US-12619101-B2 - Method for producing a semi-finished spectacle lens and semi-finished spectacle lens

US12619101B2US 12619101 B2US12619101 B2US 12619101B2US-12619101-B2

Abstract

A method for producing a semi-finished spectacle lens and a semi-finished spectacle lens includes identifying the semi-finished spectacle lens by applying a removable sticker having a unique code to the semi-finished spectacle lens. The semi-finished spectacle lens has an embossed code that is engraved into the semi-finished spectacle lens. The sticker is applied to at least partially cover the embossed code. The sticker can be applied directly onto the semi-finished spectacle lens early in the manufacturing process, for example immediately after molding or injection molding. The sticker can also be applied to the semi-finished spectacle lens before further surface treatment is carried out.

Inventors

Ralf Meschenmoser
Dennis Klora
Marc Ellenrieder

Assignees

CARL ZEISS VISION INTERNATIONAL GMBH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220715
Priority Date: 20180214

Claims (17)

1 . A method for producing a semi-finished spectacle lens, the method comprising: applying a sticker on the semi-finished spectacle lens to identify the semi-finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker has a code for unique identification of the semi-finished spectacle lens during at least one production step of the semi-finished spectacle lens or a finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker is used as a reference for at least one reference region or a coordinate system of the semi-finished spectacle lens; and wherein the sticker is applied to the semi-finished spectacle lens with a positioning accuracy selected from a group of ±1 mm, ±500 μm, ±200 μm, ±100 μm, ±50 μm, and ±20 μm relative to a rotation around a center of the semi-finished spectacle lens, and an angular accuracy selected from a group of ±1° and ±0.5° relative to the center of the semi-finished spectacle lens.
2 . The method for producing a semi-finished spectacle lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished spectacle lens further has a second code embossed into the semi-finished spectacle lens, and wherein the sticker is applied on the semi-finished spectacle lens such that the sticker at least partly covers the second code embossed into the semi-finished spectacle lens.
3 . The method for producing a semi-finished spectacle lens as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished spectacle lens has a second code embossed into the semi-finished spectacle lens, and wherein the method further comprises: reading out the code of the sticker from a first side of the semi-finished spectacle lens; and reading out the embossed second code from a second side of the semi-finished spectacle lens.
4 . The method for producing a semi-finished spectacle lens as claimed in claim 1 , the method comprising: producing the semi-finished spectacle lens by casting or injection molding; applying the sticker after the casting or injection molding on the semi-finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker has the code for unique identification of the semi-finished spectacle lens; surface processing of a front and/or back surface of the semi-finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker is applied on the semi-finished spectacle lens before the surface processing of the front and/or back surface of the semi-finished spectacle lens, and wherein the sticker is applied on the semi-finished spectacle lens such that the sticker at least partly covers the second code embossed into the semi-finished spectacle lens, reading out the code of the sticker from a first side of the semi-finished spectacle lens; and reading out the embossed second code from a second side of the semi-finished spectacle lens.
5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: surface processing of a front and/or back surface of the semi-finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker is applied on the semi-finished spectacle lens before the surface processing of the front and/or back surface of the semi-finished spectacle lens.
6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: providing the semi-finished spectacle lens; reading out a code from at least one tool mold that was used to mold at least one surface of the semi-finished spectacle lens; applying the sticker with the code for unique identification of the semi-finished spectacle lens to the unique identification of the semi-finished spectacle lens; and assigning the code of the at least one tool mold and the code of the sticker.
7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: tracking the individual semi-finished spectacle lens during a multi-stage manufacturing process based on the sticker with the code for unique identification of the semi-finished spectacle lens, the sticker having been applied on the semi-finished spectacle lens for the unique identification of the semi-finished spectacle lens.
8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: reading out the code for unique identification of the semi-finished spectacle lens; interrogating at least one correction parameter for a subsequent processing step based on the code; and applying the at least one correction parameter in a subsequent processing step.
9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished spectacle lens further has a third code embossed into the semi-finished spectacle lens, and wherein the sticker is applied to the semi-finished spectacle lens such that the sticker at least partly leaves free the third code embossed into the semi-finished spectacle lens.
10 . A semi-finished spectacle lens with a detachable sticker for producing a finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker has a code for unique identification of the semi-finished spectacle lens during at least one production step of the semi-finished spectacle lens or the finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker identifies at least one reference region or a coordinate system of the semi-finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker is applied to the semi-finished spectacle lens with a positioning accuracy selected from a group of ±1 mm, ±500 μm, ±200 μm, ±100 μm, ±50 μm, and ±20 Ξm relative to a rotation around a center of the semi-finished spectacle lens, and an angular accuracy selected from a group of ±1° and ±0.5° relative to the center of the semi-finished spectacle lens.
11 . The semi-finished spectacle lens as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising: a second code embossed into the semi-finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker is applied on the semi-finished spectacle lens such that the sticker at least partly covers the second code embossed into the semi-finished spectacle lens.
12 . The semi-finished spectacle lens as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the sticker consists of a material such that surface processing of the semi-finished spectacle lens can be performed without having to first remove the sticker from the lens.
13 . The semi-finished spectacle lens as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the sticker is embodied in semitransparent fashion.
14 . The semi-finished spectacle lens as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the sticker contains information about a potentially usable region for a final spectacle lens.
15 . The semi-finished spectacle lens as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the sticker contains information about a location of a defect.
16 . The semi-finished spectacle lens as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the sticker contains at least one of a feature for checking authenticity and a color coding.
17 . A method of identifying a semi-finished spectacle lens during manufacturing, the method comprising: applying a detachable sticker to a surface of the semi-finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker has a code for unique identification of the semi-finished spectacle lens during at least one production step of the semi-finished spectacle lens or a finished spectacle lens, wherein the sticker identifies at least one control-reference region or a coordinate system of the semi-finished spectacle lens, and wherein the sticker is applied to the semi-finished spectacle lens with a positioning accuracy selected from a group of ±1 mm, ±500 μm, ±200 μm, ±100 μm, ±50 μm, and ±20 μm relative to a rotation around a center of the semi-finished spectacle lens, and an angular accuracy selected from a group of ±1° and ±0.5° relative to the center of the semi-finished spectacle lens.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/993,156, filed Aug. 13, 2020, which is a continuation application of international patent application PCT/EP2019/053692, filed Feb. 14, 2019, designating the United States and claiming priority from European patent application 18 156 641.5, filed Feb. 14, 2018, and the entire content of all applications is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a semi-finished spectacle lens, in particular for identifying and tracking a semi-finished spectacle lens in manufacturing. The disclosure furthermore relates to the use of a sticker for identifying a semi-finished spectacle lens in manufacturing, to a semi-finished spectacle lens and to an apparatus for processing a semi-finished spectacle lens. BACKGROUND WO 2013/092987 A1 discloses a method for storing information on a spectacle lens or semi-finished spectacle lens, wherein a marking is produced permanently on or in the glass or plastic body forming the spectacle lens or semi-finished spectacle lens. The marking is produced by a marking system permanently on or in the glass or plastic body at a definition point of a local body-specific glass or plastic body coordinate system defined by two points on or in the glass or plastic body. In said local glass or plastic body coordinate system, the manufacturer specifies the location of the lens horizontal and/or of the distance and/or near and/or prism reference point. A reference is thus provided after the surface processing. EP 2 541 490 A1 is concerned with the authentication of lenses and further discloses a lens processing management system, in which an authentication section for lenses is provided in order to prevent an unauthorized use of a lens design. US 2013/0075465 A1 discloses a method in which firstly an activation code is detected and subsequent steps are carried out only after a permissible activation code has been detected. Unauthorized production can thus be prevented. The document US 2012/0314186 A1 describes a method for edge processing of a spectacle lens. The manufacturer produces a unedged spectacle lens and provides it with a memory marking. The information stored in the memory marking is read out by the optician and the edge processing of the spectacle lens is performed on the basis of the stored information. Various methods for the mass production of spectacle lenses, semi-finished spectacle lenses or so-called pucks, semi-finished products or blanks are known. Two customary production methods are casting and injection molding. In “casting,” the thermosetting plastic allyl diglycol carbonate (e.g., CR39) is usually used in spectacle optics. The monomer is typically present in the form of a liquid of low viscosity. In order to obtain a spatially crosslinked solid, a peroxide catalyst is supplied. The casting formulation is then introduced into a tool mold or casting mold having e.g., two (glass) mold shells. An elastic spacer ring is situated between said mold shells. The polymerization takes place for example in the refrigerator/heating cabinet or in the water bath at temperatures of between 50 and 100° C. Since the temperature is intended to be increased very slowly and uniformly, the duration of the polymerization process can be as much as several hours to days depending on the thickness and geometry of the casting. The outstanding mechanical loading capacity of this plastic allows the casting not only of finished products but also of semi-finished products, for example with a first surface (e.g., front surface) already shaped, the second surface (prescription surface; e.g., back surface) of which can be manufactured as desired by milling, grinding and polishing. “Injection molding” is an efficient method for producing plastic spectacle lenses or semi-finished spectacle lenses in large numbers. In contrast to casting, the plastic (polymer) is already present in granulated form in the case of injection molding. Exemplary plastic materials are thermoplastics such as PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), PC (polycarbonate), and PS (polystyrene). The granules are melted in the injection cylinder, converted into a homogeneous melt, and injected into the corresponding tool mold at high pressure. After a short cooling phase, the spectacle lenses molded in this way have attained a sufficient dimensional stability and can be removed from the tool mold. In both cases, by means of the tool mold—besides the desired shape—a code or an identification can be embossed into the semi-finished spectacle lens. During casting/molding, therefore, a code embossed in the tool mold is transferred or molded onto each semi-finished spectacle lens produced by said tool mold. A unique identification of an individual semi-finished spectacle lens is not possible, rather only a subsequent assignment of tool and semi-finished spectacle lens. Al