Alcon, Inc.

Jens Hof

Roger Biel

Burkhard Dietrich

Daniel Kessler

Karin Stoller

Susanne Fechner

Daniel Paulus

A method () for inspecting an ophthalmic lens (), in particular a contact lens such as a soft contact lens (), in an automated lens manufacturing process is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of acquiring () a plurality of images containing the ophthalmic lens () to be inspected as an imaged ophthalmic lens (), wherein each image () of the plurality of images is of a different image type, registering () the plurality of images by applying a registration function to each image () of the plurality of images to obtain registered images, determining (), based on the registered images, whether the ophthalmic lens () complies with predetermined specifications, and updating () the registration function to compensate for possible changes in the acquisition of the plurality of images. Updating () the registration function is performed during the automated lens manufacturing process.

Method and system for inspecting an ophthalmic lens in an automated lens manufacturing process

A production line (PL) for the production of ophthalmic lenses () comprises The manufacturing module (MM) comprises a plurality of manufacturing stations (). At least one of these manufacturing stations () is configured to apply a lens identification code () to the respective lens. The lens identification code () includes information indicative of the type of the respective lens. Either the inspection module (IM) or the packaging module (PP) includes a lens detection station () configured to read the lens identification code () applied to the respective lens and to detect the type of the lens from the lens identification code () read from the respective lens in order to determine whether the type of lens detected actually is the type of lens which is expected to be detected by the lens detection station () at that time.

Modular production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses

A casting mold () for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, in particular hard and soft contact lenses comprises a male mold half () having a generally convexly shaped male mold surface () and a female mold half having a generally concavely shaped female mold surface (). Each of the male and female mold surfaces comprises a lens-forming surface () which is encircled by a non lens-forming annular edge surface (). The lens-forming surface () comprises a central optical zone () and a non-optical peripheral zone () surrounding the central optical zone. At least one of the male and female mold halves () is provided with at least one permanent marking () which is arranged on a surface in the peripheral zone () of the lens-forming surface () and/or on the non lens-forming annular edge surface ().

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Grosswallstadt, Germany

Jens Hof