Patent ID: 6068738
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
An in line coating apparatus for providing a thin film coating to an assembled cathode ray tube in which said cathode ray tube includes an outer front face portion to be coated and a rearward funnel portion comprising the remaining surface of said cathode ray tube to remain substantially uncoated, said apparatus comprising:a process chamber having an entry end and an exit end;a linear drive mechanism extending through said process chamber from said entry end to said exit end;a plurality of generally vertically oriented thin film deposition devices positioned in spaced relationship to each other along one side of said process chamber between said entry end and said exit end; anda plurality of cathode ray tube carriers moveable through said process chamber from said entry end to said exit end via said linear drive mechanism and each adapted to carry at least one cathode ray tube, each of said carriers including at least one cathode ray tube support to support an assembled cathode ray tube with its front face generally vertically oriented adjacent to and facing said vertically oriented thin film deposition devices so that a thin film coating is applied to said front face during movement of said carrier from said entry end to said exit end and with its rearward funnel portion facing away from said vertically oriented thin film deposition devices so that said rearward funnel portion remains free of coating during movement of said carrier from said entry end to said exit end.