JP2006082997A - Apparatus and method for manufacturing shaped body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for manufacturing glass shaped bodies, which has a mechanism capable of thermally shielding each treating chamber advantageous in miniaturization, cost reduction, shortening of shaping cycle time, and improvement of heating efficiency and thermal uniformity. <P>SOLUTION: In the apparatus 1 for manufacturing the glass shaped bodies, a rotary table 4, on which sample stages 8 each having a mold 9 on it are mounted, is intermittently rotated at a constant feed pitch along a plurality of treating chambers arranged on the same circumference, and each mold 9 and each glass workpiece placed in the mold 9 are subjected to a prescribed treatment at each treating chamber. Although a communication port 7a or the like for allowing the mold 9 to pass is formed in each partition plate 7 or each of end plates, blocking each treating chamber, each communication port 7a is thermally shielded by each shielding plate 10 formed on the rotary table 4 at the time of treatment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a molded body manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method for manufacturing a molded body such as an optical element by press-molding a molding material such as glass with a molding die subjected to precision processing. More specifically, the present invention thermally shields each processing chamber in a molded body manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method for continuously performing press molding by conveying a mold through a plurality of processing chambers sequentially. For technology.

  As a glass molded body manufacturing apparatus, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is known. In the glass molded body manufacturing apparatus disclosed in this document, processing chambers such as a heating chamber, a pressurizing chamber, and a cooling chamber are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction, and a molding die containing a glass material is placed in the processing chamber. It is transferred sequentially. Further, the plurality of processing chambers are partitioned by the shutter, and the rotary table on which the mold is placed rotates intermittently. During rotation, all the shutters are opened to allow the mold to be transferred. As for opening and closing of a shutter that partitions a plurality of processing chambers, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 2 below is known.

The molding apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a housing in which a heating unit, a pressure molding unit, and a cooling unit are provided in series, and a molding die is fed into the housing, and sequentially passes through the heating unit, the pressure molding unit, and the cooling unit. It has a conveying means. The heating unit, the pressure forming unit, and the cooling unit are partitioned by a heat shielding plate, and temperature control at each unit is possible. The heat shielding plate shields each part from heat except when the mold is transported, and retreats by moving upward when the mold is transported. In addition, in this document, the temperature of each part can be easily controlled by the heat shielding plate that can be moved back and forth in the vertical direction, and the thermal influence from other molds and adjacent regions with different temperatures can be reduced. Are listed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-157425 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-139019

  According to the molding apparatus disclosed in the above prior art, which performs processing necessary for molding while sequentially transferring molding dies containing molding materials in a plurality of processing units, it is possible to produce a molded body stably with high productivity. Is possible.

  Here, in order to keep the shape accuracy of the molded body high, temperature control in each processing unit is extremely important. Based on the composition, volume, and shape of the molding material, the shape of the molded body, and the like, the temperature of each processing unit must be determined and controlled with high accuracy.

  However, in the case of using a heat shielding plate as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a drive mechanism for raising and lowering it is necessary, and its installation space is also required. Moreover, it is necessary to ensure the movement space of them so that a heat shielding board can be raised / lowered. For this reason, there is a drawback that the manufacturing cost increases due to the arrangement of the drive mechanism, and the apparatus is increased in size by the installation space of the drive mechanism and the movement space of the heat shielding plate.

  Furthermore, since raising and lowering the heat shielding plate requires at least several seconds, there is a problem that this hinders shortening of the molding cycle time.

  In addition, it is necessary to provide a slit for allowing the heat shield plate to pass up and down in the ceiling of each processing chamber. When the slit is formed, it communicates with the external atmosphere, so that the heating efficiency of the processing chamber is reduced and the heating rate is also reduced. This is disadvantageous for shortening the molding cycle time, and also causes a problem in that the uniform temperature distribution in the processing chamber is hindered.

  The precision mold lenses currently used for small imaging devices and optical pickups have extremely high standards for shape accuracy, and in order to satisfy them, temperature control in each processing chamber such as heating, pressing, cooling, etc. Need to be performed more precisely than before. Furthermore, it is necessary to select such molding conditions based on the composition, shape and volume of the molding material, and the shape of the molded body to be obtained, and control based on this is required.

  In view of these points, the object of the present invention is advantageous in reducing the size and cost, is advantageous in shortening the molding cycle time, and improves the heating efficiency and thermal uniformity of each processing chamber. It is another object of the present invention to propose a molded body manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method having a mechanism capable of thermally shielding each processing chamber.

In order to solve the above problems, the molded body manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is
Multiple processing chambers;
A communication port communicating between the adjacent processing chamber on the front stage and the processing chamber on the rear stage;
A shielding plate capable of thermally shielding the communication port;
A position at which the molding die can be intermittently transferred from the processing chamber on the front stage side to the processing chamber on the rear stage side through the communication port, and the shielding plate can be sequentially sealed through the communication port. And a transport mechanism for intermittently transporting.

  In the present invention, a shielding plate capable of thermally shielding the communication port communicating between the processing chambers is conveyed by using a conveying mechanism of the mold. Therefore, in synchronization with the transfer of the respective molds to the respective processing chambers, if each of the shielding plates is moved to a position where each communication port can be thermally shielded, a shutter mechanism or the like is not used. A state in which each processing chamber is thermally shielded can be formed. Here, “thermally shielded” does not necessarily need to completely block the movement of heat, and suppresses the convection of the atmosphere between the preceding process chamber and the subsequent process chamber, It is to improve the temperature control accuracy so as to obtain the molding accuracy of a desired molded body.

  Next, when the space between the adjacent front processing chamber and the rear processing chamber is partitioned by a partition plate, the communication port is formed in the partition plate. In this case, the adjacent processing chambers are thermally blocked by the fixed-side partition plate and the moving-side shielding plate. That is, every time each mold is transferred to each processing chamber, the partition plate and the shielding plate form substantially the same surface, so that the adjacent processing chambers are thermally blocked.

  Further, in this case, the inner peripheral surface of the communication port of the partition plate and the outer peripheral surface of the shielding plate can ensure the smooth passage of the shielding plate and at the same time ensure the thermal shielding state. The gap is preferably a value in the range of 2 to 7 mm. That is, since the temperature difference between each processing unit and the adjacent processing unit is generally within several hundred degrees, if the opening and closing clearance of the shielding plate is within several millimeters, the amount of movement of the atmospheric gas to the adjacent chamber through the gap is It is considerably smaller than the movement amount of atmospheric gas to the external space in the conventional open / close shutter (the amount of gas convection from the bottom to the top). Therefore, if the gap is set to such a degree, the adverse effects on the heating efficiency and the heating speed of the processing chamber can be substantially eliminated.

  Next, the transport mechanism includes a transport base, a mold placing portion formed on the transport base at a constant interval, and a drive mechanism that intermittently transports the transport base at a constant feed pitch. It can be. In this case, what is necessary is just to mount the said shielding board in the said conveyance stand so that it may be located between each shaping | molding die mounting part.

  The plurality of processing chambers can be arranged on the same circumference. In this case, the mold mounting table is arranged on the same circumference at an angular interval corresponding to each processing chamber, and the shielding plate is arranged on the same circumference at an angular interval corresponding to each communication port. As the transport table, a rotary table that is intermittently rotated at a constant feed pitch may be employed.

  Further, as the processing chamber, a heating chamber for heating a molding die containing a molding material, and a pressurization for press molding the molding material contained by applying a pressing force to the heated molding die A chamber and a cooling chamber for cooling the mold after press molding can be arranged.

Next, the present invention transports a plurality of molds containing molding materials along a transport path that passes through a plurality of processing chambers including a heating chamber, a pressurizing chamber, and a cooling chamber, and presses each mold. In a method for manufacturing a molded body in which molding operations are sequentially performed,
In order to convey the molding die via each processing chamber, a communication port through which the molding die can pass is formed at least between some processing chambers,
Prepare a plurality of shielding plates that can pass through each communication port and can thermally shield each communication port,
By transporting the shielding plate together with the molding die by a fixed feed pitch, each molding die is transferred into each processing chamber, and each shielding plate is transferred to a position where each communication port can be sealed. Forming a thermally shielded chamber,
In this state, a predetermined process is performed on the mold in each processing chamber,
After the processing, each mold and each shielding plate are transported by a fixed feed pitch, and each molding die is transferred to the next processing chamber, and each shielding plate is placed at a position where the next communication port can be sealed. It is characterized by being transported.

  Here, the said shaping | molding die and the said shielding board can be conveyed along the said closed loop-shaped conveyance paths, such as a circle | round | yen. For example, it may be a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, or a shape combining a straight line and a curve.

  In the present invention, the shield plate is transported using a transport mechanism for transporting the mold, and each communication port communicating with each processing chamber is sequentially moved to a position where it can be thermally shielded. I have to. Therefore, a mechanism for opening and closing the shielding plate can be omitted, and an installation space for the mechanism and a space for opening and closing the shielding plate are not required. Therefore, it is advantageous for downsizing and cost reduction of the apparatus.

  Further, since it is not necessary to form a slit for opening and closing the shielding plate in the processing chamber, the airtightness of each processing chamber is increased, temperature control is facilitated, heating efficiency is increased, and heat uniformity is also improved. Therefore, a press-molded body with high shape accuracy can be obtained.

  Furthermore, it is not necessary to consider the opening / closing time of the shielding plate, and the heating efficiency of each processing chamber can be increased. Therefore, the molding cycle time can be shortened accordingly.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a glass molded body manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a rotating glass molded body manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view with a part cut away to show the internal structure. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mold.

  Referring to these figures, a glass molded body manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a cylindrical chamber 2 that is horizontally disposed, and a case 3 that is disposed coaxially within the chamber and includes a plurality of processing chambers described later. And a rotary table (conveying table) 4 that is horizontally disposed coaxially with the lower side of the case 3 inside the chamber 2. The case 3 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and has an annular shape over an angle range of approximately 270 degrees. The rotary table 4 is intermittently rotated at a constant feed pitch around the rotary shaft 4A by a known rotary drive mechanism (not shown) including a motor and a reduction gear train.

  End plates 5 and 6 are attached to both ends of the case 3. A plurality of processing chambers are formed in the interior. In this example, it is divided into six by five partition plates 7 (7 (1) to 7 (5)) arranged at an angular interval of 45 degrees, and the first heating is performed from the end plate 5 side as a processing chamber. The chamber P2, the second heating chamber P3, the third heating chamber P4, the pressurizing chamber P5, the first annealing chamber P6, and the second annealing chamber P7 are formed on the same circumference in this order. A processing chamber is also formed outside the case 3, that is, at an angular interval of 90 degrees where the case 3 is interrupted. In this example, the molding die unloading / loading portion P1 is provided on the first heating chamber P2 side. And a quenching portion P8 is formed on the second slow cooling chamber P7 side. Thus, in this example, the processing chambers (P1 to P8) are arranged on the same circumference in the chamber 2.

  On the upper surface portion 4a of the rotary table 4 facing the bottom surface 3a of the case 3, a cylindrical sample table for placing the mold at a constant angular interval, in this example, an angular interval of 45 degrees, on the same circumference. 8 are arranged, and a molding die 9 is placed on the upper surface of each sample stage 8. The molding die 9 includes a cylindrical barrel die 9a, and an upper die 9b and a lower die 9c that are opposed to each other so as to be slidable on the barrel die 9a. The material W can be press-molded so as to be a target compact (see FIG. 3). The glass material W is preformed into a predetermined volume and a predetermined shape, and can be prepared in advance by polishing or by dropping or flowing molten glass.

  The bottom surface 3a of the case 3 is formed with a slit 3b having a constant width extending in the circumferential direction. The width of the slit 3b is set to a dimension that allows the sample stage 8 arranged on the rotary table 4 to pass therethrough, and each sample stage 8 is inserted into the case 3 through the slit 3b. It has become. The partition plates 7 (1) to 7 (5) partitioning the inside of the case 3 and the end plates 5 and 6 at both ends are also formed with communication ports 7a, 5a and 6a having the same width as the slit 3b. Yes. Each communication port 7a, 5a, 6a has a lower end continuous to the slit 3b, and its height is set to a dimension that allows the sample stage 8 on which the molding die 9 is placed to pass. Accordingly, when the rotary table 4 is intermittently rotated at a feed angle of 45 degrees, the respective molds 8 placed on the respective sample bases 9 on the rotary table 4 are sequentially placed in the respective processing chambers (P1 to P8). It is transported along a circular transport path to be transferred.

  Here, a shielding plate 10 capable of thermally shielding the communication ports 5a to 7a is provided on the upper surface portion 4a of the turntable 4 of this example. The width and height of the shielding plate 10 pass through the communication ports 5a to 7a so that the shielding plate 10 can be transported along the same transport path L (see FIG. 1) as the molding die 9 placed on each sample stage 8. Set to possible dimensions. The shielding plate 10 is vertically attached to the upper surface portion 4a at an angular interval of 45 degrees so as to be positioned between the adjacent sample stands 8. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2A, when each sample stage 8 is transported to the center position in the transport direction in each processing chamber (P2 to P7), the shielding plates 10 located on both sides in the transport direction are provided. The state fitted in the communication port 7a of the partition plate 7 or the communication ports 5a and 6a of the end plates 5 and 6 can be formed.

  In the glass molded body manufacturing apparatus 1 of this example, the rotary table 4 is intermittently rotated at a feed pitch of a rotation angle of 45 degrees, and the molding die 9 in which the glass material placed on each sample table 8 is placed, It transfers to each processing chamber (P1-P8) sequentially. In the state where each mold 9 is transferred to each processing chamber (P1 to P8), as shown in FIG. 2A, each mold 9 is positioned at the center in the transport direction of each processing chamber and shields on both sides. The communication openings 7 a of the partition plates 7 on both sides are shielded by the plate 10. In this state, a predetermined process is performed on the mold 9 in each processing chamber. After the processing, the rotary table 4 is again rotated by 45 degrees. FIG. 2B shows a state in the middle of rotation. During the rotation, the processing units are in communication with each other via the communication ports 5a to 7a.

(Configuration and operation of each part)
Next, the configuration and operation of each part will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the mold carry-out / carry-in part P1, and shows a part cut along line IV-IV in FIG. As shown in this figure, the rotary table 4 is formed with holes 4b for installing the sample stage at an angular interval of 45 degrees. The sample stage 8 includes a large-diameter flange 8a formed at the lower end and a small-diameter columnar part 8b extending coaxially from the upper surface, and the lower surface of the flange 8a has a hole 4b for installing the sample stage. A protrusion 8c that can be inserted is formed. By inserting the protrusion 8c into the hole 4b, the sample table 8 is fixed to the rotary table 4 in a vertical posture. The height of the sample stage 8 is set so that the molding die 9 is positioned at the center in the vertical direction in each processing chamber (P1 to P8). It should be noted that the presence or absence of the sample stage and the shape thereof should be appropriately determined according to the form of the mold and the heating means. For example, the mold 9 can be directly placed on the upper surface portion 4 a of the turntable 4.

  In the mold carry-out / load-in part P1, 15 is a lifting rod formed as a piston rod for lifting the sample stage 8, 16, 17 and 18 are O-rings, and 19 is a seal base fixed to the upper surface portion of the chamber 2. , 20 has one end connected to the seal base 19 and the other end connected to a vacuum pump or a non-oxidizing gas supply tank (not shown), and 21 is placed on the seal base 19 and carried out together with the seal base 19 It is a bell jar that can move up and down and is attached to the lower end of the piston rod 22 of the piston cylinder device that forms the chamber.

  When the mold 9 is not carried out / loaded in, the bell jar 21 is lowered by the piston rod 22 and placed on the seal table 19, and the unloading / carrying chamber 21 a is non-oxidizing via the pipe 20. Filled with a gas, for example nitrogen. As the rotating table 4 rotates and the forming die 9 placed on the sample stage 8 and circulates through the processing chambers (P2 to P8) and finishes forming reaches the forming die unloading / carrying part P1, the lifting rod 15 takes the sample. The mold 9 of the table 8 is raised from the chamber to the carry-out / load-in chamber 21a. As a result, the flange 8a of the sample stage 8 is pressed against the O-ring 16, and the inside of the chamber and the carry-out / load-in chamber 21a are shut off as indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. In this state, the bell jar 21 is raised by the piston rod 22, and the mold 9 containing the glass molded body is taken out with a gripping tool (not shown) and released.

  Next, the next mold 9 in which a new glass material has already been placed is set on the sample stage 8. Then, the bell jar 21 is lowered until the flange 21b of the bell jar 21 comes into contact with the O-ring 18, and the sealed unloading / loading chamber 21a formed thereby is once evacuated and filled with nitrogen. Next, the elevating bar 15 is lowered to lower the sample table 8 on which the forming die 9 is placed, and is seated on the upper surface portion 4 a of the turntable 4.

  Thereafter, by rotating the rotary table 4 by 45 degrees, the sample stage 8 on which the forming die 9 is placed moves to the first heating chamber P2 and stops there. After that, similarly, the rotary table repeats rotating and stopping at regular intervals.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the first heating chamber P2, and shows a portion cut along the line V-V in FIG. Note that the second heating chamber P3, the third heating chamber P4, the first annealing chamber P6, and the second annealing chamber P7 have the same structure as the first heating chamber P2 except that the processing temperatures are different.

  When the rotary table 4 is rotated by 45 degrees, the sample stage 8 on which the mold 9 located in the mold carry-out / carry-in part P1 is placed is connected to the communication port 5a formed in the end plate 5 of the case 3 and the case. 3 is transferred into the first heating chamber P2 through the slit 3b formed on the bottom surface. In the first heating chamber P2, a heater 28 and a reflector 29 are arranged along the inner side surface 3c and the outer side surface 3d of the case 3, respectively. As the heater, for example, a resistance heater (for example, an Fe—Cr heater) can be used.

  In this example, since the slit 3b for allowing the sample stage 8 to pass through is formed in the bottom surface 3a of the case 3, the heater 28 can be disposed on the entire inner side surface of the case 3, and accordingly, the mold 9 and the mold 9 therein. The glass material W accommodated in can be heated uniformly. Moreover, since the slit 3b for allowing the sample stage 9 to pass through is formed on the bottom surface 3a in the case 3, which is the place where the temperature is the lowest in the first heating chamber P2, from the first heating chamber P2 in the case 3 Less heat escapes to the outside of the case. Therefore, the temperature distribution in the first heating chamber P2 becomes uniform. Furthermore, since the molding die 9 is disposed substantially at the center in the first heating chamber P2, the heat radiation of the heater 28 can be received uniformly.

  Furthermore, since the turntable 4 is disposed in the outer space of the case 3, unlike the case where it is disposed in the first heating chamber P2 in a high-temperature atmosphere surrounded by the case 3, the turntable 4 is exposed to a high temperature. It will not be deformed by heat. Therefore, the molding die 9 can be accurately positioned at a predetermined press position at the time of pressing described later.

  In addition, each process chamber is temperature-controlled so that it may be maintained at each preset temperature. For this purpose, a thermocouple may be provided on the sample table 8 and the lead wire may be guided to the rotating shaft of the turntable 4 to measure the temperature at the tip of the sample table, that is, the bottom of the mold 9.

Since the first heating chamber P2 is maintained at a high temperature of, for example, about 750 ° C., the mold 9 and the glass material W are rapidly heated. After the mold 9 and the glass material W are stationary for a predetermined time in the first heating chamber P2, the rotary table 4 rotates 45 degrees and reaches the second heating chamber P3. Due to the heating in the second heating chamber P3, the mold 9 and the glass material W are further heated and approach the press temperature. Next, the mold 8 and the glass material W are further heated in the third heating chamber P4, or are soaked so that the glass viscosity is 10 ⁶ to 10 ⁹ poise, and transferred to the pressurizing chamber P5.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the pressurizing chamber P5, and shows a portion cut along line VI-VI in FIG. In addition to the heater 28 and the reflector 29 provided on the inner side surface of the case 3, the pressurizing chamber P <b> 5 adds a support rod 30 for supporting the rotary table 4 from the lower side, the mold 9 and the glass material W. A pressure rod 31 is provided. The support rod 30 and the pressure rod 31 are formed as a piston rod of a piston cylinder device.

When the mold 9 and the sample stage 8 coming from the third heating chamber P4 are stationary in the pressure chamber P5, the support rod 30 is raised to support the rotary table 4, and the pressure rod 31 is lowered to reduce the glass viscosity. A glass material is obtained by pressing a glass material W maintained at 10 ⁶ to 10 ⁹ poise (for example, temperature of about 500 ° C.) at a predetermined pressure (30 to 200 kg / cm ² ) for a predetermined time (several tens of seconds). Thereafter, the pressure bar 31 is raised to release the pressure, the support bar 30 is lowered, and the mold 9 and the sample stage 8 are transferred to the first slow cooling chamber P6 by the rotary table 4.

If the mold 9 is separated from the glass molded body immediately after pressurization, the glass molded body is in close contact with the mold 9 and cannot be released with a weak force. When the mold is released with a strong force, the shape of the glass molded body is distorted and the glass molded body is often broken. Therefore, in this example, the glass mold is further cooled together with the mold 9 to a temperature at least lower than the glass transition temperature by transferring the mold 9 to the first and second slow cooling chambers P6 and 7. For example, the glass molded body is cooled to a temperature corresponding to a glass viscosity of 10 ¹³ poise in the second slow cooling chamber P7 maintained at 350 ° C., for example, through the first slow cooling chamber P6 maintained at 430 ° C. At this time, since the upper mold 9b follows the shrinkage of the glass by its own weight, good shape accuracy can be obtained.

  Further, in this example, quenching is performed in a quenching section P8 provided with a quenching mechanism (not shown) using a cooling gas, and then transferred to the mold carry-out / load-in section P1, and the mold 9 is set to 250 ° C. or less to prevent oxidation. Then, the glass molded body is carried out together with the mold 9 in the above-described procedure, and the glass mold is taken out by disassembling the mold 9 outside the apparatus.

  By repeating the molding cycle described above, glass molded bodies can be sequentially manufactured. In this example, since eight sample stands 8 are arranged on the rotary table 4 at substantially equal angular intervals, by repeating this operation continuously using nine or ten molding dies 30, A glass molded body can be manufactured at a very high manufacturing speed at a rate of one per 60 seconds. The shape accuracy after annealing of the glass molded body obtained in this way exhibits sufficient optical performance such as within 2 Newton rings and within 1/2 stigma.

  In addition, arrangement | positioning of the process chamber of the glass molded object manufacturing apparatus 1 of this example, and the structure of each part can be suitably changed according to the composition of a shaping | molding raw material, and the shape of a molded object. For example, there are four heating parts, or three slow cooling parts. In order to further increase the production efficiency of the molding process, a plurality of heating chambers, pressurization chambers, and cooling chambers are provided in series, and a plurality of types of moldings that require different temperature conditions and different pressurization conditions are performed simultaneously. Also good. Furthermore, in order to further increase the manufacturing speed of the glass molded body, a plurality of sample stands may be arranged on a rotary table so that a plurality of molds can be simultaneously processed in each processing chamber.

  Next, in this example, as described with reference to FIG. 2, the communication ports 5 a to 7 a are thermally shielded using the shielding plate 10 conveyed by the rotary table 4, and each processing chamber is Each temperature is maintained at a different temperature, and soaking is performed in each processing chamber. In this example, each processing chamber is partitioned by the partition plate 7 or the end plates 5 and 6, and the communication ports 7 a, 5 a, and 6 a formed in the processing chambers are sealed by the shielding plate 10, so that each processing chamber is thermally It is shut off. The clearance gap between the outer peripheral surface of the shielding board 10 and the internal peripheral surface of each communicating port 5a-7a can be 2-7 mm. The gap size is determined in consideration of the fact that no contact occurs when passing each other due to thermal deformation of the member, and that temperature control and soaking of each processing chamber are not hindered.

  Moreover, the opening dimension of each communication port 5a-7a is determined based on the projection dimension on the vertical surface of the shaping | molding die 9 (and part of the sample stand 8 which supports the shaping | molding die 9 as needed). Is done. This is because if the opening is too large, the amount of movement of the atmosphere increases during the rotational movement, and the accuracy of temperature control in each processing chamber tends to decrease.

  Further, the material of the shielding plate is preferably a heat-resistant material having a small heat capacity and diffusing radiant heat, and for example, a white ceramic plate (made of BN, etc.) is suitable.

  In this example, each processing chamber is thermally formed by each moving-side shielding plate 10 formed on the rotary table 4 and the fixed-side partition plate 7 and end plates 5 and 6 formed on the case 3 side. It is shut off. Instead, the partition plate 7 and the end plates 5 and 6 on the case 3 side are omitted, and a shielding plate having a size corresponding to the inner peripheral surface shape of the case 3 is formed on the rotary table 4, and the moving side shielding is performed. Each processing chamber may be thermally blocked only by a plate.

  Next, the above example relates to a manufacturing apparatus having a configuration in which the mold 9 is transported along a circular transport path using the rotary table 4 to perform each process. As the conveyance path of the mold 9, a linear conveyance path can be adopted. In this case, it is only necessary to form a state in which the communication ports formed in the partition plates that partition the processing chambers arranged in a straight line are thermally shielded by the shielding plates that are transported together with the mold. Further, the partition plate may be omitted, and each processing chamber may be thermally blocked only by the moving side shielding plate.

  A biconvex lens having an outer diameter of 10 mm was manufactured using the glass molded body manufacturing apparatus 1 described above. The inside of the apparatus was preliminarily replaced with a nitrogen atmosphere. A borosilicate glass (Tg 520 ° C., Ts 560 ° C.) was used as a glass material, and a biconvex curved preform formed by dropping and molding this in a molten state was used as the glass material W. A carbon film was formed on the surface of the preform W by thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons. The molding die 9 was composed of an upper die 9b, a lower die 9c, and a body die 9a made of silicon carbide, and the molding surface thereof was precisely processed, and a release film was applied by a sputtering method using carbon as a raw material.

  A partition plate 7 fixed to the case 3 is provided at the boundary between the processing chambers (P2 to P7), and the partition plate 7 has a communication port 7a (width is 40 mm, height to allow passage of the molding die 9). 145 mm). A number of shielding plates 10 corresponding to the number of processing chambers are fixed to the rotary table 4, and the clearance from the communication port 7a is set to 4 mm. The material of the shielding plate 10 was BN (boron nitride). The temperature conditions and press conditions of each processing chamber were as follows.

1st heating chamber 850 ℃
Second heating chamber 800 ℃
3rd heating chamber 650 ℃
Pressurization chamber 620 ° C, pressure 100kg / cm ²
1st gradual chamber 400 ℃, cooling rate 80 ℃ / min (average value)
Second chamber 250 ° C, cooling rate 80 ° C / min (average value)
Rapid cooling section Gas flow rate 80 liters / minute, cooling rate 320 ° C / minute (average value)
Cycle time 40 seconds The operation from the supply to the removal is as described in the above embodiment.

  According to the temperature sensor attached to the sample stage 8, the mold 9 containing the glass material could be heated to the press temperature in 2 minutes. Although 2000 glass moldings were manufactured with a cycle time of 40 seconds, there was no problem in thickness accuracy and shape accuracy, and the yield was good.

It is a schematic plane block diagram which shows the glass molded object manufacturing apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the apparatus of FIG. 1, (a) shows the state by which each process chamber was interrupted | blocked thermally, (b) shows the state in the middle of transfer of a molded object. It is sectional drawing which shows the shaping | molding die transferred by the apparatus of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the shaping | molding die carrying out / carrying-in part in the apparatus of FIG. 1, and shows the part cut | disconnected by the IV-IV line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st heating chamber in the apparatus of FIG. 1, and shows the part cut | disconnected by the VV line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the pressurization chamber in the apparatus of FIG. 1, and shows the part cut | disconnected by the VI-VI line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Glass molded object manufacturing apparatus, 2 chamber, 3 case, 3a bottom face, 3b slit, 4 rotation table, 4a upper surface part, 5,6 end plate, 7 partition plate, 5a-7a communicating port, 8 sample stand, 9 mold 10 shielding plate, P1 mold take-out / carry-in part, P2 first heating chamber, P3 second heating chamber, P4 third heating chamber, P5 pressure chamber, P6 first annealing chamber, P7 second annealing chamber, P8 Quenching part, W glass material

Claims (8)

Multiple processing chambers;
A communication port communicating between the adjacent processing chamber on the front stage and the processing chamber on the rear stage;
A shielding plate capable of thermally blocking the communication port;
A position at which the molding die can be intermittently transferred from the processing chamber on the front stage side to the processing chamber on the rear stage side through the communication port, and the shielding plate can be sequentially sealed through the communication port. And a conveyance mechanism for intermittently transferring the molded article. In claim 1,
A partition plate that partitions between the processing chamber on the adjacent front stage side and the processing chamber on the rear stage side;
The communication port is formed in the partition plate,
An apparatus for manufacturing a molded body, wherein the partition plate and the shielding plate thermally block between adjacent processing chambers. In claim 2,
The molded body manufacturing apparatus, wherein a gap between an inner peripheral surface of the communication port of the partition plate and an outer peripheral surface of the shielding plate is a value within a range of 2 to 7 mm. In claim 1, 2 or 3,
The transport mechanism includes a transport base, a mold placing unit formed on the transport base at a constant interval, and a drive mechanism that intermittently transports the transport base at a constant feed pitch.
The said shielding board is mounted in the said conveyance stand so that it may be located between each shaping | molding die mounting part, The molded object manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In claim 4,
The plurality of processing chambers are arranged on the same circumference,
The mold mounting table is arranged on the same circumference at an angular interval corresponding to each processing chamber,
The shielding plates are arranged on the same circumference at an angular interval corresponding to each communication port,
The molded body manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport table is a rotary table that is intermittently rotated at a constant feed pitch. In claim 5,
As the processing chamber, a heating chamber for heating a mold in which a molding material is accommodated, and a pressure chamber for press-molding the molding material accommodated by applying a pressing force to the heated mold And a cooling chamber for cooling the molding die after press molding. Molding that contains multiple molding dies, transports along a transport path that passes through multiple processing chambers including heating chambers, pressurization chambers, and cooling chambers, and sequentially performs press molding processing on each molding die. In the manufacturing method of the body,
In order to convey the molding die via each processing chamber, a communication port through which the molding die can pass is formed at least between some processing chambers,
Prepare a plurality of shielding plates that can pass through each communication port and can thermally shield each communication port,
By transporting the shielding plate together with the molding die by a fixed feed pitch, each molding die is transferred into each processing chamber, and each shielding plate is transferred to a position where each communication port can be sealed. Forming a thermally shielded chamber,
In this state, a predetermined process is performed on the mold in each processing chamber,
After the processing, each mold and each shielding plate are transported by a fixed feed pitch, and each molding die is transferred to the next processing chamber, and each shielding plate is placed at a position where the next communication port can be sealed. The manufacturing method of the molded object characterized by transporting. In claim 7,
A method for producing a molded body, comprising transporting the molding die and the shielding plate along the transportation path in a closed loop shape such as a circle.

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