Housing assembly for selectively receiving a part and a method of removing particles from a frictional surface of a pad

A housing assembly for selectively receiving a part;

• the housing assembly comprising:
• a platform;
• a pad fixed to the platform, and the pad has a frictional surface for maintaining a position of the part relative to the pad when the part is disposed on the frictional surface;
• a door apparatus coupled to the platform and surrounding the pad, and wherein the door apparatus is movable to an open position in which the frictional surface of the pad is exposed outside of the door apparatus for receiving the part and a closed position in which the frictional surface of the pad is concealed inside of the door apparatus;
• a cleaning system configured to remove particles from the frictional surface of the pad when the door apparatus is in the closed position;
• and
• wherein:
• the door apparatus includes a first door segment and a second door segment movable relative to each other between the open position and the closed position;
• the door apparatus includes a first bellows attached to the first door segment and the platform, and a second bellows attached to the second door segment and the platform;
• and
• the first door segment, the first bellows, the second door segment, and the second bellows cooperate in the closed position to present a chamber that encloses the pad.

A housing assembly for selectively receiving a part, the housing assembly comprising:

• a platform;
• a pad fixed to the platform, the pad having a frictional surface for engaging the part;
• a movable door apparatus surrounding the pad, the movable door apparatus being configured to move between an open position, where the frictional surface is exposed, and a closed position, where the frictional surface is concealed;
• and
• an actuator comprising an axially movable shaft mechanically coupled to the moveable door apparatus and configured to move the moveable door apparatus, the shaft being engaged by the part, wherein:
• a first axial displacement of the axially movable shaft by engagement with the part causes the door apparatus to move to the open position;
• and
• a second axial displacement of the axially movable shaft, in a direction opposite to the first axial displacement, occurs in response to a biasing member and causes the moveable door apparatus to return to the closed position upon disengagement of the part.