KR102366735B1 - Contact lens pattern printing device having automatic replenishing function of volatile storage liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a contact lens pattern printing apparatus having an automatic replenishment function of a volatile preservative solution, and more particularly, by sequentially forming a printing pattern layer made of a pattern ink on the molding surface of a mold of a contact lens supplied sequentially to form a multicolor It relates to a pattern printing apparatus for contact lenses having an automatic replenishment function of a preservative that forms a pattern of

Description

Contact lens pattern printing device having automatic replenishing function of volatile storage liquid

The present invention relates to a contact lens pattern printing apparatus having an automatic replenishment function of a volatile preservative solution, and more particularly, by sequentially forming a printing pattern layer made of pattern ink on the molding surface of a contact lens mold supplied sequentially, It relates to a pattern printing apparatus for contact lenses having an automatic replenishment function of a preservative solution forming a pattern.

In general, glasses or contact lenses are used as a means to correct the deteriorated visual acuity of the eye, and among them, contact lenses are worn to directly contact the cornea of the user's eye. used for the purpose of providing

These contact lenses are largely divided into hard-type and soft-type lenses, and since the hard-type contact lenses have a foreign body feeling when worn, mass production is difficult, and the manufacturing cost of the product is expensive, soft-type contact lenses are commercially available. is widely disseminated in

A conventional contact lens manufacturing method is manufactured by injecting a polymer material for lens molding into a female mold, combining the male mold with the female mold, and then curing the lens molding solution for a set time.

In addition, the color contact lens is formed by printing a color pattern on the molding surface of the male mold coupled to the female mold, and transferring the color pattern to the surface of the contact lens during the molding process.

Therefore, a color contact lens is preceded by a pattern printing process of forming a pattern printing layer in which various shapes or patterns are printed on the surface of a male mold prior to molding the contact lenses.

On the other hand, in the conventional automatic color printing apparatus of a contact lens, an appropriate amount of ink is filled in the ink jet head, and an appropriate amount of ink is applied to the etching pattern of the pattern plate while the pattern plate having the etching pattern formed along the bottom surface of the ink jet head moves forward and backward. A liquid is applied, and the stamper stamps the ink applied to the etching pattern to stamp the contact lens mold forming surface, so that a pattern printing layer is formed on the contact lens mold forming surface.

However, the ink liquid is made in a form in which a volatile preservative is mixed with the original ink solution to maintain the required viscosity and saturation. In the ink liquid stored in the ink storage chamber, a phenomenon in which the preservation liquid volatilizes to the outside occurs inevitably.

As such, when the volatile preservative solution is removed by volatilization from the ink solution, a change in the concentration of the ink solution is caused, and as a result, a defect in the pattern printing layer is caused by the change in the concentration of the ink solution according to the volatilization of the preservative solution.

Therefore, in the art, the operator periodically visually inspects the pattern printing layer formed on the molding surface of the contact lens mold to replace the ink liquid or inject the preservation liquid, but this is dependent on the operator's senses, It requires skill and has a limitation in that it is difficult to ensure uniformity of quality.

KR 101217833 B1 KR 101527467 B1 US 06393981 B1

An object of the present invention, devised to solve the above problems, is to maintain a uniform concentration of the volatile preservative solution remaining in the ink forming the pattern layer on the molded surface of the contact lens, so that the pattern layer of uniform quality is maintained. An object of the present invention is to provide a contact lens pattern printing device having an automatic replenishment function of a volatile preservative solution that can be formed on the contact lens mold molding surface to ensure uniform quality and reduce the occurrence of defects.

The above object is achieved by the following configuration provided in the present invention.

A contact lens pattern printing apparatus having an automatic replenishment function of a preservative according to the present invention,

a mold section transfer unit for sequentially moving the contact lens mold section along the printing space; It is disposed in a printing space in which the contact lens mold is moved in a section by the mold section transfer unit, and a pattern printing unit for forming a pattern printing layer on the molding surface of the contact lens mold which is sequentially moved section in the printing space is configured,

The pattern printing unit includes: an ink liquid ejection head for ejecting the ink liquid filled in the ink storage chamber through an ejection hole formed on the bottom surface; a movable pattern unit stacked under the ink liquid ejection head, advancing and retreating a set stroke distance by an advancing and retreating member, and having a pattern plate having an etched pattern formed thereon; an elevating stamper unit for stamping the ink liquid applied to the etching pattern of the movable pattern unit on the molding surface of the contact lens mold; and a preserving solution quantitative supply unit for supplying a fixed amount of a preserving solution to the ink storage chamber of the ink jetting head filled with the ink solution to compensate and supplying the volatilized preserving solution to the ink solution stored in the ink jetting head. .

Preferably, the preservative solution quantitative supply unit comprises a preservative solution storage tank in which the preservative solution is stored; a fixed quantity supply pump disposed in communication between the storage liquid storage tank and the ink liquid ejection head through an injection pipe to supply the stored reserve liquid into the ink storage chamber of the ink liquid ejection head; and a controller for controlling the driving of the quantitative supply pump to inject a preset amount of the preserving liquid into the ink storage chamber of the ink liquid ejection head in which the ink liquid is stored.

More preferably, an injection pipe communicating with the ink storage chamber is formed to pass through the upper portion of the ink liquid ejection head into which the preservative liquid is quantitatively injected by the predetermined quantity supplying unit, and the replenishment liquid is injected into the injection pipe communication with the fixed quantity supply pump Install a sealing cap with a ball formed therein.

In addition, an exhaust hole communicating with the outside is formed in the sealing cap to prevent overpressure in the ink storage chamber according to the injection of the replenishment liquid injected into the ink storage chamber through the replenishment liquid injection hole.

In addition, the sealing cap is made of a silicone material and is elastically press-fitted to the inlet to be fixed, and is configured to form a storage solution injection hole and an exhaust hole in the inlet, respectively.

As described above, in the present invention, a pattern printing unit having a preserving solution quantitative supply unit for supplying an appropriate amount of the remaining volatile preservative solution to the ink solution for forming a pattern printing layer on the molded surface of the contact lens according to a set period is added.

Accordingly, in the ink liquid filled in the storage chamber of the ink liquid ejection head, the preservation liquid removed by volatilization is always supplied and stored in an appropriate amount to maintain a constant viscosity and concentration.

Thus, it is possible to continuously form the patterned printing layer with quality uniformity secured on the molding surface of the contact lens mold.

1 is a view showing the overall configuration of a contact lens pattern printing device having an automatic replenishment function of a preservative solution proposed as a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a contact lens pattern printing apparatus having an automatic replenishment function of a preservative solution proposed as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a pattern printing layer is formed on the molding surface of the contact lens mold through an elevation stamping unit; will,
3 is a view showing a quantity supply unit and an ink liquid ejection head in a pattern printing apparatus for contact lenses having an automatic replenishment function of a preservation liquid, which is proposed as a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows the detailed configuration of the ink liquid ejection head in the contact lens pattern printing apparatus having an automatic replenishment function of the preservative solution proposed as a preferred embodiment in the present invention,
5 is a view sequentially showing a state in which the ink liquid is filled in the ink liquid ejection head in the contact lens pattern printing apparatus having an automatic replenishment function of the preservation liquid, which is proposed as a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
6 is an enlarged view showing the working state of each part in FIG. 3 .

Hereinafter, a contact lens pattern printing apparatus having an automatic replenishment function of a preservative solution proposed as a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows the overall configuration of a contact lens pattern printing device having an automatic replenishment function of a preservative solution proposed as a preferred embodiment in the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an automatic replenishment of the preservative solution proposed as a preferred embodiment in the present invention. In a contact lens pattern printing apparatus having a function, it shows a state in which a pattern printing layer is formed on the molding surface of a contact lens mold through an elevation stamping unit, and FIG. 3 is a preservation solution proposed as a preferred embodiment in the present invention In the pattern printing apparatus for contact lenses having an automatic replenishment function, it shows a preservative solution quantitative supply unit and an ink liquid ejection head, and FIG. In the pattern printing device, the detailed configuration of the ink jet head is shown, and FIG. 5 is a contact lens pattern printing device with automatic replenishment function proposed as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ink jet head It shows the state of filling the ink liquid sequentially, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the operation state of each part in FIG. 3 .

The contact lens pattern printing apparatus 1 having an automatic replenishment function of the preservative according to the present invention is manufactured through the contact lens molding process by sequentially printing the pattern on the molding surface 11 of the contact lens mold 10. A multicolor pattern printed layer 12 of 4 to 6 degrees is formed on the molding surface 11 of the contact lens mold 10 .

The contact lens pattern printing apparatus 1 includes a mold section transfer unit 100 for sequentially moving the contact lens mold 10 along the printing space as shown in FIG. 1; A pattern printing layer on the molding surface 11 of the contact lens mold 10 which is arranged in a printing space in which the contact lens mold 10 is moved in a section by the mold section transfer unit 100 and is sequentially moved in a section in the printing space and a pattern printing unit 200 forming (12).

The mold section transfer unit 100 includes: a parts feeder unit 110 for arranging the stored contact lens molds 10 in a line and discharging them one by one; Jigs 120 for fixing the contact lens mold 10 that is disposed in the printing space and moves section; and a carrier unit 130 for moving the contact lens mold 10 in a section along a jig disposed in the printing space while moving section along the printing space.

The carrier unit 130 includes a movable base 131 that moves vertically and horizontally, and a finger member 132 that is installed on the movable base 131 and holds the contact lens mold 10 requiring section movement. do.

Therefore, the contact lens mold 10 sequentially discharged from the parts feeder unit 110 is supplied and transported step by step to the jig 120 disposed in the printing space through the carrier unit 130, and the pattern is printed in this process. The part 200 forms a pattern printing layer 12 on the molding surface 11 of the contact lens mold 10 positioned on each jig 120 .

In this embodiment, the six jigs 120 are spaced apart from each other in the printing space, and the contact lens mold 10 that is moved in stages along each jig 120 is patterned step by step through the pattern printing unit 200 . It is printed, so as to form a pattern printed layer 12 of six colors on the molding surface 11 of the contact lens mold 10 .

And, the pattern printing unit 200 for forming the pattern printing layer 12 of the set color on the molding surface 11 of the contact lens mold 10 located in each of the jigs 120, the ink storage chamber 211 an ink liquid ejection head 210 for ejecting the ink liquid (L) filled in the ejection port 212 through the ejection port 212 formed on the bottom surface; A movable pattern having a pattern plate 221 on which an etching pattern 221a etched on the surface is formed by being stacked on the lower part of the ink liquid ejection head 210, advancing and retreating a set stroke distance by the advancing and retreating member 222 unit 220; and an elevation stamper unit 230 for stamping the ink liquid L applied to the etching pattern 221a of the movable pattern unit 220 on the molding surface 11 of the contact lens mold 10 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elevating stamper unit 230 includes a stamper 231 and a movable pattern unit 220 and a contact lens mold 10 for moving the stamper 231 between the jig 120 in which the contact lens mold 10 is located. It includes an elevating member 232 for elevating to the.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 , the ink liquid ejection head 210 has an ink storage chamber 211 formed on the outside of the support core 213 with an ejection port 212 open at the bottom. , the operator turns the ink liquid ejection head 210 up and down so that the bottom faces upward, and then fills the ink storage chamber 211 with an appropriate amount of the ink liquid L, and the pattern plate 221 of the movable pattern unit 220 ) on the floor to seal the ejection port 212, and then turn the stacked ink liquid ejection head 210 and the pattern plate 221 up and down, and the ink liquid L stored in the ink storage chamber 211 is placed on the floor. It flows into the etching pattern 221a of the pattern plate 221 along the formed outlet 212 .

In addition, an annular scraper made of a ceramic material for scraping the ink liquid L ejected to the upper portion of the pattern plate 221 on which the etching pattern 221a is formed through the ejection hole 212 at the bottom edge of the ink liquid ejection head 210 . 214 is formed, and the ink liquid L ejected on the upper surface of the pattern plate 221 in addition to the etching pattern 221a by the advance and retreat of the pattern plate 221 is removed by the annular scraper 214 and etched It is made to remain only in the pattern 221a.

In particular, in the present invention, a self-fixing structure is provided between the pattern plate 221 and the ink liquid ejection head 210 stacked on the upper portion of the pattern plate 221 to achieve stable adhesion therebetween, and the ink liquid The ejection head 210 is in close contact with the pattern plate 221 through permanent magnetic force to prevent leakage of the ink liquid L stored in the ink storage chamber 211 through the open ejection port 212, and also an annular scraper A close contact between the 214 and the pattern plate 221 is promoted to prevent an unnecessary ink liquid L from remaining on the pattern plate 221 .

To this end, in the present invention, one or more charging ports are formed in the support core 213 of the ink liquid ejection head 210 , and a permanent magnet 215 is disposed at the charging ports.

Accordingly, the ink liquid ejection head 210 is magnetically coupled to the pattern plate 221 laminated on the bottom surface by the permanent magnetic force emitted from the permanent magnet 215 disposed on the support core 213 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6B . keep the status quo At this time, the bottom surface of the support core 213 is spaced apart from the top surface of the pattern plate 221 disposed thereunder at a set interval to form a non-friction state.

Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 4 and 7, the annular scraper 214 of the ink liquid ejection head 210 is disposed on the outer wall of the ink liquid ejection head 210 in a lifting structure, and the annular scraper ( 214 is configured to be pressed downwardly through the contact spring 218 , so that the annular scraper 214 forms an elastically close contact with the upper portion of the pattern plate 221 by the contact spring 218 .

More preferably, the adhesive spring 218 has an elastic pressing force adjusted by the adhesive force adjusting rim 219 fastened to the ink liquid ejection head 210, so that the annular scraper 214 applies the required pressure to the pattern plate ( 221) to be in close contact with the upper surface.

Thus, the pattern plate 221 reciprocates and advances and retreats at a set stroke distance by the advancing and retreating member 222 while maintaining a state in which the upper surface is stably adhered to the bottom of the ink liquid ejection head 210 by magnetic coupling force, In addition, the annular scraper 214 forms an elastic adhesion state on the upper surface of the pattern plate 221 by the elastic adhesion force provided through the adhesion spring 218 .

As a result, the ink liquid scraped by the annular scraper 214 by ejecting through the ejection hole 212 remains in the etching pattern 221a formed on the upper surface of the pattern plate 221 to be standardized.

Then, the ink liquid L remaining in the etching pattern 221a of the pattern plate 221 is stamped by the stamper 231 of the elevating stamper unit 230, and then the contact lens mold positioned on the jig 120. It is formed by stamping on the molding surface 11 of (10), and by sequentially carrying out these processes, a multi-color pattern printing layer ( 12) is formed in stages.

On the other hand, the ink liquid L, which is filled in the ink liquid ejection head 210 to form the final pattern printing layer 12 on the molding surface 11 of the contact lens mold 10, maintains a predetermined viscosity and concentration. For this purpose, a volatile preservative solution L′ is mixed, and the preservative solution L′ must be maintained in an appropriate amount mixed with the ink solution L to form the pattern printing layer 12 of uniform color and saturation.

However, since the preservative liquid L' is a volatile material in nature, if the pattern printing process is repeatedly performed, the preservative liquid L' is stored in the ink storage chamber 211 of the ink liquid ejection head 210. (L') volatilizes to the outside to cause a change in the concentration of the ink liquid, and the change in the concentration of the ink liquid according to the volatilization of the preservative liquid causes a defect in the pattern printing layer 12 .

This phenomenon is due to the fact that the ink storage chamber 211 of the ink liquid ejection head 210 has the ejection port 212 in close contact with the pattern plate 221, and thus a structurally completely sealed state is impossible, so This further exacerbates the loss.

In order to solve this problem, in the present invention, a volatile preservative liquid (L') is supplied to the ink liquid ejection head 210 by a fixed amount, and the liquid liquid (L') volatilized in the ink liquid L stored in the ink liquid ejection head 210 is volatilized (L'). It includes a fixed quantity supply unit 240 for supplying compensation.

The preservative solution quantitative supply unit 240, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the preservative solution (L ') is stored in the storage tank 241 and; An ink storage chamber 211 of the ink liquid ejection head 210 is disposed in communication between the preservation liquid storage tank 241 and the ink liquid ejection head 210 through an injection tube 242, and stores the stored reserve liquid L'. A quantitative supply pump 243 for supplying the inside; and a controller 244 for controlling the driving of the quantitative supply pump 243 to inject a preset amount of the storage liquid L into the ink storage chamber 211 of the ink liquid ejection head 210 in which the ink liquid L is stored. include

In addition, an injection pipe 216 communicating with the ink storage chamber 211 is formed on the upper portion of the ink liquid ejection head 210 into which the preservative liquid L' is quantitatively injected by the fixed amount supply unit 240, and the A sealing cap 217 is installed in the injection pipe 216 .

The sealing cap 217 is made of a silicone material and is fixed by elastically press-fitting it into the injection pipe 216 formed in the ink liquid ejection head 210 .

In addition, the sealing cap 217 includes a preserving solution injection hole 217a, which is an injection path of the preservative solution injected through the preservative solution quantitative supply unit 240, and the ink solution remaining in the ink storage chamber 211 according to the injection of the preservative solution. An exhaust hole 217b, which is an exhaust path of air, is formed.

According to this embodiment, an ink storage chamber ( In injecting the preservative (L') into the 211), overpressure is generated in the ink storage chamber 211, so that the preserving solution (l') is not smoothly injected, or the ink solution (L) filled by the overpressure is discharged from the outlet. Follow (212) to prevent random leakage.

According to this embodiment, when the diameter of the exhaust hole 217b is less than 0.5 mm, it is difficult to achieve stable exhaust according to the injection of the preservative liquid L', and the exhaust hole 217b exceeds 3 mm. In this case, the vacuum of the ink storage chamber 211 is not established, so that the ink liquid L filled in the ink storage chamber 211 arbitrarily leaks through the ejection port 212 may be caused. .

Accordingly, the preservative liquid quantitative supply unit 240 supplies the auxiliary liquid L' through the preservative liquid injection hole 217a according to a set period and injects the evaporated preservative liquid L' by volatilization, so that the ink liquid L is It is configured to maintain a uniform concentration, and the air remaining in the ink storage chamber 211 is discharged through the exhaust hole 217b formed in the sealing cap 217 during the injection process of the preservative solution l', The internal pressure in the ink storage chamber 211 is excessively increased by the injection of the preservative liquid (L'), so that the ink liquid stored in the ink storage chamber 211 is ejected to the outside through the ejection port 212, or the ink storage chamber 211 A phenomenon in which the ink liquid L is not smoothly discharged due to excessive vacuum pressure of the ink may be prevented.

1. Contact lens pattern printing device
10. Contact lens mold 11. Molding surface
12. Pattern printed layer
100. Mold section transfer unit 110. Parts feeder unit
120. Jig 130. Carrier unit
131. Movable base 132. Finger member
200. Pattern printing unit 210. Ink liquid ejection head
211. Ink storage chamber 212. Spout
213. Support Core
214. Annular scraper 215. Permanent magnet
216. Injection pipe 217. Sealing cap
217a. Preservative injection hole 217b. exhaust hole
220. Movable pattern unit 221. Pattern plate
221a. Etching pattern 222. Advance and retreat member
230. Elevating stamper unit 231. Stamper
232. Elevating member
240. Preservative solution quantitative supply unit 241. Preservative solution storage tank
242. Injection pipe 243. Metering pump
244. Controller

Claims (5)

a mold section transfer unit for sequentially moving the contact lens mold section along the printing space; It is arranged in a printing space in which the contact lens mold is moved in a section by the mold section transfer unit, and it comprises a pattern printing unit that forms a pattern printing layer on the molding surface of the contact lens mold which is sequentially moved in the printing space by section,
The pattern printing unit includes: an ink liquid ejection head for ejecting the ink liquid filled in the ink storage chamber through an ejection hole formed on the bottom surface; a movable pattern unit stacked under the ink liquid ejection head, advancing and retreating a set stroke distance by an advancing and retreating member, and having a pattern plate having an etching pattern formed thereon; an elevating stamper unit for stamping the ink liquid applied to the etching pattern of the movable pattern unit on the molding surface of the contact lens mold; and a fixed amount supply unit for supplying a fixed amount of a preserving solution to the ink storage chamber of the ink jetting head filled with the ink solution to compensate and supplying the volatilized preserving solution to the ink solution stored in the ink jetting head,
At least one charging hole is formed in the support core of the ink liquid ejection head, and a permanent magnet is disposed in the charging hole, and the ink liquid ejection head is laminated on the bottom surface by the permanent magnetic force emitted from the permanent magnet arranged on the support core. configured to maintain a magnetically coupled state with the patterned plate,
An annular scraper for scraping the ink liquid ejected to the upper portion of the pattern plate on which the etching pattern is formed is formed on the bottom edge of the ink liquid ejection head, and the ink ejected onto the upper surface of the pattern plate by the advance and retreat of the pattern plate The liquid is removed by the annular scraper and is configured to remain only in the etching pattern,
The annular scraper is disposed on the outer wall of the ink liquid ejection head in an elevating structure, and the annular scraper is configured to be pressed downwardly through a contact spring, so that the annular scraper forms a resilient adhesion state on the upper part of the pattern plate by the adhesion spring A contact lens pattern printing device having an automatic replenishment function of the preservative solution, characterized in that configured to do so. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixed quantity supply unit comprises: a preserving solution storage tank in which the preservative solution is stored;
a fixed-quantity supply pump disposed in communication between the storage liquid storage tank and the ink liquid ejection head through an injection pipe to supply the stored reserve liquid into the ink storage chamber of the ink liquid ejection head; and
Pattern printing of contact lenses having an automatic replenishment function of the preservative, characterized in that it includes a controller for controlling the driving of the quantitative supply pump to inject a preset amount of the preservative into the ink storage chamber of the ink jetting head in which the ink is stored Device. [Claim 3] The replenishment liquid according to claim 2, wherein an injection pipe communicating with the ink storage chamber is formed to pass through an upper portion of the ink liquid injection head through which the predetermined amount of the storage liquid is injected by the predetermined quantity supply unit, and the injection pipe communicates with the fixed quantity supply pump. A contact lens pattern printing device having an automatic replenishment function of a preservative solution, characterized in that a sealing cap with an injection hole is installed. 4. The preservation solution according to claim 3, wherein an exhaust hole communicating with the outside is formed in the sealing cap to prevent overpressure in the ink storage chamber due to the injection of the replenishment liquid injected into the ink storage chamber through the replenishment liquid injection hole. Contact lens pattern printing device with automatic replenishment function. According to claim 3, wherein the sealing cap is made of a silicone material and is elastically press-fitted to the inlet and fixed to form a preservative injection hole and an exhaust hole in the inlet, respectively. Device.

Images