Handling and actuation apparatus

A handling and actuation apparatus particularly adapted for clean room applications includes an actuation section for mounting a machine element to a work piece. The actuation section comprises a movable actuation member. A feeding section for feeding the aforementioned machine element to the actuation section is provided. An inner debris suction section is positioned in the vicinity of the actuation section, the inner debris suction section sucking air from the vicinity of the actuation member. An outer debris and air suction section is positioned in the vicinity of the feeding section sucks air from the vicinity of machine element during feeding of the machine element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to object handling devices, and more particularly, this invention relates to a feeder and a handling and actuation apparatus such as an automated screw feeder system adapted for clean room applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clean rooms, by their nature, must remain clean and free from debris and other contaminants. When constructing precision devices, such as hard disk drives (HDDs) for example, even trace amounts of contaminants can have serious consequences including malfunction, misreads, and even total device failure.

Screwing processes being performed in clean rooms underlie special conditions with respect to quality. However, the known screw feeder systems are insofar problematic. One problem replete with such systems is that when attaching elements to a work piece, debris from the element being attached can contaminate the device being assembled. Such debris is often found attached to the element as a parasitic contaminant (e.g., dust, metal filings, etc.), but may also be created by the actuation process, such as filings created during tapping of a screw.

Further, when an element is found to be incorrectly placed or coupled, prior art systems often require the system to be stopped and the element manually removed or adjusted. The loss of productivity and potential for contamination are apparent.

Therefore, what is needed is a handling and actuation apparatus that reduces the likelihood of contamination. What is further needed is a handling and actuation apparatus that avoids the lost productivity and potential for contamination due to removal of defective, mispositioned or miscoupled elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above-stated circumstances. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a handling and actuation apparatus particularly adapted for use in clean rooms and capable of improving the work result.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an actuation section for mounting a machine element to a work piece via a movable actuation member. A feeding section for feeding the aforementioned machine element to the actuation section is provided. An inner debris suction section is positioned in the vicinity of the actuation section, the inner debris suction section sucking air from the vicinity of the actuation member at least during operation of the actuation member to remove contaminants both from the machine element as well as debris created during actuation and mounting of the machine element. An outer debris and air suction section positioned in the vicinity of the feeding section sucks air from the vicinity of the machine element during feeding of the machine element through the feeding section to the actuation section.

According to one embodiment of the handling and actuation apparatus, a shield or shutter in combination with a suction or exhaustion device, preferably an exhaustion tube, may be used to exhaust or to suck off contaminated air during mounting the machine element. The suction or exhaustion device is operated in a manner that contamination will be removed in a very efficient way.

A further benefit that can be provided by the present invention is that the actuation section can be suitable for dismounting a machine element mounted to the work piece. It is then possible to verify the result of the mounting process, whereby in the case of detecting an insufficient result of the mounting process, the step of immediately dismounting the machine element may be provided. During the dismounting step, air is sucked from the vicinity of the machine element while at least partially moving the machine element during the dismounting step. The step of sucking air from the vicinity of the machine element during the dismounting process may preferably include sucking the dismounted machine element away from the work piece. This provides a cost-efficient and clean mounting process which results in high quality work pieces. Thus, it is no longer necessary to track bad work pieces during the production process in order to be able to repair and adjust them manually at a later production step.

In one embodiment, the movable actuation member comprises a screw driver blade, and the actuation section comprises a rotation mechanism for rotating the screw driver blade and a relocation mechanism for displacing the screw driver blade along its longitudinal axis. Such a combination of an actuation member and an actuation section provides safe and quick mounting operations of screw-type machine elements.

If the relocation mechanism further comprises a guide tube being positionable along the longitudinal axis of the screw driver then it is easy to separate a screw away from the screw driver blade by simply retracting the screw driver blade back into the guide tube. The screw is then peeled away from the screw driver blade upon impinging on the edge of the leading opening of the guide tube. This effect can be obtained or supported by a radial peeling spring provided in the vicinity of the screw driver blade.

It is preferable that the inner debris suction section comprise a moveable shield member surrounding the actuation member at least during operation of the actuation member, and a suction tube being connected to the shield member. Such a shield member facilitates maintaining a sufficient level of low pressure around the machine element during the whole mounting process. A good air and particle suction result is thereby obtained. It is preferred that the cross-section of the shield member and of the suction tube provide a passage for a dismounted machine element. This facilitates sucking air from the vicinity of the machine element during the dismounting process and, at the same time, sucking the dismounted machine element away from the work piece.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handling and actuation apparatus in which the outer debris and air suction section is positioned towards a clamping position of the machine element in the feeding section. Such a design permits providing at least one cleaning step before mounting the machine element to the work piece. This improves the cleanness of the environment at a later mounting step of the machine element. Starting from such a design, it is preferable that the feeding section comprises a movable feeding tube being connected to a machine element conveyor. The machine element conveyor may then comprise a dispensing magazine, or a vibratory unit for singling out one machine element, and an air pressure feeder for transporting the machine element to the clamping section.

By combining the air pressure feeder with the outer debris and air suction section at an intermediate clamping position of the machine element in the feeding section, a safe, clean and faultless supply of machine elements is made possible. The moving air surrounding the machine element during the transport from a stack or from a reservoir to the intermediate clamping position removes loose particles from its surface. These particles do not need to be removed at a later mounting step of the machine element.

Cleanliness of the mounting process may be further improved by arranging a shutter between the feeding section and the actuation section. In a closed position, the shutter prevents passage of air from the feeding section to the actuation section. In an open position, such passage of air and passage of the machine element and the movable actuation of the actuation section is made possible. Such a shutter prevents moving and possibly dirty air transporting the machine element to the intermediate clamping position from entering into inner sections of the clean room.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a clean room is provided for mounting at least one machine element to at least one work piece provided with one or more handling and actuation systems comprising one or more of the aforementioned features of the invention.

The invention also includes a use of such a clean room for manufacturing work pieces, e.g. for manufacturing hard disk drives usable in computers or for medicine technology equipment. It is emphasized that the proposed feeder can even be used outside the field of screw feeding. The invention applies to all environments where mechanical parts or machine elements as screws, bolts or other means for fastening at least two mechanical parts together have to be fed to a particular position under clean conditions.

Thus, the embodiments described herein are very effective at reducing contamination typical of pneumatically controlled feeders of mechanical parts, especially for screw feeders. For instance, particles created by tapping screws are removed before they can enter the clean room. Because any emitted particles are captured, they do not impair the clean room conditions and the consequent work result. The quality of the screwing process is thus improved.

A complete screwing cycle can advantageously be performed with one single apparatus under clean room conditions. Such a screwing cycle may comprise the sub-processes of feeding the screw, screwing the screw into the work piece, removing the screw, reworking the screw thread, and retracting the screw driver blade.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following description is the best embodiment presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein.

FIGS. 1 to 3show a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and are described in detail below. First, however, the general precepts of the present invention will be described generally in relation toFIGS. 1 to 3.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an actuation section5for mounting a machine element4, e.g., a screw, rivet, circuit device, cover plate, bracket, etc., to a work piece3via a movable actuation member15, e.g. a flat head screw driver blade for slotted screws, a Philips-type screw driver blade, a TORX screw driver blade, pincer, socket, etc. A feeding section6for feeding the aforementioned machine element4to the actuation section5is provided. An inner debris suction section7is positioned in the vicinity of the actuation section5, the inner debris suction section7sucking air from the vicinity of the actuation member15at least during operation of the actuation member15to remove contaminants both from the machine element4as well as debris created during actuation and mounting of the machine element4. An outer debris and air suction section8positioned in the vicinity of the feeding section6sucks air from the vicinity of the machine element4during feeding of the machine element4through the feeding section6to the actuation section5.

According to one embodiment of the handling and actuation apparatus, a shield or shutter23in combination with a suction or exhaustion device, preferably a suction or exhaust tube, may be used to exhaust or to suck off contaminated air during mounting the machine element4. The suction or exhaustion device is operated in a manner that contamination will be removed in a very efficient way.

A further benefit that can be provided by the present invention is that the actuation section5can be suitable for dismounting a machine element4mounted to the work piece3. It is then possible to verify the result of the mounting process, whereby in the case of detecting an insufficient result of the mounting process, the step of immediately dismounting the machine element4may be provided. During the dismounting step, air is sucked from the vicinity of the machine element4while at least partially moving the machine element4during the dismounting step. The step of sucking air from the vicinity of the machine element4during the dismounting process may preferably include sucking the dismounted machine element4away from the work piece3. This provides a cost-efficient and clean mounting process which results in high quality work pieces3. Thus, it is no longer necessary to track bad work pieces3during the production process in order to be able to repair and adjust them manually at a later production step.

In one embodiment, the movable actuation member15comprises a screw driver blade, and the actuation section5comprises a rotation mechanism, e.g., electric motor, (not shown) for rotating the screw driver blade and a relocation mechanism for displacing the screw driver blade along its longitudinal axis. Such a combination of an actuation member15and an actuation section5provides safe and quick mounting operations of screw-type machine elements4.

If the relocation mechanism further comprises a guide tube25being positionable along the longitudinal axis of the screw driver then it is easy to separate a screw away from the screw driver blade by simply retracting the screw driver blade back into the guide tube25. The screw is then peeled away from the screw driver blade upon impinging on the edge of the leading opening of the guide tube25. This effect can be obtained or supported by a radial peeling spring provided in the vicinity of the screw driver blade.

It is preferable that the inner debris suction section7comprise a moveable shield member26surrounding the actuation member15at least during operation of the actuation member15, and a suction tube29being connected to the shield member26. Such a shield member26facilitates maintaining a sufficient level of low pressure around the machine element4during the whole mounting process. A good air and particle suction result is thereby obtained. It is preferred that the cross-section of the shield member26and of the suction tube29provide a passage for a dismounted machine element4. This facilitates sucking air from the vicinity of the machine element4during the dismounting process and, at the same time, sucking the dismounted machine element4away from the work piece3.

The outer debris and air suction section8can be positioned towards a clamping position of the machine element4in the feeding section6. Such a design permits providing at least one cleaning step before mounting the machine element4to the work piece3. This improves the cleanness of the environment at a later mounting step of the machine element4. Starting from such a design, it is preferable that the feeding section6comprises a movable feeding tube20being connected to a machine element conveyor. The machine element conveyor may then comprise a dispensing magazine, or a vibratory unit for singling out one machine element4, and an air pressure feeder for transporting the machine element4to the clamping section.

By combining the air pressure feeder with the outer debris and air suction section8at an intermediate clamping position of the machine element4in the feeding section6, a safe, clean and faultless supply of machine elements4is made possible. The moving air surrounding the machine element4during the transport from a stack or from a reservoir to the intermediate clamping position removes loose particles from its surface. These particles do not need to be removed at a later mounting step of the machine element4.

Cleanliness of the mounting process may be further improved by arranging a shutter23between the feeding section6and the actuation section5. In a closed position, the shutter23prevents passage of air from the feeding section6to the actuation section5. In an open position, such passage of air and passage of the machine element4and the movable actuation of the actuation section5is made possible. Such a shutter23prevents moving and possibly dirty air transporting the machine element4to the intermediate clamping position from entering into inner sections of the clean room.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a clean room is provided for mounting at least one machine element4to at least one work piece3provided with one or more handling and actuation systems comprising one or more of the aforementioned features of the invention.

The invention also includes a use of such a clean room for manufacturing work pieces3, e.g. for manufacturing hard disk drives usable in computers or for medicine technology equipment. It is emphasized that the proposed feeder can be used outside the field of screw feeding. The invention applies to all environments where mechanical parts or machine elements4as screws, bolts or other means for fastening at least two mechanical parts together have to be fed to a particular position under clean conditions.

Thus, the embodiments described herein are very effective at reducing contamination typical of pneumatically controlled feeders of mechanical parts, especially for screw feeders. For instance, particles created by tapping screws are removed before they can enter the clean room. Because any emitted particles are captured, they do not impair the clean room conditions and the consequent work result. The quality of the screwing process is thus improved.

A complete screwing cycle can advantageously be performed with one single apparatus under clean room conditions. Such a screwing cycle may comprise the sub-processes of feeding the screw, screwing the screw into the work piece3, removing the screw, reworking the screw thread, and retracting the screw driver blade.

FIGS. 1 to 3show a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1is a side view showing the overall constitution of a handling and actuation system1according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

To provide a context for the present description, the handling and actuation system1is shown located at a partially displayed clean room2, in which a work piece3is to be provided with a machine element4. As shown, the work piece3is a computer hard disk drive (HDD)3that is to be provided with a screw4. To aid the reader in understanding the handling and actuation system1, the remaining discussion shall be described in the context of mounting a screw4to a HDD3.

As shown inFIG. 1, the handling and actuation system1is divided into an actuation section5for mounting screw4to the HDD3, a feeding section6for feeding screw4to the actuation section5into an inner debris suction section7being arranged as a part of the actuation section5, and into an outer debris and air suction section8being arranged as a part of the feeding section6. The feeding section6can be best seen inFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 3, feeding section6comprises a mouth piece body9in the form of a partially cut out tube, on the right side of which a fixing piece10is coupled. The fixing piece10comprises a groove11which is secured by a fastening block12with a fastening screw13. Mouth piece body9further comprises a central opening14for guiding a screw driver blade15being movable along its longitudinal axis and being rotatable around its longitudinal axis by an actuator system (not shown).

The mouth piece body9is further provided with a fixing bracket16for rotatably guiding a supply bow17. The supply bow17rotates around a rotation axis defined by a bolt18in the fixing bracket16. The supply bow17comprises a supply channel19communicating with central opening14when the supply bow17contacts the mouth piece body9as shown inFIG. 3. A supply hose20is fitted to the outer end of the supply bow17, the supply hose20being connected to a vibration conveyor (not shown) and to a compressed air feeder (not shown).

On the left side of mouth piece body9, outer debris and air suction section8comprises two radial holes21forming a ring nozzle and communicating with central opening14just before an outlet opening22of central opening14. The holes21are connected to an air suction and debris collection device (not shown).

A movable cover plate23is provided as a shutter for selectably closing a passage from feeding section6to actuation section5.

As can be best seen inFIG. 2, actuation section5and inner debris suction section7are integrated into one functional unit in this exemplary embodiment of the invention.

A guiding piece24is provided for guiding an inner tube25, which receives the screw driver blade15. Inner tube25is positioned inside a shield26, the shield26being movable along its longitudinal axis. For limiting the movement of shield26, a leading bolt27guided in a leading groove28is provided in the guiding piece24. A movement of shield26towards guiding piece24compresses a retraction spring30. Shield26is further provided with a suction tube29communicating with the inside of shield26. A suction apparatus (not shown) is connected to suction tube29.

Further, in the inside of shield26located at the left side ofFIG. 2, a radial peeling spring30is provided.

Next, the operation of the operating apparatus for a clean room arranged as described above will be set forth.

The vibration conveyor first singles out a screw4. Screw4is then conveyed using compressed air through supply hose20. In this state, the screw driver blade15is completely retracted as shown inFIG. 3and the screw driver blade15gives way for passing screw4to mouth piece body9. In the region of the outlet opening22, screw4is caught by a securing spring (not shown). The securing spring adjusts and orientates screw4for later handling steps. During the aforementioned transport steps, screw4is cleaned by an air stream surrounding it. The air stream is maintained by compressed air coming from supply hose20and by the suction applied at holes21. Passage to actuation section6is closed by covering plate23.

In a subsequent process step, supply bow17is opened along movement arrow31and covering plate23is moved to a position opening passage to actuation section5. Screw driver blade15is then advanced into outlet opening22. Screw driver blade15performs a rotational movement such that it joins with a head of screw4. Screw4is thereby advanced with a predefined force against a prepositioned drilling template in HDD3, which can be best seen inFIG. 1.

At the same time, the suction apparatus maintains a suction at suction tube29. Any particles arising from the screwing process are captured by the suction, thereby avoiding emission of the particles into the clean room or onto the work piece.

All screwing parameters are detected during the screwing process. If screw4fits properly in HDD3, screw driver blade15is retracted to its starting position. At the same time, suction apparatus maintains a suction at suction tube29. Any particles arising from the retraction process are captured by the suction. After terminating this process, either the entire handling and actuation system1or only shield26with actuation section5is retracted from HDD3. The handling and actuation system1and/or HDD3can be repositioned and the process can be repeated for coupling another screw4to the HDD3.

If screw4does not fit properly in HDD3, e.g. because the thread of screw4or receiving aperture of HDD3is bad, screw4will be driven out of HDD3. Guiding tube25is then retracted and the screw driver blade15together with screw4are retracted. Peeling spring30contacts and prevents screw4from being retracted into guiding tube25by stripping screw4from screw driver blade15. Screw4is then sucked into suction tube29for disposal. Emission of any particles arising from the retraction process is avoided. After terminating this process, either the entire handling and actuation system1or only shield26with actuation section5is retracted from HDD3.