Bubble reduction system
View Patent ↗An ophthalmic device forming system includes an inspection station configured to receive a plurality of ophthalmic devices, a fluid supply fluidly connected to the inspection station, the fluid supply containing a working fluid, and a heat source fluidly connected between the fluid supply and the inspection station. The heat source includes a housing, a transfer element, and a low pressure gas region defined by the housing adjacent to the transfer element.
1. An ophthalmic device forming system, comprising:
an inspection station configured to receive a plurality of ophthahnic devices;
a fluid supply fluidly connected to the inspection station, the fluid supply containing a working fluid; and
a heat source fluidly connected between the fluid supply and the inspection station, the heat source comprising a housing, a transfer element, and a low pressure gas region defined by the housing adjacent to the transfer element, wherein the transfer element comprises a heating coil configured to increase a temperature of the working fluid to a desired degassing temperature.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cleanser fluidly connected upstream of the inspection station, and a second heat source fluidly connected between the fluid supply and the cleanser.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a water bath fluidly connected upstream of the inspection station, and a second heat source fluidly connected between a second fluid supply and the water bath.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transfer element comprises a heating coil configured to remove gas entrained in the working fluid.
5. A method of degassing a working fluid, comprising:
directing a flow of pressurized working fluid across a transfer element of a heat source, directing the flow across the transfer element comprises increasing the temperature of the flow to a degassing temperature;
releasing entrained gas from the pressurized working fluid;
collecting the released gas in a low pressure gas region adjacent to the transfer element;
removing the released gas from the low pressure gas region; and
directing the flow to an ophthalmic device inspection station.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the entrained gas comprises air and the pressurized working fluid comprises water.
7. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein directing the flow across the transfer element comprises passing the working fluid adjacent a heating coil.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein directing the flow to the ophthalmic device inspection station includes passing the flow through a supply line, the heat source being coupled in-line with the supply line.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the low pressure gas region is defined by a housing of the heat source.
10. The method of claim 5 , wherein directing the flow across the transfer element comprises substantially removing a plurality of bubbles from the flow.
11. A method of degassing a working fluid, comprising:
directing a flow of pressurized working fluid across a transfer element of a heat source;
directing a second flow of pressurized working fluid across a transfer element of a second heat source;
forming a low pressure gas region adjacent to the transfer element;
removing released gas from the low pressure gas region; and
directina the flow to an ophthalmic device inspection station.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein directing the flow across the transfer element comprises releasing entrained air from the working fluid.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein directing the flow across the transfer element comprises passing the working fluid adjacent a heating coil.
14. The method of claim 11 , further including inspecting an ophthalmic device with a sensor of the ophthalmic device inspection station.
15. The method of claim 11 , further including directing the second flow to a cleanser fluidly connected upstream of the ophthalmic device inspection station.
16. The method of claim 15 , further including passing an ophthalmic device from the cleanser to the ophthalmic device inspection station while immersed in a degassed fluid.
17. The method of claim 15 , further including forming a low pressure gas region adjacent to the transfer element of the second heat source and removing released gas from the low pressure gas region.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second flows of pressurized working fluid comprise water.
19. The method of claim 11 , further including directing the second flow to a water bath fluidly connected upstream of the ophthalmic device inspection station.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising passing an ophthalmic device from the water bath to the ophthalmic device inspection station while immersed in a degassed fluid.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising passing the ophthalmic device from the water bath to a cleanser fluidly connected between the water bath and the ophthalmic device inspection station.