Cuvette system and methods for the inspection of ophthalmic lenses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9874491-B2
Application number	US-201514946436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 25, 2014
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A cuvette system ( 1 ) for use in the optical inspection of ophthalmic lenses comprises at least one receptacle ( 2 ) for accommodating an ophthalmic lens. The receptacle ( 2 ) has a longitudinal extension and an opening ( 20 ) arranged at one longitudinal end thereof. The receptacle ( 2 ) is adapted for containing a liquid. The cuvette system further comprises at least one inspection window ( 3 ) having an inspection surface ( 31 ). The inspection window ( 3 ) is arranged stationary and from the receptacle ( 2 ). The inspection window ( 3 ) is adapted for being joined to the receptacle ( 2 ) at the opening ( 20 ) of the receptacle ( 2 ) such that the inspection surface ( 31 ) of the inspection window ( 3 ) is immersed in the liquid. The inspection window ( 3 ) is further adapted for being removed from the opening ( 20 ) of the receptacle ( 2 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Method for the inspection of contact lenses, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a cuvette system, wherein the cuvette system comprising at least one receptacle for accommodating an ophthalmic lens, said at least one receptacle having a longitudinal extension and an opening arranged at one longitudinal end of the receptacle, and said at least one receptacle being adapted for containing a liquid, said cuvette system further comprising at least one inspection window having an inspection surface, said at least one inspection window being arranged stationary and separate from said at least one receptacle, and wherein said at least one inspection window is adapted for being joined to said at least one receptacle at said opening of said at least one receptacle such that said inspection surface of said at least one inspection window is immersed in said liquid, and wherein said at least one inspection window is further adapted for being removed from said opening of said at least one receptacle;
filling said at least one receptacle of said cuvette system with a liquid;
loading said at least one receptacle with an ophthalmic lens;
transporting said at least one receptacle loaded with said ophthalmic lens to an inspection station;
in said inspection station joining said at least one receptacle with said at least one inspection window such that said inspection surface of said at least one inspection window is immersed in the liquid contained in said at least one receptacle, wherein said inspection surface of said at least one inspection window has a leading edge, and wherein during joining of said at least one inspection window and said at least one receptacle said leading edge of said inspection surface encloses an angle with a surface of said liquid contained in said at least one receptacle in the range of 7° to 21° at the time said leading edge contacts the upper surface of said liquid to get immersed in said liquid;
in said inspection station optically inspecting said ophthalmic lens within said liquid in said at least one receptacle;
after inspection of said ophthalmic lens in said inspection station, removing said at least one inspection window from said at least one; and
transporting said at least one receptacle away from said inspection station.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one inspection window is joined with said at least one receptacle with an infeed speed of said inspection surface of said at least one inspection window in the range of 0.05 m/s to 0.16 m/s, and wherein said at least one inspection window is removed from said at least one receptacle with a retracting speed of said inspection surface of said at least one inspection window in the range of 0.05 m/s to 0.16 m/s.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one receptacle is of cuplike shape having a bottom which is arranged opposite to said opening, and wherein an inspection trough is provided in said bottom for accommodating the ophthalmic lens.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one receptacle comprises abutment lugs arranged at said longitudinal end of said at least one receptacle where said opening is arranged, said abutment lugs protruding axially away from said at least one receptacle at said longitudinal end.

5. Method according to claim 4 , wherein said at least one inspection window is detachably mounted within a tubular housing having a free end, with said at least one inspection window protruding from said free end of said tubular housing.

6. Method according to claim 5 , wherein said tubular housing comprises a flange extending radially outwardly from said tubular housing, and wherein said tubular housing is rotatably arranged between a first end position, in which said at least one inspection window is removed from said at least one receptacle, and a second end position, in which said flange of said tubular housing abuts against said abutment lugs arranged at said longitudinal end of said at least one receptacle.

7. Method according to claim 6 , wherein said tubular housing is biased towards said free end thereof.

8. Method according to claim 7 , wherein for biasing said tubular housing towards said free end thereof, a helical compression spring is arranged between said flange and a mounting panel to which said tubular housing is mounted.

9. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said cuvette system comprising two or more of said receptacles which are arranged in linear configuration and are adapted for being simultaneously transported, and further comprising a number of said inspection windows corresponding to the number of said receptacles, with each of said inspection windows being associated to a corresponding one of said receptacles, wherein said associated inspection windows are arranged stationary and separate from said receptacles in a corresponding linear configuration, and wherein said associated inspection windows are adapted for being simultaneously positioned in said openings of said receptacles such that said inspection surfaces of said inspection windows are immersed in said liquid, and are further adapted for being simultaneously removed from said openings of said receptacles.

10. Method according to claim 9 , wherein said cuvette system further comprising a drainboard arranged underneath said linear configuration of said inspection windows and extending parallel to said mounting panel.

Assignees

• Novartis Ag

Inventors

• Fechner Susanne
• Kessler Daniel
• Biel Roger
• Stutz Michael

Classifications

• G01M11/0214 Primary

  Details of devices holding the object to be tested · CPC title