Abstract: A method for quality control of sealed contact lens packages may comprise disposing a package of a sealed contact lens in a light box, causing the package to be illuminated in the light box by a light source, capturing image data of the illuminated package in the light box, analyzing, based on one or more quality control models, the image data of the illuminated package in the light box, and causing, based on the analyzing, output of a quality control metric indicative of at least an accept or reject condition of the package.

Abstract: Methods for inspecting ophthalmic lenses with different wavelengths of radiation are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods for inspecting ophthalmic lenses with different wavelengths of radiation are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Modified MZ (Mach-Zender) interferometers are utilized to analyze the transmitted, aspherical wavefront of an ophthalmic lens by mounting the lens in a cuvette having a rotatable carousel that can hold multiple lenses. Fresh, temperature controlled, saline solution is circulated about the lenses, and the cuvette is positioned in a vertical test arm of the interferometer configuration. Reverse raytracing is utilized to remove aberrations induced into the wavefront as it is imaged from immediately behind the lens to the detector of the interferometer.

Abstract: Methods for inspecting ophthalmic lenses with different wavelengths of radiation are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods for inspecting ophthalmic lenses with different wavelengths of radiation are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Systems for producing images of the edges of silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lenses are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus, when in use, is connected to standby electrical power through a power cord. The apparatus controls the electrical power source to a transportation vehicle with an electrical control device. The electrical control device is energized by a switch. The switch is operated by attaching the transportation vehicle power cord by means of compression via two nylon ties. When tension is present on the transportation vehicle power cord the nylon ties will break. When the nylon ties break, the switch immediately de-energizes the electrical control device and the transportation vehicle power cord. If the transportation vehicle continues to pull on the transportation vehicle power cord, it will be in the de-energized mode. The transportation vehicle power cord will be pulled away from the apparatus and away from the electrical connections through a water tight grip.

Abstract: Modified MZ (Mach-Zender) interferometers are utilized to analyze the transmitted, aspherical wavefront of an ophthalmic lens by mounting the lens in a cuvette having a rotatable carousel that can hold multiple lenses. Fresh, temperature controlled, saline solution is circulated about the lenses, and the cuvette is positioned in a vertical test arm of the interferometer configuration. Reverse raytracing is utilized to remove aberrations induced into the wavefront as it is imaged from immediately behind the lens to the detector of the interferometer.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for inspecting tinted ophthalmic parts are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for inspecting tinted ophthalmic parts are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for removing a liquid from a container having a bowl and a flange, the bowl holding the liquid and containing a hydrophilic ophthalmic lens, wherein there is provided a nozzle with a central face and a shoulder around the periphery of the face. The shoulder has a sealing means which is sized to fit on the flange of the container, where it forms a sealed volume above the container bowl, this volume including the volume of the bowl itself. The central face has through it at least one fluid entrance passage and at least one fluid exit passage arranged so that the flow is distributed substantially symmetric about the center axis of the lens so that when the purging fluid is introduced into the sealed volume, there is no migration of the lens. There is connected to the entrance passage a source of purging fluid that has a pressure and flow sufficient to remove substantially all the liquid through the exit passage.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility includes: a first robotic transfer device for periodically transferring a first predetermined amount of individual packages from an inspection station to an intermediate consolidation buffer and depositing the packages on the consolidation buffer; a control device for tracking and identifying each individual contact lens conveyed from the inspection station to the consolidation buffer and including memory and logic circuits for storing the identity of individual packages containing contact lenses that have been previously determined at the inspection station as being out of specification, and, generating a signal to enable the first robotic device to discard any individual package identified as out of specification; and; a second robotic assembly for periodically transferring a second predetermined amount of individual packages from the consolidation buffer to a second processing station, th

Abstract: An automated apparatus for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility includes: a first robotic transfer device for periodically transferring a first predetermined amount of individual packages from an inspection station to an intermediate consolidation buffer and depositing the packages on the consolidation buffer; a control device for tracking and identifying each individual contact lens conveyed from the inspection station to the consolidation buffer and including memory and logic circuits for storing the identity of individual packages containing contact lenses that have been previously determined at the inspection station as being out of specification, and, generating a signal to enable the first robotic device to discard any individual package identified as out of specification; and, a second robotic assembly for periodically transferring a second predetermined amount of individual packages from the consolidation buffer to a second processing station, th

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing and transporting articles, such as contact lens sections from a manufacturing line to inspection and packaging stations. The lenses are deposited in a transparent plastic primary package which carries the lenses through the inspection station and becomes part of the primary package when a cover is sealed thereto. The invention includes various assemblies, including lens transfer assemblies, deionized water filling and removal assemblies, a water degassing assembly, a lens inspection assembly, and a lens package sealing assembly. The lenses are removed from pallets at a post hydration station, transported and spatially redistributed, and deposited in the primary packages disposed on a second set of pallets. The packages on the second set of pallets are filled with degassed deionized water. The contact lenses and packages are then transported to an inspection station.

Abstract: A system for providing diffuse illumination in the inspection of ophthalmic lenses for use in conjunction with a computer-based lens inspection apparatus. Below a package containing an ophthalmic lens in deionized water is an optical diffuser made of flashed opal and below that a light source such as a strobe light. The strobe lamp firing is initiated by the image processing system which is in turn triggered by a signal generated by the arrival of a package containing a lens to be inspected. In the preferrerd embodiment, an arc tube is employed wherein light output diminishes by darkening only in one end of the tube, that end placed outside the reflector.

Abstract: A lens inspection method and apparatus comprising a pallet having wells for receiving one or more lens containers at the receiving point. A conveyor achieves uniformity of pallet motion when transporting the lens. The pallet wells includes holes that pass through the pallet. These holes, along with a side driven transport system, make possible an arrangement of a lamp and camera on opposite sides of the lens for capturing an image of a lens. A computer implemented algorithm processes the digitized image to determine the acceptability of the lenses. A lens disposition mechanism uses a signal generated by the computer and indicates lens acceptability to disposition the lens by physically separating a container with an acceptable lens from an unacceptable lens. After disposition of containers, the pallet is returned by conveyor to the lens receiving point.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for removing a liquid from a container having a bowl and a flange, the bowl holding the liquid and containing a hydrophilic ophthalmic lens, wherein there is provided a nozzle with a central face and a shoulder around the periphery of the face. The shoulder has a sealing means which is sized to fit on the flange of the container, where it forms a sealed volume above the container bowl, this volume including the volume of the bowl itself. The central face has through it at least one fluid entrance passage and at least one fluid exit passage arranged so that the flow is distributed substantially symmetric about the center axis of the lens so that when the purging fluid is introduced into the sealed volume, there is no migration of the lens. There is connected to the entrance passage a source of purging fluid that has a pressure and flow sufficient to remove substantially all the liquid through the exit passage.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for removing a liquid from a container having a bowl and a flange, the bowl holding the liquid and containing a hydrophilic ophthalmic lens, wherein there is provided a nozzle with a central face and a shoulder around the periphery of the face. The shoulder has a sealing means which is sized to fit on the flange of the container, where it forms a sealed volume above the container bowl, this volume including the volume of the bowl itself. The central face has through it at least one fluid entrance passage and at least one fluid exit passage arranged so that the flow is distributed substantially symmetric about the center axis of the lens so that when the purging fluid is introduced into the sealed volume, there is no migration of the lens. There is connected to the entrance passage a source of purging fluid that has a pressure and flow sufficient to remove substantially all the liquid through the exit passage.