A strip-like pattern sheet has a plurality of patterns and register marks spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in its longitudinal direction. The pattern sheet is transported from a supply roll to a take-up roll in such a way that it covers the opening of a female mold. At the upper stream of the female mold, the register marks are detected so that a pattern-sheet-holding-and-transferring means holds the pattern sheet at a predetermined position and heats it. The pattern sheet is displaced by one pitch so as to cover the opening of the female mold. The softened pattern sheet is pressed by a compressed air against the cavity surface of the female mold with the cavity being evacuated. Thereafter the holding-and-transferring means is returned to its initial position and the female and male molds are mated so that molten resin is injected into the molding cavity defined between the female and male molds so that a pattern is imprinted on the surface of a molded article or finished product. The pattern may be imprinted or transferred in an efficient manner and the precise registration between the pattern and the surface of the molded article or finished product can be attained.
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