Disk clamp and motor hub cleaning with stamping adhesive
View Patent ↗An assembly configured to clean one or more selected structures of a device may comprise an end effector assembly, a material disposed on a surface of the end effector assembly that, in operation of the device, faces the selected structure(s) of the device. The end effector assembly may be configured to selectively move the material towards and against the selected structure(s) such that the material remains on the facing surface of the end effector assembly and to retain, when the end effector assembly is moved away from the device, at least some particulates previously on the selected structure(s). The device may comprise a data storage assembly and the selected structures may comprise a spindle motor hub and a disk clamp to secure the clamp to the disk.
1. An assembly configured to clean at least one selected structure of a device, comprising:
an end effector assembly configured to:
provide a material disposed on a facing surface of the end effector assembly that, in operation of the end effector assembly, faces the at least one selected structure of the device;
selectively move the material towards and against the at least one selected structure such that the material remains on the facing surface of the end effector assembly;
retain, in response to the end effector assembly moving away from the device, at least some particulates previously on the at least one selected structure; and
press the material with the retained particulates against a portion of a roll of sticky tape, such that at least some of the particulates retained by the material adhere to the portion of the roll of sticky tape.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a polymeric adhesive.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material is re-usable.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material on the facing surface of the end effector assembly is sufficiently thick and compliant as to conform to at least some surface features of the at least one selected structure of the device in response to the end effector assembly moving against the at least one selected structure.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sticky tape dispenser configured to present a clean portion of the roll of sticky tape to the material on the facing surface of the end effector assembly each time the end effector assembly presses the material there against.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a data storage device being manufactured.
7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the end effector assembly comprises:
a first end effector comprising a first layer of material on a first surface thereof facing a first selected structure of the device; and
a second end effector comprising a second layer of material on a second surface facing a second selected structure of the device.
8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the first end effector, first surface and first layer of material are configured to remove particulates from the first selected structure; and
the second end effector, the second surface and the second layer of material are configured to remove particulates from the second selected structure.
9. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the device comprises a data storage device being manufactured;
the first selected structure comprises a hub of a motor configured to rotate a disk;
the second selected structure comprises a disk clamp configured to clamp the disk against the hub of the motor; and
the first and second layers of material are shaped so as to at least partially conform to at least some features of the motor hub and disk clamp, respectively.
10. A method for cleaning at least one selected structure of a device using an assembly comprising an end effector assembly, the method comprising:
disposing a material on a facing surface of the end effector assembly that, in operation of the assembly, faces the at least one selected structure of the device;
selectively moving, by the end effector assembly, the material towards and against the at least one selected structure such that the material remains on the facing surface of the end effector assembly;
retaining, in response to the end effector assembly moving away from the device, at least some particulates previously on the at least one selected structure; and
pressing, by the end effector assembly, the material with the retained particulates against a portion of a roll of sticky tape, such that at least some of the particulates retained by the material adhere to the portion of the roll of sticky tape.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the material comprises a polymeric adhesive.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the material is re-usable.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the material on the facing surface of the end effector assembly is sufficiently thick and compliant as to conform to at least some surface features of the at least one selected structure of the device in response to the end effector assembly moving against the at least one selected structure.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
presenting a clean portion of the roll of sticky tape to the material on the facing surface of the end effector assembly each time the end effector assembly presses the material there against.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a data storage device being manufactured.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the end effector assembly comprises:
a first end effector comprising a first layer of material on a first surface thereof facing a first selected structure of the device; and
a second end effector comprising a second layer of material on a second surface facing a second selected structure of the device.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the first end effector, first surface and first layer of material are configured to remove particulates from the first selected structure; and
the second end effector, the second surface and the second layer of material are configured to remove particulates from the second selected structure.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the device comprises a data storage device being manufactured;
the first selected structure comprises a hub of a motor configured to rotate a disk;
the second selected structure comprises a disk clamp configured to clamp the disk against the hub of the motor; and
the first and second layers of material are shaped so as to at least partially conform to at least some features of the motor hub and disk clamp, respectively.
19. The method of claim 10 , further comprising advancing the roll of sticky tape so as to present a clean portion thereof for a next cleaning of the material on the facing surface of the end effector assembly.