Method for demolding a mold assembly

• Main Authors: ROSS, DENWOOD F., BEATON, STEPHEN ROBERT, PEGRAM, STEPHEN CRAIG, WALKER, CRAIG WILLIAM, MARTIN, WALLACE ANTHONY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.05.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCESIN A PLASTIC STATE; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A method for demolding a mold assembly, comprising a first front mold portion which has a central mold section with a surrounding flange, and a corresponding second back mold portion which has a central mold section with a surrounding flange, and having a molded ophthalmic lens formed between the front and back mold portions, and wherein the flanges of the front and back mold portions are spaced apart relative to each other, comprising: (a) restraining the first mold portion of the mold assembly by restraining fingers which are positioned between and on opposite sides of the spaced flanges of the first and second mold portions and against the flange of the first mold portion; (b) positioning separating fingers between and on opposite sides of the spaced flanges of the first and second mold portions and against the flange of the second mold portion; and (c) subjecting the separating fingers to a substantially vertical prying motion relative to the restrained first mold portion to separate the second mold portion from the first mold portion.