Method for rapid robotic handling of small mold parts

摘要

A method for removing and transporting ophthalmic lens fabricating mold sections from a molding device to an inert chamber (58) in a predetermined time, controlled by a central processor, is disclosed. The method includes starting a timer upon opening the molding device and exposing the mold sections; actuating a robotic arm (60) to transport the mold sections from the molding device to an intermediate position using a compound movement; actuating a cam-controlled arm (112) to transport the mold sections from the intermediate position to a pallet (54) held on a conveyor belt (160) at a cam-arm pre-part release location; and releasing the pallet (54) to move on the conveyor belt (160) to the inert chamber (58) for continued transport of mold containing pallets (54') to a treatment or processing facility for producing and/or packaging of the contact lenses. The method also includes raising a nest (90) to receive the mold sections at the intermediate position; and lowering the nest (90), after transfer thereon of the molded sections from the robotic arm (60), for transferring the molded sections to the cam-controlled arm (112). In a racetrack mode, the pallets continue moving into the inert chamber (58), while the molded sections are discarded. In a sample mode, a sample bin is moved to the discard location to collect a sample of the molded sections.