Hard disk drives (HDDs) contain many components from which working gaps are formed between the components. As HDDs are made with higher capacity and more precision, the size of the components and the working gaps increasingly become smaller. Contaminant particles may interfere with the HDD components and the working gaps, which can result in HDD failure. It is therefore beneficial to minimize the amount of contaminant particles the HDDs are exposed to, particularly during the assembly process of the HDDs.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the subject disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the subject disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the subject disclosure.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the subject disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one ordinarily skilled in the art that the subject disclosure may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the subject disclosure.
Screwdrivers are typically used to assemble HDDs. For example, screwdrivers may be used to drive threaded fasteners, such as screws, for fastening various HDD components together. However, abrasion between the screwdrivers and the threaded fasteners and/or abrasion between the threaded fasteners and the HDD components may result in contaminant particles being generated from the screwdrivers, threaded fasteners and/or the HDD components. The contaminant particles may interfere with the HDD components, resulting in HDD failure. Thus, it is desirable to dispose of the contaminant particles generated while driving threaded fasteners with screwdrivers.
Sleeve finder 12 also comprises a plurality of purge channels 32 defined within sidewalls 34 of sleeve 20. Compressed gas may be supplied into each channel 32 from the compressed gas source (e.g., as described with respect to
According to various aspects of the subject disclosure, sleeve finder 12 facilitates the evacuation of contaminant particles generated while bit 16 is used to drive threaded fastener 18. For example, while bit 16 drives threaded fastener 18, the vacuum is applied to forward bore 24 for evacuating contaminant particles generated as a result of the abrasion between bit 16 and threaded fastener 18 and/or the abrasion between threaded fastener 18 and the workpiece that threaded fastener 18 is being driven into. Compressed gas is supplied into forward bore 24 via channels 32 and ports 36 to generate gas flow within forward bore 24 so that the gas and/or contaminant particles within forward bore 24 may be easily evacuated by the vacuum. For example, the compressed gas supplied into forward bore 24 may dislodge loose contaminant particles from bit 16, threaded fastener 18, and/or the workpiece so that the contaminant particles may flow into evacuation path 30 once the vacuum is applied. In some aspects, when the compressed gas is supplied into forward bore 24 and the vacuum is applied, a vortex is created within forward bore 24, allowing the contaminant particles to be easily evacuated through evacuation path 30.
According to certain aspects, ports 36 may be angled to direct the compressed gas in various directions within forward bore 24 to generate gas flow in different areas within forward bore 24. For example, a first set of ports (e.g., ports 36a and 36b) are angled to direct the compressed gas in a direction parallel to face 48 of fastener stop 22, which may be beneficial for generating gas flow around bit 16 and the head of threaded fastener 18 and for evacuating contaminant particles around this area. In another example, a second set of ports (e.g., ports 36c and 36d) are angled to direct the compressed gas in a direction away from face 48 of fastener stop 22. This may be beneficial for generating gas flow around a base of threaded fastener 18 and a surface of a workpiece that threaded fastener 18 is driven into, and for evacuating contaminant particles around this area. Ports 36 may be angled in any suitable direction to direct the compressed gas at a desired area within forward bore 24.
In some aspects, ports 36 may also be disposed in sidewalls 34 at different levels for directing the compressed gas at different areas within forward bore 24. For example, ports 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d are disposed in sidewalls 34 at different levels. Port 36a is disposed at a level adjacent to face 48, which may be beneficial for generating gas flow around bit 16 and the head of threaded fastener 18 and for evacuating contaminant particles around this area. Port 36d is disposed at a level adjacent to opening 44 of forward bore 24 in tip 42 of sleeve 20. This may be beneficial for generating gas flow around a base of threaded fastener 18 and a surface of a workpiece that threaded fastener 18 is driven into, and for evacuating contaminant particles around this area. Ports 36b and 36c are disposed at levels between the levels at which ports 36a and 36d are disposed. Ports 36 may be disposed in sidewalls 34 at any suitable level to direct the compressed gas at a desired area within forward bore 24.
In some aspects, ports 36 are angled tangentially with respect to sidewalls 34 and evacuation path 30 comprises a helical passageway. In this regard, the compressed gas supplied into forward bore 24 may flow within forward bore 24 along sidewalls 34 and evacuate along the helical passageway when the vacuum is applied, creating a vortex within forward bore 24. Thus, contaminant particles within forward bore 24 are also evacuated according to the flow of the vortex. In some aspects, evacuation path 30 may comprise a double helical passageway or any other suitable helical arrangement to allow the gas and/or contaminant particles within forward bore 24 to evacuate through evacuation path 30 according to the flow of the vortex.
According to certain aspects, sleeve finder 12 also comprises sealing member 38 mounted to tip 42 of sleeve 20. Sealing member 38 surrounds opening 44 of forward bore 24. When sleeve finder 12 is used to drive threaded fastener 18 into a surface of an HDD component, for example, sealing member 38 may contact the surface and prevent gas and/or contaminant particles within forward bore 24 from escaping through opening 44. In some aspects, sealing member 38 may comprise a polyurethane O-ring, or other suitable mechanisms for sealing opening 44.
As illustrated in
In step S402 of method 400, threaded fastener 18 is positioned in forward bore 24 against fastener stop 22 between forward bore 24 and rearward bore 26. For example, screw driving system 10 may position sleeve finder 12 over threaded fastener 18 and lower sleeve finder 12 such that threaded fastener 18 is within forward bore 24 and is positioned against fastener stop 22 (e.g., as shown in
In step S404 of method 400, threaded fastener 18 is driven into surface 46 of the workpiece with bit 16 extending axially through sleeve 20 along axial path 28 defined in fastener stop 22. For example, bit 16 is rotatable and axially slidable with respect to sleeve 20. Thus, bit 16 may rotate and drive threaded fastener 18 into surface 46 (e.g., as shown in
In step S406 of method 400, a compressed gas is supplied into forward bore 24 via purge channels 32 (e.g., as shown in
In some aspects, step S406 is implemented after step S404 begins implementation. For example, the compressed gas may be supplied into forward bore 24 after bit 16 begins driving threaded fastener 18 into surface 46. In some aspects, step S406 may be implemented immediately after sealing member 38 has contacted surface 46. Thus, step S406 may be implemented before or at the same time step S404 is implemented. For example, the compressed gas may be supplied into forward bore 24 before bit 16 drives threaded fastener 18 into surface 46. This may ensure that contaminant particles—generated, for example, as a result of the abrasion between bit 16 and threaded fastener 18 and/or the abrasion between threaded fastener 18 and surface 46—are immediately flowing within forward bore 24 as soon as they are generated.
In step S408 of method 400, a vacuum is applied (e.g., from the vacuum source as described with respect to
In some aspects, step S408 is implemented after steps S404 and S406 begin. For example, the vacuum may be applied after bit 16 begins driving threaded fastener 18 into surface 46 and the compressed gas is supplied into forward bore 24. In some aspects, step S408 may be implemented before steps S404 and S406 begin and/or concurrently with steps S402, S404, and S406. For example, during step S402, the vacuum may be applied to forward bore 24 via vacuum chamber 62 and rearward bore 26, as illustrated by the arrows in rearward bore 26 in
The foregoing description is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to practice the various configurations described herein. While the subject disclosure has been particularly described with reference to the various figures and configurations, it should be understood that these are for illustration purposes only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the subject disclosure.
There may be many other ways to implement the subject disclosure. Various functions and elements described herein may be partitioned differently from those shown without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Various modifications to these configurations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and generic principles defined herein may be applied to other configurations. Thus, many changes and modifications may be made to the subject disclosure, by one having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged. Some of the steps may be performed simultaneously. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.
Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear” and the like as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference.
A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. A phrase such an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa.
Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” The term “some” refers to one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject disclosure. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.
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