Patent Publication Number: US-2011048321-A1

Title: Coating apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to coating apparatuses and, particularly, to a coating apparatus for multi-layer coating. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is common to use more than one kind of coating process, such as, spraying, ion sputtering, vapor deposition, or spray pyrolysis when applying multiple coats of materials such as paint or primer to a workpiece. Generally, each coating process must be carried out within a different vacuum chamber of a machine capable of carrying out the desired coating process. To complete these coating processes, the workpiece must be transported from one vacuum chamber to another. However, during the transportation, the workpiece may be exposed to the environment and may be contaminated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of a coating apparatus. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a coating apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the coating apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded, perspective view of the coating apparatus of  FIG. 1 , but showing another aspect. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing the coating apparatus in a first state. 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the coating apparatus in a second state. 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the coating apparatus in a third state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an embodiment of a coating apparatus  100  is illustrated. The coating apparatus  100  includes a first coating element  10 , a second coating element  20 , an isolating element  30 , a pair of isolating blocks  40 , and a pair of linear driving elements  50 . The isolating element  30  includes a main chamber  32  and a pair of secondary chambers  34 . The main chamber  32  is arranged between the secondary chambers  34  and communicates with the secondary chambers  34 . The first coating element  10  is connected to one end of the isolating element  30  via the main chamber  32 , and the second chamber  20  is connected to an opposite end of the isolating element  30  via the main chamber  32 . Each of the secondary chambers  34  is shaped to fit one isolating block  40 . Each of the linear driving elements  50  is mounted in one secondary chamber  34  and connected to one isolating block  40 . The linear driving elements  50  are configured to drive the isolating blocks  40  to move into the main chamber  32  to isolate the first coating element  10  from the rest of the apparatus  100  during the times when the first coating element  10  is applied in a coating process, and to isolate the second coating element  20  from the rest of the apparatus  100  during the times when the second coating element  20  is applied in a coating process, and further, to drive the isolating blocks  40  to move out of the main chamber  32  after a coating process is finished. 
     The first coating element  10  includes a first bottom surface  11  and a first inner sidewall  12 . The first bottom surface  11  and the first inner sidewall  12  cooperatively form a first receiving space  101  to receive a substrate holder  80 . A plurality of first slots  122  is formed in the first inner sidewall  12  to receive coating material. 
     A first threaded pole  61  is mounted on the first bottom surface  11 . The first threaded pole  61  extends along an axis of the first coating element  10  and is retained within the coating element  10 . The first thread pole  61  can rotate with respect to the first coating element  10 . 
     A pair of first telescoping poles  71  is mounted on the first bottom surface  11 . The first treaded pole  61  is arranged between the first telescoping poles  71 . Each of the first telescoping poles  71  can telescope out and withdraw along the axis of the first coating element  10 . 
     The structure of the second coating element  20  is the same as that of the first coating element  10 . The second coating element  20  includes a second bottom surface  21 , a second inner sidewall  22 , a second receiving space  201 , a plurality of second slots  222 , a second threaded pole  62 , and a pair of second telescoping poles  72 . 
     The substrate holder  80  can be driven to move from the first coating element  10  into the second coating element  20  or from the second coating element  20  to the first coating element  10  via the isolating element  30 . The substrate holder  80  defines a threaded hole  802  and a pair of fixing holes  804 . The threaded hole  802  is shaped to fit the first threaded pole  61  and the second threaded pole  62 . The fixing holes  804  are shaped to fit the first telescoping poles  71  and the second telescoping poles  72 . The substrate holder  80  defines a plurality of recessed portions  806  along the lateral surface of the substrate holder  80 . Each of the recessed portions  806  is configured to receive a substrate (not shown). 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 5-6 , in operation, a plurality of substrates (not shown) are put in the recessed portions  806 , respectively. The substrate holder  80  is connected to the first coating element  10  via the engagement of the first threaded pole  61  in the threaded hole  802 . The first coating element  10  is connected to the end of the isolating element  30 . The linear driving elements  50  drive the isolating blocks  40  to move into the main chamber  32  to isolate the first coating element  10  from the rest of the coating apparatus  100 . The first threaded pole  61  rotates to drive the substrate holder  80  to rotate inside the first coating element  10 . Consequently, a first coating process is carried out in the first coating element  10 . The substrates are thus coated with a first layer (not shown). 
     After the first coating process is finished, the linear driving elements  50  drive the isolating blocks  40  to move out of the main chamber  32 . The first telescoping poles  71  telescope out to extend through the fixing holes  804 , thus the rotation of the substrate holder  80  about the first threaded pole  61  is limited, and the substrate holder  80  moves to the main chamber  32  due to the rotation of the first threaded pole  61 . Once the substrate holder  80  is fully received in the main chamber  32 , the first threaded pole  61  is out of the threaded hole  802 , and the first telescoping poles  71  withdraw from the fixing holes  804 , and the second telescoping poles  72  telescope out to extend through the fixing holes  804 , and the second threaded pole  62  engages the threaded hole  802 . Thereby, the substrate holder  80  moves to the second coating element  20  due to the rotation of the second threaded pole  62 . Once the substrate holder  80  is fully received in the second coating element  20 , the second telescoping poles  72  withdraw from the fixing holes  804 , thus the substrate holder  80  can rotate about the second threaded pole  62 . Also, once the substrate holder  80  is fully received in the second coating element  20 , the linear driving elements  50  drive the isolating blocks  40  to move into the main chamber  32  to isolate the second coating element  20  from the rest of the apparatus  100 . Consequently, a second coating process is carried out in the second coating element  20 . The substrates are thus coated with a second layer. 
     It should be noted that the coating apparatus  100  is not limited to the configuration of this embodiment. For example, two isolating elements and three coating elements are employed. One isolating element is disposed between two coating elements, thus the substrates can be coated with three layers. Also, only one secondary chamber and only one isolating block is employed. The shape of the secondary chamber and the isolating block is the same as that of the main chamber. 
     With such configuration, when using the coating apparatus  100 , the substrates can be coated with multi-layers without exposing to the environment. Furthermore, when a coating process is carried out in one coating element, the coating element is isolated form the rest of the coating apparatus  100 . Therefore, the substrates cannot be easily contaminated. 
     Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.