KR102216307B1 - Contact lens molding apparatus and molding method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a contact lens molding apparatus for molding a contact lens by pressing a lower mold for forming a convex surface of a contact lens and an upper mold for forming a concave surface of the contact lens. The contact lens molding apparatus includes: a lower tray having a plurality of openings each exposing the convex bottom surfaces of the plurality of hammer molds, and supporting the hammer mold by a peripheral portion of the opening; A transfer unit for aligning the plurality of upper molds on the plurality of lower molds respectively seated in the plurality of openings; And when the contact lens is formed by pressing the lens resin supplied to the upper surface of the lower mold to the upper surface of the lower mold and the lower surface of the lower mold, the contact lens is formed from the lower side. A jig module for supporting a mold; wherein the jig module includes a plurality of support protrusions disposed to correspond to each of the plurality of lower molds, and each support protrusion has a concave upper surface, and when the lower mold is pressed A gap may be formed between the lower surface of the support protrusion and the upper surface of the support protrusion.

Description

Contact lens molding apparatus and its molding method {CONTACT LENS MOLDING APPARATUS AND MOLDING METHOD OF THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a contact lens molding apparatus and a molding method thereof, and more particularly, to a contact lens molding apparatus capable of molding a contact lens in a large amount, and a molding method thereof.

In general, contact lenses are lenses that are directly attached to the cornea of the eye instead of glasses, and have started to be used for correction of severe myopia, farsightedness, and astigmatism, which have little effect on correcting vision, and recently, for cosmetic purposes. It is also used.

Conventional contact lenses are manufactured by a full-mold or half-mold method.

In the semi-mold method, a lens solution is added to the mold and then subjected to polymerization reaction, and the molded product is processed with a shelf according to the number of taps of the mold, and then the surface and edge of the molded product are polished, and then packaged and sterilized to be washed to produce a contact lens. This is the way.

However, the half-mold method has the advantage that the edge part of the lens is in a round shape, so that the dry feeling felt by the user is less, the fit is excellent, and the damage rate is low when the lens is separated. Since it has to be processed, it takes a lot of time to make mass production difficult.

In the complete mold method, a disposable mold is used as an equipment for molding contact lenses, and the mold is also made of synthetic resin. Like a conventional mold, the lens mold is also composed of an upper mold (upper mold) and a lower mold (lower mold). When the required amount of resin is filled in the recessed space of the lower mold and then combined with the upper mold and pressed, a thin-film spherical lens is formed by the lower surface of the upper mold and the upper surface of the lower mold.

Thereafter, the lens is separated from the upper mold and the lower mold, washed, packaged, and sterilized to complete a contact lens.

Among the conventional contact lens manufacturing methods, a lens manufactured by a complete mold method is relatively easy to mass-produce because a raw material is injected between the upper mold and the lower mold to be molded. However, a mass production method capable of producing a large number of lenses at once has not yet been sufficiently provided.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a contact lens forming apparatus and a method for forming a contact lens capable of forming a contact lens in a large amount by performing the combination of a plurality of lower molds and upper molds at once.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the following description. There will be.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a contact lens molding apparatus for forming a contact lens by pressing a lower mold for forming a convex surface of a contact lens and an upper mold for forming a concave surface of the contact lens. to provide. The contact lens molding apparatus includes: a lower tray having a plurality of openings each exposing the convex bottom surfaces of the plurality of hammer molds, and supporting the hammer mold by a peripheral portion of the opening; A transfer unit for aligning the plurality of upper molds on the plurality of lower molds respectively seated in the plurality of openings; And when the contact lens is formed by pressing the lens resin supplied to the upper surface of the lower mold to the upper surface of the lower mold and the lower surface of the lower mold, the contact lens is formed from the lower side. A jig module for supporting a mold; wherein the jig module includes a plurality of support protrusions disposed to correspond to each of the plurality of lower molds, and each support protrusion has a concave upper surface, and when the lower mold is pressed A gap may be formed between the lower surface of the support protrusion and the upper surface of the support protrusion.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the hammold includes a first stepped surface formed along a circumferential direction of the convex lower surface and a second stepped surface formed between the lower surface and the first stepped surface, and a peripheral portion of the opening The gap may be formed by supporting the first stepped surface, and an edge of an upper surface of the support protrusion supporting the second stepped surface.

In an embodiment of the present invention, it further comprises an upper tray on which the plurality of upper molds are seated, and the transfer unit attaches the plurality of upper molds seated on the upper tray to be aligned on the plurality of lower molds, respectively. I can.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the transfer unit includes a plurality of adsorption rods, and ends of each adsorption bar are inserted into the concave upper surfaces of the plurality of upper molds to adsorb the upper mold.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the convex lower surfaces of the plurality of upper molds are inserted into the concave upper surfaces of the plurality of lower molds seated on the lower tray by lowering the plurality of adsorption rods, and the lower mold and the upper mold The assembly may be supported by the support protrusion.

In an embodiment of the present invention, due to the gap between the upper surface of the support protrusion and the lower surface of the lower mold when pressed by the adsorption rod, the elasticity of the lower mold and the pressing force of the upper mold by the suction rod Contact lenses can be molded.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an alignment protrusion or groove is formed on the lower surface of the lower mold or the second stepped surface, and the upper surface or the edge of the support protrusion is coupled to the protrusion or groove of the lower mold. Grooves or protrusions may be formed.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a hammer mold supply unit in which the lower tray on which the plurality of hammer molds are seated is waiting; A resin supply unit for supplying the resin for the lens to the plurality of hammers mounted on the lower tray; An upper mold supply unit for waiting for the upper tray on which the plurality of upper molds are mounted; And a robot arm for moving the lower tray while the lower mold and the upper mold are coupled.

In an embodiment of the present invention, it may further include a pressing unit that descends and presses the rear end of the adsorption rod.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, another embodiment of the present invention provides a contact lens molding method for forming a contact lens by pressing a lower mold forming a convex surface of a contact lens and an upper mold forming a concave surface of the contact lens. to provide. First, a plurality of the hammers are mounted on the lower tray. Thereafter, a resin for a lens is supplied to the upper surface of the lower mold seated on the lower tray. The plurality of upper molds are aligned on the lower molds respectively seated in the plurality of openings of the lower tray. Next, when forming the contact lens by pressing the lens resin supplied to the upper surface of the lower mold to the upper surface of the lower mold and the lower surface of the upper mold, the support protrusion of the jig module of claim 1 from the lower side of the lower mold It is supported by and molded. In this case, a gap may be formed between the convex lower surface of the hammold exposed through the opening and the upper surface of the support protrusion during the pressing.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a contact lens molding apparatus capable of forming a contact lens in a large amount by performing a combination of a plurality of lower molds and an upper mold at once, and a method of forming the same.

During contact lens molding, a gap is formed between the lower surface of the lower mold and the upper surface of the support protrusion, so that the support protrusion is suppressed from affecting the shape of the lower mold, and the contact lens is reduced by the elasticity of the lower mold and the pressing force of the upper mold. Since it can be molded, it can contribute to accurate shape control of the contact lens during mass molding.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above effects, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the configuration of the invention described in the detailed description or claims of the present invention.

1 to 3 are views showing a contact lens molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lower tray on which ham molds are mounted.
5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method in which a plurality of hammer molds are mounted on a lower tray.
6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a jig module supported from a lower side of a hamold.
7 is a diagram illustrating an operation of transferring an upper mold seated on an upper tray by a plurality of upper molds.
8 is a view for explaining a support state of the jig module when the lower mold and the upper mold are compressed.
9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an upper mold, a lower mold, an adsorption rod, and a jig module.
10 is a view for explaining a process in which the lower tray is transferred by the robot in a state in which the combined upper mold and the lower mold are combined.

In the present invention, various modifications may be made and various forms may be applied, and specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to a specific form disclosed, it should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. In describing each drawing, similar reference numerals have been used for similar elements.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Terms as defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related technology, and should not be interpreted as an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in this application. Does not.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 are views showing a contact lens molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a view showing an example of the lower tray 100 on which the hammer molds 10 are mounted. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method in which a plurality of hammer molds 10 are mounted on the lower tray 100.

The contact lens molding apparatus according to the present embodiment may supply a lens resin to the lower mold 10, align the upper mold 20 on the lower mold 10, and pressurize the contact lens to form a contact lens. The upper surface of the lower mold 10 may form a convex surface of the contact lens, and the lower surface of the upper mold 20 may form a concave surface of the contact lens.

The contact lens molding apparatus may include a lower tray 100, a transfer unit 300, and a jig module 400.

A plurality of openings 110 exposing the convex lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 are formed in the lower tray 100, and the lower mold 10 may be supported by the periphery of the opening 110.

The lower tray 100 is a means for accommodating a plurality of hammer molds 10 and molding them at once, and may have a plate shape. A plurality of circular openings 110 are formed in the lower tray 100, and a lower mold 10 may be seated in each of the openings 110. Accordingly, the convex lower surface 11 of the hammold 10 may be exposed downward through the opening 110. The periphery of the lower surface 11 of the hammer mold 10 may be supported by the periphery of the opening 110.

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a jig module 400 supported from a lower side of a mold.

The jig module 400 may be located under the transferred lower tray 100. In the jig module 400, the upper surface 12 of the lower mold 10 and the lower surface 21 of the upper mold 20 are close, and the resin for a lens 30 supplied to the upper surface 12 of the lower mold 10 When molding into a contact lens shape, the lower mold 10 may be supported from the lower side.

In the present embodiment, the jig module 400 may include a plurality of support protrusions 410 respectively corresponding to the lower surfaces 11 of the plurality of ham molds 10 mounted on the lower tray 100.

The contact lens molding apparatus removes dust from the ham mold supply unit 500 on which the lower tray 100 on which the plurality of ham molds 10 are seated, and the plurality of ham molds 10 seated on the lower tray 100, are waiting. A resin supply unit 700 for supplying a resin for a lens to the plurality of lower molds 10 mounted on the lower tray 100, the upper tray 200 on which the plurality of upper molds 20 are mounted. ), and a robot arm 900 for moving the lower tray 100 while the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 are coupled to each other by performing the molding process. .

7 is a diagram illustrating an operation of transferring the upper mold 20 seated on the upper tray 200 by a plurality of upper molds 20.

The contact lens molding apparatus may further include an upper tray 200 on which a plurality of upper molds 20 can be mounted. The upper tray 200 may be provided in a state in which a plurality of upper molds 20 are seated.

The transfer unit 300 may align the plurality of upper molds 20 on the lower molds 10 respectively seated in the plurality of openings 110. For example, the plurality of upper molds 20 seated on the upper tray 200 may be lifted and moved, and then aligned on the upper side of each lower mold 10 seated on the lower tray 100.

For example, the transfer unit 300 may include a plurality of adsorption rods 310. The upper mold 20 may include a convex lower surface 21 and a concave upper surface 22 corresponding to the upper surface 12 of the lower mold 10. The end of the adsorption rod 310 may be partially inserted into the upper surface 22 of the upper mold 20.

At this time, the upper mold 20 may be adsorbed to the end of the adsorption bar 310 by vacuum suction of the adsorption bar 310. Alternatively, the end of the suction rod 310 is simply inserted into the concave upper surface of the upper mold 20, and the upper mold 20 may be lifted by the suction rod 310 by frictional force. In this way, the transfer unit 300 is moved while being adsorbed or attached to the end of the adsorption rod 310 and can be transferred to the upper side of the lower tray 100.

8 is a view for explaining a support state of the jig module 400 when the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 are compressed.

The lower mold 10 includes a first stepped surface 13 formed along the circumferential direction of the convex lower surface 11 and a second stepped surface 14 formed between the lower surface 11 and the first stepped surface 13. Can (see Figs. 5 and 8).

The periphery of the opening 110 of the lower tray 100 supports the first stepped surface 13, and an edge of the upper surface 411 of the support protrusion 410 may support the second stepped surface 14 ( See Fig. 9).

The upper surface 411 of the support protrusion 410 may have a concave shape such that the convex lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 is accommodated. When the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 are combined and the upper mold 20 is pressed by an adsorption rod, the lower mold 10 may be supported by the support protrusion 410 (FIGS. 8 and 9 Reference). In this case, when the upper surface of the support protrusion 410 is in close contact with the lower mold 10 from the beginning, the shape of the upper surface of the support protrusion 410 may affect the shape of the contact lens.

Therefore, it is desirable to allow the convex surface (lower surface) of the contact lens to be formed by the hammer mold, and it may not be desirable for the support protrusion to be in close contact with the lower surface of the hammer mold. In order to reduce the restraint of the lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 by the support protrusion, the upper surface 411 of the support protrusion 410 is from the convex lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 exposed through the opening 110. Can be separated.

For example, the convex lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 has a gap 40 formed to be spaced apart from the upper surface 411 of the support protrusion 410, and the circumferential portion of the lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 (The second stepped surface 14) may be supported by the edge of the upper surface 411 of the support protrusion 410.

9 is a view for explaining the operation of the lower mold 10, the upper mold 20, the adsorption rod 310, and the jig module 400.

As an example, a plurality of adsorption rods 310 having adsorbed a plurality of upper molds 20 are lowered, and a plurality of upper molds are placed on the concave upper surface 12 of the plurality of lower molds 10 seated on the lower tray 100. The convex lower surface 21 of 20) is inserted, and after the combination of the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 is formed, it is further lowered to support the second stepped surface of the lower mold 10 by the support protrusion 410. I can.

Alternatively, after the lower tray 100 first descends and the lower mold 10 is supported by the support protrusion 410, the absorption rod 310 is lowered and a plurality of lower molds 10 seated on the lower tray 100 ), the convex lower surface 21 of the plurality of upper molds 20 may be inserted into the concave upper surface 12.

As such, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the resin supplied to the upper surface 12 of the lower mold 10 is pressed by the upper mold 20, and a pressing force may be provided by the adsorption rod 310. . At this time, due to the separation or gap 40 between the upper surface 411 of the support protrusion 410 and the lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 when pressed by the adsorption rod 310, the lower surface of the lower mold 10 ( The contact lens may be molded by the elasticity of 11) and the pressing force of the upper mold 20 by the adsorption rod 310.

That is, while preventing the shape of the upper surface 411 of the support protrusion 410 from affecting the contact lens molding, the circumferential periphery of the lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 (the second stepped surface 14) By pressing the edge of the support protrusion 410, a closed space may be formed between the lower surface 21 of the upper mold 20 and the upper surface 12 of the lower mold 10 along the circumferential direction, and thus for lenses The outer end of the resin 30 may be molded into a lens shape to be more complete.

On the other hand, in order to more accurately and facilitate the alignment between the support protrusion 410 and the hammer 10, the lower surface 11 or the second stepped surface 14 of the ham mold 10 has a protrusion or groove for alignment The upper surface 411 of the support protrusion 410 or the edge of the upper surface may be formed with a groove or protrusion that is dance-coupled with the protrusion or groove of the lower mold 10.

In addition, the pressing force of the adsorption rod 310 to press the upper mold 20 is finely controlled, and in some cases, it may be insufficiently pressed. Therefore, in order to make the pressure more reliably, the contact lens molding apparatus may further include a pressing unit 1000 that presses the rear end of the adsorption rod 310 while descending.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a process in which the lower tray 100 is transferred by the robot while the combined upper mold 20 and the lower mold 10 are combined.

As described above, when the molding process by compressing the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 is completed, the adsorption rod 310 may rise and move. The robot arm 900 may lift the combination of the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 and move it for the next process. In a subsequent process, the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 are separated, the contact lens is detached, and the contact lens can be completed into a product by packaging, etc. through a subsequent process such as washing.

A contact lens molding method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method of forming a contact lens by pressing the lower mold 10 for forming the convex surface of the contact lens and the upper mold 20 for forming the concave surface of the contact lens. Can be applied.

First, as described above, a plurality of hammer molds 10 may be mounted on the lower tray 100. A plurality of lower trays 100 may be prepared (refer to FIG. 2 ), and the lower mold 10 may be seated in the opening 110 of each lower tray 100.

Thereafter, the waiting lower tray 100 is moved to the dust removal unit 600, and then, transferred to the resin supply unit 700, and then on the upper surface 12 of the lower mold 10 seated on the lower tray 100. Resin for the lens can be supplied.

A plurality of upper molds 20 may be seated in advance on the upper tray 200 and transferred in sequence. The transfer unit 300 may lift and transfer the plurality of upper molds 20 from the upper tray 200.

The transfer unit 300 may align the plurality of upper molds 20 on the lower molds 10 respectively seated in the plurality of openings 110 of the lower tray 100.

Thereafter, when the upper surface 12 of the lower mold 10 and the lower surface 21 of the upper mold 20 are close to each other, the lens resin supplied to the upper surface 12 of the lower mold 10 is molded into a contact lens shape. The lower mold 10 can be supported and molded by the support protrusion 410 of the jig module 400 from the lower side.

Due to the upper surface 411 of the support protrusion 410 spaced apart from the convex lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 exposed to the opening 110 during pressurization, the elasticity and pressure of the lower surface 11 of the lower mold 10 The contact lens may be molded by the upper mold 20.

Thereafter, a step of transferring the combination of the upper mold 20 and the lower mold 10 and separating, cleaning and packaging the contact lens may be performed.

The above description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to understand that it can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. will be. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not limiting. For example, each component described as a single type may be implemented in a distributed manner, and similarly, components described as being distributed may also be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims to be described later, and all changes or modified forms derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

10: Hamold
11: lower surface of hamold
12: upper surface of hamold
13: first stepped surface
14: second stepped surface
20: Sangmold
21: lower surface of upper mold
22: upper surface of upper mold
30: resin for lens
40: gap
100: lower tray
110: opening
300: transfer unit
310: suction rod
400: jig module
410: support protrusion
411: upper surface of support protrusion
500: Hamold supply unit
600: dust removal unit
700: resin supply unit
800: upper mold supply unit
900: robot arm

Claims (10)

A contact lens molding apparatus for molding a contact lens by pressing a lower mold for shaping a convex surface of a contact lens and an upper mold for shaping the concave surface of the contact lens,
A lower tray having a plurality of openings each exposing the convex lower surfaces of the plurality of hammer molds, and supporting the hammer mold by a peripheral portion of the opening;
A transfer unit for aligning the plurality of upper molds on the plurality of lower molds respectively seated in the plurality of openings; And
When the contact lens is formed under the transferred lower tray by pressing the lens resin supplied to the upper surface of the lower mold to the upper surface of the lower mold and the lower surface of the upper mold, the lower mold is formed from the lower side. Includes; a jig module supporting the,
The jig module includes a plurality of support protrusions disposed to respectively correspond to the plurality of lower molds, and each support protrusion has a concave upper surface, and between the lower surface of the lower mold and the upper surface of the support protrusion when pressing A contact lens molding apparatus, characterized in that a gap is formed.
The method according to claim 1,
The hammold includes a first stepped surface formed along a circumferential direction of the convex lower surface and a second stepped surface formed between the lower surface and the first stepped surface,
A contact lens molding, characterized in that the periphery of the opening of the lower tray supports the first stepped surface of the lower mold, and the edge of the upper surface of the supporting protrusion supports the second stepped surface to form the gap Device.
The method according to claim 2,
Further comprising an upper tray on which the plurality of upper molds are seated,
The conveying unit is characterized in that by attaching the plurality of upper molds seated on the upper tray and aligning them on the plurality of lower molds, respectively.
The method of claim 3,
The conveying unit includes a plurality of adsorption rods,
The contact lens molding apparatus, characterized in that the end of each suction rod is inserted into the concave upper surface of the plurality of upper molds and adsorbs the upper mold.
The method of claim 4,
The plurality of adsorption rods are lowered so that the convex lower surfaces of the plurality of upper molds are inserted into the concave upper surfaces of the plurality of lower molds seated on the lower tray,
A contact lens molding apparatus, characterized in that the combination of the lower mold and the upper mold is supported by the support protrusion.
The method of claim 5,
The contact lens is molded by the elasticity of the lower mold and the pressing force of the upper mold by the adsorption rod due to the gap between the upper surface of the support protrusion and the lower surface of the lower mold when pressed by the suction rod. , Contact lens molding device.
The method according to claim 2,
Alignment protrusions or grooves are formed on the lower surface of the hammer mold or the second stepped surface,
A contact lens molding apparatus, characterized in that a groove or protrusion is formed on an upper surface or edge of the support protrusion to be coupled with the protrusion or groove of the lower mold.
The method of claim 3,
A hammer mold supply unit for the lower tray on which the plurality of hammer molds are seated;
A resin supply unit for supplying the resin for the lens to the plurality of hammers mounted on the lower tray;
An upper mold supply unit in which the upper tray on which the plurality of upper molds are seated is waiting; And
A contact lens molding apparatus further comprising a; robot arm for moving the lower tray while the lower mold and the upper mold are coupled.
The method of claim 6,
A contact lens molding apparatus, characterized in that it further comprises a pressing unit that descends and presses the rear end of the adsorption rod.
In a contact lens molding method for molding a contact lens by pressing a lower mold for shaping a convex surface of a contact lens and an upper mold for shaping the concave surface of the contact lens,
Seating a plurality of the hammers on the lower tray of claim 1;
Supplying a resin for a lens to an upper surface of the lower mold seated on the lower tray;
Aligning the plurality of upper molds on the lower molds respectively seated in the plurality of openings of the lower tray;
When forming the contact lens by pressing the lens resin supplied to the upper surface of the lower mold to the upper surface of the lower mold and the lower surface of the upper mold, the lower mold is pressed from the lower side by the support protrusion of the jig module of claim 1 Includes; supporting and molding
A contact lens molding method, characterized in that a gap is formed between the convex lower surface of the lower mold exposed through the opening and the upper surface of the support protrusion during the pressing.

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