International Business Machines Corporation

Seagate Technology Incorporated

Gary L Heitkamp

Norman Kermit Frater

Oscar Jaime Ruiz

Jerome Thomas Coffey

Donald John Wanek

Thomas Mark Hoffmann

William W Brooks

John Philip Hollowell

Rudy Vadillo

Richard H Estry

John H Wirz

Walter E Zahn

Paul D Teig

Diane Sprandel O'Regan

Hsuehmin Li

Peter William Kanas

Larry H Lengerman

Terrance L Schaefer

Arvid C Tougas

Jeff B Brown

Enrique Eduardo Sanicky

Marlin P Graves

David Gerson

Thomas J Myhre, Sr

Lyle G Johnson

Lee A Northouse

A head suspension assembly including a load beam having predefined gluing regions for gluing a bundle of wires thereto. For each gluing region, the load beam is partially-etched with the pattern that includes a plurality of grooves. Preferably, the pattern within the gluing region includes a set of parallel grooves. The gluing regions can be formed at very little cost because partial etching can be performed simultaneously etching other features on the load beam. Advantageously, the gluing regions provide enhanced adhesion between the wires and the load beam which reduces the possibility of failure during manufacture, thereby reducing costs.

Apparatus and method for adhesively connecting wires to a suspension arm

A transducer suspension system for a data storage disk drive device has electrical wires strung along the top surface of the suspension. The wires bend around the distal end of the suspension and are connected to electrical pads on the transducer slider below. The height of the wires is reduced by swiping the wires in a lateral direction using a two-finger member. The swipe operation bends the wires down to reduce the overall height and reduces the stress created by the wires in the electrical pad bonds and allows the slider gimbal the freedom to move.

Transducer suspension system

A head suspension assembly includes a load beam having predefined gluing regions for gluing a bundle of wires thereto. For each gluing region, the load beam is partially-etched with the pattern that includes a plurality of grooves. Preferably, the pattern within the gluing region includes a set of parallel grooves. The gluing regions can be formed at very little cost because partial etching can be performed while simultaneously etching other features on the load beam. Advantageously, the gluing regions provide enhanced adhesion between the wires and the load beam which reduces the possibility of failure during manufacture, thereby reducing costs.

Load beam with grooved wire-gluing region

A head gimbal assembly includes a gimbal having a first strut and a second strut and a crossmember connected generally between the first and second struts. A gimbal bond tongue has a first end connected to the crossmember and a second end extending from the crossmember. The first and second struts are generally parallel to one another and define a suspension axis. The first end of the gimbal bond tongue is offset from the suspension axis along the crossmember. A slider is coupled to the gimbal bond tongue and a transducer is coupled to the slider.

Flexure having displaced gimbal bond tongue with end terminated heads

A method of manufacturing a transducer suspension system for a data storage disk drive device having electrical wires strung along the top surface of the suspension, by bending the wires around the distal end of the suspension and connecting the wires to electrical pads on the transducer slider below. The height of the wires is reduced by swiping the wires in a lateral direction using a two-finger member. The swipe operation bends the wires down to reduce the overall height and reduces the stress created by the wires in the electrical pad bonds and allows the slider gimbal the freedom to move.

Method of manufacturing a transducer suspension system

A method in which the wires from the heads on an actuator arm can be positioned and attached to the arm electronics automatically. A loadspring manufacturing assembly has a pair of wire carrying and positioning tails and a disposable portion. The disposable portion and the wire carrying and positioning tails each have pegs for controlling the position of the wire and for allowing twisting of the wire pairs for purposes of noise suppression. The wires are positioned about the pegs and twisted. The wires are then bonded to the loadspring assembly. A portion of the wire carrying tail has a window or opening therein. The wires are fanned out and spaced apart as they pass across the window. The wire carrying portion also has a living hinge. A portion of the wire carrying tail which includes a latching window which latches a peg is moved about the hinge and positioned at about a right angle to the loadspring. The disposable portion and the unused tail are removed. The remaining assembly is attached to the arm electronics module through the window with the spaced apart wires.

Method of making load spring manufacturing assembly having an electric

A method and apparatus in which the wires from the heads on an actuator arm can be positioned and attached to the arm electronics automatically. A loadspring manufacturing assembly has a pair of wire carrying and positioning tails and a disposable portion. The disposable portion and the wire carrying and positioning tails each have pegs for controlling the position of the wire and for allowing twisting of the wire pairs for purposes of noise suppression. The wires are positioned about the pegs and twisted. The wires are then bonded to the loadspring assembly. A portion of the wire carrying tail has a window or opening therein. The wires are fanned out and spaced apart as they pass across the window. The wire carrying portion also has a living hinge. A portion of the wire carrying tail which includes a latching window which latches a peg is moved about the hinge and positioned at about a right angle to the loadspring. The disposable portion and the unused tail are removed. The remaining assembly is attached to the arm electronics module through the window with the spaced apart wires.

Method for stringing wire on an actuator arm

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Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Gary L Heitkamp