Seagate Technology Incorporated

Sham Sunder Nayar

John George Gerogeorge

Ronald Jacob Smith

James John Stirn

Mark Curtis Fahrendorff

Terrence L Grewe

Ronald D Fowler

Shawn Stephen Silewski

Craig A Parsons

Rick G Goodrich

An apparatus and associated method for measuring spatial characteristics of a test object with stacked features. First and second measurement assemblies for measuring opposing first and second planar features, respectively, of a test object, by directing light beams into a gap between the features to measure a position and a static attitude of each feature.

Measurement of test object with stacked features

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.

Fixturing a head spindle assembly with an expanding collet

The application discloses an adjustable head stack comb having adjustable first and second comb plates. The adjustable comb plates include at least one tooth segment which cooperatively form a comb having at least one tooth. The first and second comb plates are adjusted to adjust dimensions of the at least one tooth cooperatively formed by the tooth segments of the first and second comb plates. In the embodiments disclosed, a relative position of the first and second comb plates is adjusted to adjust a thickness dimension of the at least one tooth formed by the at least one tooth segments of the first and second comb plates. Also in illustrated embodiments, the comb plates are cooperatively adjusted to adjust an elevation or z-height of the at least one tooth of the comb.

Adjustable head stack comb

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, and is thereby selectively operable between an expanded mode and a retracted mode. In the expanded mode, a clearing disengagement is defined with the component. In the retracted mode, a contacting engagement is defined with the component as well as a simultaneous longitudinal force that is transferred by the contacting engagement to the component capable of pressingly engaging the datum surfaces together. The apparatus further has a bias member urging the collet to the retracted mode.

Fixturing a head spindle assembly with a retracting collet

A method for picking and placing a clinging part. Gripper fingers spaced apart from each other by a central spacing on each of first and second gripper jaws are provided. The gripper jaws are moved between a grip position in which the gripper jaws grip the clinging part and a release position in which the gripper jaws release and retract from the clinging part. An ejector having a cling resistant part pusher movable in the central spacings is moved between a retracted position in which the part pusher is retracted and contacts the clinging part. and an eject position in which the part pusher ejects the clinging part.

Method for picking and placing a clinging part

A robotic tool picks and places a clinging part in an assembly. Two gripper jaws each have gripper fingers spaced apart from each other by a central spacing. The gripper jaws are movable between a grip position and a release position. The robotic tool also has an ejector. The ejector has a part pusher that is cling resistant and movable in the central spacings between a retracted position, and an eject position in which the cling resistant part pusher ejects the clinging part.

Gripper with parts ejector system

The present invention is an apparatus and a method for removing a top cover from a disc drive. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises a wedge configured to fit between the top cover and the base of the disc drive. The embodiment further comprises an actuator configured to drive the wedge with a sufficient driving force to separate the top cover from the base of the disc drive. The embodiment further comprises a crowder configured to support the disc drive, wherein the crowder is disposed to oppose the driving force imparted to the disc drive by the actuator. Finally, the embodiment comprises a top cover holder configured to remove the top cover. The present invention includes a method for implementing the steps performed by the embodiment of the apparatus.

Top cover removal machine for disc drives

A disc slip tester for testing disc slip. The tester including a load actuator and load sensor for supplying and measuring test loads. A processor is coupled to the load sensor and is programmed to determine disc slip. Disc slip data is outputted for quality control and performance analysis. A method for analyzing disc slip including supplying a load to a disc in a disc stack and incrementally measuring load and disc displacement and plotting the relationship between load and displacement during test operations.

Growing community of inventors

Savage, MN, United States of America

Sham Sunder Nayar