Method for molding an ophthalmic lens and device for applying a coating to the surface of an ophthalmic lens mold

Abstract

There are described a method for applying a coating to a surface of an ophthalmic lens mold. The mold includes male and female ( 20 ) mold halves, with each of the mold halves being provided with a lens forming surface ( 21 ). The method includes applying a temporary coating to at least a portion of at least one of the male and female mold halves ( 20 ), the temporary coating being capable of reducing adhesive forces between a lens forming material and the lens forming surface ( 21 ); and drying the temporary coating applied to the portion of the lens forming surface ( 21 ). Also described is a device ( 1 ) for applying such temporary coating to the portion of the lens forming surface ( 21 ) of the ophthalmic lens mold.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A device for applying a coating to a surface of an ophthalmic lens mold, said lens mold comprising male and female mold halves, each of said male and female mold halves being provided with a lens forming surface, with a mold cavity being formed between said lens forming surfaces of said male and female mold halves when the mold is closed, said device comprising at least one coating head having a coating face adapted to be contacted with said portion of said at least one lens forming surface of said male and female mold halves, said coating head being provided with feed and discharge ports adapted to be connected with feed and discharge lines in order to allow for a continuous flow of a temporary coating substance to and from said coating face at least during contact of said coating face with said portion of said lens forming surface of said at least one of said male and female mold halves. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said coating face comprises a curved outer surface generally matching a concave or convex curvature of said lens forming surface of said male or female mold half, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said coating face comprises a mesh which is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide, polyester, silk, steel, and combinations of these materials. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein said coating face comprises a mesh which is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide, polyester, silk, steel, and combinations of these materials. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein said mesh has a mesh size (m) of about 25 μm to about 1 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein said mesh is provided with projections protruding from the coating face and having a length in the range of about 50 μm to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the coating head further comprises a homogenizer arranged upstream of said mesh. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 14 , comprising two coating heads, each one of said coating heads having a coating face, with the coating face of one of said two coating heads being adapted to apply a temporary coating to at least a portion of said lens forming surface of said male mold half and said coating face of the other of said two coating heads being adapted to apply a temporary coating to at least a portion of said lens forming surface of said female mold half.