JP4836627B2 - Glass molded product manufacturing apparatus and glass molded product manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a glass molded product manufacturing apparatus and a glass molded product manufacturing method.

  Conventionally, glass preforms (glass gob, glass lump, glass molded product) used as raw materials for optical elements, etc. are obtained by melting raw glass with a melting device and molding the resulting molten glass into an appropriate size. can get.

  A glass preform (glass gob, glass lump, glass molded product) used as a raw material for an optical element or the like is obtained by melting a raw glass with a melting device and molding the obtained molten glass into an appropriate size. . Here, continuous melting and intermittent melting are known as melting methods used in the manufacturing process of the glass preform. In continuous melting, the glass raw material can be continuously charged, melted, clarified, and stirred in a plurality of melting pots, which is suitable for producing glass preforms in large quantities. On the other hand, in the intermittent melting, the glass raw material is charged, melted, clarified, and stirred intermittently in a single melting pot, which is suitable for producing a glass preform with a small total production amount.

In the production of a glass preform, it is important to produce a glass preform having a uniform and constant optical characteristic with high accuracy. For this purpose, in addition to the selection of an appropriate glass raw material, various considerations must be made even at the stage of melting, clarifying, and stirring the raw glass. In particular, when molten glass is supplied by intermittent melting, since the raw glass is not continuously melted, bubbles and striae are likely to occur, causing the optical properties of the glass preform to become unstable. In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, a method of causing convection and stirring the molten glass using a stirring device having a screw blade has been used (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-2-252626

  However, even if the above measures improve the homogeneity and the like of the molten glass, cracks and chipping may occur when the molten glass is formed. In particular, when a preform is manufactured by dripping molten glass from a nozzle into a mold, the molten glass is rapidly cooled on the receiving mold, and cracks and chips are generated in certain types of glass. May end up.

  The inventors of the present invention can obtain a temperature by controlling a temperature of the molding die in a state where the molten glass or the glass molded product is received within a predetermined temperature condition by heating the molding die for molding the molten glass. It has been found that cracking and chipping of the glass molded product obtained can be prevented, quality can be homogenized and striae can be prevented, and the present invention has been completed.

  (1) A melting device having a melting tank that melts raw materials to form molten glass, a guiding path that is connected to the melting tank and flows out of the molten glass from the melting tank, and flows out through the guiding path A flow down device for flowing down the molten glass, a glass forming device having a plurality of molds for forming the flowed molten glass, a transport device for transporting a glass molded product formed by each of the plurality of molds, and A glass molding product manufacturing apparatus comprising: a first transfer device that sequentially transfers a glass molding product to the conveying device, wherein the glass molding device adjusts one or more temperatures of the plurality of molding dies. A mold temperature adjusting device, the mold temperature adjusting device comprising: a mold that receives the molten glass and / or a mold that does not receive the molten glass in the plurality of molds; Glass gob device for temperature control by heat or cool.

  The glass molded article manufacturing apparatus according to the invention of (1) includes a melting apparatus having a melting tank for melting a raw material to form molten glass, a guiding path connected to the melting tank and flowing the molten glass out of the melting tank, and a guiding path A flow-down device for flowing down the molten glass that has flowed out through the glass, a glass forming device having a plurality of molds for forming the molten glass that has flowed down, and a conveyance for conveying a glass molded product formed by each of the plurality of molds An apparatus and a first transfer device that sequentially transfers a glass molded product to a conveying device, wherein the glass forming device adjusts one or more temperatures of a plurality of molding dies. A mold temperature adjusting device, wherein the mold temperature adjusting device heats or cools the mold in a state of receiving molten glass and / or the mold in a state of not receiving molten glass in a plurality of molds; Each mold number, temperature controlled in a state that received molten glass or glass moldings. By adjusting the temperature of the glass mold in this manner, the temperature difference between the molten glass and the mold can be reduced, and cracking and chipping can be prevented from occurring in the glass.

  (2) Each of the plurality of molds is temperature-controlled so as to have a higher temperature than when the molten glass is received at a predetermined time in a state where the molten glass or the glass molded product is received. Glass molded product manufacturing equipment.

  In the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus in the invention of (2), the temperature is controlled so that each of the plurality of molding dies has a higher temperature than when the molten glass is received at a predetermined time when the molten mold or the glass molded product is received. The In this way, by providing a time point when the temperature of the mold is once higher than the time when the molten glass is received by the temperature adjustment by the temperature adjusting device, it is possible to create a glass that is more homogeneous and free from cracks and chips. it can.

  (3) Each of the plurality of molds is temperature-controlled so that the difference between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature of each of the plurality of molds is 10 ° C. or less in a state where the molten glass or the glass molded product is received. The glass molded article manufacturing apparatus according to (1) or (2).

  In the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus in the invention of (3), the difference between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature in each of the plurality of molding dies is 10 ° C. in a state where each of the plurality of molding dies has received molten glass or a glass molded product. The temperature is controlled to be as follows. Thus, by making the temperature difference of all the molds receiving the molten glass within a predetermined range, it is more uniform and the risk of cracking and chipping can be reduced.

  (4) The transport device includes a plurality of storage containers that store the glass molded product, a container heating device that heats each of the plurality of storage containers, and a container moving device that moves the plurality of storage containers. The glass molded product manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3).

  In the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus according to the invention of (4), the conveying device includes a plurality of storage containers that store the glass molded product, a container heating device that heats each of the plurality of storage containers, and a container that moves the plurality of storage containers. A moving device. By providing such a transport device, the molded glass molded product can be transported to the next process or transported to the storage tray.

  (5) The glass container manufacturing apparatus according to (4), wherein the container heating device heats each of the plurality of containers before the glass molded article is transferred from the mold to the plurality of containers. apparatus.

  In the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus in the invention of (5), the container heating device heats each of the plurality of storage containers before the glass molded product is transferred from the mold to the plurality of storage containers. Usually, the container is in a temperature state much lower than that of the mold. Therefore, even if cracking and chipping can be prevented by controlling the temperature in the mold, if the temperature difference from the container is too large, cracking or chipping may occur when the glass moves to the container depending on the type of glass. Sometimes. By heating the storage container in this manner, the above disadvantage can be avoided by reducing the temperature difference between the mold and the storage container.

  (6) In the plurality of molds, the temperature of the mold receiving the predetermined glass molded product is set in a predetermined container where the predetermined glass molded product is transferred by the first transfer device. The glass molded product manufacturing apparatus according to (4) or (5), wherein the temperature is controlled to be higher than the temperature.

  In the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus according to the invention of (6), the temperature of the molding die in which the plurality of molding dies are receiving the predetermined glass molded product is transferred by the first transfer device. The temperature is controlled to be higher than the temperature in the predetermined container.

  (7) Further, a weight sorting device having a weight measuring device for measuring the weight of the glass molded product conveyed by the conveying device, and a sorting device for sorting the glass molded product based on the measurement result of the weight measuring device. And a second transfer device for transferring the glass molded product between the transport device and the weight sorting device. (1) to (6).

  The glass molded product manufacturing apparatus in the invention of (7) further comprises a weight measuring device for measuring the weight of the glass molded product conveyed by the conveying device and a selection for selecting the glass molded product based on the measurement result of the weight measuring device. And a second transfer device for transferring a glass molded product between the transport device and the weight selection device. Thus, by connecting the weight selection apparatus to the manufacturing apparatuses (1) to (6), it is possible to quickly measure the weight of the obtained glass molded article, thereby reducing the cost.

  (8) A melting step of flowing a molten glass obtained by melting a raw material in a melting tank through a guiding path connected to the melting tank, and flowing down the molten glass flowing out through the guiding path A flow-down step, a glass forming step of forming a glass molded product of the flowed molten glass with a plurality of molds, a transporting step of transporting the glass molded product with a transport device, and the glass molded product A first transfer step of sequentially transferring the transfer glass to the transfer device by one transfer device, wherein the glass forming step is a step of transferring the molten glass in the plurality of forming dies. A method for producing a glass molded article, comprising a mold temperature adjusting step of heating or cooling a mold in a received state and / or a mold in a state of not receiving the molten glass.

  The method for producing a glass molded product in the invention of (8) includes a melting step of flowing molten glass obtained by melting a raw material in a melting tank through a guiding path connected to the melting tank, and a guiding path. A flow-down process for flowing down the molten glass that has flowed through, a molding process for forming the molten glass that has flowed down in a plurality of molds, a transport process for transporting the glass molded product with a transport device, and a glass molded product A first transfer step of sequentially transferring the transfer glass to a conveying device by a first transfer device, wherein the glass forming step is a step of transferring the molten glass in the plurality of forming dies. Including a mold temperature adjusting step of heating or cooling the mold in a received state and / or a mold not receiving the molten glass, and each of the plurality of molds in the glass molding step is a molten glass or a glass molded product. Temperature controlled in receiving state.

  (9) Each of the plurality of molds in the glass forming step is at a higher temperature than when each of the plurality of molds receives the molten glass at a predetermined time when the molten glass or the glass molded product is received. The method for producing a glass molded product according to (8), wherein the temperature is controlled to be

  In the method for producing a glass molded product in the invention of (9), each of the plurality of molding dies receives molten glass at a predetermined time in a state where each of the plurality of molding dies in the glass molding step receives molten glass or a glass molded product. The temperature is controlled so as to be higher than that at the time.

  (10) Each of the plurality of molds in the glass molding step receives the molten glass or the glass molded product, and the difference between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature of each of the plurality of molds is 10 ° C. or less. The method for producing a glass molded article according to (8) or (9), wherein the temperature is controlled to be.

  The method for producing a glass molded product in the invention of (10) includes a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature in each of the plurality of molding dies in a state where each of the plurality of molding dies in the glass molding step receives molten glass or a glass molded product. The temperature is controlled so that the difference between the two becomes 10 ° C. or less.

  (11) The transport device includes a plurality of storage containers, a container heating device that heats each of the plurality of storage containers, and a container transport device that transports the storage containers. A housing step of housing the glass molded article by the housing container, a container heating step of heating the housing container by the container heating device, and a container moving step of moving the housing container by the container transport device (8) ) To (10).

  The manufacturing method of the glass molded product in the invention of (11) includes a plurality of storage containers, a container heating device that heats each of the plurality of storage containers, and a container transport device that transports the storage containers, A conveyance process contains the accommodation process which accommodates a glass molded product with a some accommodating container, the container heating process which heats an accommodation container with a container heating apparatus, and the container movement process which moves an accommodation container with a container moving apparatus.

  (12) In the container heating step, the container heating device heats each of the plurality of storage containers (11) before the glass molded product is transferred from the mold to the plurality of storage containers. The manufacturing method of the glass molded article of description.

  In the method for producing a glass molded product in the invention of (12), in the container heating step, the container heating device is configured to put each of the plurality of storage containers before the glass molded product is transferred from the mold to the plurality of storage containers. Heat.

  (13) Further, a weight selection step of measuring and selecting the weight of the glass molded product being transferred by the transfer device by a weight selection device, the transfer device in the transfer step, and the weight selection device in the weight selection step A method for producing a glass molded product according to any one of (8) to (13), further comprising a second transfer step of transferring the glass molded product between them.

  The method for producing a glass molded product according to the invention of (13) further includes a weight sorting step for measuring and sorting the weight of the glass molded product being conveyed by the conveying device using a weight sorting device, and the conveying device and the weight sorting in the conveying step. And a second transfer step of transferring the glass molded product to and from the weight sorting apparatus in the step.

  (14) A method of manufacturing an optical element including a precision pressing step of precision press-molding a glass molded product manufactured by the method of manufacturing a glass molded product according to any one of (8) to (13).

  The method for producing an optical element in the invention of (14) includes a precision press step of precision press-molding the glass molded product produced by the method for producing a glass molded product. When the preform manufactured by the method of (8) to (13) is precision press-molded, the preform manufacturing process and the precision pressing process are connected, and the process from glass melting to pressing of the optical element is a continuous process. It may be. Conversely, the preform manufacturing and the precision press process may be discontinuous processes.

  According to the present invention, when producing a glass molded product, disadvantages such as cracks, chipping, and striae can be suppressed, and the occurrence of defective products can be reduced.

[Glass molded product manufacturing equipment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus 10 was flowed down by a melting apparatus 100 that melts a glass raw material, a flow-down apparatus 300 that flows down molten glass C melted by the melting apparatus 100, and a flow-down apparatus 300. A glass forming apparatus 400 for forming the molten glass C.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a transport device 800 that transports a glass molded product E molded by the glass molding device 400, and a transport device that transports the glass molded product E molded by the glass molding device 400. A first transfer device 500 to be transferred to 800, a weight sorting device 700 for measuring the weight of the glass molded product E conveyed by the conveyance device 800 and sorting based on the measurement result, and a conveyance by the conveyance device 800. And a second transfer device 600 that transfers the glass molded product E to the weight sorting device 700.

[Dissolving device and flow-down device]
As shown in FIG. 2, the melting apparatus 100 includes a melting tank 110 provided with a melting furnace 120, a heating element 116 for generating heat when energized and supplying heat to the melting furnace 120, And a stirring device 140 for stirring the molten glass C. The melting furnace 120 is a refractory crucible for charging, melting, clarifying, and stirring the glass raw material. As the refractory crucible, for example, gold, platinum, platinum alloy, and quartz crucible are preferable.

  The melting tank 110 constitutes an intermittent intermittent furnace having the functions of melting, clarifying and homogenizing the glass raw material, and constitutes a connected type connected furnace in which these functions are connected to a unit type. May be.

  It is preferable that the melting furnace 120 includes a hemisphere and a cylinder in a convection stirring chamber formed inside the melting furnace 120. In this case, it is preferable that the hemisphere and the cylinder are combined inside the melting furnace 120 such that the centers of the hemisphere and the cylinder are located on the center line of the melting furnace 120. However, the convection stirring chamber formed in the melting furnace 120 is not limited to this. That is, the convection stirring chamber may have any shape as long as it does not cause the molten glass C to stay.

  It is preferable that the melting furnace 120 further includes a charging part 126 for charging the glass raw material, a circular opening 130 that opens to the top of the charging part 126, and a lid 128 that covers the opening 130.

  Further, the stirring instrument 140 disposed inside the melting furnace 120 has a rotating shaft 142 and a screw blade 144 fixed integrally to the rotating shaft. The shape of the stirring tool 140 may consist only of a spiral screw. The number of stirring tools per one melting furnace 120 may be one or plural. Stirring of the molten glass may not be performed by a stirring device, for example, a known stirring method such as bubbling with air or an inert gas can be used, and a defoaming agent such as antimony oxide is added and stirred. May be performed simultaneously.

  Although the heating element 116 that generates heat by energization is used as a heating means for heating the melting furnace 120, it is not limited to this. For example, the heating means may be a method of heating by burning fuel, a method of high frequency induction heating, or a method of heating by directly energizing the melting furnace 120. That is, any heating means may be used as long as it can heat the melting furnace 120 uniformly.

  As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the guide path 200 is connected to the lowermost part of the side surface of the shear stirring chamber 124 of the melting furnace 120. The other end of the guide path 200 constitutes a flow-down device 300 described later. The guide path 200 is a straight descent pipe 210 that descends from one end to the other end at approximately the same rate, and a turn that continuously connects the straight descent pipe 210 and turns the molten glass that has flowed to the straight descent pipe 210 in a vertical direction. The pipe 220 includes a flow-down pipe 230 that has one end connected to the turning pipe 220 and the other end that drops molten glass onto a forming die 430 (see FIG. 4) of the glass forming apparatus 400. In the present embodiment, the flow down device 300 is configured by the turning pipe 220 and the outflow pipe.

  The induction path 200 can control the temperature of the induction path 200 by using either one or both of direct heating that is heated by energizing the induction path itself and indirect heating that is heated from the outside by an external heating device. .

  The temperature control in the taxiway is preferably adjusted so that the temperature of the taxiway decreases as the flow direction of the molten glass follows, and further from the predetermined position of the taxiway to the downstream side of the taxiway It is more preferable that the temperature is controlled so that the range up to the end has a gentler temperature gradient than natural cooling.

[Glass forming equipment]
FIG. 4 is an example of a schematic configuration of the glass forming apparatus 400. The glass forming apparatus 400 generally includes a rotary table 422 that is rotatably supported and a plurality of moldings that are disposed on concentric positions on the peripheral edge of the rotary table 422 and that can receive molten glass flowing out from the lower end of the flow-down pipe 230. A mold 430.

  Specifically, the glass forming apparatus 400 is rotatably supported on a rotating shaft 425, and rotatably supports a disc-shaped rotating table 422 that can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, and a central portion of the rotating table 422. , A cooling device 423 serving as a cooling means on a part of the side surface, and a rotation shaft 425 disposed in the center of the cooling device 423 and connected to a rotation drive source (not shown). In some cases, the glass forming apparatus 400 may be provided with a cooling device 423 around the rotation shaft 425.

  The glass forming apparatus 400 further supplies the gas pipes 427, 428, and 429 from the center pipe provided on the rotation shaft 425 so that the heated gas is ejected from the pores that open to the concave forming surface 430a of the mold 430. The gas is supplied to the interior 433 (see FIG. 6) of the mold 430 through the gas supply path 426 including it.

  In addition, the glass forming apparatus 400 and its vicinity are located near the moving path of the forming mold 430, and the downflow pipe 230, which is a molten glass supply means positioned on the moving path of the forming mold 430, and the moving path of the forming mold 430. The first transfer device 500 that is the glass molded product E recovery means located above is arranged in this order toward the rotation direction of the rotary table 422. Depending on the type of glass to be molded, a burner 450 which is a mold temperature adjusting device for individually heating the mold 430 may be provided.

  When the rotary table 422 is stationary, the burner 450 is disposed at a position where a flame can be irradiated toward one mold 430 among the plurality of molds 430. The temperature adjusting device is not limited to heating, but may be a cooling device such as an air cooling device in some cases.

  The lower end 230a of the flow-down pipe 230 is located immediately above one molding die 430 among the plurality of molding dies 430 when the rotary table 422 is stationary.

  The first transfer device 500 is located immediately above one molding die 430 among the plurality of molding dies 430 when the rotary table 422 is stationary. The first transfer device 500 can rotate 180 degrees in the horizontal direction and can move up and down. The first transfer device 500 is also called a takeout device.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of molds 430 are arranged on the turntable 422 so as to be on concentric positions on the peripheral edge of the turntable 422.

  The mold 430 is temperature-controlled so as to satisfy a predetermined temperature condition in a state where the mold 430 receives the molten glass C and / or the glass molded product E. For example, the molding die 430 is heated by the molding die 430 that has received the molten glass C and / or the molding die 430 that has not received the molten glass C by the burner 450 that is a molding temperature controller. In a state where the molten glass C and / or the glass molded product E is received from the time when the glass molded product E is transferred to the conveying device 800 by the first transfer device 500 after 430 receives the molten glass C. The temperature is controlled.

  For example, the molten glass C or the glass molded product E that is from when the molding die 430 receives the molten glass C to when the glass molded product E is transferred to the conveying device 800 by the first transfer device 500 is received. At a predetermined time in the state, the temperature is controlled to be higher than when the molten glass C is received.

  Further, for example, the molten glass C or the glass molded product E from when the mold 430 receives the molten glass C until the glass molded product E is transferred to the conveying device 800 by the first transfer device 500 is used. In the received state, the temperature is controlled so that the difference between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature in each of the plurality of molds 430 is 10 ° C. or less.

  Further, for example, the temperature of the molding die 430 receiving the predetermined glass molded product E is accommodated like the predetermined pallet 862 to which the predetermined glass molded product E is transferred by the first transfer device 500. The temperature is controlled to be higher than the temperature in the container.

  That is, when the mold is heated in the present invention, the number and location of the heating means are not particularly limited, and it is preferable to appropriately change depending on the glass components.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a concave molding surface 430 a that is a receiving surface is formed on the upper surface of the molding die 430. The concave molding surface 430 a is a surface that receives the molten glass C that has flowed out from the lower end 230 a of the flow-down pipe 230. The concave molding surface 430a is preferably composed of a breathable porous material body 431 in which pores (not shown) capable of ejecting gas are formed. A space is formed in the interior 433 of the porous material body 431. The molding die 430 causes the molten glass on the concave molding surface 430a to float and form a preform by ejecting gas from the space of the interior 433 of the porous material body 431 through the pores to the concave molding surface 430a. It is to make it.

  In order to float mold molten glass, the mold does not necessarily need to be made of a porous material, and may be one described in JP-A-2003-40632.

  For the mold in the present invention, a known method such as JP-A No. 2003-20248 and JP-A No. 2000-95531 can be used. Further, the mold may be appropriately heated or cooled depending on the thermal characteristics of the glass to be molded.

[First transfer device]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first transfer device 500 includes a rotatable rotating shaft 501 and a pair of rotating arms 521 supported by the rotating shaft 501 and extending in the horizontal direction and in opposite directions. 522. The rotary arms 521 and 522 have a pair of suction hands 503c and 503d at their tips.

  The first transfer device 500 includes moving devices 504, 505, and 506 that move the rotating shaft 501 up and down. The moving device 506 is assembled to the cooling device 423 via an attachment member 506a. By moving the first transfer device 500 up and down and rotating, the molded glass molded product can be taken out from the mold and transferred.

  The glass extraction method of the transfer apparatus used in the present invention may not be by adsorption.

[Conveyor]
As shown in FIG. 9, the conveying device 800 includes a pallet 862 that houses the glass molded product E, a belt conveyor 860 that has two belts 864 that are container moving devices that place and move the pallet 862, and a pallet 862. A container heating device 850 for heating the container.

  For example, four concave forming surfaces 862a are formed on the surface of the pallet 862 so that four glass molded articles E can be placed thereon. The number of concave forming surfaces may be any number.

  The belt conveyor 860 is an example of means for conveying the pallet 862 for placing the glass molded product E formed by the glass forming apparatus 400 to another process. The belt conveyor 860 moves the pallet 862 by a belt 864 driven by a motor (not shown). The belt 864 has a structure in which the belt 864 rotates by being reversed at the end.

  The belt conveyor 860 moves and stops the belt 864 when the motor is computer-controlled based on an optical sensor (not shown) or the like. With the operation of the belt 864, the pallet 862 on which the glass molded product E is placed is transferred at a predetermined timing and stopped at a predetermined position.

  The container heating device 850 heats each of the plurality of pallets 862 before the glass molded product E is transferred from the mold 430 to the plurality of pallets 862. Thereby, the difference with the temperature of the glass molded product E can be made small, and the bad influence by a temperature difference can be excluded.

  The number of container heating devices may be any number, and the heating method may be heating with a fuel such as gas or heating with electricity. However, the material of the pallet needs to be free from any disadvantages such as deformation even when heated by the heating device.

[Second transfer device]
The second transfer device 600 is provided at a position higher than the belt conveyor 860. The belt conveyor 860 extends vertically with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt conveyor 860. The belt conveyor 860 includes a rail 682, a top plate 684 protruding in the vertical direction from the rail 682, and four suction pipes 692 extending in the vertical direction from the four corners of the bottom surface of the top plate 684. The second transfer device 600 is also called a glass gob transfer device.

  The top plate 684 can move in the horizontal direction along the rail 682 from directly above the belt conveyor 860 to directly above the four weighing devices 710 of the weight sorting device 700. The suction pipe 692 has a structure that can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction. The suction pipe 692 has a structure capable of sucking and discharging the atmosphere. By sucking the atmosphere, the glass molded product E can be sucked and held for a certain period, while the atmosphere is discharged. By doing so, the glass molded product E can be discharged from the suction pipe 692.

  When the pallet 862 is transferred to the transfer position 864b, which is a predetermined take-out position, by the belt conveyor 860, the second transfer device 600 takes out the glass molded product E from the pallet 862 and supplies the glass molded product to the weighing device 710. E is transferred (first transfer means).

  When the four weighing display devices 722 determine that the weight of the glass molded product E is within a predetermined reference range, the second transfer device 600 moves the glass molded product E from the predetermined weighing position to the pallet 62. Transfer (second transfer means).

In the second transfer device 600, the first transfer means and the second transfer means are the same, but the first transfer means and the second transfer means may be provided separately.
[Weight sorter]
The weight selection device 700 displays four weighing devices 710 that convert the weight of the glass molded product E into an electrical signal in order to weigh the glass molded product E, a result of weighing the glass molded product E, and a predetermined standard. Weighing display device group 720 for determining whether or not it is within the range, four vacuum ducts 712 that suck the glass molded product E that is not within the reference range and discharge it from the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus 10, and the vacuum duct 712 There are four vacuum pumps 713 communicating with each other. Note that a part of the vacuum duct 712 is omitted.

  A concave forming surface 710 a is formed at a position corresponding to a predetermined weighing position on the upper surface of the weighing device 710. The glass molded product E transferred by the second transfer device 600 is placed on the concave forming surface 710a. When the glass molded product E is placed on the concave forming surface 710a, the weighing device 710 weighs the glass molded product E and transmits an electrical signal corresponding to the weight of the glass molded product E to the weighing display device 722. The signal transmission path may be wired or wireless. The weighing device 710 is an example of an electronic balance.

  The weighing display device group 720 includes four weighing display devices 722. The weighing display device 722 includes a liquid crystal display device 723 and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM (not shown), and the like. The weighing display device 722 calculates the weight of the glass molded product E based on the electrical signal transmitted from the weighing device 710, and determines whether or not the glass molded product E has a weight within a predetermined reference range. To do. That is, the weighing display device 722 functions as a pass / fail judgment (judgment) means for judging (determining) whether or not the result measured by the weighing device 710 is within a predetermined reference range.

  The vacuum duct 712 is a cylindrical body having a rectangular metal cross section in which the end portion 712a is provided in the vicinity of the weighing device 710, but the material may be other than metal, for example, plastic.

  The vacuum pump 713 communicates with the vacuum duct 712 via a defective product recovery unit (not shown). When the power of the vacuum pump 713 is turned on, the glass molded product E placed on the concave forming surface 710a is sucked with the vacuum duct 712 in a vacuum state, and the glass molded product E is recovered in the defective product recovery unit. That is, when the weighing display device 722 determines that the weight of the glass molded product E is not within the predetermined reference range, the vacuum pump 713 is operated to suck the glass molded product E and discharge it to the outside. . The vacuum duct 712 and the vacuum pump 713 are examples of external discharge means.

  The glass molded product manufacturing apparatus 10 described above manufactures a glass molded product E as follows.

  When manufacturing the glass molded product E, first, a glass raw material such as cullet is charged into the melting furnace 120 from the charging portion 126. By causing the heating element 116 to generate heat by energization, heat is transferred to the melting furnace 120, and the melting furnace 120 and the cullet inside the melting furnace 120 are heated. When the temperature of the cullet reaches the melting point, the cullet begins to melt and becomes a non-uniform molten glass.

  After the cullet is melted and becomes non-uniform molten glass, the stirring tool 140 is inserted into the melting furnace 120, and at least one of convection stirring and broken line stirring is performed. As described above, known stirring means such as bubbling may be combined.

  The temperature of the guide path 200 is controlled by a guide path control device so that the temperature of the guide path 200 decreases as the flow direction of the molten glass follows.

  The homogenized molten glass is sent to the glass forming apparatus 400 through the guide path 200 while maintaining the state.

  The rotating shaft 425 rotates intermittently at a constant speed. As the rotary shaft 425 rotates, the rotary table 422 supported by the rotary shaft 425 rotates.

  The burner 450 heats the molding die 430 disposed on the rotary table 422, and the heated molding die 430 moves directly below the flow-down pipe 230 as the rotary table 422 rotates. In the molding die 430, heated gas is ejected from the pores opened in the concave molding surface 430a. This gas is supplied from the center pipe provided on the rotating shaft 425 to the mold 430 through the gas pipe 429.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when molten glass is dropped from the flow pipe 230 onto the forming mold 430, the forming mold 430 and the molten glass C are separated by the pressure of the gas ejected from the forming mold 430 as shown in FIG. 11. The preform is formed while the molten glass C is rotated while being kept in a non-contact state.

  When the downflow pipe 230 drops molten glass on the mold 430, a sensor (not shown) detects the molten glass C and rotates the rotary table 422, and the mold 430 that receives the molten glass C rotates the rotary table 422. It moves with. Along with the rotation of the rotary table 422, the mold 430 moves from directly below the flow-down pipe 230 to directly below the first transfer device 500. During this time, the molten glass is formed into a curved body, cooled, and becomes a glass molded product E (also referred to as a glass gob, glass lump, or glass preform).

  Specifically, the molten glass received in the concave molding surface 430a was gradually cooled and solidified to become a glass molded product E (also referred to as a glass gob, a glass lump, or a glass preform) and ejected from the pores. The gas floats from the concave molding surface 430a to a non-contact state and is molded.

  In addition, when a sudden temperature drop during molding causes disadvantages such as cracking and chipping on the glass molded product, it is preferable to heat the mold with a heating device at an arbitrary location. As a result, a rapid temperature drop of the mold does not occur, and as a result, the defective rate of the glass molded product is lowered.

  Then, the formed glass molded product E is collected by the first transfer device 500.

  The rotating shaft 501 of the first transfer device 500 is in the raised state (the state depicted by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 7), and the one suction hand 503a, 503b maintains the facing interval of P1, while the one suction hand The hands 503c and 503d maintain the facing distance of P2 (see FIG. 8). Next, the rotating shaft 501 descends, and the suction ports 531 of the suction hands 503a and 503b come close to the two glass molded products E on the rotary table 422 (a state depicted by a solid line in FIG. 7). Then, the suction hands 503a and 503b suck these two glass molded products E.

  Next, after the rotating shaft 501 is raised, it rotates 180 degrees. For example, the rotation shaft 501 rotates clockwise (see FIG. 8). One suction hand 503a, 503b moves to the transport device 800 side, and the other suction hand 503c, 503d moves to the transport device 800 side. During this time, one suction hand 503a, 503b is changed to the facing interval of P2, and the other suction hand 503c, 503d is changed to the facing interval of P1. During this time, the rotary table 422 rotates by a predetermined angle and stands by so that the next glass molded product E is transferred by the first transfer device 500.

  Next, the rotating shaft 501 is lowered, the suction port 531 of the other suction hand 503c, 503d is close to the two glass molded products on the rotary table 422, and simultaneously sucks the glass molded product to the suction port 531. Two glass molded articles are released from the suction port 531 of one suction hand 503a, 503b.

  Next, after the rotating shaft 501 is raised, it rotates 180 degrees. For example, the rotation shaft 501 rotates counterclockwise (see FIG. 8). By repeating such an operation, the first transfer device 500 sequentially transfers the glass molded product E from the glass forming device 400 to the transport device 800.

  The empty mold 430 after the first transfer device 500 collects the glass molded product E moves again to the flame irradiation position by the burner 450 as the rotary table 422 rotates, and the burner 450 May be heated.

  When the mold 430 that receives the molten glass is heated by the burner 450, the temperature difference between the molten glass C and the mold 430 is reduced, and the molten glass C is not rapidly cooled, thereby preventing a rapid volume change of the molten glass C. In addition, it is possible to prevent the glass obtained by cooling the molten glass C from cracking.

  In addition, gas is ejected from the mold 430, the mold 430 and the molten glass C are kept in a non-contact state, and the molten glass C is cooled while being rotated. A glass molded product E having no trace of contact on the surface of the glass obtained by cooling the glass C can be obtained.

  Further, a plurality of molds 430 are arranged on the concentric position of the peripheral edge of the rotary table 422, and the rotary table 422 is continuously rotated, so that the mold 430 is placed on the moving path with the burner 450, gas It moves to the pipe 429 and the 1st transfer apparatus 500, and each apparatus acts on the shaping | molding die 430 repeatedly. Thereby, mass production of the glass molded product E can be performed.

  While the glass molded product E is being produced, a cooling device 423 may be provided to cool the rotating shaft 425 and prevent the shaft from sticking.

  With this cooling device, the mold 430 is heated by the burner 450, whereby the rotating shaft 425 is indirectly heated, and the movement of the rotating table can be kept smooth.

  Next, the operation of the weight sorting apparatus 700 will be described.

  The glass molded product E transferred from the mold 430 by the first transfer device 500 is mounted on the pallet 862 at the transfer position 864a on the belt 864 of the belt conveyor 860. When four glass molded products E are placed on the pallet 862, the belt conveyor 860 moves the belt 864 by driving a motor (not shown) and moving the belt 864 for a predetermined time (predetermined distance). Transport to position 864b.

  When the pallet 862 is conveyed to the transfer position 864b, the top plate 684 moves in parallel so that the end portions of the four suction pipes 692 are positioned above the concave forming surface 862a of the pallet 862.

  When the glass molded product E is sucked and held by the suction pipe 692, the top plate 84 is moved in parallel so that the suction pipe 692 is positioned above the weighing device 710. The suction pipe 692 discharges the glass molded product E, and each glass molded product E is placed on the concave forming surface 710a of the weighing device 710.

  The weighing device 710 weighs the glass molded product E placed on the concave forming surface 710a. The weighing device 710 transmits an electric signal corresponding to the weight of the glass molded product E to the weighing display device 722. The weighing display device 722 that calculates the weight of the glass molded product E based on the electrical signal determines whether or not the glass molded product E placed on the concave forming surface 710a has a weight within a predetermined reference range. .

  When the determination result is out of the predetermined reference range, the weighing display device 722 turns on the vacuum pump 713 to discharge the glass molded product E outside the reference range to the outside.

  After the vacuum pump 713 is actuated, the suction pipe 792 moves up and down to adsorb and hold the glass molded product E that has not been discharged, that is, the glass molded product E within the reference range. After the top plate 684 moves again above the pallet 862, the glass molded product E is discharged, and the discharged glass molded product E is placed on the concave forming surface 862a of the pallet 862.

  Then, the belt conveyor 860 transports the pallet 862 to the collection position 864c by moving the belt 864 by driving the motor again.

  The conveyance device 800 collects the glass molded product E from the conveyed pallet 862 and transfers the glass molded product (also referred to as a glass gob, glass lump, preform, or glass element) to the next process.

  Next, an aspect of temperature control in the molding die and the conveying device in the present invention will be described.

  Table 1 shows the measurement of the temperature at each point on the apparatus for each of the apparatus (Example) that performed the temperature control defined in the present invention and the apparatus (Comparative Example) that did not perform the temperature control.

  The apparatus of the example and the comparative example uses the above-described apparatus of the present invention. However, the number of molds on the rotary table is 24, and all of them are arranged concentrically at regular intervals. These molds rotate 15 degrees clockwise at regular intervals.

  Here, for convenience of explanation, the position of each mold is designated as No. 1 to 24, and the point where the mold receives the molten glass is No. 1. Set to 1. In the examples, no. 11 and no. 13 was heated with a gas burner, but such heating was not performed in the comparative example. In addition, the point where the glass molded product is taken out by the transfer device is No. in both Examples and Comparative Examples. It was set to 18.

  For the storage container, “storage container (first)” is the temperature immediately before receiving the glass molded product taken out from the transfer device.

  As the glass to be molded, Si-B-La high refractive index glass (Tg = 570 ° C.) was used in both Examples and Comparative Examples.

  Furthermore, in the apparatus of an Example, the container which accommodates the glass molded product taken out by the said transfer apparatus was heated with the electric heater before the glass molded product was accommodated.

  The temperature of the mold and the temperature of the container were measured with a contact thermometer.

  In the examples, no. 11 and no. Due to the heating of the mold at 13, not only immediately after the burner heating, the temperature of the entire mold is increased and the temperature difference from the molten glass is reduced. No. 11 and no. At position 13, the temperature is higher than immediately after receiving the molten glass due to heating. As a result, a rapid temperature drop of the mold can be prevented, and as a result, cracking and chipping of the glass molded product are reduced. On the other hand, in the comparative example, the temperature difference between the mold and the molten glass increases, and as a result, cracking and chipping of the glass molded product are likely to occur.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.

It is a figure which shows an example of the outline of a structure of the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the outline of the cross section of the melt | dissolution apparatus which comprises a part of glass molding product manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the outline of the cross section of the induction path and the falling pipe which comprise some glass molded article manufacturing apparatuses shown in FIG. It is an example of the outline of a structure of the glass shaping | molding apparatus which comprises some glass molding product manufacturing apparatuses shown in FIG. It is a top view of the glass forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is an example of the outline of the vertical cross section of the structure of the shaping | molding die of the glass forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is an example of the schematic front view of the structure of the 1st transfer apparatus which comprises some glass molded article manufacturing apparatuses shown in FIG. It is an example of the upper surface schematic of the structure of the 1st transfer apparatus shown in FIG. It is an example of the outline of a structure of the conveying apparatus which comprises some glass molded product manufacturing apparatuses shown in FIG. It is an example of the state by which molten glass is dripped at a shaping | molding die from the flowing-down pipe shown in FIG. It is an example of the state following FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Glass molded product manufacturing apparatus 100 Melting | dissolving apparatus 200 Guidance path 300 Flowing-down apparatus 400 Glass forming apparatus 500 1st transfer apparatus 600 2nd transfer apparatus 700 Weight sorting apparatus 800 Conveyance apparatus

Claims (12)

A melting apparatus having a melting tank that melts a raw material to form molten glass, and a guide path that is connected to the melting tank and flows out of the molten glass from the melting tank;
A flow down device for flowing down the molten glass that has flowed out through the guide path;
A glass forming apparatus having a plurality of molds for forming the molten glass that has flowed down;
A transport device for transporting a glass molded product formed by each of the plurality of molds;
A glass transfer product manufacturing apparatus comprising: a first transfer device that sequentially transfers the glass molded product to the transport device;
The glass forming apparatus has a mold temperature adjusting device for adjusting one or more temperatures of the plurality of molds,
The mold temperature adjusting device is located at least between a point where the mold receives the molten glass and a point where the glass molded product is taken out, and receives the molten glass in the plurality of molds the Rukoto the mold pressure Nessu of, each of the plurality of molds, in a predetermined time in a state where the receiving the molten glass or the glass molded article, so that a higher temperature than when receiving the molten glass temperature Glass molding production equipment to be controlled. Each of the plurality of molds is temperature-controlled so that a difference between a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature in each of the plurality of molds is 10 ° C. or less in a state where the molten glass or the glass molded product is received. glass gob device according to 1. The said conveyance apparatus is provided with the several container which accommodates the said glass molded product, the container heating apparatus which heats each of these container, and the container moving apparatus which moves these container. Or the glass molded article manufacturing apparatus of 2. The said container heating apparatus is a glass molded product manufacturing apparatus of Claim 3 which heats each of this some container before the said glass molded product is transferred to the said several container from the said shaping | molding die. In the plurality of molds, the temperature of the mold receiving the predetermined glass molded product is higher than the temperature in the predetermined storage container to which the predetermined glass molded product is transferred by the first transfer device. The glass molded product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the temperature is controlled to be higher. Furthermore, a weight sorting device having a weight measuring device for measuring the weight of the glass molded product conveyed by the conveying device, and a sorting device for sorting the glass molded product based on the measurement result of the weight measuring device,
The conveying device and the glass molded product manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-5; and a second transfer device for transferring the glass molded article between the weight sorter. Melting glass obtained by melting a raw material in a melting tank, a melting step of flowing out through a guide path connected to the melting tank,
A flow-down process of flowing down the molten glass that has flowed out through the guide path;
A glass forming step of forming a glass molded product in a plurality of molds with the molten glass flowed down;
A transporting step of transporting the glass molded article by a transporting device;
A first transfer step of sequentially transferring the glass molded product to the transport device by a first transfer device, and a method for manufacturing a glass molded product,
Said glass forming step, the forming die in a state in which receiving the molten glass in the plurality of molds, at least, and the point for receiving the molten glass, pressurized Nessu that between the point where the glass molded article is taken out A mold temperature adjusting step for controlling the temperature of each of the plurality of molds at a predetermined temperature in the state of receiving the molten glass or the glass molded product so that the temperature is higher than when the molten glass is received. A method for producing a glass molded product. Each of the plurality of molds in the glass molding step is a temperature at which the difference between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature of each of the plurality of molds is 10 ° C. or less in a state where the molten glass or the glass molded product is received. The manufacturing method of the glass molded product of Claim 7 controlled. The transport device includes a plurality of storage containers, a container heating device that heats each of the plurality of storage containers, and a container transport device that transports the storage containers,
The conveying step is
An accommodating step of accommodating the glass molded article by the plurality of accommodating containers;
A container heating step of heating the container with the container heating device;
The glass molded article manufacturing apparatus of Claim 7 or 8 including the container movement process which moves the said container by the said container conveying apparatus. 10. The glass according to claim 9 , wherein in the container heating step, the container heating device heats each of the plurality of storage containers before the glass molded article is transferred from the mold to the plurality of storage containers. Manufacturing method of molded products. Furthermore, a weight sorting step of measuring and sorting the weight of the glass molded product being transported by the transport device with a weight sorting device;
The glass in any one of Claim 7 to 10 including the 2nd transfer process which transfers the said glass molded article between the said conveying apparatus in a conveyance process, and the said weight selection apparatus in the said weight selection process. Manufacturing method of molded products. The manufacturing method of an optical element including the process of manufacturing a glass molded product with the manufacturing method of the glass molded product in any one of Claim 7 to 11 , and the precision press process of precision press-molding the said glass molded product.

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