Conductive probe for heating contact lens mold assemblies during

Details Conductive probe for heating contact lens mold assemblies during Conductive probe for heating contact lens mold assemblies during

1996-06-04

1998-10-13

Ryan, Patrick

Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus

Shaping surface including means to release or remove product...

Removal-miscellaneous

249 78, 264 23, 264 26, 264334, 425440, 425808, 425DIG110, B29D 1100, B29C 3302, B29C 3938

Patent

active

058208950

ABSTRACT:
Demolding apparatus for reliably and repeatedly mechanically separating contact lens mold assemblies without damaging the contact lens formed therebetween. The mold assembly includes a frontcurve mold having a central mold section with a surrounding flange, and a corresponding backcurve mold also having a central mold section with a surrounding flange, with a contact lens being molded therebetween. The demolding apparatus includes a conductive heating probe which contacts the backcurve mold of the lens mold assembly to conductively heat the backcurve mold. Heat is conducted by the backcurve mold to cause a temperature gradient between the backcurve mold and the lens being demolded. The temperature gradient causes a differential expansion and shifting of the surface of the backcurve mold relative to the surface of the lens to lessen the adhesion therebetween to assist in separation of the molds, while leaving the lens in the frontcurve mold. The conductive heating probe includes a convex heating surface which contacts and is the same general shape as a concave surface on the backcurve mold, and can also include a compliant heat conductor to conform to the concave surface on the backcurve mold. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a conductive heating probe assembly having an n.times.m array of conductive heating probes which contact each backcurve mold of an n.times.m array of molds assemblies positioned in a support pallet.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5015280 (1991-05-01), Kimoto et al.
patent: 5417557 (1995-05-01), Ross et al.
patent: 5435943 (1995-07-01), Adams et al.
patent: 5540140 (1996-07-01), Lust et al.
patent: 5542978 (1996-08-01), Kindt-Larsen et al.
patent: 5569474 (1996-10-01), Kitaichi et al.

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