Apparatus for molding an optical element

An apparatus for molding an optical element, comprising:

• a plurality of sets of molds, with each set having an upper mold and a lower mold;
• a member for guiding said upper mold and said lower mold in said plurality of sets of molds;
• first means for generating pressure for pressing said upper molds;
• second means for generating pressure for pressing said lower molds;
• a first pressure concentrating member for concentrating the pressure of said first pressure generating means at a center of each said upper mold in an axial direction;
• and
• a second pressure concentrating member for concentrating the pressure of said second pressure generating means at a center of each said lower mold in the axial direction.

An apparatus for molding an optical element by heating and pressing a glass material, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of upper molds and lower molds for simultaneously molding a plurality of optical elements, each said upper and lower molds having a longitudinal axis;
• a shell mold for moving and guiding said plurality of upper molds relative to said lower molds along the respective longitudinal axes, said shell mold having a position at which a stop position of said upper molds is determined;
• means for generating a pressure load;
• and
• pressure transmitting means for pressing said plurality of upper molds to a fixed position of said shell mold by the load from said pressure load generating means, said pressure transmitting means comprising a plurality of pressure members for applying the load from said pressure load generating means to each said upper mold, a holder member for holding each said pressure member and a spring member for transmitting the pressure of said pressure load generating means to each said upper mold.

An apparatus for molding a glass molding, comprising:

• molding chamber for molding a glass material by pressing the glass material with a first mold set comprising an upper mold and a lower mold, and a shell mold;
• a mold exchange chamber provided with a second mold set comprising of an upper mold, a lower mold, and a shell mold;
• and
• means for exchanging said first mold set with said second mold set.

A method of exchanging a mold member for molding a glass molding by heating and pressing a glass material, by means of an apparatus comprising:

• a molding chamber for accommodating a first mold set comprising an upper mold, a lower mold, and a shell mold for use in pressing the glass material;
• and
• a mold exchange chamber for accommodating a second mold set having an upper mold, a lower mold, and a shell mold to be exchanged with said first mold set;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• press molding the glass material at predetermined temperatures with the first mold set within the molding chamber;
• preparing the second mold set in the mold exchange chamber;
• introducing the first mold set into the mold exchange chamber after a plurality of press moldings with the first mold set within the mold chamber;
• and
• introducing the second mold set within the mold exchange chamber into the mold chamber.