Ophthalmic substrate conveyor and method of conveying ophthalmic substrates for vacuum deposition
US11505859B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 2019 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC23C16/00
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An ophthalmic substrate conveyor and method of conveying ophthalmic substrates for vacuum deposition utilizes gravity and impulse action energy to convey an ophthalmic substrate to an adjacent vacuum deposition machine, for coating the ophthalmic substrate with an ophthalmic substance through physical vapor deposition. The conveyor provides a spring-loaded lens wheel that selectively retains the ophthalmic substrate during coating. The lens wheel rides a pair of inclined rails, urged by gravity, to a vacuum deposition machine that coats HEV absorbing material onto ophthalmic substrate. An escapement mechanism subassembly transfers impulse action energy to the lens wheel to regulate the speed and direction of the lens wheel across the inclined rails. A rotation servomechanism senses and rotates the lens wheel to the desired orientation during coating. A ring spreader actuator engages springs in the lens wheel to clamp and release the ophthalmic substrate. A control unit regulates servomechanism and ring spreader actuator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.