Method for avoiding entrapment of air bubbles in a lens forming material and apparatus for carrying out the method

1. A method for avoiding entrapment of air bubbles ( 5 ) in a lens forming material ( 4 ), in an ophthalmic lens manufacturing process using mold halves ( 2 ; 3 ) each having a lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ), said method including the step of providing an electrostatic charge ( 60 ) on a predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of at least one of said mold halves ( 2 ; 3 ) prior to said predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) coming into contact with said lens forming material ( 4 );

wherein said electrostatic charge ( 60 ) is provided on said predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) by contacting said predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) with a stamp ( 6 ) made of a material which is sufficiently far away in the triboelectric series from the material said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) is made of, and;

further wherein said electrostatic charge is provided by contacting said predetermined portion with said stamp in a contact area having a diameter of from about 6 mm to about 8 mm.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) is a central portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ).

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one mold half is a female mold half ( 2 ) comprising a concavely shaped lens forming surface ( 21 ), and wherein said electrostatic charge ( 60 ) is provided on said predetermined portion of said concavely shaped lens forming surface ( 21 ) of said female mold half ( 2 ) prior to dispensing said lens forming material ( 4 ) into said female mold half ( 2 ).

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one mold half is a female mold half ( 2 ) comprising a concavely shaped lens forming surface ( 21 ), and wherein said electrostatic charge ( 60 ) is provided on said predetermined portion of said concavely shaped lens forming surface ( 21 ) of said female mold half ( 2 ) prior to dispensing said lens forming material ( 4 ) into said female mold half ( 2 ).

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one mold half is a male mold half ( 3 ) comprising a convexly shaped lens forming surface ( 31 ), and wherein said electrostatic charge ( 60 ) is provided on said predetermined portion of said convexly shaped lens forming surface ( 31 ) of said male mold half ( 3 ) prior to advancing said male mold half ( 3 ) towards a female mold half ( 2 ) containing said lens forming material ( 4 ) for mating said male and female mold halves ( 3 ; 2 ).

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one mold half is a male mold half ( 3 ) comprising a convexly shaped lens forming surface ( 31 ), and wherein said electrostatic charge ( 60 ) is provided on said predetermined portion of said convexly shaped lens forming surface ( 31 ) of said male mold half ( 3 ) prior to advancing said male mold half ( 3 ) towards a female mold half ( 2 ) containing said lens forming material ( 4 ) for mating said male and female mold halves ( 3 ; 2 ).

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) is a central portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ).

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said at least one mold half is a female mold half ( 2 ) comprising a concavely shaped lens forming surface ( 21 ), and wherein said electrostatic charge ( 60 ) is provided on said predetermined portion of said concavely shaped lens forming surface ( 21 ) of said female mold half ( 2 ) prior to dispensing said lens forming material ( 4 ) into said female mold half ( 2 ).

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) is made of glass or quartz glass, and wherein said stamp ( 6 ) is made of silicone rubber.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said contact between said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) and said stamp ( 6 ) is accomplished for a time period of one second up to three seconds.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said contact between said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) and said stamp ( 6 ) is accomplished for a time period of one second up to three seconds.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a central axis ( 62 ) of said stamp ( 6 ) is aligned with a central axis ( 22 ; 32 ) of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ).

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein a central axis ( 62 ) of said stamp ( 6 ) is aligned with a central axis ( 22 ; 32 ) of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ).

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a central axis ( 62 ) of said stamp ( 6 ) is aligned with a central axis ( 22 ; 32 ) of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ).

15. An apparatus for avoiding entrapment of air bubbles ( 5 ) in a lens forming material ( 4 ) in an ophthalmic lens manufacturing process, the apparatus comprising a stamp ( 6 ) and a carrier for at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ), said stamp ( 6 ) and said carrier being arranged relative to each other in a manner such that said stamp ( 6 ) faces a predetermined portion of a lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ), wherein said stamp ( 6 ) is made of a material which is sufficiently far away in the triboelectric series from the material said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) is made of, and wherein said stamp ( 6 ) and said carrier of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) are movable towards and away from one another in a manner to allow said stamp ( 6 ) to contact said predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) in a contact area having a diameter of from about 6 mm to about 8 mm, and for a predetermined time period to provide said charges on said predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ).

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a positioning system for aligning a central axis ( 62 ) of said stamp ( 6 ) with a central axis ( 22 ; 32 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ).

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said stamp ( 6 ) is made of a material which is sufficiently far away in the triboelectric series from a material said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) is made of, to allow electrostatic charges to be provided on said predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) upon contact with said stamp ( 6 ).

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said stamp ( 6 ) is made of a material which is sufficiently far away in the triboelectric series from a material said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) is made of, to allow electrostatic charges to be provided on said predetermined portion of said lens forming surface ( 21 ; 31 ) of said at least one mold half ( 2 ; 3 ) upon contact with said stamp ( 6 ).