Abstract: A DC or high frequency ion source comprising a hollow cathode and a substantially hollow anode for applying a DC or alternating voltage; a gas inlet disposed at a first side of the cathode for supplying a discharge gas into the cathode; a cathode heater disposed between the anode and the cathode; a magnet disposed adjacent the anode to thereby improve the uniformity of a plasma; an ion extraction outlet disposed at a second side of the cathode opposite to the gas inlet and having an elongated rectangular shape; and an ion extraction electrode and an acceleration electrode for controlling the energy of extracted ions. Both the anode and cathode comprise substantially hollow boxes. The cathode includes an elongated rectangular cross section and is disposed inside the substantially hollow anode. The ion extraction electrode and the acceleration electrode have an elongated rectangular shape and an opening coextensive with the ion extraction outlet.

Abstract: A sputtering apparatus including two electrodes, a sputtering target disposed on one of the electrodes, and a gas supply for supplying a discharge gas in a vacuum to produce an electric discharge between the two electrodes and whereby particles sputtered from the target due to impact thereon of ions produced by the discharge, are deposited on a substrate. The target disposed on one electrode is formed into an elongated band and the other electrode is disposed so as to enclose the target. The other electrode is also provided with a magnet for producing a magnetic field thereon, and further includes a narrow elongated slot which defines a narrow sputter particle outlet. The narrow sputter particle outlet permits a pressure to exist near the electrical discharge which is higher than the pressure near the substrate. According to a preferred embodiment, the sputtering apparatus has an ion source combined integrally therewith.

Abstract: An improved vacuum vapor-deposition apparatus comprises an evaporation tank for holding and evaporating vapor deposition material, a hood covering the top of the evporation tank and extended up to its outside in the horizontal direction, inlet and outlet ports of a band to be vapor-deposited, which are opened in the hood so as to penetrate a central portion of the extension on the outside of the evaporation tank, and a vacuum tank covering the evaporation tank and the hood entirely and having sealing devices for carrying in and carrying out the band to be vapor-deposited at the positions corresponding to the inlet and outlet ports in the hood. Vapor deposition is effected within the hood simultaneously onto the both front and rear surfaces of the band to be vapor-deposited.

Abstract: In a continuous vacuum vapor deposition system, a reduced-pressure chamber is partitioned into a plurality of sub-chambers by seal devices each formed by one set of three pinch rolls arrayed in parallel on one plane or a single seal roll, and a pair of seal bars positioned on the same plane on the respective sides of the pinch roll or seal roll. Gaps between the pinch rolls or seal roll and seal bars are adapted to allow the base plate portions on the inlet side and on the outlet side, respectively, to pass therethrough. In each of the reduced-pressure sub-chambers are disposed a pair of deflector rolls so that the base plate portions on the inlet side and on the outlet side may be wrapped respectively around the pinch rolls or seal roll with a wrapping angle of 10 degrees or more.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molten salt electroplating a steel member are disclosed, in which the surface of the steel member is activated by anodic treatment and the molten salt electroplating is performed on the activated surface of said steel member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus for heating a strip of metallic material in a continuous annealing furnace and more particularly to an improvement relating to a method and apparatus for heating a strip of metallic material in a continuous annealing furnace in which annealing of the strip is continuously carried out in such a manner that a gas serving to adjust temperature of the strip, is blown toward the strip through a plurality of gas jet nozzles which are arranged on one side or both sides of the strip, wherein the temperature and flow rate of the strip are properly determined to a required level in response to the changing of the operating conditions such as the heat cycle, line speed, thickness of strip, width of strip and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molten salt electroplating a steel member are disclosed, in which the surface of the steel member is activated by anodic treatment and the molten salt electroplating is performed on the activated surface of said steel member.

Abstract: The known belt type continuous casting machine is improved in that a pair of guides for side dam block groups are disposed at opposite sides, in the widthwise direction, of a cast piece. Each of the guides includes guide beams disposed in two parallel rows displaced in direction of the thickness of the cast piece. Each of a pair of side dams which are movable in synchronism with feeding of the cast piece is formed of a side dam block group in one row. Each of the side dam block groups is divided into two sub-groups, each of which has a length longer than a contact length between the side dam block group and the cast piece and each of which is guided by a separate guide beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus for heating a strip of metallic material in a continuous annealing furnace and more particularly to an improvement relating to a method and apparatus for heating a strip of metallic material in a continuous annealing furnace in which annealing of the strip is continuously carried out in such a manner that a gas, serving to adjust temperature of the strip, is blown toward the strip through a plurality of gas jet nozzles which are arranged on one side or both sides of the strip, wherein the temperature and flow rate of the strip are properly determined to a required level in response to the changing of the operating conditions such as the heat cycle, line speed, thickness of strip, width of strip and the like.

Abstract: For vacuum deposition plating steel strip, a vacuum deposition plating apparatus is used including an inlet-side vacuum sealing device provided in front of a vacuum deposition plating chamber, with an inlet-side inactive gas replacement chamber provided between the inlet-side vacuum sealing device and an annealing furnace. An outlet-side vacuum sealing device is provided at the rear of the vacuum deposition plating chamber, with an outlet-side inactive gas replacement chamber provided between the outlet-side vacuum sealing device and the atmosphere. An inactive gas circulating/purifying device circulates an inactive gas from vacuum chambers of both the vacuum sealing devices to atmospheric pressure chambers of both the vacuum sealing devices and removes water, oil and oxygen from the inactive gas. Oxygen and hydrogen in the inactive gas are regulated to provide 60 ppm or less of oxygen and 0.2 to 2.0% of hydrogen, and also to regulate the dew point of the inactive gas to -50.degree. C. or less.

Abstract: A vacuum deposition plating apparatus having an inlet-side vacuum sealing device provided in front of a vacuum deposition plating chamber, an inlet-side inactive gas replacement chamber provided between the inlet-side vacuum sealing device and an annealing furnace, an outlet-side vacuum sealing device provided in the rear of the vacuum deposition plating chamber, an outlet-side inactive gas replacement chamber provided between the outlet-side vacuum sealing device and the atmosphere, and an inactive gas circulating/purifying device for circulating an inactive gas from vacuum chambers of both the vacuum sealing devices to atmospheric pressure chambers of both the vacuum sealing devices and for removing water, oil and oxygen from the inactive gas; a pressure gauge provided on the annealing furnace; a pressure gauge, a control valve, an automatic valve, a hydrogen concentration detector and a discharge valve provided on the inlet-side inactive gas replacement chamber; a pressure gauge and an automatic valve prov

Abstract: A continuous vacuum deposition apparatus for coating a metal strip in which a control means for changing the width of the metal vapor channel so that strips of various widths can be deposition-coated with transversally uniform thickness distribution is disclosed.

Abstract: A vacuum evaporation equipment for continuous vacuum evaporation of a metal onto a band or strip of product including at least one vacuum sealing station, provision of ducts that are disposed surrounding the band product and extending from the point of vapor deposition where the band product is subjected to a vacuum evaporation process an a chamber held at a reduced pressure or vacuum state to the extent that substantially no reevaporation of once deposited metal is effectively prevented from occurring. The ducts are adapted to be heated to a temperature substantially higher than the temperature of the steel band product. In addition, there is provided at least one vacuum sealing station with rolls rotatably mounted in the interior of a casing and a complementary sealing bar mounted in a complementary engagement relationship with the rolls having a close gap therebetween.

Abstract: The invention concerns cooling apparatus for strip metal of the kind comprising a series of spaced cooling rolls around which the strip metal is passed such that it follows a serpentine path and is cooled by contact with the rolls, and elongate gas jet devices disposed widthwise of the strip opposite the outer surface parts of respective cooling rolls in contact with the strip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combined continuous plating apparatus for hot-dip plating and vacuum deposition plating characterized in that the outlet of the gas reduction annealing furnace of a conventional continuous hot-dip plating apparatus and the inlet of the seal roll chamber of a known continuous vacuum deposition plating apparatus are connected through a pressurized chamber in order to prevent invasion of hydrogen-containing reduction gas into the vacuum deposition chamber, whereby is prevented the possibility of the hydrogen-containing gas causing an explosion should air leak into the vacuum deposition chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a metal strip is passed in contact partly around the outer circumferences of a number of spaced cooling rolls through which coolant passes. The apparatus includes temperature detectors for detecting the temperature of the strip before contact with each of the cooling rolls, and coolant temperature regulators controlled in accordance with the detected temperature of the strip to adjust the temperature of the coolant passing through each cooling roll to a range which limits the temperature drop of the strip such that unacceptable irregularities or distortions in the configuration of the strip cannot occur. The coolant used for each cooling roll is selected with a boiling point appropriate to the respective detected temperature for each roll. In the preferred arrangement, further temperature detectors are provided for each cooling roll to detect the temperature of the coolant, and output signals from both detectors are inputted to a control for regulating a flow rate valve.

Abstract: In a continuous vacuum deposition plating of a metal strip, thinner coating at the edges can be prevented by maintaining the pressure of the deposition chamber in which an evaporation chamber is housed at a properly higher level than the pressure of the evaporation chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of continuous electroplating of a strip with an alloy by passing the strip through a plating bath of the immersion type in both down-pass and up-pass with an anode being positioned in each pass so as to face at least one side of the strip are disclosed. Said anode is an insoluble anode which is spaced from the strip by a distance of about 10-50 mm, and the plating solution is blown into the gap between said anode and said strip countercurrently with respect to the movement of said strip.

Abstract: In the continuous vapor deposition coating of a metal strip, the coating amount can be rapidly changed by keeping the vapor flow at acoustic velocity and changing the cross-sectional area of the vapor path.

Abstract: A vacuum vapor deposition system including a high-vacuum vapor deposition chamber provided with a rotary cell around which band steel is wound as it is passed through the chamber. A crucible for molten metal has a hood for guiding vapor of said metal to a vapor deposition port opposed to the rotary cell, and arcuate covers connected to the hood at the entrance and exit positions of the band steel. The vapor deposition port is spaced slightly from the rotary cell so that the covers will not come into contact with the band steel. A heater is provided for heating the surface of the rotary cell up to a temperature equal to or higher than a reevaporation temperature of the metal under a vapor pressure of the vapor of the metal in the proximity of the rotary cell so that the metal will not be deposited onto the opposite end portions of the rotary cell which are not covered by the band steel.