COATER HAVING INTERRUPTED CONVEYOR SYSTEM

摘要

Methods and coaters for applying films onto a substrate (e.g., a large-area glass substrate) are disclosed. Certain embodiments involve a coater for applying thin films onto a sheet-like substrate. The coater (100) in some embodiments has a transport system (124) adapted for conveying the substrate (106) along a path of substrate travel extending through the coater. The substrate transport system in certain embodiments includes an upward coating deposition gap (138). The coater preferably has a source of coating material (134, 136) adapted for delivering coating material upwardly through such gap and onto a bottom major surface of the substrate as the substrate is conveyed along a desired portion of the path of substrate travel, which portion of the path of substrate travel extends over the upward coating deposition gap.