Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for uniformly dispersing articles in a treatment solution

US5824276A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
9References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 8, 1996
Grant dateOct 20, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 8, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB05C3/09
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus and method for uniformly contacting an article with a treatment solution. Preferred embodiments are methods of uniformly tinting of contact lenses or uniformly surface modifying contact lenses. The method involves suspending the lens in the treatment solution by application of fluid flow, preferably sinusoidal or pulsed, in a direction opposite the stagnant force (i.e., sum of buoyancy and gravity forces) on the article. The fluid flow prevents the lens from contacting the container structure for periods sufficient to cause non-uniform treatment conditions, while continuously mixing the treatment solution to maintain uniform concentrations throughout.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.