David W Dolan

US Patent:

6708397, Mar 23, 2004

Filed:

Aug 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/925403

Inventors:

David Dolan - Jacksonville Beach FL
Richard W. Abrams - Jacksonville FL
Michael F. Widman - Jacksonville FL
Ronaldus Joannes Cornelis Maria Kok - Eindhoven, NL
Edwin van Doorn - Escondido CA

Assignee:

Johnson Johnson Vision Care, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

B23P 1900

US Classification:

29822, 29771, 414806, 41422201, 41422204

Abstract:

In a soft contact lens manufacturing process, an injection molding machine (IMM) produces many thermoplastic injection molded front curve (FC) and back curve (BC) mold parts, each of which mold parts is subsequently used only once to mold a single soft contact lens. An inlay station with alignment assemblies and transfer tubes provide for the precise transfer to and alignment of the FC and BC molds in pallets during their transfer from the IMM to pallets on an assembly line in a high speed automated commercial production operation. A rotatable FC transfer arm and a rotatable BC transfer arm transfer the FC and BC molds from the IMM machine to the pallets in an inlay station. The precisely aligned transfer is provided by two alignment rods of an alignment assembly which pass through two alignment apertures in the pallet and then pass through two alignment apertures in one of the FC or BC alignment arms.

US Patent:

7040886, May 9, 2006

Filed:

Aug 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/923562

Inventors:

Olin Calvin - Jacksonville FL, US
Gary S. Hall - Jacksonville FL, US
Michael Widman - Jacksonville FL, US
Richard W. Abrams - Jacksonville FL, US
David Dolan - Jacksonville Beach FL, US

International Classification:

B29D 11/00

US Classification:

425454, 4251744, 425808, 41422204, 4142221, 41422211

Abstract:

Novel methods and apparatus are disclosed for handling carriers for soft contact lenses in a lens manufacturing system. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, article handling devices are located beneath a pre-cure station and a curing station of the system to move lens carriers within those stations. As a result of locating these devices beneath these stations, the desired movement of the carriers can be achieved without increasing the footprint of the station. Pursuant to a second aspect of the invention, a complete set of assemblies is provided for moving a multitude of lens carriers into, through, and out from the pre-cure station and the curing station. This set of assemblies accomplishes this movement in a completely automated, high speed, mass production basis. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, the curing station is provided with an intelligent buffer. This buffer allows the lens carriers to accumulate in the curing station, and then discharges the carriers from the station in an ordered manner at the appropriate time.

US Patent:

7156646, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

Aug 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/215718

Inventors:

Olin Calvin - Jacksonville FL, US
Gary S. Hall - Jacksonville FL, US
Michael Widman - Jacksonville FL, US
Richard W. Abrams - Jacksonville FL, US
David Dolan - Jacksonville Beach FL, US

Assignee:

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

B29D 11/00

US Classification:

425453, 4251744, 425808, 41422204, 4142221, 41422211

Abstract:

Novel methods and apparatus are disclosed for handling carriers for soft contact lenses in a lens manufacturing system. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, article handling devices are located beneath a pre-cure station and a curing station of the system to move lens carriers within those stations. Pursuant to a second aspect of the invention, in a preferred embodiment multiple sets of assemblies are provided for moving a multitude of lens carriers into, through, and out from the pre-cure station and the curing station. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, the curing station is provided with an intelligent buffer.

US Patent:

20030041449, Mar 6, 2003

Filed:

Aug 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/215755

Inventors:

Phillip Parnell - Jacksonville FL, US
David Dolan - Jacksonville Beach FL, US
Richard Abrams - Jacksonville FL, US
Michael Widman - Jacksonville FL, US
Ronaldus Kok - Eindhoven, NL
Edwin van Doorn - Escondido CA, US

International Classification:

B23P019/00

US Classification:

029/791000

Abstract:

This invention provides an arrangement for moving an item from a first station to a transfer tube comprising a transfer tube, a transfer arm for placement of the item on the transfer tube, and alignment means for aligning the item with the transfer tube.

US Patent:

20040004693, Jan 8, 2004

Filed:

Feb 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/371713

Inventors:

Peter Chrusch - Jacksonville FL, US
Anthony Dispenza - Jacksonville FL, US
Richard Abrams - Jacksonville FL, US
Michael Widman - Jacksonville FL, US
David Dolan - Jacksonville Beach FL, US

International Classification:

G02C001/00

US Classification:

351/041000

Abstract:

The invention relates to the inspection of ophthalmic lenses, using at least two different machine vision inspection techniques in the manufacturing process for said ophthalmic lenses.

US Patent:

20040074525, Apr 22, 2004

Filed:

Apr 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/417936

Inventors:

Michael Widman - Jacksonville FL, US
Mark Schlagel - Jacksonville FL, US
David Dolan - Jacksonville FL, US
Richard Abrams - Jacksonville FL, US

International Classification:

B08B003/04
B08B003/00
B65H001/00

US Classification:

134/034000, 134/021000, 134/032000, 134/104100, 134/137000, 134/157000, 414/222010

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for transferring a wet object, such as a contact lens comprising a probe having a passage for at least one vacuum source, and a tip at one end of the probe for receiving the wet object, the tip comprising at least one aperature, the aperature being in communication with the passage; and the passage having at least one relief hole to provide for gas flow into the passage when the wet object is present over the aperature on said tip. A cleaning apparatus and method for a transfer apparatus for a wet object, comprising means for directing at least one source of fluid at said transfer apparatus at a location on said transfer apparatus above the expected location of a wet object on the transfer apparatus. A transfer apparatus for a wet object comprising a probe, means for receiving on said probe said wet object from a first station, and means for aligning said transfer apparatus with said first station to prevent damage to said wet object.

US Patent:

63279738, Dec 11, 2001

Filed:

Dec 21, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/217879

Inventors:

Donnie J. Duis - Jacksonville FL
David Dolan - Jacksonville FL

Assignee:

Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

B41F 1724

US Classification:

101 41

Abstract:

This invention provides a support for a carton which supports said carton during printing comprising a flat portion which is inserted into said carton. This invention further provides a method of printing on a carton comprising the steps of supporting said carton with a support comprising a flat portion; and printing on said carton.

US Patent:

56409800, Jun 24, 1997

Filed:

May 1, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/432935

Inventors:

Darren Scott Keene - Jacksonville FL
Timothy Patrick Newton - Jacksonville FL
Daniel Tsu-Fang Wang - Jacksonville FL
David Dolan - Jacksonville FL
Kiyoshi Imai - Saitama, JP
Katsuaki Yoshida - Saitama, JP
Svend Christensen - Allinge, DK
Finn Thrige Andersen - Vedbaek, DK
Ture Kindt-Larsen - Holte, DK
Kaj Bjerre - Vallensbek Strand, DK

Assignee:

Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

International Classification:

B08B 304

US Classification:

134 58R

Abstract:

An automated means for hydrating a molded hydrophilic contact lens is provided in which a first robotic assembly removes a plurality of contact lens molds from a production line carrier, each of the lens molds having a contact lens adhered therein. The first robotic assembly transports the molds to a first staging area where the lens molds are sandwiched between a lens mold carrier and a top chamber plate to form a first hydration carrier. A first rotary transfer device then hands the first hydration carrier to a second robotic assembly which immerses the first hydration carrier in a hydration bath to hydrate the lens and to release the lens from the lens mold. While the lens is immersed in the hydration bath, each lens is transferred from its respective mold to a lens transfer means found within the top chamber plate. After a predetermined period of time, the second robotic assembly removes the first hydration carrier from the hydration bath and hands the hydration carrier off to a second rotary transfer device which rotates the first hydration carrier and aligns it for transfer to a third robotic assembly. The third robotic assembly then carries the top chamber plate and contact lenses through a series of steps in which the lens mold carrier and lens molds are removed from the top chamber plate.