Patent ID: 7726964

Claim:
A molding apparatus for patterning a workpiece using a mold, comprising: a first support member for supporting the mold; a second support member, arranged opposite to said first support member, for supporting the workpiece; and a pressing mechanism applying pressure by bringing said first and second support members toward each other and pressing the mold and workpiece together so as to pattern the workpiece, wherein said first support member has a first press surface with outer edges and said second support member has a second press surface with outer edges, and the outer edges of at least one of the first press surface or the second press surface are smaller in outer dimension than the mold and the workpiece, wherein the first press surface contacts a surface of the mold, and the second press surface contacts a surface of the workpiece, and the pressure applied by the pressing mechanism is transmitted only through the contact surfaces, and wherein both the press surface of said first support member and the press surface of said second support member are smaller in area than the mold and the workpiece.