Lens holding tool and lens holding method

Abstract

A lens holding tool for holding a plurality of lenses as a workpiece in a grinding or polishing process includes: a base portion; and a plurality of lens receiving portions respectively provided at a plurality of positions on a surface of the base portion so as to protrude from the surface. Each of the plurality of lens receiving port has a lens receiving face configured to be in contact with at least a part of a support surface which is an end face of each of the plurality of lenses, and an outer circumference of the lens receiving face is positioned higher than the surface of the base portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lens holding tool for holding a plurality of lenses as a workpiece in a grinding or polishing process, the lens holding tool comprising:
 a base portion; and   a plurality of lens receiving portions respectively provided at a plurality of positions on a surface of the base portion so as to protrude from the surface, wherein   each of the plurality of lens receiving portions has a lens receiving face configured to be in contact with at least a part of a support surface which is an end face of each of the plurality of lenses, and an outer circumference of the lens receiving face is positioned higher than the surface of the base portion.   
     
     
         2 . The lens holding tool according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lens receiving portions has at least a single cylindrical shape whose upper end face is the lens receiving face. 
     
     
         3 . The lens holding tool according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lens receiving portions has a column shape whose upper end face is the lens receiving face. 
     
     
         4 . The lens holding tool according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lens receiving portions has: a first protrusion portion having a column shape whose upper end face is the lens receiving face; and a second protrusion portion having at least a single cylindrical shape whose upper end face is the lens receiving face and which is provided outside of an outer circumference of the first protrusion portion. 
     
     
         5 . The lens holding tool according to  claim 1 , wherein at least three lens receiving portions are provided as the plurality of lens receiving portions. 
     
     
         6 . The lens holding tool according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lens receiving portions is integrated with the base portion. 
     
     
         7 . The lens holding tool according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lens receiving portions is configured to be attached to and detached from the base portion. 
     
     
         8 . The lens holding tool according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of each of the plurality of lens receiving portions is equal to an outer diameter of the lens receiving face. 
     
     
         9 . A method for causing a lens holding tool to hold a plurality of lenses as a workpiece in a grinding or polishing process, the lens holding tool having a base portion and a plurality of lens receiving portions on the base portion, each of the plurality of lens receiving portions having a lens receiving face, the method comprising:
 applying an adhesive to at least one of the lens receiving face and a support surface which is an end face of each of the plurality of lenses;   placing each of the plurality of lenses on the lens receiving face to cause the support surface and the lens receiving face to be in contact with each other through the adhesive;   positioning each of the plurality of lenses with respect to each of the lens receiving portions; and   curing the adhesive, wherein   each of the lens receiving portions protrudes from a surface of the base portion, and an outer circumference of the lens receiving face is positioned higher than the surface of the base portion.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the positioning of each of the plurality of lenses comprises attaching a support unit to the lens holding tool, wherein the support unit is configured to be attached to and detached from the lens holding tool, and when the support unit is attached to the lens holding tool, a positioning marker or a positioning surface with which an outer circumferential surface of each of the plurality of lenses is configured to be in contact is formed in at least two positions which are in parallel with a rotation symmetry axis of each of the plurality of lens receiving portions and whose distances from the rotation symmetry axis are the same, and   the support unit is removed after curing the adhesive.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the support unit is a cylindrical member having an inner circumferential surface configured to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of each of the plurality of lenses. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 each of the plurality of lens receiving portions is configured to be attached to and detached from the base portion, and   the method further comprises attaching each of the plurality of lens receiving portions which adheres to each of the plurality of lenses, to the base portion after curing the adhesive.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 each of the plurality of lenses has a process surface configured to be processed, and   the process surface is positioned higher than the outer circumference of the lens receiving face.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein an outer diameter of each of the plurality of lenses is equal to or greater than an outer diameter of each of the plurality of lens receiving portions.