Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for handling a flexible disk for testing. The apparatus includes guide rails for initially positioning a disk for test. The apparatus also includes a variable speed motor for rotating the disk at a preselected rotation speed. The disk is rotated by clamping the disk betwen a motor driven rotating spindle and a retractable collet. The collet passes through an aperture in the disk to center and position the disk. Testing is accomplished by a test head assembly which is moved by a voice coil actuator. Positioning of the test head assembly is controlled by a light detector and ground glass scale coupled to the actuator and to the test head assembly.

Abstract: An automatic disk testing apparatus and method for testing flexible disks is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gravity feed disk hopper and vacuum disk plate which sequentially present a series of disks for test. Each disk drops by gravity from the vacuum disk plate to a test position including a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism rotates the disk, in its disk jacket, at a predetermined rotational speed for testing. Each disk is tested and the test results are stored in memory. After testing, the disk is automatically sorted and moved to an output location based on the test results. The sorting is accomplished by dropping the tested disk into a motor driven shuttle which conveys the disk to the proper output location and drops the disk at that location.

Abstract: An automatic disk positioning apparatus and method for its use in handling of flexible disks in an automatic testing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gravity feed disk hopper and vacuum disk plate which sequentially present a series of disks for test. Each disk drops by gravity from the vacuum disk plate to a test position including a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism rotates the disk, in its disk jacket, at a predetermined rotational speed for testing. Each disk is tested and the test results are stored in memory. After testing the disk is automatically sorted and stored in an output container based on the test results. The sorting is accomplished by dropping the tested disk into a motor driven shuttle which conveys the disk to the proper output container and drops the disk into that container.