Apparatus (54) for positioning performed glass sheets for further forming includes positioners (55) that are moved slower than the speed of glass sheet conveyance to provide rotational adjustment of a glass sheet into alignment above a forming mold (52) under the operation of a controller (78). The forming mold (52) is moved upwardly for the forming in a pressing manner against a downwardly facing upper mold (58).

A method of manufacturing a glass molded product includes the steps of preparing a lower die including a lower die surface and a space forming surface formed to extend downward away from an outer edge end portion of the lower die surface with the outer edge end portion being defined as a starting point, preparing an outer frame including an annularly formed inner circumferential surface, arranging the lower die on an inner side of the outer frame, dropping a prescribed amount of molten glass droplet onto the lower die surface such that a surface of the molten glass droplet connects the outer edge end portion and a portion of the inner circumferential surface located above a position of the outer edge end portion to each other and the molten glass droplet does not wet-spread over the space forming surface, and pressurizing and molding the molten glass droplet.

A method of manufacturing a glass molded product includes the steps of preparing a lower die including a lower die surface and a space forming surface formed to extend downward away from an outer edge end portion of the lower die surface with the outer edge end portion being defined as a starting point, preparing an outer frame including an annularly formed inner circumferential surface, arranging the lower die on an inner side of the outer frame, dropping a prescribed amount of molten glass droplet onto the lower die surface such that a surface of the molten glass droplet connects the outer edge end portion and a portion of the inner circumferential surface located above a position of the outer edge end portion to each other and the molten glass droplet does not wet-spread over the space forming surface, and pressurizing and molding the molten glass droplet.

A device for manufacturing hollow glass article consists of a plurality of modular stations that, among other things, comprise blank molds and finish molds, wherein a housing (6) is provided and can be displaced along a blank mold side (3) in order to carry out at least control and servicing functions, and wherein said housing is formed by a key-like structure that is open in the direction of the blank mold side (3) and serves as a carrier for at least one manipulation element (7) consisting of multiple sections. On its free end, this manipulation element carries a tool or a device that is ready for use after it has reached the respective station. The shielding effect of the housing (6) reliably protects an operator side against accidents due to inadvertent interventions in machine motion sequences.

A closing mechanism for at least two mold halves (4, 5) held by two mold holders (7, 8) includes a drivetrain suspended under the housing section (3) inside of the station housing. The mold holders (4, 5) are mounted on a linear guide and are joined with a threaded spindle, threaded sleeve and gearing with a drive set up on the outlet side for generating a vertically oriented linear movement. A toggle-lever mechanism situated inside of an oil bath accommodated in the station housing (1) is used as the gearing. This arrangement of essential components of the drivetrain opens allows removal of the drivetrain via the upper side of the station housing when necessary or incorporating the drivetrain into the station housing, thereby simplifying repair and maintenance work.

A closing mechanism for at least two mold halves (4, 5) held by two mold holders (7, 8) includes a drivetrain suspended under the housing section (3) inside of the station housing. The mold holders (4, 5) are mounted on a linear guide and are joined with a threaded spindle, threaded sleeve and gearing with a drive set up on the outlet side for generating a vertically oriented linear movement. A toggle-lever mechanism situated inside of an oil bath accommodated in the station housing (1) is used as the gearing. This arrangement of essential components of the drivetrain opens allows removal of the drivetrain via the upper side of the station housing when necessary or incorporating the drivetrain into the station housing, thereby simplifying repair and maintenance work.

A method for manufacturing an optical element includes pressing a phosphate-based glass containing Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 in a proportion of 10 mass % or higher and 30 mass % or lower with a hot mold; and then cooling the same, in which pressure equal to or higher than the critical pressure of oxygen and equal to or lower than a strength of glass is continuously applied to the glass from the time of bringing the glass into contact with the pressing surface of the mold at a glass viscosity of log =9 [dPa.Math.sec] or higher and 10 [dPa.Math.sec] or lower until the glass viscosity log increases to 12 [dPa.Math.sec] by cooling.

A method for manufacturing an optical element includes pressing a phosphate-based glass containing Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 in a proportion of 10 mass % or higher and 30 mass % or lower with a hot mold; and then cooling the same, in which pressure equal to or higher than the critical pressure of oxygen and equal to or lower than a strength of glass is continuously applied to the glass from the time of bringing the glass into contact with the pressing surface of the mold at a glass viscosity of log =9 [dPa.Math.sec] or higher and 10 [dPa.Math.sec] or lower until the glass viscosity log increases to 12 [dPa.Math.sec] by cooling.

An optical element manufacturing device includes a mold set including: a first shaping mold and a second shaping mold facing each other with a shaping-target material between the first and second shaping molds, and a sleeve located around the first and second shaping molds; and a plurality of stages on which the mold set is conveyed and which heat, press or cool the shaping-target material. The sleeve is conveyed to the stages in such a manner that a conveyance-direction front side of the mold set in an arrangement direction of the plurality of stages has a heat insulation portion with a heat insulation property that is higher than that on a conveyance-direction rear side of the mold set in order to reduce a temperature distribution in the shaping-target material.