Metallizing apparatus

摘要

An apparatus and process for continuous metallizing of components includes a first vacuum chamber having two ends capped by valves and a pair of rails running the length thereof. A shuttle rides on the rails and supports a carrier for holding a plurality of components. The first chamber may be opened to a housing having a plurality of boats for receiving strands of metal wire. The boats are connected to electrodes which heat the wire to vaporization temperature thereby providing a cloud of metal vapor to the first chamber. A chain travels through a channel provided in one of the rails for pulling the shuttle through the chamber until the shuttle contacts a pawl. The pawl prevents advancement of the shuttle. However, the carrier is provided with a clutch and bevel gear arrangement such that when the pawl engages the shuttle the clutch slips allowing the gears to rotate the carrier. The components held on the carrier are thereby exposed completely to the vapor cloud within the chamber.