Abstract: A vacuum coating apparatus has a housing defining a vacuum chamber in chamber which a working roll is disposed over which material to be processed can be drawn. The chamber is split into several sub-chambers by means of partitions and sputter metallizing sources and glow discharge units are disposed in the chambers. The partitions are adjustable and enable the disposition and function of the apparatus to be altered within the confines of the original apparatus design.

Abstract: A vacuum metallizer comprises a vacuum chamber split into a number of sub-chambers by partitions. A material transport mechanism is disposed in one sub-chamber and metallizing sources in the others. Sub-chambers are individually pumped to provide close control of sub-chamber pressures. Sources are activated and when the length of material is drawn past them the metal of the sources is deposited thereon. Each partition comprises two sealed parts, one of which moves with the web transport mechanism while the other remains in the vacuum chamber when the chamber is opened. This enables a close gap to be maintained between partitions and mechanism which in turn restricts gas leakage between adjacent sub-chambers.