Apparatus and method for transporting contact lenses through dipping baths

US9840047B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Novartis AG · CH

Inventors

• Roger Biel · Aschaffenburg, DE
• Katrin Sylke Struckmeier · Aschaffenburg, DE
• Adrian Michael Woodward · Stowmarket, GB
• Stephen George Fleck · Cambridge, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 3, 2015
• Grant date: Dec 12, 2017
• Expiry date: Mar 24, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B05D1/18
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

There is described an apparatus and method for transporting contact lenses through dipping baths (2, 3, 4) for e.g. rinsing, extraction, coating or loading purposes. The lenses are individually accommodated in respective containers (5) which are capable of enabling a flow of treatment fluid (S) into and out of the container (5). During their automatic transport through the dipping baths (2, 3, 4) the containers (5) are held in carriers (6). Lifters (9) are provided for automatically lowering and raising the carriers (6) in a reciprocating manner along their travel through the dipping bath (2, 3, 4). The reciprocating lowering and raising of the containers (5) is accomplished such, that a portion of each container which accommodates a contact lens remains immersed in the treatment fluid (S) which is contained in the dipping bath (2, 3, 4) while the container (5) suspended from the carrier (6) is advanced through the dipping bath (2, 3, 4) from a starting end to a leaving end thereof.