Method of manufacturing a flexible optical information recording medium

Abstract: A flexible optical information recording medium consists of a flexible resin layer having a corrugated pattern on its surface corresp. to the information to be recorded, and a reflection layer which is formed on the corrugated pattern of the resin layer and has light reflecting property. A flexible support layer supports the resin layer. To produce the flexible optical information recording medium, a resin soln. which is cured upon radiation of U.V. or electron beam is packed between the U.V. or electron beam-transmissible substrate film as the support layer, and a corrugated pattern original, and after this resin film is cured and shaped on the substrate film by radiating the U.V. or electron beam through the substrate film, the resulting cured film is peeled off. Another prodn. method comprises forming a resin layer which is cured by irradiation with U.V. or electron beam and has thermal mouldability on a U.V. or electron beam-transmissible substrate film, forming then a roll-shape transfer film, bringing the resin layer surface of this transfer film into pressure contact with a corrugated pattern forming surface of the original while heating it, performing the transfer of the corrugated pattern while the resin layer is being softened, radiating then a U.V. or electron beam through the substrate film, curing the softened resin layer and peeling off the transfer film from the original. A flat sheet-like adaptor is used in order to reproduce such a flexible optical information recording medium. Reproduction can be made particularly effectively by clamping the medium with a lower surface adaptor and an upper surface adaptor.

Description: < Technical Field > This invention relates to manufacturing of flexible optical information recording media particularly optical disks of the laser-readout type. < Background Art > Optical information recording media represented by optical disks have the following merits as compared to the magnetic information recording media: (1) Recording density is high, (2) Reproduction can be conducted in no contact with the media, with the result it is not likely to be influenced by scratches or dusts, (3) Serious damage does not occur even if they are touched by hand, resulting in easy handling, (4) Readout pick-up undergoes less wear, (5) Various reproduction modes are available, and the like, and they have made rapid progress in recent years. For information recorded, there are a wide variety of data used for music, images and/or computers. When manufacturing recording media for reproduction only, e.g., optical disks, etc., there are employed the injection method or the pressing method. In these methods, a stamper tool is provided which carries the information to be transferred to the medium as an uneven pattern. In the injection method, resin, e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or polycarbonate (PC), etc. is injected into a metal mold, and in the pressing on method, resin is pressed on the metallic master tool. Thus, by repeating original block these operations a great number of replicas are manufactured. EP-A-0 062 366 discloses an optically readable information disc comprising a resin layer. This layer is made from a resin which can be hardened by irradiation of ultraviolet rays. But this resin is liquid at a room temperature and it does not have thermal moldability. JP-A-56 87203 discloses the manufacture of a disc consisting of a base film and a resin layer. This resin, which is liquid at a room temperature, is coated on the rolled film. Then the coated resin is pre-heated and thereafter the pre-heated resin layer is irradiated by UV light and then transformation of patterns is carried out between stamp rollers. Then, the stamped film is irridiated by UV light. According to this method it is not possible to prepare a base film coated by the resin as a rolled film in advance, because the resin is liquid at a room temperature. Further, bubbles tend to be mixed into the resin layer. The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a high quality flexible optical information carrying medium in which a stock of resin coated film can be prepared and stored before executing the step of transferring the pattern representing digitally encoded information to said film by a stamper tool. This problem, according to the invention, is solved by the mehods of manufacturing according to claims 1 and 2. < Brief Description of the Drawings > Fig. 1 is a structural cross sectional view or a flexible optical information recording medium, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a flexible optical disk made up by punching a flexible optical information recording medium having the structure shown in Fig. 1, Figs. 3(a) and (b) are structural cross sectional views of another flexible optical information recording medium, Fig. 4 is a view showing a method of manufacturing a flexible optical information recording medium having the structure shown in Fig. 3, Figs. 5(a) and (b) are views showing the principle of a form giving process in a manufacturing method according to this invention suitable for massproduction of flexible optical information recording media, Fig. 6 is a front structural view of a manufacturing apparatus for implementing the manufacturing method according to this invention suitable for massproduction of flexible optical information recording media, Fig. 7 is a side structural view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11, Fig. 8 is a view showing the detail in the vicinity of an emboss roller of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11, A structure of a flexible optical information recording medium is shown in Fig. 1. This embodiment applies to an optical disk. A flexible optical disk 100 is comprised of a resin layer 110 and a reflection layer 120. As shown, the reflection layer 120 is formed on an uneven surface 111 formed on the resin layer surface so as to provide a pattern of the same uneven configuration. This uneven pattern corresponds to information to be recorded. By irradiating a laser beam to the reflection layer 120 to observe a reflected light, readout of information is enabled. The resin layer 110 and the reflection layer 120 are both made of a material having flexibility. Thus, the disk 100 has flexibility as a whole. A further structure of a flexible optical information recording medium is shown in Fig. 3(a). This embodiment is also an optical disk. A flexible optical disk 200 is constituted by further providing a supporting layer 210 in the above-mentioned flexible optical disk 100. Such a supporting layer 210 can improve the physical strength of the disk. In the embodiment shown in Fig.3(b), a protective layer 220 is further formed on the reflection layer 120. Actually, it is preferable that an optical disk provided with such a protective layer 220 is the final product. In addition, for enhancing close adhesion between supporting layer 210 and resin layer 110, it is preferable to form a primer layer (not shown) comprised of, e.g., an anchor material, etc. on the boundary surface between both the layers. For the supporting layer 210, any material permitting ultraviolet rays or electron rays to be transmitted therethrough, having flexibility and having a certain strength may be used. Actually, polymerized or copolymerized film of polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyolefin, and epoxy resin, etc. are suitable. In addition to them, synthetic paper, natural paper, metallic film, glass, and ceramic paper, etc. may be used. The thickness is preferably 25 to 200 µm, more preferably 75 to 200 µm. It is to be noted that it is preferable to form a primer layer for enhancing close adhesion on the contact surface of the supporting layer 210 and the resin liquid 140. For example, a film of polyethylene terephtalate may be used as the supporting layer 210 to paint an under lacquer as a primer on the film with the thickness of about 1 to 5 µm. In addition, electric processing, e.g., corona processing, etc. may be implemented on the film to improve adhesiveness. The manufacturing method suitable for mass-producing optical disks comprising a resin layer, a reflection layer and a support layer according to the present invention will has be described. In this method a resin layer is formed on a base film using a resin hardenable by irradiation with ultraviolet rays or electron rays. Since such a resin is thermally moldable it can be provided solid at room temperature and it is thus possible to form the resin layer in advance as a solid layer on the base film prior to replication of the uneven pattern. Fig. 5(a) is a view showing the principle of this manufacturing method. A thermally moldable resin layer 401b is formed on a light transmissible base film 401a of approximately 100 µm in thickness, thus obtaining a resin-coated film 401. This resin layer 401b is a resin which is thermally moldable and hardenable by ultraviolet rays or electron rays. For the base film 401a, various film-like materials may be used. Actually, polymerized film of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl butyral, or polycarbonate, etc., metal film of iron, etc.) natural paper, and synthetic paper may be used. Further, laminate of these films may be used. It is to be noted that it is preferable for enhancement of close adhesion to resin to form primer layer comprised of anchor material. The resin layer 401b is solid at room temperature, and the film 401 may be wound as one sheet of film and may be preserved with it being wound. This film 401 is carried in a direction A in the figure by a heating and pressure roller 405a and a carrying roller 405b. The heating pressure roller 405a is provided with heating means, thus pressing the film 401 onto the uneven surface of the stamper tool made of resin 404 serving as the master of an optical disk while heating it. It is suitable that the heating temperature of the heating/pressure roller 405a is approximately 50 to 300°C, more preferably 100 to 200°C, although it depends upon the composition of the resin layer 401b used. In addition, it is suitable that the pressure for pressing the film 401 onto the resin mold 404 is approximately 0.1 Kg/cm 2 , more preferably 1 Kg/cm 2 . By this heating and pressing, the uneven pattern of the resin stamper tool 404 is transferred onto the surface of the resin layer 401b. Between the heating/pressure roller 405a and the carrying roller 405b, a source 406 for irradiating ultraviolet rays or electron rays is disposed. The resin layer 401b deformed by heating is hardened by irradiation of ultraviolet rays or electron rays from the source 406, resulting in resin layer 403. This resin layer 403 is fixed to the base film 401a, onto the surface of which the uneven pattern of the stamper tool 404 is transferred. Since the base film 401a is carried in a direction indicated by an arrow A, the resin layer 403 fixed thereto is separated from the stamper tool 404. In this way, film 40 comprising base film 401a and resin layer 403 is formed. It is preferable that after the film 402 is separated, ultraviolet rays or electron rays are irradiated for the second time to completely harden the resin layer 403. After this, a reflection layer and a protection layer are formed on the resin layer 403. A flexible optical disk as shown in Fig. 2 is obtained by punching these film 402 in a disk shape. The resin layer 401b is formed in advance as a solid layer on the base film 401a. Thus, transfer of the uneven pattern is enabled. Since the resin layer 401b is heated by heating/pressure roller 405a, but is hardened by undergoing irradiation of ultraviolet rays or electron rays after the uneven pattern has been transferred, it is possible to harden the uneven pattern without cooling. Accordingly, separation from the stamper tool 404 is enabled without going through a cooling process. Fig. 5(b) shows another embodiment. Here a reflection layer 401c is formed in advance on the film 401. Even in the condition where the reflection layer 401c is thus formed, transfer of the uneven pattern similar to the above can be conducted. Details: a) Using a polyester film 100 µm thick as the base film, acrylic system anchor material is painted so that its thickness is equal to 2 µm to dry it, thus to form a primer layer. Then, compound obtained by allowing acrylic acid to react on N-methylol acrylamide polymer is painted on the primer layer so that its thickness is equal to 20 µm to form a resin layer, thus to prepare a film for emboss replication. Then, this film is delivered at a speed of 3 m/min. to press it onto the stamper tool under a temperature of 110°C and a pressure of 1 Kg/cm 2 to irradiate ultraviolet rays (under conditon of 80 W/cm, distance of 10 cm) thereto to harden the resin, thus to form an uneven pattern on the surface of the film. Metal vacuum, deposition is implemented to this film to form a protective layer, thereafter to punch it to obtain an optical disk. In addition, by using N-methylol melamine acrylate obtained by reaction of N-methylol melamine and acrylic acid as resin layer to implement a method similar to the above, similar optical disk may be obtained. b) Compound obtained by adding 2,4-toluene diisocyanate to 3:7 copolymer of butyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate is painted on the primer layer of the film used in the above-described embodiment a) so that its thickness is equal to 20 µm to form a resin layer, thus to prepare a film for emboss replication. Then, this film is delivered at a speed of 10 m/min. to press it to the stamper tool under a temperature of 110°C and a pressure of 1 Kg/cm 2 to irradiate electron rays (200 Kev, 10 M rad) thereto to harden the resin, thus to form an uneven pattern on the surface of the film. Metal vacuum deposition is implemented to this film to form a protective layer, thereafter to punch it, thus to obtain an optical disk. c) This embodiment is an embodiment in which an optical disk is manufactured in accordance with the principle shown in Fig. 5(b). A reflection layer of aluminum with the thickness of 80 nm is further formed on the film for emboss replication stated in the above-mentioned embodiment a) using the vacuum deposition to use the film with the provision of reflection layer as a film for emboss replication. This film is delivered at a speed of 5 m/min. to press it to the stamper tool (metal mold) under condition of a temperature of 160°C and a pressure of 30 Kg/min. to irradiate ultraviolet rays (under condition of 80 W/cm and distance of 10 cm) thereto to harden the resin, thus to form an uneven pattern on the surface of the film. After a protective layer is formed on this film, it is punched to obtain an optical disk. Arrangement of an actual manufacturing apparatus Subsequently, a manufacturing apparatus capable of mass-producing flexible optical disks on the basis of the above-described principle will be explained. Fig. 6 is a front structural view of such an apparatus 410 and Fig. 7 is a side structural view. A pair of body frames 412 are fixed on a bed 413. Within the body frames 412, a film feed unit 420, a transfer unit 430, an irradiation unit 450, and a winding unit 460 are arranged in order. (1) The paper feed unit 420 is composed of a shaft 422 rotatably supported by a roller 423 fixed on the body frame 412, and a brake 424 fixed on the body frames 412 wherein a winding roller 421 on which film 401 is wound is fitted over the shaft 422. The front end of the shaft 422 is connected to the brake 424. (2) the transfer unit 430 is composed of an emboss roller 431 of which shaft 432 is rotatably supported by a bearing 433 fixed to the central portions of the body frames 412, a pressing roller 440 rotatably supported by a pair of arms 442, and a pressure application mechanism 438. The pressure application mechanism 438 is composed of a pair of arms 442 and an air cylinder 445. To the front end of a piston rod 446 of the air cylinder 445, an attachment 447 is affixed. This attachment 447 is rotatably supported through a pin 448 below the central portion of the arm 442. The air cylinder 445 is rotatably supported by a pin 449 fixed to the body frames 412. A pair of arms 442 is fixedly connected by a rod 444 and is rotatably supported by a pin 443 fixed to the body frames 412. Accordingly, the arm 442 revolves with the pin 443 being a support by the actuation of the piston rod 446 of the air cylinder 445. Thus, the pressing roller 440 is pressed onto the emboss roller 431. It is to be noted that the pressure application mechanism is not limited to the above-described mechanism, but, for example, mechanisms, e.g., hydraulic cylinder, electric motor and mechanical press, etc. may be used. The pressing roller 440 is equipped with a heater (not shown) and its surface is heated. For such a heater, for example, an electric heater, or steam supply device, etc. provided within the pressing roller 440 may be used, or a far infrared ray heater, etc. provided outside the pressing roller 440 may be used. In addition, in place of heating the pressing roller 440, the emboss roller 431 side may be heated. The detail in the vicinity of the emboss roller 431 is shown in Fig. 8. On the circumferential surface of the emboss roller 431, the stamper tool of resin 404 is provided. Instead out of resin the tool can be made out of metal, or another material. Further, uneven portions may be directly formed on the circumferential surface of the emboss roller 431 by corrosion or engraving, or plating may be applied to the circumferential surface to form a metal layer, thus to form uneven portions by corroding or engraving the metal layer. On one end of the shaft 432 of the emboss roller 431, a pulley 434 is provided. On a stand 418 provided at the upper portion of the body frame 412, a drive motor 414 is provided. On the front end of the shaft 415 of the drive motor 414, pulleys 416 and 417 are provided. The pulleys 417 and 434 are connected by a belt 435. Eventually, the emboss roller 431 is to be driven in a direction as indicated by an arrow in the figure by the drive motor 414. The circumferential surface of the emboss roller 431 is cooled by a cooling device (not shown). This cooling device may be composed of a rotary joint provided within the shaft 432, a cooling water supply tube, and a cooling water supply unit, etc. It is to be noted that when a heater is provided on the side of the emboss roller 431, such a cooling device is not used. (3) The film carried out from the emboss roller 431 is wound onto the winding roller 451 rotatably supported by the body frames 412 through the shaft 452 and the bearing 453 and advances in an upper direction in the figure. The irradiation unit 450 is fixed on the body frames 412 by a supporting member (not shown) at the position opposite to the winding roller 451. The film 401 wound onto the winding roller 451 undergoes in turn irradiation of ultraviolet rays or electron rays from the irradiation unit 450. It is to be noted that the irradiation unit 450 has not a limited arrangement such that it is positioned in the vicinity of the winding roller 451. For example, it may be dispcsed in the vicinity of the emboss roller 431 to irradiate ultraviolet rays or electron rays under the condition where the film 401 is wound onto the emboss roller 431, or immediately after the film 401 has been separated from the emboss roller 431. In addition, it is preferable to provide a cooling device in association with the winding roller 451, thus to cool the film 401. (4) The winding unit 460 is composed of a shaft 462 rotatably supported by a roller 463 fixed on the body frames 412, and a clutch 464 fixed on the body frames 412 by a supporting member 465. To the input side of the clutch 464, a shaft 466 over which a pulley 467 is fitted is connected. The pulleys 467 and 416 are connected by a belt 468. Eventually, the winding unit 460 is rotationally driven by the drive motor 414. Thus, the film 401 is wound. (5) In addition to the above, guide rollers 471 and 472 rotatably supported by the body frames 412 are provided between the emboss roller 431 and the paper feed unit 420, and a guide roller 473 is provided between the emboss roller 431 and the winding roller 451. The guide roller 473 has a function to determine an angle for winding the film 401 onto the emboss roller 431, and the fitting position thereof varies depending upon heating temperature, and revolving condition of the emboss roller 431, etc. It is to be noted that a preheater (not shown) may be provided between the emboss roller 431 and the paper feed unit 420 to heat the film 401 in advance, thus to promote or hasten softening of the resin layer 401b conducted between the pressing roller 440 and the emboss roller 431. Actual operation of the manufacturing apparatus The operation of the above-described apparatus is as follows. First, the film 401 drawn cut from the feed unit 420 is guided to the emboss roller 431 through guide rollers 471 and 472. At this time, a suitable tension is applied to the film 401 by the brake 424. Subsequently, the pressing roller becomes operative by the actuation of the air cylinder 445. Thus, the film 401 is pressed onto the emboss roller 431 at a predetermined pressure. Since the surface of the pressing roller 440 is subject to heating, the resin laver 491b is softened. Thus, the uneven pattern of the stamper tool 404 is transferred onto the resin layer 401b. The resin layer 401b on which such an uneven pattern is formed is carried in a direction shown by an arrow in the figure along the circumferential surface of the emboss roller 431 and is separated from the stamper tool 404 in the vicinity of the guide roller 473. At this time, since the surface of the emboss roller 431 is colled, the resin layer 401b in a softened state is separated while being solidified to some extent, resulting in no possibility that the uneven pattern transferred is deformed. The film 401 sent out from the emboss roller 431 is guided to the winding rcller 451, at which it is subjected to irradiation of ultraviolet rays or electron rays from the light source 450, so that the resin layer 401b is completely hardened. It is to be noted that since the winding roller 451 is cooled as described above, it can be prevented that film 401 is heated by irradiation of ultraviolet rays or electron rays, resulting in thermal contraction thereof. Finally, the film 401 is wound onto the shaft 462. At this time, since tension is applied to the film 401 by the clutch 464, uniform winding can be conducted. In this way, film 401 on which the uneven pattern is formed is put in a roll-shape. After this, by punching it in a disk shape, a flexible optical disk is manufactured. Advantages This method advantageously eliminates need to use a liquid-state resin. Further, the method using the principle shown in Fig. 5(b) provides additional advantages. (1) Since the reflection layer can be formed in advance, the process for depositing reflection layer after the uneven pattern is transferred becomes unnecessary, resulting in simplified manufacturing process. (2) Since the reflection layer is formed in advance, heat is radiated from the reflection laver to much extent, with the result that cooling time after the uneven pattern is formed is reduced. Further advantage is that the reflection layer functions as a protective aver in the process for forming the uneven pattern. (3) With the method to deposit the reflection layer after the transfer of the pattern, there is the drawback that information bits are degraded at the time of deposition. However, such a drawback is not encountered with this method. Actual material for resin layer In the above-described method, it is required to form in advance a resin layer being thermally moldable and hardenable by irradiation of ultraviolet rays or electron rays on the base film. For such materials, there are thermally moldable materials having a radically polymerizable unsaturated group as described below. (1) Materials having a radically polymerizable unsaturated group in a polymer of which glass transition temperature is 0 to 250°C. More particularly, materials obtained by introducing a radically polymerizable unsaturated group into polymers obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing compounds (i) to (viii) recited below in accordance with methods (a) to (d) which will be described later. (i) Monomer having hydroxyl group: N-methylol acrylamide, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyn, 3-phenoxypropyl methacrylate, and 3-phenoxypropyl acrylate, etc. (ii) Monomer having carboxyl group: acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and acryloyloxyethyl monosuccinate, etc., (iii) Monomer having epoxy group: glycydyl methacrylate, etc. (iv) Monomer having aziridinyl group: 2-aziridinylethyl methacrylate, and 2-aziridinyl propionic acid aryl, etc. (v) Monomer having amino group: acrylamide, methacrylamide, dyacetone acrylamide, dimethylapinoethyl methacrylate, and diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, etc. (vi) Monomer having sulfonic group: 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, etc. (vii) Monomer having isocyanate group: Addition product of diisocyanate such as 1:1 mol addition product of 2,4-toluenediisocyanate and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and radically polymerizable monomer having active hydrogen, etc. (viii) In addition, for adjusting glass transition point of the above-mentioned copolymer, or adjusting properties of the hardening film, copolymerization of the above-mentioned compounds and monomers polymerizable with these compounds, which will be described below, can be conducted. For such polymerizable monomers, for example, methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl acrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, isobutyl acrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, t-butyl acrylate, t-butyl methacrylate, isoamyl acrylate, isoamyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, N-methylol melamine acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, etc. are exemplified. By reacting polymers obtained as stated above in accordance with the methods (a) to (d) described below to introduce radically polymerizable unsaturated group, material can be obtained. (a) In the case of polymer or copolymer of monomer having hydroxyl group, monomer having carboxyl group such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid is subjected to condensation reaction. (b) In the case of polymer or copolymer of monomer having carboxyl group or sulfone group, the above-described monomer having hydroxyl group is subjected to condensation reaction. (c) In the case of polymer or copolymer having epoxy group, isocyanate group or azylizinyl group, the abovementioned monomer having hydroxyl group or monomer having carboxyl group is subjected to addition reaction. (d) In the case of polymer or copolymer having hydroxyl group or carboxyl group, 1:1 mol addition product of monomer having epoxy group, monomer having azylizinyl group, or diisocyanate compound and acrylic acid ester monomer including hydroxyl group is subjected to addition reaction. It is preferable to add a bit of polymerization inhibitor such as hydroquinone to carry out the abovementioned reaction while feeding dry air. (2) Other materials which can be used in the present invention for resin having thermal moldability are compounds having a melting point of 0 to 250°C radical polymerization unsaturated group. Actually, stearyl acrylate, stearyl methacrylate, triacrylisocyanate, cyclohexanediol diacrylate, cyclohexanediol dimethacrylate, spiroglycol diacrylate, and spiroglycol dimethacrylate, etc. are exemplified. In this invention, mixtures of materials in the above-mentioned paragraphs (1) and (2) may be used, and radical polymerization unsaturated monomer may be further added thereinto. Such radical polymerization unsaturated monomer improves bridging density and heat resistance property at the time of irradiation of ionized radiation. In addition to the above-mentioned monomers, ethyleneglycol diacrylate, ethyleneglycol methacrylate, polyethyleneglycol diacryalte, polyethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, hexanediol diacrylate, hexanediol dimethacrylate, trimethylol propane triacrylate, trimethylol propane trimethacrylate, trimethylol propane diacrylate, trimethylol propane dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, pentaerythritol tetramethacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol trimethacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexamethacrylate, ethyleneglycol diglycidylether diacrylate, ethyleneglycol diglycidylether dimethacrylate, polyethyleneglycol diglycidylether diacrylate, polyethylene glycol diglycidylether dimethacrylate, propylene glycol diglycidylether diacrylate, propylene glycol diglycidylether dimethacrylate, polypropylene glycol diglycidylether acrylate, polypropylene glycol diglycidylether dimathacrylate, sorbitol tetraglycidylether tetraacrylate, and sorbitol tetraglycidylether tetramethacrylate, etc. may be used. It is preferable to use them with 0.1 to 100 parts by weight with respect of 100 parts by weight of solid component of the copolymer mixtures. The above-mentioned materials can be sufficiently hardened by electron rays, and in the case of hardening them by ultraviolet rays, materials which produce radical by irradiation of ultraviolet rays, for example, benzoin ether family, e.g., benzoquinone, benzoin, benzoin methylether, etc. for sensitizer, halogenated acetophenone family, and biatyl family, etc. may be used. Another method for softening resin layer While softening of the resin layer is carried out by heat in the above-described embodiment, a softening method using additionally an organic solvent may also be used. In this case, for example, ether system solvents, e.g., tetrahydrofuran, diethylether and methylether, etc. having a low boiling point may be vaporized to react with the resin layer, thus to soften it. < Industrial Applicability > The described optical information recording medium can be utilized for recording music, images, and/or data, etc. in the form of a thin compact disk (CD) for digital audio, a thin video disk, and a thin CD-ROM. Since this medium is a thin medium having flexibility, it is excellent in carrying ability and a wide variety of manners of setting can be realized. In addition for commercial utilization manner, the following manners of special utilization are possible. (1) Such recording media sell with they being attached to books. Namely, since this recording medium is a thin disk having flexibility, an accommodating pocket is provided at a back cover etc. of the book to sell the book with the disk being accommodated into the accommodating pocket. Information indicating the description of the content of the book by voice or pictorial image is recorded in the disk. Users can utilize the information in the disk as well as the information described on respective pages of the book. (2) Such recording media can be attached to computer related magazines. This is one of manner in which recording media can be sold with books. By attaching them to particularly computer related magazines, the utilization as the thin CD-ROM can be expanded. In this case, programs or digital data for computers can be recorded in the disk. Ordinarily, users input programs or digital data introduced in the magazines to the computers while looking at program list or dump lists appearing in magazines. If such CD-ROM is attached to the magazine, users can immediately obtain necessary program or digital data by reading out the data in the CD-ROM. (3) Such recording media are utilized for direct mail as the disk for introduction of goods. Images introducing goods are recorded in the form of video disk to forward them to customers as direct mails. Since such recording media have flexibility and are of thin type, they are suitable for mailing and postage can be reduced. In addition, since customers can confirm goods in the form of image, they purchase them without entertaining apprehensions about goods or having distrust thereof. (4) Such recording media are attached to instruction manuals for goods. The functions of recent electric products, machinery products and automotive vehicles, etc. have become complicated increasingly, and therefore instruction manuals on which how to deal with respective products is described become complicated accordingly. Accordingly, by attaching a disk for explaining how to deal with products to the instruction manual by voice or pictorial image, users can utilize information in the disk as well as the instruction manual. (5) Such recording media are utilized as video disks for advice of movie. Images of trailer for several new films are recorded in the disk to distribute them to general viewers. Because of thin disk having flexibility, distribution can be easily carried out. Viewers can repeatedly appreciate the trailer, resulting in high advertising effect. For reproducing the flexible optical disks suitable adapters are provided.

Claims: A method of manufacturing a flexible optical information carrying medium, said information being digitally encoded, the method comprising: forming a resin layer (401b) of a resin, which can be hardened by ultraviolet radiation, on a base film (401a) which is permeable to said radiation, thus obtaining a resin-coated film (401), transferring to the resin-coated film (401) an uneven pattern corresponding to said digitally encoded information by pressing the resin layer (401b) on the surface of a stamper tool (404) provided with said pattern, hardening the resin layer (401b) by irradiating it with ultraviolet rays through said basefilm (401a), and seperating said coated film (401) from said stamper tool, characterized in that: for the resin layer (401b) a resin is used which - before being hardened - is solid at room temperature and thermally moldable, said film (401), after being coated with the resin layer, is wound into a roll, and that in order to transfer said uneven pattern by the stamper tool (404) on the film taken from the roll, the solid resin layer (401b) is softened by heating. Method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that instead of ultraviolet radiation electron beam radiation is used. A method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein a compound having a radically polymerizable unsaturated group in a polymer of which the glass transition temperature is 0 to 250°C, is used as said resin layer (401b). A method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein a compound having a melting point of 25 to 250 °C and a radically polymerizable unsaturated group, is used as said resin layer (401b). A method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said stamper tool (404) is formed by an exposure process using a photoresist. A method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said stamper tool is formed out of resine. A method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein a polymerized film is used as said base film (401a). A method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein a reflecting layer (401c) is formed on said resin layer (401b) opposite to said base film (401a).

Inventors: KAZAHAYA NOBUAKI, KODERA TOKIO, KAZAHAYA, NOBUAKI, KODERA, TOKIO
Applicants: DAINIPPON PRINTING CO LTD, DAI NIPPON INSATSU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G11B7
IPC codes: B29C43, G11B7, B29C59, G11B23, B32B37, B29C35, B29D17, B29C39