Transport device for conveying elongate substrates through vacuum coating system, has retainer bar operatively connected to array of substrate holding inserts so that spacing between each insert and substrate can be changed

摘要

A transport device has a rectangular frame defined by longitudinal bars (1) and transverse bars (5,5a), and an array of substrate holding inserts (2) mounted through the openings (11) on the transverse bars. A retainer bar (3), releasably coupled to the longitudinal bars, is operatively connected to the inserts as such that the distance between each insert and the elongate substrate (4) can be selectively increased or decreased. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a loading and unloading device; and (2) a method for loading and unloading a transport device.