COATING METHODS AND APPARATUS

摘要

A coating apparatus comprises a coating chamber for coating the articles. The at least one preheat chamber is coupled to the coating chamber. The at least one loading station has a proximal end connectable to at least one of the preheat chambers when in an installed position at a distal end of the preheat chamber. The loading station further includes a carrier for carrying the articles and a drive system. The drive system is positioned to move the carrier between: a loading/unloading position of the carrier in the loading station; a preheat position of the carrier in the preheat chamber to which the loading station is connected; and a deposition position of the carrier in the coating chamber. A gas source is connected to the preheat chamber.