Apparatus for producing optical element

Abstract

An apparatus for producing optical elements is provided, which can convey a mold conveyed along a conveying path without having a waiting time in each step, which can maintain an atmosphere of each step in an optimum condition, which can minimize influence on other steps at a time of e.g. maintenance, to maintain the qualities of molding materials and products and to prevent deterioration of mold, and which improves productivity. The apparatus comprises a conveying path 2 constituted by an outgoing path 21 and a returning path 23 opposed to each other and connecting paths 22 and 24 connecting respective ends of the outgoing path 21 with ends of the returning path 23, the conveying path 2 circulating a mold 5 containing a molding material 3 along the conveying path 2, wherein the outgoing path 21, the returning path 23 and the connecting paths 22 and 24 are each constituted by a plurality of sections, and each section accommodates a group of molds comprising one or a plurality of molds 5, and the apparatus 1 comprises individual feeding means 6c and 6d feeding a group of molds 5 each time, and simultaneous feeding means 7 feeding a plurality of groups of molds 5 at the same time, and which carries out an individual feeding and a simultaneous feeding at respective timings.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.