Xyratex Technology Limited

Seagate Technology Incorporated

Graham Collins

David Michael Davis

Michael Alan Miles

Alexander Stephen Kay

Ian Stanley Warn

Keith Rowland Charles Brady

Michael Easton

Simon Yorick Pettman

An apparatus for receiving and positioning a read/write head to a disk and related methods are disclosed. The apparatus includes: a deck; a spindle on the deck; a safety enclosure surrounding at least the spindle; and a movable carriage having at least one head receiving portion. The carriage is movable between a first position wherein the head receiving portion is outside the safety enclosure and a second position wherein the head receiving portion is inside the safety enclosure. The apparatus further includes an automated mechanism arranged to pick up the head from the head receiving portion when in the second position and to load the head to the disk for testing.

Apparatus and method for receiving and positioning a read/write head to a disk for testing and method of removing a tested read/write head from a test apparatus

There is disclosed a storage enclosure, a carrier, a method of receiving and/or removing disk drive units to/from a storage enclosure, methods of manufacturing a storage enclosure, and a method of mounting a disk drive unit in a storage enclosure. In an aspect of the invention, a storage enclosure () comprises: a housing (); and, at least one drawer () movable mounted to the housing such that the drawer is able to move between a received position and a withdrawn position relative to the housing. The or each drawer has a plurality of bays () for receiving respective disk drive units () with the disk drive units being orientated on their sides. Each bay having an upwardly facing opening which is accessible for insertion and/or removal of the disk drive unit therethrough when the drawer is in the withdrawn position.

Storage enclosure, carrier and methods

There is disclosed a carrier () for a disk drive () for inserting a disk drive into a bay () of a storage enclosure (), a storage enclosure and methods relating to the same. The carrier () comprises a housing for housing a said disk drive, and a latch member () slidably attached to the housing. The latch member has at least one latch part () for engaging with a corresponding engagement part of a said bay to latch the carrier () into position when the latch member () is slid in a latch direction to a latch position.

Carrier, storage enclosure and methods

There is disclosed a storage enclosure () and method of manufacturing a storage enclosure () comprising a plurality of bays () for receiving disk drives (), the storage enclosure comprising: a chassis (); a plurality of guide members (), each bay having a first guide member at one end of the bay and a second guide member at the opposed end of the bay, the guide members () being constructed and arranged to engage with and guide a disk drive () into the bay () and to hold the disk drive () in a received position in the bay (); and, a plurality of resilient mounts () by which each guide member () is attached to the chassis (), wherein the mount () is arranged to isolate the disk drive from the chassis to reduce vibration being transmitted between the disk drive and the chassis.

Storage enclosure and methods

Apparatus for attaching a disk to a spindle of a spinstand includes a spindle having a fluid pressure port therethrough for delivery of fluid pressure. A spindle adapter is adapted to be attached to the spindle and for holding a disk. The spindle adapter has a piston movable therein to clamp a disk between the piston and an opposing surface in response to fluid pressure applied through the spindle fluid pressure port. A disk can be attached to the spindle by offering the disk up to the spindle adapter, and applying fluid pressure to the spindle fluid pressure port to cause the piston to clamp the disk against the opposing surface. The disk can then be spun up on the spindle.

Apparatus and method for attaching a disk to a spindle of a spinstand

Apparatus for loading a read/write head to a spinstand has a load area for receiving at least one head to be tested. The apparatus further has a first station having a coarse precisor arranged to provide a coarse positioning of the head. A first automation device is arranged to pick a head from the load area and to deliver it to the coarse precisor. The apparatus has a deck having a test station at which a head can be tested. The deck has a fine precisor arranged to provide a second, fine positioning of the head. A second automation device is arranged to pick a head from the first station and deliver it to the fine precisor where the head can be subjected to a second, fine precising and to pick a head from the fine precisor and to deliver it to the test station.

Growing community of inventors

Louvigne-du-Desert, France

Graham Collins