Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
288 words
An apparatus for processing cylindrical or beltlike substrates (18), comprising: a carousel (10) rotatable to any one of a plurality of planetary stations (100,200,300, 400) surrounding the carousel, the carousel having a support structure (14) defining a central horizontal axis (H) and at least one support arm (16) mounted on the support structure for supporting a substrate (18) thereon along a horizontal axis (h) parallel to and radially offset from the central horizontal axis, the support structure reciprocating relative to any one of the plurality of stations to insert the substrate into and withdraw the substrate from any one of the plurality of stations, and the at least one support arm being rotatable about its offset horizontal axis to rotate the substrate thereon; a loading station (100) located at a first position of the carousel for placing a substrate (18) on the support arm (16); a cleaning station (200) located at a second position of the carousel, the cleaning station including a cleaning chamber (210) for receiving the at least one support arm bearing the substrate and having decontaminating means (240) for removing contaminants from the substrate; a coating station (300) located at a third position of the carousel, the coating station including a coating chamber (310) for receiving the at least one support arm bearing the substrate and having applicator means (320) aligned with the central horizontal axis of the support structure for applying a coating formulation radially outward onto the substrate; and a curing station (400) located at a fourth position of the carousel, the curing station including a curing chamber (410) for receiving the at least one support arm bearing the sub strate and having curing means (420) for curing the coating on the substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support structure (14) includes a plurality of support arms (16) arranged in a planetary array about the central horizontal axis (H) of the support structure, each support arm (16) defining an offset horizontal axis (h) parallel to and radially spaced from the central horizontal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of support arms are symmetrically arranged in an annular array about the central horizontal axis, each support arm being equally radially spaced from the central horizontal axis.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the loading station (100), cleaning station (200), coating station (300) and curing station (400) are located at substantially 90° intervals around the carousel.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the decontaminating means (240) includes a cleaning means aligned with the central horizontal axis for applying a cleanser radially outward from the central horizontal axis and onto the substrate (18) as the susbstrate is rotated about its offset horizontal axis.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the coating chamber includes an electrostatic rotary atomizer means for spraying a coating on the substrate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the coating formulation is a coating material and a solvent, and the coating station (300) further includes solvent vapor control means (356) communicating with the coating chamber (310) for controlling an amount of solvent vapor in the coating chamber.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the curing means (420) includes heater means aligned with the central horizontal axis for applying heated air radially outward from the central horizontal axis and onto the substrate (18) as the substrate is rotated about its offset horizontal axis.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of any one of claism 1 to 7 wherein the curing means (420) includes exposure means (450) aligned with the central horizontal axis for exposing the substrate to ultraviolet light while rotating the substrate about its offset horizontal axis.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for processing cylindrical or belt-like substrates (18) comprising the steps of: arranging a plurality of substrates on a support structure (14) in a planetary array having a horizontal central axis (H), each substrate defining an offset horizontal axis (h) radially spaced from and parallel to the horizontal central axis; rotating the support structure (14) to face any one of a plurality of processing chambers (210, 310, 410) surrounding the support structure, each processing chamber defining a horizontal central axis colinear with the horizontal central axis of the support structure; reciprocating the support structure (14) relative to a selected one of the processing chambers (210, 310 or 410) after rotating the support structure to face the selected processing chamber, and inserting the planetary substrate array into the selected processing chamber; processing the planetary array of substrates in the selected processing chamber (210, 310 or 410) while rotating each substrate about its offset horizontal axis (h); and reciprocating the support structure relative to the selected processing chamber after processing the planetary substrate array to withdraw the planetary array from the selected processing chamber prior to rotating the support structure to a subsequent processing station.