APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING GLASS OPTICAL ELEMENT AND GLASS OPTICAL ELEMENT PRODUCED THEREBY

• Main Author: YONEDA YASUHIRO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.09.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; GLASS; MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES; METALLURGY; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method which are capable of producing a glass optical element free from the damage to the shape or the appearance of the optical element and having excellent heating efficiency even if a space could be formed between a forming mold surface and a glass material. SOLUTION: The method for manufacturing the glass optical element by using the forming mold comprising upper and lower dies at least one of which is vertically movable and press-forming the softened glass material has a process for reducing a pressure within the forming mold atmosphere and discharging the gas within the forming mold atmosphere before the glass material placed in the forming mold is heated to a press-forming temperature when the upper and the lower dies come into contact with the glass material and a space is formed between the glass material and at least one forming surface of the upper and the lower dies, a process for tightly closing the space, a process for introducing a gas into the forming mold atmosphere and heating or heat-equalizing the glass material and a process for press-forming by applying a press load to the glass material. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI