JPH04187531A - Optical element molding mold and its adjustment method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an optical element having an excellent thickness accuracy and by detachably applying a spacer of a desired thickness to at least one of a pair of forming mold members for a glass optical element as a forming element. CONSTITUTION:A conveying means 22 for conveying a forming material in a replacing chamber 8 into a forming chamber 6 and further conveying a formed optical element into the replacing chamber 8 is installed near the replacing chamber 8. The forming material conveyed with the conveying means 22 into the forming chamber 6 is received with a heating part 24 and heated to a suitable temperature. The formed optical element is then received from a transfer part 26 with the heating part 24. The forming material in the heating part 24 is transferred to a pressing part 28 with the transfer part 26 and the formed optical element present in the pressing part is further transferred to the heating part 24 with the transfer part 26. The forming material transferred with the transfer part 26 is heated to a suitable temperature with the aforementioned pressing part 28 and then pressed with forming mold members.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a mold for molding an optical element, and more particularly to a mold for obtaining an optical element having an optical functional surface from a molding material by direct press molding.

[Problems to be solved by conventional techniques and inventions] In recent years,
A material for forming an optical element, such as a glass blank preformed to a certain degree of shape and surface accuracy, is placed in a mold with a predetermined surface accuracy and press-molded under heat, after grinding and polishing. A method for manufacturing an optical element having a high-precision optical function surface that does not require processing has been developed.

In such a press molding method, generally, an upper mold member for molding and a lower mold member for molding are arranged slidably facing each other within a copper mold member for molding, and these upper mold member, lower mold member, and body mold member Introduce the molding material into the cavity formed by
To prevent oxidation of the mold member, the atmosphere is set to be a non-oxidizing atmosphere, such as a nitrogen atmosphere, and the molding temperature is, for example, 1011 to 10'! The mold member is heated to a temperature that causes poise, the mold is closed and pressed for an appropriate time to transfer the surface shape of the mold member to the surface of the molding material, and the temperature of the mold member is lowered to a temperature sufficiently lower than the glass transition temperature of the molding material. Cool, remove the press pressure, and open the mold to remove the molded optical element.

The molding material may be preheated to an appropriate temperature before being introduced into the mold member, or the molding material may be heated to a moldable temperature and then introduced into the mold member. Furthermore, while conveying the molding material together with the mold member, heating, pressing, and cooling can be performed at predetermined locations, thereby achieving continuity and speeding up.

The above-mentioned optical element press molding method and its apparatus are disclosed in, for example, JP-A-58-84134 and JP-A-49-97.
Publication No. 009, British Patent No. 378199,
JP-A-63-11529, JP-A-59-1507
This method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 28, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-26528, and the like.

By the way, in the above-mentioned press molding, the thickness of the optical element to be molded is determined by the shape of the cavity formed by abutting the upper mold member and the lower mold member against the body mold member.

However, if the molding is repeated many times, the surface shape of the optically functional surface forming transfer surfaces of the upper mold member and the lower mold member may change or defects may occur on the transfer surfaces.

In this case, since the transfer surface is corrected and polished, the thickness of the optical element to be molded will change if left as is.

For this reason, in the past, the thickness of the optical element was improved by corrective polishing of the transfer surfaces of the upper mold member and lower mold member and also of the abutting portions of the body member with the upper mold member and lower mold member. It was maintained at a constant level.

Such mold adjustment by machining the body mold member is not preferable because it will damage the body mold member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to mold an optical element while maintaining good thickness accuracy even if the upper mold member and the lower mold member are modified without modifying the body mold member. It is.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a molding material made of glass is housed and pressed under heat.
A mold for molding an optical element for molding an optical element having a pair of optically functional surfaces, including a pair of molding mold member and a body mold member having a transfer surface for forming the optically functional surface of the optical element. , the transfer surfaces of the pair of mold members for molding are opposite to each other and are placed so that they can approach and separate from each other, and each of the pair of mold members for molding is directly or By indirectly abutting the two transfer surfaces, the minimum distance between the two transfer surfaces, that is, the distance between the pair of optical functional surfaces of the optical element to be molded, is set, and at least one of the pair of mold members for molding is set. Provided is a mold for molding an optical element, characterized in that a removable spacer is attached to one side of the mold.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an optical element having a pair of optically functional surfaces is molded by housing a molding material made of glass and pressing it under heat. A mold member includes a pair of mold members and a body mold member each having a transfer surface for forming an optically functional surface, and the transfer surfaces of the pair of mold members face each other and are arranged so that they can approach and separate from each other. By directly or indirectly abutting each of the pair of mold members against the barrel mold member, the minimum distance between the two transfer surfaces, that is, the pair of optical functions of the optical element to be molded. In the method for adjusting the minimum distance between the two transfer surfaces of the optical element mold in which the distance between the surfaces is set, a spacer having a desired thickness is provided on at least one of the pair of mold members. Provided is a method for adjusting a mold for molding an optical element, the method comprising the step of:

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an example of a molding apparatus equipped with a mold for molding an optical element according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view along A-B-C-D-E-F thereof. It is.

In the figure, 2 is a casing, and 4a and 4b are supporting legs thereof. A molding chamber 6 and a replacement chamber 8 are formed by the casing so as to be able to be isolated from the outside air. The molding chamber 6 and the replacement chamber 8 are separated by a sealable gate valve 10 provided between them, and the replacement chamber 8 is attached to the side of the molding chamber 6. A gate valve 12 that can be sealed between the exchange chamber 8 and the outside is provided at the lower part of the exchange chamber 8.

A feeding/extracting means 20 is disposed below the gate valve 12 for feeding a molding material from the outside into the replacement chamber 8 and taking out the molded optical element from the inside of the replacement chamber 8 to the outside. ing.

In the vicinity of the replacement chamber 8, there is a transport means for transporting the molding material in the replacement chamber 8 into the molding chamber 6, and further transporting the molded optical element from the molding chamber 6 into the replacement chamber 8. 22 are arranged.

Inside the molding chamber 6, there is a heating section 24. A transfer section 26 and a press section 28 are provided.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, two equivalent press sections P, P2 are provided.

The heating section 24 receives the molding material transported into the molding chamber 6 by the transport means 22, heats the material to an appropriate temperature, and further receives the molded optical element from the transport section 26.

The transfer unit 26 transfers the molding material in the heating unit 24 to the press unit 28, and further transfers the molded optical element in the press unit to the heating unit 24.

The press section 28 heats the molding material transferred by the transfer section 26 to an appropriate temperature and then presses it with a mold member.

The details of each part will be explained below.

In the feeding/unloading means 20, the cylinder 32 is supported by support legs 34a, 34b and arranged in the vertical direction. A piston rod 36 is moved up and down by a cylinder 36, and a mounting table 38 is attached to the upper end of the piston rod on which a molding material or a molded optical element is placed.

The mounting table 38 has two press parts 28 in the molding chamber 6.
Corresponding to the fact that (P,, P2) is provided,
Two mounting sections are provided in a direction perpendicular to the paper plane of FIG. 1 so that two molding materials or molded optical elements can be mounted.

The mounting table 38 is set so that the upper and lower end positions of its vertical movement stroke are inside the exchange chamber 8 and outside the exchange chamber. Of course, when moving the mounting table 38 up and down,
A gate valve 12 attached to the replacement chamber 8 is opened.

In the conveying means 22, a rodless cylinder 42 is supported by rodless cylinder support legs 44a and 44b and is arranged horizontally facing the replacement chamber 8. A bearing 46 is a member that is horizontally reciprocated by the rodless cylinder 42, and the bearing has one end of a horizontal conveyance shaft 48 parallel to the direction of movement of the member, and is rotatable around the axial direction. installed on. The other end of the transport shaft extends into the exchange chamber 8, and a suction means 50 for suctioning a molding material or a molded optical element is attached to the tip thereof. On the other hand, in the bearing, a rotating cylinder 52 is attached to the member 46, and the rotating cylinder 52 is attached to the member 46.
4 is its output gear. Further, a gear 56 that meshes with the gear 54 is fixed to the tip of the conveyance shaft 48, so that the conveyance shaft 48 can be rotated by the rotation cylinder 52.

The suction means 50 is provided with two suction sections on each of the upper and lower surfaces, and the arrangement thereof corresponds to the arrangement of the two placement sections of the placement table 38 (see FIG. 2). The suction portions on the upper and lower surfaces are turned upside down by rotating the transport shaft 48 through 180°. Note that the suction means 50 has a built-in heater.

The horizontal movement of the suction means 50 attached to the conveyance shaft 48 moves from a position in the exchange chamber 8 above the mounting table 38 (the position shown in FIG. 1) to a position in the heating section 24 in the molding chamber 6.
Do this until the position is reached. Of course, when the suction means 50 is moved horizontally, the gate valve 10 between the displacement chamber 8 and the molding chamber 6 is
is in the open state.

In the heating section 24, a cylinder 62 is attached to the casing 2 outside the molding chamber 6 and is arranged in the vertical direction. A piston rod 64 is moved up and down by the cylinder 62, and extends through the casing 2 into the molding chamber 6. At its upper end, there is a mounting table 66 on which a molding material or a molded optical element is placed. is installed. The mounting table 66 is provided with two mounting sections in a direction perpendicular to the paper plane of FIG. 1 so that two molding materials or molded optical elements can be mounted thereon (see FIG. 2).

Above the mounting table 66, a heating cylinder 68 is mounted on a support member 70.
It is placed suspended by. The cylindrical body 68 is open at the bottom, and a heater 72 is attached to its inner surface.

The mounting table 66 is moved up and down from a position below the position where the suction means 50 arrives (the position shown in FIG. 1) to a position inside the heating cylinder 68.

In the transfer section 26, a cylinder 82 is attached to the casing 2 outside the molding chamber 6 and is arranged in the vertical direction. A piston rod 84 is moved up and down by the cylinder 82, and extends through the casing 2 into the molding chamber 6. A rotary sleeve 86 is attached to the outer surface of the rod so as to be relatively rotatable in the vertical direction. There is.

The sleeve passes through the casing 2, and has a bifurcated arm 88a extending horizontally at its upper end.

88b is attached. Adsorption means 90a and 90b are attached to the tips of these arms, respectively. One suction means 90a corresponds to the press part P1, and the other suction means 90b corresponds to the press part P2. A suction section is provided on the lower surface of each suction means. Also, 9
Reference numeral 2 denotes a driving means for rotating the sleeve 86 with respect to the piston rod 84.

The suction means 90a is rotated based on the rotation of the sleeve 86 from a position above the mounting table 66 of the heating section 24 to a position of the press section 28 (P+) including the intermediate position shown in FIG. The suction means 90b is rotated from the position above the mounting table 66 of the heating section 24 to the second position.
The press section 28 (pa
) is necessary.

A fixed cylinder 102 in the vertical direction is fixed to the casing 2 in the press section 28 . The cylinder 104 is the molding chamber 6
It is attached to the lower end of the fixed cylinder 102 on the outside and is arranged in the vertical direction. 106 is cylinder 10
The lower shaft is connected to the piston rod No. 4 and moved up and down, and the lower shaft is accommodated in the fixed cylinder 102 so as to be slidable in the up and down direction.

The lower end of a cylindrical side mold member 110 is placed on the upper end of the fixed cylinder 102 via a ring-shaped heater plate 108, and the lower end is fixed to the fixed cylinder 102 by a presser ring 112. There is. Further, a lower mold member 114 is arranged above the upper end of the lower shaft 106. The lower mold member is housed within the body mold member 110 and is slidable in the vertical direction relative to the side mold members.

Further, a cylinder 122 is attached to the casing 2 outside the molding chamber 6 and is arranged in the vertical direction. 124 is an upper shaft connected to the piston rod of the cylinder 122 and moved up and down, and the upper shaft is connected to the lower shaft 1.
02 and coaxially with the lower axis.

The lower end surface of the upper shaft 124 has a convex spherical shape, and 126
is a spherical seat having a concave spherical upper surface corresponding to the convex spherical shape. The spherical seat 126 exhibits a self-centering function during pressing. The upper mold member 1 is located below the spherical seat 126.
An upper end flange portion 28 is disposed, and the upper end flange portion is locked by a retainer ring 130 that fixes the upper shaft. The upper mold member 128 is housed within the body mold member 110 and is slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the side mold members.

surface, the upper end surface of the lower mold member 114 and the upper mold member 12
The lower end surface of 8 is a transfer surface for forming an optically functional surface of an optical element to be molded, and is finished to a desired surface precision.

Refrigerant flow paths C, C2 are provided in the lower shaft 106 and the upper shaft 124, respectively. Further, heaters H1°H, , H, are built in the heater plate 108, the side mold member 110, and the lower part of the upper shaft 124, respectively.

Although not shown, the lower mold member 114 and the upper mold member 128 each have a built-in thermocouple for temperature detection.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, in a mold including an upper mold member 128, a lower mold member 114, and a side mold member 110, as shown in FIG. A removable spacer l is provided at the abutting portion between the side mold member 110 and the side mold member 110.
28a is interposed, and a removable spacer 1 is provided at the abutting portion between the lower mold member 114 and the side mold member 110.
14a is interposed. The thicknesses of these two spacers are set so that the closest distance between the transfer surface of the upper mold member 128 and the transfer surface of the lower mold member 114 is a predetermined value.

Next, the operation of the above device will be explained. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation timing of each part.

The inside of the molding chamber 6 is filled with a nitrogen atmosphere by a nitrogen gas supply system (not shown) (initially, the gate valves 10 and 12 are closed.

First, the gate valve 12 is opened (T,), two molding materials are placed on the mounting table 38 in the lower position shown in FIG. is introduced into the displacement chamber 8 through the valve 12 (
T1). In the exchange chamber, the molding material is adsorbed by the lower suction portion of the suction means 50. The rotating position of the suction means 50 at this time is defined as a reference state, and the state rotated by 180 degrees from this position is defined as an inverted state. The adsorption is performed by an air suction means (not shown).

Next, the mounting table 38 is lowered a little, the conveyance shaft 48 is rotated 180 degrees by the rotary cylinder 52, and the suction means 50 is turned upside down in the replacement chamber 8 (T2). As a result, the molding material is positioned on the upper surface side of the suction means 50.

Next, the mounting table 38 is lowered from a position inside the exchange chamber 8 to a lower position outside the exchange chamber (Ts).

Next, the gate valve 12 is closed (T4), the pressure inside the displacement chamber 8 is reduced by a pressure reduction means (not shown), and the molding material is preheated by a heater built in the adsorption means 50.

Next, nitrogen gas is supplied into the substitution chamber 8 by a nitrogen gas supply system (not shown) to fill the substitution chamber 8 with a nitrogen atmosphere, and then the gate valve IO is opened (T,).

Then, the conveying shaft 48 is moved toward the molding chamber 6 by the cylinder 42, and the suction means 50 is moved to the heating section 24 in the molding chamber 6.
is positioned above the mounting table 66 at the lower limit position (I6).

Next, at this position, the conveyor shaft 48 is moved by the rotary cylinder 52.
is rotated 180° and the adsorption means 50 is turned upside down (
I7).

Then, the mounting table 66 is slightly raised by the cylinder 62 of the heating section, and the molding material adsorbed on the lower surface side of the suction means 50 is placed on the mounting table 66 by releasing the suction.

Note that, prior to the arrival of the suction means 50, the mounting table 66 is raised to the upper limit position by the cylinder 62 (T
, ), is placed in the heating cylinder 68 for an appropriate time, heated to an appropriate temperature, and then lowered to the lower position shown in FIG. 1 (T). Therefore, when a molding material is placed on the mounting table 66, the material will not crack due to temperature shock.

Next, by slightly lowering the mounting table 66 to the lower limit position and moving the transport shaft 48 in the horizontal direction, the suction means 50 is retreated to the replacement chamber 8 (T,), and the gate valve 10 is closed ('r,). .

Note that the mounting table 66 on which the molding material is mounted is raised to the upper limit position (Te) by the cylinder 62 after T8 and before I9, and is placed in the heating cylinder 68 for an appropriate time. As a result, it is heated to an appropriate temperature, and after I9, it is lowered to the lower position shown in FIG. 1 (I6).

Next, the arms 88a and 88b are rotated by the rotation drive means 92.
First, the suction means 90a is positioned above the mounting table 66 (Tlo), and the mounting table 66 is slightly raised by the cylinder 62 of the heating section, and the first molding material on the mounting table 66 is rotated. is adsorbed by the suction means 90a, and the mounting table 66 is lowered slightly again. The adsorption is performed by an air suction means (not shown).

Next, the arm 88a is rotated by the rotation driving means 92.

88b is rotated to move the suction means 90a to the first press section P1 (T, , ). Here, the adsorption means 90
The molding material G1 adsorbed by a is the molding member 11
The suction means 90a is introduced into the body-shaped member through the opening 111 provided on the side of the body (FIG. 4(a)), and the suction means 90a is slightly lowered by the cylinder 82 of the transfer section (Fig. 4(a)).
4(b)), a molding material is placed on the lower mold member 114 (FIG. 4(C)).

Surface, T above. At T, the suction means 90b is moved to the second press section P2.

In this case, the suction means 90b is positioned above the mounting table 66. Then, at T11, the mounting table 66 is slightly raised by the cylinder 62 of the heating section, and the mounting table 66 is raised slightly by the cylinder 62 of the heating section.
The upper second molding material is adsorbed by the suction means 90b, and the mounting table 66 is lowered slightly again.

Then, by rotating the arms 88a and '8'8b,
Move the suction means 90b to the second press section P (
T, 3). Here, as in the case of the first press part P, the molding material being sucked by the suction means 90b is introduced into the body molding member through the opening provided on the side surface of the molding member 110. Then, the suction means 90b is lowered slightly by the cylinder 82, and the molding material is placed on the lower mold member 114.

Next, by rotating the arms 88a and 88b, the suction means 9
Return 0b from the second press part to the intermediate position ('T,,)
. Note that at step 712, the suction means 90a is positioned above the mounting table 66, and at T I4, the suction means 90a returns to the intermediate position.

The state shown in FIG. 2 is thus obtained.

Next, press forming is performed in the two press sections 28 (P'+, P2).

Incidentally, when the molding material G1 is introduced into the body mold member 110, the upper shaft 124 is pulled upward by the cylinder 122, thereby causing the above-mentioned FIGS.
), the upper mold member 128 has moved to an upper position within the body mold member 110, so that the opening 111 in the side of the body mold member communicates with the cavity in the mold member, The molding material Gl is introduced into the cavity from here.

During pressing, the upper shaft 124 is moved downward by the cylinder 122, and the upper die member 128 closes the opening 111 of the body die member 110, thereby closing the cavity. Then, the upper mold member 128 is further pressed downward,
Further, by moving the lower mold member 114 upward by the cylinder 104, the molding material in the cavity is press-molded, and the optical element G2 is formed (FIG. 4(d)).

The press molding is performed for an appropriate time after heating the molding material with heaters H,,H,, Hz until it reaches a moldable viscosity, and after molding into a cavity shape, the refrigerant flow path C,,C, A coolant is passed through the molded optical element to cool it.

Thereafter, the upper shaft 124 is raised to open the opening 111 on the side of the body member.

Then, the suction means 90a and 90b of the transfer section 26 are moved in almost the reverse order of the introduction of the molding material into the press section 28, and the first press section P1 and the second press section P2 are moved.
The molded optical elements are each sucked and taken out, placed on the mounting table 66 of the heating section 24, and finally the suction means 90a,
90b in the intermediate position shown in FIG.
~T19).

In addition, after the above T13 and before T16.

The mounting table 66 is raised by the cylinder 62 and moved into the heating cylinder 68 at (T,), heated to an appropriate temperature, and then moved to the lower position shown in FIG. 1 (Tr). . This is the same process as T and Tb above.

On the other hand, in the same manner as T0 to T6 above, the gate valve 12
is opened, a new molding material on the mounting table 38 is adsorbed by the suction means 50 in the replacement chamber 8, preheated, and conveyed to the heating section 24 in the molding chamber 6 (Tzo-T2.) .

On the other hand, the timing of the above Tag is adjusted so that it is after the above T19.

Then, the mounting table 66 is slightly raised, the molded optical element on the mounting table is sucked by the lower suction part of the suction means 50, and after the mounting table 66 is slightly lowered, the suction means 50 is lowered. Turn it over (T2.), then raise the mounting table 66 a little, and place the molding material that has been sucked on the newly lower suction part on the mounting table 66 (.

Then, in the same manner as T6 to T above, the adsorption means 50 is moved from the heating section 24 into the replacement chamber 8 (T2.), and then the gate valve 10 is closed (T2.).

Similarly to the above Te-T, the mounting table 66 on which the molding material is placed is raised to the upper limit position by the cylinder 62 after the above T zg and before T 29 (CTt), and the heating cylinder By being placed in the body 68 for an appropriate time, it is heated to an appropriate temperature and is lowered to the lower position shown in FIG. 1 after Tzs (Th).

Hereinafter, in the transfer section 26 and the press section 28, the above-mentioned T
10'''T1e is performed.

On the other hand, the gate valve 12 is opened (T,.), and the mounting table 38 on which a new molding material is placed is raised (Ts.
+), after being sucked by the lower suction part of the suction means 50 in the replacement chamber 8, the mounting table 38 is lowered a little, and then the conveying shaft 48 is rotated 180 degrees by the rotary cylinder 52, and the suction means 50 is Turn it upside down (Ta2), raise the mounting table 38 a little, and place the molded optical element on the mounting table 38, which is now adsorbed on the suction part that is now on the lower side.Next, the mounting table 38 is It is lowered to the outside of the replacement chamber 8 (T, , ), and the gate valve 12 is closed (7.4).

As described above, the molding material placed on the mounting table 38 is press-molded and collected on the mounting table.

Thereafter, press molding can be performed continuously by repeating the same process.

In FIG. 5 above, two spacers 128a, 114
The thickness of a is set as follows. That is, first, the thickness of the spacer 114a is set so that the transfer surface of the lower mold member 114 is at a predetermined height position with respect to the opening 111 of the mold adjusting member 110, and the transfer surface of the upper mold member 128 and the lower mold member 114 are Spacer 128 is placed so that the closest distance to the transfer surface is a predetermined value.
Set the thickness of a.

Therefore, if the transfer surface of the upper mold member or the transfer surface of the lower mold member is corrected and polished after many times of molding, the spacers 128a and 114a may be replaced with ones having the thickness set as described above, if necessary. By doing so, it is possible to easily obtain an optical element having a desired thickness, and furthermore, the operations of introducing the molding material into the mold and taking out the molded optical element from the mold can be performed smoothly as originally set.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the mold of the present invention, and shows the same parts as in FIG. 5 above.

In this embodiment, the positions of the upper mold member transfer surface and the lower mold member transfer surface with respect to the mold member 11O during press molding are different from those in FIG.
A spacer 114a is interposed between the lower plate and the lower die member 114.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the mold of the present invention, and shows the same parts as in FIG. 6 above.

In this embodiment, a spacer 114a is interposed only between the lower plate 140 and the lower die member 114.

In this embodiment, since the thickness of the optical element is set using only one spacer 114a, after the upper mold member is corrected and polished, the transfer surface of the lower mold member 114 is aligned with the opening of the mold adjusting member 110.
Although the position is not at a predetermined height relative to No. 11, this is still sufficiently practical if the introduction of the molding material into the mold and the removal of the molded optical element from the mold are not automated.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a spacer of a desired thickness is removably attached to at least one of the pair of mold members, thereby forming a pair of mold members. Even if at least one of them is modified, an optical element can be molded at low cost and with good thickness accuracy maintained without modifying the shaping member.

Furthermore, when automating the operations of introducing an optical element into a mold and taking out a molded optical element from the mold, even if at least one of a pair of mold members is modified, the desired thickness can be achieved. By using a spacer, the operations of introducing the molding material and taking out the molded optical element can be performed smoothly as originally set, and prevent the glass from being damaged due to contact between the introducing/removing means and the glass. In addition, it is possible to prevent the glass from becoming inoperable due to a decrease in the glass holding force of the introducing/extracting means.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an example of a molding apparatus equipped with a mold for molding an optical element according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view along A-B-C-D-E-F thereof. It is. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation timing of each part of the molding apparatus. FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are all schematic cross-sectional views of the press section of the above-mentioned molding apparatus. 5 to 7 are views showing examples of the mold for molding an optical element according to the present invention. 6: Molding room, 8. Replacement chamber, 10, 12: Gate valve, 20: Feeding/extracting means, 22: Conveying means, 24: Heating section, 26: Transfer section,
28. Press part, 38: Placing table, 48: Conveying shaft, 50: Adsorption means, 66, Placing table, 68: Heating cylinder, 90a, 90b: Adsorption means, 106: Lower shaft, 110: Body member, 114: Lower mold member, 124: upper shaft, 128: upper mold member, 114a, 128a+spacer, H, H, ~H3: heater, C,, C2: refrigerant flow path, p,, p2 nibless part. Agent Patent Attorney Seki Yamashita Children Figure 4 (0) (b) j28. 128 (C) (d) Figure 5 114' ll4a '140' (114114a 140 Procedural Amendment dated October 28, 1991, Wataru Fukasawa, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office), Case Indication Patent Application No. 2-315965 2, Name of the invention: Mold for molding optical elements and its adjustment method 3. Relationship with the amended person's case Name of patent applicant (100) Canon Co., Ltd. 4, Agent:
105 δ03 (3431) 18316, Contents of amendment (1) Part of the "Detailed Description of the Invention" in the specification attached to the application is amended as follows. (2) Correct the following from line 4 on page 19 of the specification tube to line 17 on page 20. [Next, nitrogen gas is supplied into the substitution chamber 8 by a nitrogen gas supply system (not shown), and after filling the substitution chamber 8 with a nitrogen atmosphere, the gate valve 10 is opened (T5). Then, the conveying shaft 48 is moved toward the molding chamber 6 by the cylinder 42, and the suction means 50 is moved to the heating section 24 in the molding chamber 6.
lead to the position <(Ts). In addition, the mounting table 66 is raised to the upper limit position by the cylinder 62 at timing 9 (for example, T) prior to the arrival of the suction means 50, and is further held in the processing cylinder 68 for an appropriate time (T, to T), it is heated to an appropriate temperature, and then (at the above-mentioned timing T6)
), it is lowered to the position shown in FIG. In this state, the transport shaft 48 is
By rotating 180 degrees, the suction means 50, which has already reached the top of the mounting table 66, is turned upside down (T
7). Then, the mounting table 66 is slightly raised to bring it close to the lower surface of the suction means 50, and in this state, the suction means 50
0 is released, and the molding material is received on the mounting table 66. Therefore, since the mounting table 66 is heated in advance, when a molding material is placed on it, the material will not crack due to temperature shock. Next, the mounting table 66 is lowered to the position (lower limit position) shown in FIG.
,). In this state, close the gate valve 10 (T,)
. Note that the mounting table 66 on which the molding material is placed is raised by the action of the cylinder 62 after the suction means 50 retreats into the replacement chamber 8 (T6), and from that time on, the gate valve 10 is closed ( T9), and is placed in the heating cylinder 68 for an appropriate period of time (from Tc to T6) until the next timing T10 (described later), and heated to an appropriate temperature. 2) The text from line 16 on page 21 of the specification to line 17 on the same page is corrected as follows. "On the other hand, at the same timing as the above T1°, the suction means 90
b is moved to the second press section P, and the same <T, .
"The timing of this," he corrected. 3) The lines from page 24, line 15 to page 25, line 8 of the specification are corrected as follows. [In addition, in the process of press molding, that is, timing T
In the process from I4 to Tea, in order to heat the mounting table 66, the mounting table 66 is heated by the heating cylinder 68 by operating the cylinder 62.
(T, ) and heat it to an appropriate temperature.
While the rotation drive means 92 is in the intermediate position, that is,
Timing T1. Before, by operating the cylinder 62,
The mounting table 66 is lowered to hold the molded material in a removable state. This is the same as the steps T and T described above. The step of taking out the formed material after the press molding is completed is realized in addition to the step of taking in the press molded material described above. That is, after the suction means 50 retreats to the replacement chamber 8, the new molding material is taken in in the same manner as the timings T0 to T6 (T, ... - Taa), and the timing T18 corresponds to the timing T18. T1. , is set to be later. Then, before the suction means 50 introduced into the heating section 24 in the above-mentioned molding material taking-in process returns from the inverted position to the reference position (T2. to T1.), the suction means 50 is placed on the empty surface (i.e., the lower surface) of the suction means. , the formed material on the mounting table 66 is adsorbed. That is, at the stage when the suction means 50 reaches above the mounting table 66, the above-mentioned mounting table 6
6 will be slightly raised, and the description will be corrected from page 25, line 20 to page 26, line 6 of the specification as follows. ``In addition, similar to the above-mentioned Tc-T, the mounting table 66 on which the molding material is placed is later lifted into the heating cylinder 68 by the cylinder 62 (T,) and heated to an appropriate temperature. Then, by operating the rotary drive means 92, the molding material is
0a and 90b are each moved to the heating section 24, and before adsorbing the molding material from the mounting table 66, they are lowered to the lower limit position (see FIG. 1) by operating the cylinder 62, and wait ( (2) Among the drawings attached to the application, Figure 3 should be corrected as attached.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an optical element mold for molding an optical element having a pair of optically functional surfaces by accommodating a molding material made of glass and pressing it under heat, the optically functional surfaces of the optical element are formed. a pair of mold members and a body mold member each having a transfer surface for the purpose of transferring the mold member, and the transfer surfaces of the pair of mold members are arranged so as to face each other and to be able to approach and separate from each other; By abutting each of the pair of mold members directly or indirectly against the body mold member, the minimum distance between the two transfer surfaces, that is, the distance between the pair of optically functional surfaces of the optical element to be molded, is determined. The settings are as shown below.
A mold for molding an optical element, characterized in that a removable spacer is attached to at least one of the pair of mold members. (2) In order to mold an optical element having a pair of optically functional surfaces by housing a molding material made of glass and pressing it under heat, it has a transfer surface for forming the optically functional surfaces of the optical element. The pair of mold members includes a pair of mold members and a body mold member, and are arranged so that the transfer surfaces of the pair of mold members face each other and can approach and separate from each other, and the pair of mold members An optical device configured to set the minimum distance between the two transfer surfaces, that is, the distance between a pair of optical functional surfaces of the optical element to be molded, by directly or indirectly abutting each of the members against the barrel member. In the method for adjusting the minimum distance between the two transfer surfaces of the element molding mold, the optical element molding method is characterized in that a spacer having a desired thickness is provided on at least one of the pair of molding mold members. How to adjust the mold.