Abstract: A disk storage and handling magazine has a spindle mounted on a bottom cap. Disks are loaded in the magazine by passing the spindle through a hole in the center of the disks. The disks may be separated by spacers to prevent the disks from touching each other. In some embodiments, the magazine includes a tube surrounding the spindle and a removable top cap fitting over the spindle and the tube. The magazine also includes a jacking mechanism that moves up and down the spindle for automatically unloading disks from the magazine. The jacking mechanism has a jacking plate mounted on at least one plug. The at least one plug seats in a hole in the bottom cap of the magazine to form an airtight seal when the jacking mechanism is at the bottom of the spindle.

Abstract: A carrier for storing and transporting disks, includes grooves in the sidewalls of the carrier for aligning disks. A top cover used with the carrier includes at least one longitudinal, downward extending support, which contacts the outside diameter of any disks held in the grooves in the carrier when the top cover is attached to the carrier. A bottom cover similarly includes at least one longitudinal, upward extending support that contacts the outside diameter of any disks held in the grooves in the carrier when the bottom cover is attached to the carrier. The top cover and the bottom cover apply minimal pressure to the disks, but advantageously serve to secure the disks within the carrier.

Abstract: According to the method of this invention, a hub is placed at a machine center of an hub alignment and bonding tool and a data storage disk is placed loosely on the hub in such a way that the disk can be translated with respect to the hub. A curable adhesive is interposed between the hub and the disk. The disk has a data region which includes spiral or circular data tracks. A number of video cameras are focused on an edge of the data region at different locations. The locations of edge recorded in the camera are used to calculate whether the geometric center of the data region is within a predetermined tolerance of the hub center. The respective locations of the center of the data region and the hub center and the distance between the two centers are displayed on a monitor. Using a pair of micrometers which abut the edge of the disk, an operator adjusts the location of the disk until the geometric center of the data region is within the predetermined tolerance of the hub center.