Patent ID: 8318074

Claim:
A transfer method for performing fine transfer operation using a transfer apparatus having a gimbal mechanism, comprising: a table on which a molding material is placed, a mold holding body that fixes and holds a transfer mold disposed such as to be opposed to the table surface, a first gimbal member which holds the mold holding body on one surface of the first gimbal member and which forms a convex spherical surface portion on the other surface of the first gimbal member, a second gimbal member formed with a concave spherical surface portion which is opposed to and in contact with a convex spherical surface portion of the first gimbal member, a movable body that holds the second gimbal member and which can advance and retreat in a vertical direction with respect to the table surface, a movable body drive unit including a servomotor for advancing and retreating the movable body in the vertical direction, and an attitude adjusting/holding unit that adjusts and holds an attitude of the first gimbal member, wherein the attitude adjusting/holding unit includes at least three piezo-hammers, each of the piezo-hammers including a piezo-element, two inertial bodies having different inertia amounts, and a fluid pressure cylinder, and the piezo-hammers being disposed on a circumference between the first and the second gimbal members at equal distances from one another, the transfer method comprising: holding the attitude of the first gimbal member of the gimbal mechanism during a lowering motion of the movable body and until the mold is lowered to a predetermined lowering position immediately before the mold comes into contact with a substrate; and when the movable body reaches the predetermined lowering position, bringing the attitude of the first gimbal member into a free state, and reducing a speed of the first gimbal member, and performing a molding operation with respect to a molding material.