Method for press molding a glass optical element

Abstract

A molding apparatus for molding a press-molded product by heating and softening a material and press-molding the material into a predetermined shape by the use of a mold, includes a pair of dies which form the mold, each of which comprises a molding surface facing with the other, and one of which is fixed to a structure member of the molding apparatus, driving means for moving the other die towards and away from the one die, heating means for heating the dies, detecting means for detecting the displacement of a part displaced by thermal deformation of the structure member, and a control section for calculating a correction value for a moving distance of the other die with reference to the result of detection by the detecting means and delivering an instruction to the driving means so as to move the other die in accordance with the moving distance corrected by the correction value.

1 . An apparatus for press molding a molding material into a press-molded product comprising: 
 a mold comprising a first die and a second die, each of said dies having a molding surface facing with the other, said first die being fixed to a structure member of the apparatus and said second die being movable;    driving means for moving the second die toward and away from the first die;    heating means for heating said first and second dies;    detecting means for detecting a displacement of a part of the structure member; and    a controller for calculating a correction value for a moving distance of the second die based on the detected displacement and controlling the driving means so that the second die moves a distance in accordance with the correction value.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a temperature controlling means, wherein the detecting means is supported by a supporting member and a temperature of the supporting member is maintained in a predetermined range by the temperature controlling means.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for press molding a molding material into a press-molded product comprising: 
 a mold comprising a first die and a second die, each of said dies having a molding surface facing with the other, said first die being fixed to a structure member of the apparatus and said second die being movable;    driving means for moving the second die toward and away from the first die;    heating means for heating said first and second dies;    temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a part of the structure member;    memory means for storing values of displacement in association with the temperatures of the part of the structure member; and    a controller for calculating a correction value for a moving distance of the second die based on the detected temperature and a value of displacement corresponding thereto, and for controlling the driving means so that the second die moves a distance in accordance with the correction value.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a temperature controlling means, wherein the detecting means is supported by a supporting member and a temperature of the supporting member is maintained in a predetermined range by the temperature controlling means.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  or  3  wherein the structure member is a housing which is provided with the mold and the heating means.