Abstract: Oil which will serve as a lubricating fluid of a fluid dynamic pressure bearing is degassed in a first environment under a first pressure which is lower than atmospheric pressure. First and second members of the bearing are place in a second environment under a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure and higher than the pressure in the first environment. The degassed oil is supplied to the gap between bearing surfaces of the first and second members while the first and second members are in the second environment under pressure lower than atmospheric pressure and higher than the pressure in the first environment. Subsequently the pressure in the second environment is increased to force the oil into the gap between the bearing surfaces of the first and second members of the hydrodynamic fluid.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a spindle motor manufacturing method for forming an oil repellent film which prevents a lubricating oil from flowing out, on a predetermined area adjacent to a hydrodynamic bearing, the predetermined area being located on at least one of a stationary member and a rotating member. The spindle motor manufacturing method mentioned above comprises a step of supplying an oil repellent solution by a supplying portion onto a part of the predetermined area for forming the oil repellent film, a step of applying an air current to the part of the predetermined area on which the oil repellent solution is supplied so as to peel off an excess part of the oil repellent solution supplied onto the part of the predetermined area, and a step of making a relative movement of the predetermined area in which the oil repellent film is formed, the relative movement being made with respect to the supplying portion by which the oil repellent solution is supplied.

Abstract: Oil which will serve as a lubricating fluid of a fluid dynamic pressure bearing is degassed in a first environment under a first pressure which is lower than atmospheric pressure. First and second members of the bearing are place in a second environment under a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure and higher than the pressure in the first environment. The degassed oil is supplied to the gap between bearing surfaces of the first and second members while the first and second members are in the second environment under pressure lower than atmospheric pressure and higher than the pressure in the first environment. Subsequently the pressure in the second environment is increased to force the oil into the gap between the bearing surfaces of the first and second members of the hydrodynamic fluid.

Abstract: Oil which will serve as a lubricating fluid of a fluid dynamic pressure bearing is degassed in a first environment under a first pressure which is lower than atmospheric pressure. First and second members of the bearing are place in a second environment under a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure and higher than the pressure in the first environment. The degassed oil is supplied to the gap between bearing surfaces of the first and second members while the first and second members are in the second environment under pressure lower than atmospheric pressure and higher than the pressure in the first environment. Subsequently the pressure in the second environment is increased to force the oil into the gap between the bearing surfaces of the first and second members of the hydrodynamic fluid.

Abstract: Under a reduced-pressure environment, stopping at will liquid that flows out from a nozzle tip, or dispensing liquid with the level of energy at which it will not splatter has proven difficult. To address such difficulties, parameters including nozzle bore, and surface tension and viscosity of, and delivery pressure on, a liquid are selected so that the surface tension that acts on the liquid when flowing out from the nozzle tip will be greater than the momentum of the liquid. By dispensing liquid under such conditions, outflow of the liquid is reliably controlled, and rapid infusion work is realized.

Abstract: Method of charging dynamic-pressure bearing device with lubricating fluid. Preparatorily, lubricating fluid is put into a vacuum chamber and the chamber is vacuum-evacuated to subject the lubricating fluid to a degassing process. An appropriate quantity of fluid is dispensed in one end of the bearing gap, with the bearing device having been placed in a reduced-pressure ambient. In carrying out the dispensation, the pressure of the ambient is adjusted so as to be higher than the pressure during the degassing process. The method in this way prevents the lubricating fluid from frothing when it is being dispensed, and makes it possible to charge dynamic-pressure bearing devices with lubricating fluid without soiling the bearing-device surfaces with splashes or other contaminants.

Abstract: A method for assembling a bearing structure is provided. The bearing structure includes a housing of a cylindrical shape with one closed end, made up of a cylindrical portion and a cap portion. The method includes the steps of inserting a shaft integrated with a rotor hub into a sleeve and fixing a stopper member to the distal end of the shaft so as to make a hub assembly, inserting the sleeve into the housing, exerting a force on the sleeve to move toward the bottom of the housing until an end surface of the sleeve abuts the stopper member, pulling one of the housing and the hub assembly from the other relatively in the axial direction by a predetermined distance, and fixing the sleeve to the housing.

Abstract: Method of charging dynamic-pressure bearing device with lubricating fluid. Preparatorily, lubricating fluid is put into a vacuum chamber and the chamber is vacuum-evacuated to subject the lubricating fluid to a degassing process. An appropriate quantity of fluid is dispensed in one end of the bearing gap, with the bearing device having been placed in a reduced-pressure ambient. In carrying out the dispensation, the pressure of the ambient is adjusted so as to be higher than the pressure during the degassing process. The method in this way prevents the lubricating fluid from frothing when it is being dispensed, and makes it possible to charge dynamic-pressure bearing devices with lubricating fluid without soiling the bearing-device surfaces with splashes or other contaminants.

Abstract: Under a reduced-pressure environment, stopping at will liquid that flows out from a nozzle tip, or dispensing liquid with the level of energy at which it will not splatter has proven difficult. To address such difficulties, parameters including nozzle bore, and surface tension and viscosity of, and delivery pressure on, a liquid are selected so that the surface tension that acts on the liquid when flowing out from the nozzle tip will be greater than the momentum of the liquid. By dispensing liquid under such conditions, outflow of the liquid is reliably controlled, and rapid infusion work is realized.

Abstract: Infusion apparatus for dispensing lubricating fluid into a dynamic-pressure bearing device. Apparatus is made up of: a lubricating-fluid tank whose interior is filled partway with lubricating fluid; a vacuum chamber for placing the bearing device under a reduced-pressure environment; a nozzle for streaming the lubricating fluid into the bearing device; and a vacuum-evacuation system for evacuating and repressurizing the interior of the lubricating-fluid tank and of the vacuum chamber. Air dissolved into the lubricating fluid is eliminated by pumping-down the hollow, fluid-absent portion of the lubricating-fluid tank. Then repressurizing the hollow portion enables pressure to be applied to the lubricating fluid to force it out through the nozzle tip. The vacuum chamber interior may be pumped down to the optimum pressure for charging the bearing device with the lubricating fluid.

Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent the occurrence of air bubbles during a filling process of oil or at a stage where a fluid dynamic pressure bearing is incorporated into a motor to be used as a bearing, thereby performing an effective degassing. Upon supplying oil through a pipe that communicates between a first vacuum chamber and a second vacuum chamber upon filling the oil, stored in the first vacuum chamber that is under a reduced pressure environment having a pressure lower than that in the surrounding environment, to the fluid dynamic pressure bearing held in the second vacuum chamber that is similarly under a reduced pressure environment having a pressure lower than that in the surrounding environment, the pressure in the first vacuum chamber is reduced to be lower than the pressure in the second vacuum chamber at the time of filling lubricating fluid.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a spindle motor manufacturing method for forming an oil repellent film which prevents a lubricating oil from flowing out, on a predetermined area adjacent to a hydrodynamic bearing, the predetermined area being located on at least one of a stationary member and a rotating member. The spindle motor manufacturing method mentioned above comprises a step of supplying an oil repellent solution by a supplying portion onto a part of the predetermined area for forming the oil repellent film, a step of applying an air current to the part of the predetermined area on which the oil repellent solution is supplied so as to peel off an excess part of the oil repellent solution supplied onto the part of the predetermined area, and a step of making a relative movement of the predetermined area in which the oil repellent film is formed, the relative movement being made with respect to the supplying portion by which the oil repellent solution is supplied.