Xolox Corporation

Michael S Walsh

A multi-station machine assembles magnetic latch assemblies having components which include a post, a magnet, and a surrounding casing. The magnetic latch assemblies are used for 'parking' a read/write head of a memory storage device over a data-free landing zone during off-power conditions. The machine includes a turntable with a plurality of grippers for securing a plurality of posts in position during the assembly process and for conveying partially assembled magnetic latch assemblies to each station. At the various stations of the machine, a pin portion of a post is placed and secured in a respective gripper, a magnet is placed over the core of the post, and a casing is assembled over the magnet and post subassembly by press fitting the casing to a flange portion of the post. Subsequent stations include a vacuum station for removing particles as a result of the press fitting operation, a synchronization station, a magnetization station for magnetizing the magnet, a magnetization verification station for verifying the magnetic field strength of the magnetized magnet, a removal station for removing the assembled magnetic latch assembly, and a crash stop assembling station for assembling the magnetic latch assembly to a crash stop.

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Michael S Walsh