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:
Feb. 23, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 24, 1997
Shin-ichiro Hirota, Hachioji, JP;
Ken Uno, Higashiyamato, JP;
Hiroaki Takahara, Hino, JP;
Tadayuki Fujimoto, Hachioji, JP;
Hiroshi Enomoto, Yokohama, JP;
Hoya Precisions Inc., Nagano, JP;
Hoya Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Processes for manufacturing glass optical elements by press molding a heated and softened glass material in preheated molds. In the process, the glass material is heated while it is floated by a gas blow and the heated and softened glass material is transferred to the preheated molds and then subjected to press molding. Alternatively, the process comprises: heating a glass material at a temperature at which the glass material has a viscosity of lower than 10.sup.9 poises, preheating molds at a temperature at which the glass material has a viscosity of from 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.12 poises, subjecting the heated and softened glass material to initial press in the preheated molds for 3 to 60 seconds, starting to cool the vicinity of molding surfaces of the molds at a rate of 20.degree. C./minute or higher upon starting of, or during, or after the initial press, and removing a molded glass article from the molds after the temperature of the vicinity of the molding surfaces of the molds becomes a temperature equal to or lower than a temperature at which the glass material has a viscosity of 10.sup.12 poises.