Back to results
US 8,739,571 B2Granted
Manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing optical element
AssigneeOlympus Corporation
InventorHiroyuki Shibuki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A manufacturing method for manufacturing an optical element includes: supplying a gas containing a mold-release acceleration substance to the space between a first mold and a second mold which sandwich an optical material and face each other; and pressurizing and transforming the optical material by bringing the first and second molds relatively close to each other.
Claims7
A manufacturing method for manufacturing an optical element, the method comprising:
- supplying a gas containing a mold-release acceleration substance to a space between a first mold and a second mold which sandwich an optical material;
- heating an inert gas and supplying the heated inert gas to the space between the first and second molds to heat and soften the optical material;
- and
- pressurizing and transforming the heated and softened optical material by moving the first and second molds towards each other,
- wherein the mold-release acceleration substance is generated by heating raw material for the mold-release acceleration substance,
- wherein the step of supplying the gas containing the mold-release acceleration substance comprises reducing an amount of the mold-release acceleration substance supplied to the space between the first mold and the second mold during the pressuring and transforming step, and
- wherein the mold-release acceleration substance is at least one of a hydrocarbon and graphite, or the mold-release acceleration substance is obtained by a reaction of a hydrocarbon or a halogenated hydrocarbon in a raw material form.
4 more elements
A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an optical element, the apparatus comprising:
- a mold-release acceleration gas supply unit having:
- a gas heater for heating raw material for a mold-release acceleration substance to generate the mold-release acceleration substance, and
- an adjustment valve configured to supply a gas containing the mold-release acceleration substance at a first flow rate to a space between a first mold and a second mold which sandwich an optical material;
- an inert gas supply unit having a heater for heating an inert gas and supplying the heated inert gas to the space between the first and second molds to heat and soften the optical material;
- and
- a pressurization unit with a drive unit configured to move the first and second molds towards each other to pressurize and transform the heated and softened optical material,
- wherein in response to the drive unit moving the first and second molds towards each other, the mold-release acceleration gas supply unit adjusts the adjustment valve to reduce the first flow rate of the gas containing the mold-release acceleration substance supplied to the space between the first mold and the second mold, and
- wherein the mold-release acceleration substance is at least one of a hydrocarbon and graphite, or the mold-release acceleration substance is obtained by a reaction of a hydrocarbon or a halogenated hydrocarbon in a raw material form.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.