The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 21, 1993
Filed:
Jul. 20, 1992
Fumitaka Yoshimura, Yokohama, JP;
Tomomasa Nakano, Yokohama, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method for forming a glass preform into an optical element utilizing a formation chamber having a central axis and including a plurality of glass preform heaters, a plurality of glass preform pressing molds, and a conveyor, an exchanging chamber and a controller, comprises the steps of providing the heaters and the pressing molds along a circular path substantially concentric with the formation chamber and providing the conveyor to rotate coaxially with the central axis of the formation chamber. The operating condition of the heater is detected, the glass preform is conveyed from the exchanging chamber to a heater based on the detected condition of the heaters, and the glass preform is heated. The operating condition of the pressing molds is detected, the heated glass preform is conveyed from the heater to a pressing mold based on the detected condition of the pressing molds, the glass preform is pressed in the pressing mold to form an optical element, and the optical element is removed from the pressing mold after a predetermined time.