Coating plant with a charging lock and device therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coating plant, especially a vacuum coating plant, with a charging lock, especially a rectangular vacuum lock for a coating chamber, with a lock aperture ( 13 ) having a length of at least 1000 mm that comprises a shutter ( 6 ) for closing and opening the lock aperture and a latch ( 7 ) to secure the shutter, wherein there are provided means for moving the shutter and the latch from a first open position to a second closed position, and vice versa, these means assuring also that the movements of the shutter ( 6 ) and the latch ( 7 ) will be coupled with each other in such manner that the shutter ( 6 ) will be automatically secured by the latch ( 7 ) after the shutter has been closed and will be released again before it is opened.

1 . A device for a lock for a coating plant comprising: 
 a shutter for closing a lock aperture and at least one latch to secure the shutter; and    a drive mechanism for moving both the shutter and the latch from a first open position to a second closed position, wherein the movements of the shutter and the latch are coupled with each other, so that the shutter will be automatically secured by the latch after the closing of the shutter and released before the opening of the shutter.    
   
   
       2 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the device comprises a housing in which there is provided the lock aperture and also a further aperture and in which the shutter and the latch are accommodated.    
   
   
       3 . A device in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the housing is provided with a seal for gastight connection and mounting the housing to neighboring components.