FIXTURE ASSEMBLY

• US 20090288281A1
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Ruden, Shawn A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,336,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/283
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/183 Centering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53257 Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53852 C-frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5387 Pivotal arms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53991 Work gripper, anvil, or element

Abstract

A fixture assembly suitable for use in a manufacturing process includes a crowder plate coupled to a datum plate, which is configured to receive a work piece, such as a disc drive system. In some embodiments, the datum plate is configured to gimbal relative to at least a portion of the crowder plate, and substantially maintain a position along first and second directions relative to at least the portion of the crowder plate. The datum plate is also configured to translate in a third direction relative to at least the portion of the crowder plate, where the first, second, and third directions are substantially orthogonal. In some embodiments, the fixture assembly includes a platform coupled to the crowder plate, where the crowder plate may translate in at least one of the first and second directions relative to the platform.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a crowder plate; and

a datum plate configured to receive a work piece, wherein the datum plate is configured to gimbal relative to at least a portion of the crowder plate, and substantially maintain a position along first and second directions relative to at least the portion of the crowder plate, the first and second directions being substantially orthogonal.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the datum plate is configured to translate in a third direction relative to at least the portion of the crowder plate, the first, second, and third directions being substantially orthogonal.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the third direction is substantially perpendicular to a major surface of the datum plate.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the crowder plate comprises a first portion, the crowder plate further comprising a second portion, wherein the assembly further comprises a support member to couple the first and second portions of the crowder plate.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the support member comprises a shear pad.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the work piece comprises at least a part of a disc drive system.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the datum plate is configured to gimbal about an actuator motor of the disc drive system.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of support members to couple the datum plate to the portion of the crowder plate, wherein the plurality of support members are aligned relative to the actuator motor of the work piece to allow the datum plate to gimbal about the actuator motor.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a platform coupled to the crowder plate, wherein the crowder plate is configured to translate along at least one of the first or second directions relative to the platform.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a shear pad coupling the crowder plate to the platform.

11. An assembly comprising:

a first member;

a second member configured to receive a work piece; and

means for coupling the first member and second member, wherein the means for coupling is configured to allow the second member to maintain a first position along a first direction and a second direction relative to at least a portion of the first member, and allow the second member to gimbal relative to at least the portion of the first member, the first and second directions being substantially orthogonal.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the means for coupling is configured to permit the second member to gimbal.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first member comprises a crowder plate configured to couple to a conveyor of a manufacturing system.

14. A method comprising:

coupling a work piece to a datum plate, wherein the datum plate is coupled to a crowder plate and configured to gimbal relative to at least a portion of the crowder plate and substantially maintain a position along first and second directions relative to the crowder plate, the first and second directions being substantially orthogonal; and

adding a component to the work piece while the work piece is coupled to the datum plate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the work piece comprises at least a part of a disc drive assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least the part of the disc drive assembly comprises a disc stack assembly, and the component comprises a clamp, and wherein the clamp is added to the disc stack assembly at the assembly station.

17. An assembly comprising:

a crowder plate;

a datum plate configured to receive a work piece and coupled to the crowder plate; and

a platform coupled to the crowder plate, wherein the crowder plate is configured to translate along at least first and second directions relative to the crowder plate and maintain a position relative to the crowder plate in a third direction, the first, second, and third directions being substantially orthogonal.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the datum plate is configured to gimbal relative to at least a portion of the crowder plate and translate along the third direction relative to the crowder plate.

19. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising a shear pad to couple the platform and crowder plate.

20. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the third direction is substantially perpendicular to a major plane of the crowder plate.