JP2747103B2 - Optical element manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical element, and more particularly to a method for directly obtaining an optical element having an optically functional surface from a molding material by press molding.

[Prior Art] In the conventional molding of a general drop glass product (bottle or tableware), molding is performed in a state where an oily mold release agent is present between a mold and softened glass. For this reason, since the molding die and the glass are molded without directly contacting each other, no significant residual stress is generated in the glass lump thus molded.

On the other hand, in a molding method in which a molding glass material is heated and softened and press-molded to obtain a molding optical element, in order to improve the shape accuracy of the molding surface of the molding optical element, the softened glass and the molding die are closely adhered. Press molding is performed in this state, and the mold is cooled to the mold opening temperature while maintaining the close contact state. Here, a cemented carbide or the like is used as a material of the molding die, but its coefficient of thermal expansion is relatively small.

On the other hand, the coefficient of thermal expansion of glass becomes very large at high temperatures. That is, in this cooling step, the glass molding optical element that is cooled in a state in which it is in close contact with the molding die tends to contract by itself, but cannot be performed because it is in close contact with the molding die, and has a large thermal stress. The cooling step proceeds in a state where the occurrence has occurred. And after the cooling is completed and the mold is opened,
This thermal stress remains as residual stress inside the molded optical element.

There are nearly 300 types of optical glass, some of which are susceptible to cracking due to thermal shock, and others are not. According to the experimental experience of the inventor, for example, in the SF-based glass shown in Examples described below,
It is known that cracking is easily caused by thermal shock, and that SK-based glass is hardly cracked. These differences are thought to be influenced by the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass and the strength of the glass coming from the internal structure of the glass.

In addition, the method of adsorbing an object to be adsorbed on an adsorbing member and transporting the object is simple and inexpensive, so it is generally used in many fields, and this method is also used for molding optical elements. It has been adopted. However, when the molded optical element with residual stress is adsorbed to the adsorbing member,
When the molded optical element is attracted to the adsorption member, a mechanical shock is also applied in addition to the thermal shock due to the temperature difference as described above, so that the molded optical element often breaks. For this reason, conventionally, the molded optical element has been transported in a state of being placed in a jig for transportation. But in this case,
There is a drawback that the transport device becomes complicated and the entire molding device becomes expensive.

Therefore, when the molded optical element having the residual stress as described above and still having a high temperature is adsorbed on a low-temperature adsorbing member having a temperature difference therefrom and taken out, cracks due to the thermal shock as described above may occur. It is very important to determine the maximum value of the temperature difference between the transfer members so that cracks due to thermal shock do not occur because they are easily generated.

In the present invention, based on the above circumstances, if the temperature difference between the transfer members is within 300 ℃, when the molded optical element sticks to the suction member, mechanical shock in addition to thermal shock is applied. However, it was possible to experimentally determine that cracking due to thermal shock did not occur.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, as a means for achieving the above object, a molding material is moved from outside a molding chamber to a press section in a molding chamber, and press-formed and molded in the press section. In the method of manufacturing an optical element for recovering a molded optical element by moving the molded optical element from the press section to the outside of the molding chamber, the movement of the molded optical element is performed between a plurality of times of causing the molded optical element to be adsorbed by the adsorption member. Perform with delivery, for each delivery,
A method for manufacturing an optical element is provided, wherein a temperature difference between two members involved in the transfer is set to 300 ° C. or less.

Example An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an example of an apparatus in which a method for manufacturing an optical element according to the present invention is carried out, and FIG. 2 is its ABCDEF. It is a cross section schematic diagram.

In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a casing, and 4a and 4b are:
The supporting legs. The molding chamber 6 and the replacement chamber 8 are formed by the casing so as to be able to shut off the outside air. The molding chamber 6 and the replacement chamber 8 are partitioned by a sealable gate valve 10 provided therebetween, and the replacement chamber 8 is provided just on the side of the molding chamber 6. In addition, a gate valve 12 that can be hermetically sealed from the outside is provided below the replacement chamber 8.

Under the gate valve 12, a material for molding is fed from the outside into the replacement chamber 8, and further, a feeding / removing means 20 for taking out the molded optical element from the inside of the replacement chamber 8 to the outside. Is arranged. In the vicinity of the replacement chamber 8, the material for molding in the replacement chamber 8 is transported into the molding chamber 6, and the molded optical element is further moved from the inside of the molding chamber 6 into the replacement chamber 8. A transport means 22 for transporting is provided.

In the molding chamber 6, a heating unit 24, a transfer unit 26, and a press unit 28 are provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, two equivalent press sections P ₁ , P ₂
Is provided. The heating unit 24 receives the molding material conveyed into the molding chamber 6 by the conveying means 22, heats the material to an appropriate temperature, and further receives the molded optical element from the transfer unit 26. Then, the transfer section 26 transfers the molding material in the heating section 24 to the press section 28, and further transfers the molded optical element in the press section to the heating section 24.

The press section 28 heats the molding material transferred by the transfer section 26 to an appropriate temperature and presses the material with a forming mold member.

Next, details of each unit will be described. In the above-mentioned feeding / extracting means 20, the cylinder 32 is supported by the support legs 34a and 34b and arranged vertically. Reference numeral 36 is
The piston rod is vertically moved by a cylinder 32. A mounting table 38 for mounting a molding material or a molded optical element is attached to an upper end of the piston rod. Two press sections 28 (P ₁ , P ₂ ) are provided in the molding chamber 6. Corresponding to this, the mounting table 38 mounts two molding materials or two molded optical elements. As shown in FIG. 1, two receivers are provided in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.

The mounting table 38 is set such that the upper and lower ends of the vertical movement stroke are located inside the replacement chamber 8 and outside the replacement chamber. Of course, when the mounting table 38 moves up and down, the gate valve 12 attached to the replacement chamber 8 is opened. The mounting table 38 has a built-in heater.

In the transfer means 22, the rodless cylinder 42
It is supported by rodless cylinder support legs 44a and 44b, and is disposed in a horizontal direction facing the replacement chamber 8. Reference numeral 46 denotes a bearing member which is horizontally reciprocated by the rodless cylinder 42. The bearing member has one end of a horizontal transport shaft 48 parallel to the moving direction thereof, and is provided around the axial direction. , And are rotatably mounted. The other end of the transport shaft extends to the inside of the replacement chamber 8, and the tip thereof is provided with suction means 50 for sucking a molding material or a molded optical element.

On the other hand, a rotary cylinder 52 is attached to the bearing member 46, and reference numeral 54 is an output gear thereof.
A gear meshing with the gear 54 is provided at the tip of the transport shaft 48.
The transfer cylinder 48 can be rotated by the rotary cylinder 52.

The suction means 50 has two upper and lower surfaces, respectively.
Subsequently, a suction section is provided, and the arrangement thereof corresponds to the arrangement of the two mounting sections of the mounting table 38 (see FIG. 2). The suction portions on the upper and lower surfaces are turned upside down by the rotation of the transport shaft 48 by 180 °. It should be noted that the adsorption means 50 has a built-in heater.

The horizontal movement of the suction means 50 attached to the transport shaft 48 is performed by moving the suction means 50 from the position in the replacement chamber 8 (the position shown in FIG. 1) above the mounting table 38 to the heating in the molding chamber 6. Part 24
To the position of. Of course, when the suction means 50 moves horizontally, the gate valve 10 between the replacement chamber 8 and the molding chamber 6 is opened.

In the heating section 24, a cylinder 62 is attached to the casing 2 outside the molding chamber 6, and is disposed vertically. Reference numeral 64 denotes a piston lot which is vertically moved by the cylinder 62, penetrates through the casing 2 and extends into the molding chamber 6, and has a top end on which a molding material or a molded optical element is placed. Mounting table 66 is mounted. The mounting table 66 is provided with two mounting portions in a direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 1 so that two molding materials or molded optical elements are mounted thereon (see FIG. 2). ).

Above the mounting table 66, a heating cylinder 68 is disposed in a state of being suspended by a support member. The cylinder 68 is
The lower part is open, and a heater 72 is attached to the inner surface. The vertical movement of the mounting table 66 is performed by the above-described suction means.
The process is performed from the lower position (the position shown in FIG. 1) where 50 arrives to the position inside the heating cylinder 68.

In the transfer section 26, the cylinder 82 is attached to the casing 2 outside the molding chamber 6, and is disposed in the vertical direction. Reference numeral 84 denotes a piston rod which is vertically moved by a cylinder 82, extends through the casing 2 and extends into the molding chamber 6, and has a rotating sleeve on its outer surface which is rotatable relative to the vertical direction. 86 is installed. The sleeve extends through the casing 2,
At its upper end, two forked arms 88a and 88b extending in the horizontal direction are attached.

At the ends of these arms, the suction means 90a, 9
0b is installed. One of the adsorption means 90a corresponds to the press section P _1, the other adsorption unit 90b is press section P
It corresponds to ₂ . A suction section is provided on the lower surface of each suction means. Reference numeral 92 denotes drive means for rotating the sleeve 86 with respect to the piston rod 84.

The rotation of the suction means 90a based on the rotation of the sleeve 86 moves the heating unit 24 from the position above the mounting table 66 to the pressing unit 28 (P ₁ ) including the intermediate position shown in FIG. It is necessary to perform the rotation of the suction unit 90b from the position above the mounting table 66 of the heating unit 24 to the pressing unit 28 (P ₂ ) including the intermediate position shown in FIG. It is necessary to do to the position.

In this embodiment, heaters are built in the suction units 90a and 90b. A vertical fixed cylinder 102 is fixed to the casing 2 in the press section 28. Cylinder 1
04 is attached to the lower end of the fixed cylinder 102 outside the molding chamber 6, and is disposed vertically. Code 106
Is a lower shaft connected to the piston rod of the cylinder 104 and moved up and down, and the lower shaft is housed in the fixed cylinder 102 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction.

On the upper end of the fixed cylinder 102, a lower end of a cylindrical body-shaped member 110 is placed via a link-shaped heater plate 108, and the lower end thereof is fixed to the fixed cylinder 102 by a holding ring 112. It is fixed for. On the upper end of the lower shaft 106, a lower mold member 114 is disposed. The lower mold member is housed in the body member 110 and is slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the body member.

Further, the cylinder 122 is attached to the casing 2 outside the molding chamber 6, and is disposed in the up-down direction. Reference numeral 124 denotes an upper shaft connected to the piston rod of the cylinder 122 and moved up and down. The upper shaft is disposed above the lower shaft 102 and coaxially with the lower shaft. The lower end surface of the upper shaft 124 has a convex spherical shape. Reference numeral 126 denotes a spherical seat having an upper surface of a concave spherical shape corresponding to the convex spherical shape. The spherical seat 126 exhibits a function of self-alignment at the time of pressing. An upper end flange portion of the upper die member 128 is disposed below the spherical seat 126, and the upper end flange portion is locked by a pressing ring 130 fixed to the upper shaft. The upper mold member 128 is accommodated in the body member 110, and is slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the body member.

The upper end surface of the lower die member 114 and the upper die member 128
Is a transfer surface for forming an optical function surface of an optical element to be molded, and is finished to a desired surface accuracy. In the lower shaft 106 and the upper shaft 124, respectively,
Refrigerant circulation paths C ₁ and C ₂ are provided. In addition, the heater plate 108, the body-shaped member 110, and the lower part of the upper shaft 124,
Heater H _1, H _2, H ₃ are built respectively. Further, although not shown, each of the lower mold member 114 and the upper mold member 128 has a built-in thermocouple for temperature detection.

Next, the operation of the above device will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation timing of each unit. The molding chamber 6 is previously filled with a nitrogen atmosphere by a nitrogen gas supply system (not shown), and the gate valves 10 and 12 are initially closed. First, the gate valve 12 is opened (T ₀ ), and two molding materials are placed on the mounting table 38 at the lower position shown in FIG. 1, and the mounting table 38 is raised by the cylinder 32, The gas is introduced into the replacement chamber 8 through the gate valve 12 (T ₁ ).

In the replacement chamber, the forming material is
Is attracted by the lower surface side attracting portion. Suction means 50 at this time
The rotation position of is referred to as a reference state, and the normal state rotated 180 degrees from this position is referred to as a reversed state. The suction is performed by air suction means (not shown).

Next, the mounting table 38 is slightly lowered, and the transport shaft 48 is rotated by 180 ° by the rotating cylinder 52.
The suction means 50 is turned upside down (T ₂ ). As a result, the molding material is located on the upper surface side of the suction means 50.

Next, the mounting table 38 is lowered from a position inside the replacement chamber 8 to a lower position outside the replacement chamber (T ₃ ). Further, the gate valve 12 is closed (T ₄ ), the pressure in the replacement chamber 8 is reduced by a pressure reducing means (not shown), and the material for molding is preheated by a heater built in the suction means 50.

Next, a nitrogen gas is supplied into the replacement chamber 8 by a nitrogen gas supply system (not shown), and after the inside of the replacement chamber 8 is filled with a nitrogen atmosphere, the gate valve 10 is opened (T ₅ ). Then, by the cylinder 42, to move the conveying shaft 48 towards the molding chamber 6, leads to a suction means 50 to the position of the heating part 24 of the forming chamber 6 (T _6).

Note that mounting table 66, prior to arrival of the suction means 50 (e.g., at timing T _a), by the cylinder 62,
Is raised to the upper limit position, further, by being appropriate time (from T _a to T _b) disposed within the heating cylinder 68 is heated to a suitable temperature, thereafter (before the timing T ₆ described above ),
It is lowered to the position shown in FIG.

In this state, the transport shaft 48
Is rotated by 180 °, the suction means 50 that has already reached above the mounting table 66 is turned upside down (T ₇ ). Then, the mounting table 66 is slightly raised to approach the lower surface of the suction means 50, and in this state, the suction by the suction means 50 is released, and the molding material is received on the mounting table 66. Therefore, the mounting table 66 is heated in advance,
Further, when the molding material is placed thereon, the material does not crack due to temperature shock.

Next, the mounting table 66 is lowered to the position (lower limit position) shown in FIG. 1, and then the transport shaft 48 is moved in the horizontal direction, and the suction means 50 is retracted to the replacement chamber 8 (T ₈ ). In this state, the gate valve 10 is closed (T ₉ ).

The mounting table 66 on which the molding material is mounted is raised by the operation of the cylinder 62 after the suction means 50 has retreated to the replacement chamber 8 (T ₈ ), and from that time, the gate valve 10 is closed. (T ₉ ), and is placed in the heating cylinder 68 for an appropriate time (T _c to T _d ) within a time period up to the next timing T ₁₀ (described later) and heated to an appropriate temperature.

Then, the arms 88a, 88b to rotate the by the rotation driving means 92, first, the suction means 90a is positioned above the mounting table 66 (T _10), slightly raised mounting table 66 by the cylinder 62 of the heating unit Then, the first molding material on the mounting table 66 is sucked by the suction means 90a, and the mounting table 66 is slightly lowered again. The suction is performed by an air suction unit (not shown).

Then, by the rotation driving means 92, the arms 88a, 88b and is rotated to move the suction unit 90a into the first press part P ₁ (T _11). Here, the molding material G ₁ is adsorbed by the adsorption means 90a, an opening 1 provided on the side of the barrel die member 110
11 and is introduced into the body member (FIG. 4 (a)), where the suction means is provided by the cylinder 82 of the transfer section.
90a is slightly lowered (FIG. 4 (b)), and the molding material is placed on the lower mold member 114 (FIG. 4 (c)).

On the other hand, at the same time as the T _10, the suction means 90b, the
It is moved to the second to the press section P _2, likewise, at the timing of T _11, the suction means 90b is positioned above the mounting table 66. At T _11, the heating unit cylinder 62
As a result, the mounting table 66 is slightly raised, and the second
The molding material is sucked by the suction means 90b, and the mounting table 66 is slightly lowered again.

Then, the arms 88a and 88b are rotated to
90b and moves the second to the press section P ₂ (T _13), wherein, as in the case of the first press part P _1, suction means 90
The molding material adsorbed by b is introduced into the body member through the opening provided on the side surface of the body member 110, where the suction means 90b is slightly lowered by the cylinder 82. The molding material is placed on the lower mold member 114.

Then, the arms 88a, a 88b is rotated back to the intermediate position the suction means 90b from the second press section (T _14). In the above T _13, suction means 90a is positioned above the mounting table 66, in the T _14, the suction unit 90a is returned to the middle position. Thus, the state shown in FIG. 2 is obtained.

Next, press molding is performed in the two press sections 28 (P ₁ , P ₂ ). At the time of the introduction of the molding material G ₁ to the body mold member 110, the upper shaft 124 is pulled upward by the cylinder 122, thereby, shown in FIG. 4 (a) ~ (c) As shown, the upper mold member 128 is moved to an upper position in the body mold member 100, whereby the opening 111 on the side of the body mold member communicates with the cavity in the mold member. the molding material G ₁ is introduced into the cavity from.

At the time of pressing, the cylinder 122 is moved downward by the upper shaft 124, and the upper mold member 128 is moved to the opening 11 of the body mold member 110.
1 is closed, the cavity is closed, and the upper mold member 128 is closed.
By but being pressed downward, the molding material in Gyabiti is press-molded, the optical element G ₂ is formed (FIG. 4 (d)). The upper mold member 128 moves downward until the lower end of the press ring 130 contacts the upper end of the body mold member 110.

The press molding is performed by heating the material for molding with heaters H ₁ , H ₂ , and H ₃ until the material has a viscosity capable of being molded, and taking an appropriate time to mold the material into a cavity shape. through coolant _1, C _2, to cool the molding already optical element. In the cooling process, the lower mold member 114 is
Is pressed upward with an appropriate pressure (however, a pressure smaller than the downward pressing force of the upper mold member 128 by the cylinder 122) to prevent occurrence of dandruff due to contraction of the optical element. Thereafter, the upper shaft 124 is raised to open the opening 111 on the side of the body-shaped member.

And at the time of introducing the molding material into the press section 28,
Substantially in the reverse order, the adsorption means 90a of the transfer unit 26 moves the 90b, the first press part P ₁ and the second molding 4E Optical element of the press section P _2, respectively, taken out by suction, successively, Heating unit 24
Placed on the table 66, placed end to suction means 90a, a 90b to an intermediate position shown in FIG. 2 (T ₁₅ ~T _19).

During the press forming process, that is, at the timing T
In the course of T ₁₅ to _14, in order to heat the mounting table 66, the operation of the cylinder 62 to move the mounting table 66 within the heating cylinder 68 (T _e), kept heated to an appropriate temperature, Rotation drive means 92
There while in an intermediate position, i.e., before the timing T _15, the operation of the cylinder 62, down through the mounting table 66 (T _f), held ready to receive The molded material. This is the same as the steps of the foregoing T _a through T _b.

The step of taking out the formed material after the press forming is completed is realized by overlapping the step of taking in the press-formed material described above.
That is, after the suction unit 50 is retracted to the substitution chamber 8, a new molding material uptake, in the same manner as in the timing T ₀ through T _6, have been made (T ₂₀ ~T _26), the timing
T ₂₆ is set to be after the timing T _19. Then, in the capture step of the molding material, the suction means 50 is introduced into the heating unit 24, before returning to the reference position from the inverted position (T ₂₆ through T _27), the empty surface of the suction unit (i.e., lower surface) Then, the molded material on the mounting table 66 is adsorbed.

That is, at the stage when the suction means 50 reaches above the mounting table 66, the mounting table 66 is slightly raised, and is suctioned by the lower suction portion of the suction means 50 of the molded optical element on the mounting table,
After slightly lowering the mounting table 66, the suction means 50
Is reversed (T ₂₇ ), and then the mounting table 66 is slightly raised, and the molding material that has been newly adsorbed by the lower suction section is placed on the mounting table 66. Then, in the same manner as in T ₈ through T _9, the suction means 50, after been moved into the exchange chamber 8 (T ₂₈₎ from the heating unit 24, the gate valve 10 is closed (T _29).

Similarly to the aforementioned T _c through T _d, the mounting table 66 mounted with the molding material, after T _28, by the cylinder 62 is raised in the heating cylinder 68 (T _g), an appropriate temperature Heated, then, by the operation of the rotation drive means 92, the molding material 90a, 90b,
Each of them is moved to the heating unit 24, and the molding material is placed on the mounting table 66.
Before the suction is performed, the cylinder 62 is similarly lowered to the lower limit position (see FIG. 1) by the operation of the cylinder 62, and waits (T _h ).

Hereinafter, the transfer unit 26 and the press section 28, the T ₁₀ through T
Steps similar to ₁₉ are performed.

On the other hand, the gate valve 12 is opened (T ₃₀ ), the mounting table 38 on which a new molding material is mounted is raised (T ₃₁ ), and the lower suction section of the suction means 50 in the replacement chamber 8. after adsorbing, the mounting table 38 is slightly lowered, then rotated 180 ° to the conveying shaft 48 by the rotation cylinder 52, the suction means 50 is turned upside down (T _32), slightly increases the mounting table 38, a new Then, the molded optical element adsorbed by the lower adsorbing section is placed on the mounting table 38. Next, the mounting table 38 is lowered to the outside of the replacement chamber 8 ( _T33 ), and the gate valve 12 is closed ( _T34 ).

As described above, the molding material placed on the mounting table 38 is pressed and collected on the mounting table. Hereinafter, by similarly repeating, press molding can be continuously performed.

Next, the results of implementing the method of the present invention will be specifically described. In order to manufacture a biconvex lens having a diameter of 26 mm, a molding material made of optical glass SF8 and having a shape similar to the intended shape and having both surfaces finished by polishing to a surface roughness (R _max ) of 0.04 μm was prepared. . Then, press molding was performed using the apparatus and method described with reference to FIGS.

During the movement of the molding material and the molded optical element,
The temperature of each member involved in delivery and in contact with them,
Control was performed as follows.

・ Mounting table 38: 100 ° C ・ Suction means 50: 350 ° C ・ Mounting table 66: 450 ° C when placing molding material 350 ° C when placing molded optical element ・ Suction means 90a, 90b: 400 ° C when absorbing molding material When adsorbing molded optical element 350 ° C ・ Lower mold member 114: When introducing molding material 470 ° C When removing molded optical element 450 ° C Due to thermal shock during delivery of molding material and molded optical element during transfer The material for use or the molded optical element did not crack, and an optical element with good precision was quickly obtained.

(A) The temperature of the mounting table 66 at the time of mounting the molded optical element is 250 ° C.
Press molding is performed in the same manner as above except that (b) the temperature of the mounting table 66 at the time of mounting the molded optical element is set to 150 ° C.
Press molding is performed in the same manner as described above, and (c) the temperature of the suction means 90a and 90b at the time of suction of the molded optical element is set to 250 ° C. and the mounting table 66 at the time of mounting the molded optical element Press molding was performed in the same manner as described above, except that the temperature was set to 250 ° C. In each case, the molding was similarly performed due to the thermal shock at the time of transfer of the molding material and the molded optical element during transfer. The material for use or the molded optical element did not crack.

In the present invention, by continuously changing the temperature of the members involved in the delivery of the molding material or the molded optical element,
The temperature difference between members at the time of delivery can be minimized.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by setting the temperature difference between the transfer members within 300 ° C.

1. Cracks do not occur in the molded optical element with residual stress during transport.

2. Even with easily formed types and optical elements molded from optical glass, cracks do not occur during transport.

3. Even when the molded optical element is conveyed while being sucked, no cracks occur with the conveyance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of a schematic configuration of an example of an apparatus in which a method for manufacturing an optical element according to the present invention is performed.
The figure is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of ABCDEF. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation timing of each unit of the apparatus in which the method of manufacturing an optical element according to the present invention is performed. 4 (a) to 4 (d) are schematic cross-sectional views of a press section of an apparatus in which the method of manufacturing an optical element according to the present invention is performed. 6: molding chamber, 8: replacement chamber, 10, 12: gate valve, 20: loading / unloading means, 22: transport means, 24: heating section, 26: transfer section, 28: press section, 38: mounting table, 48 : Conveyor shaft, 50: suction means, 66: mounting table, 68: heating cylinder, 90a, 90b: suction means, 106: lower shaft, 110:
Body member, 114: lower member, 124: upper shaft, 128: upper member, H,
H _{1 to} H ₃ : heater, C ₁ , C ₂ : refrigerant flow path, P ₁ , P ₂ : press section.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A molding material is moved from outside a molding chamber to a press section in a molding chamber, press-molded in the press section, and a molded optical element is moved from the press section to outside the molding chamber to be collected. In the method for manufacturing an optical element, the movement of the molded optical element is performed with a plurality of times of member-to-member transfer in which the molded optical element is adsorbed to the adsorbing member, and for each transfer, between two members involved in the transfer. Wherein the temperature difference is within 300 ° C.