Method and Device For Producing Technical Glass Parts For Optical Applications

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a technical glass part, particularly meeting high requirements with respect to contour accuracy and surface quality, particularly a precision lens, wherein a blank including a cast-on section is produced using an injection molding process, wherein the blank is cooled down and subsequently heated, and wherein the blank subsequently is blank molded, particularly on both sides, into a technical glass part meeting high requirements with respect to contour accuracy and surface quality, particularly a precision lens.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A method of blank molding a headlight lens for a motor vehicle headlight, the method comprising:
 producing a blank from glass;   inverting the temperature gradient of the blank by cooling at a temperature between 20K and 200K beneath the transformation temperature T G  of the glass of the blank and heating the blank; and   subsequently blank molding the headlight lens from the blank.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the temperature of the blank before the heating is in the range of T G -80K to T G +30K; 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the blank is heated such that its surface temperature assumes a temperature corresponding to a temperature at which the glass of the blank has a viscosity between 105 Pas and 108 Pas. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the mass of the blank is in the range of 50 g to 250 g. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the blank is heated such that its surface temperature assumes a temperature corresponding to a temperature at which the glass of the blank has a viscosity between 105 Pas and 108 Pas. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the temperature gradient of the blank is adjusted such that the temperature in the core of the blank is always at least 100° C. above room temperature. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the temperature gradient of the blank is adjusted such that the temperature in the core of the blank is always at least 100° C. above room temperature. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the blank is cooled at a temperature between 300° C. and 500° C. 
     
     
         63 . A method of blank molding a headlight lens for a motor vehicle headlight, the method comprising:
 producing a blank from glass;   inverting the temperature gradient of the blank by cooling and subsequently heating the blank, wherein the blank is cooled such that the temperature of the blank before the heating is in the range of T G -80K to T G +30K; and   subsequently blank molding the headlight lens from the blank.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the blank is heated such that its surface temperature assumes a temperature corresponding to a temperature at which the glass of the blank has a viscosity between 105 Pas and 108 Pas. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the mass of the blank is in the range of 50 g to 250 g. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the temperature gradient of the blank is adjusted such that the temperature in the core of the blank is always at least 100° C. above room temperature. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the temperature gradient of the blank is adjusted such that the temperature in the core of the blank is at least 100° C. above room temperature. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the blank is cooled at a temperature between 300° C. and 500° C. 
     
     
         69 . A method of blank molding a headlight lens for a motor vehicle headlight, the method comprising:
 producing a blank from glass;   inverting the temperature gradient of the blank by cooling and subsequently heating the blank such that the viscosity at the surface of the blank is at least 105 Pas lower than the viscosity of the core of the blank; and   subsequently blank molding the headlight lens from the blank.   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the mass of the blank is in the range of 50 g to 250 g. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the temperature gradient of the blank is adjusted such that the temperature in the core of the blank is always at least 100° C. above room temperature. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the blank is cooled at a temperature between 300° C. and 500° C. 
     
     
         73 . A method of producing a technical glass part meeting high requirements with respect to contour accuracy and surface quality, the method comprising:
 producing a blank including a cast-on section using an injection molding process;   cooling and subsequently heating the blank, wherein the blank is held suspended at the cast-on section during at least one of (a) the cooling of the blank and (b) the heating of the blank; and   subsequently blank molding the blank into a technical glass part meeting high requirements with respect to contour accuracy and surface quality.   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the volume of the cast-on section is larger than the volume of the blank. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the blank is cooled down at a temperature between 20K and 200K beneath the transformation temperature of the glass of the blank. 
     
     
         76 . A method of producing a precision lens, the method comprising:
 producing a blank including a cast-on section using an injection molding process, wherein the cast-on section includes a supporting foot;   cooling and subsequently heating the blank, wherein the blank is mounted upright via the supporting foot during at least one of (a) the cooling of the blank and (b) the heating of the blank; and   subsequently blank molding the blank into a precision lens.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the volume of the cast-on section is larger than the volume of the blank. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the blank is cooled at a temperature between 20K and 200K beneath the transformation temperature of the glass of the blank.