METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING MICROSTRUCTURES ON POLYMERIC SUBSTRATES

摘要

Methods and apparatus for forming microstructures (126) in the surface of polymeric web materials (12) for use as optical memory substrates, such as disks. The microstructures (126) may be formed by temporarily laminating a web material (12) to a hot stamper (16) into a nip zone (16) formed between the hot stamper (14), a pressure roller (20) and backing roller (22).The stamper (14) may be heated by any suitable heating device (18) to melt flow the surface of the web (12) and stabilize before separation. The stamper (14) may be carried through the nip zone (16) by a support (28) including a carriage (114), having hoops (118, 128) and a plurality of rollers (30, 32, 34), that is independent of the press formed by the pressure roller (20) and the backing roller (22). The pressure roller (20) and backing roller (22) are rotatively driven by drives (24, 26), respectively.