US3866565A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vapor deposition apparatus with rotating drum mask
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-21
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-12-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for depositing a stripe of metal on a metallic strip, comprising a peripherally slitted wheel or drum enclosing a vaporizing boat into which the metal to be deposited is fed and heated to vaporization. A strip of metal of resistance material which is to be coated along its central portion is entrained and moved along the outer periphery of the slitted wheel or drum so that the edges of the slit define the limits of the coating to be deposited onto the metal strip. Both the slit wheel and vaporizing boat are water cooled. The entire assembly comprising the slit wheel, vaporizer and wire feeder are contained within an evacuated container. A heating current is passed through a length of the strip to heat it before it is coated. A modification is to provide a wheel with peripheral holes for depositing longitudinally spaced spots of metal, instead of a strip of metal, onto a metallic base strip. A plurality of such wheels may be used for simultaneously depositing metallic spots onto a plurality of metal strips disposed side-by-side.
Inventors
- 👤 David E U Ridout
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:36
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/56; C23C14/562; C23C14/04; C23C14/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
Apparatus for depositing vaporized metal along the intermediate longitudinal portion of an elongated base strip, comprising a drum having central opening means extending along the entire periphery, means for rotating said drum about its axis, a source of metallic vapor on one side of said opening means, means for longitudinally moving a base strip entrained on the other side of the drum overlying said opening immediately adjacent said opening means, said source of metallic vapor being contained within said drum and comprising a boat-like container which is heated to vaporization temperature of a strip of metal progressively fed into said container, and said base strip being longitudinally driven along a portion of the outer periphery of said drum so that the inner surface exposed to said slit will become coated with said vaporized metal, the edges of the slit defining the boundaries of the coated strip, said base strip being driven by a motor and further entrained about a plurality of idler wheels, a source of potential being applied between a brush which contacts the shaft of one of said idler wheels and a brush which contacts the shaft of said drum so as to provide electric heating current to a portion of said base strip extending between the periphery of one of said idler wheels and of said drum, to effect preheating of said portion before deposition of vaporized metal thereon through said slit, and means contacting said drum beyond the area of strip contact whereby to remove excess deposited metal from the edges of said slit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
Apparatus for depositing vaporized metal along the intermediate longitudinal portion of an elongated base strip, comprising a drum having central opening means extending along the entire periphery, means for rotating said drum about its axis, a source of metallic vapor on one side of said opening means, means for longitudinally moving a base strip entrained on the other side of the drum overlying said opening immediately adjacent said opening means, said source of metallic vapor being contained within said drum and comprising a boat-like container which is heated to vaporization temperature of a strip of metal progressively fed into said container, and said base strip being longitudinally driven along a portion of the outer periphery of said drum so that the inner surface exposed to said slit will become coated with said vaporized metal, the edges of the slit defining the boundaries of the coated strip, said base strip being driven by a motor and further entrained about a plurality of idler wheels, a source of potential being applied between a brush which contacts the shaft of one of said idler wheels and a brush which contacts the shaft of said drum so as to provide electric heating current to a portion of said base strip extending between the periphery of one of said idler wheels and of said drum, to effect preheating of said portion before deposition of vaporized metal thereon through said slit, and means contacting said drum beyond the area of strip contact whereby to remove excess deposited metal from the edges of said slit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, together with a back plate rotatably mounting said drum, and together with a pivotally mounted cover having a flexible sealing gasket about the mouth of said cover for engaging and forming a seal with said back plate, and evacuating means for evacuating the space enclosed by said cover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 together with water cooling conduits extending through a spindle on which said drum is rigidly connected and through inteRior portions of said drum and back plate on which said spindle is rotatably mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 together with a pair of electrical, water-cooled terminals extending through said back plate and to the ends of said container for passing electric heating current through said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 together with a supply roll of strip material and means for longitudinally moving said strip material into said container to effect vaporization thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said opening means is in the form of a plurality of holes extending along the entire periphery of said drum so as to deposit spots of vaporized metal onto said base strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein a masking strip is longitudinally moved between the periphery of said drum and the base strip onto which said vaporized metal is to be deposited.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 comprising a plurality of drums in side-by-side relationship with said drum, each having a circumferential slit and a plurality of base strips simultaneously moved longitudinally outside said slits, whereby the base strips which are moved along said slits are simultaneously coated with vaporized metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means to remove excess deposited metal comprises knife means projecting into the sides of said slit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |