Patent ID: 6875378

Claim:
A method for removing an optical disk from a molding apparatus, wherein the molding apparatus includes (i) a first mold and a second mold defining a cavity therebetween, and (ii) a stamper within the cavity, the stamper having data to be transferred to material that is to be molded into the optical disk within the cavity, and the material is molded into the optical disk within the cavity when the first and second molds are in a closed position such that the stamper becomes attached to the optical disk, said method comprising: relatively moving said first and second molds away from said closed position by a first distance such that a first release space part is formed by causing a first part of said optical disk to be separated from one of said first mold and said stamper; supplying a gas to said first release space part such that said optical disk becomes completely separated from said one of said first mold and said stamper; then further relatively moving said first and second molds away from said closed position by a second distance such that a second release space part is formed by causing a second part of said optical disk to be separated from the other of said first mold and said stamper, wherein a sum of said first distance and said second distance is about 0.3 mm; and supplying a gas to said second release space part such that said optical disk becomes completely separated from said other of said first mold and said stamper.