Material delivery system for clean room-like environments

A method for assembling a disk drive, comprising the steps of:

• using a material delivery system at a workstation in a filtered environment wherein said material delivery system comprises:
• an elevator comprising a platform, wherein said platform comprises a plurality of perforations, wherein a plurality of containers are stacked on said elevator for delivery to said workstation, wherein each said container comprises a plurality of disk drive components;
• first means for monitoring for an existence of any said container on said elevator at a first vertical position, wherein said first means for monitoring is operatively interconnected with said elevator;
• second means for monitoring for an absence of any said container on said elevator at a second vertical position, wherein said second means for monitoring is operatively interconnected with said elevator;
• first means for moving said elevator in a first direction based upon a first output from said first means for monitoring that is provided to said elevator;
• and
• second means for moving said elevator in a second direction based upon a second output from said second means for monitoring that is provided to said elevator, wherein said second direction is at least generally opposite said first directions;
• removing a first said disk drive component from an uppermost said container stacked on said elevator;
• and
• assembling at least part of a first disk drive using said first said disk drive component, wherein said assembling step is executed at said workstation.

A method for assembling a disk drive comprising the steps of:

• using a material delivery system at a workstation in a filtered environment, wherein said material delivery system comprises:
• a housing comprising an open upper end and a hollow interior;
• a support disposed at least generally proximate said open upper end, wherein said support comprises a plurality of perforations;
• an elevator movably disposed within said hollow interior of said housing, wherein said elevator comprises a platform, wherein a plurality of containers are stacked on said elevator for delivery to said workstation, wherein each said container comprises a plurality of disk drive components;
• an elevator drive assembly;
• and
• first and second container sensors that are operatively interconnected with said elevator drive assembly for initiating advancement of said elevator in opposite directions, wherein said first and second sensors are directed vertically beyond said upper end of said housing;
• removing a first said disk drive component from an uppermost said container stacked on said elevator;
• and
• assembling at least part of a first disk drive using said first said disk drive component. wherein said assembling step is executed at said workstation.

A method for assembling a disk drive at a workstation, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• using a material delivery system at said workstation, wherein said material delivery system comprises:
• a housing comprising an open upper end and a hollow interior;
• a support disposed at least generally proximate said upper end, wherein said support comprises a plurality of perforations;
• an elevator movably disposed within said hollow interior of said housing, wherein said elevator comprises a platform, wherein said platform comprises a plurality of perforations, wherein a plurality of containers are stacked on said elevator for delivery to said workstation, and wherein each said container comprises a plurality of disk drive components;
• and
• an elevator drive assembly;
• providing a filtered environment at said workstation;
• loading a plurality of containers in stacked relation on said elevator;
• moving said elevator downward one increment during said loading step each time a first container sensor identifies an existence of any container at a first vertical position;
• unloading said plurality of container at said work station;
• moving said elevator upward one increment during said unloading step each time a second container sensor identifies an absence of any container at a second vertical position;
• removing a first said disk drive component from an uppermost said container on said elevator;
• and
• assembling at least part of a first disk drive using said first said disk drive component, wherein said assembling step is executed at said workstation.