A method and apparatus for continuous web processing systems for pre-lithiating Li-ion battery substrates is provided. The modular processing system comprises a common transfer chamber body defining a transfer volume. The system further comprises a first vertical chamber body defining a first processing volume and positioned on the common transfer chamber body. The transfer volume is in fluid communication with the first processing volume. The system further comprises a second vertical chamber body defining a second processing volume and positioned on the common transfer chamber body. The transfer volume is in fluid communication with the second processing volume. The system further comprises a reel-to-reel system operable to transport a continuous flexible substrate having an electrode structure formed thereon. The continuous flexible substrate extends from the transfer volume, through the first processing volume, returning to the transfer volume, through the second processing volume, and returning to the transfer volume.

A vacuum processing system for a flexible substrate is provided. The vacuum processing system includes a first chamber adapted for housing a supply roll for providing the flexible substrate; a second chamber adapted for housing a take-up roll for storing the flexible substrate after processing; a substrate transport arrangement including one or more guide rollers for guiding the flexible substrate from the first chamber to the second chamber; a maintenance zone between the first chamber and the second chamber wherein the maintenance zone allows for maintenance access to or of at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber; and a first process chamber for processing the flexible substrate.

The invention relates to a rolled up thin glass composite comprising a thin glass film and at least one further layer (10, 11, 20, 30) applied over the surface of one side of the thin glass film, wherein the at least one further layer (10, 11, 20, 30) is applied to a radially outer side of the rolled up thin glass film and the at least one further layer (10, 11, 20, 30) contains a desiccant which protects the thin glass film against stress corrosion cracking. The invention also relates to a method for storing a thin glass film by providing a thin glass film, applying at least one further layer (10, 11, 20, 30) over the surface of at least one side of the thin glass film, wherein a desiccant which protects the thin glass film against stress corrosion cracking is added to the at least one further layer (10, 11, 20, 30) and a thin glass composite composed of the thin glass film and the at least one further layer (10, 11, 20, 30) is rolled up in such a way that the at least one further layer (10, 11, 20, 30) is applied to a radially outer side of the rolled up thin glass film.

Disclosed herein is a drum for roll-to-roll deposition to rotate about a longitudinal axis. The drum is circular in a widthwise cross-section and has a shape in which opposite longitudinal edge portions each have a narrower width than a longitudinal central portion. By using the drum for roll-to-roll deposition according to embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to remove wrinkles occurring on a flexible substrate when a roll-to-roll deposition process is performed. As a result, it is possible to manufacture a film roll having a deposition layer with excellent widthwise thickness uniformity.

A substrate conveying device and a deposition apparatus are provided. The substrate conveying device includes a transmission shaft, a plurality of conveying rollers, and a plurality of bearings. The conveying rollers are configured to convey a substrate respectively. Each conveying roller is assembled to the transmission shaft via the corresponding bearing. Each bearing includes a stator and a rotator. Each conveying roller is fixed to the corresponding rotator. The stators are fixed to the transmission shaft. A magnetic repulsion force parallel to an axial direction of the transmission shaft exists between the stator and the rotator. The stator drives the rotator to rotate via a friction force generated by the magnetic repulsion force between the stator and the rotator.

A thin film deposition system includes a web guide system having a plurality of web guides defining a web transport path for the web of substrate. The web guide system includes a moveable portion including first and second moveable-position web guides. A web transport control system advances the web of substrate along the web transport path at a web advance velocity. A deposition head is located along the web transport path between the first and second moveable-position web guides. A motion actuator system synchronously moves a position of the first and second moveable-position web guides such that they move forward and backward according to a defined oscillating motion pattern while maintaining a constant distance between the first and second moveable-position web guides, thereby causing a portion of the web of media adjacent to the deposition head to move forward and backward in an in-track direction.

An embodiment of the inventive method of transfer lamination involves metallizing a first side of a film and then bonding the metallized first side to a substrate. Then a coating is applied to a second side of the film after it has been bonded to the substrate. The bonded film and substrate are then placed in an oven. The film is then stripped from the substrate leaving metal from the film deposited on the substrate. The application of the coating is performed as an inline part of the transfer lamination process thereby providing an ease of manufacture presently unknown.

Provided are systems and methods for inducing strain fields to give rise to controllable wrinkle patterns in a variety of substrates. Also provided are articles having persistent wrinkling patterns thereon.

A treatment apparatus includes two can rolls provided on a transfer path through which a long resin film is transferred in a roll-to-roll manner in a vacuum chamber; and surface treatment means facing an outer circumference of each of the can rolls to treat a surface of the long resin film cooled by being wound around the outer circumference. The downstream can roll is provided with upper and lower two sets of feeding and sending systems, and one surface of the long resin film in contact with the outer circumference of the downstream can roll at a time when the long resin film travels through the lower one of the two sets of feeding and sending systems is opposite to the other surface of the resin film in contact with the outer circumference of the downstream can roll at a time when the resin film travels through the upper one.

An apparatus and a process is disclosed for applying a boron coating to a thin foil. Preferably, the process is a continuous, in-line process for applying a coating to a thin foil comprising wrapping the foil around a rotating and translating mandrel, cleaning the foil with glow discharge in an etching chamber as the mandrel with the foil moves through the chamber, sputtering the foil with boron carbide in a sputtering chamber as the mandrel moves through the sputtering chamber, and unwinding the foil off the mandrel after it has been coated. The apparatus for applying a coating to a thin foil comprises an elongated mandrel. Foil preferably passes from a reel to the mandrel by passing through a seal near the initial portion of an etching chamber. The mandrel has a translation drive system for moving the mandrel forward and a rotational drive system for rotating mandrel as it moves forward. The etching chamber utilizes glow discharge on a surface of the foil as the mandrel moves through said etching chamber. A sputtering chamber, downstream of the etching chamber, applies a thin layer comprising boron onto the surface of the foil as said mandrel moves through said sputtering chamber. Preferably, the coated foil passes from the mandrel to a second reel by passing through a seal near the terminal portion of the sputtering chamber.