Abstract: The present invention is directed to reduce the total footprint of a press forming system for glass having a plurality of press units, and also to increase an actual availability of each press unit. A plurality of press units are arranged in two parallel rows and a first transfer robot is arranged at the center of the space between the two rows. In adjacent of the moving area of the first transfer robot, a palette changer is arranged. A tray in use is mounted on a first base of the palette changer and a stand-by tray before use is placed on a second base. Blanks and formed products are stored in the tray. Press units equipped with second transfer robots, respectively. In front of the press units, intermediate transfer points are respectively provided for temporarily storing a blank and a formed product.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a press-forming method for glass capable of uniformly heating press dies and a preform and preventing oxidation of the press dies. According to the press-forming method for glass of the present invention, a preform is placed between a pair of press dies in a press-forming chamber and the preform and the press dies are heated in an inert gas atmosphere. After the temperature of the press dies reaches a predetermined value, evacuation of the press-forming chamber is initiated. After the pressure of the press-forming chamber reaches a predetermined value and the temperature of the press-forming chamber are stabilized at a second predetermined value, the preform is press-formed. Preferably, an exhaust rate for evacuating the chamber is limited to a predetermined value or less.

Abstract: The forming apparatus has top and bottom die assemblies which form a heated silica glass material by press forming. These top and bottom die assemblies include, respectively, mold dies, which are made of isotropic carbon, and core molds, which are made of vitrified carbon. The heating and pressing time of a silica glass element, which requires a high forming temperature, is shortened by pinching the silica glass material between top and bottom core molds by controlling a torque so as to produce a close contact condition which permits heat transfer from the top and bottom core molds to the silica glass material between the top and bottom core molds.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for forming glass elements, which includes top and bottom die assemblies, each of the die assemblies comprising a core mold, a mold die which supports the core mold, and a die plate, and a glass material being interposed between the top and bottom core molds, a first fastening member, which fastens the mold die and bottom die plate of the bottom die assembly together, a second fastening member, which fastens the die plate of the bottom die assembly and the heat insulating cylinder together, a third fastening member, which fastens the mold die and die plate of the top die assembly together, and a fourth fastening member, which fastens the die plate of the top die assembly and the heat insulating cylinder together. Each of the first to fourth fastening members is made of a material selected from the group consisting of carbon and molybdenum.

Abstract: A minute circuit is configured by protruded flow passage walls provided on the surfaces, opposite to each other, of first and second flat members disposed facing each other.

Abstract: A micro-chemical chip is comprised of a flow passage substrate (110) that includes a substrate (101) of transparent material having a plurality of flow passages (111) in one surface and an optical device (109) built in the other surface as a unit. In a micro-chemical chip manufacturing method according to the present invention, with metal dies 150 and 160 prepared to shape flow passages, wells, and an optical device(s), components such as the optical devices, flow passages, and the like are formed in a single molding process. The present invention is also directed to an optical unit manufacturing method where the atmospheric gas of nitrogen typically employed in the prior art is replaced with any gas of higher heat conductivity such as helium gas to heat and shape material in this alternative atmospheric gas and obtain the molded product.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reduce the total footprint of a press forming system for glass having a plurality of press units, and also to increase an actual availability of each press unit. A plurality of press units are arranged in two parallel rows and a first transfer robot is arranged at the center of the space between the two rows. In adjacent of the moving area of the first transfer robot, a palette changer is arranged. A tray in use is mounted on a first base of the palette changer and a stand-by tray before use is placed on a second base. Blanks and formed products are stored in the tray. Press units equipped with second transfer robots, respectively. In front of the press units, intermediate transfer points are respectively provided for temporarily storing a blank and a formed product.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a press-forming method for glass capable of uniformly heating press dies and a preform and preventing oxidation of the press dies. According to the press-forming method for glass of the present invention, a preform is placed between a pair of press dies in a press-forming chamber and the preform and the press dies are heated in an inert gas atmosphere. After the temperature of the press dies reaches a predetermined value, evacuation of the press-forming chamber is initiated. After the pressure of the press-forming chamber reaches a predetermined value and the temperature of the press-forming chamber are stabilized at a second predetermined value, the preform is press-formed. Preferably, an exhaust rate for evacuating the chamber is limited to a predetermined value or less.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for forming glass elements, which includes top and bottom die assemblies, each of the die assemblies comprising a core mold, a mold die which supports the core mold, and a die plate, and a glass material being interposed between the top and bottom core molds, a first fastening member, which fastens the mold die and bottom die plate of the bottom die assembly together, a second fastening member, which fastens the die plate of the bottom die assembly and the heat insulating cylinder together, a third fastening member, which fastens the mold die and die plate of the top die assembly together, and a fourth fastening member, which fastens the die plate of the top die assembly and the heat insulating cylinder together. Each of the first to fourth fastening members is made of a material selected from the group consisting of carbon and molybdenum.

Abstract: The forming apparatus has top and bottom die assemblies which form a heated silica glass material by press forming. These top and bottom die assemblies include, respectively, mold dies, which are made of isotropic carbon, and core molds, which are made of vitrified carbon. The heating and pressing time of a silica glass element, which requires a high forming temperature, is shortened by pinching the silica glass material between top and bottom core molds by controlling a torque so as to produce a close contact condition which permits heat transfer from the top and bottom core molds to the silica glass material between the top and bottom core molds.

Abstract: A press forming machine for optical devices which manufactures, an optical device from silica glass with a high glass transition point. A transparent quartz tube surrounds an upper die unit, lower die unit, fixed shaft, and moving shaft to form an airtight chamber inside it. Infrared lamps are arranged along the outer surface of the transparent quartz tube, and a reflecting mirror is arranged behind the infrared lamps. A cooling gas jacket is formed to cover the rear surface of the reflecting mirror. The inner-diameter side wall surface of the jacket and the reflecting mirror have many through holes. A cooling gas is sprayed from the interior of the jacket toward the transparent quartz tube through the through holes, thereby cooling the reflecting mirror, quartz bulbs constituting the outer surfaces of the infrared lamps, and the transparent quartz tube.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a press forming machine for optical devices which manufactures, an optical device from silica glass with a high glass transition point. A transparent quartz tube surrounds an upper die unit, lower die unit, fixed shaft, and moving shaft to form an airtight chamber inside it. Infrared lamps are arranged along the outer surface of the transparent quartz tube, and a reflecting mirror is arranged behind the infrared lamps. A cooling gas jacket is formed to cover the rear surface of the reflecting mirror. The inner-diameter side wall surface of the jacket and the reflecting mirror have many through holes. A cooling gas is sprayed from the interior of the jacket toward the transparent quartz tube through the through holes, thereby cooling the reflecting mirror, quartz bulbs constituting the outer surfaces of the infrared lamps, and the transparent quartz tube.