JPH0434401A - Method and apparatus for producing composite optical element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the composite optical element which shuts off the outer peripheral surface of a photosetting resin from the oxygen in the atm. air and is free from uncured parts by curing the photosetting resin while maintaining an nonoxidative gaseous atmosphere near the outer peripheral surface of the resin. CONSTITUTION:The resin molding surface of a lens blank 1 is previously subjected to a coupling treatment and the molding surface of a forming mold 5 is subjected to a mold parting treatment. The lens blank 1 is then imposed on a lens holding part 3 and the photosetting resin 4 is discharged onto the resin molding surface of the lens blank 1. The forming mold 5 is thereafter lowered to force expand the photosetting resin 4 to a prescribed thickness. Gaseous nitrogen 17 is then ejected from a clearance 13 via a tube 15 and a flow passage 12 by a gaseous nitrogen supplying and control device. The photosetting resin 4 is irradiated with rays 2 for curing the resin through the through-hole 3a of the lens holding part 3 while the gaseous nitrogen 17 is kept injected. The atmosphere of the gaseous nitrogen 17 is maintained around the outer peripheral surface of the photosetting resin 4 in this way, by which the resin is held shut off from the oxygen in the air. The composite optical element having no uncured parts is thus obtd.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a composite optical element using a photocurable resin.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the following inventions have been disclosed as apparatuses for manufacturing composite optical elements using photocurable resins.

For example, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-288030, a photocurable resin is discharged between one spherical surface of a lens blank mainly made of double-sided spherical surfaces of glass and a mold that is mainly aspherical. A manufacturing device has been proposed in which a composite optical element is obtained by spreading a photocurable resin with a mold, irradiating the resin with light from the opposite side of the mold, curing the resin, and then releasing the resin from the mold. ing.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the above-mentioned conventional technology has the following drawbacks.

That is, many of the photocurable resins currently used as resin materials for composite optical elements have the characteristic that oxygen must be blocked as a condition for curing.

Due to this characteristic, the curing of the peripheral surface of the resin layer that is not in contact with either the lens blank or the molding die is inhibited by oxygen in the atmosphere, and an uncured layer remains on the peripheral surface of the resin layer. Since this uncured layer causes dirt and cloudiness on the lens surface, extra steps such as cleaning are required to remove the uncured layer.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing a composite optical element that does not produce an uncured portion on the outer peripheral surface of the resin layer.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite optical element in which a photocurable resin layer is formed by discharging a photocurable resin onto an optical surface of an optical element base material, and then irradiating the optical surface with light, the outer circumferential surface of the photocurable resin being This is a method of curing the photocurable resin while creating a non-oxidizing gas atmosphere nearby.

Further, in a manufacturing apparatus for a composite optical element in which a photocurable resin is discharged onto the optical surface of an optical element base material and then irradiated with light to form a photocurable resin layer, a gas jetting device is provided, and the gas jetting The tip of the device is provided close to the outer peripheral surface of the photocurable resin.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus used in the method for manufacturing a composite optical element according to the present invention.

1 is a lens blank, and this lens blank l is a ray of light 2.
The lens is placed on a lens holder 3 having a through hole 3a for irradiating the light. A photocurable resin 4 is discharged onto the upper surface of the lens flank 1.

A mold 5 is placed above the photocurable resin 4 to form a lens blank 1.
It is provided so that it can freely move up and down on the same axis as the optical axis of. The gas ejection device 6 is composed of a control device 8 that supplies and controls the non-oxidizing gas 7, a flow path 9 for the non-oxidizing gas 7, and a tip 10 that ejects the non-oxidizing gas 7. The portion 10 is arranged close to the outer circumferential surface 4a of the photocurable resin 4 so that the vicinity of the outer circumferential surface 4a can be made into an atmosphere of the non-oxidizing gas 7.

[Function] According to the present invention, the non-oxidizing gas is ejected from the tip of the gas ejecting device, and the photo-curing resin can be cured while creating a non-oxidizing gas atmosphere near the outer peripheral surface of the photo-curing resin.

[Example] Hereinafter, a method and apparatus for manufacturing a composite optical element according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a partially omitted longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an apparatus used in a manufacturing method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Components in FIG. 2 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

An annular member 11 is fitted into a cylindrical convex portion at the lower center of the mold 5 . A channel 12 is formed in the center of the inner peripheral surface of the member 11, and a gap 13 is formed between the lower part of the inner peripheral surface of the member 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the mold 5. Channel work 2
is connected to a fitting 14 inserted from the outer peripheral surface of the member 11, a tube 15 is connected to the fitting 14, and the tube 15 is connected to a nitrogen gas supply and control device (not shown). Also, in the vicinity of the lower part of the member 11, in the horizontal direction (
A holding member 16 is provided which is movable in the direction of the arrow.

In the manufacturing method using the apparatus having the above configuration, the resin molding surface of the lens blank 1 is previously subjected to a cambling treatment, and the molding surface of the mold 5 is subjected to a mold release treatment. Next, the lens blank 1 is placed on the lens holder 3, and the photocurable resin 4 is discharged onto the resin acid of the lens blank 1.

Thereafter, the mold 5 is landed to spread the photocurable resin 4 to a predetermined thickness.

Then, the tube 15. Nitrogen gas 17 is ejected from the gap 13 through the flow path 12. The light ray 2 for curing the photocurable resin 4 is irradiated through the through hole 3a of the lens holder 3 while blowing out the nitrogen gas 17.

After the photocurable resin 4 is cured by irradiating the light beam 2 for a predetermined period of time, the presser member 16 is closed until it almost comes into contact with the mold 5 (in the direction of the arrow), and the mold 5 is lifted to release the mold. Thereafter, the holding member 16 is opened (in the opposite direction of arrow A) and the molded composite optical element is taken out.

According to this embodiment, the vicinity of the outer circumferential surface of the photocurable resin 4 is placed in an atmosphere of nitrogen gas 17, thereby being shielded from oxygen in the air, and a composite optical element having no uncured portions is obtained. In addition, since the gap 13 surrounds the mold 5 without a break, oxygen in the air is effectively blocked by the ejected gas. Furthermore, it is highly economical due to its simple structure.

Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and instead of the gap 13, a large number of holes connected to the flow path 12 may be bored. Further, instead of the nitrogen gas 17, an inert gas such as argon or a gas not containing oxygen may be used. Furthermore, since curing tends to proceed rapidly in the early stages of irradiation with light, gas jetting may be stopped in the middle of irradiation when curing is nearing completion. Then, the method of discharging the resin and releasing the mold,
Furthermore, the details of the structure and the like for this purpose are not limited to the present embodiment.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a partially omitted longitudinal sectional view showing an apparatus used in a manufacturing method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, instead of the member 11 in the first embodiment, a plurality of ionizers 19 are attached to the holding part 18 of the mold 5, and their nozzles 19a are arranged close to the outer peripheral surface of the photocurable resin 4. The configuration is different, and the other configurations are the same, so the same components are given the same numbers and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The ionizer 19 (trade name) used in this example ionizes the nitrogen gas 17 by disposing an electrode in the middle of the flow path through which the nitrogen gas 17 is ejected from the nozzle 19a and discharging it. Ionized nitrogen gas 17
By spraying the photocurable resin 4 with
It is configured to perform the removal.

In this embodiment, after the photocurable resin 4 is pressed and spread in the same manner as in the first embodiment, nitrogen gas 17 is supplied while discharging in the iolyzer 19, and the nozzle 19 of the iolyzer 19 is supplied with nitrogen gas 17.
Ionized nitrogen gas 17 is ejected from a to create an atmosphere of nitrogen gas 17 near the outer circumferential surface of the photocurable resin 4, and the photocurable resin 4 is irradiated with the light beam 2 to be cured. Then, while continuing to eject the ionized nitrogen gas 17, the mold is released in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the molded composite optical element is taken out.

According to this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain the effect of blocking oxygen and eliminating uncured portions of the photocurable resin 4, and also to eliminate uncured portions of the photocurable resin 4 caused by peeling during mold release. A clean composite optical element can be obtained by preventing electrification and preventing dust from being sucked in from the outside into the space created between the molding surface of the photocurable resin 4 and the mold 5 during mold release. It will be done.

Incidentally, the discharge of the ionizer 19 may not be performed during the irradiation of the light beam 2, but may be started immediately before mold release. Also, nitrogen gas 1
The jetting of light beam 7 is necessary at least during the initial stage of irradiation with the light beam 2 and before and after demolding, but it may be interrupted midway or the flow rate may be changed.

Furthermore, as in the first embodiment, the type of gas and the method of mold release are not limited to this embodiment, and the device for ionizing and ejecting the gas is also limited to the form of this embodiment. In other words, a nozzle or a gap as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be provided, and gas may be introduced into this nozzle or gap through a tube or the like from an ionizer 19 provided near the apparatus.

Further, an electrode for ionization may be incorporated into the gas flow path.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 4 and 5 show an apparatus used in a manufacturing method according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partially omitted vertical cross-sectional view;
FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line BB' in FIG. 4.

This embodiment is based on the ionizer 19 in the second embodiment.
The difference is that instead of this, it is constructed with a member 20 that is movably moved forward and backward near the outer periphery of the mold 5, and the other configurations are the same, and the same components are given the same numbers and explained. omitted.

A plurality of relatively small-diameter nozzles 21 are arranged on the member 20, which is held movable forward and backward in the direction of arrow C, so as to closely surround the outer peripheral surface of the photocurable resin 4. This nozzle 2
1 is a flow path 22 provided inside the member 20 and a flow path 2
Nitrogen gas 17 from a supply and control device (not shown) can be ejected from the tip of the nozzle 21 through a fitting 23 connected to the fitting 2 and a tube 15 connected to the fitting 23.

Molding using the apparatus configured as described above is carried out in the same manner as in the first embodiment, but the nozzle 21 can be retracted from the mold 5 except when the nitrogen gas 17 is ejected. .

According to this embodiment, the member 20 is configured to be movable forward and backward, and the nozzle 21 with a relatively small diameter is used.
The effect of having a large degree of freedom in placement can be achieved. In particular, mold 5
By minimizing the total length (height) of the mold 5, eccentricity of the tip due to an error in the mounting angle of the mold 5 can be suppressed, and a highly accurate composite optical element can be obtained.

It should be noted that, like the first and second embodiments, the details of this embodiment are not limited to those of this embodiment.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the outer circumferential surface of a photocurable resin can be shielded from oxygen in the atmosphere using a simple and inexpensive device, and a composite optical element without any uncured parts can be obtained. . Furthermore, by adding an iolyzer, it is possible to prevent charging and the suction of dust during mold release, and it is possible to obtain a clean composite optical element.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus used in the method for manufacturing a composite optical element according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially omitted vertical cross-sectional view of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment. The partially omitted longitudinal sectional view, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the third embodiment, and the fourth embodiment
The figure is a partially omitted longitudinal cross-sectional view, and Figure 5 is B of the fourth embodiment.
-B' line arrow view. 1... Lens blank 2... Light beam 3... Lens holding part 4... Photo-curing resin 5... Molding mold 6... Gas blowing device 7... Non-oxidizing gas 8... - Control device 9.12.22 - Wave path 0... Tip 11.20... Member 13... Clearance 14.23... Tugite 15... Tube 16... Holding member 17 ...Nitrogen gas 1 day...Holding section 19...Iolizer 21...Nozzle

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a method for manufacturing a composite optical element, in which a photocurable resin is discharged onto the optical surface of an optical element base material and then irradiated with light to form a photocurable resin layer, the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the photocurable resin A method for manufacturing a composite optical element, comprising curing a photocurable resin while creating a non-oxidizing gas atmosphere. (2) In a composite optical element manufacturing apparatus that discharges a photocurable resin onto the optical surface of an optical element base material and then irradiates it with light to form a photocurable resin layer, a gas blowing device is provided, and the gas 1. An apparatus for manufacturing a composite optical element, characterized in that a distal end of a jetting device is provided close to an outer circumferential surface of the photocurable resin.