US20190051092A1

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Publication number: US20190051092A1
Application number: US16/164,489
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward R Kernick; Hamid A Darabi; Daniel T Wang
Original assignee: Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc
Priority date: 2008-12-31
Filing date: 2018-10-18
Publication date: 2019-02-14
Also published as: TWI498696B; JP5559813B2; CN105427463A; JP5373115B2; KR20110106421A; SG172797A1; TWI575346B; TW201543190A; TWI516416B; EP2377105A1; EP2377105B1; CN102272804A; SG172413A1; BRPI0923901B1; EP2377106B1; TW201029887A; WO2010077919A1; HK1162732A1; AU2009333311B2; US20100187249A1

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing ophthalmic lens packages comprises a first spool and a second spool rotatably mounted to a least one support. Each of a plurality of cartridges has a back wall, two side walls, and an attachment means to couple each cartridge to another cartridge. The back wall comprises at least two holes, and each side wall comprises a means for releasably holding a package. A plurality of cartridges attached to each other comprises a first end and a second end, with the first end attached to the first spool, and the second end attached to the second spool. When the first or second spool rotates, the plurality of cartridges coils around the first or second spool. A pushing means extends a pushing member through a hole, and a scanning means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal between said first spool and said second spool.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/639,291 filed on Dec. 16, 2009, which claims the benefit of provisional applications, U.S. Ser. No. 61/171,593 filed on Apr. 22, 2009 and U.S. Ser. No. 61/141,714, filed on Dec. 31, 2008, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to an apparatus for automatically loading, dispensing, and taking inventory of ophthalmic lenses. Due to advances in the design and cosmetic appearance of ophthalmic lenses, the dispensers of such lenses need to maintain a large stock of such lenses to fit patients. In the trade, these lenses are commonly known as diagnostic lenses. For example when a patient suffers from astigmatism, an individual ophthalmologist may need to try several different prescriptions on a patient before the appropriate degree of vision correction is found. Given that space is limited in most dispensers' offices, maintaining sufficient quantities of different prescriptions is an administrative and logistical problem. Therefore it would be beneficial to have an apparatus that loads, stores, dispenses, and keeps an inventory of a variety of different diagnostic lenses. This need is met by the following invention.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus for storing, and dispensing packages comprising a cartridge comprising a back wall and two side walls, wherein said cartridge is sized to hold a package, wherein said back wall comprises a hole, wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other and are attached substantially perpendicular to said back wall, and wherein each of said side walls comprises a means for releasably holding the package in said cartridge; a first spool and a second spool, wherein said first spool and said second spool are rotatably mounted to a least one support, wherein said first spool rotates about a first axis with one degree of freedom and said second spool rotates about a second axis with one degree of freedom, wherein said first axis and second axis are spaced a distance apart and are substantially co-planar, wherein the rotation of each of said spools can be independently or dependently controlled by one or more rotator means, a flexible sheet having a width, a height, a first end, a second end, and a hole, wherein the first end is attached along its height to the first spool and the second end is attached along its height to the second spool, wherein when said second spool or said first spool rotate, said flexible sheet coils or uncoils around said spools in response to their rotation, and wherein the back wall of said cartridge is attached to said flexible sheet, and the hole of the flexible sheet and the hole of the cartridge are aligned to permit an object to pass therethrough; a pushing means, wherein said pushing means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal, between said first spool and said second spool, wherein said pushing means extends a pushing member through the hole of the flexible sheet and the hole in the back wall of the cartridge in response to an electrical or mechanical signal; and a scanning means, wherein said scanning means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal between said first spool and said second spool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a Perspective view of an apparatus according to a disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a Perspective view of a cartridge according to a disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a Front plan view of a plurality of attached cartridges according to a disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a Perspective view of the pusher and the flexible sheet according to a disclosed embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a Perspective view of a plurality of attached cartridges according to a disclosed embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus for storing, and dispensing packages comprising

- a cartridge comprising a back wall and two side walls
  - wherein said cartridge is sized to hold a package
  - wherein said back wall comprises a hole
  - wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other and are attached substantially perpendicular to said back wall
  - wherein each of said side walls comprises a means for releasably holding the package in said cartridge
- a first spool and a second spool
  - wherein said first spool and said second spool are rotatably mounted to a least one support
  - wherein said first spool rotates about a first axis with one degree of freedom and said second spool rotates about a second axis with one degree of freedom
  - wherein said first axis and second axis are spaced a distance apart and are substantially co-planar
  - wherein the rotation of each of said spools can be independently or dependently controlled by one or more rotator means
- a flexible sheet having a width, a height, a first end, a second end, and a hole
  - wherein the first end is attached along its height to the first spool and the second end is attached along its height to the second spool
  - wherein when said second spool or said first spool rotate, said flexible sheet coils or uncoils around said spools in response to their rotation
  - wherein the back wall of said cartridge is attached to said flexible sheet, and the hole of the flexible sheet and the hole of the cartridge are aligned to permit an object to pass therethrough
- a pushing means, wherein said pushing means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal, between said first spool and said second spool
  - wherein said pushing means extends a pushing member through the hole of the flexible sheet and the hole in the back wall of the cartridge in response to an electrical or mechanical signal
- a scanning means, wherein said scanning means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal between said first spool and said second spool.

FIG. 1 illustratesloader31,base30,first spool32 andsecond spool34, attached substantially perpendicular tobase30. One end offlexible sheet36 is attached to afirst spool32 and the other end is attached tosecond spool34. The height offlexible sheet36 runs betweenbase30 and the top a spool and parallel to said spool. The width offlexible sheet36 is substantially perpendicular to its height. A number of cartridges (obscured) are loaded withophthalmic lens packages38 and are attached to theflexible sheet36. Thefirst spool32 andsecond spool34 ofFIG. 1 are connected to a bi-directional motor (not shown). This motor rotatesspool32 about a first axis and spool34 about a second co-planar axis, in both instances with one degree of freedom. When the motor turns,flexible sheet36 and its attached cartridges moves horizontally in either direction and, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the bulk offlexible sheet36 and its attached cartridges coils aroundfirst spool32. It is preferred that the width of the flexible sheet is greater than its height, particularly, it is preferred that the width of the flexible sheet from the first end to the second end is greater than the co-planar distance between the spools. However, the width of the flexible sheet may be equal to its height or greater than its height.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the one side of the apparatus.Flexible sheet36 has a plurality of holes and plurality ofcartridges10a-eattached to it. The

holes

44 and46 of the flexible sheet are aligned with the holes of the cartridges. It is preferred that there are as many holes in the flexible sheet as there are spaces in the cartridges for packages, however this is not required. For example, asingle cartridge10cofFIG. 4 holds a plurality of ophthalmic lens packages38, aligned end to end in each cartridge. In this drawing the cartridges are substantially vertical and substantially parallel to Y axis offirst spool32 andsecond spool34 and the open end of each cartridge illustrated, but not numbered, and the closed end which is substantially parallel to the base30 (neither shown).

A pushingmeans48 is a solenoid pusher which is mounted onposts56aand56b. Solenoid pusher is moved vertically along the Y axis and a plunger extends and retracts along the Z axis throughhole44 offlexible sheet36 through the corresponding hole of the cartridge (not shown) to meetophthalmic lens package38. Aside fromsolenoid pusher48, other pushing means include devices having a protrusion which responds to an electrical or mechanical signal to insert the protrusion throughhole44 offlexible sheet36 through the cartridge to reach an ophthalmic lens contained in the cartridge. Alternatively such pushing means may be forced air (or other gas) which is aimed athole44 in response to an electrical or mechanical signal.

Scanning means50 is a bar code reader is mounted onposts56aand56b. Bar code reader moves vertically along the Y axis and aligns withholes46 offlexible sheet36 through the corresponding hole of the cartridge (not shown) to read the coding on the back on the ophthalmic lens package.

In one method of using this device, ophthalmic lens packages having different prescriptions are randomly placed inloader31. Each package contains a bar code whose location corresponds to hole46 of the flexible sheet and the corresponding whole of the cartridge. Each package drops into a cartridge until said cartridges filled. Once a cartridge is filled, the flexible sheet moves to align another cartridge withloader31. When the apparatus is loaded, inventory is taken by moving the flexible sheet along its width and movingscanner50 to record the location of each ophthalmic lens. This information is sent to a computer (not shown) which stores the information locally, exports it to the manufacturer or the distributor for purposes of manufacturing product and monitoring consumption.

To retrieve a particular ophthalmic lens, the computer sends a signal to the pusher and the drive mechanism, instructing the flexible sheet to roll to the appropriate location. Once the correct ophthalmic lens is located, the pusher mechanically releases the ophthalmic lens and it drops towards the base for retrieval. The space created by delivery of the ophthalmic lens will be occupied by another ophthalmic lens that is loaded to the cartridge by the loader. Even though this embodiment illustrates the scanner and the pusher on the one side of the device, they may be on the other side of the device or on different sides of the device.

As used herein, “packages” refers to enclosures for articles. The preferred packages are packages for ophthalmic lenses. Ophthalmic lens packages include but are not limited to receptacle portion (commonly known as a blister bowl) and a cover which is sealed to the blister bowl that are used to house an individual ophthalmic lens. Examples of suitably shaped blister bowls are disclosed in the following documents which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 458,023; 4,691,820; 5,054,610; 5,337,888; 5,375,698; 5,409,104; 5,467,868; 5,515,964; 5,609,246; 5,695,049; 5,697,495; 5,704,468; 5,711,416; 5,722,536; 5,573,108; 5,823,327; 5,704,468; 5,983,608; 6,029,808; 6,044,966; and 6,401,915. The receptacle portion of some ophthalmic lens packages is not bowl shaped. For purposes of this invention, the receptacles of those packages are included in the term blister bowl. Examples of such packages include but are not limited to ophthalmic lens packages disclosed in WO 2005/082721, U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,526, WO 03/016175, US 2004/0238380, and US 2008/0023345 which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Preferably, the cover is a flexible sheet made from adhesive laminates of an aluminum foil and extruded or co-extruded polymer film that can be sealed to the top surface of the blister bowl in order to form a hermetic seal for the ophthalmic lens. Examples of such materials are disclosed in the following publications, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0197478; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,090,471; 5,908,527; 5,656,362; 5,653,844; and 5,620,087, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

As used herein “ophthalmic lens” refers to a device that resides in or on the eye. These devices can provide optical correction or may be cosmetic. Ophthalmic lenses include but are not limited to soft contact lenses and hard contact lenses. The preferred lenses of the invention are soft contact lenses are made from hydrogels and silicone elastomers, which include but are not limited to silicone hydrogels, and fluorohydrogels, particularly when such lenses are used are bifocal lenses, toric lenses, or other forms of custom lenses. Soft contact lens formulations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,302, WO 9421698, EP 406161, JP 2000016905, U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,498, U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,415, U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,100, U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,461, U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,811, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,631. The foregoing references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The particularly preferred ophthalmic lenses of the invention are known by the United States Approved Names of etafilcon A, genfilcon A, lenefilcon A, lotrafilcon A, lotrafilcon B, balafilcon A, polymacon, bafilcon, acofilcon A acquafilcon A, alofilcon A alphafilcon A, amifilcon A, astifilcon A, atalafilcon A, bisfilcon A bufilcon A, crofilcon A, cyclofilcon A, darfilcon A deltafilcon A, deltafilcon B, dimefilcon A, drooxifilcon A, epsifilcon A, esterifilcon A, focofilcon A, galyfilcon A, govafilcon A, hefilcon A hefilcon B, hefilcon D, hilafilcon A, hilafilcon B, hixoifilcon A, hioxifilcon B, hioxifilcon C, hydrofilcon A, lenefilcon A, licryfilcon A, licryfilcon B, lidofilcon B, lidofilcon A, mafilcon A, mesifilcon A, methafilcon B, mipafilcon A, narafilcon A, nelfilcon A, netrafilcon A, ocufilcon A, ocufilcon B, ocufilcon C, ocufilcon D, ocufilcon E, ofilcon A, omafilcon A, oxyfilcon A, pentafilcon A, perfilcon A, pevafilcon A, phemfilcon A, senofilcon A, silafilcon A, siloxyfilcon A, tefilcon A, tetrafilcon A, trifilcon A, vifilcon A, or xylofilcon A. More particularly preferred ophthalmic lenses of the invention are genfilcon A, lenefilcon A, lotrafilcon A, lotrafilcon B, or balafilcon A. The most preferred lenses include but are not limited to galyfilcon, senofilcon A, etafilcon A, nelfilcon A, hilafilcon, and polymacon.

The flexible sheet may be any material, including but not limited to mylar, plastic, nylon to which said cartridges may be attached. Even though the flexible sheet is illustrated as a contiguous sheet with holes, it can be non-contiguous belts, chains and the like.

The spools may be made of any material, including but not limited to wood, metal, wire, plastic, nylons so long as the material may be rotatably mounted to the rotator means and connected to the support. It is preferred that the spools are made of rigid plastic. The cartridge may be made of polymers, nylon, or rubber. The preferred materials for the cartridges are polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, (“ABS”) acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene, high molecular weight polypropylene, and high molecular weight polyethylene.

Further, an embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus for storing, and dispensing packages comprising

- a cartridge comprising a back wall, two side walls
  - wherein said cartridge is sized to hold a package
  - wherein said back wall comprises a hole
  - wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other and are attached substantially perpendicular to said back wall
  - wherein each of said side walls comprises a means for releasably holding the package in said cartridge
- a first spool and a second spool
  - wherein said first spool and said second spool are rotatably mounted to a least one support
  - wherein said first spool rotates about a first axis with one degree of freedom and said second spool rotates about a second axis with one degree of freedom
  - wherein said first axis and second axis are spaced a distance apart and are substantially co-planar
  - wherein the rotation of each of said spools can be independently or dependently controlled by one or more rotator means
- a continuous flexible sheet having a width, a height, and a hole
  - wherein said width encircles said first and said second spool, and the space therebetween,
  - wherein the back wall of said cartridge is attached to said flexible sheet,
  - wherein the hole of the continuous flexible sheet and said one hole of the cartridge are aligned to permit an object to pass therethrough
- a pushing means, wherein said pushing means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal, between said first spool and said second spool
  - wherein said pushing means extends a pushing member through the hole of the flexible sheet and the hole in the back wall of the cartridge in response to an electrical or mechanical signal
- a scanning means, wherein said scanning means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal between said first spool and said second spool.

An alternative to the flexible sheet is illustrated byFIG. 5.Cartridges60 are attached to each other byhinges61 to form a plurality of cartridges. Alternative to the illustrated hinges include but are not limited to tape, mylar tabs, pressure fit connectors, living hinges and the like.First end64 andsecond end66 of this plurality may be attached to first spool and second spool respectively, or they may be attached to one another to form a continuous belt of cartridges which surround said spools.

Still further, another embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus for storing, and dispensing packages comprising

- a plurality of cartridges each of said cartridges comprising a back wall, two side walls,
  - wherein each of said cartridges is sized to hold at least two packages laid end to end along its back wall
  - wherein each of said cartridges comprises a back wall, two side walls, and attachment means to couple each of said cartridges to another cartridge at the intersection of one side wall and the back wall of one cartridge to one side wall and the back wall of another cartridge
  - wherein said back wall comprises at least two holes
  - wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other and are attached substantially perpendicular to said back wall
  - wherein each of said side walls comprises a means for releasably holding the package in said cartridge
  - wherein said plurality of cartridges encircles said first and second spools, and the space therebetween
- a first spool and a second spool
  - wherein said first spool and said second spool are rotatably mounted to a least one support
  - wherein said first spool rotates about a first axis with one degree of freedom and said second spool rotates about a second axis with one degree of freedom
  - wherein said first axis and second axis are spaced a distance apart and are substantially co-planar
  - wherein the rotation of each of said spools can be independently or dependently controlled by one or more rotator means
- a pushing means, wherein said pushing means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal, between said first spool and said second spool
  - wherein said pushing means extends a pushing member through a hole of the flexible sheet and a hole in the back wall of the cartridge in response to an electrical or mechanical signal
- a scanning means, wherein said scanning means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal between said first spool and said second spool.

Yet further still, another embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus for storing, and dispensing packages comprising

- a plurality of cartridges each of said cartridges comprising a back wall, two side walls,
  - wherein each of said cartridges is sized to hold at least two packages laid end to end along its back wall
  - wherein each of said cartridges comprises a back wall, two side walls, and attachment means to couple each of said cartridges to another cartridge at the intersection of one side wall and the back wall of one cartridge to one side wall and the back wall of another cartridge
  - wherein said back wall comprises at least two holes
  - wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other and are attached substantially perpendicular to said back wall
  - wherein each of said side walls comprises a means for releasably holding the package in said cartridge
  - wherein said plurality of cartridges attached to each other by said attachment means comprises a first end, a second end, a width, and a height
  - wherein the first end is attached along its height to the first spool via an attachment means and the second end is attached along its height to the second spool via an attachment means
  - wherein said width is greater than the distance between said first and said second spool, along the base,
  - wherein when said second spool rotates, said plurality of cartridges coils around said second spool and when said first spool rotates, said plurality of cartridges coils around said first spool
- a first spool and a second spool
  - wherein said first spool and said second spool are rotatably mounted to a least one support
  - wherein said first spool rotates about a first axis with one degree of freedom and said second spool rotates about a second axis with one degree of freedom
  - wherein said first axis and second axis are spaced a distance apart and are substantially co-planar
  - wherein the rotation of each of said spools can be independently or dependently controlled by one or more rotator means
- a pushing means, wherein said pushing means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal, between said first spool and said second spool
  - wherein said pushing means extends a pushing member through a hole of the flexible sheet and a hole in the back wall of the cartridge in response to an electrical or mechanical signal
- a scanning means, wherein said scanning means moves in response to an electrical or mechanical signal between said first spool and said second spool.

Even further still, another embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus for storing, and dispensing packages comprising

- a plurality of cartridges
  - wherein said each of said cartridges comprises a back wall, two side walls
  - wherein said each of said cartridges is sized to hold at least two packages laid end to end along its back wall
  - wherein said back wall comprises a hole
  - wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other and are attached substantially perpendicular to said back wall
  - wherein each of said side walls comprises a means for releasably holding the package in said cartridge
- a base comprising a first spool and a second spool spaced apart from one another on one surface of said base and rotatably mounted thereto
  - wherein said first spool and said second spool are connected to one or more rotator means wherein the rotation of each of said spools can be independently controlled by said one or more rotator means
- a flexible sheet having a width, a height, a first end, a second end, and one hole
  - wherein said width is greater than the distance between said first and said second spool, along the base,
  - wherein the first end is attached along its height to the first spool and the second end is attached along its height to the second spool
  - wherein when said second spool rotates, said flexible sheet coils around said second spool and when said first spool rotates, said flexible sheet coils around said first spool
  - wherein the back wall of each of said cartridges is attached to said flexible sheet, the hole of the flexible sheet and the hole of each of said cartridge are aligned to permit an object to pass therethrough
  - wherein the side walls of the cartridge are substantially parallel to the height of said flexible sheet
- a pushing means mounted on said base, wherein said pushing means traverses in response to an electrical or mechanical signal, in the same plane as said flexible sheet between said first spool and said second spool
  - wherein said pushing means extends a pushing member through the holes of the flexible sheet and the hole in the back wall of the cartridge in response to an electrical or mechanical signal
- a scanning means mounted on said base, wherein said scanning means traverses in response to an electrical or mechanical signal in the same plane as said flexible sheet between said first spool and said second spool.

Even yet still further, an apparatus for storing, and dispensing packages comprising

- at least one cartridge
  - wherein said cartridges comprises a back wall, two side walls
  - wherein said cartridges is sized to hold at least two packages laid end to end along its back wall
  - wherein said back wall comprises a hole
  - wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other and are attached substantially perpendicular to said back wall
  - wherein each of said side walls comprises a means for releasably holding the package in said cartridge
- a base comprising a first spool and a second spool spaced apart from one another on one surface of said base and rotatably mounted thereto
  - wherein said first spool and said second spool are connected to one or more rotator means wherein the rotation of each of said spools can be independently controlled by said one or more rotator means
- a continuous flexible sheet having a width, a height, and one hole
  - wherein said width encircles said first and said second spool, and the space therebetween,
  - wherein the back wall of said cartridges is attached to said flexible sheet, the hole of the continuous flexible sheet and the hole of the cartridge are aligned to permit an object to pass therethrough
  - wherein the side walls of the cartridge is substantially perpendicular to one surface of the base and substantially parallel to the height of said continuous flexible sheet
- a pushing means mounted on said base, wherein said pushing means traverses in response to an electrical or mechanical signal, in the same plane as said flexible sheet between said first spool and said second spool
  - wherein said pushing means extends a pushing member through the hole of the continuous flexible sheet and the hole in the back wall of the cartridge in response to an electrical or mechanical signal
- a scanning means mounted on said base, wherein said scanning means traverses in response to an electrical or mechanical signal in the same plane as said flexible sheet between said first spool and said second spool.

Another embodiment of this invention includes an apparatus for storing, and dispensing packages comprising

- a plurality of cartridges each of said cartridges comprising a back wall, two side walls,
  - wherein each of said cartridges is sized to hold at least two packages laid end to end along its back wall
  - wherein each of said cartridges comprises a back wall, two side walls, and attachment means to couple each of said cartridges to another cartridge at the intersection of one side wall and the back wall of one cartridge to one side wall and the back wall of another cartridge
  - wherein said back wall comprises at least two holes
  - wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other and are attached substantially perpendicular to said back wall
  - wherein each of said side walls comprises a means for releasably holding the package in said cartridge
- a base comprising a first spool and a second spool spaced apart from one another on one surface of said base and rotatably mounted thereto
  - wherein said first spool and said second spool are connected to one or more rotator means wherein the rotation of each of said spools can be independently controlled by said one or more rotator means
  - wherein said plurality of cartridges encircles said first and said second spool, and the space therebetween,
  - wherein the back walls of said plurality of cartridges are substantially parallel to said first and said second spool
  - wherein the side walls of the cartridge is substantially perpendicular to one surface of the base
- a pushing means mounted on said base, wherein said pushing means traverses in response to an electrical or mechanical signal, in the same plane as the back walls of said plurality of cartridges between said first spool and said second spool
- a scanning means mounted on said base, wherein said scanning means traverses in response to an electrical or mechanical signal in the same plane as the back walls of said plurality of cartridges between said first spool and said second spool

- a plurality of cartridges each of said cartridges comprising a back wall, two side walls,
  - wherein each of said cartridges is sized to hold at least two packages laid end to end along its back wall
  - wherein each of said cartridges comprises a back wall, two side walls, and attachment means to couple each of said cartridges to another cartridge at the intersection of one side wall and the back wall of one cartridge to one side wall and the back wall of another cartridge
  - wherein said back wall comprises at least two holes
  - wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other and are attached substantially perpendicular to said back wall
  - wherein each of said side walls comprises a means for releasably holding the package in said cartridge
  - wherein said plurality of cartridges attached to each other by said attachment means comprises a first end a second end a width and a height
  - wherein the first end is attached along its height to the first spool via an attachment means and the second end is attached along its height to the second spool via an attachment means
  - wherein said width is greater than the distance between said first and said second spool, along the base,
  - wherein when said second spool rotates, said plurality of cartridges coils around said second spool and when said first spool rotates, said plurality of cartridges coils around said first spool
- a base comprising a first spool and a second spool spaced apart from one another on one surface of said base and rotatably mounted thereto
  - wherein said first spool and said second spool are connected to one or more rotator means wherein the rotation of each of said spools can be independently controlled by said one or more rotator means
  - wherein the back walls of said plurality of cartridges are substantially parallel to said first and said second spool
  - wherein the side walls of the cartridge is substantially perpendicular to one surface of the base
- a pushing means mounted on said base, wherein said pushing means traverses in response to an electrical or mechanical signal, in the same plane as the back walls of said plurality of cartridges between said first spool and said second spool
- a scanning means mounted on said base, wherein said scanning means traverses in response to an electrical or mechanical signal in the same plane as the back walls of said plurality of cartridges between said first spool and said second spool.

In addition to the aforementioned apparatuses, another embodiment of the invention includes methods of storing ophthalmic lenses in any of the apparatuses of the invention. For example, an embodiment of the invention includes a method of dispensing or storing packages comprising storing or dispensing such packages from an apparatus comprising

The advantages of the apparatuses and methods of the invention are numerous. Aside from the ability to track which lenses are dispensed at a particular time to a particular location, and to deliver such information to the manufacturer or the dispensing ophthalmic professional, the apparatus may be fitted with a printer to directly print the patient's contact information for mailing or other types of delivery to the patient. Still further, the apparatus can be placed in a retail establishment and so that patients as well as ophthalmic may use the apparatus to dispense ophthalmic lenses.

The aforementioned embodiments of the invention are meant to illustrate the invention and suggest methods and devices that embody the invention. In addition to the embodiments enclosed herein, U.S. Ser. No. 61/171,593 filed on Apr. 22, 2009 and its non-provisional counterpart, U.S. Ser. No. 12/639,291 filed on Dec. 16, 2009 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,109,145 on Oct. 23, 2018, which are incorporated by reference for the disclosures contained therein, contain embodiments of certain aspects of this invention. Those knowledgeable in the production three-dimensional objects as well as other specialties may find other methods of practicing the invention. However, those methods are deemed to be within the scope of this invention.