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 for manufacturing an optical element, the method including: heating an optical element material by suspending it in a gas; supplying the heated optical element material from a direction which intersects a central axis interconnecting centers of a first mold and a second mold to a space between molds in a non-contact state, the space between molds being a space between the first mold and the second mold; pressurizing the optical element material supplied to the space between molds by the first mold and the second mold; and cooling the pressurized optical element material.

Process for moulding and producing hollow glass, in particular a glass cap (A) with a hollow area (A) and a ring-shaped protuberance (A), comprising the following steps: providing a moulding apparatus (10) comprising: a preparatory mould (11), lower, composed of two parts or halves (11a, 11b) which can be separated from each other, having a moulding surface (11), and a cavity (11), formed along this moulding surface, corresponding respectively to an external shape (A.sup.Iv) and a shaped protuberance (A) of a hollow glass article (A) to be moulded and produced; a forming member (12), made up of two parts (12a, 12b) which can be separated 0 from each other, which surmounts and engages the lower preparatory mould (11); a pressing member (13) or plunger, upper; anda finishing mould (14); closing (f2) the upper pressing member (13) against the lower preparatory mould (11) with the interposition of a drop of glass (V), in the molten state, so as to form, with the surface moulding element (11) of the preparatory mould (11) and with the respective cavity (11), the external shape (AIv) and the protuberance (A, A), and, with the pressing member (13) the hollow area (A) of the hollow glass article; lifting and extracting (f3) the upper pressing member (13); opening (f4) the two parts (12a, 12b) of the forming member (12), so as to 0 disengage it from the preparatory mould (11) which holds the hollow glass article (A), thus formed; turning (f5) the hollow glass article (A) upside down, holding it and moving it in free air with the preparatory mould (11), and transferring it (f5) to the finishing mould (14); opening the two parts (11a, 11b) of the preparatory mould (11), in order to free the hollow glass article (A); andextracting and removing (f7) the hollow glass article (A), after it has cooled, from the finishing mould (14). The process advantageously allows to produce an article (A) of hollow glass without 0 resorting to the blow moulding technology, as in the conventional processes of the blow-blow and press-blow type.

A mold apparatus of a lens array and a method for using the same are provided. The mold apparatus includes an upper pressing die, a lower pressing die and a plate structure. The upper pressing die includes a plurality of upper engaging portions. The lower pressing die includes a plurality of lower engaging portions. The plate structure includes a plurality of through holes. A glass article is installed at the through hole. The glass article includes a first sectional width W1. The through hole includes an upper opening and a lower opening. The upper opening corresponds to the upper pressing die. The lower opening corresponds to the lower pressing die. The upper opening includes a second sectional width W2. The lower opening includes a third sectional width W3. Wherein W1W2 or W1W3; the glass articles are extruded by the mold apparatus to manufacture the lens array.