Processes for the production of glass article and optical device

Abstract

A process for stably and efficiently producing quality glass articles such as preforms at high yields, and a process for producing an optical device from the preform obtained by the above process. In the process for producing a glass article, molten glass gobs having a predetermined weight each are poured, or molten glass drops having a predetermined weight each are dropped through a nozzle, into a boiling liquid having a boiling point lower than the glass transition temperature of the glass constituting said glass article or a liquid which is temperature-adjusted beforehand so as to be caused to boil by the amount of heat of the glass, to form glass articles. In the process for producing an optical device, a preform obtained by the above process is softened by heating and precision-press-molded into the optical device.

1 .- 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . A process for the production of a glass article from a molten glass by dropping a molten glass, which comprises dropping a molten glass having a predetermined weight in a boiling liquid having a boiling point lower than the glass transition temperature of the glass constituting said glass article or a liquid controlled in advance to be caused to boil by the amount of heat of the glass, from the nozzle, to form a glass article having a weight equivalent to said weight, and taking out the glass molded article.  
   
   
       5 . A process for the production of a glass article by dropping a molten glass, which comprises dropping a molten glass having a predetermined weight into a liquid controlled in advance to be caused to boil by the amount of heat of the glass, from a nozzle, to form a glass article having a weight equivalent to said weight, and recovering said glass article from the liquid while the liquid in contact with the glass article is boiling.  
   
   
       6 .- 10 . (canceled)