Patents by Inventor Werner Steffan
Werner Steffan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7682532Abstract: A process of dosing a starting material (SM) for optical lenses, into a female mold half (2), comprises the steps of: positioning a dosing tip (1) at a start position (P2) above the female mold half (2) and close to the edge of or laterally outside that portion (20) defining the lens-shaping surface, creating a continuous flow of starting material (SM) through the dosing tip (1) into the female mold half (2), moving the dosing tip (1) from the start position (P2) towards an end position (P3) in the region of the center of the female mold half (2) once the starting material (SM) has contacted the surface (21) of the female mold half (2) with the dosing tip (1) being in the start position (P2), wherein the continuous flow of starting material (SM) through the dosing tip (1) and the movement of the dosing tip (1) from the start position (P2) to its end position (P3) are controlled such, that a continuous bead (B) of starting material (SM) is deposited on the surface (21) of the female mold half (2) and thatType: GrantFiled: June 14, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Peter Hagmann, Axel Heinrich, Iris Leder-Bruck, Bernhard Seiferling, Werner Steffan
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Publication number: 20070001329Abstract: A process of dosing a starting material (SM) for optical lenses, into a female mould half (2), comprises the steps of: positioning a dosing tip (1) at a start position (P2) above the female mould half (2) and close to the edge of or laterally outside that portion (20) defining the lens-shaping surface, creating a continuous flow of starting material (SM) through the dosing tip (1) into the female mould half (2), moving the dosing tip (1) from the start position (P2) towards an end position (P3) in the region of the centre of the female mould half (2) once the starting material (SM) has contacted the surface (21) of the female mould half (2) with the dosing tip (1) being in the start position (P2), wherein the continuous flow of starting material (SM) through the dosing tip (1) and the movement of the dosing tip (1) from the start position (P2) to its end position (P3) are controlled such, that a continuous bead (B) of starting material (SM) is deposited on the surface (21) of the female mould half (2) aType: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Inventors: Peter Hagmann, Axel Heinrich, Iris Leder-Bruck, Bernhard Seiferling, Werner Steffan
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Patent number: 6899180Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of ensuring optimum removal of flowable material from a container and, in particular, reducing the amount of material remaining in the container. This is achieved through a rigid, elongated, hollow basic element (2), the lower end region (3) of which can be placed on the bottom (7) of the container (6), and which has recesses (4) for removal of the flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2002Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Werner Steffan, Peter Hagmann, Renata Schröter
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Patent number: 6681498Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of ensuring optimum drying of contact lenses on a gripper, while at the same time minimizing interruptions in operations. This is achieved by a convex shape of the end face of the blast nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Novartis AGInventor: Werner Steffan
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Patent number: 6627124Abstract: The invention tackles the problem of improving the production process for contact lenses further, so that the production costs for contact lenses can be reduced further and the production capacities can be increased. To this end, provision is made for the two mould halves, which together form the mould for producing a contact lens, to be fixed to each other and/or detachably connected to each other by means of individual half-mould guide. In conjunction with a cyclic production process, a high degree of automation can be achieved in this way.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Peter Herbrechtsmeier, Peter Hagmann, Roger Biel, Axel Heinrich, Wilhelm Hörner, Egbert Jux, Anette Therese Lang-Schöll, Iris Jlona Leder-Brück, Achim Müller, Bernhard Seiferling, Werner Steffan
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Publication number: 20020185865Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of reducing the number of dosing pumps required for dosing a flowable polymerization material into a mould, whilst simultaneously optimizing the dosing process. By using a Y-shaped intermediate piece, the polymerization material provided by the dosing pumps can be distributed to two female mould halves, so that the number of dosing pumps can be halved. In addition, the Y-shaped construction ensures that the accuracy of dosing to the two mould halves is maintained and there is no over-dosing or under-dosing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: Werner Steffan, Peter Hagmann, Renata Schroter
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Publication number: 20020178606Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of ensuring optimum drying of contact lenses on a gripper, whilst at the same time minimising interruptions in operations. This is achieved by a convex shape of the end face of the blast nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Inventor: Werner Steffan
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Publication number: 20020174883Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of ensuring optimum removal of flowable material from a container and, in particular, reducing the amount of material remaining in the container. This is achieved through a rigid, elongated, hollow basic element (2), the lower end region (3) of which can be placed on the bottom (7) of the container (6), and which has recesses (4) for removal of the flowable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventors: Werner Steffan, Peter Hagmann, Renata Schroter
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Patent number: 6113817Abstract: Efficient and consistent processes for manufacturing moldings, especially ophthalmic lenses such as contact lenses. The processes comprises a series of improvements, including improvements in the areas of conditions for dispensing liquid prepolymer into lens molds, male and female mold mating, reusable molds, mold cleaning, lens separation from molds (demolding), lens handling, and in-line inspection. Cyclic series of processing steps are also disclosed. Additionally, an improved molding tool is disclosed, with the molding tool including a male mold housing and a female mold housing, each of which have disposed therein a plurality of mold halves.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1998Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Peter Herbrechtsmeier, Karl Baur, Roger Biel, John Golby, Roland Hauck, Peter Hagmann, Axel Heinrich, Otto Kretzschmar, Anette Lang, Achim Muller, Thomas Schulz, Bernhard Seiferling, Werner Steffan
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Patent number: 5894002Abstract: In a process for the manufacture of contact lenses, a polymerizable contact lens material is dispensed into a mould half (1) and the mould is subsequently closed by means of the second mould half (2). The material located between the two mould halves in the moulding cavity (12) is then polymerized, thus forming an as yet unhydrated contact lens (CL). The moulding surface of one of the two mould halves (1, 2) is pre-treated, before use, in a region (20) outside the optically active zone of the contact lens (CL) in such a manner that, when the mould is opened, the contact lens (CL) adheres to the pre-treated mould half.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1997Date of Patent: April 13, 1999Assignee: CIBA Vision CorporationInventors: Karlheinz Boneberger, Lothar Haase, Horst Schafer, Werner Steffan, Peter Zang