Patent ID: 7410542

Claim:
A roll-to-roll thin film forming system for processing a flexible substrate comprising: a cartridge for loading the flexible substrate for a film forming process in the film forming system; a skate for transporting the cartridge and coupling with the cartridge to form a skate/cartridge assembly, wherein said skate moves said skate/cartridge assembly to a station and aligns said skate/cartridge assembly with the station for the film forming process; a rail for mounting the skate/cartridge assembly and for directing the skate/cartridge assembly to the station for the film forming process, wherein when said skate/cartridge assembly is mounted on said rail a first pressure seal is formed; and a head for mating with a top surface of the skate/cartridge assembly mounted on the rail to form a second pressure seal around a variable area deposition aperture provided on a top surface of the cartridge thus allowing a pressure vessel to be formed, wherein a film forming environment for the film forming process is initiated and maintained within the pressure vessel when said first pressure seal and said second seal are formed.