FORMING APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL GLASS ELEMENT

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a forming apparatus for optical glass elements which is simple in construction, short in tact time and good in production efficiently. SOLUTION: This forming apparatus for the optical glass elements constitutes a die set 18 by including a pair of forming dies 1, 2 for holding a glass blank 5 and a sleeve 3 freely slidably fitted into at least one forming die 1 and presses and forms the glass blank 5 by heating this die set 18 in an inert gaseous atmosphere, thereby heating and softening the glass blank. In such a case, the apparatus has a cooling means 9 which is disposed in the position enclosing the die set 18 and cools the die set 18 by blowing inert gas to the die set.