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).

  • Patent number: 7682532
    Abstract: 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 that
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Peter Hagmann, Axel Heinrich, Iris Leder-Bruck, Bernhard Seiferling, Werner Steffan
  • Publication number: 20070001329
    Abstract: 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) a
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Hagmann, Axel Heinrich, Iris Leder-Bruck, Bernhard Seiferling, Werner Steffan
  • Patent number: 6899180
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Werner Steffan, Peter Hagmann, Renata Schröter
  • Patent number: 6681498
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Werner Steffan
  • Patent number: 6627124
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20020185865
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Werner Steffan, Peter Hagmann, Renata Schroter
  • Publication number: 20020178606
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Werner Steffan
  • Publication number: 20020174883
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Werner Steffan, Peter Hagmann, Renata Schroter
  • Patent number: 6113817
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 5894002
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: CIBA Vision Corporation
    Inventors: Karlheinz Boneberger, Lothar Haase, Horst Schafer, Werner Steffan, Peter Zang