Holder for holding a substrate, in particular a spectacle lens, during vacuum coating thereof in a box coating apparatus and device for loading/unloading the substrate into/from such holder

A holder (10) for holding a substrate (L), in particular a spectacle lens, during vacuum coating thereof in a box coating apparatus (BC), a shape of the substrate (L), as seen in a plan view, being defined by an outer circumferential surface (E) of the substrate (L), the holder (10) comprising a base body (12) about a longitudinal axis (AX), with an areal masking portion (14) which is bounded radially outwards with respect to said longitudinal axis (AX) by a circumferential rim of said base body (12) and which is provided with a central opening (16) having an inner circumferential surface (18) adapted to receive the substrate (L) with its outer circumferential surface (E), and a spring arrangement (20) mounted with respect to said base body (12) to engage with the outer circumferential surface (E) of the substrate (L) so as to hold the substrate (L) within said opening (16) of the holder (10), characterized in that said opening (16) in said masking portion (14), as seen in a plan view, is shaped to correspond to or at least closely match the shape of the substrate (L) to be held without substantial gaps therebetween, wherein said masking portion (14) is provided with at least one slot (22) having a length dimension and a width dimension substantially smaller than the length dimension and extending with its length dimension oriented essentially radially outward from said inner circumferential surface (18) of said opening (16), said inner circumferential surface (18) forming a support area (24) for the substrate (L) on a side of said opening (16) opposite said slot (22), and wherein said spring arrangement (20) has at least one spring arm (26) which is tightly received in said slot (22) and adapted to resiliently bear against the outer circumferential surface (E) of the substrate (L) to urge the substrate (L) in the direction of said support area (24), while a remainder of said spring arrangement (20), which also serves to fix said spring arrangement (20) to said base body (12), is covered by said masking portion (14).