Patent ID: 7198251

Claim:
An opening/closing mechanism for a vacuum processing apparatus which enables to airtightly close first and second opening portions closely disposed to face each other in a vacuum processing apparatus for vacuum processing an object to be treated under a vacuum atmosphere, the opening/closing mechanism, comprising: a first valve element for closing the first opening portion and a second valve element for closing the second opening portion; a link mechanism comprising a valve element supporting member including the first and second valve elements which are disposed on a top portion of the supporting member to look towards an opposite direction with each other, and a base end side member rotatably attached at a rear edge portion side of the valve element supporting member through a rotation axis; a guide mechanism rotatably supporting the valve element supporting member to a horizontal moving direction of the first and second valve elements while restricting the vertical moving range of the valve element supporting member; a first guide member which moves the rotation axis of the link mechanism to a vertical direction within the vertical moving range which is restricted by the guide mechanism, and at the top portion to the horizontal direction; a second guide member which moves the rotation axis of the link mechanism to a vertical direction within the vertical moving range which is restricted by the guide mechanism and at the top portion to the horizontal direction which is an opposite direction of the horizontal moving direction of the first guide member; a first vertical moving mechanism which vertically moves the base edge side member while vertically moving the first guide member; and a second vertical moving mechanism which vertically moves the base edge side member while vertically moving the second guide member.