JP6129239B2 - Contact lens container manufacturing method and contact lens container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a novel method for manufacturing a contact lens container in which a contact lens is stored in a state of being immersed in a storage solution and can be distributed and stored.

  Several cases for individual packaging have been proposed in the past for use when distributing contact lenses to the market for distribution or storage. Especially for water-containing soft contact lenses, it is necessary to circulate and store them in a preservative solution, and it is desirable that they can be disposed of easily after being opened and used by users. Is being used.

  Specifically, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-238840 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-322911 (Patent Document 2), a contact lens and a storage are stored in a recess formed in the base. The liquid is accommodated and the opening of the recess is covered with a sheet-like lid cover and sealed.

  By the way, manufacturing of such a contact lens container is generally performed by preparing a base and a lid cover separately in advance, storing the contact lens and a storage solution in the recess of the base, and then sealing the recess with the lid cover. . At that time, the contact lens is accommodated in the dent that is supported horizontally in a flat state and opened upward, and after the storage solution is injected from the nozzle, the lid cover is overlaid on the upper surface of the base. At the same time, it is fixed around the recess by welding or the like.

  However, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in addition to the depression of the base having a shallow bottom shape larger in diameter than the contact lens, a lid cover is fixed around the depression. For this purpose, a flat plate-like portion is provided in a flange-like manner. Therefore, a relatively large plane space is required when the base is horizontally supported in a flat state, particularly when performing a process such as injecting a preservative solution simultaneously or continuously into the recesses of a plurality of bases. Securing space was likely to be a problem.

  In addition, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the recess of the base has a smooth inner surface such as a shallow bowl shape or a dish shape, it is injected from the nozzle installed above into the recess. It was easy for the preserved liquid to jump out of the depression due to flow or scattering along the inner surface of the depression. If the preservative solution jumps out of the depression, the amount of preservative solution injected may vary, which may adversely affect the desired lens storage performance. Furthermore, if the preservation solution that has jumped out of the depression adheres to the surrounding area, when the lid cover is fixed, a “liquid biting” occurs in which the preservation solution enters between the overlapping surfaces of the base and the lid cover. In addition, there is a risk of poor fixing between the base and the lid cover, and thus poor sealing of the recess.

JP 2000-238840 A JP-A-7-322911

  The present invention relating to a method for manufacturing a contact lens container has been made in the background described above, and the solution is to inject a storage solution for manufacturing a contact lens container containing a contact lens and a storage solution. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel manufacturing method of a contact lens container that can save space by suppressing the area occupied by the container body in the process.

  Moreover, this invention regarding a contact lens container makes it a subject to provide the contact lens container of a novel structure in which the preservation | save liquid was able to be inject | poured in the aspect different from the past.

  According to a first aspect of the method invention of the present invention, the contact lens and the preservative liquid are transferred to the lens body by covering the opening of the lens housing portion by overlaying a lid member on the container body in which the concave lens housing portion is formed. When manufacturing the contact lens container housed in the housing portion, at least a part of the opening of the lens housing portion is covered with the lid member, and the container body is tilted so that the opening of the lens housing portion is directed to the side However, an area for storing the storage solution and the contact lens is secured between the lens storage portion and the lid member, and the container body is tilted to a position above the storage area. After forming the communication hole to the outside and injecting the preservative solution through the communication hole into the storage area in which the contact lens is stored in a state where the container body is inclined, the communication hole is closed to close the container. It has been located to the method of manufacturing a contact lens case of forming the lens housing portion.

  According to the method of this aspect, by covering the lens housing portion that opens above the container body with the lid member in advance, it is possible to inject and store the preserving liquid into the lens housing portion even if the container body is tilted. Then, by injecting the preservation solution in a state where the container body is tilted, even if the shape of the container body including the lens housing portion is larger in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, the occupied area can be increased by tilting the container body. It can be reduced and space saving is achieved.

  Moreover, even if the lens housing part is shallow or the inner surface is smooth, for example, the opening of the lens housing part is covered with a lid member and tilted to increase the depth or pouch shape when injecting the preservation solution. It is possible to form a pocket or the like, and it is possible to effectively suppress the injection of the injected storage solution to the outside.

  In the second aspect of the method of the present invention, when the contact lens container is manufactured according to the first aspect, the container body is tilted and hydrated through the communication hole to the storage area in which the contact lens is stored. Injecting the preservation solution into the accommodation region by injecting the preservation solution and subjecting the contact lens to hydration, and then exchanging the hydration solution and the preservation solution through the communication hole It is.

  According to the method of the present aspect, the step of hydrating the contact lens manufactured and supplied separately for the purpose of removing impurities such as unreacted monomers and swelling is also used in the container body. In the lens housing. In addition, by injecting the hydrating liquid while the container body is tilted in the same manner as injecting the preserving liquid, the effects of preventing the hydrating liquid from splashing to the outside and saving space can be exhibited.

  In the third aspect of the method of the present invention, when the contact lens container is manufactured according to the first or second aspect, after the storage solution is injected into the storage area, the communication hole is closed with the lid member. It is.

  According to the method of this aspect, it is possible to realize simplification of the closed structure of the communication hole and reduction of the blocking member by closing the communication hole using the lid member that covers the opening of the lens housing portion of the container body.

  In the fourth aspect of the method of the present invention, when the contact lens container is manufactured according to any one of the first to third aspects, the outer peripheral wall part of the lens housing part is on the upper side with the container body tilted. The container body in which the communication hole is formed at a position is adopted.

  According to the method of this aspect, since the communication hole is formed in the outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion, the entire opening portion above the lens housing portion can be covered with the lid member when the preservation solution is injected. . This makes it possible to substantially deepen the lens housing portion when injecting the preserving liquid by tilting the container body, and it is possible to more effectively prevent the injection liquid from jumping out. . In addition, if the entire upper opening of the lens housing portion is fixed so as to be covered with the lid member before the storage solution is injected, the problem of liquid biting on the fixing portion can be avoided.

  According to a fifth aspect of the method of the present invention, when manufacturing a contact lens container according to the fourth aspect, the concave groove-like shape that opens toward the opening direction of the lens housing portion in the outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion. The said container main body formed with a communicating hole is employ | adopted.

  According to the method of the present aspect, when forming the communication hole in the outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion, the shape and structure of the mold are simplified as compared with, for example, a hole structure penetrating the outer peripheral wall portion in a tunnel shape. Manufacturing is also easy. The concave groove-shaped communication hole covers the portion that opens toward the opening direction of the lens housing portion together with the opening of the lens housing portion with a lid member, leaving an opening to the outer peripheral surface of the lens housing portion. Then, a preservation solution may be injected.

  A sixth aspect of the method of the present invention employs a lid sheet that can be bent and deformed as the lid member when the contact lens container is manufactured according to the fourth or fifth aspect, and the lens housing portion of the container body is provided. The lid sheet is overlapped and fixed to a flange-like portion spreading around the opening, and the lid sheet is rotated to the opening surface of the communication hole provided in the outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion in the container body. Is fixed around the communication hole to close the communication hole.

  According to the method of this aspect, the opening to the outer peripheral side of the lens housing portion in the communication hole is closed using a lid member that covers the opening of the lens housing portion of the container body, thereby simplifying the structure for closing the communication hole. Further, the number of blocking members can be reduced.

A first aspect of the invention according to the present invention is a contact in which a lid member is superimposed on a container body in which a concave lens housing portion is formed, and a contact lens and a preservative liquid are housed in a sealed state in the lens housing portion. In the lens container, the container main body is tilted in a state where at least a part of the opening of the lens housing portion is covered with the lid member, so that the portion on the upper side of the lens housing portion is communicated with the outside, and the storage solution And a sealing member for sealing the lens housing portion containing the contact lens and the preservative liquid by sealing the communication hole. The communication hole is formed in the outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion in the container body .

In the contact lens container having the structure according to the present invention, it is possible to inject the storage solution in a state where the lens storage portion is inclined at a predetermined angle from the flat state in which the opening of the lens housing portion is directed substantially upward. After the injection, the communication hole is sealed with a sealing member, so that the sealing property of the lens housing portion is maintained. Such a contact lens container according to the present invention can be suitably used, for example, when the above-described method of the present invention is performed.
Furthermore, in the contact lens container of this aspect, for example, the communication hole formed in the outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion is directed upward in a state where substantially the entire upper opening portion of the lens housing portion is covered with the lid member. Thus, it is possible to inject the preservation solution with the container body standing at a substantially right angle.

A second aspect of the contact lens container according to the present invention is a contact lens container having a structure according to the first aspect of the object invention, wherein the communication hole is formed on the outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion. It is made into the concave groove shape opened toward the opening direction of a accommodating part.

  In the contact lens container of this aspect, it is easy to form a container body having a communication hole that opens toward the outer periphery of the lens housing portion by molding or the like, and the practicality is improved.

A third aspect of the contact lens container according to the present invention is a contact lens container having a structure according to the first or second aspect of the invention, wherein the container main body has an opening around the opening of the lens housing portion. In the container body, a flange-shaped portion is formed, and the lid member made of a deformable lid sheet is overlapped with the flange-shaped portion and fixed around the opening of the lens housing portion. The sealing member is configured by rotating the lid sheet to the opening surface of the communication hole provided in the outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion and fixing the lid sheet around the opening of the communication hole. The hole is closed.

  In the contact lens container of this aspect, the communication hole is closed after the injection of the preservative liquid by skillfully using the lid sheet that is fixed around the opening of the lens housing and covers the lens housing as a sealing member. Can do.

A fourth aspect of the contact lens container according to the present invention is a contact lens container having a structure according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, wherein the communication is performed with the container body tilted. A positioning mechanism is provided that restricts displacement of the contact lens in the lens housing portion against the fluid pressure injected through the hole.

  In the contact lens container of this aspect, for example, when the storage solution is injected after the contact lens is previously stored in the lens housing portion, the contact lens is stably positioned and held at a predetermined position in the lens housing portion. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the contact lens from moving to an unintended position and hindering subsequent operations such as sealing with the lid sheet, or the contact lens is unintentionally deformed and bent or reversed. This can be prevented, and the accommodation state of the contact lens can be stabilized.

  In addition, the contact lens container according to the present aspect, when the hydration treatment is performed on the contact lens by injecting the hydrating liquid into the containing region in a state where the container body is inclined according to the second aspect of the method of the present invention described above, Preferably employed. As a result, the contact lens is held at a predetermined position in the housing region during the hydration treatment, so that the hydration liquid can be circulated and the hydration treatment can be made more efficient. The efficiency of the conversion process from the working solution to the storage solution can also be improved.

  In addition, as a positioning mechanism of this aspect, for example, a protrusion that projects into the lens housing and enters the spherical crown-shaped recess on the rear surface of the contact lens is provided on the container body or the lid sheet, and a predetermined portion of the lens housing It can be suitably realized by a structure in which the contact lens is narrowed and positioned in a restrained state on the inner surface of the lens housing portion.

According to a fifth aspect of the contact lens container of the present invention, there is provided a contact lens container having a structure according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, wherein the communication is carried out with the container body tilted. A sticking prevention mechanism is provided for preventing the contact lens from sticking to the inner surface of the lens housing portion before liquid injection through the hole.

  In the contact lens container of this aspect, for example, even when the storage solution is injected after the contact lens is previously stored in the lens housing portion, the problem caused by the contact lens sticking to the inner surface of the lens housing portion, specifically, Inhibition of injection and lens deformation can be avoided.

  In addition, the contact lens container according to the present aspect, when the hydration treatment is performed on the contact lens by injecting the hydrating liquid into the containing region in a state where the container body is inclined according to the second aspect of the method of the present invention described above, Preferably employed. In addition, when the contact lens is stuck to the inner surface of the accommodation area during the hydration treatment, problems such as the lens surface being partially exposed to the hydrating liquid and the circulation resistance of the hydrating liquid being increased are prevented. Thus, the circulation of the hydrating liquid, the efficiency of the hydration process, and the like can be achieved, and the efficiency of the conversion process from the hydrating liquid after the hydration process to the storage liquid can be improved.

  As the sticking prevention mechanism of this aspect, for example, a small protrusion, protrusion, groove, or the like is formed on the inner surface of the lens housing portion where the contact lens may stick, or a fine uneven texture is provided. In addition to a mechanism for mechanically preventing sticking, a mechanism for chemically preventing sticking by providing a layer of a material having low adsorptivity to the contact lens material may be employed.

  According to the present invention, it becomes possible to inject the preservation solution in a different manner from the conventional one. For example, while keeping the preservation solution out of the outside and saving the work space, the contact lens accommodation region It is also possible to inject a preservation solution into

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the contact lens container as 1st embodiment of this invention in the state which accommodated the preservation | save liquid and the contact lens. It is a top view of the container main body which comprises the contact lens container shown by FIG. It is a front view of the container main body shown by FIG. FIG. 3 is a right side view of the container body shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the container body shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the container body shown in FIG. 2. It is VII-VII sectional drawing in FIG. It is a perspective view of the container main body shown by FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the unsealed state of the contact lens container shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the use condition of the contact lens container shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the injection | pouring process of the preservation | save liquid which is one manufacturing process of the contact lens container shown by FIG. 1, (a) is a top view, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is a perspective view which shows the container main body of the contact lens container as 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the container main body shown by FIG. It is XIV-XIV sectional drawing of the container main body shown by FIG. It is a right view of the container main body shown by FIG. It is a left view of the container main body shown by FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG.11 (b) which shows the contact lens container as 3rd embodiment of this invention in the injection | pouring process of a preservation | save liquid. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG.11 (b) which shows the contact lens container as 4th embodiment of this invention in the injection | pouring process of a preservation | save liquid.

  Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a contact lens container 10 which is a first embodiment of a contact lens container structured according to the present invention, which can be suitably used for carrying out the method of the present invention. The contact lens container 10 has a housing structure with a sealed structure formed by sealing the lens housing portion 14 of the container body 12 with a lid sheet 16, and the contact lens 20 is placed in the housing area. It is immersed in the storage solution 22 and stored. In the following description, the vertical direction means the vertical vertical direction in principle.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, the container body 12 includes a shallow concave concave lens housing portion 14 that opens upward. The lens accommodating portion 14 is formed with a predetermined volume capable of accommodating the contact lens 20 and the storage liquid 22 by a bottom wall 26 and a peripheral wall 28 as an outer peripheral wall portion rising from the outer periphery thereof.

  Further, the depth of the upper surface of the bottom wall 26 constituting the bottom surface of the lens housing portion 14 changes in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 which is the perspective direction with respect to the user when the contact lens is taken out. In contrast, it has an inclined bottom surface 30 located on the proximal side and a deep bottom surface 32 located on the distal side. The inclined bottom surface 30 is inclined in a direction in which the lens housing portion 14 gradually becomes deeper from the proximal side to the distal side with respect to the user. And the substantially horizontal deep bottom face 32 has spread from the distal end edge which becomes the deepest part of the inclined bottom face 30 to the distal side. The inclined bottom surface 30 is set wider than the deep bottom surface 32 in plan view.

  Further, a projecting portion 34 that protrudes at a height that does not reach the opening in the lens housing portion 14 is formed at a substantially central portion of the inclined bottom surface 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the contact lens 20 housed in the lens housing portion 14 is placed on the projection 34 with the rear surface of the concave spherical crown lens superimposed on the cornea facing downward. By being placed, it is placed on the inclined bottom surface 30 in a positioning state.

  In addition, the inclined bottom surface 30 is formed with a protrusion 35 having a small protruding height extending from the center portion toward the outer periphery. In particular, in the present embodiment, two protrusions 35 are formed extending linearly from the vicinity of both sides in the width direction of the protrusion 34 toward the shallow bottom side in the inclination direction of the inclined bottom surface 30. Then, the contact lens 20 placed on the inclined bottom surface 30 is in close contact with the inclined bottom surface 30 over the entire circumference of the edge portion by the protrusion 35, and the rear surface of the concave lens having a spherical crown is sealed. It is prevented from being adsorbed.

  Further, a leg portion 36 protruding downward is formed on the lower surface of the bottom wall 26. The lower end surface, which is the protruding tip of the leg portion 36, is positioned on substantially the same plane as the lower surface of the bottom wall 26 that forms the deep bottom surface 32. Then, the container body 12 is stabilized in a flat state in which the opening of the lens housing portion 14 is directed upward by superimposing the lower surfaces of the leg portion 36 and the bottom wall 26 on a substantially horizontal placement surface such as a table. It is possible to be mounted.

  On the other hand, a flange-like portion 40 is formed in the opening portion of the lens housing portion 14 in the upward direction in FIG. 1 so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction from the upper end edge of the peripheral wall 28 toward the outer peripheral side. The flange-like portion 40 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape so as to substantially surround the opening of the lens accommodating portion 14 over the entire circumference.

  Further, the flange-like portion 40 is formed with a grip portion 42 that extends in a small width toward the proximal side of the user during use. Note that the grip portion 42 has a tip portion that is curved downward in order to facilitate handling by gripping with the fingertip of one hand.

  Further, among the outer peripheral edges of the flange-shaped portion 40, the end edge portion on the distal side of the user in use extends linearly in the left-right direction of the user, and downward from the end edge portion on the distal side. A rear side vertical wall 44 that protrudes in a drooping wall shape protrudes. In addition, the protrusion height below the back side vertical wall 44 is set to a dimension that does not reach the placement surface when the container body 12 is placed flat on a table or the like.

  Furthermore, a communication hole 46 is formed in the peripheral wall 28 of the lens accommodating portion 14 so as to be located at the distal end portion and extending through the outer peripheral side. In particular, in the present embodiment, the communication hole 46 is formed in a notch shape extending downward from the upper end portion of the peripheral wall 28, and continuously and linearly from the flange-like portion 40 to the back side vertical wall 44. It has a concave groove shape that extends. That is, the communication hole 46 is formed in a concave groove shape that opens in the upper surface of the flange-shaped portion 40 and extends in the perspective direction of the user from the lens housing portion 14 to the back side vertical wall 44. The other end is open on the surface of the rear vertical wall 44. The other end is open on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 28 of the lens housing portion 14.

  The container body 12 having the above-described structure is made of a synthetic resin material including the lens housing portion 14 having the bottom wall 26 and the peripheral wall 28, the flange-like portion 40, the back side wall 44, and the grip portion 42. It is desirable to form it as an integrally molded product. Specifically, for example, fluorine resin, polyamide, polyarylate, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, amorphous polyolefin, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polymethylpentene, etc., or a composite or multilayer structure thereof The synthetic resin material is preferably employed. And the container main body 12 integrally molded by injection molding using such a resin material, vacuum molding, pressure air molding, etc. is used suitably. In the present embodiment, in addition to the bottom wall 26 and the peripheral wall 28, the flange-like portion 40 including the grip portion 42 and the back-side vertical wall 44 are also substantially constant in thickness.

  On the other hand, the lid sheet 16 as a lid member that is superimposed on the upper surface of the container main body 12 and covers the opening of the lens housing portion 14 is a fluid-tight thin sheet that can be bent and deformed, and the flange-like portion 40 of the container main body 12. The planar shape is approximately the same size as the outer peripheral shape. The lid sheet 16 superimposed on the upper surface of the container body 12 is fixed to the flange-shaped portion 40 around the opening of the lens housing portion 14 so as to cover the opening of the lens housing portion 14.

  Further, the lid sheet 16 as a sealing member extends farther in the back direction than the flange-shaped portion, and the extension sheet portion 48 is bent downward and overlapped on the outer surface of the back-side vertical wall 44. Yes. The extension sheet portion 48 is fixed to the surface of the back vertical wall 44 that is the opening surface of the communication hole 46 around the opening of the communication hole 46 that opens to the back vertical wall 44, so that the communication hole 46. It covers the opening.

  In short, the lid sheet 16 is superimposed on the flange-shaped portion 40 of the container body 12 and fixed around the opening of the lens housing portion 14, but the upper opening of the lens housing portion 14 is sealed. The lens housing portion 14 is opened to the outside through the communication hole 46. And the extension sheet | seat part 48 is piled up on the back | inner side vertical wall 44, and is fixed to the surroundings of the communicating hole 46, The lens accommodating part 14 comes to be set as the sealing area interrupted | blocked with respect to external space. Yes.

  Such a lid sheet 16 can be formed of a resin sheet or the like, but is preferably formed of a laminate sheet made of a composite material in which aluminum and a synthetic resin are laminated and integrated in a layered or foiled form. . In particular, in consideration of gas barrier performance, steam barrier performance after high-pressure steam sterilization, strength resistance performance, etc., a cover sheet 16 composed of three or more layers such as nylon, aluminum alloy and polypropylene is suitable. Adopted.

  In order to securely seal the lid sheet 16 with respect to the container body 12 around the lens accommodating portion 14 and the communication hole 46, adhesion or the like is possible, but welding by heat sealing is preferably employed. That is, at least both overlapping surfaces of the container body 12 and the lid sheet 16 are formed of a thermoplastic resin, pressed in a state where they are overlapped, and welded by heat, high frequency, ultrasonic waves, etc. The portion 14 and the communication hole 46 can be sealed with the lid sheet 16.

  Further, the lid sheet 16 is provided with an operation piece 43 that extends onto the grip portion 42 of the container body 12 and covers the grip portion 42 without being bonded. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the contact lens container 10 of the present embodiment stores the contact lens 20 and a predetermined amount of the storage solution 22 in the lens storage portion 14, and the lens storage portion 14 is held by the lid sheet 16. Although it is distributed in the market with a sealed structure and provided to each user, when the user uses it, an operation of peeling the lid sheet 16 from the container body 12 and opening it is necessary. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the operation piece 43 is grasped with a finger of one hand and pulled to pull the lid sheet 16 so that the width dimension of the bonding surface is the smallest. It can be easily opened by peeling off from the front side.

  By the way, as described above, the contact lens container 10 in which the contact lens 20 is immersed in the storage solution 22 and accommodated in a sealed state in the lens accommodating portion 14 can be manufactured as follows, for example.

  First, the container body 12 as described above is manufactured and prepared by injection molding of a resin material, and the lid sheet 16 as described above is formed into a multilayer processing step by a laminating method or a coextrusion method and the shape of the container body 12. Prepare through a cutting process to cut accordingly.

  Thereafter, the lid sheet 16 is superposed on the flange-shaped portion 40 of the container body 12 and the lid sheet 16 is fixed to the flange-shaped portion 40 around the opening of the lens housing portion 14 by a fixing process such as heat sealing. In the present embodiment, the overlapping surface of the lid sheet 16 on the flange-like portion 40 is continuous over the entire circumferential direction so that the entire upper opening of the lens housing portion 14 is covered with the lid sheet 16. And stick.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 11, the container body 12 with the lid sheet 16 fixed to the flange-shaped portion 40 is tilted by a predetermined angle from a flat state in which the opening of the lens housing portion 14 faces upward. The opening of the lens housing portion 14 is supported in an inclined state toward the side. Note that the support of the container body 12 in such a state can be realized by, for example, the holding tools 50 and 52 that are fixedly supported by a base or the like and sandwich and fix the container body 12 in the thickness direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, the lens housing portion 14 is supported by being tilted by approximately 90 degrees from the flat state and opened in a substantially horizontal direction.

  Further, in the support state in which the container body 12 is tilted as described above, the lens housing portion 14 whose opening is covered with the lid sheet 16 is opened to the outside through the communication hole 46 directed upward. In particular, in the present embodiment, the container body 12 is inclined at a substantially right angle, so that the communication hole 46 opened substantially horizontally in a flat state is set to an open state that extends substantially vertically upward.

  As a result, in the vertically placed state, the shallow dish-shaped lens housing portion 14 that opens upward with a large opening is supported in an inclined state, and in the vertically placed state, the communication hole 46 that extends vertically upward is a small opening. The deep-bottom pocket-shaped lens housing portion 14 is formed. In particular, in the present embodiment, the opening area of the communication hole 46 is made smaller than the maximum cross-sectional area of the lens housing portion 14 so that the opening is narrowed. In addition, since the depth dimension and the width dimension of the communication hole 46 are both smaller than the depth dimension and the width dimension of the lens housing portion 14 in the flat state, the communication hole 46 is configured in the vertical state. The opening toward the upper side is narrowed down, the inner peripheral length is greatly expanded downward from the opening, and the depth is larger than the width of the opening. Yes.

  Then, the storage solution 22 is injected and filled into the lens storage portion 14 supported in the vertical state through the communication hole 46, and the contact lens 20 is stored in a state immersed in the storage solution 22.

  Specifically, the contact lens 20 separately formed by, for example, a known race cut method, molding method, spin cast method or the like is accommodated in the lens accommodating portion 14 in advance or after being placed in a vertical state.

  The material and type of the contact lens 20 are not limited. For example, in the case of a hydrous soft contact lens, the lens housing portion 14 is provided after performing necessary treatments such as removal of residual substances and hydration in advance. In addition to being housed in the lens housing 14, these treatments can be performed in the lens housing portion 14. In that case, the container main body 12 in which the contact lens 20 before treatment is accommodated in the lens accommodating portion 14 is supported in a vertical state, and the processing liquid is supplied into the lens accommodating portion 14 through the communication hole 46 opened upward. By doing so, residual substances are removed and hydration is performed. Thereafter, a treatment liquid such as a hydrating liquid is discharged from the lens housing portion 14 and the storage solution 22 is filled in the lens housing portion 14.

  Further, such supply and discharge of the processing liquid and supply of the preserving liquid 22 can be performed in a state where the container body 12 is fixedly supported in a vertical state. For this purpose, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, it is preferable to carry out through a nozzle 54 inserted from above into the communication hole 46 of the container body 12. More preferably, as shown in the figure, a plurality of nozzles 54 are used, and liquid is injected through a specific nozzle 54 and at the same time, liquid is sucked and discharged through another nozzle 54. As a result, a predetermined amount of processing liquid is supplied into the lens housing portion 14 through the nozzle 54 to perform cleaning and hydration treatment of the contact lens 20, and then suction and discharge of the processing liquid and injection of the storage liquid 22 through the nozzle 54. By simultaneously performing the above, the liquid in the lens housing portion 14 can be replaced and the storage liquid 22 can be filled.

  Then, after the storage solution 22 is filled in the lens storage unit 14 and the contact lens 20 is stored in the immersed state, the container body 12 is maintained in the vertical state to prevent the storage solution from flowing out. The extension sheet portion 48 extending upward from the surface of the flange-like portion 40 of the main body 12 is bent and overlapped on the back side vertical wall 44. The extension sheet portion 48 is disposed so as to cover the opening portion of the communication hole 46, and is fixed to the outer surface of the back vertical wall 44 around the communication hole 46 by welding or adhesion, and sealed.

  As a result, the lens housing portion 14 is sealed off from the external space, and the target contact lens container 10 in which the contact lens 20 and the storage liquid 22 are housed can be obtained.

  And a more suitable effect can also be acquired by employ | adopting the adhering aspect to the container main body 12 of the above lid sheets 16. FIG. That is, the lid sheet 16 is overlaid on the flange-like portion 40 and fixed by welding or the like in the dry state of the flange-like portion 40 before the storage liquid 22 is injected into the container main body 12, and then the contact lens in the container main body 12. After performing the swelling treatment 20 and the injection of the preservation solution 22, the lid sheet 16 can be stacked on the back side wall 44 and welded more strongly than the fixing to the flange-shaped portion 40. Thereby, the preservation | save of the preservation | save liquid with respect to the welding part of the cover sheet 16 in the flange-shaped part 40 is prevented easily and reliably, and the cover sheet 16 is stably fixed with the adhesive force of the grade which does not impair opening operation. It becomes possible to adhere to. On the other hand, since the back side wall 44 is a fixing part where the opening of the lid sheet 16 is not planned, the peeling is prevented by firmly and reliably adhering the lid sheet 16 without considering the adverse effect on the opening operation. It is possible to ensure a high level of confidentiality.

  In this way, the container body 12 is supported in a vertically placed state, and the opening of the lens housing portion 14 that opens upward in a flatly placed state extends from at least a lower end portion to a predetermined height upward in a vertically placed state. By covering the whole (up to the upper end of the opening in the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 11) with the lid sheet 16, it is possible to inject and store the storage liquid 22 into the lens housing portion 14 even in the vertical state. The

  By injecting the storage liquid 22 in such a vertically placed state, it is possible to save the space for the storage liquid injection process that requires a large space because flat storage is conventionally required.

  In addition, as described above, it is also possible to perform the pre-sealing treatment such as cleaning and hydration of the contact lens 20 that requires a relatively long processing time before injection of the preservation solution 22 in a state where the container main body 12 is placed vertically. Thus, space saving can be achieved more effectively by performing such a pre-sealing treatment in a vertically placed state.

  Furthermore, in the flat state, the shallow lens housing part 14 can also be formed into a deep pocket or bag shape in the vertical state. As a result, it is possible to prevent the liquid from jumping out to the outside during the injection of the storage liquid, and the amount of the injection liquid can be set with high accuracy. In addition, since it is reduced that the storage liquid jumps out and adheres to the fixing region of the lid sheet, the fixing failure of the lid sheet due to the liquid biting is prevented, and the reliability of the sealing structure of the lens housing portion 14 is improved. Can be illustrated.

  In the embodiment, since the communication hole 46 is formed in the peripheral wall 28 of the lens housing portion 14, the container main body 12 is supported in a substantially vertical state inclined by approximately 90 degrees from the flat state, and the communication hole is provided. 46 can be opened upward, and the space required for the vertically placed state when supplying the preservation solution can be further reduced.

  In addition, since the communication hole 46 is configured by a concave groove that opens to the surface of the flange-shaped portion 40 and extends to the outer surface of the rear vertical wall 44, the communication hole 46 is integrated with the lid sheet 16 and the same. The formed extension sheet portion 48 can be sealed and covered with a small number of parts and a simple structure.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the opening width dimension in the left-right direction in FIG. 11A is gradually narrowed downward in the lower portion of the lens housing portion 14 in the vertically placed state, and FIG. As shown in b), by being narrowed in the depth direction by the inclined bottom surface 30, a positioning action with respect to the contact lens 20 is exhibited by the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion of the lens housing portion 14. It has become. In addition, the protrusion 34 protruding from the inclined bottom surface 30 of the lens housing portion 14 enters from the rear surface side of the concave shape of the spherical shape of the contact lens 20, thereby exhibiting a positioning action that limits the displacement amount of the contact lens 20. It has come to be. That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the inner surface of the peripheral wall narrowed at the lower portion of the lens housing portion 14 and the protrusion 34 respectively cause the contact lens 20 accommodated in advance in the lens housing portion 14. A positioning mechanism for limiting the displacement is configured. These positioning mechanisms prevent the unintentional movement and deformation of the contact lens 20 even when the fluid pressure is applied when injecting a treatment liquid such as a hydrating liquid or a preservation liquid, thereby stabilizing the work. It has become.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sticking prevention mechanism that prevents the contact lens 20 from sticking is formed by forming the protrusion 35 protruding on the inclined bottom surface 30 in the lower portion of the lens housing portion 14 in the vertical state. Has been. This sticking prevention mechanism prevents the contact lens 20 from being partially stuck to the container body 12 or the lid sheet 16 when injecting a treatment liquid such as a hydrating liquid or a preservation liquid. Can do. Therefore, the contact state of the contact lens 20 with the treatment liquid and the storage liquid can be stably expressed, and air unintentionally remains between the contact lens 20 and the container body 12 or the lid sheet 16. It is possible to avoid such problems.

  The specific mode of the sticking prevention mechanism is not limited to the protrusion 35. That is, a sticking prevention mechanism for preventing sticking of the contact lens 20 to at least a part of the surface of the container main body 12 or the lid sheet 16 with which the contact lens 20 housed in the lens housing portion 14 comes into contact. Can be employed. For example, by forming at least the inner surfaces of the container body 12 and the lid sheet 16 with a specific material such as a fluororesin that is difficult to stick to the contact lens 20, a sticking prevention mechanism can be obtained. Further, the mold that forms the inner surface of the container main body 12 or the lid sheet 16 is subjected to a roughening process such as shot blasting, and the inner surface of the container main body 12 or the lid sheet 16 is subjected to a graining process or a pear paste process. It is also possible to use a sticking prevention mechanism.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention has been explained in full detail, this invention is not limitedly interpreted by the specific description in this embodiment.

  For example, the specific shapes of the container body 12 and the lens housing portion 14 employed in the present invention are not limited. In the following, the second to fourth embodiments will be exemplified. In each embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are attached to the members and parts having the same structure as in the first embodiment. Thus, a detailed description is omitted.

  That is, FIGS. 12 to 16 show a container body 60 as a second embodiment that can be employed in place of the container body 12 of the first embodiment. The container body 60 includes a substantially flat plate-shaped bottom wall 62, and a central protrusion 64 as a positioning mechanism that protrudes upward at a central portion of the bottom wall 62 is a lens of a contact lens. It is formed with a convex spherical crown shape corresponding to the rear surface. In addition, the peripheral wall 28 of the lens housing portion 14 has a communication hole 66 having two concave grooves that open to the surface of the flange-like portion 40 and extend linearly to the outer peripheral side, at positions that are upper side in the vertical state. , 66 are formed.

  The container main body 60 having such a structure can also be used in the same manner as the container main body 12 of the first embodiment. The container main body 60 can be used in the vertical state in which the opening of the lens housing portion 14 is covered with a lid sheet. The nozzles can be inserted through the communication holes 66 and 66 that open toward the liquid, and liquid can be injected and discharged. Further, after injecting the preservative solution while the contact lens is accommodated, the openings of the communication holes 66 and 66 are covered with an extension sheet portion integrally formed with the lid sheet as in the above embodiment, or separately prepared. By sealing the sealed lid member by press-fitting or fixing, the lens housing portion 14 can be sealed to obtain a contact lens container.

  Furthermore, FIG. 17 shows a container body 70 as a third embodiment of the present invention in a vertically placed state corresponding to FIG. 11 in the first embodiment.

  In the container main body 70 of the present embodiment, a communication hole 72 is formed through the peripheral wall 28 of the lens housing portion 14 so as to pass through the position that is the upper side in the vertical state. The communication hole 72 is formed with a tunnel structure that does not open to the opening of the lens housing portion 14 or the surface of the flange-like portion 40 and penetrates the peripheral wall 28.

  The container main body 70 having such a structure can also be used in the same manner as the container main body 12 of the first embodiment, and in a vertically placed state in which the entire opening of the lens accommodating portion 14 is covered with a lid sheet, The nozzles 54 can be inserted through the communication holes 72 (a plurality of holes may be formed) that open upward, so that liquid can be injected or discharged. In addition, after injecting the preservative solution while the contact lens 20 is accommodated, the lens accommodating portion 14 is hermetically sealed by sealing the opening of the communication hole 72 with a separately prepared lid seal or plug. To obtain a contact lens container.

  Moreover, FIG. 18 shows a container body 80 as a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a vertically placed state corresponding to FIG. 11 in the first embodiment.

  In the container body 80 of the present embodiment, no groove or hole is formed in the peripheral wall 28 of the lens housing portion 14. Instead, the cover sheet 16 is fixed to the surface of the flange-like portion 40 so as to cover the opening of the lens housing portion 14 from the lower end portion to the middle of the height direction not reaching the upper end in the vertical state. Yes. As a result, the communication hole 82 is configured by a portion located above the opening of the lens housing portion 14 in a state in which the container body 80 is vertically disposed.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, the container body 80 is inclined at an angle (for example, 45 degrees or more, more preferably 60 degrees or more) that does not reach 90 degrees from the flat state. It is desirable to adopt a vertical state. As a result, the communication hole 82 formed by the opening of the lens housing portion 14 can be opened obliquely upward, and the amount of liquid stored in the lens housing portion 14 can be more efficiently ensured in the vertical state. At the same time, the insertion of the nozzle can be made easier.

  The container main body 80 having such a structure can also be used in the same manner as the container main body 12 of the first embodiment, and is configured by using a part of the opening of the lens accommodating portion 14 in the vertical state. By inserting the nozzle 54 through the communication hole 82, it is possible to inject and discharge the liquid. In addition, after injecting the preservative solution while the contact lens 20 is accommodated, a special sealing member or the like is required by fixing the lid sheet 16 to the surface of the flange-shaped portion 40 in the entire periphery of the lens accommodating portion 14. Without this, the contact hole 82 can be obtained by sealing the communication hole 82.

  In the above-described embodiments, the single contact lens container 10 has been described. However, for example, the cover sheet 16 is formed in a continuous sheet shape with the container main bodies 12 of the plurality of contact lens containers 10 connected in the width direction. In this case, the plurality of container main bodies 12 are connected to each other and supported in a vertical state so that the communication holes 66 of the container main bodies 12 open upward. It is also possible to perform processing such as supply of a storage solution.

  Furthermore, as a configuration in which specific example embodiments are disclosed in the above-described embodiment, the following configuration can be understood as another invention based on an independent technical idea different from the present invention, Moreover, those skilled in the art can easily carry out based on the above-described embodiment. In addition, the description regarding the following another invention is not made into the reason which interprets this invention restrictively.

  That is, the first aspect of another invention disclosed in this specification and the drawings is as follows: “A container body in which a concave lens housing portion for housing a contact lens and a storage solution is formed; and an opening of the lens housing portion is covered. A contact lens container having a lid sheet for fluid tight sealing, wherein the lens housing portion is disposed at a distal end opposite to a proximal end serving as an opening operation side of the lid sheet in the container main body. A lid wall that projects and expands downwards opposite to the upper side where the lens opening is opened, and the lid sheet that overlaps the flange-like portion that extends around the lens housing portion in the container body and covers the lens housing portion is provided. A contact that extends from the surface of the flange-like portion to the surface of the drooping wall and is fixed to the surface of the drooping wall in a superposed state. It is a lens container ".

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, "the contact lens container according to the first aspect described above, wherein the hanging wall is formed to protrude substantially vertically downward from the flange-shaped part". It is.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, “in the contact lens container according to the first or second aspect, a contact lens in which the fixing strength of the lid sheet is larger in the drooping wall than in the flange-shaped portion”. A container.

  In the contact lens container according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the “hanging wall” is configured by the “back side wall 44” in the embodiment. In the back side wall 44, it is not necessary to provide the communication hole 46 as described in the above embodiment, and a flange-like portion 40 that covers the entire periphery of the lens housing portion 14 is formed to form the lens housing portion. In the aspect in which the rear side wall 44 is formed in a form that protrudes downward over substantially the entire length of the distal end edge of the flange-like part 40 in the aspect in which the opening 14 is upward only, It can be adopted.

  Further, the rear side wall 44 that constitutes the hanging wall does not need to be formed at a right angle downward from the flange-shaped portion 40, and may be inclined obliquely downward and protrude downward. The inclination angle need not be constant, and the surface of the hanging wall (back side wall 44) may be bent or curved so as to protrude downward.

  In such a contact lens container according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 in the embodiment, the lid sheet extends to the rear side wall 44 (hanging wall). In the state where 16 is lifted up, the base end portion of the cover sheet 16 (the lifted cover sheet 16 of the lifted cover sheet 16 is turned upward) from the corner portion which is the boundary portion between the surface of the back side wall 44 and the surface of the flange-shaped portion 40. The rising edge) will stand up. On the other hand, for example, the lid sheet 16 fixed only to the surface of the flange-shaped portion 40 without being fixed to the back-side flange wall 44 is raised to the middle of the flange-shaped portion 40 at the time of opening (having the rear-side flange wall 44. In a conventional blister pack having no conventional structure, if the lid sheet 16 is lifted up to the end of the flange-shaped portion 40, the lid sheet 16 is separated from the flange-shaped portion 40). The raised end is inclined from the surface of the flange-shaped portion 40 to fall to the near side and rises. The lid sheet 16 opened in such a state that it falls down to the near side is likely to partially cover the lens housing portion 14 upward, and the finger can access the contact lens housed in the lens housing portion 14. However, in the contact lens container according to the present invention, the raised end of the lid sheet 16 rises upward, and the tilting toward the front side is effectively suppressed, and the lid is further covered. Since the raised end of the sheet 16 is large and easily tilted to the opposite side, it is possible to avoid the problem that the opening of the lens housing portion 14 is covered with the lid sheet 16. become.

  In addition, in the contact lens container according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 in the above embodiment, the lid sheet 16 is lifted and opened during the operation. Even if the opening force exerted in the direction of pulling the end portion of the lid sheet 16 with a finger and pulling the flange-shaped portion 40 substantially vertically upwards is exerted strongly, the opening end of the lid sheet 16 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, it can be stably defined at a position where the base end of the lid sheet 16 rises upward from a corner portion which is a boundary portion between the surface of the back side wall 44 and the surface of the flange-shaped portion 40. It will be. On the other hand, for example, in the conventional general blister pack provided with the lid sheet 16 which is not fixed to the back side wall 44 and is fixed only to the surface of the flange-shaped portion 40, the lid sheet 16 is pulled upward vigorously at the time of opening. When peeled off, the entire lid sheet 16 is peeled off from the surface of the flange-like portion 40 and separated, and there is a possibility that the liquid or the lens may jump out due to the impact (elastic force) at the time of the separation. . That is, in the contact lens container according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the operating force that pulls the lid sheet 16 upward when opened is “pulling force” in the region where the flange sheet 40 is fixed. , And effectively acts as a peeling force for the fixing surface, while acting as a “shearing force” in the fixing region to the rear side wall 44, it acts on the peeling of the fixing surface. As a result, even if the lid sheet 16 is opened with a strong force, it is effectively suppressed to the specified opening position (near the distal end of the flange-like portion 40 of the container body 12). As a result, a stable opened state can be expressed, and convenience for use by the user can be improved.

  In addition, although not enumerated one by one, the present invention can be carried out in a mode to which various changes, modifications, improvements and the like are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. It goes without saying that all are included in the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

10: Contact lens container, 12, 60, 70, 80: Container body, 14: Lens housing part, 16: Lid sheet (lid member, sealing member), 20: Contact lens, 22: Preservative solution, 28: Perimeter wall ( (Outer peripheral wall part), 34: protrusion (positioning mechanism), 35: protrusion (sticking prevention mechanism), 40: flange-like part, 46, 66, 72, 82: communication hole, 64: central protrusion (protrusion) Positioning mechanism)

Claims (11)

When manufacturing a contact lens container in which a contact lens and a preservative solution are accommodated in the lens accommodating part by covering the opening of the lens accommodating part by overlapping a lid member on the container main body in which the concave lens accommodating part is formed. ,
Covering at least a part of the opening of the lens housing portion with the lid member, and tilting the container main body so that the opening of the lens housing portion is directed to the side, the gap is between the lens housing portion and the lid member. An area for storing the storage liquid and the contact lens is secured, and a communication hole to the outside is formed at a position on the upper side of the storage area with the container body tilted. The contact is formed by injecting the preservative solution through the communication hole into the storage area in which the contact lens is stored in an inclined state, and then closing the communication hole to form a sealed lens storage portion. A manufacturing method of a lens container.   In a state where the container body is tilted, a hydrating liquid is injected through the communication hole into the storage area in which the contact lens is stored to hydrate the contact lens, and then the water is supplied through the communication hole. The method for producing a contact lens container according to claim 1, wherein the preservation solution is injected into the storage region by exchanging the summation solution and the preservation solution.   The method for manufacturing a contact lens container according to claim 1, wherein the communication hole is closed with the lid member after the preservation solution is injected into the storage area.   4. The container body according to claim 1, wherein the communication hole is formed at a position on an upper side in a state where the container body is tilted in an outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion. A method of manufacturing a contact lens container.   5. The contact lens container according to claim 4, wherein the container body is formed by forming the groove-shaped communication hole that opens toward an opening direction of the lens housing portion in an outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion. Method.   A lid sheet that can be bent and deformed is used as the lid member, and the lid sheet is stacked and fixed to a flange-shaped portion that extends around the opening of the lens housing portion in the container body, and the lens is disposed on the container body. The contact lens container according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the cover sheet is closed by fixing the lid sheet rotated to the opening surface of the communication hole provided in the outer peripheral wall portion of the housing portion around the communication hole. Manufacturing method. In the contact lens container in which the lid member is overlaid on the container body in which the concave lens housing portion is formed, and the contact lens and the preservative liquid are sealed in the lens housing portion,
When the container body is tilted in a state where at least a part of the opening of the lens housing portion is covered with the lid member, the lens housing portion is made to communicate with the lens storage portion by allowing the portion on the upper side of the lens housing portion to communicate with the outside. A communication hole that allows injection into the portion is formed, and a sealing member that seals the contact lens and the lens storage portion storing the storage solution by sealing the communication hole is provided. And
A contact lens container, wherein the communication hole is formed in an outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion in the container body . The contact lens container according to claim 7 , wherein the communication hole has a concave groove shape that opens toward an opening direction of the lens housing portion in an outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion. A flange-like portion is formed in the container body so as to spread around the opening of the lens housing portion, and the lid member made of a lid sheet that can be bent and deformed is overlapped with the flange-like portion to open the opening of the lens housing portion. On the other hand, the lid sheet is rotated to the opening surface of the communication hole provided in the outer peripheral wall portion of the lens housing portion in the container body, and is fixed around the opening of the communication hole. The contact lens container according to claim 7 or 8 , wherein the sealing member is configured, and the communication hole is closed. One of the communicating said against the fluid pressure to be injected through hole contact lens of the lens housing Claim positioning mechanism is provided to limit the displacement at 7 to 9 in a state where the container body is tilted The contact lens container according to one item. Of claim 7-10 for sticking prevention mechanism for preventing the contact lenses before the liquid injection through the communication hole in a state where the container body is tilted from sticking to the inner surface of the lens housing portion is provided The contact lens container according to any one of the above.