Flexure based compliance device for use with an assembly device

• US 9,370,865 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Vasudevan, Rahool, Vangal-Ramamurthy, Jambunathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilensky, Moshe
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salone, Bayan
• Application Number:
  US13/478,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 29525-52503, 295/251.1, 298/969, 298/969.3, 744/71.XY, 269/43, 269/55, 269/60, 269/71, 269/75, 901/45, 901/41, 901/31, 267/151, 267/158, 267/160
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/02 for connecting objects by press fit or for detaching same B23P19/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/102 using remote centre compliance devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/103 with one screw perpendicular to the jaw faces, e.g. a differential or telescopic screw
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2478 with more than one pair of jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/006 Supporting devices for clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/00 Work benches; Portable stands or supports for positioning portable tools or work to be operated on thereby
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0019 End effectors other than grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/04 with provision for the remote detachment or exchange of the head or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/103 for gripping the object in three contact points
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/0208 Compliance devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0015 Flexure members, i.e. parts of manipulators having a narrowed section allowing articulation by flexion
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 4/004 Press fits, force fits, interference fits, i.e. fits without heat or chemical treatment F16B4/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49609 Spring making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49615 Resilient shock or vibration absorber utility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49943 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 by driven force fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

Disclosed is a flexure based compliance device for use with an assembly device in an assembly process to assemble a device. The flexure based compliance device comprises: a coupling section configured for coupling to the assembly device; and a pair of double compound rectilinear flexures configured for coupling to the coupling section. The pair of double compound rectilinear flexures provide both axial and translational compliance to the assembly device in the assembly process.

Claims

1. A flexure based compliance device for use with an assembly device in an assembly process to assemble a device, the flexure based compliance device comprising:

a coupling section configured for coupling to the assembly device; and

a pair of double compound rectilinear flexures configured for coupling to the coupling section, the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures comprising interior rectilinear flexures and exterior rectilinear flexures, the interior and exterior rectilinear flexures being directly connected to each other and each of the interior and exterior rectilinear flexures comprising a pair of parallel and opposed wider sections and a pair of parallel and opposed thinner sections configured to provide a sufficient spring constant and proper elasticity to provide axial, translational, and rotational compliance to the assembly device in the assembly process.

2. The flexure based compliance device of claim 1, wherein, the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures are approximately 90 degrees apart from one another.

3. The flexure based compliance device of claim 1, wherein, the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures comprise stainless steel.

4. The flexure based compliance device of claim 3, wherein, the stainless steel is formed to provide the spring constant.

5. The flexure based compliance device of claim 1, wherein, the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures are created by electro-discharge machining.

6. The flexure based compliance device of claim 1, wherein, when, the assembly device is a gripper to pick and place a component, the gripper is coupled to the coupling section such that the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures provide both axial and translational compliance to the gripper in picking and placing components.

7. The flexure based compliance device of claim 1, wherein, the coupling section further comprises an opening.

8. The flexure based compliance device of claim 7, wherein, when, the assembly device is a driver to drive a fastener, the driver is driven is through the opening of the coupling section such that the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures provide both axial and translational compliance to the driver in driving the fastener.

9. The flexure based compliance device of claim 1, wherein, the device to be assembled is a disk drive.

10. A method for using a flexure based compliance device with an assembly device in an assembly process to assemble a device, the method comprising:

coupling the assembly device to a coupling section of the flexure based compliance device, wherein a pair of double compound rectilinear flexures are coupled to the coupling section, the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures comprising interior rectilinear flexures and exterior rectilinear flexures, the interior and exterior rectilinear flexures being directly connected to each other and each of the interior and exterior rectilinear flexures comprising a pair of parallel and opposed wider sections and a pair of parallel and opposed thinner sections configured to provide a sufficient spring constant and proper elasticity to provide axial, translational, and rotational compliance to the assembly device in the assembly process.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures are approximately 90 degrees apart from one another.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein, the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures comprise stainless steel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, the stainless steel is formed to provide the spring constant.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein, the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures are created by electro-discharge machining.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein, when, the assembly device is a gripper to pick and place a component, further comprising, coupling the gripper to the coupling section such that the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures provide both axial and translational compliance to the gripper in picking and placing components.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein, the coupling section further comprises an opening.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, when, the assembly device is a driver to drive a fastener, further comprising, driving the driver through the opening of the coupling section such that the pair of double compound rectilinear flexures provide both axial and translational compliance to the driver in driving the fastener.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein, the device to be assembled is a disk drive.