JPH03230334A - Manufacturing method and manufacturing equipment for base material for optical media - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid changes in a rugged pattern of a substrate after a stamper is peeled by transferring a specified pattern with the stamper to the substrate comprising a continuous sheet while the sheet is carried and heated, cooling the sheet and then peeling the stamper from the substrate. CONSTITUTION:A sheet substrate 1 supplied by a sheet substrate feeder is preliminarily heated in a preheat zone and then a stamper 3 is mounted on the sheet substrate 1 in a stamper setting stage 4. The substrate 1 is pressed with the stamper 3 in a transferring stage 5 while the substrate 1 is heated so that the rugged pattern in the stamper 3 is transferred to the substrate 1. The substrate 1 is cooled as pressed with the stamper 2 in a cooling zone 6 and then the stamper 3 is peeled in a stamper peeling stage 7. In this stage, the substrate 1 is already cooled enough to prevent deformation of the rugged pattern, and thereby, the pattern on the substrate does not change.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing resin base materials for optical media such as various optical disks, optical cards, optical floppy disks, or optical tapes.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, read-only optical discs such as compact discs on which a certain amount of information is prerecorded using a concave-convex pattern, write-once optical discs that allow desired information to be recorded only once, and rewritable optical discs that allow information to be recorded and erased. Development of various optical discs such as optical discs is progressing. In addition to optical disks, research is also being conducted on other optical media such as optical cards and optical tapes.

By the way, as substrates for various optical discs, etc., a resin having translucent properties such as glass or polycarbonate is usually used. The above-mentioned substrate usually needs to be provided with a focus point that indicates groups or addresses for tracking control, but when using a resin substrate, for example, a stamper having a concave-convex pattern corresponding to the groups or pits is used. There is a method of manufacturing a substrate by injection molding.

However, in the case of injection molding, since the substrates are manufactured one by one, the problem of low mass productivity cannot be avoided. Therefore, a continuous resin sheet such as a sheet roll is used as a substrate, and the resin sheet is heated to a temperature higher than its softening point, and then the resin is heated to a temperature above its softening point. The applicant has filed a patent application which is characterized in that after successively transferring a concavo-convex pattern corresponding to a large number of optical disk substrates onto a plastic sheet, individual optical disk substrates are punched out from the resin sheet in the transfer area. It was done earlier (patent application 1986-19416)
According to this method, the mass productivity of substrates can be improved.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, according to the above-mentioned substrate manufacturing method using a continuous resin sheet, after the pressure roller is separated from the resin sheet, the uneven patterns such as groups are easily deformed due to the residual heat of the resin sheet, and the substrate is damaged. The problem was that the yield rate deteriorated.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method for manufacturing a base material (substrate, etc.) for optical media such as an optical disk or an optical card according to the present invention heats a continuous sheet-like or film-like base material while conveying it. After the stamper transfers a predetermined uneven shape, the base material is cooled while the stamper remains pressed against the base material, and the stamper is peeled off from the base material after cooling. .

Further, the manufacturing apparatus that can be used to carry out the above manufacturing method includes a conveying means for conveying a continuous sheet-like or film-like base material in a predetermined direction, a heating means for heating the above-mentioned base material, and a heated base material. a transfer section that presses a stamper having a predetermined uneven shape onto the material to transfer the uneven shape; and a cooling section that is provided at a position immediately after the transfer section and cools the base material while pressing the stamper onto the base material. It is characterized by having the following.

Note that the distance between the transfer section and the cooling section is preferably set to be smaller than the length of the stamper in the conveyance direction.

[For production]

According to the above method for producing an optical media base material of the present invention,
After the concavo-convex pattern is transferred by the stamper, the stamper is cooled while being pressed against the base material, and the stamper is peeled off after cooling, so that when the stamper is peeled off, the base material is cooled to a temperature that does not cause deformation of the concave-convex pattern. As a result, the uneven pattern of the base material is less likely to change after the stamper is peeled off.

Furthermore, according to the above manufacturing apparatus, the base material is cooled while the stamper remains pressed against the sheet-like or film-like base material, so that the base material is already cooled by the time the stamper is peeled off from the base material. This means that it is cooled to a temperature that makes it difficult for the shape of the uneven pattern to change, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the uneven pattern on the surface of the base material due to residual heat remaining on the base material after the stamper is peeled off. .

Note that if the distance between the transfer section and the cooling section is made smaller than the length of the stamper in the transport direction, the stamper will be pressed onto the substrate by either the transfer section or the cooling section, so the stamper will not be able to touch the substrate. The receiver can be transferred from the transfer section to the cooling section without any positional deviation, and as a result, the concave-convex pattern can be transferred to the base material reliably and accurately.

[Example 1] An example of the present invention will be described below based on FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus for manufacturing substrates (base materials) for optical media, such as various optical disks or optical cards, unwinds a continuous sheet-like substrate 1 wound into a roll. A sheet-like substrate supply section (not shown) that transports the sheet-like substrate in the center-right direction, a preheating section 2 that preheats the sheet-like substrate 1 supplied from the sheet-like substrate supply section and a stamper 3 (described later), and a preheating section 2 that preheats the sheet-like substrate 1 and the stamper 3, which will be described later, and a preheating section 2 that is placed on the sheet-like substrate 1 at a predetermined interval. a stamper placement section 4 on which a stamper 3 is placed; and a sheet-like substrate 1 preheated in a preheating section 2.
a transfer section 5 that presses the stamper 3 placed on the sheet-like substrate 1 onto the sheet-like substrate l while further heating the sheet-like substrate 1 to transfer the uneven pattern (not shown) of the stamper 3 onto the sheet-like substrate 1; , a cooling section 6 that cools the sheet substrate 1 while pressing the stamper 3 onto the sheet substrate 1, a stamper peeling section 7 that separates the stamper 3 from the sheet substrate 1 of the cooling section, and a transfer of the uneven pattern. sheet-like substrate 1
A punching section 8 for punching out individual optical disk or optical card substrates from the sheet substrate 1 is sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the sheet-like substrate 1.

The sheet-like substrate 1 is made of a translucent resin such as polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, or amorphous polyolefin.

The preheating section 2 is driven in the direction of the arrow by, for example, a pair of rollers 9 and 10, and transfers heat generated by a heater 11 disposed inside to the sheet-like substrate 1 to cool the sheet-like substrate l.
It is composed of a preheating belt 12 for preheating. Preheating section 2
The preheating temperature in is set, for example, to about 110 to 120''C.

The stamper mounting section 4 is configured to place the stamper 3 on the sheet-like substrate 1 supplied from the sheet-like substrate supply section. The stamper 3 is made of, for example, glass or Ni.
A concavo-convex pattern corresponding to the optical card substrate is formed.

The transfer unit 5 includes, for example, a pair of upper and lower heated compression rollers 13 each equipped with a heater (heating means) not shown inside.
14, and the heating temperature of the sheet-like substrate 1 by the heated compression rollers 13 and 14 is set to a temperature higher than the softening point of the sheet-like substrate 1, for example, about 130 to 140 ° C.
The pressure when the stamper 3 is pressed by the heated compression rollers 13 and 14 is set to about 7 to 10 kg/cm''.

The cooling unit 6 includes three pressurized cooling rollers 15, 15, and 15, respectively.
... 16, 16... and each pressure cooling roller 15, 1
5... 2 each on the top and bottom that contact the outside of 16, 16...
Intermediate cooling rollers 17, 17, 18, 18, cooling water or a suitable refrigerant is circulated inside each, and upper and lower cooling rollers contact the outside of each intermediate cooling roller 17, 17, 18, 18. 20 and 21.

The contact points of the heating compression rollers 13 and 14 to the sheet-like substrate 1 and the stamper 3, and the contact points of the pressing and cooling rollers 15 and 16 closest to the heating and compression rollers 13 and 14 to the sheet-like substrate 1 and the stamper 3. The distance between them is set smaller than the length of the stamper 3 in the conveyance direction, and while the stamper 3 remains pressed against the sheet-like substrate 1, the heated compression roller 13
- The receiver is arranged to be passed from 14 to the pressure cooling rollers 15 and 16. In addition, the heating compression rollers 13 and 14
and each pressure cooling roller 15, 15... 16, 16,
... has a role as a means of transportation.

In the cooling section 6, the heat radiated from the sheet-like substrate 1 or the stamper 3 is transferred to pressure cooling rollers 15, 15, . . . 16.
・16... and intermediate cooling roller 17.17.18.1
8 to the cooling rollers 20 and 21 to cool the sheet-like substrate 1 and the stamper 3, and the sheet-like substrate 1 and the stamper are 3, for example, 3 to 4 kg/
A predetermined holding pressure of about 1.5 cm is applied. The target temperature for cooling the sheet-like substrate 1 by the cooling unit 6 is, for example, about 80°C.

In the stamper peeling section 7, the stamper 3 is peeled off from the sheet-like substrate l by, for example, a suitable peeling means such as a vacuum chuck (not shown).

Further, the punching section 8 is configured as a punching section of a press having a die 22 and a punch 23, and a conveying member 25 is arranged below the die 22.

In the above configuration, the sheet-like substrate 1 supplied from the sheet-like substrate supply section is preheated by the preheating section 2, and the stamper 3 is placed on the sheet-like substrate 1 by the stamper mounting section 4.

Then, while the sheet-like substrate 1 and stamper 3 are heated in the transfer section 5, the stamper 3 is pressed against the sheet-like substrate 1, and the uneven pattern of the stamper 3 is transferred to the sheet-like substrate 1.

Subsequently, while the stamper 3 remains pressed against the sheet-like substrate 1, the stamper 3 and the sheet-like substrate 1 are cooled by the cooling unit 6, and then the standber 3 is peeled off by the standber peeling unit 7. At this time, the sheet-like substrate 1 has already been cooled to a temperature that does not cause deformation of the transferred uneven pattern, so even if the stand bar 3 is peeled off, the shape of the uneven pattern of the sheet-like substrate 1 does not change.

Further, the sheet-like substrate 1 having the concavo-convex pattern transferred thereon is punched out as individual optical disk or optical card substrates 24 in the punching section 8, and is carried out by the conveying member 25.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the heating compression roller 13.1
The heating temperature etc. of the sheet-like substrate 1 according to 4 are as follows.
It can be changed as appropriate depending on the type of material, etc.

In addition, if the optical disk or optical card is of a recordable format, in order to form a recording film, for example, a film forming device using sputtering or the like is placed between the stand bar peeling section 7 and the punching section 8, and the sheet is After the film is formed on the shaped substrate l in a continuous process, punching may be performed. In that case, it is preferable to arrange not only the film forming apparatus but also the transfer section 5, the cooling section 6, etc. in the vacuum chamber in order to prevent dust and the like.

[Example 2] Next, a second embodiment will be described based on FIG.

This second embodiment is suitable for manufacturing a base material for an optical tape. A film-like base material supply unit (not shown) that supplies the film-like base material in the direction, and a film-like base material that is conveyed, for example, by forming an uneven pattern (not shown) on the surface of a stainless steel belt with a thickness of 0.4 mm or less. material 3
1; a plurality of preheating rollers 33 to 35 disposed above and below the film base material 31; and preheating rollers 33 to 3.
A pair of upper and lower heating compression rollers 36 and 37 (transfer section) are arranged on the upper and lower parts of the film-like base material 31 on the downstream side of 5.
and a plurality of cooling rollers 3 disposed above and below the film-like base material 31 on the downstream side of the heating compression rollers 36 and 37.
8 to 43 (cooling section).

The above preheating rollers 33 to 35 and heating compression rollers 36 and 3
Each of the rollers 7 has a heater (not shown) serving as a heating means therein, and an appropriate refrigerant is circulated through a refrigerant passage (not shown) provided inside each of the cooling rollers 38 to 43.

The preheating roller 33, heating compression roller 36, and cooling rollers 38 to 40 on the upper side of the film-like base material 31 are arranged in the belt-like standber 32, and press the belt-like standber 32 against the upper surface of the film-like base material 31, while preheating. roller 3
3 and the cooling roller 40 also serve as a driving roller for the heald-shaped stand bar 32. Further, the preheating rollers 34 and 35, heating compression roller 37, and cooling rollers 41 to 43 on the lower side of the film-like base material 31 are in contact with the lower surface of the film-like base material 31, and the film-like base material 31 is attached to the belt-like stamper 32. It is designed to be pressed. In addition, each roller 33-43 has a role as a conveyance means.

In the above configuration, the film-like base material 31 supplied from the film-like base material supply section reaches the belt-like stamper 32, and is preheated and heated by preheating rollers 33 to 35 while being heated by the belt-like stamper 32 as shown in the figure. Transported to the right.

Note that the uneven pattern of the belt-like stamper 32 is gradually transferred to the preheated film-like base material 31.

Thereafter, the film-like base material 31 is further heated by the heated compression rollers 36 and 37, and in a state where the temperature has risen to the softening point or higher of the film-like base material 31, the belt-shaped stamper 32 is applied with a higher pressure by the heated compression rollers 36 and 37. By pressing the belt-like stamper 32 against the film-like base material 31, the uneven pattern on the surface of the belt-like stamper 32 is reliably transferred to the film-like base material 31.

Subsequently, the film-like base material 3 is cooled by the cooling rollers 38 to 43.
1 and the belt-shaped stamper 32 are cooled, the belt-shaped stamper 32 is peeled off from the film 4 [material 31].

At this time, the film-like base material 31 has already been cooled to a temperature at which no deformation of the concave-convex pattern occurs, so even if the heald-shaped stamper 32 is peeled off, the shape of the concave-convex pattern of the film-like base material 31 does not change.

In this second embodiment as well, if necessary, a film forming device for recording is provided at the downstream stage of the belt-shaped stamper 32.
The film may be formed immediately after the uneven pattern is formed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the method for manufacturing an optical media base material according to the present invention, a continuous sheet-like or film-like base material is heated while being conveyed to transfer a predetermined uneven shape with a stamper, and then the stamper is used to transfer a predetermined uneven shape. This configuration is such that the base material is cooled while being pressed against the base material, and the stamper is peeled off from the base material after cooling.

As a result, when the stamper is peeled off, the base material is cooled to a temperature that does not cause deformation of the concavo-convex pattern, so that the concavo-convex pattern of the base material is less likely to change after the stamper is peeled off.

Further, the apparatus for manufacturing an optical media base material according to the present invention includes a conveyance means for conveying a continuous sheet-like or film-like base material in a predetermined direction, a heating means for heating the base material, and a heated a transfer section that presses a stamper having a predetermined uneven shape onto a base material to transfer the uneven shape; and a cooling section that is provided immediately after the transfer section and cools the base material while pressing the stamper onto the base material. The configuration is equipped with the following.

As a result, the base material for optical media is manufactured by transferring the concavo-convex pattern onto a continuous sheet-like or film-like base material using a stamper, so that the mass productivity of the base material can be improved. In addition, before peeling off the stamper, the base material is cooled while pressing the stamper against the sheet or film base material, so the shape of the base material has already changed by the time the stamper is peeled off from the base material. As a result, deformation of the concavo-convex pattern due to peeling of the stamper can be suppressed.

Note that if the distance between the transfer section and the cooling section is set to be smaller than the length of the stamper in the transport direction, the stamper will be pressed against the base material by either the transfer section or the cooling section. Therefore, until the cooling section finishes cooling, the stamper maintains its bond with the base material without any displacement, and the uneven pattern is transferred to the base material reliably and accurately. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an apparatus for manufacturing an optical media substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an apparatus for manufacturing an optical media base material according to another embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a sheet-like substrate (base material), 3 is a stamper, 5 is a transfer section, 6 is a cooling section, 31 is a film-like base material, 32 is a belt-like stamper, 36 and 37 are heated compression rollers (transfer section), 3
8 to 43 are cooling rollers (cooling section).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. After transferring a predetermined uneven shape using a stamper by heating a continuous sheet-like or film-like base material while conveying it, the base material is transferred while the stamper is kept pressed against the base material. A method for producing an optical media base material, comprising: cooling the stamper; and peeling the stamper from the base material after cooling. 2. A conveyance means for conveying a continuous sheet-like or film-like base material in a predetermined direction, a heating means for heating the base material, and a stamper having a predetermined uneven shape is pressed on the heated base material. For optical media, comprising: a transfer section that transfers the uneven shape; and a cooling section that is provided at a position immediately after the transfer section and cools the base material while pressing the stamper onto the base material. Base material manufacturing equipment.