Ophthalmic Lens Holder For Physical Vapor Deposition
A system and method for coating an optical lens by, for example vapor deposition, that employs a housing or drum having a plurality of apertures that each receives a lens holder assembly. The lens holding assembly configured to hold a standard, uncut optical lenses or lens blanks or, alternatively, to hold cut, non-standard shaped and sized optical lenses.
1 . A system for coating optical lenses comprising:
a housing having at least two sides through which an aperture is formed; and
a lens holder having a lens aperture that accepts an optical lens and that has an exterior shape and size that is complementary and is accepted within the aperture of the housing.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the housing has six sides.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lens aperture comprises a plurality of spring arms.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lens aperture is sized and shaped to accept an uncut optical lens blank.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the housing and lens holder each comprise a plurality of magnets that collaborate to hold the lens holder within the aperture of the housing.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a spring loaded back stop that prevents a movement of the optical lens from the lens aperture of the lens holder.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lens aperture of the lens holder comprises a retaining lip.
8 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a backing positioned between a backside of the optical lens and an interior of the housing.
9 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a backing that spans the lens aperture.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least two sides of the housing are oriented approximately perpendicular to a base of the housing.
11 . A system for coating optical lenses comprising:
a housing having a plurality of sides with first apertures; and
an annular lens holder accepted within one of the first apertures, the lens holder having a second aperture that accepts an optical lens; and
a plurality of securing elements that maintain the lens holder within the first aperture.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the second aperture comprises a plurality of spring arms.
13 . The system of claim 11 wherein the housing and lens holder each comprise a plurality of magnets that collaborate to hold the lens holder within the aperture of the housing.
14 . The system of claim 11 wherein the housing comprises a plurality of housing segments, each housing segment forming at least two of said sides with first apertures.
15 . A method for holding an optical lens during coating comprising:
inserting an optical lens within a lens holding assembly;
securing the lens holding assembly within an aperture of a housing;
preventing a backside of the optical lens from being coated;
loading the housing into a coating device; and
coating at least a portion of the optical lens while rotating the housing within the coating device.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the step of inserting an optical lens within an lens holding assembly comprises inserting an optical lens between a plurality of spring arms.
17 . The method of claim 15 wherein the step of inserting an optical lens within a lens holding assembly comprises inserting an optical lens having a shape that corresponds approximately to the size and shape of the second aperture.
18 . The method of claim 15 wherein the step of securing the lens holding assembly within an aperture of a housing comprises employing a plurality of magnets.
19 . The method of claim 15 wherein the step of preventing a backside of the optical lens from being coated comprises employing a back stop between a backside of the optical lens and an interior of the housing.
20 . The method of claim 15 wherein the step of coating at least a portion of the optical lens while rotating the housing within the coating device comprises uniformly coating a majority of a from surface of the optical lens.