Cellular tumble coater

Claim 2

A cellular fixture for coating articles with a coating material by vapor deposition, comprising multiple cells disposed radially about a common axis of rotation, each cell comprising: (a) a hollow member having a side wall with a plurality of openings therethrough, said openings being large enough to permit vapors of the coating material to flow through said openings and being small enough to contain the articles within the cell; (b) a first end; and (c) a second end.

Claim 3

The cellular fixture of claim 1 wherein said openings in the side walls of adjacent cells are generally aligned to provide communication between said adjacent cells to permit vapors of coating material to flow between said adjacent cells.

Claim 4

The cellular fixture of claim 1 wherein the side wall has an open area of at least about 30%.

Claim 5

The cellular fixture of claim 1 wherein the side wall has an open area of at least about 60%.

Claim 6

The cellular fixture of claim 1 wherein the side wall has an open area of at least about 80%.

Claim 7

The cellular fixture of claim 1 having from 2 to 16 cells.

Claim 8

The cellular fixture of claim 1 having from 4 to 8 cells.

Claim 9

The cellular fixture of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first end and second end has a closure means positionable between an open position and a closed position for loading and removing the articles from the cells.

Claim 10

The cellular fixture of claim 1 wherein the hollow member has a circular cross section.

Claim 11

The cellular fixture of claim 1 wherein the hollow member has an elliptical cross section.

Claim 12

The cellular fixture of claim 1 wherein the hollow member has a triangular cross section.

Claim 13

The cellular fixture of claim 1 wherein the coating material is parylene.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for introducing vaporized parylene into said housing comprises a vaporization zone to which parylene dimer can be introduced, a pyrolysis zone connected to the vaporization zone, and a feed line connected to the pyrolysis zone and said housing.

Claim 17

In an apparatus for coating articles with parylene by vapor deposition under vacuum conditions, comprising: i) a vaporization zone to which parylene dimer can be introduced; ii) a pyrolysis zone connected to the vaporization zone; iii) a housing connected to the pyrolysis zone; iv) a fixture for tumbling the articles rotatably mounted within the housing; and v) means for creating a vacuum within the housing; the improvement wherein the fixture is a cellular fixture comprising multiple cells disposed radially about a common axis of rotation, each cell comprising: (a) a hollow member having a side wall with a plurality of openings therethrough, said openings being large enough to permit vapors of parylene to flow through said openings and being small enough to contain the articles within the cell; (b) a first end, and (c) a second end.

Claim 18

In an apparatus for coating articles with parylene by vapor deposition under vacuum conditions, comprising: i) a vaporization zone to which parylene dimer can be introduced; ii) a pyrolysis zone connected to the vaporization zone; iii) a housing connected to the pyrolysis zone; iv) a fixture for tumbling the articles rotatably mounted within the housing; and v) means for creating a vacuum within the housing; the improvement wherein the fixture is a cellular fixture comprising multiple cells disposed radially about a common axis of rotation, each cell comprising: (a) a hollow member having a side wall with a plurality of openings therethrough, said openings being large enough to permit vapors of parylene to flow through said openings and being small enough to contain the articles within the cell; (b) a first end, and (c) a second end.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said openings in the side walls of adjacent cells are generally aligned to provide communication between said adjacent cells to permit vapors of parylene to flow between said adjacent cells.