Non-wear shutter apparatus for a vapor deposition apparatus

An apparatus for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate, said apparatus comprising:

• a deposition head wherein a source material is sublimated;
• a distribution manifold comprising a plurality of passages defined therethrough for passage of the sublimated source material to a substrate;
• a shutter plate disposed above said distribution manifold, said shutter plate comprising a plurality of passages therethrough that align with said passages in said distribution manifold in a first position of said shutter plate in direct contact with said distribution manifold, said shutter plate movable to a second position in direct contact with said distribution manifold wherein said shutter plate blocks said passages in said distribution manifold to flow of sublimated material therethrough;
• and
• a lifting mechanism configured relative to said shutter plate and said distribution manifold to lift and move said shutter plate between said first and second positions without sliding said shutter plate on said distribution manifold.