Cleaning process, apparatus and system for disc drive components

• Main Authors: STEVENS GREGG P, SCHEPPERS KARL HAROLD, MCDONNELL THOMAS PATRICK, DORULLA ROBIN F, MACLEOD DONALD JAMES, WEIDLER PAUL, KRIEGER DIRK ANTHONY, VASAVAKUL THAVEESIN, LIU LARRY, RUDD GREGORY IAN, SLEZAK ARNOLD GEORGE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.03.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; CLEANING; CLEANING IN GENERAL; CLEANING OR DEGREASING OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY CHEMICALMETHODS OTHER THAN ELECTROLYSIS; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; INFORMATION STORAGE; INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORDCARRIER AND TRANSDUCER; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; METALLURGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING

A system for cleaning disc drive components includes a rotary support member for receiving an assembled disc drive component. A rotary drive motor is coupled to the rotary support member for rotating the rotary support member and disc drive motor supported thereon together at a rotation speed to impart a centrifugal force on any excess lubricant contained by the disc drive motor of sufficient magnitude to draw the excess lubricant from the disc drive motor. The system may also or alternatively include an enclosure defining an interior having an oxygen-containing environment. A support platform is disposed within the oxygen-containing environment of the interior of the enclosure, for supporting a disc drive component within the oxygen-containing environment of the enclosure, for example, after the component is removed from the rotary support member. An ozone source is disposed within the enclosure, for providing sufficient ozone in the vicinity of the disc drive component to oxidize organic material on the disc drive component and convert the organic material to water vapor and carbon dioxide. The enclosure includes a vent for venting the carbon dioxide and any remaining ozone from the enclosure.