Making Disc Drive Patents (Class 29/603.03)
  • Patent number: 7921542
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to a manufacturing method for a disk drive unit. At least one head gimbal assembly having first terminal pads is provided. A controlling circuit for controlling the at least one head gimbal assembly is provided, with the controlling circuit having second terminal pads to connect with the first terminal pads. The at least one head gimbal assembly is disposed in a motor base. The controlling circuit is disposed in the motor base. The at least one head gimbal assembly and the controlling circuit are tightened to the motor base such that the first and second terminal pads are face-to-face and have an electrical touch contact therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: YiuSing Ho, GuoHong Lu, CanHua Chen
  • Publication number: 20110080705
    Abstract: A cam lock apparatus includes a carrier having a bezel with a locking cam handle. The locking cam handle is pivotally attached to the bezel by a pivot pin. A resilient member is compressed between the pivot pin and the locking cam handle, whereby the first end of the locking cam handle is biased to move relative to the bezel and the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Figuerado, Edmond Bailey
  • Patent number: 7908739
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method, energy beam heat is radiated to a target area of the motor assembly which is used for a storage disk drive. By radiating energy beam thereto, a portion of the motor assembly is deformed in a non-contact manner, thus, without being affected by elastic recovery of a portion of the motor assembly to be deformed, the machining accuracy of the motor assembly is adjusted in a precise manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kagata, Kimihiko Hajota, Yoshiki Okayama, Katsutoshi Hamada
  • Patent number: 7907367
    Abstract: A punched gimbal dimple with an annular coined periphery extending outward from the dimple in a head suspension and a method for producing such a dimple. The dimple and its coined periphery are fabricated from a dimple punch and a die with a raised coining surface. The coined area on the dimple periphery can be seen by optical systems as a shiny ring, which is useful for aligning a slider to the dimple. The coined periphery is also less distorted by dimple punching than a non-coined periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: David Chocholaty, Leroy Wielenga, Chu Wong
  • Patent number: 7900341
    Abstract: A high yield in a manufacture of an HDD having a high recording density and using a patterned medium by a trench-like or a dot-like pattern is realized. In this HDD manufacturing method, a magnetic field size (writing and reading) of a head in a head manufacturing process is measured in a head unit inspection process. According to the result of the measurement, the head is classified into a plurality of groups in a head classifying process. In a patterned medium manufacturing process, a plurality of types of the patterned media which are designed so as to correspond to the classified head groups are manufactured. In an HDD assembly process, the HDD is manufactured by combining the plurality of head groups and the plurality of patterned media following a predetermined rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiteru Katsumura
  • Patent number: 7891080
    Abstract: A method for detecting head-disc contact is disclosed. The method comprises locating a head including a head positioning microactuator and at least one of a read transducer and a write transducer adjacent to a disc such that the head is in communication with the disc, monitoring an output signal from the head positioning microactuator of the head, and evaluating the output signal to determine if the head contacts the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: James C. Alexander, Jason H. Laks
  • Patent number: 7893534
    Abstract: A thermally insulating bonding pad for solder reflow is described. The bonding pad includes a structure. The structure forms the bonding pad. The bonding pad further includes an insulator formed on the structure. The insulator is configured to be interposed between the structure and a substrate of a component onto which said bonding pad is to be disposed. The bonding pad provides thermal insulation for said substrate when said bonding pad is subject to a solder reflow process being performed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Toshiki Hirano, Haruhide Takahashi, Tatsumi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7891079
    Abstract: A bending apparatus of a head gimbal assembly includes a suction unit configured to attract the head gimbal assembly, a movement unit configured to move a long tail connected to a terminal part, a stopper against which the moved long tail is butted, a transmission type optical sensor configured to detect that the long tail is positioned to the stopper, a tail holder configured to hold a part of the long tail on a work table, a roller configured to compress the terminal part against the tail holder and to bend the terminal part relative to the long tail at a right angle, and a controller configured to control, based on a detection result of the transmission type optical sensor, a movement of the tail holder to the work table and a movement of the roller to the tail holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Storage Device Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nozawa, Yukio Kato
  • Patent number: 7886422
    Abstract: A method is provided for reclaiming a suspension from a disk drive head gimbal assembly (HGA). An ultrasonic probe is applied to the HGA's read/write head slider on a side opposite that of its solder balls. Ultrasonic oscillations are transmitted through the ceramic slider to the side with the solder balls. The oscillations break the brittle intermetallic compound of the slider balls and free the slider. The ultrasonic energy also weakens the epoxy adhesive between the slider and suspension. The method can be used with heat to further weaken the solder balls and adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Haiming Zhou, Haijun Gao, Fei He
  • Patent number: 7882616
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method can include providing first and second intermediate structures, each having first and second surfaces. Also, the method can include placing the first surface of the first intermediate structure adjacent to the first surface of the second intermediate structure, such that the first and second intermediate structures are in a stacked relationship. Additionally, the method can include simultaneously removing at least a portion of each of the second surfaces of the first and second intermediate structures while in the stacked relationship. Furthermore, the method can include forming a plating layer on each of the first and second surfaces of each of the first and second intermediate structures. Moreover, the method can include forming a magnetic layer on the second surface but not the first surface of each of the first and second intermediate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Allen
  • Patent number: 7881016
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for a flex cable bracket. The latching mechanism includes a position limiter. The position limiter prevents movement of an actuator assembly installed thereon. The latching mechanism also includes a spring clip. The spring clip has spring functionality and a cantilever beam to retain the actuator assembly when installed thereon. The latching mechanism further includes an orientation position limiter. The orientation position limiter prevents a rocking motion of the actuator assembly. The position limiter and the spring clip and the orientation position limiter are integrated into structure of the flex cable bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Jen-Yuan Chang, Ta-Chang Fu, Edgar D. Rothenberg, Russell D. Moates
  • Patent number: 7874424
    Abstract: A method of balancing a disk pack assembly is disclosed. The disk pack assembly comprises a plurality of components including a plurality of disks coupled to a hub of a spindle motor with at least one disk spacer between the disks. The method comprises the steps of rotating a first biasing arm about a pivot to apply a first biasing force to a first component of the disk pack assembly, and moving a second biasing arm linearly to apply a second biasing force to a second component of the disk pack assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Barnaby Brian Westwood
  • Patent number: 7861399
    Abstract: A method for loading single head in a hard disk drive includes the following steps: mounting a head assembly (30) in a baseplate (10) of a hard disk drive, the head assembly comprising an actuator arm (32), a suspension (34) and a HGA, the baseplate engaging a motor (110) and the HGA is positioned close to the motor; biasing the suspension by a mounting tool (50) from the original position, the mounting tool comprising a cantilever arm (52), a pressing head (54) and a supporting rod (56), wherein, the mounting tool rotates to the suspension and gets down to press the suspension; mounting a disk (90) on the motor in the baseplate; and releasing the pressing head from the suspension, loading the HGA of the head assembly to a parking zone of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: ESGW Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Ming-Goei Sheu, YuQing Niu
  • Patent number: 7845067
    Abstract: A method for assembling an actuator assembly includes providing a first housing portion and a second housing portion; providing a coil, a pole piece, a magnet, and a completed beam; positioning the coil, pole piece, magnet, and completed beam between the housing portions; and coupling the housing portions together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: David Harper
  • Patent number: 7841066
    Abstract: A correcting method for reducing variations in floating height and gram load of a floating-type magnetic head device is disclosed. The correcting method includes a first correcting step of detecting a roll-angle corresponding amount in the free state of the front end of the front end and bending the load beam in the direction where the roll-angle corresponding amount approaches zero, and a second correcting step of putting the floating-type magnetic head device into a temporarily mounted state with respect to the load beam, detecting a roll-angle corresponding amount at the tongue piece of the flexure in the temporarily mounted state, and bending at least one of the left and right outriggers in the direction where the roll-angle corresponding amount approaches zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Michiharu Motonishi
  • Patent number: 7841065
    Abstract: A load beam having a bent rail, a suspension that includes the load beam, and a related method for manufacturing a load beam. The method includes providing the load beam before the bent rail is formed, and coining the load beam at a location where the bend will occur in the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventor: Leroy Dwayne Wielenga
  • Patent number: 7836583
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing a improved device for dismounting integrated circuits for rework tools in the fabrication and manufacture of hard disk drives. Embodiments of the present invention include a vacuum cap with suction capabilities for dismounting the integrated circuits. The vacuum cap includes a cylindrical portion with a vacuum path for holding a rod-like vacuum cylinder which when pressurized causes the integrated circuit to dismount. Embodiments of the present invention further include a light weight aluminum heat-shield that is disposed around the vacuum cap to protect the vacuum cap from excessive heat and to preserve the suction capabilities of the vacuum cap. In one embodiment the heat shield acts as a stopper to prevent the vacuum cap from moving upwards and helps the vacuum cap from absorbing multiple mechanical stress in order to protect the vacuum cylinder from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Jonathan Amurao, Richard Coles, Carmela Mendoza, Rey Roger M. Pulmano
  • Patent number: 7832082
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated lead suspension component. One or more first conductive ground planes are formed on a stainless steel base layer. One or more second conductive ground planes, including portions on the surface of the first conductive ground planes, are formed at void portions and backed portions of the stainless steel base layer. The material of the second conductive ground planes is non-reactive to a first etchant. An insulating layer is formed on the second ground planes on the side opposite the stainless steel base layer and on the stainless steel base layer. Traces are formed on the insulating layer. Voids are formed in void portions of the stainless steel base layer using the first etchant and the second conductive ground planes at the void portions as etch stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Reed T. Hentges, Kurt C. Swanson, Peter F. Ladwig
  • Patent number: 7832083
    Abstract: A shipping comb combined with a head stack assembly (HSA) which includes sliders recording data onto or reading data from disks, suspensions having the sliders thereon, and end-taps at front ends of the suspensions, the shipping comb preventing the HSA from being damaged, the shipping comb including a body unit having protruding suspension spacers which are each inserted between middle portions of a pair of suspensions having a pair of sliders facing each other to prevent a collision of the middle portions of the pair of suspensions, and a head unit having protruding end-tap spacers inserted between the end-taps of the pair of the suspensions to prevent a collision of the front ends of the pair of suspensions, and connected to a front end of the body unit with a hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jung-moo Son, Ji-ho Hwang
  • Patent number: 7823270
    Abstract: A clamp including an inverted spring portion and a plurality of tabs about a circumference of an inner portion of the clamp. The inverted spring portion of the clamp is insertable into a groove of a clamping interface between a flange and an outer portion thereof to align the plurality of tabs proximate to the flange. As described, the clamp provides a low profile interface for clamping discs to a spindle assembly which snap fits into the groove to provide a screwless clamp interface. Other features and benefits that characterize embodiments of the present invention will be apparent upon reading the following detailed description and review of the associated drawings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Victor ChiSiang Choo, SiewMing Ng, Niroot Jierapipatanakul, Pohlye Lirn
  • Patent number: 7814643
    Abstract: A method of redefining nodal points of rotation comprises providing an actuator assembly with a comb, a pivot having an axis of rotation, comb legs on one side of the pivot, a voice coil motor, an arm, and a head gimbal assembly mounted to the arm with a head opposite the arm; defining a first nodal point of rotation for the actuator at a position that is on the arm between the pivot and the head; defining a second nodal point of rotation for the actuator at a position adjacent to the pivot and the coil; moving the first nodal point in a radial direction away from the axis toward the head; and moving the second nodal point in a radial direction away from the pivot to a geometric center of active legs of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Brad Vaughn Johnson, Daniel R. Stacer
  • Patent number: 7805827
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of producing a magnetic head slider comprises the steps of forming, on the air bearing surface of the slider, an air bearing surface overcoat, removing the surface region from a hard amorphous carbon film by the irradiation with an ion beam which is tilted with respect to a normal to the air bearing surface, and forming a rail in the air bearing surface on which the air bearing surface overcoat has been formed. A high density and covering performance are obtained when the angle of irradiating the ion beam is not smaller than about 60 degrees from a normal to the air bearing surface of the magnetic head slider and when the acceleration voltage for the ion beam is not higher than about 300 V in the step of removing part of the air bearing surface overcoat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nobuto Yasui, Hiroshi Inaba, Shinji Sasaki, Kazuhito Miyata
  • Patent number: 7805830
    Abstract: A device comprises a mounting surface configured to mount a head gimbal assembly (HGA), a housing that pivots relative to the mounting surface, and a mechanism coupled to the housing that deflects the HGA when the housing pivots relative to the mounting surface. For example the mechanism may be a pneumatically actuated finger that pulls the HGA towards the housing. The device may be used to load the HGA on a rotating test disc. Once loaded on the test disc, the HGA is supported only by the mounting surface and an air bearing at an interface of a slider of the HGA and the test disc. Embodiments of the invention may provide precise and repeatable positioning of the HGA because dimensional tolerances and vibrations in the mechanism are not transferred to the HGA once it is loaded on the test disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Brett Robert Herdendorf, Ronald Eldon Anderson
  • Publication number: 20100220412
    Abstract: A disk drive device is provided with a recording disk, a base member, a bearing unit, and a hub member. In a marking step, unbalance information indicating the displacement of the center of gravity of the hub member with respect to the rotation center of the hub member is acquired, and an information mark containing the unbalance information is applied to at least the hub member or the base member. In an installing and adjustment step, the unbalance information is read form the information mark, and the position for installing the recording disk in an outer cylinder part is determined in accordance with the unbalance information so as to install the recording disk on the hub member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ALPHANA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Nagai, Hiroshi Iwai
  • Publication number: 20100208389
    Abstract: A suspension for supporting a magnetic head is provided with a load beam formed of a thin-plate spring. A recess for accommodating a damper is formed in the load beam. The damper is affixed to a bottom surface of the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoichi Ikeji
  • Patent number: 7774923
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a cartridge for an optical data storage disc includes attaching a plastic shell and a sheet metal cover plate. The shell includes lateral walls and a floor that together define a disc cavity and a plurality of assembly posts. The sheet metal cover plate includes a plurality of holes. To attach the cover plate to the shell, the assembly posts are inserted into the holes, and the ends of the assembly posts are heated to form mushroom caps which hold the cover plate against the shell. The optical disc is housed in the disc cavity, with the data side of the disc facing the cover plate. A sheet metal shutter is wrapped around an edge of the cartridge and over the shell and cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Vmedia Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven B. Volk, Gregory Dimitri Volan, Rene D. Kumar Anirudhan, PK Bala
  • Patent number: 7774922
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing disk drive head suspension components includes supporting the components from carrier strips and/or other components by tab regions consisting substantially of a polyimide insulating layer. The components are detabbed by severing the insulating layer at the tab regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark M. Kiviahde, Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Ryan D. Kariniemi
  • Patent number: 7757378
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of sealing disk drive housing castings and the resulting housings. More specifically, as sealant is transferred between a sealant storage tank and an autoclave, the sealant is filtered to remove debris or other impurities from the sealant. By filtering a sealant, multiple casting treatment cycles can be performed using the same sealant without the quality of the sealant suffering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Kimberly C. Mann, Sonia Marrero, Michael C. Strzepa
  • Patent number: 7757379
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a hard disk drive includes at least two spring extensions that couple to a proximal portion of a load beam. These spring extensions are disposed by a vertical offset and couple to the load beam on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the load beam. The method for operating a disk drive apparatus includes following by a suspension assembly from a reference position to a second position a vertical movement of a rotating disk. The suspension assembly is predisposed to move from the reference position to the second position by the vertical offset. A read/write head coupled to the suspension assembly is in closer alignment to a selected track during the vertical movement in the second position than if the first and second spring extensions were disposed to be co-planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Martin John McCaslin, Khampon Sittipongpanich, Sitthipong Footrakul, Visit Thaveeprungsriporn
  • Patent number: 7757377
    Abstract: A biasing tool with a main body portion, for biasing a disc relative to a central axis of rotation of a motor hub by steps for biasing the disc adjacent the motor hub. The biasing tool includes; a first and second biasing finger each having a protruding disc engagement region, each biasing finger extending from the main body portion, and an attachment aperture confined within the main body portion accommodating alignment of the biasing tool relative to the disc. The steps include selectively engaging the disc with a disc engagement region of the first or second biasing finger, and aligning a center of rotation of an annular servo track written on the disc with the central axis of rotation of the motor hub by biasing the disc adjacent the motor hub, which forms a common rotational axis for the motor hub and the annular servo track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Shawn A. Ruden, Denis A. Seewald, Arthur A. Busick
  • Patent number: 7743486
    Abstract: A method for assembling a head stack assembly with a disk drive base utilizing a tooling mandrel is described. The head stack assembly includes a pivot bearing cartridge with a shaft and a sleeve. The shaft includes a shaft first end with an engagement feature. The shaft defines an axis of rotation and a shaft outer circumferential surface. The sleeve defines a sleeve inner circumferential surface disposed towards the shaft outer circumferential surface. The tooling mandrel includes a retainer element defining a longitudinal axis and including a distal end. The distal end engages the engagement feature. The tooling mandrel includes tooling fingers angularly fixed to the retainer element with respect to the longitudinal axis. The tooling fingers each include a tip portion. Each tip portion engages the pivot bearing cartridge through cooperative radial movement with respect to the axis of rotation with the distal end engaged with the engagement feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Klassen, Joselito S. Jose
  • Publication number: 20100157469
    Abstract: In order to effectively reduce disk flutter in a disk drive by using simple structures and efficient manufacturing techniques, a disk drive, in one embodiment, includes a base, a spindle motor coupled to the bottom of the base, a disk coupled to and rotated by a rotational shaft of the spindle motor, an airflow reduction plate coupled inside the base and positioned opposite to and away from a main plane of the disk, and a sidewall section inside the base which is positioned opposite to an outer edge of the disk and has a form along the outer edge of the disk. A first gap between at least one half of a part positioned opposite to the sidewall section in an outer edge of the airflow reduction plate and the sidewall section is smaller than a second gap between the sidewall section and the outer edge of the disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Kazuhide Ichikawa, Takashi Kouno, Kouki Uefune, Takako Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7739786
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for manufacturing a magnetic head slider are to improve product quality of the magnetic head slider while simplifying the process and reducing the manufacturing time. The apparatus includes: holding devices for holding the both ends of a block member of an array of the magnetic head sliders respectively; a cutting device for cutting out a potion in which the magnetic head sliders are to be formed from the block member; and a cut surface treatment device having cut surface treating parts on the front and back surfaces of the cutting device for treating cut surfaces opposite to each other which form the predetermined two cut surfaces of the magnetic head sliders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 7735215
    Abstract: A holder with includes: a holder body formed by molding a resin material, a contact surface on the holder body for receiving an operating object to be held on the holder body, a grip portion on the holder body at a position apart from the contact surface for being gripped by an operator, and an electric conductor extending from the contact surface to the grip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Storage Device Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohide Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7730604
    Abstract: A method for assembling a disk drive includes providing a head stack assembly (HSA), providing a shipping comb for assembling the disk drive, inserting a comb pin of the shipping comb into a locating holes in a HSA to assemble the shipping comb with the HSA together, positioning the HSA and shipping comb on a base cover of the disk drive, installing the HSA on the base cover via a bearing device thereof, rotating the assembled HSA and shipping comb to park the HSA on the ramp and aligning the comb pin with the securing hole, pushing the comb pin into a securing hole to lock the HSA in the base cover, assembling a latch device and a top voice coil magnet on the base cover, and rotating out the shipping comb to a position where the shipping comb is not interfered with the disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho Yiusing, Canhua Chen, Qinping Zhao, Shenghe Yang
  • Patent number: 7721420
    Abstract: Provided is an assembler for assembling a carrier for supporting printhead integrated circuits. The carrier has upper and lower parts that are operatively fastened together. The assembler includes a support structure configured to support the lower part in a pre-fastened position, and a holding mechanism arranged on the support structure for holding the upper part in a pre-fastened position. The assembler also includes a displacement mechanism arranged on the support structure for displacing the holding mechanisms to bring the parts into operative registration with each other, and a fastening apparatus for fastening the parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Stephen Richard O'Farrell, Jan Waszczuk, David Bernardi, Toby Desmond Oste, Mark Janos, William Granger
  • Patent number: 7698806
    Abstract: The application discloses processes for fabricating a slider or head for a data storage device. The processes disclosed provide a transducer portion that is separated from a slider body by a gap. In an illustrated embodiment, actuator elements are fabricated in the gap to adjust a position of the transducer portion relative to the slider body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Wayne A. Bonin, Roger L. Hipwell, John R. Pendray, Kyle M. Bartholomew, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Patent number: 7694410
    Abstract: A new fixture which is capable of holding an HAS throughout all processes so that Quasi-Static Test can be done before swaging. Also, a process for testing the HAS by means of the fixture. An embodiment method may include loading head gimbal assemblies and an actuator using an automatic loading machine; in-line dressing of the head gimbal assemblies; ultrasonic bonding of the head gimbal assemblies; testing said head gimbal assemblies in-line while quasi-static; and if an head gimbal assemblies fails to pass the testing, rejecting and reworking in-line; in-line coating of the head gimbal assemblies; ultra-violet curing of the head gimbal assemblies; in-line swaging said head gimbal assemblies and actuator to form an head stack assemblies; and visual checking and unloading of said head stack assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Kamigama, Huegung Wang, Yiusing Ho, Chunkau Leung, Waikong Cheung, Shinji Misawa, Jinsuo Sun, Wenxin Chang
  • Patent number: 7694411
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is provided for precisely positioning a datum surface of a component. The apparatus has a housing defining a tooling datum surface. A collet is supported by the housing that is selectively operable between a retracted mode and an expanded mode. In the retracted mode a clearing disengagement is defined with the component. In the expanded mode a contacting engagement with the component is defined. The contacting engagement and a simultaneous longitudinal force transferred by the contacting engagement to the component pressingly engage the datum surfaces together. The apparatus further has a bias member exerting the longitudinal force and urging the collet to the retracted mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Sham Sunder Nayar, John George Gerogeorge, Mark Curtis Fahrendorff, Ronald Jacob Smith
  • Publication number: 20100085662
    Abstract: In spindle motors journaled on fluid-dynamic-pressure bearings, especially in such spindle motors employed in recording-disk drives in implementations that subject the drives to vibration and shock, sealing performance of a capillary seal formed between motor rotor-side and stator-side bearing surfaces, cohesiveness of oil-repellant on rotor-side/stator-side dry-area surfaces adjoining the capillary seal section, and motor inter-component adhesive strength are improved. The capillary-seal-constituting rotor-side/stator-side surface(s) are exposed to a plasma or to ultraviolet rays under predetermined conditions to improve the wettability of the surface(s) for the bearing fluid. The dry-area surface(s) are similarly irradiated so as to improve their wettability for the oil-repellant. Adhesively bonded component surfaces are likewise irradiated so as to improve their wettability for the adhesive, enhancing adhesive strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Gomyo, Takehito Tamaoka
  • Patent number: 7690100
    Abstract: A device and method for testing a slider of a head-gimbal assembly during disc drive manufacturing. The device includes a test disc, an actuator arm and a control module. The test disc has a first circumferential area for detecting contact between the slider and the test disc and a second circumferential area for burnishing sliders that contact the first circumferential area as the test disc rotates at or above the predetermined velocity. The head-gimbal assembly is affixed to the actuator arm such that the slider is operable to move between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the test disc. The control module controls the movement of the actuator arm, and thus the slider, relative to the test disc. The control module monitors the slider-disc interface for contact therebetween. If contact is detected, the slider is either burnished or the head-gimbal assembly is discarded altogether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Serge J. Fayeulle, Paul W. Smith, Gary E. Bement
  • Patent number: 7681302
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving suspension-to-slider attachment in a hard disk drive. A slider having a number of bond pads on its leading edge and a number of bond pads on its trailing edge is to be coupled to a suspension flexure having a number of leading bond pads and a number of trailing bond pads. The slider is to be coupled to the suspension flexure at the leading bond pads and the trailing bond pads by a method such as gold ball, solder ball, or solder bump bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H. K.) Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiro Kamigama
  • Patent number: 7673381
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a head suspension includes forming a rigid part chain product where the rigid parts are provided continuously, including forming a plate-like framework for formation of the rigid part including formation margins for formation of the rails and forming a deformable part along a longitudinal curve of each formation margin and forming the rails by bending the formation margins to rise, forming a resilient member chain product where the resilient members are provided continuously, forming the flexures, forming the bases, and a stacking and coupling step stacking and coupling the rigid part chain product, the resilient member chain product, the bases, and the flexures, to form a stacked set, and cutting and separating respective head suspensions from the stacked set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takikawa, Masao Hanya, Noriyuki Saito
  • Publication number: 20100053805
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hard disk drive includes measuring an imbalance value including an imbalance position with respect to a rotation center of a rotation shaft of the hub, with respect to each of a plurality of disks installed on a hub of a spindle motor to rotate the disks, allowing different imbalance positions of the disks to approach each other in a circumferential direction by applying an impact to the hard disk drive, and correcting the imbalance value by applying an impact to the hard disk drive in a direction opposite to the imbalance positions of the disks approaching each other with respect to the rotation shaft of the hub, to move the imbalance positions of the disks approaching each other in a radial direction of the disks with respect to the rotation center of the rotation shaft of the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongho Oh, Ha Yong Kim, Ja Choon Koo, Kyoung Ho Kim, Byoung Choul Choi
  • Patent number: 7669711
    Abstract: A disk pack balancing station is disclosed for balancing a disk pack assembly, the disk pack assembly comprising a plurality of components including a plurality of disks coupled to a hub of a spindle motor with at least one disk spacer between the disks. The disk pack balancing station comprises a first biasing arm rotated about a pivot to apply a first biasing force to a first component of the disk pack assembly, and a second biasing arm moved linearly to apply a second biasing force to a second component of the disk pack assembly. This configuration enables the disk pack balancing station to balance a number of different disk pack assemblies, including a disk pack comprising an even number of disks and a disk pack including an odd number of disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Barnaby Brian Westwood
  • Patent number: 7661187
    Abstract: The present invention relates to providing the manufacturing method for a magnetic disk drive that includes the process steps of detecting and processing in a simplified way the defective sectors causing a reading error at low operating environmental temperatures. In one example, defective sectors are detected by read/write testing at high operating environmental temperatures from, for example, 40° C. to 65° C. Reading the data written on the defective sectors makes it obvious that the gain in a high-frequency band is reduced. After test data has been written onto each sector, the filtering coefficient of an FIR element that is set for a data-reading system is changed from the optimum value. The frequency gain is thus reduced. Next, the test data is read and the sectors that have caused a reading error are registered as defectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Masato Taniguchi, Michio Nakajima, Kaoru Umemura
  • Patent number: 7653983
    Abstract: A manufacturing assembly is disclosed for manufacturing a disk drive. The manufacturing assembly comprises a pre-merge arm having a contact surface for contacting an actuator arm of the disk drive, and an actuator operable to actuate the pre-merge arm. When installing the actuator arm into the base of the disk drive, the actuator is operable to actuate the pre-merge arm in a first direction so that the contact surface biases the actuator arm rotationally about a pivot to bias the lift tab away from the ramp. After installing the actuator arm into the base of the disk drive, the actuator is operable to actuate the pre-merge arm in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the lift tab moves towards and contacts a ramp near an outer periphery of a disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew S. Klassen
  • Patent number: 7650685
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a head suspension for a hard disk drive includes a rigid part chain product manufacturing step forming a rigid part chain product where rigid parts are provided continuously, a flexure manufacturing step forming the flexure integrated with the resilient part and the reinforcing parts, a base manufacturing step forming the base, a stacking and coupling step stacking and connecting the rigid part chain product, the resilient part chain product, the bases, and the flexures, to form the stacked set, and a cutting step cutting and separating respective head suspensions from a stacked set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Tada, Masao Hanya, Kenichi Takikawa, Eiji Watadani
  • Patent number: 7647690
    Abstract: A sleeve housing for a motor includes a bearing member, which includes a cylindrical portion and a collar portion and is formed by press working or by forging. The bearing member is retained by a retaining portion which is a portion of a cutting tool and which relatively rotates with respect to the cutting tool in a concentric manner with a predetermined rotation axis in order to execute a cutting process on a lower portion of the collar portion with reference to an upper portion thereof, so as to effectively form the sleeve housing with very high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuaki Hada
  • Patent number: 7631419
    Abstract: A disk processing device holds and rotates a disk with a spindle. Processing tapes are supplied out and wound up by a tape reel unit so as to sandwich and be pressed on both surfaces of the disk through contact rollers. As a crankshaft is rotated, a sliding plate rotates around it and a slidable shaft rotates around a fulcrum part while sliding along the sliding plate such that the contact roller undergoes a reciprocating motion in a radial direction of the disk together with a slider rotatably attached to the slidable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: NIHON Micro Coating Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Okuyama, Yuji Horie