Abstract: A carrier device includes a coupling mechanism for connecting an automatic controlled vehicle to a carriage. The coupling mechanism includes a first roller assembly and a second roller assembly. The first roller assembly includes a first roller and a third roller, provided on a first common shaft. The second roller assembly includes a second roller and a fourth roller, provided on a second common shaft. The first roller and the second roller can enter a gap of the guide rail section in the automatic controlled vehicle. When the lock member moves from the first position to the second position, the lock member is sandwiched between the third roller and the fourth roller.

Abstract: A carrier device includes a coupling mechanism for coupling an automatic controlled vehicle to a carriage. The coupling mechanism includes a first shaft member, a second shaft member and a third shaft member. The coupling mechanism includes a guide rail section, a lock member, and an actuator that moves the lock member. The guide rail section is provided on the automatic controlled vehicle. When the lock member moves from the first position to the second position, the lock member enters between the first shaft member and the second shaft member. The third shaft member fits with the fitting portion of the lock member.

Abstract: A base material has a vibration damper provided detachably on a liner through an attaching surface. An apparatus is used when punching the vibration damper piece from the base material. The punched vibration damper piece is attached on an objective portion of a semi-finished head suspension. The apparatus includes a hollow punch and a punch drive mechanism. The hollow punch has a tooth portion at a distal end and a hollow internal surface that has a holding force larger than an attaching force of the vibration damper to the liner. The hollow punch punches the vibration damper piece out from the base material to hold the vibration damper piece on the hollow internal surface. The punch drive mechanism drives the hollow punch backward and forward in a punching direction, so that the vibration damper piece is punched with the tooth portion without punching out the liner.

Abstract: Actuator elements are accommodated in openings formed in a conductive plate. These actuator elements are secured to the conductive plate by a resin bonding material. An electrode of each actuator element and the conductive plate are electrically connected to each other by a bridge junction consisting of an conductive paste. A paste application device discharges the conductive paste toward the bridge junction by air. A control unit configured to control the discharge of the conductive paste sets the air pressure according to the elapsed time of use of the conductive paste so that the height of the paste above the resin bonding material is not less than a target height. The target height is maintained by increasing the air pressure with increase of the elapsed time of use of the conductive paste.

Abstract: Actuator elements are accommodated in openings formed in a conductive plate. These actuator elements are secured to the conductive plate by a resin bonding material. An electrode of each actuator element and the conductive plate are electrically connected to each other by a bridge junction consisting of an conductive paste. A paste application device discharges the conductive paste toward the bridge junction by air. A control unit configured to control the discharge of the conductive paste sets the air pressure according to the elapsed time of use of the conductive paste so that the height of the paste above the resin bonding material is not less than a target height. The target height is maintained by increasing the air pressure with increase of the elapsed time of use of the conductive paste.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a head suspension is capable of suppressing the dispersion in the vibration control effect of a head suspension and improve productivity, the manufacturing method includes a step of punching, by use of a hollow punch having a tooth portion at a distal end thereof, a vibration damper piece out from a base material having a vibration damper provided detachably on a liner through an attaching surface, to hold the vibration damper piece on a hollow internal surface of the punch, a step of positioning the punch holding the vibration damper piece on an objective portion of a semi-finished head suspension, and a step of attaching, by use of an extruding implement, the vibration damper piece on the objective portion with the attaching surface through extruding the vibration damper piece from the punch.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a head suspension is capable of suppressing the dispersion in the vibration control effect of a head suspension and improve productivity, the manufacturing method includes a step of punching, by use of a hollow punch having a tooth portion at a distal end thereof, a vibration damper piece out from a base material having a vibration damper provided detachably on a liner through an attaching surface, to hold the vibration damper piece on a hollow internal surface of the punch, a step of positioning the punch holding the vibration damper piece on an objective portion of a semi-finished head suspension, and a step of attaching, by use of an extruding implement, the vibration damper piece on the objective portion with the attaching surface through extruding the vibration damper piece from the punch.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a head suspension is capable of suppressing the dispersion in the vibration control effect of a head suspension and improve productivity, the manufacturing method includes a step of punching, by use of a hollow punch having a tooth portion at a distal end thereof, a vibration damper piece out from a base material having a vibration damper provided detachably on a liner through an attaching surface, to hold the vibration damper piece on a hollow internal surface of the punch, a step of positioning the punch holding the vibration damper piece on an objective portion of a semi-finished head suspension, and a step of attaching, by use of an extruding implement, the vibration damper piece on the objective portion with the attaching surface through extruding the vibration damper piece from the punch.