Disk Drive Transport, Clamping and Testing

A disk drive test slot comprising:

• a housing defining:
• a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and
• an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing;
• and
• a first engagement element mounted to the housing, wherein the first engagement element is configured to engage a disk drive carried by a disk drive transporter when a disk drive transporter is inserted in the test compartment.

A disk drive testing system comprising:

• automated machinery;
• a disk drive transporter comprising:
• a frame configured to receive and support a disk drive, wherein the automated machinery is configured to releasably engage the frame to control movement of the disk drive transporter;
• a loading station for storing disk drives to be tested;
• and
• a test slot configured to receive and support a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive, wherein the automated machinery is operable to remove disk drives from the loading station utilizing the disk drive transporter and insert the disk drive transporter, having a disk drive therein, into the test slot.

A disk drive transporter for transporting a disk drive and for mounting a disk drive within a test slot, the disk drive transporter comprising:

• a frame comprising:
• sidewalls configured to receive a disk drive therebetween and sized to be inserted into a test slot along with a disk drive;
• and
• a base plate connecting the sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls and the base plate together define a substantially U-shaped opening for capturing a disk drive off of a support.

A method of testing a disk drive, the method comprising:

• actuating automated machinery to engage a disk drive transporter;
• capturing a disk drive with the disk drive transporter;
• and then
• actuating the automated machinery to insert the disk drive transporter and the captured disk drive into a test slot, wherein capturing the disk drive comprises moving the disk drive transporter into engagement with the disk drive using the automated machinery.

A test slot assembly comprising:

• A.) a test slot comprising:
• i.) a housing defining:
• a.) a test compartment, and
• b.) an open end providing access to the test compartment;
• and
• B.) a disk drive transporter comprising;
• i.) a frame configured to receive and support a disk drive, the frame comprising:
• a.) sidewalls configured to receive a disk drive therebetween and sized to be inserted into the test compartment along with a disk drive;
• and
• ii.) a clamping mechanism operatively associated with at least one of the sidewalls and comprising:
• a.) a first engagement element;
• and
• b.) a first actuator operable to initiate movements of the first engagement element, wherein the first actuator is operable to move the first engagement element into engagement with the housing after a disk drive being supported by the frame is arranged in a test position in the test compartment.

A test slot assembly comprising:

• A.) a disk drive transporter comprising
• i.) a frame configured to receive and support a disk drive, the frame comprising:
• a.) sidewalls configured to receive a disk drive therebetween, wherein a first one of the sidewalls defines a pass-through aperture;
• and
• B.) a housing including:
• i.) a test compartment for receiving and supporting the disk drive transporter, and
• ii.) an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of the disk drive transporter;
• and
• iii.) a first engagement element mounted to the housing, wherein the first engagement element is configured to extend through the pass-through aperture to engage a disk drive carried by the disk drive transporter when the disk drive transporter is inserted in the test compartment.

A disk drive testing system comprising:

• automated machinery;
• and
• a disk drive transporter comprising:
• a frame configured to receive and support a disk drive, and
• a clamping mechanism comprising:
• a first engagement element, and
• a first actuator operable to initiate movements of the first engagement element, wherein the automated machinery is configured to control operation of the clamping mechanism.