Seagate Technology Incorporated

David Maxwell Harrold

Dennis Quinto Cruz

Grant Nicholas Hester

Timothy Ronald Brown

Hans John Geittmann

Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards apparatuses and methods which autonomously decontaminate parts. Parts to be cleaned are identified, and based on the identification of the part, a part specific cleaning program is initiated. During the cleaning, the part is manipulated about a gas supply in such a way that the drag force on the contamination particles attached to the part exceeds the contamination particles' surface adhesion force and accordingly is removed from the surface of the part. The removed contamination is then evacuated from the atmospheric environment near the part by a low pressure zone of a second gaseous material near the part.

Workpiece cleaning

An apparatus and associated method are provided for treating a workpiece with a cryogenic impingement fluid. A fixture supports the workpiece in an upright position and operably connects an electrical component of the workpiece to a power source in the supported position. A cryogenic impingement fluid applicator sprays a stream of the cryogenic impingement fluid against the supported workpiece and laterally moves the stream in accordance with a predetermined path. A shield deflects the stream of cryogenic impingement fluid to prevent the stream from contacting at least a part of the workpiece as the stream is moved along the predetermined path.

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Longmont, CO, United States of America

David Maxwell Harrold