Mold for optical component and method for molding optical component

Abstract

A mold for an optical component is provided in which a first tapered surface is provided in a first mold while a second tapered surface is provided in a second mold. In the mold for the optical component, a curved surface distance which is a distance between a first mold curved surface and a second mold curved surface is greater than a lens thickness which is a distance between a first lens surface and a second lens surface in a state where the second tapered surface is contact with the first tapered surface. Moreover, the second tapered surface moves to a position where the curved surface distance is equal to the lens thickness, to elastically transform the first mold and fit onto the first tapered surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, other advantages and further features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail illustrative, non-limiting embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a vertical sectional view showing a lower mold (a first mold) of a mold for an optical lens according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a vertical sectional view showing an upper mold (a second mold) of a mold for the optical lens according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is a vertical sectional view showing the optical lens according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1D is a vertical sectional view showing a state where a tapered surface of the lower mold (the first mold) contacts a tapered surface of the upper mold (the second mold);

FIG. 1E is a vertical sectional view showing a state where a cylindrical body in the lower mold is elastically transformed so that a press stroke of the upper mold is adjusted;

FIG. 2A is a vertical sectional view showing another embodiment of a mold for an optical lens according to the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a vertical sectional view showing another embodiment of a mold for an optical lens according to the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a vertical sectional view showing another embodiment of a mold for an optical lens according to the present invention;

FIG. 2D is a vertical sectional view showing another embodiment of a mold for an optical lens according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A shows a process step of a method for molding an optical lens according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrated by a cross sectional view of a lower mold (a first mold), an upper mold (a second mold), and the optical lens;

FIG. 3B shows a process step of the method for molding the optical lens according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated by a cross sectional view of the lower mold (the first mold), the upper mold (the second mold), and the optical lens;

FIG. 3C shows a process step of the method for molding the optical lens according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated with a cross sectional view of the lower mold (the first mold), the upper mold (the second mold), and the optical lens;

FIG. 3D shows a process step of the method for molding the optical lens according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated with a cross sectional view of the lower mold (the first mold), the upper mold (the second mold), and the optical lens;

FIG. 3E shows a process step of the method for molding the optical lens according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated with a cross sectional view of the lower mold (the first mold), the upper mold (the second mold), and the optical lens;

FIG. 3F shows a process step of the method for molding the optical lens according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated with a cross sectional view of the lower mold (the first mold), the upper mold (the second mold), and the optical lens;

FIG. 3G shows a process step of the method for molding the optical lens according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated with a cross sectional view of the lower mold (the first mold), the upper mold (the second mold), and the optical lens;

FIG. 4A shows an embodiment of a presser applicable to a method for molding an optical lens according to the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing operation of the presser;

FIG. 4C is a diagram showing operation of the presser;

FIG. 5A shows another embodiment of a presser applicable to a method for molding an optical lens according to the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing operation of the presser; and

FIG. 5C is a diagram showing operation of the presser.

Claims

1. A mold for an optical component comprising: a first mold which comprises a first mold curved surface to mold a first lens surface of the optical component;a second mold which comprises a second mold curved surface to mold a second lens surface of the optical component;a first tapered surface which is rotationally symmetric about a first symmetry axis about which the first mold curved surface is rotationally symmetric; anda second tapered surface which is rotationally symmetric about a second symmetry axis about which the second mold curved surface is rotationally symmetric, and the second tapered surface which fits onto the first tapered surface in such a way that the first symmetry axis matches the second symmetry axis,the mold for the optical component whereina curved surface distance which is a distance between the first mold curved surface and the second mold curved surface is greater than a lens thickness which is a distance between the first lens surface and the second lens surface in a state where the second tapered surface is in contact with the first tapered surface, and whereinthe second tapered surface moves to a position where the curved surface distance is equal to the lens thickness, to elastically transform the first mold and fit onto the first tapered surface.

2. The mold for the optical component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first tapered surface is provided in a third mold which is detachably attached to the first mold.

3. The mold for the optical component as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first mold fits in the third mold with the tapered surface in the first mold in contact with the tapered surface in the third mold.

4. The mold for the optical component as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of slits are formed on the first tapered surface.

5. The mold for the optical component as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of protrusions which support the second tapered surface are arranged in the first tapered surface.

6. A method for molding an optical component in which a heat-softened material is inserted and pressed between a first mold and a second mold, comprising the steps of: placing the material in the first mold which comprises a first tapered surface;pressing the material with the second mold which comprises a second tapered surface;making the second tapered surface contact the first tapered surface; andfurther pressing the second mold to elastically transform the first mold in such a way that the first tapered surface fits onto the second tapered surface.

7. The method for molding the optical component as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of cooling the pressed material, wherein the second mold is pressed to cause the first tapered surface to be further elasticity transformed and fit onto the second tapered surface.

8. The mold for the optical component as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of slits are provided in the first tapered surface.

9. The mold for the optical component as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of slits are provided in the first tapered surface.

10. The mold for the optical component as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of protrusions which support the second tapered surface are arranged in the first tapered surface.

11. The mold for the optical component as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of protrusions which support the second tapered surface are arranged in the first tapered surface.