Abstract: A substrate having two parallel planar faces and an edge with a groove is simultaneously coated on both sides in a vacuum chamber. The substrate is raised, lowered and held on edge while the parallel faces are vertically disposed by a blade inserted into the groove so that while the substrate is coated an unobstructed path exists for the coating material to the faces.

Abstract: Relatively wide workpieces, such as auto grilles, are rapidly conveyed into and from a vacuum processing chamber provided with entry and exit air locks and vacuum isolation valves, in which thin metallic coatings are deposited uniformly over workpiece surfaces. The gate member of the valve is supported for sliding vertical movement, as well as limited outward and inward movement for sealing the chamber opening, at the protruding ends of an elongated member backing the gate. Air cylinders act directly on these ends to close the gate. A linkage and air cylinder above the gate vertically propels the gate. The processing chamber is provided with several side by side arrays of sputtering sources with circular cathodes, the workpieces moving thereunder at a steady rate orthogonally to the arrays.