Method and apparatus for holding a mold assembly and molding an optical lens using the same

Abstract

An apparatus and method for holding a mold assembly and molding an optical lens using the same. In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for holding a mold assembly, wherein the mold assembly includes a front mold, a back mold and a strip wrapping around the edges of the front mold and back mold to form a sleeve. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base. The second portion has a top part, a bottom part, and a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base. The first portion and the second portion are pivotally coupled together at the bottom parts so that the top part of the first portion and the top part of the second portion can be closed to define a housing for receiving the mold assembly therein, wherein the top part of the first portion and the top part of the second portion can also be opened for receiving the mold assembly in the housing.

1 - 17 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for holding a mold assembly, wherein the mold assembly includes a front mold, a back mold and a strip wrapping around the edges of the front mold and back mold to form a sleeve, the strip having a body portion having a first end and an opposed second end, an interior surface and an opposed outer surface, and an elongated channel extending from the first end to the second end, the formed sleeve having a longitudinal axis and a diameter and cooperating with the front mold and the back mold to define a molding cavity, the molding cavity in fluid communication with the elongated channel, comprising: 
 a. a first portion having: 
 i. a top part having a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, a bore defined therein extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;  
 ii. a bottom part;  
 iii. a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base; and  
   b. a second portion having: 
 i. a top part having a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, a bore defined therein extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;  
 ii. a bottom part; and  
 iii. a middle part connecting the top part and the bottom part, the middle part including a base and a holder coupled to the base, wherein the first portion and the second portion are pivotally coupled together at the bottom parts so that the top part of the first portion and the top part of the second portion can be closed to define a housing for receiving a mold assembly therein.  
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the top part of the first portion and the top part of the second portion can be opened for receiving the mold assembly in the housing.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the holder of the first portion comprises: 
 a. a body portion having a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, a rear surface, an opposite front surface, a side surface and an opposite side surface;    b. a first arm adjacent to the first side surface of the body portion, wherein the first arm extends away from the body portion and has a first surface curved for partially receiving the mold assembly; and    c. a second arm adjacent to the second side surface of the body portion, wherein the second arm extends away form the body portion and has a first surface curved for partially receiving the mold assembly, wherein the first arm and second arm are located opposite to each other across the body portion and define a recess with the body portion.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first arm, the second arm and the body portion further define an opening adjacent to the top surface, the opening being in communication with the bore of the top part of the first portion and the recess of the holder of the first portion.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the body portion further comprises, formed on the front surface, an edge at which the opening and the recess merge.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first arm further has a second surface curved for partially receiving the mold assembly, the first curved surface and the second curved surface having substantially same curvature complementary to the edges of the front mold and black mold.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface are located apart from each other thereby defining a recess therebetween.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the base of the middle part has a groove sized to complementarily receive part of the body portion of the holder therein.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the body portion has a pinch hole extending form the first side surface to the second side surface, the base of the middle part has a pinch hole complimentary to the pinch hole of the body portion of the holder, and the middle part has a pinch placed in both the pinch hole of the body portion of the holder and the pinch hole of the base so as to couple the base and the holder together and allow the holder to be partially received in the groove of the base and slightly rotatable about the pinch therein.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the holder of the second portion comprises: 
 a. a body portion having a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, a rear surface, an opposite front surface, a side surface and an opposite side surface;    b. a first arm adjacent to the first side surface of the body portion, wherein the first arm extends away from the body portion and has a first surface curved for partially receiving the mold assembly; and    c. a second arm adjacent to the second side surface of the body portion, wherein the second arm extends away form the body portion and has a first surface curved for partially receiving the mold assembly, wherein the first arm and second arm are located opposite to each other across the body portion and define a recess with the body portion.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the first arm, the second arm and the body portion further define an opening adjacent to the top surface, the opening being in communication with the bore of the top part of the second portion and the recess of the holder of the second portion.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the body portion further comprises, formed on the front surface, an edge at which the opening and the recess merge.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the first arm further has a second surface curved for partially receiving the mold assembly, the first curved surface and the second curved surface having substantially same curvature complementary tot eh edges of the front mold and the back mold.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface are located apart from each other thereby defining a recess therebetween.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the base of the middle part has a groove sized to complementary receive part of the body portion of the holder therein.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the body portion has a pinch hole extending form the first side surface to the second side surface, the base of the middle part has a pinch hole complimentary to the pinch hole of the body portion of the holder, and the middle part has a pinch placed in both the pinch hole of the body portion of the holder and the pinch hole of the base so as to couple the base and the holder together and allow the holder to be partially received in the groove of the base and slightly rotatable about the pinch therein.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the top part of the first portion further has a first side surface, an opposite second side surface, and a contact side surface connecting the first side surface and the second side surface, a groove formed on the contact side surface, and at least one projection extending from the contact side surface away from the bottom surface of the top part.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the top part of the second portion further has a first side surface, an opposite second side surface, and a contact side surface connecting the first side surface and the second side surface, a groove formed on the contact side surface complementary to the groove formed on the contact side of the first portion, and at least one projection extending from the contact side surface away from the bottom surface of the top part complementary to the projection of the first portion so that when the top part of the first portion and the top part of the second portion are closed to define the housing for receiving a mold assembly therein, the projection formed on the contact side surface of the first portion and the projection formed on the contact side surface of the second portion contact each other and the groove formed on the contact side surface of the first portion and the groove formed on the contact side surface of the second portion form an opening.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the mold assembly is formed, the portion of the elongated channel at the first end and the portion of the elongated channel at the second end after the first end and the second end are fastened together to form a tail, the opening formed by the grooves allows the tail to pass through.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the top part of the first portion further has an edge with toothed surface positioned on the first side surface.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the top part of the first portion further has an edge with toothed surface positioned on the second side surface.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the top part of the second portion further has a groove positioned on the first side surface, and a close pin has a first end having teeth complimentary to the toothed surface of the edge on the first side surface and a second end opposite the first end.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the top part of the second portion further has an connecting pin penetrating the groove so as to pivotally attach the close pin to the top part of the second portion so that when the second end of the close pin is pushed in the a first direction, the first end of the close pin moves in an opposite second direction to allow the teeth to disengage the toothed surface.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the top part of the second portion further has a groove positioned on the second side surface, and a close pin received partially in the groove on the second side surface, wherein the close pin has a first end having teeth complimentary to the toothed surface of the edge on the second side surface and a second end opposite the first end.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the top part of the second portion further has an connecting pin penetrating the groove so as to pivotally attach the close pin to the top part of the second portion so that when the second end of the close pin is pushed in the a first direction, the first end of the close pin moves in an opposite second direction to allow the teeth to disengage the toothed surface.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a position pin that pivotally couples the bottom parts of the first and second portions together.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the bottom part of the first portion has a first leg and a second leg defining a space therebetween.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the bottom part of the second portion has a first leg and a second leg defining a space therebetween, the first leg and the second leg being complementary to the first leg and the second leg of the bottom part of the first portion to allow the second leg of the bottom part of the second portion to be received in the space between the first leg and the second leg of the bottom part of the first portion, and the first leg of the bottom part of the first portion to be received in the space between the first leg and the second leg of the bottom part of the second portion.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of claim  118 , wherein the bore of the top part of the first portion is sized to allow a fluid injecting means to pass through to reach the mold assembly.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the bore of the top part of the second portion is sized to allow a fluid injecting means to pass through to reach the mold assembly.  
     
     
         48 - 67 . (Cancelled)