Press molding apparatus for glass optical elements and molding method

Abstract

Disclosed are a molding apparatus for glass optical elements a plurality of molds each constituted of an upper mold and a lower mold, a matrix supporting the molds, and heating means wound around the matrix for heating the molds, wherein the matrix extends in a longitudinal form and has a constant width, wherein the plurality of the molds are arranged in the matrix in a line so that the center of each mold is located on a center line of the matrix, and wherein a distance between the heating means and the matrix is constant at least at an edge of the matrix in a transverse direction, and a molding method for optical elements comprising the steps of: softening a plurality of glass material pieces by heat; and making a simultaneous press molding of the glass material pieces with a plurality of molds, constituted of upper and lower molds, arranged in a longitudinal form matrix, in a line extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein each mold is heated by thermal conductance from the matrix heated by heating means wound around the matrix, to heat at least substantially equally two opposite positions in a horizontal cross section of each mold. By the press molding apparatus and the press molding method according the invention, the press molding is performed upon heating uniformly a plurality of molds, thereby manufacturing glass optical elements having a good surface precision and a good surface quality.