# US 9,751,252 B2 · Molding method and molding device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,252 B2 - Document ID: US9751252B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/371,849 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2015-04-02 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-11 - Assignees: Scivax Corporation - Applicants: Scivax Corporation - Inventors: Hirosuke Kawaguchi; Tatsuya Hagino; Satoru Tanaka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751252B2 ## CPC - B29C 51/10: Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum - B29C 51/06: using pressure difference {for prestretching} - B29C 51/262: {Clamping means for the sheets, e.g. clamping frames} - B29C 51/303: {with sealing means or the like} - B29C 51/421: {of preforms, specially adapted for thermoforming (preheating sheets in general B29B13/023; B29C51/427 takes precedence)} - B29C 51/425: {using movable heating devices} - B29C 51/46: Measuring, controlling or regulating - B29C 2791/007: Using fluid under pressure - B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials - B29K 2105/256: {Sheets, plates, blanks or films} - B29L 2031/756: {Microarticles, nanoarticles} - B29L 2031/7739: {Curved shaped} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A shaping method and a shaping device are provided which can easily and inexpensively form a curved face in a film including a micropattern. A shaping method is for forming, in a predetermined shaping-target area of a film including a patterned face with a micropattern, and a rear face opposite to the patterned face, a curved face beyond the thickness of the film, and includes a fixing step for fixing an outer edge of the shaping-target area of the film by fixing means, a first heating step for heating the film 20 by heating means 95, and a pressure adjusting step for producing a predetermined pressure difference between both faces of the film by the pressurizing means in such a way that pressure at a side where the film is fixed in the fixing step becomes small to form a pre-curved face. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shaping method for forming, in a predetermined shaping-target area of a film a patterned face including a micropattern that has the minimum dimension of the width of the concavity and convexity in the planar direction formed equal to or smaller than 2 μm, and a rear face opposite to the patterned face, a curved face beyond a thickness of the film, the method comprising: a fixing step for fixing an outer edge of the shaping-target area of the film; a first heating step for heating the film, wherein during the first heating step, a heated heat-transfer stage is caused to contact the rear face of the film to heat the film, and then the heat-transferred stage is retracted to a location which does not affect shaping at the time of shaping; and a pressure adjusting step for adjusting a pressure of fluid at a patterned face side and a pressure of fluid at a rear face side, and applying the pressure difference as a shaping pressure to the shaping-target area of the film to form a curved face. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shaping method according to claim 1, wherein in the pressure adjusting step, either one of the patterned face of the film and the rear face thereof is maintained to an atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shaping method according to claim 1, wherein in the pressure adjusting step, the patterned-face side is pressurized. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shaping method according to claim 1, wherein in the pressure adjusting step, the patterned-face side is depressurized. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shaping method according to claim 1, further comprising: a disposing step for disposing the film on a pressure receiving stage including a pressure receiving face that is a desired curved face in such a way that a rear face of a pre-curved face formed through the pressure adjusting step overlaps the pressure receiving face; and a pressurizing step for pressurizing the film against the pressure receiving stage from the patterned-face side by a fluid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The shaping method according to claim 5, further comprising a second heating step for heating the film. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The shaping method according to claim 5, further comprising, prior to the pressurizing step, a depressurizing step for depressurizing an atmosphere between the film and the pressure receiving stage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The shaping method according to claim 2, further comprising: a disposing step for disposing the film on a pressure receiving stage including a pressure receiving face that is a desired curved face in such a way that a rear face of a pre-curved face formed through the pressure adjusting step overlaps the pressure receiving face; and a pressurizing step for pressurizing the film against the pressure receiving stage from the patterned-face side by a fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The shaping method according to claim 3, further comprising: a disposing step for disposing the film on a pressure receiving stage including a pressure receiving face that is a desired curved face in such a way that a rear face of a pre-curved face formed through the pressure adjusting step overlaps the pressure receiving face; and a pressurizing step for pressurizing the film against the pressure receiving stage from the patterned-face side by a fluid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The shaping method according to claim 4, further comprising: a disposing step for disposing the film on a pressure receiving stage including a pressure receiving face that is a desired curved face in such a way that a rear face of a pre-curved face formed through the pressure adjusting step overlaps the pressure receiving face; and a pressurizing step for pressurizing the film against the pressure receiving stage from the patterned-face side by a fluid. ### Claim 11 A shaping device that forms, in a predetermined shaping-target area of a film comprising a patterned face including a micropattern that has the minimum dimension of the width of the concavity and convexity in the planar direction formed equal to or smaller than 2 μm, and a rear face opposite to the patterned face, a curved face beyond a thickness of the film, the device comprising: a first casing that forms a first pressure chamber at the patterned-face side of the film; a second casing that forms a second pressure chamber at the rear-face side of the film; fixing means for fixing an outer edge of the shaping-target area of the film; pressure adjusting means for adjusting a pressure of fluid in the first pressure chamber and a pressure of fluid in the second pressure chamber, and applying the pressure difference as a shaping pressure to the shaping target-area of the film to form a curved side face; heating means for heating the film, wherein the heating means comprises a heat-transfer stage which is formed so as to be separable from the rear face of the film, and which uniformly heats a contacting portion with the film; and moving means for moving the heat-transfer stage to move towards and away from the film. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The shaping device according to claim 11, wherein the pressure adjusting means maintains the first pressure chamber or the second pressure chamber to an atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The shaping device according to claim 11, wherein the pressure adjusting means comprises pressurizing means for pressurizing the first pressure chamber or the second pressure chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The shaping device according to claim 11, wherein the pressure adjusting means comprises depressurizing means for depressurizing the first pressure chamber or the second pressure chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The shaping device according to claim 11, wherein the fixing means is formed integrally with the first casing or the second casing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The shaping device according to claim 12, wherein the fixing means is formed integrally with the first casing or the second casing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The shaping device according to claim 13, wherein the fixing means is formed integrally with the first casing or the second casing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The shaping device according to claim 14, wherein the fixing means is formed integrally with the first casing or the second casing.