Abstract:
The invention relates to an energy and media connection module for coating installations. Said module serves for supplying with cooling water, compressed air, process gases, signal, control and cathode power. It can be moved from one coating chamber to another coating chamber along a coating line by a single person in a short time. Further, it is possible to separate the energy connection module from a coating chamber for maintenance or displacement purposes without mechanically demounting all connections.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from German Patent Application 10 2004 006 419.9 filed Feb. 9, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0002]     The invention relates to an energy and media connection.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Coating installations, for example for glass, often comprise a cathode and an anode, between which a voltage generating a plasma obtains. With the aid of this plasma certain substances are deposited on the glass, be that by sputtering or another method. During sputtering, the cathode is strongly heated since positively charged particles impinge out of the plasma onto a target connected with the cathode and knock atoms or molecules out of it, which subsequently become deposited on the glass.  
         [0004]     To keep the heating of the cathode within limits, it is cooled and specifically, as a rule, with a fluid medium, for example water. For this purpose special water supply lines are required. Apart from these water supply lines, power supply lines are also required in order to be able to apply a specific voltage between cathode and anode. Moreover, gas supply lines are required in order to provide gases for generating the plasma or for a chemical reaction.  
         [0005]     In conventional coating installations the different energy and media connections are tailored to the particular coatings to be produced. Consequently, cooling pipe supply lines and voltage supply lines are provided, which are laid out for the particular cathode utilized.  
         [0006]     Similarly, special gas supply lines for reactive or non-reactive sputtering are disposed on the particular coating installation.  
         [0007]     As a rule, a coating installation is comprised of several coating chambers, which are disposed adjacent to one another. If a sputter cathode is to be moved from one coating chamber into another coating chamber, the special supply lines must again be disposed on the new coating chamber by welding, etc. This adaptation of a coating chamber to a new cathode entails very high expenditures.  
         [0008]     The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing an energy and media connection for coating installations, which does not require individual adaptation to the particular coating chamber.  
         [0009]     This problem is solved according to the present invention.  
         [0010]     The advantage attained with the invention comprises in particular that the time expenditure for the reconfiguration of coating installations is considerably reduced. In addition, mobile energy and media connection modules can be moved from one coating chamber to another coating chamber by a single person in a short time and without major auxiliary resources. The maintenance of a coating chamber is also simplified, since the connection modules can be displaced away from this coating chamber.  
         [0011]     An embodiment example of the invention is shown in the drawing and will be explained in the following in further detail. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  fundamental diagram of a module for energy and media connections,  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  front view of an energy and media connection module,  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  view of the top of the module depicted in  FIG. 2 ,  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  side view of the module depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ,  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  perspective view of the module,  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  coating installation with two modules,  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  enlarged segment from  FIG. 6 ,  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  cross section through a sputtering chamber with cooling system,  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  longitudinal section through the sputtering chamber of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a module  1  for energy and media connections in the form of a block. This module  1  comprises several cooling medium lines  2  to  6 , for example a cooling medium line  2  for cooling a cathode with water and a cooling medium line  3  for cooling the environment of the cathode as well as a cooling medium line  4  for cooling the wall opposite the cathode. By  5  and  6  are denoted reserve cooling medium lines, which are required for cooling other structural parts in a coating, installation.  
         [0022]     In addition to the cooling medium lines  2  to  6 , the module  1  also comprises gas supply lines  7  to  15 . With the gas supply line  7  for example argon is introduced into the process or coating chamber, while with the gas supply line  8  nitrogen is supplied. The gas supply line  9  serves analogously for supplying oxygen. If needed, further gases can be introduced into the process chamber with gas supply lines  10  to  15 . They can also serve as purging lines or compressed air lines.  
         [0023]     Lines  16  to  20  are control lines and/or energy supply lines and/or measuring lines. For example, with line  16  voltage can be applied on the cathode, by which a plasma process is initiated. Line  17  can be provided for the regulation of voltage, current or electric power, and line  18  for the energy supply of a drive in the process chamber. With lines  19 ,  20  further structural elements can be supplied with electric energy or be controlled.  
         [0024]     Module  1  comprises as many lines and connections as are maximally required for the supply of a process chamber. If some lines and connections are not required, they are switched idle. The connections from the outside to module  1  and from the module to a process chamber are implemented such that they are detachable.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a concrete module  1  in front view, which is developed as a framework structure. Evident herein are a cooling water return conduit  25  for a first cathode, a cooling water return conduit  26  for a second cathode, a cooling water forward conduit  27  for the first cathode and a cooling water forward conduit  28  for the second cathode. In addition, a connection  51  for the return conduit of the cathode cooling and a connection  52  for the forward conduit of the cathode cooling.  
         [0026]     Since the environment of the cathodes is also cooled, three return conduit  29 ,  30 ,  46  and three forward conduits  48 ,  31 ,  32  for the environment cooling are provided. By  86  and  87  are denoted electric power connections. Above the return conduits  29 ,  30 ,  46  are located three throughflow monitors  33 ,  34 ,  21  and above the forward conduit  48 ,  31 ,  32  three pipelines  22 ,  35 ,  36 . A connection for the water return conduit for the environment cooling is denoted by  38 , with this return conduit being provided with a shutoff valve  41 , which comprises a shutoff lever  43 . A corresponding shutoff valve  42  with an associated shutoff lever  44  is disposed preceding the connection  40  for the water forward conduit for cooling the environment of a cathode. Between two metal sheets  45 ,  49  of the framework structure of module I is a transversely extending reinforcement metal sheet  47 . Above this reinforcement metal sheet  47  a pressure reducer  102  is evident. The top of module  1  is denoted by  55 .  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 3  the top  55  of module  1  according to  FIG. 2  is shown. Evident herein are again the return conduits  29 ,  30 ,  46  and the forward conduits  48 ,  31 ,  32  of the environment cooling as well as the cooling water connections  26  to  28  for cooling the two cathodes. Also evident are the electric power connections  86 ,  87 . By  37  is denoted a purging line, which is located adjacent to the connection  38  for the water return conduit for cooling the cathode environment. A connection for compressed air  39  is located next to the connection  40  for the water forward conduit for the cooling. Adjoining a pipe elbow  58 , which is disposed on a water manifold  70 , is a shutoff device  60  with a shutoff lever  62 , and adjoining the shutoff device  60  is the connection  51  for the return conduit of the cathode cooling. Opposite the pipe elbow  58  is a further pipe elbow  59 , which is adjoined by a-shutoff device  61  with the shutoff lever  63 . Onto the shutoff device  61  is flanged the connection  52  for the forward conduit of the cathode cooling.  
         [0028]     By  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  107  are denoted gas connections, while  102  denotes the pressure reducer.  
         [0029]     In  FIG. 4  the module  1  depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is shown again in a view onto the side  68 . Evident are herein several gas lines  81 ,  82  of which the gas line  82  originates from a gas selection switch. A shutoff valve  75  and a throughflow monitor  76  can also be seen, with the throughflow monitor  76  leading via a pipe elbow  77  to a pipe  78 , which is connected with the cooling water return conduit  26  for the second cathode. The throughflow monitor  72  is correspondingly connected via the pipe elbow  73  and pipe  74  with the cooling water return conduit  25  for the first cathode. With the throughflow monitor  72  is additionally connected a shutoff valve  71 , which leads to the water manifold  70 . Beneath a pressure meter  108  is located a gas flow regulator  83  and beneath it a manual gas valve  109 . In the proximity of the shutoff lever  64  is provided a vacuum flange  65  for a flexible vacuum connection from the installation to the pressure meter  108 . The throughflow monitor  72  and the pressure meter  108  as well as the gas flow regulator  83  are connected to a central control.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  shows the unit of  FIGS. 2-4  in perspective view. On the left side can be seen the structural elements already known from  FIG. 3  and  4 , with the structural elements being rotated by  180  degrees in comparison to  FIG. 3 . On the right hand are depicted the structural elements shown in  FIG. 4 , while the structural elements depicted on the top of  FIG. 5  are already shown in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 5  can also be seen that several gas flow regulators  83  are disposed one next to the other. On metal sheets  45  and  49  are located connections  66 ,  67  for manometers. The shutoff lever  64  for the shutoff valve  75  is disposed above the gas flow regulators  83 . Transport rollers are denoted by  84  and  85 , which make possible displacing the module  1  along rails depicted in  FIG. 6 . The metal sheet  23  is a cover sheet through which no pipes or the like are guided.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows the cooperation of modules  90 ,  91  with a coating installation  97  comprised of several chambers  92  to  96 .  
         [0032]     Over the entire coating installation  97  extend two rails  98  and  99 . The modules  90 ,  91  are coupled with the rails such that they can be moved in the directions of arrows  100 ,  101 . The modules  90 ,  91  are suspended in rails  98 ,  99 . The lines which are connected from the outside to the modules are located on the underside of the coating installation  97 .  
         [0033]     The views of the two modules shown in  FIG. 6  are simplified. However, they correspond to the view according to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0034]     In the representations according to  FIG. 6  coating processes take place in chambers  93  and  95 , while the chambers  92 ,  94 ,  96  serve as gas isolation chambers. Further chambers may be provided.  
         [0035]     If in chamber  92  operation is started, while it is completed in chamber  93 , the module  90  is moved from chamber  93  to chamber  92 . Only the electric and mechanical connections important for the coating process must now be established, and chamber  92  can be started up. The side of a module  91  opposite chamber  95  has maximally the width of this chamber  95 .  
         [0036]     Cathode covering hoods are denoted by  110 ,  111  and  125 , while  129  denotes pumping devices. Instead of on the top of the coating installation  97 , these pumping devices  129  can also be disposed on a side wall of this installation  97 .  
         [0037]     In the following, two examples of the use of the energy and media connection according to the invention are described.  
         [0038]     A so-called low-e layer is comprised, for example, of the layer sequence glass substrate —TiO 2 —ZnO-AG-NiCr—Si 3 N 4 . To obtain this coating, in coating installation  97  following an interlock, three titanium cathodes are disposed in series: succeeding them is a gas isolation chamber, which is adjoined by a tin cathode. Succeeding a further gas isolation chamber is a silver cathode, which is followed by a nickel-chromium cathode. Then follows again a gas isolation chamber. Preceding the outward transfer through an interlock are disposed three silicon cathodes. Consequently, for the complete layer system overall nine cathodes and three gas isolation chambers are required. In addition, the gases required for the reactive processes must be supplied.  
         [0039]     If, instead of a low-e layer, a simple solar control layer system is to be produced with the coating configuration  97 , the conditions change fundamentally.  
         [0040]     Such a solar control layer system is comprised, for example, of a special steel layer, on which titanium nitride is deposited. For this purpose a special steel cathode is necessary in front of the gas isolation chamber, which is followed by five titanium cathodes. Three of the available sputtering stations and two gas isolation chambers are not required for this purpose, they are switched idle. The shutting down herein takes place simply by disconnecting the electric, pneumatic and fluid-supplying lines by decoupling plug connections.  
         [0041]     Another solar control system is comprised, for example of the layer sequence tin oxide-chromium-tin oxide. In this case four tin cathodes are arranged one after the other, followed by one gas isolation chamber. Succeeding it are two chromium cathodes, one gas isolation chamber and two further tin cathodes. Thus, eight cathodes and two gas isolation chambers are employed. One gas isolation chamber and one cathode are not required. Here also by decoupling the corresponding supply lines on the module, an adaptation to the new conditions can be attained.  
         [0042]      FIG. 7  shows a subregion of  FIG. 6  in greater detail. This subregion shows a module  1  in a view substantially corresponding to the view according to  FIG. 2 , however laterally reversed. A cathode covering hood  130  is evident, beneath a first sputtering station, not shown in  FIG. 7 , is disposed. In addition, a pump compartment  131  is shown. A second sputtering station  132  is located to the left of this pump compartment  131 . Beneath the pump compartment  131  are shown a cooling water return conduit  133  and a cooling water forward conduit  134  are depicted. The cooling hoses for the cooling of the environment of the cathode are denoted by  135  to  138 . Beneath the rails  98 ,  99  on which the module  1  can roll, is disposed a base  139 , which serves for supporting the coating installation.  
         [0043]     Cooling fluid, power, gases and compressed air are supplied to the module  1  from the underside  140  of the coating installation. It can be seen in  FIG. 7 , that cooling fluid tubes  141 ,  142  and hoses  143  run there.  
         [0044]      FIG. 8  shows in schematic representation a cross section through a sputtering chamber  144  comprising a cathode covering hood  145 , which is disposed on an installation cover  114 . A cooling water forward and return conduit is denoted by  112 . Beneath this cooling water forward and return conduit  112  is disposed a connection  113  for a cathode voltage. With the installation cover  114  is connected a cathode mount  117 , which holds a cathode  116  with target  146 . An anode  118  is connected to an anode connection  122 , with a supply line  123  for sputter gases being disposed beneath the anode. Again beneath the anode  118  is disposed a substrate  119 , which can be for example a glass plate to be coated. By  120  is denoted a counter sputter metal sheet, which gains importance when the substrate  119  is moved away and the sputter installation is continued to be operated. The displacement of the substrate  119  takes place by means of transport rollers  121 . Since the counter sputter metal sheet  120  is strongly heated during the sputtering process, it must be cooled. For this purpose a forward and return conduit  124  for a cooling fluid is provided. Consequently, the cathode itself is cooled as well as also its environment, with the cooling here being realized by the counter sputter metal sheet  120  and the anode  118 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 9  shows the configuration of  FIG. 8  in a view rotated by  90  degrees. Evident herein are pumping devices  129 ,  147  and gas supply lines  123 . It is, in addition, evident that the anode  118  is connected with a mount with cooling  127 , and the mount  127 , in turn, is connected via an insulation  128  with a wall of the sputtering chamber.