Fixture assembly

• US 8,336,179 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology plc (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Ruden, Shawn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, ALVIN J
• Application Number:
  US12/463,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20090288281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 292/83, 292/57, 292/54, 292/61, 292/70, 297/58, 735/041.3, 735/041.2, 238/282, 238/283, 238/304
• 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 having a first portion connected to a second portion by at least two support members, at least one of the support members configured to flex in a z-axis direction; and

a datum plate coupled to the second portion of the crowder plate and configured to receive a work piece, wherein the datum plate is configured to gimbal relative to the first portion of the crowder plate and substantially maintain a position along x-axis and y-axis directions relative to the first portion of the crowder plate, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions being substantially orthogonal.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two support members are shear pads.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a platform coupled to the crowder plate, wherein the crowder plate is configured to translate along the x-axis and y-axis directions relative to the platform.

4. The assembly of claim 3, further comprising shear pads coupling the crowder plate to the platform.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least two of the support members configured to flex in a z-axis direction.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two support members substantially resist compression.

7. 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 by support members that permit the crowder plate to translate along at least x-axis and y-axis directions relative to the platform and maintain a position relative to the platform in a z-axis direction.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the support members are shear pads.

9. An assembly comprising:

a crowder plate having a first portion connected to a second portion by four support members that are flexible in a z-axis direction; and

a datum plate coupled to the second portion of the crowder plate, wherein the datum plate substantially maintains a position along x-axis and y-axis directions relative to the first portion of the crowder plate but moves in the z-axis direction.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the support members substantially resist compression.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the support members are shear pads.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the datum plate rotates with respect to the first portion of the crowder plate.