The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 1989
Filed:
Apr. 27, 1987
Carroll H George, Norwood, NY (US);
Ray D Rust, Berkeley Heights, NJ (US);
American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
A process and apparatus for cleaning then coating articles such as circuit board panels with a metallic coating encompasses an enclosed evacuated chamber having a controlled low pressure gaseous process environment. The articles to be cleaned, then coated with a metallic deposit are continuously fed into the enclosed chamber through an air lock mechanism that permits the evacuated chamber to remain at its predetermined pressure and gaseous composition. Included within the chamber are a plurality of transport paths or panel carrying tracks. The articles to be cleaned, then coated are continuously transported along the various tracks while being coated. The plurality of tracks are positioned to be substantially parallel with each other so that articles on each track follow paths similar in direction and substantially equidistant from one another. A plurality of bidirectional coating sources are sequentially positioned on both sides of each article transport track so that both sides of the panels are coated.