JPH0355417B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a glass molding device, and particularly to a glass molding device that is capable of transporting molds without contacting other molds, and is capable of thermally insulating different temperature regions. Therefore, the mold and the atmosphere are improved so that they are not influenced by each other.

[Conventional technology]

Among the manufacturing methods for glass products including optical elements such as lenses, prisms, and filters, the forming method in which the glass to be formed is placed in a mold and heated and pressurized to form it into a predetermined shape is based on polishing. Compared to other manufacturing methods, this method has the great advantage of being able to manufacture even aspherical lenses easily in a shorter period of time. However, the molding method using heat and pressure has a direct negative effect on the precision of the lens due to the oxidation of the mold, and it is difficult to produce lenses of optical order (surface accuracy of 5 newtons, 1 or less, and surface roughness of 0.03 μm or less). As a countermeasure to this problem, an optical element molding apparatus (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 152229/1982) is designed to mold in an inert gas (or reducing gas) atmosphere as shown in FIG. 6, which makes molding difficult.
It has been known. This eliminates the need for suction and exhaust operations for the entire housing 1 by providing an exchange chamber 11 for exchanging atmospheric air and inert gas within the housing 1 that performs the functions of heating, pressure forming, and cooling the glass to be formed. , to improve work efficiency. The inside of the housing 1 is filled with inert gas,
For example, it is maintained at a predetermined atmospheric pressure with nitrogen gas (N ₂ ),
Further, inside the housing 1, there are a heating part A having a heater 12 for heating the mold W, a pressure molding part B having a vertically movable cylinder 2 for pressing the mold W, and A cooling section C is provided to slowly cool down the mold W after processing, and a bell gear 4 forming the exchange chamber 11 is provided upstream of the heating section A.
is provided. The mold W is composed of a lower mold 15a, an upper mold 15b, and a sleeve 15c, and a glass to be formed 16 is installed between the lower mold 15a and the upper mold 15b. The bell gear 4 is moved up and down by a cylinder 3 inserted into the housing 1, and the exchange chamber 11 is formed by the bell gear 4 and the elevating plate 6. The elevating plate 6 is attached to a rod 5 that is moved up and down by a cylinder (not shown), and is fitted into an opening 13 provided in the housing 1 in order to guide the mold W into the housing 1 when it is placed. will be combined. At this time, the bell jar 4 is at the lowest position shown in FIG. 6 and closes the opening 13.
Then, when the elevating plate 6 is fitted into the opening 13, the air in the exchange chamber 11 is exhausted by the vacuum pump 8, and then the valve 9 is tightened to guide the inert gas 10 into the exchange chamber 11. The chamber 11 is brought into the same atmospheric state as the inside of the housing 1. When the exchange chamber 11 is replaced with an atmosphere of inert gas 10, the bell jar 4
is raised by the cylinder 3 as shown by the two-dot chain line, and the mold W on the lifting plate 6 is transferred to the heating section A by the rod 7. S is a spacer that prevents adjacent molds W from contacting each other, and these molds W
The spacer S is pressed by the rod 7 and moves forward. Then, when the glass is fed into the pressure molding section B, the cylinder 2 descends to push up the upper die 15b and mold the glass 16 to be molded. Next, it is fed into the cooling section C, allowing continuous molding of the mold W.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in such a conventional optical element molding apparatus, since the mold W is simply pressed and moved by the rod 7, the mold W cannot be transported within the housing 1 without inserting the spacer S. Therefore, the use of the spacer S increases the time for vacuum evacuation and inert gas replacement, resulting in a longer molding cycle time, in other words, a problem of poor productivity. Furthermore, since the mold W and the spacer S move in series, the boundaries between the heating section A and the processing and forming section B, and between the processing and forming section B and the cooling section C can be thermally isolated using a shielding plate or the like. The above parts A, B, and C are affected by heat.
It is difficult to control the temperature at each time. Further, there was a problem that the mold W itself was subjected to heat conduction from an adjacent mold via the spacer S.

[Means for solving problems]

The glass forming apparatus according to the present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the first invention is that the conveying means for conveying the mold sent into the housing is connected to a heating section, a pressurizing molding section, etc. A rod that extends in common with the mold section and the cooling section and is movable forward and backward and rotatable about an axis, and a rod that protrudes from the circumferential surface of the rod at a predetermined interval and that rotates when the mold is transferred. The mold pressing arm is rotated to the mold pressing position by the rod, and presses and moves each mold by the advancement of the rod.

Further, the second invention according to the present invention provides a conveying means for conveying the mold sent into the housing, which extends in common to the heating section, the pressure molding section, and the cooling section, and is movable forward and backward, and is centered on an axis. A rotatable rod is provided protruding from the circumferential surface of the rod at a predetermined interval, and when the mold is transferred, the rod is rotated to a mold pressing position and moved forward to press each mold. A heat shielding plate is provided at the boundary between the heating section and the pressure forming section and between the pressure forming section and the cooling section, respectively, so that the heat shielding plate can move forward and backward. By retracting the mold during transfer, the heating section, pressure molding section, and cooling section are connected in series.

[Effect]

In the first invention, the mold can be transported without coming into contact with other molds, eliminating the need for a spacer. Therefore, the steps of vacuum evacuation and inert gas replacement for the spacer can be omitted.
Improve productivity.

Furthermore, since the second invention uses a heat shielding plate that can move forward and backward, the molds and atmosphere in the heating section, pressure forming section, and cooling section are less affected by each other, making temperature control easier. Also, by retracting during mold transfer, it does not interfere with the mold and the conveyance means, allowing smooth and reliable mold transfer.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the glass forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the housing taken out, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of essential parts showing the state in which the mold is transported by the transport means. Note that the same components and portions in the figure as in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted. In these figures, a housing 1 has a sealed cylindrical body, and the inside thereof is maintained at a predetermined atmospheric pressure with an inert gas to prevent the mold W from oxidizing. Further, inside the housing 1, three cylindrical blocks 25, 26, and 27 each made of a heat insulating material are arranged coaxially at appropriate intervals in the axial direction of the housing 1, and the inside of each block is heated. It constitutes a section A, a pressure molding section B, and a cooling section C. Each cylindrical block 25, 26, 27 consists of two semi-cylindrical bodies 25a and 25 which are vertically arranged facing each other at appropriate intervals.
b, 26a, 26b, 27a and 27b, and heaters 12 are arranged on the inner peripheral surfaces thereof, respectively. In addition, each cylindrical block 25, 26, 2
Guide rails 29A, 29B, and 29C for transferring the mold W are arranged inside the mold 7.
These rails 29A, 29B, and 29C are set and maintained at the same height. The heating section A and the pressure forming section B, and the pressure forming section B and the cooling section C are formed by heat shielding plates 31 and 32 inserted between adjacent cylindrical blocks 25 and 26 and 26 and 27 so as to be able to move forward and backward, respectively.
Thermal insulation is provided by Each of the heat shielding plates 3
1 and 32 are raised by a cylinder (not shown) when the mold W is transferred, thereby making the heating section A, pressure molding section B, and cooling section C communicate with each other in series.

A vertically movable gate valve 34 is provided on the front surface of the housing 1, and a case 35 forming the exchange chamber 11 is provided on the surface of the gate valve 34.
are arranged with their openings closely spaced. Inside the case 35, a rod 7 serving as a mold feeding means for feeding the mold W into the housing 1 is inserted so as to be movable forward and backward, and a guide rail 29D is provided. A mold insertion opening 38 is provided which is opened and closed by twisting the mold.

The mold W fed into the housing 1 from the exchange chamber 11 is conveyed at a predetermined interval into the housing 1, and the heating section A, the pressure molding section B, and the cooling section C are sequentially moved. A conveying means 40 for passing is provided. This conveying means 40 includes a rod 42 that is disposed to extend in common to one side of each of the cylindrical blocks 25, 26, 27 and pass through the housing 1 in its axial direction.
A plurality of mold pressing arms 43A, 43, for example, three mold pressing arms 43A, 43, protrude in the radial direction at required intervals on the circumferential surface of the mold presser 2.
B, 43C. Said rod 42
is configured to be moved forward and backward in its axial direction by a drive means (not shown) and rotated by a predetermined angle, for example 90°, about the axis. Each mold pressing arm 43A, 43B, 43C is the first
As shown by the two-dot chain lines in Figs.
When the mold W is transferred, it is rotated together with the rod 42 toward the cylindrical blocks 25, 26, and 27.
The semi-cylindrical bodies 25a, 26a, 27a enter the heating section A, pressure molding section B and cooling section C through vertical grooves 46, 47 and 48, respectively, and are set and held at a substantially horizontal mold pressing position. Ru. the vertical groove 46,
47, 48 are the mold pressing arms 43A, 43B,
Each semi-cylindrical body 2 has a groove width larger than the diameter of 43C.
5a, 26a, 27a, and the rod 42 is opened at the lower end of each semi-cylindrical body 25a, 25b, 26a.
and 26b, and are arranged corresponding to the gaps between 27a and 27b. Note that 50 is an O-ring.

Next, the operation of the glass forming apparatus having such a configuration will be explained.

First, open the lid 39 and insert the mold W into the mold insertion opening 38.
The air in the exchange chamber 11 is evacuated by the vacuum pump 8 and replaced with an inert gas such as N ₂ . Gate valve 3 after completion of replacement
4 is opened, and the mold W in the exchange chamber 11 is moved by the rod 7 into the housing 1, specifically onto the guide rail 29A of the heating section A. and rod 7
while retracting the gate valve 3 to its original position.
Close 4 again. At this time, each heat shield plate 31, 32
partitions the heating section A and the pressure forming section B and the pressure forming section B and the cooling section C, respectively, and the conveying means 4
When conveyance of the mold W by the mold W is started, the mold W is moved upward to connect the heating part A, the pressure molding part B, and the cooling part C in series. The mold W is transported by the transport means 40 by rotating the rod 42 clockwise in FIG.
are inserted into each of the heating section A, pressure forming section B, and cooling section C through the vertical grooves 46, 47, and 48, respectively, and then the rod 42 is moved forward at a required speed. 43C is performed by pushing the molds W on the guard rails 29A, 29B, and 29C forward from the rear, respectively. When the mold W is moved forward by a predetermined distance, the rod 42 is moved back to its original position, and then the rod 42 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Grooves 46, 47,
From 48, heating section A, pressure forming section B and cooling section C
and return to the original initial position. By repeating the above operations, each mold W sequentially passes through the heating section A, pressure forming section B, and cooling section C, making continuous molding possible. Note that the heat shielding plates 31 and 32 are lowered except during the transportation period of the mold W to isolate heat from the heating section A and the pressure forming section B, and between the pressure forming section B and the cooling section C, respectively.

Thus, in the glass forming apparatus having such a configuration, the heating section A and the pressure forming section B and the pressure forming section B and the cooling section C are separated by the heat shield plates 31 and 32.
Since the mold W is insulated from heat except when transporting the mold W, it is easy to control the temperature of each part, and the mold W
Also, each part is less affected by each other, and the molds W before and after can be brought to the required temperature. Further, the conveying means 40 is a mold pressing arm 43.
A, 43B, and 43C are configured to press and move the mold W, respectively, so the sixth
Unlike the conventional device shown in the figure, there is no need to interpose a spacer between the molds, and therefore there is no need for vacuum evacuation and inert gas replacement processes for spacer insertion, improving productivity. can.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of essential parts showing another embodiment of the conveyance means. In this embodiment, an arc-shaped pressing plate 60 is provided at the tip of each mold pressing arm 43 to prevent the mold W from moving in the left-right direction. In such a configuration, the guide rails 29A, 29B, and 29C can be shaped like a flat plate instead of being concave.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the mold pressing arm 43 (43
A, 43B, 43C) are provided for each heating section A, pressure forming section B, and cooling section C, but the present invention is not limited to this. You may also provide one.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the first aspect of the present invention, the conveying means is composed of a rod that passes through the housing in a freely movable and rotatable manner, and a mold pressing arm provided on this rod. The molds can be transported at the same time without coming into contact with each other, and the use of spacers, which were conventionally required, can be eliminated. Therefore, handling is easy and productivity can be improved, and the seal structure is also simple. In addition, in the second aspect of the present invention, the heating part, the pressure molding part, and the cooling part are thermally insulated by a heat shield plate that can move forward and backward. and is less likely to be thermally affected by adjacent areas with different temperatures.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the housing, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of essential parts of the conveying means.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of essential parts showing another embodiment of the conveying means, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the conventional device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Housing, 7...Rod, 11...Shipping chamber, 15a...Lower mold, 15b...Upper mold, 16...
...Glass to be formed, 25, 26, 27...Cylindrical block, 31, 32...Heat shielding plate, 40...Transporting means, 42...Rod, 43A, 43B, 43C...
...Mold pressing arm, A...Heating section, B...Pressure molding section, C...Cooling section, W...Mold.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A housing having a heating section, a pressure forming section, and a cooling section installed therein in series and filled with an inert gas, and a housing provided immediately before the heating section that houses the glass to be formed. an exchange chamber that exchanges air with inert gas when a mold is inserted into the housing; a conveying means for conveying the mold at predetermined intervals and passing through the heating section, pressure forming section, and cooling section sequentially; A rod having a common length, movable forward and backward, and rotatable about an axis, and a rod protruding from the circumferential surface of the rod at a required interval to prevent the rod from moving when the mold is transferred. A glass molding device comprising a plurality of mold pressing arms that are rotated to a mold pressing position. 2 A housing in which a heating section, a pressure forming section, and a cooling section are provided in series and filled with an inert gas, and a mold provided immediately before the heating section and containing glass to be formed is inserted. When the mold is transferred, there is an exchange chamber for exchanging air with inert gas, and a heating section and a pressure molding section, and a pressure molding section and a cooling section, respectively, which are partitioned off and moved back and forth. , a heat shield plate that serially communicates the pressure molding section and the cooling section; a mold feeding means that is movable forward and backward for feeding the mold in the exchange chamber into the housing; a conveying means for conveying at predetermined intervals and sequentially passing through the heating section, pressure forming section, and cooling section, and this conveying means is common to the heating section, pressure forming section, and cooling section. A rod having an extending length is disposed so as to be freely movable forward and backward and rotatable about an axis, and a rod is protruded from the circumferential surface of the rod at a required interval to prevent rotation of the rod during mold transfer. 1. A glass molding device comprising a plurality of mold pressing arms that are rotated to a mold pressing position by motion.