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US 9,452,944 B2Granted
Method for manufacturing optical element, and apparatus for manufacturing optical element
AssigneeOlympus Corporation
InventorHironori Honji
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for manufacturing an optical element includes floating an optical element material in gas to heat the optical element material, and thereafter making first and second shaping molds contact the floating optical element material at the same time, and pressurizing the optical element material by using the first and second shaping molds.
Claims16
A method for manufacturing an optical element, comprising:
- using gas to cause a mass made of an optical material to float inside a heating unit while it is being heated by the heating unit, the mass being subject to a gravitational pull in a downward vertical direction;
- while continuing to use the gas to cause the mass to float, moving the heating unit in the downward vertical direction at a speed greater than the speed at which the mass falls due to gravity such that the mass is located outside of the heating unit at a position above the heating unit and between first and second shaping molds;
- while the mass is located outside of the heating unit, moving the first and second shaping molds in a direction transverse to the downward vertical direction to cause the first and second shaping molds to contact the mass at the same time;
- and
- using the molds to apply pressure to the mass so as to shape the mass into an optical element.
2 more elements
Apparatus for manufacturing an optical element, comprising:
- a heater for heating a mass made of an optical material, the heater including a gas source which will cause a mass placed inside the heater to float inside the heater such that the mass is subject to a gravitational pull in a downward vertical direction;
- first and second shaping molds;
- a first moving mechanisms which moves the heater in the downward vertical direction at a speed greater than the speed at which the mass would fall due to gravity while the gas source continues to cause the mass to float so as to move the mass to a location outside of the heating unit between the first and second shaping molds;
- a second moving mechanism which is adapted to move the first and second shaping molds in a direction transverse to the downward vertical direction while the mass is located outside of the heating unit to cause the first and second shaping molds to contact the mass at the same time, the second moving mechanism further causing the molds to apply pressure to the mass so as to shape the mass into an optical element.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.