Abstract: A molding device includes an upper mold 10 (first mold), a lower mold 20 (second mold) and a body mold 30 that aligns axes of the upper and lower molds 10, 20 with each other by being fitted to an exterior of the upper mold 10 and an exterior of the lower mold 20 with the body mold 30 straddling the upper and lower molds 10, 20. The lower mold 20 is supported by a support member 50. The support member 50 can support the lower mold 20 with the lower member 20 being in a floating state.

Abstract: A method of molding an optical component which includes providing a first mold and a second mold which mold the optical component, a cylindrical body whose rotational symmetry axis is identical with a second symmetry axis about which a second mold is rotationally symmetric, a trunk mold whose rotational symmetry axis is identical with a first symmetry axis about which a first mold is rotationally symmetric, a supporting means which supports the first mold in such a way that the first mold moves relatively to the trunk mold in parallel with the first symmetry axis, and a second tapered surface and a first tapered surface which contacts the second tapered surface, which connect the cylindrical body with the trunk mold in such a way that the second symmetry axis is identical with the first symmetry axis.

Abstract: An optical element molding method provides to mold an optical element without a defective configuration such as a groove on the outer surface when one optical element is molded by placing different molding materials one on another. The optical element molding method includes pressing a first molding material having a first viscosity and a second molding material having a second viscosity different from the first viscosity, between molds of a forming mold including a pair of upper mold and lower mold for molding an optical element.

Abstract: A mold for an optical component is provided in which a first tapered surface is provided in a first mold while a second tapered surface is provided in a second mold. In the mold for the optical component, a curved surface distance which is a distance between a first mold curved surface and a second mold curved surface is greater than a lens thickness which is a distance between a first lens surface and a second lens surface in a state where the second tapered surface is contact with the first tapered surface. Moreover, the second tapered surface moves to a position where the curved surface distance is equal to the lens thickness, to elastically transform the first mold and fit onto the first tapered surface.

Abstract: A molding device includes an upper mold 10 (first mold), a lower mold 20 (second mold) and a body mold 30 that aligns axes of the upper and lower molds 10, 20 with each other by being fitted to an exterior of the upper mold 10 and an exterior of the lower mold 20 with the body mold 30 straddling the upper and lower molds 10, 20. The lower mold 20 is supported by a support member 50. The support member 50 can support the lower mold 20 with the lower member 20 being in a floating state.

Abstract: A glass molding machine includes a shaping die, a temperature controller, a die assembling state, a glass molding stage and a die disassembling stage. The shaping die includes a first, second and body molds. The die assembling stage feeds a glass material to the first mold with the body mold being fitted to the exterior of the first mold. The die assembling stage fits the second mold to the body mold to assemble the shaping die. The glass molding stage heats and molds the glass material. The die disassembling stage removes the second mold from the body mold after the molding, to remove the molded glass product. The temperature controller provides a temperature difference so that a temperature of the body mold is higher than a temperature of the second mold in the die assembling stage and in the die disassembling stage.

Abstract: A mold for an optical component is provided which includes a first mold and a second mold which mold the optical component, a cylindrical body whose rotational symmetry axis is identical with a second symmetry axis about which a second mold is rotationally symmetric, a trunk mold whose rotational symmetry axis is identical with a first symmetry axis about which a first mold is rotationally symmetric, a supporting means which supports the first mold in such a way that the first mold moves relatively to the trunk mold in parallel with the first symmetry axis, and a second tapered surface and a first tapered surface which contacts the second tapered surface, which connect the cylindrical body with the trunk mold in such a way that the second symmetry axis is identical with the first symmetry axis.

Abstract: A mold for an optical component is provided in which a first tapered surface is provided in a first mold while a second tapered surface is provided in a second mold. In the mold for the optical component, a curved surface distance which is a distance between a first mold curved surface and a second mold curved surface is greater than a lens thickness which is a distance between a first lens surface and a second lens surface in a state where the second tapered surface is contact with the first tapered surface. Moreover, the second tapered surface moves to a position where the curved surface distance is equal to the lens thickness, to elastically transform the first mold and fit onto the first tapered surface.

Abstract: An optical element molding device includes upper and lower mold elements and first and second cavity mold elements. Each of the upper and lower mold elements includes a pedestal and a shaft projecting along a common axis from a flange surface of each pedestal. An optical function transferring surface is formed at the tip of each shaft with the tips facing one another along the common axis. The first cavity mold element extends around these tips and the common axis for molding an optical element by heating and pressuring an optical material arranged between the upper and lower mold elements by their relative movement toward one another along the common axis guided by the first cavity mold element. Various surfaces contact one another in order to limit relative movement of the upper and lower mold elements along the common axis during molding and constrain axial inclination of these mold elements.