Alcon Inc.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MANUFACTURING A PLURALITY OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC MOLDS FOR MAKING OPHTHALMIC LENSES THROUGH INJECTION MOLDING

Abstract:

An apparatus for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of plastic molds comprises:--an injection molding tool comprising a first and second molding tool halves and--a gripper tool comprising a plurality of gripper members to which suction can be applied. The first and second molding tool halves are movable into the closed position and into an open position. A front surface of the first molding members comprises recesses to allow the formation of pins projecting from the rear surface the plastic mold into the recesses to make the plastic molds adhere to the first molding members. The gripper tool is movably arranged only in a direction parallel to the first surface into the space formed between the first and second surfaces for transferring the plastic molds to the gripper members and out of this space again.