Actuator pivot assembly including a bonding adhesive barrier configured to reduce contamination
View Patent ↗One aspect of an actuator assembly configured for use in a disk drive includes an actuator body including a bore, an adhesive inlet port, and an adhesive vent, a pivot bearing disposed at least partially within the bore of the actuator body, an adhesive disposed between the pivot bearing and the actuator body, and a barrier coupled to the actuator body and positioned over the adhesive vent.
1. An actuator assembly configured for use in a disk drive, the actuator assembly comprising:
an actuator body including a bore, an adhesive inlet port, and an adhesive vent;
a pivot bearing disposed at least partially within the bore of the actuator body;
an adhesive disposed between the pivot bearing and the actuator body; and
a barrier coupled to the actuator body and positioned over the adhesive vent;
wherein the barrier comprises a pressure sensitive tape.
2. A method of manufacturing an actuator assembly, the method comprising:
coupling a barrier over an adhesive vent formed in an actuator body;
positioning a pivot bearing within a bore formed in the actuator body;
introducing an adhesive into an adhesive inlet port formed in the actuator body; and
coupling a flex stiffener to the actuator body by positioning the flex stiffener over the adhesive vent;
wherein the barrier comprises a pressure sensitive tape.
3. An actuator assembly configured for use in a disk drive, the actuator assembly comprising:
an actuator body including a bore, an adhesive inlet port, and an adhesive vent;
a pivot bearing disposed at least partially within the bore of the actuator body;
an adhesive disposed between the pivot bearing and the actuator body;
a barrier coupled to the actuator body and positioned over the adhesive vent;
a flex stiffener coupled to the actuator body and positioned over the barrier; and
a space located between the flex stiffener and the actuator body;
wherein the barrier is configured to prevent the adhesive from exiting the adhesive vent into the space located between the flex stiffener and the actuator body.
4. The actuator assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a suspension coupled to the actuator body; and
a head gimbal assembly configured to access recording media.
5. The actuator assembly of claim 3 , wherein the barrier is coupled to the actuator body such that an excess of the adhesive exits the adhesive vent in a direction other than into the space located between the flex stiffener and the actuator body.
6. The actuator assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a flex cable coupled to the flex stiffener.
7. The actuator assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a pre-amplifier coupled to the flex stiffener.
8. A method of manufacturing an actuator assembly, the method comprising:
coupling a barrier over an adhesive vent formed in an actuator body;
positioning a pivot bearing within a bore formed in the actuator body;
introducing an adhesive into an adhesive inlet port formed in the actuator body; and
coupling a flex stiffener to the actuator body such that the flex stiffener is positioned over the adhesive vent;
wherein the barrier is coupled over the adhesive vent to prevent the adhesive from exiting the adhesive vent into a space between the flex stiffener and the actuator body.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
coupling a suspension to the actuator body; and
coupling a head gimbal assembly configured to access recording media.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the barrier is coupled over the adhesive vent such that an excess of the adhesive exits the adhesive vent in a direction other than into the space located between the flex stiffener and the actuator body.
11. A disk drive, comprising:
a disk drive base;
a rotatable spindle coupled to the disk drive base;
a recording media mounted on the rotatable spindle; and
an actuator assembly pivotally coupled to the disk drive base, the actuator assembly comprising:
an actuator body including a bore, an adhesive inlet port, and an adhesive vent;
a pivot bearing disposed at least partially within the bore of the actuator body;
an adhesive disposed between the pivot bearing and the actuator body;
a barrier coupled to the actuator body and positioned over the adhesive vent;
a flex stiffener coupled to the actuator body and positioned over the barrier; and
a space located between the flex stiffener and the actuator body;
wherein the barrier is configured to prevent the adhesive from exiting the adhesive vent into the space located between the flex stiffener and the actuator body.
12. The disk drive of claim 11 , wherein the actuator assembly further comprises:
a suspension coupled to the actuator body; and
a head gimbal assembly configured to access the recording media.
13. The disk drive of claim 11 , wherein the barrier is coupled to the actuator body such that an excess of the adhesive exits the adhesive vent in a direction other than into the space located between the flex stiffener and the actuator body.
14. The disk drive of claim 11 , further comprising:
a flex cable coupled to the flex stiffener; and
a pre-amplifier coupled to the flex stiffener.
15. A disk drive, comprising:
a disk drive base;
a rotatable spindle coupled to the disk drive base;
a recording media mounted on the rotatable spindle; and
an actuator assembly pivotally coupled to the disk drive base, the actuator assembly comprising:
an actuator body including a bore, an adhesive inlet port, and an adhesive vent;
a pivot bearing disposed at least partially within the bore of the actuator body;
an adhesive disposed between the pivot bearing and the actuator body; and
a barrier coupled to the actuator body and positioned over the adhesive vent;
wherein the barrier comprises a pressure sensitive tape.