Abstract: An improved tool is provided for pressing glass into a precision optical element having a strong concave surface. The tool is selected from ceramic and metal materials having coefficients of thermal expansion greater than the coefficient of the pressed glass. Preferred tools include a base material selected from Invar, steel and alumina with a surface layer selected from alumina, zirconia, chromium oxide and chromium carbide, having a finished thickness in the range between ten to two thousand angstroms.

Abstract: A mold for press molding an optical element of glass has carbon atoms injected in amounts from 10.sup.15 to 10.sup.18 ion/cm.sup.2 into a molding surface of a mold base of the mold and subjected to further treatment to form on the molding surface a diamond film, a hydrogenated amorphous carbon film, a hard carbon film or a mixture of at least two such films. The film on the molding surface can be formed by heat treatment and, additionally, by irradiation with hydrogen plasma, after carbon ion injection.

Abstract: A die for press-molding glass optical elements which can press-mold glass optical elements having high melting points and various shapes repeatedly, which includes a base material having high strength on which a cutting layer having heat resistance and free cutting machinability is formed. After cutting the cutting layer into the desired shape with high accuracy, the die is coated with a surface protective film.

Abstract: Glass sheet bending apparatus (20) including at least one deformable mold (22) has a linkage (26) that extends between mold members (24) and includes connector links (28) fixed to the mold members and having pivotal connections (32) to each other about axes that extend parallel to the glass sheet throughout the bending, and the linkage also has control links (34) that have pivotal connections (36) about axes that extend perpendicular to the glass sheet throughout the bending as well as having universal connections (38) to each other such that the linkage moves the mold members for bending with a constant radius of curvature. The bending apparatus (20) preferably has a pair of the deformable molds (22,44) that are arranged in lower and upper locations and have respective linkages (26,48) as well as having the mold members (24,46) thereof provided with quench openings (66) through which quenching gas is supplied to quench the bent glass sheet for heat strengthening or tempering.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mold for pressing molding of an optical element of glass. On at least the molding surface of the mold base of the mold, there is formed a mixing layer which consists of carbon and at least one of the elements constituting the mold base. The atomic percentage of carbon increases toward the molding surface and decreases toward the mold base, while the atomic percentage of the other element decreases toward the surface and increases toward the mold base. The mold may contain an intermediate layer at least on the molding surface of the mold base.

Abstract: A device for molding products made of glass or a synthetic resin which device has a microwave generator, a microwave oven coupled to the generator and mold parts movable relative to each other provided in the microwave oven for forming molds for holding a parison of the glass or synthetic resin to be heated dielectrically.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in a sequential bending furnace for bending glass sheets. According to the method, carriages are advanced in the furnace into a section downstream in the traveling direction of the carriages for a subsequent bending cycle essentially by using at least two transfer assemblies, providing a transfer mechanism and including first and second locking elements which are in a transfer-force transmitting relationship during the course of a transfer. This is followed by disengaging the locking elements and then transfer and locking rods included in the transfer assemblies are returned to a transfer commencing position in such a manner that at least one transfer assembly is in a locking position during transfers.

Abstract: In forming a plano-convex lens from a column-like lens blank by heating the blank to a temperature higher than the transition temperature thereof and by pressurizing an upper die with a closed space formed between the blank and the upper die, there are alternately repeated operations of pressurizing the upper die and stopping the application of pressure thereto. Through the control of the amount of displacement of the upper die, the maximum pressure of gas in the closed space at each pressurizing step is so controlled: as to be low according to the surface viscosity of the blank to the extent that no local concave deformation in the surface of the blank is produced; and as to be high to the extent that gas caught in the closed space is discharged at each step of stopping the application of pressure.

Abstract: A machining chamber encloses a glass molding apparatus including a molding die assembly composed of upper and lower molding dies cooperating to define a mold therebetween. The glass molding apparatus, contained within the sealed machining chamber, further includes a clamping/heating/compressing station, a cooling station and a preform-loading/molding-ejecting station. A shutter is provided in the casing for selectively opening the casing to the ambient atmosphere. An annular nozzle surrounds a molding surface provided on one of the upper and lower molding dies and is used to supply a first inactive-gas to the region between the two dies. A second, independent inactive-gas supply provides inactive-gas directly into the sealed casing, whereby the region between the dies is maintained at a lower oxygen level than that within the remainder of the sealed casing.

Abstract: A molding apparatus includes a glass ejection chamber for pre-molding glass, a glass heating chamber having a heating furnace, a precision press chamber for molding an optical element, and a mechanism for transporting a glass supporting member. A method for molding an optical element using the molding apparatus includes the step of providing a molded lens receiving molded part and a supporting member in the glass ejection chamber. The glass is heated in the heating chamber while being supported on the supporting member after being separated from the receiving mold part. The glass is molded into the optical element by a pair of mold parts having molding surfaces formed in conformity with the major surfaces of the optical element.

Abstract: A glass compression molding apparatus includes a horizontal upper platen and a lower platen disposed parallel to the upper platen. A top die is mounted for movement along the upper platen between a plurality of stations, and a bottom die is mounted for movement along the lower platen between another plurality of stations. A preform is introduced into the bottom die and then heated and compressed to form a molded product. The molded product is annealed and then removed from the bottom die. A clamping device forces the upper and lower platens together. A compression device compresses the preform. A conveying device moves at least the bottom die while suspended above the lower platen. Thus, wear of the lower platen, which would otherwise result from the sliding of the bottom die on the lower platen or the entry of foreign matter between the bottom die and the lower platen, is avoided. Such a wear or entry of foreign matter would occur while the mold is moved between stations in the conventional apparatus.

Abstract: A mold for use for press-molding an optical element, in which a molding surface of a mold base material is coated with a hard carbon film containing 0-5 atom% of hydrogen. It has a spin density of 1.times.10.sup.18 spin/cm.sup.3 or less and a film density of at least 1.5 g/cm.sup.3.

Abstract: A diamond sintered product having diamond particles sintered with a suitable sintering aid is the most suitable as the material for the mold for optical element molding, because it has in combination the advantage of diamond that no fusion with glass at high temperature occurs and oxidation occurs with difficulty to give rise to no precipitation of lead, an appropriate hardness and also the advantage that mirror polishing is possible. "There is also disclosed a mold which has a diamond layer having a (100) face, made by the CVD method utilizing gas having 1-3% methane in hydrogen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imparting a predetermined contour to an ophthalmic glass lens.The method comprises positioning a forming manifold in the base of a reshaping chamber, the upper surface of the manifold having a surface contour that is the reverse of the bottom contour surface of the reshaped lens, positioning the lens blank in the chamber, heating the lens blank to a temperature at which the blank deforms, and establishing a continuous, lateral flow of gas on the upper surface of the forming manifold whereby the glass is supported while it sags to the desired shape.The apparatus comprises a reshaping chamber, a source of heat to bring a lens blank to its deforming temperature, a forming manifold having an upper surface contour that is the reverse of the desired contour on the lower surface of the reshaped lens blank, and means to supply a continuous, lateral flow of gas on the upper surface of the manifold whereby the glass blank is supported while it deforms to the desired shape.

Abstract: A machine is provided for molding an optical element by using a molding block having upper and lower molding dies, a sleeve die and a glass blank combined integrally with each other. The machine includes a chamber which accommodates a heating zone having a plurality of sections for heating the molding block from above and below, a deformation zone for pressing the molding dies and a cooling zone having a plurality of sections for cooling the molding block. The chamber is formed with an inlet and an outlet for the molding block. The sections of the heating zone, the deformation zone and the sections of the cooling zone are provided independently of one another. A transport member is provided for sequentially transporting the molding block through the heating zone, the deformation zone and the cooling zone, and first and second shutters are provided for opening gas supply member is provided for introducing nonoxidizing gas into the chamber.

Abstract: A method of molding an optical element by pressing glass material uses a cavity composed of a pair of mold members and a side mold member. Either or both of the pair of mold members are rendered slidable along the axial direction of the optical element within the side mold member used during the pressurized molding operation, so that the pair of mold members move in close contact with the contracting glass along the axial direction in the side mold member, during the cooling subsequent to the pressurized molding due to adhesion between the contracting glass and either or both of the pair of mold members. The contraction of the glass during the cooling phase is limited by the adhesive force between the glass and the mold members when at least one of the pair of mold members traverses a gap and reaches a limit of travel; thus tension will be created in the glass.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is disclosed for treating a glass sheet (22) including a substantially enclosed chamber (14) containing a chamber atmosphere (24) in which the glass sheet (22) may be treated. Apparatus (10) also includes gas turbine engine (12) which generates heated pressurized exhaust gases which are provided to chamber (14) to treat glass sheet (22). In one embodiment, conveyor (26) is used to support glass sheet (22) in the chamber atmosphere (24). Air bed plate (72) is used to support the glass in an alternate apparatus embodiment (68).

Abstract: A mold assembly adapted for producing a molded glass in a relatively thin form has an upper mold and a lower mold. The lower mold carries thereon a glass to be molded during the heating, pressing and cooling of the glass to be molded. The lower mold has the maximal thickness below or equal to 1/10 of a diameter of the lower mold. A third ring-shaped mold having an annular recess along its interior surface receives the molded glass during pressing between the upper and lower molds to prevent sticking of the molded glass product to a mold surface when released from the mold assembly after pressing. Additionally, a stopper is used to contact the periphery of the ring-shaped mold to strip the molded glass product from the upper mold when the latter is moved upwardly during pressing the molded glass.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for molding glass articles. A first pressing of glass preform within a mold is carried out at a first pressing position, when the glass preform has its viscosity within a range of from 10.sup.8 to 10.sup.9.5 poises. The mold having accommodated therein the pressed glass is transferred from the first pressing position to a second pressing position where a second pressing is carried out with respect to the pressed glass within the mold when the pressed glass has its viscosity within a range of from 10.sup.10.5 to 10.sup.12 poises.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for conveying formed, heated glass sheets from a glass forming station, through a glass tempering station, to a lehr, utilizes a shuttle ring conforming in outline and elevation to the marginal edges of the glass sheet. The shuttle ring receives the glass sheet from the lower shaping mold, by the relative downward vertical movement of the lower shaping mold away from the upper shaping mold. The glass sheet thus deposited on and supported by the shuttle ring is transported through the tempering station to the lehr.

Abstract: In an apparatus for molding glass articles, a plurality of processing chambers including a heating chamber, a press chamber and a cooling chamber are arranged in order along a predetermined circular transport path. The processing chambers are surrounded by a case within a furnace body. A rotary table is driven for intermittent rotation about an axis thereof. The transport path extends in concentric relation to the axis of the rotary table. The rotary table extends radially outwardly to a position below the case. A plurality of sample mounts are mounted on the rotary table and are arranged along the transport path in spaced relation to each other. The sample mounts extend into the processing chambers through a slit formed in a bottom wall of the case. A plurality of molds each having accommodated therein a glass preform to be molded are mounted respectively on the sample mounts.

Abstract: In a press-molding device for lenses, an upper surface of a drag is formed into a molding surface, and a lower surface of a cope is formed into a molding surface. An inner peripheral surface of a guide mold portion is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the drag, and has an axial length longer than that of the outer peripheral surface of the drag so that the inner peripheral surface extends upwardly from the molding surface of the drag. The cope is capable of sliding along the inner peripheral surface. A pressure plate is in contact with an upper surface of the cope before pressing, and is abutted against the upper surface of the guide mold portion by the pressing. A glass preform to be molded is arranged between the molding surfaces of the respective cope and drag. The cope is pressed from above through the pressure plate, thereby molding the glass preform to a lens. The guide mold portion may be divided into a pair of upper and lower portions.

Abstract: Inorganic material resisting to high temperatures for installations intended to form structural glass elements which, owing to the precision and the quality of the forming surface, do not require after forming any other surface treatment. The material is comprised of at least one forming surface based on at least one from the groups of a metal oxide a double metal oxide, and a crystalline solid solution. It has a monocrystalline structure. Preferred materials are Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4 and/or ZrO.sub.2.

Abstract: A pair of bearing rails support a plurality of conveyor rolls in a glass sheet bending station. Each of the bearing rails has a pair of linear actuators pivotally coupled to opposite ends thereof for permitting movement of the bearing rails in a vertical direction. The ends of each bearing rail are also coupled to a pair of roller racks which extend in a generally horizontal direction and are slidably attached to a supporting framework for moving the bearing rails toward and away from one another. The bearing rails are coupled to the roller racks by spherical bearings which permit the bearing rails to be canted or rotated about their longitudinal axes. The vertical, horizontal and rotational adjustments allow the conveyor rolls to be positioned for different configurations of glass sheets as the sheets are transported through the bending station.

Abstract: According to a method of molding a glass body, a glass preform is placed between upper and lower molds of a mold assembly. The mold assembly is then heated to a predetermined heating temperature falling within a heating temperature range corresponding to a glass viscosity range of the glass preform of 10.sup.8 to 10.sup.10.5 poise. A pressure high enough to mold the glass preform is applied between the upper and lower molds when the glass preform is at the predetermined heating temperature, so that an unfinished glass molded body is formed. The pressure is released, and the unfinished glass molded body and the mold assembly are gradually cooled to a temperature within a glass viscosity range of 10.sup.11.5 to 10.sup.14 poise while the unfinished glass molded body is held in the mold assembly. A glass molded body is then released from the mold assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for producing optical elements, provided with a conveyor for transporting carriers for materials of optical elements into an evacuatable process chamber, and with a heating system for the material supported by the carrier, a forming system for the material supported by the carrier while the material is heated by the heating system, and a system for depositing a thin film to the material formed by the forming system and supported by the carrier.

Abstract: Glass which is heated to a softened state is bent from a generally planar state to a curved form while being transported on a moving conveyor made up of a plurality of generally parallel belts. The contour of the conveyor varies from being generally flat adjacent the apparatus inlet to being significantly curved adjacent the apparatus outlet. The softened glass sags under its own weight to conform to the varying conveyor contour.

Abstract: A roller construction is described for use in glass bending apparatus employing an array of curved rods. A tubular sheath is rotatably mounted on a curved rod. The sheath comprises a tubular metal winding that is coaxial with the rod and a coaxial metal meshing adjacent either the inner or outer surface of the winding. Such a sheath provides both good torsional resistance and flexibility in the axial direction. When an array of such curved rods is used to define a cylindrical surface in glass bending apparatus, heated glass sheets may be bent on such array to conform their curvature to the surface defined by the rods.

Abstract: Apparatus for curving and tempering glass sheets, including a furnace for heating the glass sheets to softening temperature, shaping means for curving the heated glass sheets, and means for tempering the curved sheets arranged in tandum. The glass sheet shaping means includes upper and lower complemental pressing units, and a series of relatively narrow endless belts for receiving the glass sheets from the furnace, positioning them between the pressing units for curving and for subsequently delivering the curved sheets to the tempering means. The shaping means also includes means automatically operable to relieve the tension on the endless belts to bring the travel of the glass sheets to a stop between the pressing units during pressing and to reestablish the tension on said belts after pressing to deliver the curved sheets to the tempering means.

Abstract: A flat glass sheet of a given outline configuration is supported in a shaping station by a combination of a gas hearth bed portion and readily replaceable flat plate means comprising spaced plates having spaced edges of conforming shape that define an elongated slot conforming to the outline shape of at least a portion of the periphery of the flat glass sheet. The gas support bed portion provides hot gas under pressure to float the flat glass, and the flat plate means is located in close proximity to an end of the gas hearth bed portion to provide a narrow space at the level of the gas hearth bed portion for escaping gas between the flat plate means and the extending glass sheet portion to limit sag of the extending glass sheet portion. The flat plate means may be covered by material that does not mar hot glass, such as boron nitride, in case the glass sheet portion sags a limited distance to slide in contact with the flat plate means before it is lifted on a shaped, ring-like member.

Abstract: This invention relates to shaping glass sheets by roll forming to either simple or complex curvatures about a single axis of bending or to compound curvatures comprising components of curvature about mutually perpendicular axes of bending by a controlled, repeatable program of roll forming without causing the glass sheets to stop their forward movement during their shaping. The apparatus used to perform this process has a minimum of moving parts, thus minimizing maintenance problems and reducing downtime for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A system for machining a glass workpiece comprises means for rotating the workpiece. A concentrated beam of energy is axially directed to the surface of the workpiece to soften the glass material. The softened glass material is then removed by a pointed or relatively narrow tool which is precisely located with respect to the area treated by the energy beam.

Abstract: A ring-like member for transporting a glass sheet through a cooling station comprising an open-ended outline rail having a transverse space between its ends and a rail member supported between the ends of said outline rail, to occupy a portion of said space. Preferably, a cantilever support that is located entirely within said outline rail and has no structural elements aligned longitudinally of the relatively short spaces between the ends of said outline rail and the ends of said rail member, supports said rail member in a position it would occupy if it were part of said outline rail if its open end were closed.

Abstract: An automatic system and process of shaping and tempering glass pieces comprising reception of a flow of heated glass pieces between upper transverse drive rollers and lower transverse drive rollers, driving and shaping the heated glass pieces between the upper rollers and lower rollers, circulating and deforming the glass pieces alternately between upper and lower positions of the upper and lower rollers, directing an air current upon the glass pieces at the moment the glass pieces circulate in the space between the upper and lower rollers, and discharging the shaped pieces from between the upper and lower rollers.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for handling glass sheets during shaping and cooling, and in particular to a ring-like member having stop means spaced upstream of an outline supporting surface conforming to and slightly inside the periphery of a bent glass sheet supported thereon to define a position for engaging the trailing edge of the glass sheet while conveying the latter in a downstream direction from a shaping station to a cooling station. The ring-like member has a pair of downstream end portions that are transversely spaced from one another to provide a clearance space to permit the ring-like member to begin to return in an upstream direction to the shaping station before the shaped glass sheet is transferred to a position completely downstream of the ring-like member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shaping glass sheets by gravity sagging using a pair of oblique slides to support an opposite pair of edges of a flat glass sheet, which is supported on said slides in shaping relation over an outline shaping mold and heated until it sags to conform to the upward facing shaping surface of the mold disposed between and below said slides. The gist of the present invention is to selectively apply cooling fluid against the glass sheet adjacent one of the opposite glass sheet side edges whenever the opposite side edge begins to slide and sag an observable amount more than the adjacent side edge. The selective application is discontinued when both of the glass sheet edges are in approximate horizontal alignment with one another. If necessary, this process is repeated throughout the gravity sagging operation, thereby ensuring that the glass sheet comes to rest on the peripheral shaping surface of the outline mold in proper alignment therewith.

Abstract: In the roll forming method of shaping glass sheets, glass defects are reduced by employing a mild stream of cooling gas in the vicinity of the lower forming rolls and/or the underside of the glass sheet.During continuing mass production runs at high rates of production extending over long periods, the heated glass sheets heat the surfaces of the lower rotating forming rolls to a significantly higher temperature than that of the upper rotating forming rolls. The present invention reduces the detrimental effects that have been determined by the present invention to be due to this temperature differential between the surface temperature of the upper forming rolls and that of the lower forming rolls.

Abstract: In forming heat-softened sheets by the roll forming method, continuously moving sheets of heat-softenable material, such as glass sheets, are conveyed continuously along a conveyor into a roll forming station, where a pair of sets of rotating shaping rolls move relatively toward one another to provide rolling engagement against the opposite surfaces of each moving glass sheet in succession in spaced relation to the conveyor for sufficient time to shape the sheets. The sets of rotating shaping rolls then move relatively away from one another to redeposit the shaped sheet onto the conveyor. The sheets are flat entering the roll forming station and shaped to a curved configuration on leaving the roll forming station. The present invention relates to a system of conveyor rolls capable of supporting heat-softened sheets that enter the roll forming apparatus in a flat condition and that leave the roll forming apparatus in shaped condition after they have been shaped by roll forming.