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Mask positioning carriage assembly

  • US 4,373,470 A
  • Filed: 02/09/1981
  • Issued: 02/15/1983
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1981
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A carriage assembly for positioning a selected mask from a plurality of masks adapted to be supported thereon between a substrate and a source comprisingan elongated mask support means includingmeans adapted for positioning each of said masks in a predetermined position relative to each other in a selected plane;

  • means defining a guiding element and a supporting element;

    means operatively coupled to and for transporting the elongated mask support means and masks supported thereby along a predetermined path and being adapted to position a selected mask at a working station between a substrate located in a plane substantially parallel to said selected plane and a source located in an opposed relation to a said substrate; and

    means positioned along said predetermined path for movably engaging at a said working station said means for defining said guiding element and for directing movement thereof along a line of reference within said predetermined path, at least one of said means for defining said guiding element and said movably engaging means including means defining a recessed groove and the other of which defines a protruding lip which movably engage said recessed groove along said line of reference, said guiding element defining means and said movably engaging means being operative to confine movement of the guiding element to movement thereof along said line of reference; and

    means for movably engaging at a said working station said means for defining said supporting element on a surface which affords unconstrained thermal expansion and contraction and distortion of said elongated mask support means in all directions including along said line of reference to minimize lateral variations in position of a said selected mask at a said working station, said transporting means being adapted to move said elongated mask support means including masks supported thereby along said predetermined path relative to a said substrate and a said source independent of unconstrained thermal expansion and contraction and distortion of said elongated mask support means while confining movement of the guiding element along said line of reference.

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