EP0262832A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and system for tinting contact lenses
Assignee: Med Optics Corp
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Filing: 1987-09-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A method of tinting soft contact lenses (L) uses at least one transfer-pad printer (2) including a suitable ink of the desired tint, and at least one printing block (6) carrying an iris pattern. The contact lenses are attached to lens mounts (14), preferably by being shrunk onto curved heads (18) of the mounts, and are then aligned, in turn, with the pad (4) of the transfer-pad printer (2). For each lens, the printing block (6) is inked, the pad is caused to pick up the iris pattern from the inked block, and the pad is then caused to make contact with the mounted lens, thereby transferring the iris pattern as picked up from the block to the mounted contact lens. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Saul Sterman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:02
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00865; B29D11/00894; B29D11/00903; B41; B41M; B41M1/00; B41M1/26; B41M1/30; G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/04; G02C7/046; B29L; B29L2011/00; B29L2011/0016; B29L2011/0041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of tinting contact lenses (L), characterised by the steps of: providing at least one transfer-pad printer (2), including a suitable ink of the desired tint; providing at least one printing block (6) carrying an iris pattern; attaching said contact lenses (L) to lens mounts (14); aligning a mounted lens with the pad (4) of said transfer-pad printer (2); inking said printing block (6); causing said pad to pick up said iris pattern from said inked block, and causing said pad to make contact with said aligned mounted lens, thereby transferring said iris pattern as picked up from said block to said lens.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of tinting contact lenses (L), characterised by the steps of: providing at least one transfer-pad printer (2), including a suitable ink of the desired tint; providing at least one printing block (6) carrying an iris pattern; attaching said contact lenses (L) to lens mounts (14); aligning a mounted lens with the pad (4) of said transfer-pad printer (2); inking said printing block (6); causing said pad to pick up said iris pattern from said inked block, and causing said pad to make contact with said aligned mounted lens, thereby transferring said iris pattern as picked up from said block to said lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, in which said contact lenses (L) are presoaked in a soaking solution prior to attachment of the lenses to said lens mounts (14).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said contact lenses (L) are attached to said mounts (14) by being shrunk thereonto.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said lenses (L) are centred on said lens mounts (14) relative to reference features (22) provided on said mounts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said reference feature of each lens mount (14) is in the form of a centering groove (22) provided on the convex surface (18) of said lens mount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein shrinking is effected by letting said presoaked lenses (L) dry for a predetermined time while mounted on said mounts (14).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising the further step of providing an indexing table (8) for the mounting thereon of said lens mounts (14), said indexing tablr having at least two stations serving, in a cycle, as a working station when located in alignment with said pad (4), and as an unloading and reloading station thereafter.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said iris pattern, after transfer to said mounted lens, is allowed to soak into the pores of said lens (L) for a predetermined period of time prior to the removal thereof from said mount (14).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, in which, after said predetermined soaking-in period, the mounted lens is placed in an ultrasonic bath wherein any excess ink is removed from the lens, and the lens absorbs liquid so that it is caused to swell and drop off said mount (14).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
74 words
A system for tinting contact lenses, comprising: a transfer-pad printer (2) adapted to pick up a pattern from an inked printing block (6) and transfer said pattern to a workpiece; at least one lens mount (14) adapted to fixedly hold a lens (L) in a defined position, and means (8,10) to produce alignment between said lens mount (14) and said transfer pad (4) prior to said pattern transfer from said pad to said lens.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
74 words
A system for tinting contact lenses, comprising: a transfer-pad printer (2) adapted to pick up a pattern from an inked printing block (6) and transfer said pattern to a workpiece; at least one lens mount (14) adapted to fixedly hold a lens (L) in a defined position, and means (8,10) to produce alignment between said lens mount (14) and said transfer pad (4) prior to said pattern transfer from said pad to said lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an ultrasonic bath for removal of excess ink from said lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, further comprising an autoclave.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
40 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said alignment means comprises a rotating index table (8) having a plurality of indexable stations (10) and adapted to operate in concert with said transfer-pad printer (2).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein there are provided a plurality of lens mounts (14) having a substantially cylindrical shape, the lower portion (16) of each being attachable to one of said indexable stations (10), and its top surface (18) being convexly curved with a radius of curvature (R) which is slightly smaller than the radius of curvature of the base curve of said lenses (L).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said convex top surface (18) of each mount (14) is provided with a centering groove (22) facilitating the attachment of said lenses (L) to said top surfaces in a position concentric with the geometrical center of said stations (10).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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