COATING PLANT WITH A CHARGING LOCK AND DEVICE THEREFOR

• US 20080086948A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jurgen Henrich, Stefan Bangert, Uwe Schussler
• Original Assignee: Jurgen Henrich, Stefan Bangert, Uwe Schussler
• Inventors: Henrich, Jurgen, Schussler, Uwe, Bangert, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US11/955,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/281
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/001 General methods for coating; Devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/002 for flat glass, e.g. float glass
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/56 Apparatus specially adapted for continuous coating; Arrangements for maintaining the vacuum, e.g. vacuum locks
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/566 using a load-lock chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/2007 specially adapted operating means therefor operating means per se F16K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/205 the sealing being arranged on the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/2085 Movable sealing bodies
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/24 with valve members that, on opening of the valve, are initially lifted from the seat and next are turned around an axis parallel to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 51/02 specially adapted for high-vacuum installations

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coating plant, especially a vacuum coating plant, with a charging lock, especially a rectangular vacuum lock for a coating chamber, with a lock aperture (13) having a length of at least 1000 mm that comprises a shutter (6) for closing and opening the lock aperture and a latch (7) to secure the shutter, wherein there are provided means for moving the shutter and the latch from a first open position to a second closed position, and vice versa, these means assuring also that the movements of the shutter (6) and the latch (7) will be coupled with each other in such manner that the shutter (6) will be automatically secured by the latch (7) after the shutter has been closed and will be released again before it is opened.

Claims

1. A device for a lock for a coating plant comprising:

a shutter for closing a lock aperture and at least one latch to secure the shutter; and

a drive mechanism for moving both the shutter and the latch from a first open position to a second closed position, wherein the movements of the shutter and the latch are coupled with each other, so that the shutter will be automatically secured by the latch after the closing of the shutter and released before the opening of the shutter.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the device comprises a housing in which there is provided the lock aperture and also a further aperture and in which the shutter and the latch are accommodated.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the housing is provided with a seal for gastight connection and mounting the housing to neighboring components.