Minute shape molding method and apparatus thereof

A method of molding a minute shape, in which at least one of a pair of dies arranged to be opposed to each other is a die provided with an uneven section of a minute shape on a molding surface thereof, clamping of the pair of dies is stopped immediately before the dies are completely clamped by a clamping mechanism, a resin is injected into a cavity formed by the pair of dies, and thereafter the dies are completely clamped to thereby transcribe the shape of the uneven section onto the resin, comprising:

• preparing a plurality of dies each provided with the uneven section of the minute shape on a molding surface thereof;
• heating, while a product is molded by using one of the dies provided with the uneven section of the minute shape on a molding surface thereof, the other of the dies provided with the uneven section of the minute shape on a molding surface thereof by means of a heating unit;
• transferring, after the product is molded, at least the die of the pair of dies the molding surface of which is provided with the uneven section of the minute shape to a heating unit;
• transferring, at the same time, the other die provided with the uneven section of the minute shape on the molding surface thereof heated by means of the heating unit to the clamping mechanism;
• and molding a product by using the other die provided with the uneven section of the minute shape on the molding surface thereof.