurality of receiver sleeves (5) and the interior of the exhaust air box (1).