Disc spindle with flexible cap clamping

摘要

A hub for holding media during manufacturing processes, such as inspection, includes a flexible cap at an end that has a cylindrical profile for engaging with the central void in the media. The cap is expanded to retain the media, avoiding contact of the clamping mechanism with the face of the media, so that particulation is reduced and contact confined to the edges of the media's central void. An actuator draws end of the cap toward the clamp body to place the cap in a clamping state and moves the end of the cap away from the clamp body to unclamp a disc. Vacuum or pressure may be used to move the actuator to the clamping or released state by providing a piston within the hub and applying vacuum to one side of a diaphragm coupled to the piston or pressure to the other.

主权项

1. A spindle clamp for securing a media disc, comprising:
a clamp body; and a cap formed from a flexible material affixed to an end of the clamp body for accepting the media disc by insertion of a circular aperture in the center of the media disc over the cap, wherein the cap has a clamped and an unclamped state, wherein when the cap is in the clamped state a first portion of the cap is expanded in cross-section to apply force around the inside face of the circular aperture to secure the media disc to the spindle without substantially contacting an outer face of the media disc, and wherein when the cap is in the unclamped state, the cap applies substantially no force to the inside edge of the circular aperture, wherein the cap has a conical profile that increases from a diameter less than that of a cylinder-shaped profile of a first portion of the cap and extending along a second portion of the length of the cap from an outer end of the cap up the first portion, whereby the circular aperture of the media disk is aligned during insertion of the cap to center the media disc on the cap.