Degassing System
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 degassing assembly fluidly connected between the fluid supply and the inspection station. The degassing assembly comprises a housing, a vacuum device, and a membrane. The vacuum device is fluidly connected to the housing adjacent to the membrane.
1 . An ophthalmic device forming system, comprising:
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 degassing assembly fluidly connected between the fluid supply and the inspection station, the degassing assembly comprising a housing, a vacuum device, and a membrane, the vacuum device being fluidly connected to the housing adjacent to the membrane.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cleanser fluidly connected upstream of the inspection station, and a second degassing assembly 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 degassing assembly fluidly connected between a second fluid supply and the water bath.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane defines a plurality of orifices configured to remove gas entrained in the working fluid.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing of the degassing assembly is connected in-line with a supply line of the of the system.
6 . A method of degassing a working fluid, comprising:
directing a flow of pressurized working fluid across a membrane disposed within a housing;
releasing entrained gas from the pressurized working fluid;
collecting the released gas in a low pressure gas region adjacent to the membrane;
removing the released gas from the low pressure gas region; and
directing the flow to an ophthalmic device inspection station.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the entrained gas comprises air and the pressurized working fluid comprises water.
8 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein directing the flow across the membrane comprises passing the working fluid through a plurality of orifices defined by the membrane.
9 . The method of claim 6 , further including maintaining the low pressure gas region at a lower pressure than the pressurized working fluid.
10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein directing the flow to the ophthalmic device inspection station includes passing the flow through a supply line, the housing being coupled in-line with the supply line.
11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the low pressure gas region is defined by the housing.
12 . The method of claim 6 , wherein directing the flow across the membrane comprises substantially removing a plurality of bubbles from the flow.
13 . A method of degassing a working fluid, comprising:
directing a flow of pressurized working fluid across a membrane of a degassing assembly;
forming a low pressure gas region adjacent to the membrane;
removing released gas from the low pressure gas region with a vacuum device; and
directing the flow to an ophthalmic device inspection station.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein directing the flow across the membrane comprises releasing entrained air from the working fluid.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein directing the flow across the membrane comprises passing the working fluid through a plurality of orifices defined by the membrane.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further including inspecting an ophthalmic device with a sensor of the ophthalmic device inspection station.
17 . The method of claim 13 , further including directing a second flow of pressurized working fluid across a membrane of a second degassing assembly.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further including directing the second flow to a cleanser fluidly connected upstream of the ophthalmic device inspection station.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further including passing an ophthalmic device from the cleanser to the ophthalmic device inspection station while immersed in a degassed fluid.
20 . The method of claim 18 , further including forming a low pressure gas region adjacent to the membrane of the second degassing assembly and removing released gas from the low pressure gas region.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first and second flows of pressurized working fluid comprise water.
22 . The method of claim 17 , further including directing the second flow to a water bath fluidly connected upstream of the ophthalmic device inspection station.
23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising passing an ophthalmic device from the water bath to the ophthalmic device inspection station while immersed in a degassed fluid.
24 . The method of claim 23 , 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.
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the second flow of pressurized working fluid comprises water.