Patent ID: 9337069
Filing Date: 2016-05-10
CPC Classification: B65G,C23C,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A method for coating semiconductor material on a glass sheet comprising: solely supporting the glass sheet on a horizontally elongated shuttle by a pair of tongs at an upper extremity of the glass sheet so as to be suspended in a vertical orientation; horizontally conveying the shuttle with the glass sheet vertically suspended therefrom by drive mechanisms located along a direction of conveyance through an entry load lock station into and through a vacuum chamber; heating the vertically suspended glass sheet between spaced radiant heaters during the horizontal conveyance in the vacuum chamber; then depositing a coating of a semiconductor material on the heated and vertically suspended glass sheet during continued horizontal conveyance in the vacuum chamber; thereafter horizontally conveying the shuttle with the semiconductor coated glass sheet vertically suspended therefrom by the drive mechanisms located along the direction of conveyance out of the vacuum chamber through an exit load lock station for delivery; and wherein a pair of conveyors extending parallel to each other support the shuttles and the tongs thereon to provide suspended conveyance of vertical glass sheets on each conveyor for the coating of semiconductor material on the surfaces thereof that face away from the other conveyor.