Patent ID: 6923868
Filing Date: 2005-08-02
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for electron beam deposition of a coating onto a article, comprising an evacuatable process chamber with crucibles and an electron gun located in the process chamber for vaporizing coating material in said crucible to cause a flux of vapor to be emitted from the crucibles; a cartridge for holding the article while it is transported into and out of the processing chamber and while the article is coated, wherein the cartridge comprises upper and lower conic members and a pinion rotatably held between the upper and lower conic members with an article support means connected to the pinion; a fixed vertical support in the process chamber for supporting the lower conic member in a stationary position; a rotating shaft in said process chamber adapted to be connected to and rotate the upper conic member; a load-lock chamber connected to the process chamber by an opening; wherein said apparatus is adapted to operate in a manner such that the cartridge, including the upper and lower conic members and pinion, is moved from the load-lock chamber into the process chamber and positioned on the fixed vertical support such that the lower conic member is held stationary while said rotating shaft extends inside the cartridge and causes the upper conic member to rotate, whereby the pinion is caused to rotate between the stationary lower conic member and the rotating upper conic member, and whereby an article held by the article support means of the pinion is caused to be rotated about two different rotational axes simultaneously and to be transported along a path that causes the article to pass through said flux of vapor.