Patent ID: 7134864

Claim:
A molding apparatus for lenses, comprising: a first molding unit; and a second molding unit facing said first molding unit; each of said first and second molding units having a mold core holder and a plurality of mold cores disposed in said mold core holder, said mold core holder having an abutment surface and a plurality of cavities extending inwardly from said abutment surface; wherein said first molding unit further has a plurality of fixing elements, each of said cavities of said first molding unit including an open end and a positioning portion proximate to said open end, each of said fixing elements engaging removably said positioning portion of a respective one of said cavities and retaining a respective one of said mold cores of said first molding unit in the respective one of said cavities of said first molding unit; whereby individual removal of said mold cores of said first molding unit for replacement is permitted by operating said fixing elements; wherein said open end of each of said cavities of said first molding unit is ended at said abutment surface of said first molding unit, said open end and said positioning portion having a cross section larger than that of the respective one of said mold cores of said first molding unit, each of said mold cores of said first molding unit being put in the respective one of said cavities of said first molding unit through said open end; wherein each of said cavities of said first molding unit is confined by a peripheral wall which extends inwardly from said open end, and a supporting face facing said open end and connected to said peripheral wall, said peripheral wall having a sleeve portion proximate to said supporting face, said positioning portion being formed on said peripheral wall proximate to said abutment surface of said first molding unit; and wherein said fixing elements are tubular, each of said fixing elements having a tubular wall with an outer periphery and an external thread formed on said outer periphery, said positioning portion having an internal thread that engages said external thread.