Patent ID: 7281700

Claim:
A gate valve apparatus to be provided for a transfer port through which a target object passes in a vacuum processing system, the apparatus comprising: a valve body configured to open and close the transfer port and to be moved close to and away from the transfer port by reciprocation movement of the valve body in a first direction; a support rod connected to the valve body and extending in the first direction; configured to drive through a driving mechanism; wherein the driving mechanism comprises a movable shaft structure extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and configured to be reciprocated in the second direction, a first cam structure coupling the movable shaft structure to the support rod, and including a portion configured to convert reciprocation movement of the movable shaft structure in the second direction into reciprocation movement of the support rod in the first direction, and a swing drive configured to swing the support rod and the valve body about a central axis of the movable shaft structure as a center.