Abstract: Provided are a manufacturing method for a glass molded body and a manufacturing apparatus for a glass molded body, which employs the manufacturing method. The manufacturing method includes the steps of: heating molds each containing a glass material; press-molding the glass material; and cooling the press-molded glass material. The heating step includes: heating the molds with heating members arranged on both sides of a conveying direction of a support for conveying the molds in one direction; and conveying the two molds through rotation of the support or the like so as to reverse, at least once, an arrangement order of the two molds, which are arranged on a supporting surface of the support conveying the molds between the heating members, with respect to the conveying direction of the support.

Abstract: A method and device for bending superposed sheets of glass. The sheets are picked up by a top form furnished with a suction creating an upward airflow blowing over the rim of the sheets, the suction being sufficient to lift and hold the superposed sheets against the top form, then the sheets are pressed between the top form and a full surface solid concave bottom form furnished with openings, the pressing beginning conducted while the suction is not yet finished or is finishing, then the superposed sheets are formed, by suction of the main face of the bottom sheet through the openings of the bottom concave mold, the forming by suction beginning while the pressing is not yet finished, and then the sheets are cooled. Windshields free of optical defects may thus be produced.

Abstract: A mold apparatus includes a first mold die, a second mold die and an interjacent mold die. The first mold die has a first molding surface. The second mold die has a second molding surface. The interjacent mold die is arranged between the first and second mold dies, and has a third molding surface and an opposite fourth molding surface. The third molding surface and the first molding surface cooperatively form a first molding chamber. The fourth molding surface and the second molding surface cooperatively forms a second molding chamber.

Abstract: In a machine for forming glass items, a forming section has a forming assembly, and a bottom support structure for supporting the forming assembly. The forming section has a rough mold; a finish mold; a transfer assembly for transferring at least one glass mass being formed from the rough mold to the finish mold; an extractor for extracting at least one glass item from the finish mold; a glass mass guide device, a mold closing device, and a punching device associated with the rough mold. The forming section also has and a pneumatic blower device and a cooling device associated with at least the finish mold The bottom support structure has a bottom hollow frame, and at least one top plate separate from the bottom frame and on which the whole forming assembly rests and is connected.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling lens module (10) includes a firs tray (122), a second tray (142), and a robotic arm (16) with an optical element pick-up device (18). The first tray is configured for supporting a plurality of barrels thereon. The second tray is configured for supporting a plurality of optical elements thereon. The robotic arm with an optical element pick-up device is configured for picking up the optical elements from the second tray and assembling the optical elements into the barrels. The optical element pick-up device includes a plurality of suction mouths configured for picking up the plurality of optical elements at the same time.

Abstract: A continuous glass forming system includes a forming room and at least one forming unit which is advanced successively through a first loading/unloading station, a first heating station, a first forming station, and a first cooling station which are provided within the forming room. The forming unit includes lower and upper mold units, and a sleeve member removably assembled between the lower and upper mold units. The lower and upper mold units have respective first and second forming faces to form a glass blank into a lens. The sleeve member has support faces to support respectively the glass blank and lens. A transfer device moves into or out of the forming room to load or unload the sleeve member into or from the forming unit.

Abstract: A glass forming system includes a first rotating device disposed in a first processing station defining a reception region, a first heating region, a first transfer region and a first cooling region, and a second rotating device disposed in a second processing station defining a second transfer region, a second heating region, a forming region and a second cooling region. The second rotating device holds at least one forming unit and is turnable to move the forming unit between the regions of the second processing station. The first rotating device holds at least one sleeve member which is movable between the first and second rotating devices and mountable on the forming unit. The first rotating device is turnable to move the sleeve member between the regions of the second processing station.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable to use a common transfer machine for transferring performs to and for transferring products from a press-forming system for glass having a plurality of press units. The press-forming system for glass has a plurality of press units. A linear moving stage is arranged in the proximity of the press units. A transfer robot is mounted on the linear moving stage. A pallet changer is arranged in the proximity of an end of the linear moving stage. A tray presently in use is mounted on a first mount and a new tray on standby is mounted on a second mount on the pallet changer. The inner space of the tray is partitioned into sections so as to correspond to press units in number. In each section, a plurality of pockets is arranged for storing preforms or products one by one.

Abstract: An I.S. Machine for making glass bottles, having a plurality of sections, each having a blank station for forming a parison. Each section has a section frame having a top surface, and a plunger mechanism including at least one plunger canister having a lower cylinder and an upper flange. A horizontal mounting plate having a top surface and vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinder of each of the plunger canisters is fixedly secured on the top surface of the section frame. The section frame top surface has vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinders of each of the plunger canisters and the flange of the plunger mechanism is secured to the top surface of the mounting plate.

Abstract: Disclosed are a molding apparatus for glass optical elements a plurality of molds each constituted of an upper mold and a lower mold, a matrix supporting the molds, and heating means wound around the matrix for heating the molds, wherein the matrix extends in a longitudinal form and has a constant width, wherein the plurality of the molds are arranged in the matrix in a line so that the center of each mold is located on a center line of the matrix, and wherein a distance between the heating means and the matrix is constant at least at an edge of the matrix in a transverse direction, and a molding method for optical elements comprising the steps of: softening a plurality of glass material pieces by heat; and making a simultaneous press molding of the glass material pieces with a plurality of molds, constituted of upper and lower molds, arranged in a longitudinal form matrix, in a line extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein each mold is heated by thermal conductance from the matrix heated by heating mea

Abstract: A plunger base module for a selected number of vertically extending cylindrical plunger canisters each having a bottom surface and including a set of service conduits including plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling, with each of the service conduits in a plunger canister having a selectively located inlet port communicating with the bottom surface of the plunger canister. The plunger base module includes a permanent plunger distribution base having a top surface and a plurality of sets of service conduits, each set including plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling. Each plunger distribution base service conduit has an outlet port communicating with the top surface. A removable transition plate has a bottom surface for engaging the top surface of the plunger distribution base and a top surface.

Abstract: An I.S. Machine for making glass bottles, having a plurality of sections, each having a blank station for forming a parison. Each section has a section frame having a top surface, and a plunger mechanism including at least one plunger canister having a lower cylinder and an upper flange. A horizontal mounting plate having a top surface and vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinder of each of the plunger canisters is fixedly secured on the top surface of the section frame. The section frame top surface has vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinders of each of the plunger canisters and the flange of the plunger mechanism is secured to the top surface of the mounting plate.

Abstract: A plunger mechanism has a plunger canister module to be mounted on the top wall of a section frame of an I.S. machine. The module includes one, two, three or four plunger canisters each having a vertically extending cylinder having a locating diameter at the top and a mounting flange secured to the top of the vertically extending cylinder. The module also includes a horizontal mounting plate adapted to be mounted on the top wall of the section having a top surface and a number of holes, corresponding to the number of plunger canisters, extending vertically therethrough for matingly receiving the locating diameter of each of the plunger canisters.

Abstract: A plunger mechanism comprising a vertically extending cylindrical plunger canister having a bottom surface and including a plurality of service air conduits with each conduit having an inlet port communicating with the bottom surface. A plunger distribution plate below said plunger canister having a top surface and including a corresponding plurality of service air conduits which are to be connected to the plunger canister service air conduits with each plunger distribution plate conduit having an outlet port communicating with the top surface. At least one outlet port of the plurality of service air conduits in the plunger distribution plate which are to be connected to the plunger canister service air conduits being axially offset from the corresponding inlet port of the plunger canister. A transition plate intermediate the plunger canister and the plunger distribution plate having a bottom surface for engaging the top surface of the plunger distribution plate and a top surface.

Abstract: A method for forming a glass preform into an optical element utilizing a formation chamber having a central axis and including a plurality of glass preform heaters, a plurality of glass preform pressing molds, and a conveyor, an exchanging chamber and a controller, comprises the steps of providing the heaters and the pressing molds along a circular path substantially concentric with the formation chamber and providing the conveyor to rotate coaxially with the central axis of the formation chamber. The operating condition of the heater is detected, the glass preform is conveyed from the exchanging chamber to a heater based on the detected condition of the heaters, and the glass preform is heated.

Abstract: A molding machine having a plunger replacement apparatus is disclosed. Molding operation of the molding machine for a plunger requiring replacement is only discontinued, and the plunger requiring replacement is taken out to a plunger replacing position through a reciprocating mechanism. Moving yokes are locked by locking mechanisms to fixed yokes at the pressing and plunger replacing positions. The position of the plunger is always held constant during the process of replacement at the plunger replacing position and also when the plunger is returned to the pressing position. When the plunger requiring replacement is taken out in a plunger replacing position, molding operation for the molding machine is continued by using the remaining plungers, thereby minimizing possible drop in molding operation productivity and preventing undesirable changes in temperature distribution conditions.

Abstract: In glassware forming apparatus a parison is formed at a blank station by pressing a gob of molten glass using a plunger and plunger actuating means mounted on a carriage, the carriage also carrying a neck ring and being reciprocable so that a parison held by the neck ring is transported from the blank station to a further station in the apparatus and the neck ring is returned to the blank station after release of the parison at the further station and prior to the formation of the next parison at the blank station. The plunger mounting and actuating means is constructed to allow the plunger to float laterally and vertically during formation of the parison.