Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
  • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
  • B41F17/001—Pad printing apparatus or machines
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
  • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
  • B41F17/36—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on tablets, pills, or like small articles

Definitions

• the invention relates to the general field of the marking of ophthalmic lenses. It relates more particularly to a method and a device for depositing ink on an ophthalmic lens according to predetermined forms.
• the manufacturing methods generally employed to obtain a finished and shaped lens-shaped ophthalmic lens typically include steps in which the ophthalmic lens receives markings on its surface.
• the lens may receive points or crosses identifying a particular point (for example the optical center of the ophthalmic lens), centerlines (for example to indicate the axis in which the astigmatism is corrected), shapes defining a particular zone (for example, near vision zone or far vision zone in the case of progressive ophthalmic lenses).
• markings relating to the identification of the ophthalmic lens may be necessary to make markings relating to the identification of the ophthalmic lens or other commercial markings.
• marking with the aid of an inked stamp applied to said surface is commonly used for its low cost of implementation and its marking accuracy.
• Methods of depositing ink on an ophthalmic lens, in which an ophthalmic lens is placed on a support are thus known in the vicinity of a plate comprising engravings reproducing the shapes to be printed on the lens, this plate being commonly called “cliche”.
• the snapshot and the ophthalmic lens are both accessible to an elastically deformable tampon, generally made of silicone.
• the stamp is first applied to the surface of the plate when the latter has been previously inked (that is to say that the prints of the plate have been filled) thanks to ink).
• the pad is then removed from the surface of the plate, the ink contained in the etchings adhering to the pad to form an inked pad.
• the inked pad is then applied to the surface of the ophthalmic lens that is to be marked and the ink arranged according to the engravings of the plate is then transferred from the pad to the surface of the ophthalmic lens.
• Document US 2003/0107704 discloses a method for printing markings on a progressive ophthalmic lens. This method provides for depositing on an ophthalmic lens a pattern which comprises a graduated portion.
• This method thus makes it possible to print the same pattern on progressive ophthalmic lenses of different characteristics.
• the graduations then make it possible to identify the particular points specific to each type of lens. Thanks to this method, it is therefore not necessary to have a specific marking for each of the types of progressive ophthalmic lenses.
• the object of the invention is to improve this type of printing process of an ophthalmic lens.
• the invention provides a method for marking an ophthalmic lens according to predetermined patterns, this process comprising the following steps: providing a plate comprising engravings reproducing said predetermined patterns according to a first arrangement; filling said engravings with a marking ink; - applying a stamp on the etchings of said plate so that the ink contained in the etchings adheres to the pad to form an ink pad bearing said patterns according to the first arrangement; - Applying the inked stamp on an ophthalmic lens so as to deposit the ink arranged according to said predetermined patterns; this method being characterized in that it comprises a preliminary step of preparation of the buffer so as to delimit at least two inking portions movable relative to each other and in that it comprises in furthermore, between the step of applying the stamp on the plate and the step of applying the stamp inked on the lens, a transformation step during which the arrangement of the inking portions by relative displacement of said elements is modified; inking portions so as to determine a second arrangement of said patterns whereby the patterns are deposited on
• Such a method allows, from a single shot, in a single application of the buffer on the ophthalmic lens, print different sizes or pattern shapes from an initial pattern of the shot.
• One and the same shot can be used for printing lenses of different characteristics.
• each type of progressive ophthalmic lens corresponds to a specific marking in which the marking identifying the far vision zone has a very precise positioning relative to the marking identifying the near vision zone. If the "far vision" marking is carried by one of the portions of the buffer surface and the "near vision" marking is carried by another portion of the buffer surface, the relative position of these two markings may be set for each type of ophthalmic lens.
• Each lens receives the marking which is specific to it and not a graduated universal marking which requires a later step of reading the graduations.
• the relative displacement of said inking portions is carried out by moving one of the inking portions with the aid of an actuator; the second arrangement of the patterns is determined by placing one of the inking portions in position against stops; -
• the method further comprises a step of adjusting said stops before the positioning of said inking portion; said step of adjusting the stops is carried out simultaneously with other steps; during the step of applying the stamp to the engravings, the inking of the stamp is carried out by all of the said engravings.
• the marking method furthermore comprises, between the step of filling the etchings and the step of applying the stamp on the etchings, a configuration step during which the layout of the portions is modified.
• the inking of the stamp may be carried out only by a part of said engravings, said inking arrangement of the stamp allowing selection of the engravings for inking the stamp.
• a method according to this embodiment allows the use of a plate having an engraving area common to different predetermined patterns as well as specific engraving areas. Before inking the stamp, the two inking portions are first positioned relative to each other so that said common engraving area comes to ink one of the inking portions while specific area chosen inked the other portion of inking.
• the transformation step allows the buffer to reconstitute the predetermined patterns to be applied to a lens.
• a single image having a common inking area and specific inking areas can thus be used, instead of a multitude of specific shots, to deposit on different lenses different patterns having a common area.
• the invention also relates to a device for marking an ophthalmic lens according to predetermined patterns, this device being suitable for implementing the method described above and comprising: a support for receiving a plate provided with engravings reproducing said predetermined patterns in a first arrangement; a support for receiving an ophthalmic lens; - An inking device of the plate; a buffer comprising an inking surface by which it is intended to come selectively opposite the first support in an inking position or the second support in a marking position; this device being characterized in that the buffer comprises at least two inking portions movable relative to each other and in that a displacement control member is provided for moving said inking portions between the position inking and the marking position, whereby the stamp is adapted to be inked according to said patterns arranged according to the first arrangement, said patterns being adapted to be arranged in a second arrangement in the marking position.
• the device can also be implemented with the following preferred characteristics: a first of said inking portions is connected to a first rigid member and a second of said inking portions is connected to a second rigid member, the first rigid member and the second rigid member being adapted to be moved relative to each other, and in that said moving control member acts on at least one of the rigid members; -
• the first inking portion is mounted on a fixed support and the second inking portion is mounted on a movable support;
• the mobile support is adapted to be controlled by an actuator;
• the mobile support is adapted to cooperate with fixed stops;
• the mobile support is adapted to cooperate with movable stops;
• the first inking portion and the second inking portion are mounted on the same fixed support, the second portion being made of an elastically deformable material and being connected to a rigid bar movable relative to said fixed support; said rigid bar is attached to the fixed support by a ball joint; said rigid bar is adapted to be controlled by an actuator;
• - The first inking portion and the second inking portion
• FIG. 1 represents a cliché seen from above comprising visible engravings
• FIG. 2 is an ophthalmic lens viewed from above after markings have been printed on its surface from the plate of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a buffer according to the invention
• - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, a portion of the buffer has been removed from the rest of the buffer
• - Figure 5 is an exploded view of the buffer of Figures 3 and 4
• - Figures 6 and 7 are top views of a buffer according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the buffer being respectively in a first and a second position
• - Figures 8 to 11 are schematic side views showing successive steps of marking an ophthalmic lens according to the invention
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a buffer according to an alternative embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the pad of Fig.
• FIG. 15 represents the step of inking a stamp by the plate of FIG. 14
• FIG. 16 is a view of the stamp of FIG. 15 after the transformation step.
• Figure 1 shows the surface of an inking plate 1 intended to cooperate with a buffer, this plate is commonly called “cliché".
• This plate 1 comprises a flat and smooth surface 2 (that visible in this FIG. 1), possibly varnished, and which comprises an inking area 3. At this inking area 3, etchings 4 are made on the surface 2.
• FIG. 1 Each pattern visible on the plate 1 of Figure 1 corresponds to one of these etchings 4 and can be performed, for example, by machining or chemical removal of material.
• Figure 2 represents an ophthalmic lens 5 seen from above.
• This lens 5 is, in the present example, a raw lens that has not yet been cut off, that is to say machined to the shape of a particular frame, which explains its circular shape.
• the ophthalmic lens 5 comprises on one of its faces markings 6 made in ink and reproducing the arrangement of the engravings 4 of the plate 1 of FIG. 1.
• the ophthalmic lens 5 has indeed received the markings 6 by the application a buffer previously inked on the inking area 3 of the plate 1, according to the method explained below.
• the pad 7 represents a buffer 7 adapted to be inked by the plate 1 and to deposit the ink on the lens 5.
• the pad 7 comprises a support 8 on which is fixed a first portion 9 of buffer made from a material elastically deformable and adapted to ink printing such as, for example, silicone.
• the buffer 7 further comprises a second portion 10 of buffer attached to a movable member 11.
• the second portion 10 of buffer is made of the same material as the first portion 9 while the movable member 11 is made from a material rigid.
• the first buffer portion 9 comprises a contact surface for its cooperation with the plate 1 and the lens 5, this surface being called “first surface” 12.
• the second buffer portion 10 has a contact surface called "second surface”. surface "13.
• the first surface 12 and the second surface 13 together form an inking surface 14.
• the first buffer portion 9 and the second buffer portion 10 also have a complementary shape so that when these two elements are arranged one against the other (which is the case in Figure 3), the first surface 12 and the second surface 13 are in the extension of one another to form a continuous inking surface 14.
• the movable member 11 conversely, the movable member 11 has been moved, the second portion 10 of buffer is spaced from the first portion 9 of buffer so that the inking surface 14 is here discontinuous.
• the exploded view of FIG. 5 shows the mechanism allowing displacement of the movable member 11.
• the support 8 is in fact attached to a frame 15 by a set of spacers 16.
• the frame 15 is thus arranged in parallel and facing With respect to the support 8.
• FIG. 15 On this chassis 15, two cylinders 17, 18 are each provided with their movable rod 19, 20 whose end is fixed to the movable member 11. Note that in this FIG. For reasons of arrangement of the exploded view, the movable member 11 has been shown in two separate parts in a horizontal section.
• the movable member 11 is actually as in Figure 3. It is composed of two walls 21, 22 parallel and held vis-a-vis by two spacers 23 (the imaginary section of Figure 5 occurs at the level of spacers 23).
• the frame 15 further receives a set of three cams 24 each mounted rotatably about an axis perpendicular to the frame 15.
• cams 24 Two of these cams 24 are intended to cooperate with one of the edges of the wall 21 while the third cam 24 is intended to cooperate with the adjacent edge of this wall 21, in accordance with Figure 5.
• Each of the cams 24 is rotated by a motor (not shown).
• On the frame 15 are further fixed three fixed stops 25 arranged in the same way as the cams 24 but on the other side of the wall 21 of the movable member 11. The movable member 11 can thus be moved between a first end position in which the wall 21 is disposed against the fixed stops 25, and a second end position in which the wall 21 is arranged, thanks to the jacks 17, 18, against the cams. 24 which form adjustable stops.
• FIG. 6 shows the buffer 7 in a position corresponding to that of FIG. 3, the second buffer portion being disposed against the first buffer portion 9.
• the movable member 11 is then disposed against the fixed stops 25.
• FIG. 7 for its part shows the buffer 7 in a position corresponding to that of FIG. 4, the second buffer portion being separated from the first buffer portion 9. .
• the movable member 11 is then arranged against the cams 24.
• the plate 1, the lens 5 and the pad 7 are arranged in a printing machine (not shown) which is well known in this type of application.
• the plate 1 and the lens 5 are respectively placed in position on movable supports in lateral translation while the pad 7 is movable. in vertical translation.
• the plate 1 first undergoes the passage of an inker 26 intended to fill the etchings 4 of the plate 1 with ink.
• the inker 26 is a bottomless tank which, when it is applied against the surface 2 of the plate 1, may contain ink 27.
• the edge of the inker 26 adjacent to the plate 1 is formed of a doctor blade 28 extending around the entire periphery of the inker 26.
• inking 26 is held fixed against the plate 1 while the latter, from the position of Figure 8 to the position of Figure 9, is translated laterally so that the inker 26 is disposed in the inking area 3 of the plate 1 ( Figure 8) and then be found at the surface 2 of the plate 1 ( Figure 9).
• This allows the engravings 4 to fill with ink 27, the ink then being scraped by the scraper 28 so as to eliminate the ink from the surface of the inking area 3 to leave only in the engravings 4
• the pad is then lowered against the inking zone 3 (FIG. Note that in this Figure 9 the buffer 7 is arranged against the plate 1 when in its position corresponding to Figure 7 but can indifferently undergo this operation while it is in the position corresponding to that of Figure 6.
• Figure 10 shows the next step during which the buffer 7 is raised and the plate 1 is translated to free the space available under the buffer 7.
• the buffer 7 then has on its first surface 12 and its second surface 13 the inked patterns 29 previously formed by the etchings 4 of the plate 1 and which have now adhered to the stamp 7.
• Figure 7 shows these inked patterns 29.
• the stamp 7 comprising the inked patterns 29 forms an inked stamp.
• This buffer can then be adjusted according to the relative positions that it is desired to give the markings 6 when they are made on the lens 5. For example, in the case of FIGS.
• the plate 1 and the buffer 7 are provided for that, in the step of Figure 9, a set of inked patterns 29 is disposed on the first surface 12 while a single inked pattern 29, corresponding in our example to the measurement area of the near vision a progressive lens, is disposed on the second surface 13.
• the cams 24 are controlled to form stops such that, when the movable member 11 is disposed against these stops, the second surface 13 (and therefore the patterns 29 it carries) and the first surface 12 (and therefore the patterns 29 it carries) are in the desired relative position for the intended lens type.
• the cylinders 17, 18 are then controlled to arrange the movable member 11 against the cams 24 and thus perform the setting.
• FIG. 11 corresponds to the actual printing of the patterns on the lens 5.
• the lens 5 is translated under the pad 7, the latter being lowered against the surface of the ophthalmic lens 5 to deposit the inked patterns 29 which will become on the lens 5 the markings 6 visible in Figure 2.
• the ability of the cams 24 to form movable stops and the possibility of displacement of the movable member 11 thus make it possible to form on a lens 5 markings 6 whose unitary elements come from the engravings 4 of the plate 1 but which have been arranged according to the type of lens particular.
• Figures 12 and 13 relate to an alternative embodiment of the buffer 7.
• FIG. 12 shows a buffer 7 whose second buffer portion 10 is fixed on the support 8, like the first buffer portion 9.
• the second portion 10 of buffer comprises a rigid bar 30 embedded in the material of the second portion 10. This rigid bar is further articulated in a ball 31 fixed relative to the support 8. One end of the bar 30 is disposed near the second surface 13 while the other of these ends, beyond the ball 31, is connected by a hinge 32 to two rigid transverse bars 33 themselves connected to the rods 19, 20 of two jacks fixed on 8.
• Figures 12 and 13 only the end of the rods 19, 20 of the cylinders has been shown for clarity.
• FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of the method according to the invention.
• a snapshot 34 (see Fig. 14) is first prepared for inking a tampon 35 (see Fig. 15).
• This plate 34 comprises a zone A of so-called “common” engravings as well as zones B, C and D, of so-called “specific” engravings.
• This plate 34 makes it possible to apply on three different types of lenses respectively a first type of marking corresponding to the common area A associated with the specific area B, a second type of marking corresponding to the common area A associated with the specific area C, and a third type of marking corresponding to the common area A associated with the specific area D.
• This single plate 34 thus allows the marking of different lenses by selection from specific areas to be associated with a common area.
• FIG. 15 illustrates the inking operation of the stamp 35 by showing the latter disposed against the plate 34, the engravings of the zones A and C, which enable the stamp 35 to be inked, being represented in dashed lines through the buffer 35.
• the buffer 35 having successively undergone a configuration step and then an inking step, is subsequently subjected to a transformation step to arrive at the position of Figure 16.
• FIG. 15 illustrates the inking operation of the stamp 35 by showing the latter disposed against the plate 34, the engravings of the zones A and C, which enable the stamp 35 to be inked, being represented in dashed lines through the buffer 35.
• the buffer 35 having successively undergone a configuration step and then an inking step, is subsequently subjected to a transformation step to arrive at the position of Figure 16.
• the buffer 35 may undergo a configuration step in which the second portion 37 will be disposed opposite the zone B or D, or any other group of selected etchings of the plate 34 and then return, by the transformation step, to the ink pad 35 of Figure 16, the second portion 37 will in this case other patterns.

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• 2004
  • 2004-06-03 FR FR0406013A patent/FR2871100B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-05-31 WO PCT/FR2005/001330 patent/WO2006000683A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2005-05-31 EP EP05775557A patent/EP1773593B1/de active Active
  • 2005-05-31 US US11/628,156 patent/US7762183B2/en active Active
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