Patent ID: 9051650
Filing Date: 2015-06-09
Classification: B65G,C23C

Abstract:
1. An in-line metallizer assembly for sputter coating pre-metalized parts, the in-line metallizer assembly comprising: a vacuum chamber; a sputter coater in communication with the vacuum chamber and comprising a cathode and a sputter coater wall; an internal rotating actuator exchange positioned within the vacuum chamber for exchanging pre-metalized parts into the sputter coater and metalized parts out of the sputter coater, the internal rotating actuator exchange comprising an internal rotating pivot, internal actuating arms that are coupled to the internal rotating pivot and are adapted to extend and retract from the internal rotating pivot, and a first internal door clasp and a second internal door clasp that are each coupled to one of the internal actuating arms; a part carrier comprising at least one rotatable pin fixture, a lifting body, a support frame that is spaced apart from the lifting body, and a biasing element comprising a pin that slides relative to at least one of the lifting body or the support frame of the part carrier and spring that applies a force to the lifting body and the support frame, wherein the biasing element may be compressed such that a relative position between the lifting body and the support frame is repositionable along the pin, the part carrier adapted to be moved into and out of the sputter coater by the internal rotating actuator exchange; a rotation mechanism positioned within the sputter coater, the rotation mechanism selectively coupled to the at least one rotatable pin fixture, wherein the biasing element maintains contact between the at least one rotatable pin fixture and the rotation mechanism; and a drive shaft extending into the sputter coater through the sputter coater wall and coupled to the rotation mechanism for controlling rotation of the at least one rotatable pin fixture.