Method of manufacturing mold and method of manufacturing pattern sheet
10195768 ยท 2019-02-05
Assignee
Inventors
- Shotaro Ogawa (Kanagawa, JP)
- Aya Mochizuki (Kanagawa, JP)
- Atsushi Fujita (Kanagawa, JP)
- Toshihiro Usa (Kanagawa, JP)
Cpc classification
B29K2883/005
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C39/003
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C33/442
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C33/301
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29K2105/0035
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C33/424
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C33/3857
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C39/24
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C39/026
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29L2031/7544
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29K2083/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C33/42
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29L2031/756
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B29C33/38
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A61M37/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B29C33/42
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C39/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C39/24
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B29C33/44
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
There is provided a method capable of manufacturing a mold at low cost, and a method of manufacturing a biocompatible pattern sheet by using the mold. The method of manufacturing a mold having a recessed pattern includes the steps of: forming a silicone resin film by applying a silicone resin solution to a surface of a model having a protrusion pattern; defoaming the silicone resin film by reducing the silicone resin film in pressure; forming the mold by heating and curing the silicone resin film while a base plate is in contact with a face of the silicone resin film, the face being opposite to the model; and releasing the mold from the model after releasing the base plate. The method of manufacturing a pattern sheet uses the mold.
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing a mold having a recessed pattern, the method comprising: disposing a release assisting frame around an area of a model where a protrusion pattern is provided; applying a thermosetting resin solution to a surface of the model having the protrusion pattern so that at least a part of the release assisting frame is covered with the thermosetting resin solution, so as to form a thermosetting resin film; reducing the thermosetting resin film in pressure to defoam the thermosetting resin film; heating and curing the thermosetting resin film to form a mold in a state where a base plate is in contact with a face of the thermosetting resin film, the face being opposite to a face facing the model; and releasing the mold from the model with the release assisting frame after releasing the base plate from the mold.
2. The method of manufacturing a mold according to claim 1, wherein the model having the protrusion pattern is a metal electroformed model manufactured by electroforming from a first mold having a recessed pattern which has a reversed shape of the protrusion pattern.
3. The method of manufacturing a mold according to claim 1, further comprising providing a separation sheet between the base plate and the thermosetting resin film when the base plate is moved toward the thermosetting resin film.
4. The method of manufacturing a mold according to claim 1, wherein the model having the protrusion pattern includes a plurality of areas each provided with the protrusion pattern, and the thermosetting resin solution is applied by a slit nozzle in a width of the protrusion pattern.
5. The method of manufacturing a mold according to claim 1, further comprising: providing a gap adjustment mechanism which adjusts a distance between the model and the base plate around the model having the protrusion pattern; and bringing the base plate into contact with the gap adjustment mechanism.
6. A method of manufacturing a pattern sheet having a protrusion pattern, the method comprising: supplying a polymer solution to a recessed pattern of a mold manufactured by the method of manufacturing a mold according to claim 1; drying the polymer solution to form a polymer sheet; and releasing the polymer sheet from the mold.
7. The method of manufacturing a pattern sheet according to claim 6, wherein the polymer solution is a water-soluble material.
8. The method of manufacturing a pattern sheet according to claim 6, wherein in supplying the polymer solution, a plurality of the molds are joined to form an assembled mold with an increased area of a face in which the recessed pattern is formed, and then the polymer solution is supplied to the assembled mold.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(8) Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a mold and a method of manufacturing a pattern sheet in accordance with the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. In the present specification, the term, to between numeric values is used so that the numeric values described at the front and back of the term, to indicate a lower limit value and an upper limit value, respectively. In addition, an example using silicone resin as an example of thermosetting resin will be described below.
(9) The present invention relates to a technique of manufacturing a mold (female mold) from a model (male mold) provided with a protrusion pattern, the mold having a reversed shape of the protrusion pattern, without a defect, and a technique of manufacturing a pattern sheet being a duplicate of the model provided with the protrusion pattern by using the mold. Specifically, a silicone resin solution for forming a mold is applied on a surface of a model (male mold) 40 having a protrusion pattern 42 to form a silicone resin film 60. Subsequently, the silicone resin film 60 is reduced in pressure to defoam the silicone resin film 60. Then, while a base plate 64 is in contact with a face, which is opposite to the model 40, of the silicone resin film 60, the silicone resin film 60 is heated and cured to form a mold 68. Last, after the base plate 64 is released, the mold (female mold) 68 is released from the model 40 to manufacture the mold 68. In addition, a pattern sheet 76 is manufactured by using the mold 68. As described above, manufacturing the mold 68 by using the silicone resin enables the mold 68 to be manufactured at low cost, as well as the pattern sheet 76 to be manufactured without any defects. In addition, in a case where the pattern sheet is used for micro needles, for example, it is possible to manufacture a pattern sheet that can be used safely to a living body. Each of steps will be described below.
(10) (Method of Manufacturing Mold)
(11) [Step of Manufacturing First Mold]
(12) A first mold 20 includes a recessed pattern 22 having a reversed shape of the model 40 and is used to manufacture the model 40 having the protrusion pattern 42 that has a reversed shape of the mold 68. The first mold 20 is manufactured from a master plate 10 provided with a protrusion pattern 12, by using a resin.
(13) First, as illustrated in Part (A) in
(14) In another method, after a photoresist is applied on a Si base plate, the photoresist is exposed and developed. Then, etching such as reactive ion etching (RIE) is applied to a surface of the master plate 10 to form the protrusion pattern 12 in the surface thereof. When etching such as RIE is applied to form the protrusion pattern 12 on the surface of the master plate 10, the protrusion pattern can be formed by applying the etching to the Si base plate in an oblique direction while the Si base plate is rotated.
(15) Next, as illustrated in Part (B) and Part (C) in
(16) In a second method, an ultraviolet light curable resin, which is curable by being irradiated with ultraviolet light, is poured to the master plate 10 and is irradiated with ultraviolet light in a nitrogen atmosphere, and then is the first mold 20 is released from the master plate 10. In a third method, a solution in which a plastic resin, such as polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), is dissolved in an organic solvent is poured to the master plate 10 being coated with a release agent and is cured by drying so as to volatize the organic solvent, and then the first mold 20 is released from the master plate 10.
(17) It is preferable to use a resin, such as an ultraviolet light curable resin or a thermoplastic resin, as a material forming the first mold 20. Using an ultraviolet light curable resin or a thermoplastic resin enables the first mold 20 to be easily manufactured as well as the protrusion pattern 12 of the master plate 10 to be uniformly formed.
(18) [Step of Manufacturing First Assembled Mold]
(19) Next, as illustrated in Part (D) in
(20) The first assembled mold 30 can be manufactured by joining the plurality of first molds 20. The first molds 20 can be joined by using an adhesive, for example. Since the first assembled mold 30 serves as a form of the model 40 having the protrusion pattern 42 to be manufactured in a subsequent step, it is preferable to form the first assembled mold 30 while flatness of the face 24 provided with the recessed pattern 22 is secured. If the flatness of the face 24 provided with the recessed pattern 22 is not secured, a level difference is unfavorably formed in an electroformed model, a mold, and a pattern sheet, which are to be manufactured in subsequent steps.
(21) Although a method of manufacturing the first assembled mold 30 while securing flatness of the recessed pattern 22 is not particularly limited, for example, the flatness of the first assembled mold 30 can be secured by: making the face 24 provided with the recessed pattern 22 of the first mold 20 face down above the base plate, disposing the first mold 20 at a position where the face 24 is brought into contact with the base plate, and adhering the face 24 on the base plate with an adhesive. Since the flatness of the first assembled mold 30 is secured by using the base plate as described above, it is possible to prevent generation of a level difference with an adhesive between the first molds 20 in the first assembled mold 30, a deformation therebetween, and the like, whereby the flatness of the first assembled mold 30 can be secured.
(22) The first assembled mold 30 may be manufactured, but doesn't necessarily have to be manufactured. If the first assembled mold 30 is not manufactured, a model having a protrusion pattern is manufactured from the first mold 20. However, manufacturing the first assembled mold 30 is preferable because a model with a large area can be manufactured by one electroforming. Manufacturing the first assembled mold 30 is also preferable in subsequent steps because a mold can be manufactured by using the model with a large area, and a pattern sheet can be manufactured from the mold to enable productivity of the pattern sheet to be improved.
(23) [Step of Manufacturing Model having Protrusion Pattern]
(24) Part (E) in
(25) In the electroforming, first, a conductive treatment is applied to the first assembled mold 30. Metal (e.g. nickel) is spattered on the first molds 20 of the first assembled mold 30, and attached to a surface of each of the first molds 20 of the first assembled mold 30 and the recessed pattern 22.
(26) Next, the first assembled mold having been subjected to the conductive treatment is held at a negative pole. A metal pellet is held in a metal case to serve as a positive pole. The negative pole holding the first assembled mold 30 and the positive pole holding the metal pellet are immersed in electroforming liquid and are energized to embed metal in recessed pattern 22 of the first assembled mold 30 to form the model 40. Then, the model 40 having the protrusion pattern 42 (hereinafter also referred to as an electroformed model 40) is manufactured by releasing it from the first assembled mold (refer to Part (F) in
(27) The model 40 having the protrusion pattern 42 is not limited to a model manufactured by the method illustrated in Part (A) to Part (F) in
(28) [Step of Forming Silicone Resin Film]
(29) Subsequently, a method of manufacturing a mold by using the electroformed model 40 manufactured as described above will be described.
(30) First, as illustrated in
(31) The spacer 52 can be made of metal, such as stainless used steel (SUS) and aluminum, and glass. The spacer 52 is preferably made of a material with high rigidity because bringing the base plate 64 into contact with spacer 52 enables thickness of the silicone resin film 60 to be adjusted to a height of the spacer 52.
(32) As illustrated in
(33) It is preferable to form the release assisting frame 54 in a sheet-like shape, and the release assisting frame 54 can be made of resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or metal such as SUS and aluminum.
(34) Next, as illustrated in
(35) It is preferable that the silicone resin solution 58 is applied to the opening 56 of the release assisting frame 54 so that a part of the release assisting frame 54 is covered with the silicone resin solution 58, as illustrated in
(36) A method of applying the silicone resin solution 58 is not particularly limited, and an application using a spin coater is available. If there are a plurality of areas in each of which the protrusion pattern 42 is formed, the silicone resin solution 58 can be applied for each area having the protrusion pattern 42 by a slit nozzle 62 in a width of the protrusion pattern 42. Applying the silicone resin solution 58 for each area having the protrusion pattern 42 enables the silicone resin solution 58 to be applied to only a position where a mold is manufactured, whereby an unnecessary application of the silicone resin solution can be prevented.
(37) [Step of Defoaming Silicone Resin Film]
(38) Subsequently, the silicone resin film 60 formed on the electroformed model 40 is reduced in pressure to defoam the silicone resin film 60. Defoaming of the silicone resin film 60 is performed by placing the silicone resin film 60 in a pressure reduction device (not illustrated) together with the base 50, the electroformed model 40, the spacers 52, and the like, and reducing a pressure in the pressure reduction device.
(39) Defoaming of the silicone resin film 60 is checked visually or by image recognition with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Defoaming the silicone resin film 60 enables a shape of the silicone resin film 60 to be uniform at the time of curing the silicone resin.
(40) [Step of Forming Mold]
(41) Subsequently, as illustrated in
(42) In addition, it is preferable to provide a separation sheet 66 between the base plate 64 and the silicone resin film 60.
(43) The base plate 64 can be made of metal, such as SUS and aluminum, and glass. When these materials is used for the base plate 64, the mold 68 to be formed can have a uniform height.
(44) In addition, providing the separation sheet 66 between the base plate 64 and the silicone resin film 60 enables the base plate 64 and the silicone resin film 60 to be easily released from each other. Since the base plate 64 is made of the material described above, the base plate 64 is inflexible, and thus it is difficult to release the mold 68 from the electroformed model 40 while the base plate 64 is disposed. Providing the separation sheet 66 enables the mold 68 and the base plate 64 to be easily released from each other, and thus the mold 68 can be released from the electroformed model 40 after the base plate 64 is released. As a result, the mold 68 can be manufactured without a defect and with a uniform shape.
(45) The separation sheet 66 can be made from a fluorocarbon rubber sheet, a Teflon (registered trademark) sheet, a sheet formed by applying a releasing treatment to a silicone resin, or the like.
(46) Then, in a state where the separation sheet 66 disposed on the base plate 64 is in contact with the silicone resin film 60 and the spacers 52, the silicone resin film 60 is heated and cured to form the mold 68. The silicone resin film 60 can be heated with an aluminum heater, an infrared ray heater, a ceramic heater, an induction heating (IH) heater, or the like.
(47) [Step of Releasing Mold]
(48) Next, as illustrated in
(49) Here, although the release assisting frame 54 is still provided in the mold 68, the manufacturing of pattern sheet, which is explained next, may be performed after cutting off a portion where the release assisting frame 54 is provided from the mold 68, or may be performed in a state where the release assisting frame 54 is provided.
(50) (Method of Manufacturing Pattern Sheet)
(51) Subsequently, a method of manufacturing a pattern sheet by using the mold 68 manufactured by the method of manufacturing described above will be described.
(52) [Step of Supplying Polymer Solution]
(53)
(54)
(55) It is preferable to use a water-soluble material as a material forming the pattern sheet 76. In addition, it is preferable to use a biocompatible resin as a resin polymer of the polymer solution to be used for manufacturing of a pattern sheet. As this kind of resin, it is preferable to use a saccharide, such as glucose, maltose, pullulan, sodium chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronate sodium, and hydroxyethyl starch, a protein such as gelatin, or a biodegradable polymer, such as polylactide, and lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer. Among them, a gelatin-based material can be suitably used because it has adhesion to many base materials, and robust gel strength as a gelling material, so that it can be brought into close contact with a base material, and the pattern sheet 76 can be released by using the base material (not illustrated) when the pattern sheet 76 is released from the mold 68. While concentration of the resin polymer is different depending on material, it is preferable that a concentration of a resin polymer contained in a polymer solution without a medicine is 10 to 50 mass %. In addition, a solvent used for dissolution is not necessarily warm water as long as the solvent has volatility, and thus methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), alcohol, or the like can be used. In a solution of a polymer resin, a medicine to be supplied into the body can be dissolved together in accordance with usage. It is preferable that polymer concentration (concentration of a polymer except a medicine if a medicine itself is a polymer) of the polymer solution containing a medicine is 0 to 30 mass %.
(56) In a case of using a water-soluble high molecule (e.g. gelatin), a method of preparing a polymer solution may include the following: dissolving water-soluble powder in water and then adding a medicine into the solution; and pouring water-soluble high-molecular powder into a liquid in which a medicine is dissolved. If the water-soluble high molecule is difficult to be dissolved in water, it may be dissolved while being heated. It is preferable to heat the water at a temperature of about less than 60 C. while the temperature can be appropriately determined depending on a kind of the high molecular material. A viscosity of the polymer resin solution containing a medicine is preferably 100 Pa.Math.s or less, and more preferably is 10 Pa.Math.s or less. A viscosity of the solution without a medicine is preferably 2000 Pa.Math.s or less, and more preferably is 1000 Pa.Math.s or less. The appropriate adjustment of the viscosity of the polymer resin solution allows the solution to be easily injected into needle-like recessed portions of a mold. For example, the viscosity of the polymer resin solution can be measured with a tube type viscometer, a falling ball viscometer, a rotational viscometer, or a vibration type viscometer.
(57) A medicine to be contained in a polymer solution is not limited if it has a function of a medicine. It is preferable that the medicine is particularly selected from peptide, protein, nucleic acid, polysaccharide, vaccine, a medicinal compound belonging to a water-soluble low-molecular compound, or a cosmetic ingredient.
(58) A method of injecting this kind of resin polymer solution into the mold 68 includes an application using a spin coater, for example.
(59) [Step of Drying]
(60)
(61) [Step of Releasing Polymer Sheet]
(62)
(63) The pattern sheet 76 released from the mold 68 is set in a cutting device (not illustrated), and cutting positions of the pattern sheet 76 are determined. The cutting positions are basically determined so that areas 78a, 78b, and 78c, each having the protrusion pattern 78, are acquired. As illustrated in
(64) While the method of manufacturing the pattern sheet 76 by using the mold 68 is illustrated in
(65) Manufacturing the pattern sheet by using the assembled mold 80 enables a pattern sheet with a large area to be manufactured by one manufacturing, and thus the productivity can be improved.
(66) In the present embodiment, there is described a case where the polymer sheet 74 is formed by filling the polymer solution 72 into the recessed pattern 70 of the mold 68 and drying the filled polymer solution 72, however, the present invention is not limited to the case.
(67) For example, the recessed pattern 70 of the mold 68 is filled with a polymer solution containing a medicine and the polymer solution is dried, and then the recessed pattern 70 of the mold 68 is filled with a polymer solution containing no medicine and the polymer solution is dried to enable the polymer sheet 74 to be formed.
(68) The mold 68 is sometimes preferable to be used only once and then disposed. In a case where the pattern sheet 76 is used for medical supplies, it is preferable that the pattern sheet is disposable in consideration of safety of the manufactured pattern sheet 76, with respect to a living body. By allowing the mold 68 to be disposable, there is no longer need for cleaning of the mold 68, and thus costs caused by cleaning can be reduced. Particularly, in a case the pattern sheet 76 is used for medical supplies, high detergency is required, which increases cleaning costs.
(69) A shape of a protrusion of the manufactured pattern sheet 76 is not particularly limited as long as a tip tapers. For example, the shape can be a conic shape, or a pyramid shape such as a triangular pyramid and a quadrangular pyramid. In addition, the shape can be formed by a needle section with a tapered shape and a frustum section connected to the needle section.
(70) A height of the protrusion of the protrusion pattern is within a range of not less than 100 m and not more than 2000 m, and is preferably within a range of not less than 200 m and not more than 1500 m.
(71) Since the manufactured pattern sheet 76 having the protrusion pattern 78 is a duplicate of the model 40 having the protrusion pattern 42, forming a shape of the protrusion pattern 42 of the model 40, or a shape of the protrusion pattern 12 of the master plate 10 in a desired shape enables the manufactured protrusion pattern 78 of the pattern sheet 76 to be formed in the desired shape.