Patent ID: 8333583

Claim:
Apparatus for imprinting a molding surface of a mold into a moldable surface of a substrate and for separating them, comprising: a mold having a molding surface, the molding surface substantially surrounded by a surface groove for conveying a vacuum or a pressure and displaced inward from a peripheral edge of said mold; a positioner for placing the mold adjacent the substrate with the molding surface adjacent the moldable surface, said moldable surface extending laterally beyond said surface groove; pressing apparatus for pressing the mold against the substrate to seal said surface groove there between; a means for drawing a vacuum in the surface groove to improve contact between the molding surface and the moldable surface; a means for introducing a pressurized fluid into the surface groove to facilitate separation of the mold from the substrate; and a controller for regulating the pressing apparatus, the means for drawing the vacuum, and the means for introducing the pressurized fluid in order to first press the mold against the substrate, then to draw said vacuum in the surface groove to improve the contact, and subsequently introduce the pressurized fluid to facilitate separation of the mold from the substrate after imprinting of the molding surface into the moldable surface.