Automated robotic lens load system

US5561970A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Products Inc. · US

Inventors

• Robert J. Edie · Jacksonville, US
• Thomas Wagner · Konstanz, DE
• Michael F. Widman · Jacksonville, US
• Joe E. Wilburn · Jacksonville, US
• Mano Chinnaswamy · West Simsbury, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 21, 1995
• Grant date: Oct 8, 1996
• Expiry date: Jun 21, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65B57/10
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of automatically transferring contact lenses from a plurality of cups good positioned at a first location to a plurality of packages positioned at a second location wherein each good cup contains a transferable contact lens for placement in an individual blister package comprises a step of communicating positional information of good cup locations to a robotic device having an arm with one or more end effectors thereon, each end effector having a tip in connection with a vacuum and air pressure supply device, each end effector independently moveable with respect to the arm. Then, steps of applying a vacuum to the end effector tip to enable pick-up of a transferable lens from a cup located at a good cup location, and, controlling the robot to effect positioning of one end effector tip within the cup having the transferable lens therein to pick up the lens are performed. A further step includes controlling the robot to remove the end effector tip from the good cup location to position it within a blister package cavity, and finally, removing the vacuum and applying air pressure to the end effector tip to deposit the lens from the effector tip into a blister package cavity.