JP4679743B2 - Lens manufacturing method and lens assembly - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lens manufacturing method for manufacturing a lens by pressing a plurality of optical materials and a lens assembly in which a plurality of lenses are closely assembled.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a relatively small-diameter lens manufacturing method, one optical material is arranged between the upper mold and the lower mold, and the upper mold and the lower mold are optically controlled with the upper mold and the lower mold being regulated on the outer periphery. A lens manufacturing method is known in which a lens is molded by pressing a material, an upper mold is removed, and a lens is taken out using an suction tool that performs suction by sucking air.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described lens manufacturing method, in particular, when the lens has a small diameter of 5 mm or less, the inner diameter of the barrel mold is also small. It may get out error without going inside. Further, even if the suction tool enters the body mold and sucks the lens, the lens may be separated from the suction tool due to friction with the inner surface of the body mold and may not be taken out. Even after the lens is taken out, the lens has a small diameter, so that the handling is very inconvenient.
[0004]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lens manufacturing method and a lens assembly capable of easily taking out a lens and handling the lens after taking out. To do.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, in the lens manufacturing method according to the present invention, an optical material is disposed on each of a plurality of transfer surfaces provided on a mold, each optical material is pressed by the mold, and the adjacent optical materials are directly adhered to each other so that an optical function unit is formed. Each lens is formed such that a groove having a depth in the optical axis direction is formed in each contact portion.
[0006]
According to the present invention, since the mold has a plurality of transfer surfaces, a plurality of lenses can be simultaneously molded from a plurality of optical materials by a single press, and the manufacturing efficiency can be improved. Further, by arranging the optical materials on the respective transfer surfaces, it is possible to prevent the optical materials from being sufficiently pressed and transferred to cause variations in the lens performance.
[0007]
Furthermore, even when the lens has a small diameter of 5 mm or less, since the lenses are closely connected to each other, the lens can be easily taken out and handled after being taken out. Moreover, since the groove | channel which has a depth in the optical axis direction of an optical function part is each formed in the contact | adherence part of each lens, the cutting | disconnection separation of each lens can be performed easily and reliably along a groove | channel.
[0008]
Further, the lens assembly according to the present invention is a lens assembly in which a plurality of lenses each having a flange portion formed around the optical function portion is assembled, and the flange portions of adjacent lenses are in direct contact with each other, and the optical function portion The groove | channel which has a depth in the optical axis direction of this is taken in each contact | adherence part, respectively.
[0009]
According to this invention, even when the lens has a small diameter of 5 mm or less, each lens is closely connected and can be easily handled as a lens assembly. Moreover, since the groove | channel which has a depth in the optical axis direction of an optical function part is each formed in the contact | adherence part of each lens, the cutting | disconnection separation of each lens can be performed easily and reliably along a groove | channel.
[0010]
Furthermore, the lens assembly according to the present invention is characterized in that each lens has the same shape.
[0011]
According to this invention, all the lenses after cutting and separation have the same shape, so that they can be incorporated into other devices as they are without processing such as centering. In particular, when the lens has a small diameter of 5 mm or less, processing such as centering is difficult, which is more effective.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same element in each drawing, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted. In addition, the dimensional ratio in each drawing does not necessarily match the actual dimensional ratio.
[0013]
First, prior to the description of the lens manufacturing method, the lens mold 1 and the lens assembly 10 used for lens molding will be described.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, the lens mold 1 includes an upper mold 2, a lower mold 3 disposed below the upper mold 2, and a sleeve 4 disposed between the upper mold 2 and the lower mold 3. The upper mold 2 and the lower mold 3 and the body mold 5 for regulating the outer periphery of the sleeve 4 are provided.
[0015]
The upper mold 2 includes a cylindrical body portion 2a and a disk-shaped flange portion 2b provided at the upper end of the body portion 2a. A plurality of transfer surfaces 2c for forming an optical functional surface by pressing the upper surface of the optical material 6 are provided at the lower end of the body portion 2a. The transfer surface 2c is provided in an arrangement of, for example, 3 × 3 in length.
[0016]
The lower mold 3 includes a cylindrical body portion 3a and a disk-shaped flange portion 3b provided at the lower end of the body portion 3a. At the upper end of the body portion 3a, as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer surface 3c for pressing the lower surface of the optical material 6 to form the optical functional surface corresponds to 3 × longitudinal length corresponding to the transfer surface 2c of the upper mold 2. 3 is provided. The outer diameter of the trunk portion 3 a is the same as the outer diameter of the trunk portion 2 a of the upper mold 2.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve 4 has a disk shape having an outer periphery regulating hole 4a. The outer diameter of the sleeve 4 is the same as that of the body 2 a of the upper mold 2 and the body 3 a of the lower mold 3. The outer periphery restricting hole 4a is formed so as to restrict the outer periphery of a lens assembly 10 to be described later and the lenses 11 constituting the lens assembly 10 have the same shape. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the lenses 11 constituting the lens assembly 10 are arranged in a length of 3 × width 3, and therefore, the shape of the outer peripheral restriction hole 4 a is one side of the lens 11. The square is tripled.
[0018]
The body mold 5 regulates the lateral movement of the upper mold 2, the lower mold 3, and the sleeve 4, and is formed of a cylindrical body. The inner diameter of the body mold 5 is appropriately set so that the upper mold 2, the lower mold 3, and the sleeve 4 can be inserted and removed in the central axis direction without moving in the lateral direction.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3, the lens assembly 10 is a collection of a plurality of lenses each having a flange portion 11b formed around the optical function portion 11a. The flange part 11b of the adjacent lens 11 directly_contact | adheres directly, and the groove | channel 12 which has depth in the optical axis O direction of the optical function part 11a is taken up and formed over the full length of each contact part 13, respectively. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the lens assembly 10 is formed by arranging the lenses 11 in an arrangement of 3 × 3 in the vertical direction.
[0020]
Next, the lens manufacturing method according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0021]
The lower mold 3 is assembled in the trunk mold 5, and the sleeve 4 is assembled in the trunk mold 5 so that the lower surface of the sleeve 4 is in contact with the upper surface of the lower mold 3. Then, optical materials 6 (9 optical materials in this embodiment) configured separately are placed on each transfer surface 3c of the lower die 3, and the upper die 2 is assembled into the barrel die 5 from above.
[0022]
In this state, the lens mold 1 and each optical material 6 are heated to such an extent that the temperature of the optical material 6 becomes equal to or higher than the transition point.
[0023]
Then, pressure is applied to one or both of the upper mold 2 and the lower mold 3 until the lower surface of the upper mold 2 comes into contact with the upper surface of the sleeve 4, and the optical material 6 is pressed to mold the lens 11. In this way, a plurality of lenses 11 can be molded simultaneously with a single press, and manufacturing efficiency can be improved. Further, by disposing the optical material 6 constituted separately from each transfer surface 11c, each optical material 6 is sufficiently pressed and transferred to prevent variation in lens performance. Can do.
[0024]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the volume of each optical material 6 formed separately is such that adjacent lenses 11 are in direct contact, and grooves 12 having a depth in the direction of the optical axis O are formed in each contact portion 13. Is appropriately set so that the lens aggregates 10 respectively formed vertically are formed over the entire length.
[0025]
Then, after cooling the lens mold 1 and the lens assembly 10, the lens assembly 10 is taken out from the lens mold 1. That is, the upper die 2 is removed, and an adsorbing tool for adsorbing by sucking air is inserted into the barrel die, and the lens assembly 10 is taken out by coming into contact with the lens assembly 10. In this way, since the plurality of lenses 11 are in close contact with each other, the plurality of lenses 11 can be simultaneously sucked and taken out by the suction tool, and the manufacturing efficiency can be improved. Even if the lens 11 has a small diameter of 5 mm or less, since the upper mold 2 and the lower mold 3 are provided with a plurality of transfer surfaces 2c and 3c, the inner diameter of the barrel mold 5 is smaller than the outer diameter of the suction tool. Big enough. Therefore, even if the position of the suction tool with respect to the body mold 5 is slightly deviated, it is possible to prevent the suction tool from entering the body mold 5 and taking out an error.
[0026]
And even after taking out, since each lens 11 can be handled as the lens assembly 10, handling becomes easier than handling each lens 11.
[0027]
Further, since the groove 12 having a depth in the optical axis O direction is formed in the close contact portion 13 of each lens 11 of the lens assembly 10, the separation and separation of each lens 11 can be easily and reliably performed along the groove 13. Can be done. Since all the lenses 11 after cutting and separation have the same shape, they can be incorporated into other devices as they are without processing such as centering. In particular, when the lens has a small diameter of 5 mm or less, processing such as centering is difficult, which is more effective.
[0028]
As described above, according to the lens manufacturing method and the lens assembly according to the present embodiment, a plurality of lenses 11 can be simultaneously molded with a single press, and manufacturing efficiency can be improved. Further, by disposing the optical material 6 on each transfer surface 11c, it is possible to prevent each optical material 6 from being sufficiently pressed and transferred to cause variations in lens performance.
[0029]
In addition, since the plurality of lenses 11 are in close contact with each other during removal, the plurality of lenses 11 can be simultaneously sucked and removed by the suction tool, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency. Even if the lens 11 has a small diameter of 5 mm or less, since the upper mold 2 and the lower mold 3 are provided with a plurality of transfer surfaces 2c and 3c, the inner diameter of the barrel mold 5 is smaller than the outer diameter of the suction tool. Big enough. Therefore, even if the position of the suction tool with respect to the body mold 5 is slightly deviated, it is possible to prevent the suction tool from entering the body mold 5 and taking out an error.
[0030]
Moreover, since each lens 11 can be handled as the lens assembly 10 even after taking out, handling becomes easier than handling each lens 11.
[0031]
Further, since the groove 12 having a depth in the optical axis O direction is formed in the close contact portion 13 of each lens 11 of the lens assembly 10, the separation and separation of each lens 11 can be easily and reliably performed along the groove 13. Can be done. Since all the lenses 11 after cutting and separation have the same shape, they can be incorporated into other devices as they are without processing such as centering. In particular, when the lens has a small diameter of 5 mm or less, processing such as centering is difficult, which is more effective.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, the case where the arrangement of the transfer surface 2c of the upper mold 2 and the transfer surface 3c of the lower mold 3 and the arrangement of the lenses 11 constituting the lens assembly are 3 × 3 in the vertical direction has been described. However, the lens manufacturing method and the lens assembly according to the present invention are not limited to the above, and for example, an arrangement of 2 × 1 and 5 × 5 or an arrangement on a concentric circle with the center. For example, a plurality of arrangements may be used.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, the case where the grooves 12 having a depth in the direction of the optical axis O of the lens assembly 10 are formed vertically along the entire length of each contact portion 13 has been described. Such a lens manufacturing method and a lens assembly are not limited to those described above, and the groove 12 may be formed in at least a part of each contact portion 13.
[0034]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the case where the upper mold 2 and the lower mold 3 are respectively integrated has been described. However, the lens manufacturing method according to the present invention is not limited to such a case, and the upper mold 2 and The lower mold 3 may be divided into the respective transfer surfaces 2c and 3c, and may be assembled into the body mold 5 by bringing them into close contact when assembled.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the lens manufacturing method and the lens assembly according to the present invention, since the upper mold and the lower mold have a plurality of transfer surfaces, it is possible to mold a plurality of lenses simultaneously with a single press. It is possible to improve the manufacturing efficiency.
[0036]
Further, by arranging the optical materials on the respective transfer surfaces, it is possible to prevent the optical materials from being sufficiently pressed and transferred to cause variations in the lens performance.
[0037]
Moreover, since each lens is closely connected, it is easy to take out the lens and handle the lens after taking out. In particular, it is more effective when the lens has a small diameter of 5 mm or less.
[0038]
Furthermore, since the groove | channel which has a depth in an optical axis direction is each formed in the contact | adherence part of each lens, the cutting | disconnection separation of each lens can be performed easily and reliably along a groove | channel.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for incorporation in a lens manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram at the time of molding in the lens manufacturing method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a lens assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ... Upper die, 2c ... Transfer surface, 3 ... Lower die, 3c ... Transfer surface, 6 ... Optical material, 11 ... Lens, 12 ... Groove, 13 ... Close contact portion, O ... Optical axis.

Claims (1)

  Optical materials are respectively arranged on a plurality of transfer surfaces provided on the mold, each optical material is pressed by the mold, and the adjacent optical materials are directly adhered to each other to increase the depth in the optical axis direction of the optical function unit. The lens manufacturing method which shape | molds each said lens so that the groove | channel which has may be formed in each close_contact | adherence part, respectively.

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