Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing ultraprecise lenses, including aspherical lenses, not requiring grinding or polishing after press molding. The method comprises heating a glass material to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity of from 105 to 109 dPaS so that the glass material is softened, and press molding the glass material with the pressing molds which are heated to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity of from 108 to 1012 dPaS. Provided that the glass material is not heated to a temperature as high as that corresponding to a glass viscosity of 105 dPaS when the pressing mold is heated to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity of 108 and that the glass material is not heated to a temperature as low as that corresponding to a glass viscosity of 109 dPaS when the pressing mold is heated to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity of 1012 dPaS.

Abstract: A transfer arm holds a plurality of preforms arranged in a single line and simultaneously drops and supplies the preforms downward. A positioning arm has a pair of arm split members split in its widthwise direction. The arm split members have positioning surfaces formed on their contact surfaces to be brought into contact with outer peripheries of the preforms. After the preforms are dropped and supplied from the transfer arm, the arm split members of the positioning arm are opened and closed so that the positioning surfaces are brought into contact with the outer peripheries of the preforms. Thus, the performs are properly positioned.

Abstract: In a press molding apparatus for press molding a plurality of glass materials into a plurality of glass optical elements by the use of a pressing mold including upper and lower molds each of which has a plurality of molding surfaces, at least one of the upper and the lower molds is a heat generator within which heat is generated when the heat generator is subjected to a high-frequency induction heating by an induction heating coil. The heat generator having a plurality of shape-processed portions (130) produced by partially processing a shape of the heat generator in order that a temperature distribution of the heat generator is adjusted. The apparatus simultaneously press forms, into the glass optical elements, the glass materials supplied between the molding surfaces of the upper and the lower molds which are subjected to the high-frequency induction heating.

Abstract: In a press molding apparatus for press molding a plurality of glass materials into a plurality of glass optical elements by the use of a pressing mold including upper and lower molds each of which has a plurality of molding surfaces, at least one of the upper and the lower molds is a heat generator within which heat is generated when the heat generator is subjected to a high-frequency induction heating by an induction heating coil. The heat generator having a plurality of shape-processed portions (130) produced by partially processing a shape of the heat generator in order that a temperature distribution of the heat generator is adjusted. The apparatus simultaneously press forms, into the glass optical elements, the glass materials supplied between the molding surfaces of the upper and the lower molds which are subjected to the high-frequency induction heating.

Abstract: A press molding apparatus includes upper and lower mother molds 102 and 104. Each of the mother molds 102 and 104 has four molding surfaces arranged in a single line and satisfies the relationship given by L×?×?T/t<0.0008, where L represents the length, t, the thickness, ?, the thermal expansion coefficient, and ?T, the temperature difference between both ends in the thickness direction during induction heating. The press molding apparatus may include a pressing mold set including upper mother molds 102a and 102b attached to a common fixed shaft 118 through upper supporting shafts 110a and 110b and lower mother molds 104a and 104b driven by a common drive shaft 120 through lower supporting shafts 112a and 112b. The upper mother molds 102a and 102b and the lower mother molds 104a and 104b are collectively heated by induction heating coils 122 and 124, respectively.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing optical glass elements by means of mold pressing, wherein a heat-softened glass material is press molded with a pressing mold to manufacture optical glass elements. The refractive index of the optical glass elements is precisely adjusted so that the manufactured optical glass elements exhibit predetermined refractive index.

Abstract: A press molding apparatus includes upper and lower mother molds 102 and 104. Each of the mother molds 102 and 104 has four molding surfaces arranged in a single line and satisfies the relationship given by L×?×?T/t<0.0008, where L represents the length, t, the thickness, ?, the thermal expansion coefficient, and ?T, the temperature difference between both ends in the thickness direction during induction heating. The press molding apparatus may include a pressing mold set including upper mother molds 102a and 102b attached to a common fixed shaft 118 through upper supporting shafts 110a and 110b and lower mother molds 104a and 104b driven by a common drive shaft 120 through lower supporting shafts 112a and 112b. The upper mother molds 102a and 102b and the lower mother molds 104a and 104b are collectively heated by induction heating coils 122 and 124, respectively.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing optical elements in which a precision-processed pressing mold is used and the molding surface thereof is transferred to a heat-softened preformed molding material to form an optically functional surface. In the method, post processing for centering and edging are conducted following precision pressing to determine the center axis of an optical element and/or to form on the periphery of the optical element a portion for mounting on some other component. The preformed molding material has a weight within a range of 110 to 155% of a weight of the optical element when the optical element has a biconvex or convex meniscus shape. The preformed material has a weight within range of 180 to 240% of a weight of the optical element when the optical element has a biconcave or concave meniscus shape.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a concave meniscus lens with good surface precision. The method of manufacturing a concave meniscus lens method comprises press molding a glass material in a heat-softened state with a pressing mold. The heated glass material is fed between the molding surfaces of the preheated upper and lower pressing molds and press molded, and the upper and lower pressing molds are cooled to obtain a temporary lens; and when an irregularity is produced on one of the surfaces of the temporary lens, the temperature of the glass material, the preheating temperature of the upper and/or lower molds, or the cooling rate of the upper and/or lower molds is corrected to obtain a corrected lens. When the press molding of the temporary lens is conducted by the first and second pressure applications and an irregularity is produced on one of the surfaces of the temporary lens, the load of the second pressure application is corrected to obtain a corrected lens.

Abstract: A molded glass article manufacturing device, having a means of forcefully separating a molded glass article attached to the forming surface of an upper mold or a lower mold, and readily and reliably aligning the axes of the upper mold and lower mold, a molded glass article manufacturing method, and a method of assembling a molded glass article manufacturing device are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing ultraprecise lenses, including aspherical lenses, not requiring grinding or polishing after press molding. The method comprises heating a glass material to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity of from 105 to 109 dPaS so that the glass material is softened, and press molding the glass material with the pressing molds which are heated to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity of from 108 to 1012 dPaS. Provided that the glass material is not heated to a temperature as high as that corresponding to a glass viscosity of 105 dPaS when the pressing mold is heated to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity of 108 and that the glass material is not heated to a temperature as low as that corresponding to a glass viscosity of 109 dPaS when the pressing mold is heated to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity of 1012 dPaS.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing glass optical elements of desired surface precision and optical characteristics in which a softened glass material is press molded in a pressing mold of prescribed surface precision to transfer the molding surface of the pressing mold to the glass material. The method manufacturing glass optical elements of desired refractive index n3, by means of a press molding process comprising press molding a softened glass material in a pressing mold and cooling a molded element with a predetermined cooling rate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing glass optical elements such as optical lenses by press molding. Glass optical elements of high surface precision are manufactured while preventing fusion between the pressing mold and the glass material and deterioration of the pressing mold. The method comprises supplying a glass material to a pressing mold, and press molding the glass material with the pressing mold in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and the pressing mold comprises a carbon film formed by sputtering on at least a molding surface, and the glass material comprises a carbon layer on a surface thereof. The method further comprises feeding of the glass material by dropping it onto the molding surface of a lower mold while preventing variation in the thickness of the glass optical elements.

Abstract: A press molding apparatus includes upper and lower mother molds 102 and 104. Each of the mother molds 102 and 104 has four molding surfaces arranged in a single line and satisfies the relationship given by L×&agr;×&Dgr;T/t<0.0008, where L represents the length, t, the thickness, &agr;, the thermal expansion coefficient, and &Dgr;T, the temperature difference between both ends in the thickness direction during induction heating. The press molding apparatus may include a pressing mold set including upper mother molds 102a and 102b attached to a common fixed shaft 118 through upper supporting shafts 110a and 110b and lower mother molds 104a and 104b driven by a common drive shaft 120 through lower supporting shafts 112a and 112b. The upper mother molds 102a and 102b and the lower mother molds 104a and 104b are collectively heated by induction heating coils 122 and 124, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mold including upper and lower molds for obtaining glass optical elements by press molding a glass molding material softened by heat, in which either one of the upper and lower molds is made of a ceramic matrix and the matrix has no surface hole having a diameter of 300 microns or more on the molding surface, and a method for manufacturing glass optical elements using the mold. For example, on the upper mold 21 and the lower mold 22, formed is a &bgr; type silicon carbide having a thickness that a molding surface can be reproduced by grinding and a density of 3.20 g/cm3 or more so as to include at least the molding surface facing a surface of the glass molding material G. The mold according to the invention can be reused even where pullouts occur from repetitive use.

Abstract: A transfer arm holds a plurality of preforms arranged in a single line and simultaneously drops and supplies the preforms downward. A positioning arm has a pair of arm split members split in its widthwise direction. The arm split members have positioning surfaces formed on their contact surfaces to be brought into contact with outer peripheries of the preforms. After the preforms are dropped and supplied from the transfer arm, the arm split members of the positioning arm are opened and closed so that the positioning surfaces are brought into contact with the outer peripheries of the preforms. Thus, the performs are properly positioned.

Abstract: In a press molding apparatus for press molding a plurality of glass materials into a plurality of glass optical elements by the use of a pressing mold including upper and lower molds each of which has a plurality of molding surfaces, at least one of the upper and the lower molds is a heat generator within which heat is generated when the heat generator is subjected to a high-frequency induction heating by an induction heating coil. The heat generator having a plurality of shape-processed portions (130) produced by partially processing a shape of the heat generator in order that a temperature distribution of the heat generator is adjusted. The apparatus simultaneously press forms, into the glass optical elements, the glass materials supplied between the molding surfaces of the upper and the lower molds which are subjected to the high-frequency induction heating.

Abstract: A method for supplying a glass molding material by dropping it from a higher level onto a molding surface of a lower mold of a mold constituted of an upper mold and the lower mold, in which a guide means is used for dropping the glass molding material and is disposed at a position such that the glass molding material drops onto the molding surface of the lower mold, and the guide means used for this method are disclosed. Moreover, a method for supplying a glass molding material to a molding surface of a lower mold of a mold constituted of an upper mold and the lower mold, in which after the glass molding material is supplied to the molding surface of the lower mold the position of the glass molding material is corrected so that the vertical center of the glass molding material substantially coincides with the center point of the molding surface of the lower mold, and a position correcting means used for this method are disclosed.

Abstract: The optical fiber fixing member made of glass, especially optical fiber guide block, is conventionally produced by a mechanical processing. However, the mechanical processing has problems that a production cost becomes high and mass-production is difficult. The problems above can be solved by the present invention providing a method for producing an optical fiber fixing member comprising: disposing a glass shaping preform whose plane view resembles to the plane view of the molded article and whose faces to be positioned in the pressurizing direction during press-molding assumes planes or outwardly convex curved surfaces, in a mold having a cavity of a given shape; and heating the glass shaping preform up to a temperature at which the glass shaping preform can be mold-shaping and thereby press-molding it into a molded article having at least one edge formed of a free surface.

Abstract: A method disclosed can mold glass optical elements having a good surface precision with a relatively short cycle time even where glass optical elements are manufactured in largely transforming a glass material. This method is, for example, a molding method for glass optical elements including the step of pressing a glass molding material softened by heat until the center thickness of the glass molded article becomes 70% of the center thickness of the glass molding material to produce the glass molded article. The preheat temperature of the mold is set to a temperature that the average of the temperatures around molding surfaces of upper and lower molds constituting the mold is a temperature that the glass molding material indicates a viscosity of X poises; the heating temperature of the glass molding material is set to a temperature that the glass molding material indicates a viscosity of Y poises; the viscosity X and the viscosity Y satisfy the following formulas. log X<10 log Y≧6.