Multi-chamber coating installation - has adjustable locks between chambers, minimising gas transfer between coating chambers to give improved quality

摘要

Coating installation houses a transport mechanism for moving substrates e.g. flat and/or shaped glass, which also incorporates open-top substrate carriages supported on roller elements. Adjacent coating chambers are separable from one another by means of a lock consisting of top and bottom parts, with a slit-like aperture between them. At least one aperture of a lock between two coating chambers is adjustable to the cross-section of the transport mechanism and/or the cross-section of the substrate being transported. Alternatively, the cross-section of the transport mechanism is adjustable to the cross-section of the aperture of the lock. At least one of the parts (8, 9) of the lock is movable in vertical and/or horizontal directions. Alternatively, both parts are movable in vertical and/or horizontal directions. At least parts of the lock and/or the door can be swivelled laterally, or be folded up or down. Roller elements are pref. supported by the side walls of the coating chamber (6). Coating chambers (6) can be sepd. from one another by means of intermediate chambers. Both coating and intermediate chambers are provided with a suction system. USE/ADVANTAGE - Used in substrate coating technology; minimises gas transfer between adjacent coating chambers giving improved coating quality.