Patent ID: 7114941

Claim:
A hot embossing auto-leveling apparatus, comprising: a base having an upper side; an upward-acting dual-function spherical air bearing, disposed in an accommodating depression on said upper side of said base, said accommodating depression being connected to an air inlet and to a vacuum port; a lower mold, set on said dual-function spherical air bearing; an upper mold, placed above and facing said lower mold; said upward-acting dual-function spherical air bearing being an air-floating spherical air bearing when compressed air is supplied to said air inlet, thereby lifting and allowing said lower mold to achieve accurate pre-alignment with said upper mold; and said upward-acting dual-function spherical air bearing being a vacuum fixing device when the compressed air supply is removed from said air inlet and a vacuum is applied to said vacuum port, wherein said lower mold is fixed in its position of pre-alignment with said upper mold during the pre-alignment process by said vacuum applied to said air bearing without requiring a mechanical assist mechanism for fixing.