JP2003094458A - Molding die for contact lens, and manufacturing method for contact lens using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a molding die for a contact lens of a new structure, which can stably seal the outer peripheral edge part of the molding cavity when both of male and female dies are joined. SOLUTION: Cylindrical fitting sections 22 and 32 which extend to one side of the axial direction are respectively provided on the outer peripheral part of a cavity-forming surface 20 for the male die 14 and on the outer peripheral part of a cavity-forming surface 30 for the female die 12. Then, a gap 52 which spreads extending to the total periphery is formed between the confronted surfaces in the radial direction of the cylindrical fitting sections 22 and 32 under a state wherein the male die 14 and the female die 12 are joined. At the same time, under the state wherein both of the male and the female dies 12 and 14 are joined, by deforming at least one of the cylindrical fitting section 32 of the female die 12 and the cylindrical fitting section 22 of the male die 14 in the radial direction, the gap 52 is made to disappear. Then, a sealed molding cavity 16 is defined between the cavity forming surfaces of both of the male and the female dies 12 and 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a contact lens molding die for manufacturing a contact lens by a molding method,
The present invention relates to a contact lens manufacturing method and a contact lens manufacturing line using the same, and in particular, a molding cavity having a desired shape can be formed with high accuracy by stably closing the outer peripheral edge of the molding cavity. ,
A contact lens molding die capable of stably obtaining the fitting and fixing force of male and female molding dies, and capable of stably molding a target contact lens, and a contact lens using the same The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A molding method has been conventionally known as a type of manufacturing method for a contact lens (including both a hard type and a soft type; the same applies hereinafter). Such a molding method is performed by molding a female mold having a substantially spherical concave cavity forming surface and a male mold having a substantially spherical convex cavity forming surface to form between the male and female mold matching surfaces. The molding cavity of the contact lens is filled with a predetermined monomer material as a lens molding material,
A contact lens having a shape corresponding to the molding cavity is produced by polymerizing in the molding cavity. Other known contact lens manufacturing methods are the race cut method (cutting and polishing method) and the spin casting method (centrifugal method). Compared with the casting method), the target contact lens can be mass-produced at a low cost, and therefore, it is preferably used for manufacturing disposable contact lenses and the like.

By the way, in the molding method, since the male and female mold matching surfaces are located at the edge portion of the lens outer periphery,
In order to prevent molding defects such as burrs in a contact lens which is a molded product, it is important to stably obtain a closed state of the outer peripheral portion of the molding cavity corresponding to the lens edge portion. In general, the male and female molds are fed with a monomer material and matched, and then transferred to a polymerization treatment device such as UV irradiation or heating for processing, so that the molding process after such matching is stable. Therefore, it is desirable that both male and female molds can be firmly held in a matched state.

Therefore, in order to deal with such a problem, various structures have conventionally been proposed as a contact lens molding die used in the molding method. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-29411 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei. -27051
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-74 discloses that a thin, sharpened knife edge or a rim projection protruding in the mold matching direction is integrally formed outside the cavity forming surface of either the female mold or the male mold. A structure is disclosed in which a knife edge and a rim projection are pressed and deformed to the other molding surface to close the mold matching surfaces of the male and female molds at the outer peripheral edge of the molding cavity.

However, these Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-294
In the conventional molds disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-270517 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-270517, both male and female molds are pressed against each other based on the mold matching force exerted in the central axis direction of the male and female molds. The outer peripheral edge of the molding cavity is closed by deforming the abutting part by doing so, so that the relative position of the male and female molds in the mold matching direction and the amount of deformation at the abutting part can be adjusted. It is unavoidable that the dimensions change depending on the force and the dimensional error of the contact portion between the male and female dies, and it is difficult to stabilize the dimensions of the molding cavity and eventually the contact lens to be molded. Further, the mold forming force is exerted on the outer peripheral edge portions of the cavity forming surfaces of the male and female dies that are formed in a substantially spherical shape, so that the cavities of the cavity forming surfaces of the male and female dies are likely to change, and particularly the optical part of the central portion is changed. Deformation of the region may reduce the accuracy of the optical characteristics of the target contact lens.

In addition, as described above, in the molding die having the conventional structure in which the outer peripheral portions of the molding cavities of the male and female molds are brought into contact with each other by the mold matching force to seal the molding cavities, the axial direction of the male and female molds is increased. There is also a problem that it is difficult to secure the pull-out resistance and it is difficult to firmly hold both the male and female molds in the matched state.

[0007]

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and a problem to be solved by the present invention is that a molding cavity can be stably formed in an intended shape. Another object of the present invention is to provide a contact lens molding die having a novel structure capable of effectively exerting a holding force in a mold matching state, and a contact lens manufacturing method using the same.

[0008]

Aspects of the present invention made to solve such problems will be described below. The constituent elements used in each of the following aspects can be used in any combination as much as possible. Further, the aspects and technical features of the present invention are not limited to those described below, but are described in the entire specification and the drawings, or the invention idea that can be understood by those skilled in the art from those descriptions. It should be understood that it is recognized based on this.

First, a first aspect of the present invention relating to a contact lens molding die includes a female die having a substantially spherical concave cavity forming surface and a male die having a substantially spherical convex cavity forming surface. A contact lens molding die for forming a contact lens molding cavity between both cavity forming surfaces by mating the male and female molds, wherein the male mold has a periphery of the cavity forming surface and the female mold. Cylindrical fitting portions extending toward one side in the axial direction are provided outside the cavity forming surface of the mold, and the male and female molds are aligned with each other in the radial direction of the cylindrical fitting portions. A gap that spreads over the entire circumference is formed between the facing surfaces, and in the state where the male and female molds are matched, the female cylindrical fitting portion and the male cylindrical fitting portion At least one of And abolished the gap by deforming the direction, the molding cavity which is sealed between these female and male mold cavity forming surface that has to be defined, characterized.

In the contact lens forming die having the structure according to the present embodiment, both male and female dies are brought into radial contact with each other at the cylindrical fitting portion which does not form the forming surface of the optical portion of the contact lens. As a result, the outer peripheral edge of the molding cavity is closed. That is,
In the contact lens mold of this aspect, the external force exerted on the mold for closing the outer peripheral edge of the molding cavity is applied to the cylindrical fitting portion that does not form the molding surface of the optical part of the contact lens. Since it can be exerted in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the molding cavity, the influence of such external force on the thickness dimension of the molding cavity can be reduced or avoided, and the thickness of the molding cavity and thus the thickness of the contact lens to be molded can be reduced. The size can be set with high accuracy. In addition, by applying an external force to the cylindrical fitting part even when the mold matching force is removed, the axial direction of the male and female molds is determined based on the frictional force between the cylindrical fitting parts of the male and female molds. It is possible to easily secure the pull-out resistance in the above, and thereby, the handleability in the case where both male and female dies are conveyed in a mold-matched state can be improved.

In the contact lens molding die according to this embodiment, the female and male materials are appropriately selected from materials having rigidity and strength sufficient to withstand the molding operation of the contact lens in the molding cavity. For example, various synthetic resins, metals, glass, ceramics, etc. can be adopted, but at least one of the male and female molds is required in order to secure the deformability and the required strength in the tubular fitting portion. Is preferably formed of a synthetic resin or a soft metal, for example, a thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyacetal, fluororesin, or an aluminum alloy. Metals such as gold, silver and copper are preferably used as the material of the mold. Further, in the mold according to the present invention, when the mold is opened after the contact lens is molded, the molded contact lens can be stably attached to either one of the male and female molds, for example, one of the male and female or A high-frequency glow discharge treatment, a corona discharge treatment, an ultraviolet irradiation treatment, an atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, or the like was applied to at least the cavity forming surface of both molds, or an adhesive capable of exhibiting removable adhesive force was used. It is effective to adopt various known methods for controlling releasability such as molding surface treatment.

A second aspect of the present invention relating to a contact lens forming die is the contact lens forming die having the structure according to the first aspect, in which the female and male dies are combined with each other. At least one of the male cylindrical fitting portion and the male cylindrical fitting portion is deformed in the radial direction so that the female and male cylindrical fitting portions are fitted to the inner peripheral side. The edge portion of the formed cylindrical fitting portion that is connected to the cavity forming surface of the female mold or the male mold is fitted to the outer peripheral side of the female and male cylindrical fitting portions. The present invention is characterized in that it is adapted to be brought into contact with the formed cylindrical fitting portion. In this aspect, the gap between the tubular fitting portions of the male and female dies is closed at the end on the molding cavity side, and the opening of the gap to the molding cavity is avoided. It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of burrs at the mold matching portion of the outer peripheral edge portion of the contact lens, which is caused by the intrusion of the monomer material into the gap.

Further, a third aspect of the present invention relating to a contact lens forming die is a contact lens forming die having a structure according to the second aspect, wherein both female and male cylindrical fittings are fitted. The inner peripheral surface of the tubular fitting portion fitted to the outer peripheral side of the portion is a tapered cylindrical surface that gradually expands in diameter in the axial direction from the cavity forming surface of the female mold or the male mold. It is characterized by that.
In this aspect, the connecting side edge of the cylindrical fitting portion of the male and female cylindrical fitting portions fitted to the inner peripheral side with the cavity forming surface is fitted to the outer peripheral side. The inner peripheral surface of the formed cylindrical fitting portion can be more stably abutted by the action of the tapered surface attached to the inner peripheral surface, whereby the second aspect The effect of preventing burrs from being generated in the contact lens due to the intrusion of the monomer material into the gap between the male and female cylindrical fitting portions can be more effectively achieved.

Furthermore, a fourth aspect of the present invention relating to a contact lens mold is a contact lens mold having a structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the female mold and the male mold are used. The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion, which is fitted to the outer peripheral side of the two cylindrical fitting portions of the mold, has an outer peripheral taper surface that expands radially outward as it is axially separated from the cavity forming surface. The outer peripheral pressing portion is formed. In this aspect, it is possible to easily apply an external force to the male and female tubular fitting portions by making use of the outer peripheral taper surface to bring the tubular fitting portions into close contact with each other. Therefore, for example, by using a pressing tool having a tubular or annular pressing inner surface, by pressing the tubular fitting portion fitted to the outer peripheral side in the axial direction to the pressing tool, By the action of the outer peripheral taper surface, it is possible to easily apply a substantially uniform external force to the cylindrical fitting portion fitted on the outer peripheral side inward in the radial direction over the entire circumference.

Further, a fifth aspect of the present invention relating to a contact lens forming die is a contact lens forming die having a structure according to the fourth aspect, wherein both female and male cylindrical fittings are fitted. An outer peripheral surface of the tubular fitting portion fitted to the outer peripheral side of the portion, as a stepped cylindrical shape having different radial dimensions on both axial sides sandwiching the outer peripheral tapered surface,
A small-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface is formed on the cavity forming surface side of the outer peripheral tapered surface, and a large-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface is formed on the opposite side of the outer peripheral taper surface to the cavity forming surface. In this aspect, for example, by pressing the tubular fitting portion in the axial direction into the pressing tool having the tubular or annular pressing inner surface as described above, the outer peripheral taper surface acts so that the outer peripheral side When applying a reducing force to the tubular fitting portion fitted to the, the positioning and holding of the molding die with respect to the pressing tool before and after press-fitting into the pressing tool,
By using the outer peripheral tapered surface, the small-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and the large-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface formed on the cylindrical fitting portion, it becomes possible to perform the operation easily and stably.

Furthermore, a sixth aspect of the present invention relating to a contact lens forming die is the contact lens forming die having the structure according to the fourth aspect, wherein the contact lens forming die is located at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the outer peripheral tapered surface. Then, an undercut-shaped retaining projection protruding outward in the radial direction is formed. In this aspect, it is possible to prevent the male and female dies that have already been die-molded from being forcibly released in the die-opening direction due to the taper action of the outer peripheral taper surface, and the holding in the pressed state is further stabilized. Besides, the mechanism for holding in a special pressed state is not necessary.

A seventh aspect of the present invention relating to a contact lens mold is a contact lens mold having a structure according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the female cylinder is used. The male fitting portion and the male tubular fitting portion are brought into abutment with each other in the axial direction during the mating of the male and female dies, so that the fitting end positions of the both tubular fitting portions in the axial direction can be determined. It is characterized in that a prescribed positioning mechanism is provided. In this aspect, the relative positioning accuracy of the male and female molds in the central axis direction can be advantageously ensured, and the thickness dimension of the molding cavity and thus the thickness dimension of the contact lens to be molded can be further improved. It is possible to set stably. It should be noted that the positioning mechanism includes, for example, an outwardly facing flange-shaped portion integrally formed on the opening-side edge of the cylindrical fitting portion that is fitted to the inner peripheral side of the female and male cylindrical fitting portions. It can be advantageously realized by a structure in which the flange-shaped portion is formed and brought into contact with and positioned with respect to the opening-side end edge portion of the tubular fitting portion fitted to the outer peripheral side.

Further, a first aspect of the present invention relating to a method of manufacturing a contact lens is to form a cavity of the female die by using a contact lens forming die having a structure according to any one of the first to seventh aspects. By supplying a lens molding material onto a surface and then mating the male mold with the female mold, and molding the lens molding material in a molding cavity formed between the mating surfaces of the male and female molds. In manufacturing the contact lens, the male and female molds are fitted together, and the male and female molds are externally inserted into the tubular fitting parts fitted to the outer peripheral side of the tubular fitting parts. At least one of the outer circumference collet chuck and the inner circumference collet chuck inserted into the cylindrical fitting portion fitted on the inner circumference side is adopted, and the female cylindrical fitting portion and the male mold By deforming at least one of Jo fitting portion in the radial direction, that allowed to seal the mold cavity abolished the gap formed between the cylindrical fitting portion thereof female and male dies, characterized.

According to the method of the present embodiment, the collet chuck is used to apply an external force in the diameter reducing direction or the diameter expanding direction to the cylindrical fitting portion of either one of the male and female dies or the other. It is possible to effectively exert the effect, thereby more surely eliminating the gap formed between the male and female cylindrical fitting portions, and thereby forming the desired molding cavity,
By extension, it becomes possible to manufacture a desired contact lens stably and with high precision.

Further, a second aspect of the present invention relating to a method of manufacturing a contact lens uses a contact lens forming die having a structure according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects of the contact lens forming die described above. After supplying the lens molding material onto the cavity forming surface of the female mold, the male mold is fitted to the female mold, and the lens molding material is formed in the molding cavity formed between the mating surfaces of the male and female molds. When a desired contact lens is manufactured by molding, the cylindrical shape fitted to the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical fitting portions of the male and female molds in a state where the male and female molds are matched. The fitting portion is inserted into a pressing tool having an annular or tubular pressing inner surface, and the outer peripheral tapered surface formed on the cylindrical fitting portion is press-fitted into the pressing inner surface. And deforming the tubular fitting portion inward in the radial direction to eliminate the gap formed between the male and female tubular fitting portions to seal the molding cavity. To do.

In this aspect, a pressing tool having a simpler structure than that of a collet chuck or the like is used to close the gap between the male and female cylindrical fitting portions to form a molding cavity. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the apparatus and work for molding the contact lens.

Furthermore, a third aspect of the present invention relating to a method of manufacturing a contact lens is the above-mentioned contact lens, which uses the contact lens shaping die having the structure according to the fifth aspect of the above-mentioned contact lens shaping die. When manufacturing a target contact lens according to the method according to the second aspect of the manufacturing method of, the inner diameter dimension of the pressing inner surface of the pressing tool, the outer peripheral side of both cylindrical fitting portion in the male and female mold By setting the fitted cylindrical fitting portion to be slightly larger than the small-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface and smaller than the large-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and inserting the cylindrical fitting portion into the pressing tool. , The axial end portion of the pressing inner surface of the pressing member is brought into contact with the outer peripheral tapered surface of the cylindrical fitting portion so that the cylindrical fitting portion is supported by the pressing member, and In the supported state, the pressing inner surface of the pressing member causes the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion of the tubular fitting portion to be substantially positioned and held in the radial direction, while the tubular fitting portion is held by the pressing tool. By press-fitting in the axial direction,
The pressing inner surface of the pressing member is externally fitted and fixed to the large-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface beyond the outer peripheral tapered surface of the cylindrical fitting portion, and the large-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface is fitted to the cylindrical fitting portion. It is characterized by exerting an external force inward in the radial direction.

In this aspect of the invention, the molding die can be positioned and held by the pressing tool by utilizing the small-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface and the outer peripheral tapered surface formed in the cylindrical fitting portion fitted on the outer peripheral side. It is possible to stably shrink and deform the tubular fitting portion with the pressing tool while maintaining the positioning and holding of the molding die. The molding cavity can be stably formed with good workability by closing the above. Moreover, after the tubular fitting portion has been reduced in diameter by the pressing tool, the pressing tool is fixedly fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylinder formed in the tubular fitting portion to form the tubular fitting. Since the reducing force is continuously exerted on the joint, the gap between the cylindrical fitting parts of the molding die can be stably maintained in a closed state, and the cylindrical fitting parts of both male and female molds are in close contact. By maintaining the molds, it becomes easy to carry the male and female molds with the molds kept in the matched state.

Further, a fourth aspect of the present invention relating to a method for producing a contact lens is the production method according to the second or third aspect relating to the method for producing a contact lens described above, wherein the contact lens molding die is used. The pressing tool is fixedly provided on a carrying tray for carrying the contact lens mold at a plurality of locations where a plurality of steps for manufacturing a contact lens are carried out. . In this aspect of the invention, for example, JP-A-8-192470 and JP-A-9-199.
As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 72, etc., a pressing tool is fixedly provided on a carrying tray (pallet) for carrying a mold in a mold-matching state between a plurality of steps in manufacturing a contact lens. As a result, even under the condition that the mold matching force of both sexes is removed, both sexes are firmly held in the mold matching state,
The transport tray allows stable transport, and the stability of the work in the manufacturing process of each contact lens can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of treatments for manufacturing a contact lens using the contact lens mold having the structure according to any one of the first to seventh aspects of the contact lens mold described above. In a contact lens manufacturing line in which a plurality of places for carrying out the steps are connected by a carrying means for carrying the contact lens molding die, the plurality of treatment steps are sequentially carried out, A plurality of places where a carrier tray having at least one mold holding hole which is inserted and supported in a state of being matched with each other is adopted, and where the male and female molds are supported by the carrier tray and the plurality of processing steps are performed. And the cylindrical fitting portion of the female mold in a state where the male and female molds are matched with each other. External force acting means for forming the closed molding cavity by deforming at least one of the male cylindrical fitting portions in the radial direction to eliminate the gap between the male and female cylindrical fitting portions. Is also provided on the carrying tray, and the manufacturing line is characterized in that the male and female dies are fixedly held by the carrying tray in the mold matching state by the external force acting means and carried.

In the production line according to this aspect, the external force acting means for eliminating the gap between the male and female cylindrical fitting portions is provided in the carrying tray, so that the male and female dies can be moved in the axial direction. Even when the mold matching force is removed, it is possible to carry the molds to multiple processing steps with the carrier tray while keeping them firmly held in the mold matched state. The contact lens can be easily transported between a plurality of treatment steps, the contact lens manufacturing operation can be facilitated, and the stability of the contact lens manufacturing operation can be improved. In this aspect, the external force acting means is preferably the inner circumference collet chuck and / or the outer circumference collet chuck in the first aspect relating to the method for manufacturing a contact lens according to the present invention, or the pressing tool in the second aspect. Can be adopted by.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in order to more specifically clarify the present invention.

First, FIG. 1 shows a contact lens mold 10 as a first embodiment of the present invention. The molding die 10 is composed of a female die 12 and a male die 14.
As shown in FIG. 2, a molding cavity 16 for a contact lens is formed between the mating surfaces of the male and female molds 12, 14.

More specifically, the male mold 14 is formed of a suitable synthetic resin material such as polypropylene by a conventionally known resin molding method such as an injection molding method, and has a substantially thick wall. It has a central portion 18 in the form of a disc. The central portion 18 is formed into a spherical shell shape that is curved as a whole and projects toward one side in the axial direction (downward in FIG. 1), and by the convex surface of the central portion 18,
A convex molding surface 20 is formed as a cavity forming surface that substantially corresponds to the base curve of the target contact lens. Further, at the outer peripheral edge of the central portion 18, a tube located outside the periphery of the convex molding surface 20 and rising on the central axis toward the center of curvature of the convex molding surface 20, that is, toward the upper side in FIG. A cylindrical wall portion 22 having a substantially cylindrical shape is integrally formed as a cylindrical fitting portion. The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall portion 22 has a cylindrical fitting outer peripheral surface 24 in a portion extending from the lower end portion in the axial direction for a predetermined length, and the fitting outer peripheral surface 24.
The upper side in the axial direction is a taper surface whose diameter slightly expands toward the opening side. Furthermore, at the opening edge of the cylindrical wall portion 22,
A flange portion 26 having a substantially annular plate shape is integrally formed so as to spread in a direction orthogonal to the central axis, and the flange portion 26 improves the rigidity of the tubular wall portion 22 and the central portion 18 as a whole. In addition, the central axis direction and the horizontal direction of the convex molding surface 20 of the central portion 18 can be easily determined. As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, the end portion of the cylindrical wall portion 22 that is connected to the convex molding surface 20 has the fitting outer peripheral surface 24.
Is a peripheral edge portion on one end side (lower end side in FIG. 1) in the axial direction. Further, in the male mold 14, the member thickness and shape are set in consideration of the material so that the central portion 18 including the convex molding surface 20 can exhibit sufficient rigidity against an external force exerted during mold matching. Has been done.

On the other hand, the female die 12 is formed by a known resin molding method such as an injection molding method using a synthetic resin material similar to that of the male die 14, and a central portion 28 thereof faces one side in the axial direction. It is shaped like a protruding spherical shell. The concave surface of the central portion 28 forms a concave molding surface 30 as a cavity forming surface that substantially corresponds to the front curve of the target contact lens.

The outer peripheral edge of the central portion 28 of the female die 12 is located outside the periphery of the concave molding surface 30 and is centered toward the center of curvature of the concave molding surface 30, that is, toward the upper side in FIG. A substantially cylindrical tubular wall portion 32 is integrally formed as a tubular fitting portion that stands up on the shaft. The inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall portion 32 has a cylindrical fitting inner peripheral surface 34 at a portion extending from the outer peripheral edge portion of the concave molding surface 30 in the axial direction to a predetermined length. In addition, the opening side of the fitting inner peripheral surface 34 is a tapered surface 38 that slightly expands in diameter toward the opening side via a stepped portion 36 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis. In addition, as is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, the edge portion on the connection side of the cylindrical wall portion 32 with the concave molding surface 30 is
It is a peripheral edge portion on one end side (the lower end side in FIG. 1) in the axial direction of the fitting inner peripheral surface 34. Also, in the female mold 12, the male mold 1
Similar to 4, the wall thickness dimension and shape of each part are set in consideration of the material and the like so that the concave molding surface 30 is not deformed by the action of the force exerted at the time of mold matching.

Further, a flange-like portion 40 of a substantially annular plate shape is formed integrally with the opening end edge portion of the cylindrical wall portion 32 on the upper side in the axial direction so as to project outward in the direction perpendicular to the axis. The flange-like portion 40 improves the rigidity of the entire cylindrical wall portion 32 and the central portion 28, and facilitates determination of the central axis direction and the horizontal direction of the concave molding surface 30 of the central portion 28. You can do it. Further, on the upper surface in the axial direction of the flange portion 40, a plurality of spacer portions 42 projecting outward in the axial direction at a predetermined height are annularly continuous in the circumferential direction or are divided in the circumferential direction. It has a projection shape and is integrally formed.

An outer peripheral pressing portion 44 is formed at an end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall portion 32 which is connected to the central portion 28. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 3, the outer peripheral pressing portion 44 has an outer peripheral taper surface 46 that expands at a predetermined taper angle as it moves axially upward from the central portion 28.
It has a stepped cylindrical shape with
A small-diameter outer peripheral surface 48 as a small-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface that extends in the axial direction from the small-diameter side end portion of the outer peripheral tapered surface 46 with a substantially constant outer diameter is formed on one side in the axial direction sandwiching. On the other side in the axial direction sandwiching the outer peripheral tapered surface 46, a large diameter outer peripheral surface 50 as a large diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface extending in the axial direction from the large diameter side end portion of the outer peripheral tapered surface 46 with a substantially constant outer diameter dimension.
Are formed.

In this embodiment, the outer peripheral tapered surface 46
Is formed axially below the connecting edge between the fitting inner peripheral surface 34 of the cylindrical wall portion 32 and the concave molding surface 30 of the central portion 28 (on the central portion 28 side), and substantially at the center. An outer peripheral tapered surface 46 is located on the outer peripheral surface of the portion 28. The large-diameter outer peripheral surface 50 extending axially upward from the large-diameter side edge portion of the outer peripheral tapered surface 46 is the fitting inner peripheral surface 3 of the cylindrical wall portion 32.
4 is formed so as to have an axial length extending outward in the radial direction. Furthermore, the outer peripheral edge portion of the convex outer surface 51 of the central portion 28 connected to the axially downward end edge portion of the small diameter outer peripheral surface 48 extending axially downward from the small diameter side end edge portion of the outer peripheral tapered surface 46 is , A tapered inclined surface 49 whose diameter decreases in the axially downward direction from the axially downward end edge portion of the small-diameter outer peripheral surface 48.
It is said that.

Further, the central portion 28 of the female die 12 is slightly larger than the central portion 18 of the male die 14, and the inner diameter of the fitting inner peripheral surface 34 of the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12 is It is set to be larger than the outer diameter dimension of the fitting outer peripheral surface 24 of the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male mold 14 by a predetermined amount (11 × 2 in FIG. 3). As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, by inserting the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male mold 14 into the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female mold 12 from the opening of the cylindrical wall portion 32, The concave molding surface 30 and the convex molding surface 20 of both the molds 12 and 14 can be positioned to face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween so that the molds can be matched with each other.

Further, by positioning the male and female molds 12, 14 on the same central axis under such a mold matching state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cylindrical wall portion of the female mold 12 is formed. The fitting inner peripheral surface 34 of 32 and the cylindrical wall portion 2 of the male mold 14.
A gap 52 is continuously formed in the circumferential direction between the surfaces of the fitting 2 facing the fitting outer circumferential surface 24 in the radial direction. Further, the width dimension of the gap 52 in the direction perpendicular to the axis:
As shown in FIG. 3, l1 is a value of a difference in outer diameter dimension between the large diameter outer peripheral surface 50 and the small diameter outer peripheral surface 48 of the female die 12,
In other words, the difference between the minimum radius dimension and the maximum radius dimension of the outer peripheral tapered surface 46 is set to be smaller than l2.

Furthermore, when the male and female dies 12, 14 are matched, the flange-shaped portion 26 of the male mold 14 and the spacer portion 42 of the flange-shaped portion 40 of the female mold 12 are axially superposed and in close contact with each other. Male and female molds 1 by abutting
2 and 14 are positioned relative to each other in the axial direction, and thus the distance between the facing surfaces of the convex molding surface 20 of the male mold 14 and the concave molding surface 30 of the female mold 12 in the mold matching state. But,
The thickness of the target molding cavity is set. As is clear from this,
In the present embodiment, the positioning mechanism that defines the fitting end positions of the cylindrical wall portions 22 and 32 in the axial direction includes the flange portion 26 of the male die 14 and the spacer portion 4 of the female die 12.
It is constituted by a flange-shaped portion 40 provided with 2.

The male and female dies 12, 14 which have been die-molded as described above exert an external force on the tubular wall portion 32 of the female die 12 from the outside inward in the radial direction to reduce the diameter of the tubular wall portion 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the fitting inner peripheral surface 34 of the female die 12 and the fitting outer peripheral surface 24 of the male die 14 are brought into close contact with each other as shown in FIG. As a result, the contact lens molding die 10 including the male and female molds 12 and 14 has a concave molding surface 30 of the female mold 12.
Between the opposed surfaces of the convex molding surface 20 of the male mold 14 and the mating inner and outer peripheral surfaces 34, 24 of the male and female molds 12, 14, the mold matching portion of the outer peripheral edge portion is closed to the external space. Molded cavity 16 for blocked contact lens
Are formed.

Here, in the molding die 10 of the present embodiment, the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12 fitted to the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical wall portions 32, 22 of the female die 12 and the male die 14. Since the outer peripheral pressing portion 44 having the outer peripheral tapered surface 46 is formed on the surface, as will be described later, the outer peripheral pressing portion 44 is slightly larger than the outer diameter dimension of the small diameter outer peripheral surface 48, and the large outer peripheral surface is formed. A pressing fitting having an inner pressing surface having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of 50 is adopted, and the outer pressing portion 44 of the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12 is used against the pressing fitting.
By press-fitting, the reaction force of the outer peripheral pressing portion 44, which is brought into contact with the pressing inner surface of the pressing metal member, is exerted on the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12 inward in the radial direction, The cylindrical wall portion 32 is reduced in diameter and deformed so that it can be pressed in close contact with the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male mold 14 (see FIGS. 19 and 21 described later).

Next, an embodiment for molding a desired contact lens by using such a contact lens molding die 10 will be described.

First, FIG. 4 is a schematic model view of a contact lens manufacturing line 54 using the contact lens mold 10 shown in the above-described embodiment. The manufacturing line 54 includes five manufacturing processes: No. 1 to No. 5,
Conveying means for sequentially transporting the contact lens mold 10 to each of the manufacturing steps: No. 1 to No. 5 to carry out the manufacturing steps: No. 1 to No. 5. The transport device 56 is included.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the transfer device 56 includes a metal plate 58 as a transfer tray, and a transfer rail 60 for guiding and moving the metal plate 58 to a predetermined place. There is.

The metal plate 58 is made of a rigid material such as metal and has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and a plurality of metal plates 58 are arranged on the transport rail 60. A plurality of mold holding holes 62 having a circular hole shape are formed in the metal plate 58 so as to penetrate in the plate thickness direction. The number of mold holding holes 62, the arrangement position, and the like are not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, four metal molds are equally arranged on one circumference with respect to one metal plate 58. A mold holding hole 62 is formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, an annular projection 66, which serves as a pressing tool and projects inward in the radial direction, is provided at a substantially axially intermediate portion of the die holding hole 62 in the entire circumferential direction. It is integrally formed with an annular shape that extends continuously over the circumference. Furthermore, an annular pressing portion 70 that is located at the lower end in the axial direction and projects inward in the radial direction is integrally formed on the inner peripheral surface 72 of the annular protruding portion 66. The peripheral surface is a pressing inner surface 64 having a cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the inner peripheral surface of the annular protrusion 66.

The inner diameter of the die holding hole 62 is larger than the outer diameter of the flange-like portion 40 of the female die 12 on the axial upper side of the pressing protrusion 66, and the annular protrusion 66 is provided. The inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 72 of the
The outer diameter of the cylindrical wall portion 32 is larger than that of the cylindrical wall portion 32, so that substantially the entire female die 12 is fitted into each die holding hole 62 of the metal plate 58 in a housed state. In addition, the pressing inner surface 64 of the pressing portion 70 protruding from the inner peripheral surface 72 of the annular protrusion 66 has an inner diameter dimension smaller than that of the female mold 12 as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. It is slightly larger than the outer diameter dimension of 48 and smaller than the large-diameter outer peripheral surface 50. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, when the female die 12 is fitted into the die holding hole 62 of the metal plate 58, the upper end peripheral portion of the pressing inner surface 64 of the pressing portion 70 of the metal plate 58 is The female die 12 is supported on the outer peripheral taper surface 46 of the female die 12 coaxially with the tubular wall portion 32 opening upward on the substantially central axis of the die holding hole 62. .

On the other hand, the transport rail 60 is configured to include a transport rod 76 and a pair of rail fittings 78a, 78b. The pair of rail fittings 78a, 78b are in the form of a closed annular path that extends in parallel with a certain opposing distance therebetween, and the rail fittings 78a, 78b are supported by a plurality of columns fixedly mounted on a base (not shown) to provide contact. It is fixedly installed in a state of extending through the manufacturing process of the lens. Further, the pair of rail fittings 78a, 78b are respectively formed with notch-shaped engaging grooves 84, 84 extending over the entire length of the upper corner portion on the inner edge side. By fitting a pair of opposite edge portions of the metal plate 58 to each other, the metal plate 58 is guided by the pair of rail fittings 78a and 78b in the rail longitudinal direction while being prevented from falling off. ing.

Further, a pair of rail fittings 78a, 78b
A transport rod 76 is disposed below the rail metal fittings 78a and 78b so as to extend over the central portion in the width direction over the entire length. The carrying rod 76 has a thread groove on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is rotationally driven about the central axis by a servo motor or the like (not shown). Further, a moving block 80 having an insertion hole 82 having an internal thread groove formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof is externally inserted to the carrying rod 76, and the internal thread groove of the moving block 80 is the external thread of the carrying rod 76. It is screwed into the groove with a ball screw mechanism.
Then, the moving block 80 is fixed to the lower surface of the metal plate 58, whereby the transport rod 76 is provided.
The metal feed 58 fixed to the moving block 80 can be moved along the transport rail 60 by the screw feeding action of the ball screw mechanism in accordance with the rotation operation of.

Further, as shown schematically in the drawings, contact lenses are manufactured in the execution spaces of the five manufacturing steps No. 1 to No. 5 provided on the transport device 56, respectively. A plurality of processing devices are provided for this purpose. That is, (i) an injection molding machine for molding the female die 12 is installed in the execution space of the manufacturing process No. 1 (86), and (ii) an execution space of the manufacturing process No. 2 (88). , An injection molding machine for molding the male mold 14 is installed, and (iii) after the monomer material is injected into the molding cavities 16 of the male and female molds 12 and 14 in the execution space of the manufacturing process No. 3 (90). An injection machine for matching the male and female molds 12 and 14 is installed. (Iv) Manufacturing process No. 4 (9
A polymerization device for polymerizing the monomer material filled in the molding cavities 16 of the male and female molds 12 and 14 by a photopolymerization method, a thermal polymerization method or the like is installed in the implementation space of 2),
(V) An unloader for separating the male and female dies 12, 14 from the metal plate 58 and taking them out is installed in the execution space of the manufacturing process No. 5 (94).

Further, these manufacturing process Nos. 1 to 3 and 5
9 to 10, a support beam 96 extending above the metal plate 58 supported by the transport rail 60 is installed in each of the working spaces. This support beam 96 is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-199.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 72-72914 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-24914, which are conventionally known, the details thereof will be omitted here, but a pressure reducer (not shown) to an air supply pipe 98. The negative pressure exerted through the air supply passage 102 in the cylindrical piston member 100 causes the male die 14 to be adsorbed, and the male die 14 is attracted.
In a state where the male mold 14 is adsorbed, the male mold 14 can be moved by driving the piston member 100 in an appropriate direction such as up and down by hydraulic means or pneumatic means. A suction pad 104 corresponding to the open end of the male mold 14 and the shape of the flange-shaped portions 26, 40 is fixedly provided on the lower end of the piston member 100 in the axial direction. Further, in the support beam 96, various movement means such as an articulated robot can be appropriately adopted.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 12, in the space for carrying out the manufacturing process No. 5, in addition to the above-mentioned piston member 100 and the like, both end portions in the width direction of the metal plate 58 are located on the upper side. Pressing plate 106 that holds down from
106 and the metal plate 5 supported by the transport rail 60
8, a lower piston member 108 extending below is disposed, and the lower piston member 108 is connected to the metal plate 58.
The lower surface of the convex portion of the central portion 28 of the female die 12 held in the die holding hole 62 is inserted into the die holding hole 62 from the lower side by negative pressure.
The lower piston member 108 is driven to project axially upward in the mold holding hole 62, whereby the mold holding hole 62
The female die 12 disposed in the above can be extruded from the lower side to the upper side to be separated from the metal plate 58. The female die 12 is provided on the upper end of the pressing piston 108.
Suction pad 10 shaped along the outer surface of the central portion 28 of the
9 is fixed.

When manufacturing a desired contact lens on the manufacturing line 54 as described above,
First, in the manufacturing process No. 1, the female die 12 is injection-molded by using an injection molding machine, and the molded female die 12 is attached to the suction pad 104 of the piston member 100 as shown in FIG. The mold holding hole 62 of the metal plate 58 which is sucked and supported by the transport rail 60 from the injection molding machine.
And is fitted into the mold holding hole 62. Thereafter, the piston member 100 is detached from the female die 12, so that the female die 12 is supported by the metal plate 58.

The female die 12 supported on the metal plate 58 in this manner is the die holding hole 6 of the metal plate 58.
The outer peripheral taper surface 46 of the female die 12 is brought into contact with the pressing portion 70 protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the second die 12, and the female die 12 is positioned by the self-aligning action of the outer peripheral taper surface 46. As a result, the female die 12 is supported in a state where the cylindrical wall portion 32 opens upward on the substantially central axis of the die holding hole 62 (see FIG. 16). Further, in the manufacturing process No. 1, the female die 12 is fitted into all the die holding holes 62 in the metal plate 58.

In the subsequent manufacturing process No. 2, the male mold 14 is injection molded using an injection molding machine, and the manufacturing process N
Molded male mold 14 similar to female mold 12 in o.1.
As shown in FIG.
The air is adsorbed by the suction pad 104 of the above and is transferred from the injection molding machine to above the mold holding hole 62 of the metal plate 58 supported by the transport rail 60, and is transferred to the female mold 12 supported in the mold holding hole 62. Insert it against. After that, the piston member 100 is removed from the male die 14 so that the male die 12 is overlapped with the female die 12 and the metal plate 58 is
Support by.

The male and female molds 12, 14 thus supported by the metal plate 58 are, as shown in FIGS. 15 to 16, the spacer portions projecting from the flange portion 40 of the female mold 12. 42 to the flange portion 2 of the male mold 14
By stacking 6 and positioning them in the axial direction, a gap that forms a molding cavity is formed between the facing surfaces of the central portions 28 and 18 of the male and female dies 12 and 14, and the cylindrical wall portions 32 are formed. There is a slight gap between
2 is formed, and due to the existence of the gap 52,
The male mold 14 is air-adsorbed by the piston member 100 and lifted upward by the piston member 100, so that the male mold 14 can be easily separated from the female mold 12 upward.

Under the condition that the male mold 14 is fitted to the female mold 12 supported by the metal plate 58, the radial dimension of the pressing inner surface 64 of the pressing portion 70 of the metal plate 58 and the outer circumference of the male mold 12. The difference in radius dimension of the large-diameter outer peripheral surface 50 of the pressing portion 44: 14 is the fitting inner peripheral surface 34 of the female mold 12 and the fitting outer peripheral surface 2 of the male mold 14.
4, the distance between the facing surfaces, that is, the size of the gap 52: 13 is set slightly larger.

Further, in the subsequent manufacturing process No. 3,
The male mold 14 fitted in the female mold 12 in the manufacturing process No. 2 and conveyed together with the female mold 12 is air-adsorbed by the piston member 100 similar to the manufacturing process No. 2 shown in FIG. The male mold 14 is separated from the female mold 12 in the axial direction by opening the female mold 12 so that the female mold 12 is opened. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the female mold 1
An injection needle 110 of a monomer injection machine is inserted into the opening 2 and a monomer material 112 as a lens molding material is injected into the female mold 12 through the injection needle 110. Then, after confirming that the target amount of the monomer material 112 has been injected into the female mold 12, the male mold 14 held by the piston member 100 is fitted into the female mold 12 again as shown in FIG. If necessary, the piston member 100 or another piston member (not shown) may be used to form the male and female molds 12, 14
A mold closing load is applied in the axial direction to the spacer part 42 of the female mold 12 to cause the flange-shaped part 26 of the male mold 14 to overlap with each other and to be relatively positioned in the axial direction. By removing the piston member 100 from the mold 14, the male mold 12 is supported by the metal plate 58 in a state of being superposed on the female mold 12.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, the central portion 2 of the male and female molds 12 and 14 which have been matched with each other.
The molding cavity 16 formed between the opposing surfaces of the molding cavities 8 and 18 is filled with the monomer material 112, and the surplus monomer material 112 is filled with the clearance 52 in the radial direction between the male and female molds 12 and 14 at the outer peripheral edge of the molding cavity 16. Through, it is quickly guided to the outside of the molding cavity 16 and discharged.

Under such a state where the male and female dies 12 and 14 are matched with each other, the piston member 100 or another piston member (not shown) is used to insert the metal plate 58 into the mold holding hole 62 with respect to the male mold 14. A pressing load in the axial direction is applied to the pressing inner surface 6 of the pressing portion 70 of the metal plate 58 by pressing the female mold 12 together with the male mold 14 axially downward in the mold holding hole 62 of the metal plate 58.
4, the female die 12 is pushed axially downward beyond the tapered surface 46 to reach the large-diameter outer peripheral surface 50. As a result, the pressing inner surface 64 of the pressing portion 70 of the metal plate 58 is brought into contact with the large-diameter outer peripheral surface 50 of the female die 12, and is radially inward with respect to the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12. A drawing force is exerted to cause the cylindrical wall portion 32 to be reduced in diameter and deformed. Therefore, as shown in FIGS.
The fitting inner peripheral surface 34 of the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female mold 12 is brought into close contact with the fitting outer peripheral surface 24 of the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male mold 14 to form a cylinder of the male and female molds 12, 14. The gap 52 between the walls 34 and 22 will disappear. Further, since the gap 52 disappears, the molding cavity 16 formed between the mating surfaces of the male and female molds 12, 14 is shielded from the external space to form a hermetically sealed structure. The monomer material 112 is filled in the formed molding cavity 16.

The large-diameter outer peripheral surface 50 of the female die 12 pushed into the pressing portion 70 of the metal plate 58 is changed from the original straight cylindrical shape to the cylindrical wall by the diameter reduction deformation of the cylindrical wall portion 32. The diameter is slightly tapered toward the opening side of the portion 32 (upper side in FIG. 20). Therefore, between the large-diameter outer peripheral surface 50 of the female die 12 and the pressing inner surface 64 of the pressing portion 70 brought into contact with the large-diameter outer peripheral surface 50, the retaining force of the tapered surface of the female die 12 from the pressing portion 70 is exerted. It is like this. As a result, the female die 12 is held in a state of being pushed into the pushing portion 70 of the metal plate 58 in a state in which the diameter reducing force of the pushing portion 70 is exerted on the tubular wall portion 32, and the female wall of the female die 12 is held. The portion 32 is kept in intimate contact with the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male die 14 so that the male and female die 12, 1
4 is held in the mold matching state. As is apparent from this, in this embodiment, the external force acting means for deforming the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12 inward in the radial direction is
The pressing portion 70 of the metal plate 58 is used. Further, when the male and female dies 12 and 14 are in the mating state as described above, the fitting outer peripheral surface 24 of the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male die 14 is
The cylindrical wall portion 3 of the female die 12 is an area extending over a predetermined axial length of the axial lower end portion including the lower end side peripheral edge portion as the connection side end edge portion.
It is in close contact with the second fitting inner peripheral surface 34.

In the subsequent manufacturing step No. 4, as shown in FIG. 22, the male and female molds 12, 14 which are fitted in the mold holding holes 62 of the metal plate 58 and held in the mold matching state as described above. In that state, it is guided to an ultraviolet irradiation device or the like, and the monomer material 112 filled in the molding cavity 16 is irradiated with UV light for a predetermined time to perform a polymerization treatment. Then, after the polymerization of the monomer material 112 is completed, the male and female molds 12 and 14 are held by the metal plate 58, and the carrier device 5 is used.
Manufacturing process No. 6 Transport to area 5.

In the manufacturing process No. 5 which is the final process of manufacturing the contact lens, as shown in FIG. 23, the pressing plates 106 and 106 are superposed on the end edges on both sides in the width direction of the metal plate 58. While preventing the metal plate 58 from rising, the piston member 10 is inserted from above in the axial direction with respect to the mold holding hole 62 in which the male and female molds 12 and 14 are held in the metal plate 58 in a matched state.
In addition to inserting 0, the lower piston member 108 is inserted from below in the axial direction so that the male die 14 is adsorbed and held by the piston member 100, and the lower piston member 10
The female die 12 is held by suction by means of 8.

23, by pushing the lower piston member 108 upward in the axial direction while the male mold 14 and the female mold 12 are suction-held by the piston member 100 and the lower piston member 108, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the mold holding holes 6 of the metal plate 58 with the male and female molds 12 and 14 in a state of being matched with each other.
Lift upward from 2 and pull it out. In short, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, the pressing portion 70 of the metal plate 58 fitted onto the large-diameter outer peripheral surface 50 of the female die 12 is extracted to the outer peripheral tapered surface 46 side, and The diameter reducing force exerted on the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the mold 12 by the metal plate 58 is released. As a result, the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12 is restored in the radial direction,
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 24, between the fitting inner peripheral surface 34 of the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12 and the fitting outer peripheral surface 24 of the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male die 14, Approximately the same gap 52 as shown will be re-created.

Thereafter, the female die 12 is attached to the lower piston member 10
In a state where the male mold 14 is suction-held with a negative pressure with respect to 8, the piston member 100 having the male mold 14 suction-held is displaced upward, whereby the male mold 14 is opened upward from the female mold 12. Subsequently, the lower piston member 108 is further projected to remove the female die 12 from the metal plate 58 for collection and disposal, while the piston member 100 is moved to move the male die 14 to the convex forming surface 20 thereof. Transfer the contact lens to the collection position with the contact lens still attached. At the collecting position, the contact lens 113 attached to the convex molding surface 20 of the male mold 14 is attached to the male mold 14 by using an appropriate chemical or deforming the male mold 14 in the radial direction. And the desired contact lens 113 is obtained.

After the desired contact lens 113 is manufactured as described above, since the transport device 56 for transporting the metal plate 58 to each manufacturing process has a closed annular path form, the manufacturing process No. is again performed. It will be returned to No. 1 and it will be supplied to No. 1 as it is, and the molding operation of the contact lens from No. 1 will be repeated.

If the contact lens molding die of the present embodiment as described above is adopted, molding is performed by utilizing an external force exerted in the direction perpendicular to the axis independently of the molding force when the male and female dies 12, 14 are matched. Since the outer peripheral edge of the cavity 16 is closed, it is possible to effectively bring the mold matching portions of the male and female molds 12 and 14 into close contact with each other regardless of the magnitude of the mold matching force. The molding cavity 16 can be formed with high precision, and the fitting and holding force of the male and female dies 12, 14 in the die-matched state can be efficiently and stably obtained.

Some examples of contact lens forming dies as other embodiments of the present invention will be shown below. In the following embodiments, members and parts having a structure similar to that of the first embodiment will be described. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

First, FIGS. 26 to 27 show a contact lens molding die 114 as a second embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, the female mold 116 in the contact lens molding mold 114 of this embodiment has a central portion 1
18 has a spherical shell shape protruding toward one side in the axial direction (downward in FIG. 26), and the concave side surface of the central portion 118 allows a concave molding surface corresponding to the front curve of the target contact lens. 120 is formed.
In addition, the outer peripheral edge of the central portion 118 has a concave molding surface 12
A cylindrical wall portion 122 as a cylindrical fitting portion is integrally formed on the outer side of 0 around the center of curvature of the concave molding surface 120, that is, toward the lower side in FIG. The cylindrical wall portion 122 has a tapered cylindrical shape that expands downward in the axial direction, extends axially downward from the central portion 118, and has a radial direction in the lower end opening peripheral portion. A flange-shaped portion 124 that spreads outward is integrally formed. Further, a spacer portion 125 that projects in the axial direction is integrally formed on the upper surface of the flange-shaped portion 124. Furthermore, the small-diameter side edge of the cylindrical wall portion 122, in other words, the cylindrical wall portion 1
The boundary portion between the outer peripheral surface of 22 and the concave molding surface 120 is slightly projected outward in the radial direction over the entire circumference thereof.

On the other hand, in the male mold 126 of the contact lens mold 114 of this embodiment, the central portion 128 is
It has a spherical shell shape protruding toward one side in the axial direction (downward in FIG. 26), and the convex side surface of the central portion 128 forms a convex molding surface 130 corresponding to the base curve of the target contact lens. Has been formed. Further, the outer peripheral edge portion of the central portion 128 is located outside the periphery of the convex molding surface 130 and is tubularly fitted to the side opposite to the center of curvature of the convex molding surface 130, that is, toward the lower side in FIG. A cylindrical wall portion 132 as a joining portion is integrally formed. This cylindrical wall portion 132 is
It has a tapered cylindrical shape that expands downward in the axial direction, extends axially downward from the central portion 128, and has a flange-shaped portion that expands radially outward at the peripheral edge of the lower end opening. 134 is integrally formed.

Then, the male die 126 is coaxially superposed from above the opening of the concave molding surface 120 of the female die 116, and the male die 126 is fitted to the concave molding surface 120 of the female die 116.
The male and female dies 116 and 126 are adapted to be matched with each other such that the convex molding surfaces 130 of the two are opposed to each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. , 126 between the facing surfaces of the molding surfaces 120, 130, a molding cavity 142 is formed.

When mating the male and female dies 116 and 126, the flange portion 134 of the male die 126 should be brought into contact with the spacer portion 125 projecting from the flange portion 124 of the female die 116. According to
126 are axially positioned relative to each other so that the thickness dimension of the molding cavity 142 is designed.

Further, the inner peripheral surface 136 of the cylindrical wall portion 132 of the male die 126 has a larger taper angle than that of the outer peripheral surface 138 of the cylindrical wall portion 122 of the female die 116, and the female die 116 has The upper end edge of the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder wall portion 122 is the cylinder wall portion 1.
It is a lip-shaped annular contact portion 144 that projects radially outward from the extension line of the outer peripheral surface 138 of 22. As a result, when the male and female dies 116, 126 are in a mating state, the tubular wall portion 132 of the male die 126 is externally arranged on the tubular wall portion 122 of the female die 116, and the tubular wall of the female die 116 is inserted. Part 12
The distance between the facing surfaces of the outer peripheral surface 138 of No. 2 and the inner peripheral surface 136 of the cylindrical wall portion 132 of the male mold 126 gradually increases as the distance from the molding cavity 142 increases, that is, as it goes downward in FIG. At the same time, the outer diameter dimension of the annular contact portion 144 of the female die 117 is determined by
2 has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the inner peripheral surface 136, and the annular contact portion 144 of the female die 116 and the cylindrical wall portion 13 of the male die 126.
Between the two, a slight gap 140 is formed over the entire circumference.

In the contact lens molding die 114 of the present embodiment having such a structure, for example, after the monomer material is supplied to the concave molding surface 120 of the female mold 116 and the male mold 126 is matched. By pressing a pressing tool having an annular pressing inner surface from above in the axial direction to the outer peripheral surface 146 of the tapered cylindrical wall portion 132 of the male die 126, the cylindrical wall portion 132 of the male die 126 is inserted. The inner peripheral surface 136 of the cylindrical wall portion 132 is moved to the female mold 11 by applying a reducing force.
The outer peripheral edge portion of the molding cavity 142 can be sealed by closely contacting the annular contact portion 144 of the tubular wall portion 122 of No. 6 with the target contact, as in the first embodiment. The lens can be stably molded with good dimensional accuracy.

Next, FIGS. 28 to 30 show a contact lens molding die 150 as a third embodiment of the present invention.
It is shown mounted on a metal plate 152 for transport to a manufacturing line. The molding die 150 is
An embodiment different from the first embodiment is mainly shown in regard to the external force acting means for reducing the diameter of the female cylinder wall portion and closely contacting it with the male cylinder wall portion.

Specifically, in the female mold 12 of the contact lens molding die 150 of the present embodiment, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 30, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall portion 32 has a stepped cylindrical shape. While the stepped portion 158 formed in the axially intermediate portion of the tubular wall portion 32 is sandwiched, the opening side of the tubular wall portion 32 is the large diameter outer peripheral surface 160 of the large diameter cylindrical shape, A small-diameter outer peripheral surface 162 having a small-diameter cylindrical shape is formed on the opposite side of the large-diameter outer peripheral surface 160 with the stepped portion 158 interposed therebetween.

Further, the metal plate 152 is similar to that shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 9, it has a two-layer structure composed of a main body plate metal fitting 164 and a pressing plate metal fitting 166, and penetrates the main body plate metal fitting 164 and the pressing plate metal fitting 166 in the plate thickness direction,
Four mold holding holes 168 for holding the contact lens molding die 150 are provided. Also, the body plate metal fitting 16
4 and the pressing plate metal fitting 166 have bolt nuts 172 inserted and fixed in the central portion thereof so as to sandwich and fix both plate metal fittings 164 and 166 in the plate thickness direction, while at the four corners of both plate metal fittings 164 and 166. A pin 174 for relative alignment and an insertion hole 175 are formed.

Further, an outer peripheral collet chuck 170 is disposed between the facing surfaces of the main body plate metal fitting 164 and the pressing plate metal fitting 166 so as to be embedded around the mold holding hole 168. As is well known, the outer circumference collet chuck 170 is configured to include a small diameter inner collet metal fitting 176 whose axial upper end is divided in the circumferential direction and a cylindrical large diameter outer collet metal fitting 178. The outer collet metal fitting 178 is externally inserted into the inner collet metal fitting 176, and the main body plate metal fitting 164 and the pressing plate metal fitting 166 push the outer collet metal fitting 178 axially with respect to the inner collet metal fitting 176.
By the action of the taper surface formed on the outer peripheral surface of 6 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer collet fitting 178, the inner collet fitting 1
The diameter of the upper end of 76 is reduced.

The diameter reduction of the inner collet metal fitting 176 is exerted as a diameter reduction force on the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12 inserted in the inner collet metal fitting 176. Similar to the embodiment, the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 32 is brought into close contact with the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male die 14 to hermetically form the molding cavity 16.

In this embodiment, since the outer peripheral collet chuck 170 is used, it is possible to easily adjust the external force as the reducing force exerted on the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12. There is.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples, and the present invention is
Depending on the specific description in these embodiments,
It should not be construed as limiting.

For example, in the second embodiment,
By expanding the diameter of the female cylindrical wall portion outward in the radial direction, the female cylindrical wall portion can be brought into close contact with the male cylindrical wall portion to seal the molding cavity. .

Further, instead of the pressing plate fitting 166 employed in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, for example, the main plate fitting 164 is screwed into the opening portion of each die holding hole 62. Being worn, the inner collet metal fitting 1
It is also possible to employ a pressing screw 188 that presses 78 in the axial direction.

Further, with respect to the outer peripheral pressing portion 44 of the female die 12 adopted in the first embodiment, a plurality of axially extending split grooves 192 as shown in FIGS. It is also possible to form them at intervals, and by adopting such a split groove 192, the female mold 12
It is possible to adjust the radial contraction deformation of the cylindrical wall portion 32.

Further, as shown in FIG. 34, the outer peripheral taper surface 4 of the female die 12 adopted in the above-mentioned embodiment.
It is also possible to form an undercut-shaped retaining protrusion 194, which is located at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of 6 and projects outward in the radial direction, continuously or discontinuously over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. is there. Thereby, the outer peripheral pressing portion 4 of the female die 12
It is possible to prevent slipping out of the pressing portion 70 at No. 4.

Furthermore, the fitting inner peripheral surface 34 and the fitting outer peripheral surface 24 of the male and female molds 12 and 14 may have a cylindrical shape or a tapered cylindrical shape with an appropriate taper angle. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 35, the fitting inner peripheral surface 34 of the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female mold 12 is replaced with the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male mold 14.
A predetermined relative taper angle with respect to the fitting outer peripheral surface 24:
By relatively inclining with α, a gap 52 that gradually expands as it moves axially away from the concave molding surface 30 is formed between the cylindrical wall portions 32, 22 of the male and female molds 12, 14, or FIG. Male type 1 as shown in
The fitting outer peripheral surface 24 of No. 4 and the fitting inner peripheral surface 32 of the female die 12 with respect to the axial line parallel to the central axes of the male and female dies 12, 14: 1 respectively, have a predetermined taper angle: β, By tilting with γ (β <γ), the molding cavity (1
6) A gap 5 that gradually expands as it moves axially away from
2 may be formed between the cylindrical wall portions 32 and 22 of the male and female molds 12 and 14. By adopting such a tapered cylindrical fitting inner peripheral surface 34, when the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12 is contracted, the convex molding surface 20 of the cylindrical wall portion 22 of the male die 14 is reduced. The end edge portion on the connection side with can be more reliably brought into contact with the cylindrical wall portion 32 of the female die 12, and the outer peripheral edge portion of the molding cavity (16) can be more stably defined.

Although not listed one by one, the present invention
Based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, it can be implemented in various modified, modified, and improved modes, and
It goes without saying that all such embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0087]

As is apparent from the above description, in the contact lens mold having the structure according to the present invention, the method of manufacturing a contact lens according to the method of the present invention, and the manufacturing line having the structure of the present invention, the male and female Since the outer peripheral edge of the molding cavity can be closed by deforming the cylindrical fitting parts of both molds in the radial direction, a structure that closes the outer peripheral edge of the molding cavity using the conventional mold matching force. It is possible to manufacture a desired contact lens with high dimensional accuracy, as compared with the case of using the mold.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a mold-matching state of a female mold and a male mold constituting a contact lens molding die as a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which a molding cavity is formed in the contact lens molding die shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of the contact lens mold shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing a contact lens manufacturing line using the contact lens molding die shown in FIG. 1.

5 is a plan view showing a carrier device that constitutes the manufacturing line shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing process of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of the manufacturing process shown in FIG.

9 is a plan view showing one manufacturing process of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.

11 is a plan view showing one manufacturing process of the manufacturing line shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG.

13 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing step of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing step of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

15 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing step of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

16 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of the manufacturing process shown in FIG.

17 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing step of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

18 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing step of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 18;

20 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing step of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 20.

22 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing step of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

23 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing step of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 23.

25 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing step of the manufacturing line shown in FIG.

FIG. 26 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one manufacturing process of a contact lens using the contact lens molding die according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

27 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of the manufacturing process shown in FIG.

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing one manufacturing process on the contact lens manufacturing line, using the contact lens molding die according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

29 is a sectional view taken along line XXIX-XXIX in FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to FIG. 30, showing one manufacturing process on the manufacturing line for the contact lens as another specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a half cross-sectional view showing a female mold forming a contact lens molding die according to another specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a sectional view taken along the line XXXIII-XXXIII in FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing, in an enlarged manner, a main part of a contact lens mold as another specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing, in an enlarged manner, a main part of a contact lens mold as still another specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing, in an enlarged manner, a main part of a contact lens mold as still another specific example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Mold for 10 contact lenses 12 female 14 Male 16 molding cavity 20 Convex molding surface 22 Cylinder wall 30 concave molding surface 32 Cylinder wall 52 Gap

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H006 BC07 DA00                 4F202 AH74 CA01 CB01 CD01 CD02                       CK18 CK25 CK88 CK89

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A mold comprising a female mold having a substantially spherical concave cavity forming surface and a male mold having a substantially spherical convex cavity forming surface, and both cavities are formed by matching the male and female molds. A contact lens molding die for forming a molding cavity for a contact lens between the molding surfaces, wherein the molding die for the contact lens has one axial direction outside the cavity forming surface of the male mold and one outside the cavity forming surface of the female mold. A cylindrical fitting portion extending toward the side is provided, and a gap that spreads over the entire circumference is formed between the radially facing surfaces of the male fitting and the female fitting in a mating state. In addition, the gap is eliminated by deforming at least one of the female cylindrical fitting portion and the male cylindrical fitting portion in the radial direction in a state where the male and female molds are matched. Let them be sex Contact lens mold die of the molding cavity which is sealed between the cavity forming surface is characterized by being so defined. 2. The female mold is formed by deforming at least one of the female cylindrical fitting portion and the male cylindrical fitting portion in a radial direction in a state where the male and female molds are matched. And male-shaped cylindrical fitting portions of the cylindrical fitting portion that are fitted to the inner peripheral side of the female fitting or the male mold and the connection-side edge portion of the male fitting is the female fitting shape. 2. The contact lens molding die according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical fitting portion fitted to the outer peripheral side of both the cylindrical fitting portion of the mold and the male fitting portion is brought into contact with the cylindrical fitting portion. 3. The cavity of the female mold or the male mold is defined by the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion fitted on the outer peripheral side of the female and male cylindrical fitting portions. The contact lens molding die according to claim 2, wherein the molding surface is a tapered cylindrical surface that gradually expands in diameter in the axial direction from the forming surface. 4. The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion fitted to the outer peripheral side of the female and male cylindrical fitting portions has a diameter that increases with distance from the cavity forming surface in the axial direction. The contact lens molding die according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an outer peripheral pressing portion having an outer peripheral tapered surface extending outward in the direction is formed. 5. The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion, which is fitted to the outer peripheral side of the female and male cylindrical fitting portions, on both sides in the axial direction sandwiching the outer peripheral tapered surface. As a stepped cylindrical shape having different radial dimensions, a small-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface is formed on the cavity forming surface side of the outer peripheral tapered surface,
The contact lens molding die according to claim 4, wherein a large-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface is formed on the opposite side of the outer peripheral tapered surface from the cavity forming surface. 6. The molding die for a contact lens according to claim 4, wherein an undercut-shaped retainer protrusion is formed at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the outer peripheral taper surface and protrudes outward in the radial direction. . 7. The cylindrical fitting portion of the female type and the cylindrical fitting portion of the male type are axially brought into contact with each other during the mating of the male and female dies, whereby the two tubular fittings are fitted together. The contact lens molding die according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a positioning mechanism that defines a fitting end position of the portion in the axial direction. 8. The contact lens molding die according to claim 1, wherein a lens molding material is supplied onto the cavity forming surface of the female mold, and then the male mold is fitted to the female mold. Then, in producing a target contact lens by molding the lens molding material in the molding cavity formed between the mating surfaces of the male and female molds, in a state where the male and female molds are matched, Outer peripheral collet chucks, which are externally fitted to the tubular fitting portion fitted to the outer peripheral side of the tubular fitting portions of the male and female models, and the tubular fitting portion fitted to the inner circumferential side. By adopting at least one of the inner circumference collet chuck to be inserted and radially deforming at least one of the female cylindrical fitting portion and the male cylindrical fitting portion, the male and female Mold tubular Method for producing a contact lens, wherein said formed between engagement portion abolished gap allowed to seal the mold cavity. 9. The contact lens molding die according to claim 4, wherein a lens molding material is supplied onto the cavity forming surface of the female mold, and then the male mold is fitted to the female mold. Then, in producing a target contact lens by molding the lens molding material in the molding cavity formed between the mating surfaces of the male and female molds, in a state where the male and female molds are matched, The tubular fitting portion fitted on the outer peripheral side of the tubular fitting portions of the male and female models is inserted into a pressing tool having an annular or tubular pressing inner surface to form the tubular fitting portion. By pressing the outer peripheral tapered surface formed on the cylindrical fitting portion into the pressing inner surface, the cylindrical fitting portion is deformed inward in the radial direction, and between the male and female cylindrical fitting portions. The formed cap is removed by eliminating the formed gap. Method for producing a contact lens characterized by allowed to seal the tee. 10. When manufacturing a target contact lens using the contact lens mold according to claim 5 according to the method for manufacturing a contact lens according to claim 9, an inner diameter of the pressing inner surface of the pressing tool. The dimensions are slightly larger than the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylinder and smaller than the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylinder in the tubular fitting portion fitted on the outer peripheral side of the tubular fitting portions of the male and female models. By setting and inserting the tubular fitting portion into the pressing tool, the axial end portion of the pressing inner surface of the pressing tool is brought into contact with the outer peripheral taper surface of the tubular fitting portion. The cylindrical fitting portion is supported by the pressing tool, and under such a supporting state, the small-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the tubular fitting portion is substantially positioned and held by the pressing inner surface of the pressing tool in the radial direction. On the other hand, the cylinder By press-fitting the fitting portion into the pressing tool in the axial direction, the pressing inner surface of the pressing tool is fitted over and fixed to the large-diameter cylindrical outer peripheral surface over the outer peripheral tapered surface of the tubular fitting portion. And a radial inward external force is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylinder with respect to the tubular fitting portion. 11. The method of manufacturing a contact lens according to claim 9, wherein the contact lens is formed at a plurality of locations where a plurality of steps for manufacturing a contact lens using the contact lens mold are performed. A method of manufacturing a contact lens, wherein the pressing tool is fixedly provided on a carrying tray for carrying the molding die for use. 12. A contact lens molding die is conveyed to a plurality of places where a plurality of processing steps for manufacturing a contact lens are carried out using the contact lens molding die according to any one of claims 1 to 7. In a contact lens manufacturing line, which is connected by a conveying means for sequentially performing the plurality of processing steps, a mold holding hole in which the male and female molds are inserted and supported in a state of being matched with each other. A transfer tray having at least one of the above-mentioned male and female molds is supported by the transfer tray so that the male and female molds can be sequentially transported to a plurality of locations where the plurality of processing steps are performed, and At least one of the female cylindrical fitting portion and the male cylindrical fitting portion is deformed in a radial direction in a state where the two molds are matched with each other. External force acting means for forming the sealed molding cavity by eliminating the gap between the cylindrical fitting parts of the above is provided in the carrying tray, and the male and female molds are matched with each other by the external force acting means. A production line for a contact lens, which is fixedly held by the carrying tray to be carried.