Abstract: An apparatus for curing at least one optical article may include a housing defining a plurality of portions configured to receive the at least one optical article, the at least one optical article being secured on a holder that moves the at least one optical article through 5 the plurality of portions, wherein the plurality of portions includes a loading portion, a heating portion, a cooling portion, and an unloading portion, and an indexable platform that is configured to sequentially move the holder and the at least one optical article from the loading portion to the heating portion, the cooling portion, and the unloading portion, wherein the holder is operatively connected to the indexable platform.

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 diagnostic station for inspecting an article transport vehicle movable along a guideway has a diagnostic module associated with the guideway and configured to receive the article transport vehicle when the article transport vehicle is in an inspection position along the guideway. The diagnostic module has at least one of the following: a grip testing substation having at least one force sensor configured for measuring a force exerted by a closure mechanism of the article transport vehicle in a closed position, a pressure testing substation in communication with a source of pressurized air and configured for pressurizing and depressurizing the closure mechanism, and an optical inspection substation having at least one camera configured for capturing image data of the article transport vehicle.

Abstract: An article transport vehicle (200) has: a carrier base (202) configured for movement along a guideway and a pair of gripping arms (216), each gripping arm (216) having a first end (216a) connected to the carrier base (202) and a second end (216b) protruding from the carrier base (202). The pair of gripping arms (216) is movable between a closed position configured for holding an article (302) and an open position configured for releasing the article (302). The article transport vehicle (200) further has a closure mechanism (238) for moving the pair of gripping arms (216) between the closed position and the open position. The closure mechanism (238) is configured for biasing the pair of gripping arms (216) to the closed position and moving the pair of gripping arms (216) to the open position when the carrier base (202) is positioned at a predetermined portion of the guideway.

Abstract: An article transport vehicle (200) has: a carrier base (202) configured for movement along a guideway and a pair of gripping arms (216), each gripping arm (216) having a first end (216a) connected to the carrier base (202) and a second end (216b) protruding from the carrier base (202). The pair of gripping arms (216) is movable between a closed position configured for holding an article (302) and an open position configured for releasing the article (302). The article transport vehicle (200) further has a closure mechanism (238) for moving the pair of gripping arms (216) between the closed position and the open position. The closure mechanism (238) is configured for biasing the pair of gripping arms (216) to the closed position and moving the pair of gripping arms (216) to the open position when the carrier base (202) is positioned at a predetermined portion of the guideway.

Abstract: A diagnostic station for inspecting an article transport vehicle movable along a guideway has a diagnostic module associated with the guideway and configured to receive the article transport vehicle when the article transport vehicle is in an inspection position along the guideway. The diagnostic module has at least one of the following: a grip testing substation having at least one force sensor configured for measuring a force exerted by a closure mechanism of the article transport vehicle in a closed position, a pressure testing substation in communication with a source of pressurized air and configured for pressurizing and depressurizing the closure mechanism, and an optical inspection substation having at least one camera configured for capturing image data of the article transport vehicle.

Abstract: A spin coater that can be used to apply multiple coating compositions over an optical substrate, is described. The spin coater includes, a coater bowl configured to collect excess coating material expelled from an optical substrate being coated, a rotatable chuck configured to receive and rotate the optical substrate in the bowl during coating, a plurality of coating reservoirs, each containing a coating material, and an indexable coating reservoir platform containing the plurality of reservoirs and configured to index a selected reservoir into a dispensing position above the coater bowl. The spin coater can include or have associated therewith at least one curing station, in which each curing station is independently configured to cure at least partially at least one applied coating material. Each curing station can include at least one of a thermal curing station, a UV curing station, and/or an IR curing station.

Abstract: A spin coater that can be used to apply multiple coating compositions over an optical substrate, is described. The spin coater includes, a coater bowl configured to collect excess coating material expelled from an optical substrate being coated, a rotatable chuck configured to receive and rotate the optical substrate in the bowl during coating, a plurality of coating reservoirs, each containing a coating material, and an indexable coating reservoir platform containing the plurality of reservoirs and configured to index a selected reservoir into a dispensing position above the coater bowl. The spin coater can include or have associated therewith at least one curing station, in which each curing station is independently configured to cure at least partially at least one applied coating material. Each curing station can include at least one of a thermal curing station, a UV curing station, and/or an IR curing station.