Abstract: In cleaning operation using dry ice pellets, a bridging phenomenon of the dry ice pellets occurs. Also, static electricity is generated, so a good cleaning effect cannot be obtained. This invention is directed to solve these problems. In order to solve these problems, a cleaning apparatus has a blast nozzle, a device for pneumatically feeding a carrier gas to the blast nozzle, and a device for supplying dry ice pellets to the blast nozzle, and blasts a cleaning object (W) with the dry ice pellets, together with the carrier gas, from the blast nozzle, thereby cleaning a surface of the cleaning object (W). This cleaning apparatus includes an air supplying device for supplying destaticizing air to a cleaning portion of the cleaning object (W) to be cleaned by the blast nozzle, and a charging device for charging the destaticizing air with a polarity opposite to the polarity of the charged dry ice pellets.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is formed by a pair of substrates each having thereon electrodes, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to be movable along surfaces of the substrates. The liquid crystal is disposed over regions extending between the surfaces of the substrates including an effective optical modulation region, a first peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region and a second peripheral region formed along a part or an entirety of outer periphery of the first peripheral region. The liquid crystal is disposed to have a higher liquid crystal molecular pretilt angle in the first peripheral region than in the effective optical modulation region. The liquid crystal is disposed in a random alignment state free from uniaxial alignment characteristic or in a layer structure in the second peripheral region.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal assuming two stable states disposed between the opposing electrodes. The opposing inner surfaces of the pair of substrates have been subjected to an aligning treatment such that the liquid crystal placed in one of the two stable states moves under application of an electric field in a direction identical to one in which the liquid crystal placed in the other of the two stable states moves under the application of the electric field. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region, wherein the effective optical modulation region and the photosensitive member have been subjected to different aligning treatments.

Abstract: A rubbing treating apparatus, comprising: a stage for mounting thereon an electrode substrate provided with an alignment control film, a rubbing cloth for effecting rubbing treatment by rubbing it against the alignment control film, a rubbing mask mounted on the stage so as to cover at least a part of the electrode substrate, and a holding means for causing at least the rubbing mask to closely contact the stage, wherein the rubbing mask is caused to closely contact the stage at the time of rubbing treatment. The rubbing mask is effective in imparting an alignment control power to the surface of the alignment control film, effecting uniform rubbing treatment with respect to a desired region and preventing an occurrence of alignment defects and a deterioration of the rubbing cloth.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal assuming two stable states disposed between the opposing electrodes. The opposing inner surfaces of the pair of substrates have been subjected to an aligning treatment such that the liquid crystal placed in one of the two stable states moves under application of an electric field in a direction identical to one in which the liquid crystal placed in the other of the two stable states moves under the application of the electric field. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region, wherein the effective optical modulation region and the photosensitive member have been subjected to different aligning treatments.

Abstract: A method of pressing flowing-down molten glass from the opposite sides thereof by a pair of shaping mold members to thereby manufacture a glass optical part having surfaces corresponding to the shaping surfaces of the mold members is characterized in that a groove forming ring is provided around the shaping surface of at least one of the shaping mold members, a groove is formed in the molten glass by the groove forming ring during the press and the flowing-down molten glass is cut above that portion thereof which is being pressed, thereby obtaining a glass molded article having an ear protruding outwardly of the groove relative to an optical part body portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a glass molding process using an apparatus for manufacturing a glass preform into a glass molded product. In the process a mold is prepared for pressing the glass preform. The mold consists of a pair of molds having a cavity surface for forming the glass molded product, and a frame mold which is movable against the pair of molds and incorporates a heating source. A next step in the process involves introducing the glass preform, where the pair of molds are opened and the glass preform is placed on the cavity surface. The glass preform then undergoes heating, where the glass preform is moved so as to come near the heating source of the frame mold by closing the mold, thereby heating the glass preform. The glass preform is then pressed by moving the mold to mold a shape of a glass molded product. The resulting glass molded product is then separated from the heating source by moving the frame mold and taken out by opening the mold.

Abstract: A method for press-forming a glass preform includes the steps of applying positioning pressure to an upper mold as the temperature of the upper mold and a lower mold increase to set values, maintaining a first temperature difference between the upper and lower molds of at least 10.degree. C. and increasing the temperature of the glass preform to a value above its glass transition temperature. Additional steps include cooling the upper and lower molds at a rate of 30.degree. to 100.degree. C. per minute while maintaining a temperature difference between the upper and lower molds at at least the first temperature difference, applying pressure to the lower mold, and opening the upper and lower molds to release the formed optical element after the temperatures of the upper and lower molds decrease to below a set value and a temperature difference between the upper and lower molds becomes greater than the first temperature difference.

Abstract: A lens is manufactured by preparing a glass material, preparing a molding apparatus for pressmolding the glass material into a lens shape, preheating the glass material or heating the glass material in the molding apparatus to soften the glass material and molding the glass material into the lens shape by the molding apparatus. An engagement portion of the molded lens to a member on which the lens is to be mounted is molded in the molding process simultaneously with the molding of an optically function portion of the lens.

Abstract: A method is provided for molding high-precision glass products where a piece of glass is heated at least in its surface portion and pressed between a pair of molds. Relative movement of the molds toward each other during the pressing is caused to follow change in dimension of a heated interval control member provided between the pair of molds, the interval control member having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is equal to or larger than that of the glass piece and therefore being capable of thermal contraction in the pressing direction by an amount which is substantially equivalent to or larger than that of the glass piece in the pressing direction due to cooling of the glass piece, and the change in dimension of the interval control member being caused by thermal contraction due to cooling thereof.