Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Including use of vacuum – suction – or inert atmosphere
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-01
2001-02-13
Moore, Chris K. (Department: 1744)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Including use of vacuum, suction, or inert atmosphere
C015S310000, C451S456000, C451S541000, C451S558000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06187106
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus having application for disc drive assembly. In particular, the apparatus has use for removing debris from assembly instruments for clean room application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Disc drives are assembled in clean rooms to limit exposure to debris and particulate which can deposit on drive components degrading drive performance. Instruments, such as tweezers, are used to assemble small components of head gimbal and suspension assemblies of disc drives. Such instruments are periodically cleaned to limit the spread of contaminates to drive components. The cleaning process interrupts disc drive assembly, slowing production. Prior cleaning devices and methods did not contain debris cleaned from instruments. Thus debris cleaned from instruments can resettle on the clean instrument and can contaminate a clean room. The present invention addresses these and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates an improved apparatus for cleaning assembly instruments which contains debris to limit recontamination. The present apparatus is adaptable for single handed operation to limit interruption of the assembly process. The apparatus includes a housing having an enclosed chamber and an opening sized to insert an instrument. A rigid member having an abrading surface is supported inside the chamber for removing debris from an instrument. The device includes a vacuum channel opened to the chamber and coupleable to a vacuum source for removing debris cleaned from an instrument to limit recontamination.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4245437 (1981-01-01), Marton
patent: 5471706 (1995-12-01), Wallock et al.
patent: 5667434 (1997-09-01), Prusaitis et al.
patent: 5915438 (1999-06-01), Winters et al.
Backlund David D.
Toensing Eyvand E.
Moore Chris K.
Seagate Technology LLC
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
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