Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Material treated by electromagnetic energy – Infrared energy
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-19
2001-04-17
Gravini, Stephen (Department: 3749)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Material treated by electromagnetic energy
Infrared energy
C034S586000, C034S060000, C264S001360, C118S419000, C351S162000, C008S636000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216360
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device used by professionals within the optical and ophthalmic industry to heat dyes to a specific temperature to color plastic lenses.
Within the optical lens manufacturing industry, it has been a widespread practice to color plastic lenses after manufacture in accordance with the customer's preference. Numerous devices have been used for this purpose. The most common is a type that utilizes a double tank system. The outer tank is heated electrically and contains a heat transfer medium. The inner tanks, which contain dye, are immersed in the heat transfer medium which indirectly heats each tank of dye. The dyes used in this process are prone to crystallization, decomposition and sediment formation. The double tank system reduces this tendency. Optical dyes only diffuse well into plastic lenses within a narrow temperature range (200-210° F.). The temperature of double tank system has proven hard to control precisely.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
An examination of the various kinds of equipment available to the optical/ophthalmic industry reveals that instruments of the type under discussion are available. However, these other systems are without the unique features of the present device. The only device found which was similar to the present device was patented by Talcott et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,337. However, that device does not incorporate the unique infrared radiant heating system, the unique solid state temperature sensor probes, nor the unique spill containment system of the present device.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present device are:
(a) to heat the lenses in the dye as well as the dye solution itself using radiant infrared and conductive heating thus enhancing the diffusion of the dye into the lens and producing a higher quality lens with deeper dye penetration;
(b) to heat the lenses and the dye solution without the use of heat transfer media;
(c) to eliminate the problems associated with direct heating. Specifically, dye crystallization, decomposition and sediment formation;
(d) to precisely control the temperature of the dye through microprocessors and individual beaker sensor probes;
(e) to provide spill containment for any dye which boils out of the beakers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5052337 (1991-10-01), Talcott
patent: 5665420 (1997-09-01), Janssen et al.
BPI Catalog (www.callbpi.com), 1999.
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