JP2007238391A - Forming mold of optical component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a forming mold of an optical component, with which high precision forming processing can be performed in a technology for forming an optical lens by pressing a heated and softened lens workpiece with facing lower mold (first forming mold) and upper mold (second forming mold). <P>SOLUTION: The forming mold (1) of the optical lens is equipped with a first forming mold (10) and a second forming mold (20) for forming the optical lens (52). Further, the forming mold (1) has a body mold (30) which holds the first forming mold (10) and in which a transporting window (31) for taking out the optical lens (52) is arranged in its outer peripheral face (33), and a supporting means (40) which moves the second forming mold (20) along the rotary symmetric axis (P) relatively to the body mold (30) and supports the second forming mold (20) coaxially to the first forming mold (10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention belongs to a technical field in which an optical component is molded by pressing a heat-softened material by a mold divided into a first mold (lower mold) and a second mold (lower mold) that face each other. The present invention relates to a mold for optical components that realizes high-precision molding.

In recent years, as high-performance optical lenses (optical components) are developed, high-precision molding processing is required, and research on molding technology for achieving this requirement is underway. In particular, when molding an optical lens, a technique for centering a mold (first mold, second mold) that repeats mold closing / opening with high precision is an important molding technique. One.
Here, the centering means that the first molding die (lower die) for molding one lens surface of the optical lens and the second molding die (upper die) for molding the opposite lens surface are in a closed state. This means that the rotational symmetry axes coincide.

In order to realize such centering with high accuracy, conventionally, a plurality of rolling elements are arranged in a cylindrical shape, and the side surfaces of the lower mold and the upper mold are inscribed in the cylindrical arrangement of the rolling elements. Optical lens molds are known. By being configured in this way, the lower mold and the upper mold can be aligned with the rolling elements, and the rotational symmetry axes of both can coincide with each other. In the achieved state, the mold closing / opening of the mold of the optical lens can be repeated.
JP 2004-262734 A (paragraph 0040, FIG. 2, FIG. 3)

  However, according to the above-described conventional optical lens mold, when the mold is opened and the optical lens formed by opening the mold is taken out, either the upper mold or the lower mold supported by the rolling element A process of extracting one from the cylindrical array of rolling elements is required. For this reason, when the mold of the optical lens repeats mold closing / opening, the upper mold or the lower mold collides with each other when the mold is returned to the arrangement of the rolling elements, and the deterioration of the mold is promoted by the generated wear or breakage. There was a problem that the service life was shortened.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and enables an optical component (optical lens) to be taken out without removing the upper die or the lower die from the arrangement of the rolling elements. The present invention provides a mold for an optical component that improves the accuracy of ejection and suppresses deterioration even when mold closing / opening is repeated and has a long life.

  In a mold for an optical component comprising a first mold for molding an optical component and a second mold, the first mold is held so that the axis of rotational symmetry is shared, and the optical component is rotated. A barrel mold provided with a conveyance window for carrying out in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry, and the second mold for supporting the second mold so that the axis of rotational symmetry is shared with the barrel mold, and the rotational symmetry of the second mold And supporting means for moving along the axis.

  By constructing the invention from such means, the first mold and the second mold are coaxial with the barrel mold (the rotational symmetry axis of the first mold coincides with the rotational symmetry axis of the second mold). Will be supported). Then, the second molding die is moved relative to the first molding die along the rotational symmetry axis by the supporting means, and the mold closing / opening is executed to mold the optical component. Then, the molded optical component can be taken out and the lens material can be inserted from the conveyance window provided on the outer peripheral surface of the barrel mold, so that the mold is closed / closed while the second mold is supported by the barrel mold. Mold opening can be repeated.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to carry in / out the heat-softened material and the molded optical component without separating the second molding die supported so as to move relative to each other by the supporting means from the barrel die. This improves the centering accuracy of the optical component, and provides a mold for the optical component that has long life and is prevented from being deteriorated even when the mold closing / opening is repeated.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
With reference to FIG. 1, the shaping | molding die of the optical component (optical lens) which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.
The optical lens mold 1 (1A) according to this embodiment includes a first mold (lower mold) 10 and a second mold (upper mold) as shown in a perspective view of FIG. 20, a body mold 30, and support means 40.
The optical lens mold 1 configured as described above shifts from the mold open state shown in FIG. 1A to the mold closed state shown in FIG. An optical lens (optical component) 52 is formed by pressing the heat-softened lens material 51.
Since the optical lens mold 1 can be pressed by aligning the rotational symmetry axes P of the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20, an optical lens 52 with high precision can be obtained. Is. Further, the loading / unloading of the lens material 51 and the optical lens 52 can be performed without removing the upper mold 20 from the body mold 30.

  The first molding die (lower mold) 10 has a first reference surface 11, a first molding curved surface 12, and a first side peripheral surface 13. The lower mold 10 thus configured is placed on a horizontal plane (see FIG. 2B) and forms a lens surface on the lens material 51 placed on the first molding curved surface 12. It is. The lower mold 10 is formed with a first reference surface 11, a first curved surface 12, and a first side peripheral surface 13 having a common rotational symmetry axis. Such a structure is generally obtained by rotating a work piece fixed to the main axis of a lathe machine tool (coincident with the rotational symmetry axis P), moving the cutting tool on the carriage back and forth, left and right, and cutting. It is what

The first reference surface 11 is configured in a planar shape orthogonal to the rotational symmetry axis P, and is a part in contact with a horizontal plane of a fixed plate 61 (see FIG. 2B) described later.
The first molded curved surface 12 is a curved surface that molds one lens surface of the optical lens 52, and is configured to match the shape of this one lens surface. Since the contact surface at the point where the first shaping curved surface 12 intersects the rotational symmetry axis P is configured to be orthogonal to the rotational symmetry axis P, the contact surface has a parallel relationship with the first reference surface 11. is doing.
The 1st side peripheral surface 13 is comprised so that the inner peripheral surface 32 of the trunk die 30 mentioned later may be contacted, and fixes the 1st shaping | molding die 10 and the trunk die 30 coaxially. It is desirable that the first side peripheral surface 13 and the inner peripheral surface 32 be firmly fixed by a method such as shrink fitting so as not to be displaced.

  The second molding die (upper die) 20 has a second reference surface 21, a second molding curved surface 22, a second side peripheral surface 23, and a stopper 24. The upper die 20 configured as described above is a lens surface formed by pressing the heat-softened lens material 51 placed on the lower die 10. The upper mold 20 has a second reference surface 21, a second molding curved surface 22, and a second side peripheral surface 23 so as to have a common rotational symmetry axis P.

The second reference surface 21 is configured in a planar shape orthogonal to the rotational symmetry axis P, and is a part in contact with a horizontal plane of a displacement plate 62 (see FIG. 2B) described later.
The second molded curved surface 22 is a curved surface that molds the other lens surface of the optical lens 52, and is configured to match the shape of the other lens surface. Since the contact surface at the point where the second shaping curved surface 22 intersects the rotational symmetry axis P is configured to be orthogonal to the rotational symmetry axis P, the contact surface has a parallel relationship with the second reference surface 21. is doing.
With this relationship, the rotational symmetry axes of the lens surfaces on both sides of the optical lens are mutually aligned by simply arranging the first reference surface 11 of the lower mold 10 and the second reference surface 21 of the upper mold 20 in parallel. Have a parallel relationship.

  The second side peripheral surface 23 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface 32 of the trunk mold 30 via a support means 40 described later, and is configured to relatively move along the rotational symmetry axis P of the trunk mold 30. And when the upper mold | type 20 is inserted in the trunk | drum 30 and is arrange | positioned coaxially, it is comprised so that the clearance gap of a fixed space | interval may be made between the 2nd side peripheral surface 23 and the internal peripheral surface 32. FIG. .

  The stopper 24 is fitted into the lower part of the upper mold 20 and protrudes from the second side peripheral surface 23 to such an extent that the tip does not contact the inner peripheral surface 32 of the inserted barrel mold 30. The stopper 24 configured in this way blocks the support means 40 that moves in the gap between the second side peripheral surface 23 of the upper mold 20 and the inner peripheral surface 32 of the body mold 30 so as not to jump out of the gap. is there.

  The body mold 30 has a cylindrical shape having an inner peripheral surface 32 and an outer peripheral surface 33, and the conveyance window 31 is opened. The body mold 30 configured as described above holds the first mold 10 so as to share the rotational axis P with the first mold 10. The barrel mold 30 is for carrying out the molded optical lens 52 to the outside from the conveyance window 31. The body mold 30 is configured such that the second mold 20 that moves relative to the shared rotational symmetry axis P is inserted from the opposite side of the first mold 10.

  The conveyance window 31 is provided so as to open above the first molding curved surface 12 so as to penetrate the inner peripheral surface 32 and the outer peripheral surface 33. The opening of the conveyance window 31 is large enough to allow the lens material 51 and the optical lens 52 to be loaded / unloaded. The conveyance window 31 configured in this manner is a part where the molded optical lens 52 is carried out in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational symmetry axis P, or the lens material 51 before molding is carried over the lower mold 10. is there.

  The inner peripheral surface 32 is configured such that the diameter is larger than the second side peripheral surface 23 of the upper mold 20 to be inserted, and the first side peripheral surface 13 of the lower mold 10 is fixed. And the support means 40 is arrange | positioned in the clearance gap between the 2nd side peripheral surface 23 and the internal peripheral surface 32 which was formed by inserting the upper mold | type 20 in the trunk | drum 30. FIG. Then, due to the action of the support means 40, the upper mold 20 and the trunk mold 30 move relative to each other along the rotational symmetry axis P so that the second side circumferential surface 23 and the inner circumferential surface 32 pass each other.

  The stopper 34 is inserted into the upper portion of the body mold 30 from the outer peripheral surface 33 side, and protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 32 to the extent that the tip does not contact the second side peripheral surface 23 of the inserted upper mold 20. . The stopper 34 configured in this manner blocks the support means 40 that moves in the gap between the second side peripheral surface 23 and the inner peripheral surface 32 so as not to jump out of the gap.

  The support means 40 includes a rolling element 41 and a retainer 42, and is disposed between the inner peripheral surface 32 of the trunk mold 30 and the second side peripheral surface 23 of the second molding die 20. . As shown in FIG. 1C, the support means 40 configured as described above aligns the second molding die 20 and the barrel die 30 so as to share the rotational symmetry axis P, and this The second mold 20 and the trunk mold 30 are supported so as to move relative to each other along the rotational symmetry axis P.

  The rolling element 41 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the gap formed by the second side peripheral surface 23 and the inner peripheral surface 32, and rolls so as not to slip on both the second side peripheral surface 23 and the inner peripheral surface 32. To do. The rolling element 41 configured in this way rolls out the second side peripheral surface 23 and the inner peripheral surface 32 in opposite directions by rolling, and the upper mold 20 is rotated along the rotational symmetry axis P with respect to the body mold 30. It is to be moved. In addition, in the drawing, the rolling element 41 has a spherical shape, but the rolling element applied to the present invention is not limited to this and may have a cylindrical shape.

  The retainer 42 has a cylindrical shape that is thinner than the gap between the second side peripheral surface 23 and the inner peripheral surface 32, and is provided with a through-hole that allows the rolling element 41 to pass therethrough. 41 is arranged. The retainer 42 configured in this manner prevents the plurality of rolling elements 41 that are in contact with the second side peripheral surface 23 and the inner peripheral surface 32 from rolling in the gaps from being scattered.

The support means 40 is attached by first inserting the support means 40 into the second peripheral surface 23 of the upper mold 20 and inserting the stopper 24 therein. Next, the upper die 20 is inserted along the inner peripheral surface 32 of the barrel die 30 with the support means 40 inserted, and the stopper 34 is inserted.
As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the upper die 20, the barrel die 30 and the support means 40 are assembled in this way, and the upper end portion of the support means 40 is blocked by the stopper 34, as shown in FIG. Since the lower end portion of the support means 40 is blocked by the stopper 24, the upper die 20 is prevented from being separated from the barrel die 30 and separated.

Here, although the support means 40 has illustrated what is comprised from the rolling element 41 and the retainer 42, the support means 40 applied to this invention is not limited to such a form. The support means 40 can be appropriately used as long as it can achieve alignment between the first mold 10 and the barrel mold 30 and relative movement along the rotational symmetry axis P.
For example, the support means is configured such that the compressed air is uniformly ejected from one of the second side peripheral surface 23 and the inner peripheral surface 32, and the distance between the second side peripheral surface 23 and the inner peripheral surface 32 is uniform. In this manner, the first molding die 10 and the barrel die 30 may be aligned and a relative movement along the rotational symmetry axis P may be realized.
In addition, a liquid medium such as a magnetic fluid is filled in the interval between the second side peripheral surface 23 and the inner peripheral surface 32, the alignment between the first mold 10 and the barrel mold 30, and the relative rotation along the rotational symmetry axis P. Movement may be realized.

Next, the operation of the optical lens mold according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The press device 60 for operating the optical lens mold is a known device including a fixed plate 61 having a horizontal plane and a displacement plate 62 whose distance is displaced while maintaining parallelism with the horizontal plane of the fixed plate 61. . The press device 60 configured as described above applies a pressing force necessary to deform the heat-softened lens material 51 and optically closes the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 with a single press stroke. The lens 52 is molded.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the mold 1 in which the heat-softened lens material 51 is placed on the lower mold 10 is placed on the fixed plate 61. At this time, the mold 1 is lifted by lifting the portion of the upper mold 20, but the upper mold 20 is not separated by the action of the stoppers 24 and 34 (see FIG. 1A). Then, after the mold 1 is placed on the fixed plate 61, when the support of the upper mold 20 is released, the upper mold 20 moves in the direction of gravity and comes into contact with the lens material 51 (not shown).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the upper mold 20 is pushed by the displacement plate 62 and displaced in the direction of the fixed plate 61 to press the lens material 51. When the lens material 51 is pressed at a predetermined thickness interval, the displacement plate 62 is stopped. Then, this state is maintained for a while until the lens material 51 is cooled. When the lens material 51 is cooled and solidified, the displacement plate 62 is displaced in the direction opposite to the fixed plate 61.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, when the lower mold 10 is pulled up to the mold open state, the molded optical lens 52 can be taken out from the conveyance window 31.
After the optical lens 52 is taken out, the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 are returned to the process of FIG. 2A again, and a new lens material 51 is inserted. In this way, the optical lens 52 is mass-produced without the upper mold 20 being extracted from the body mold 30.

  Next, another embodiment of the optical lens mold according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. An optical lens mold 1B according to another embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is different from the optical lens mold 1A shown in FIG. 1 in the configuration of the lower mold 10 ′. Since other configurations are the same, the same reference numerals as those already described are attached, and the description thereof is omitted.

The state shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 shows the mold open state of the optical lens mold 1B, and the state shown by the dotted line shows the mold closed state.
Here, the lower mold 10 ′ and the trunk mold 30 are configured to have a gap interval when arranged coaxially, and the alignment means 70 is arranged in the gap interval. By this aligning means 70, the first mold 10 'and the barrel mold 30 are aligned so as to share the rotational symmetry axis P.

  By forming the optical lens mold 1B as shown in FIG. 3, if both surfaces of the lens surface of the optical lens are the same shape, the lower mold 10 'and the upper mold 20 are common parts. be able to. By doing so, the alignment means 70 can also be made a common part with the support means 40. For this reason, it can be said that the mold 1B of the optical lens has a configuration that contributes to a reduction in manufacturing cost thereof.

  In the above description, the optical component is an optical lens. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Other optical components to which the present invention can be applied include a lens frame, a prism, and the like that support an optical lens.

As described above, the following effects are derived by configuring the mold for optical components according to the present invention.
That is, according to the mold for optical parts according to the present invention, the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 inserted respectively at both ends of the body mold 30 can be molded in the same coaxial state, so that centering can be performed with high accuracy. The formed optical component can be formed. Further, when the optical component molded by opening the mold after taking out the mold of the optical component is taken out, the upper mold 20 can be separated from the barrel mold 30 because it can be carried out from the transfer window 31 provided in the barrel mold 30. There is no need to extract. For this reason, even if the mold of the optical component repeats the mold closing / opening, the mold can be used with a long life because the upper mold 20 and the body mold 30 are unlikely to be worn or damaged.

(A) shows the perspective view which shows the mold open state of the shaping | molding die of the optical component (optical lens) concerning embodiment of this invention, (b) shows the perspective view which shows the mold closed state, (c) is It is sectional drawing perpendicular | vertical to the rotational symmetry axis containing a support means, (d) is sectional drawing perpendicular | vertical to the rotational symmetry axis containing a conveyance window. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows a series of processes which operate | move the shaping | molding die of the optical lens which concerns on embodiment by a press apparatus, and shape | mold an optical lens. It is a figure which shows the "mold open state" and the "mold closed state" of the shaping | molding die of the optical lens which concerns on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 (1A, 1B) Optical lens mold (optical component mold)
10,10 'Lower mold (first mold)
13 1st side peripheral surface (side peripheral surface of 1st shaping | molding die)
20 Upper mold (second mold)
23 2nd side peripheral surface (side peripheral surface of 2nd shaping | molding die)
24, 34 Stopper 30 Body mold 31 Transfer window 32 Inner peripheral surface (inner peripheral surface of the trunk mold)
Reference Signs List 40 Support means 41 Rolling element 42 Retainer 51 Lens material 52 Optical lens (optical component)
70 Alignment means P Rotation symmetry axis

Claims (3)

In a mold for an optical component comprising a first mold for molding an optical component and a second mold,
A barrel mold that holds the first mold so that the axis of rotational symmetry is shared, and is provided with a conveyance window for carrying out the optical component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotational symmetry;
An optical component comprising: support means for supporting the second mold so that a rotationally symmetric axis is shared with the body mold and moving the second mold along the rotationally symmetric axis. Mold.   2. The mold for an optical component according to claim 1, wherein the support means includes a rolling element that rolls between a side peripheral surface of the second mold and an inner peripheral surface of the barrel mold.   3. The mold for an optical component according to claim 1, wherein the barrel mold and the first mold have alignment means for adjusting so as to share the rotational symmetry axis.

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