Disk drive assembly station

A disk drive assembly station, comprising:

• a station platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk fixture including means for removably supportng a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• and
• means for movably supporting said disk fixture on said platform for movement between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture and a second position in predetermined precision spaced relation with said head fixture, whereby a disk subassembly supported on said disk fixture is movable into precision registration with an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said disk fixture is in said second position;
• said head and disk fixtures respectively including a pair of reference surfaces disposed in predetermined precision spaced relation when said disk fixture is in said second position, said means for supporting the actuator and disk subassemblies respectively including means for seating the actuator and disk subassemblies on said reference surfaces.

A disk drive assembly station, comprising:

• a station platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk fixture including means for removably supporting a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• means for movably supporting said disk fixture on said platform for movement between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture and a second position in predetermined precision spaced relation with said head fixture, whereby a disk subassembly supported on said disk fixture is movable into precision registration with an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said disk fixture is in said second position;
• and
• further including a transfer tool for supporting the disk subassembly during transfer thereof to said disk fixture.

A disk drive assembly station, comprising:

• a station platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk fixture including means for removably supporting a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• and
• means for movably supporting said disk fixture on said platform for movement between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture and a second position in predetermined precision spaced relation with said head fixture, whereby a disk subassembly supported on said disk fixture is movable into precision registration with an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said disk fixture is in said second position;
• said head fixture further including means for supporting a magnet unit of a disk drive unit.

A disk drive assembly station, comprising:

• a station platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk fixture including means for removably supporting a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• and
• means for movably supporting said disk fixture on said platform for movement between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture and a second position in predetermined precision spaced relation with said head fixture, whereby a disk subassembly supported on said disk fixture is movable into precision registration with an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said disk fixture is in said second position;
• said head fixture further including means for supporting a solenoid unit of a disk drive unit.

A disk drive assembly station, comprising:

• a station platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk fixture including means for removably supporting a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• means for movably supporting said disk fixture on said platform for movement between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture and a second position in predetermined precision spaced relation with said head fixture, whereby a disk subassembly supported on said disk fixture is movable into precision registration with an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said disk fixture is in said second position;
• and
• further including a loading comb mounted on said platform and having a plurality of teeth adapted for movement between a first position retracted from said head fixture and a second position with said comb teeth engaging an actuator subassembly on said head fixture to maintain read/write heads of the actuator subassembly in spaced relation.

A disk drive assembly station, comprising:

• a station platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk drive including means for removably supporting a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• means for movably supporting said disk fixture on said platform for movement between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture and a second position in predetermined precision spaced relation with said head fixture, whereby a disk subassembly supported on said disk fixture is movable into precision registration with an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said disk fixture is in said second position;
• and
• further including guide means projecting upwardly from said platform for guiding a housing base of a disk drive unit into seated relation with a disk subassembly on said disk fixture and an actuator subassembly on said head fixture.

A disk drive assembly station, comprising:

• a station platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk fixture including means for removably supporting a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• means for movably supporting said disk fixture on said platform for movement between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture and a second position in predetermined precision spaced relation with said head fixture, whereby a disk subassembly supported on said disk fixture is movable into precision registration with an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said disk fixture is in said second position;
• and
• further including means for supporting said platform for movement between upright and inverted orientations, said platform having at least one opening formed therein to expose at least a portion of an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said platform is in said inverted orientation.

A disk drive assembly station, comprising:

• a station platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk fixture including means for removably supporting a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• and
• means for movably supporting said disk fixture on said platform for movement between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture and a second position in predetermined precision spaced relation with said head fixture, whereby a disk subassembly supported on said disk fixture is movable into precision registration with an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said disk fixture is in said second position;
• said means for supporting the actuator subassembly comprising a torque spindle having a threaded tip for threadably engaging the actuator subassembly with a predetermined torque load limit.

A disk drive assembly station comprising:

• a station platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk fixture including means for removably supporting a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• and
• means for movably supporting said disk fixture on said platform for movement between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture and a second position in predetermined precision spaced relation with said head fixture, whereby a disk subassembly supported on said disk fixture is movable into precision registration with an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said disk fixture is in said second position;
• said means for supporting the disk subassembly comprising a torque spindle having a threaded tip for threadably engaging the disk subassembly with a predetermined torque load limit.

A disk drive assembly station, comprising:

• a head fixture including means for removably supporting a head actuator subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• a disk fixture including means for removably supporting a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit;
• means for movably supporting one of said head and disk fixtures for displacement between first and second positions relative to the other of said head and disk fixtures, said head and disk fixtures being oriented to support the actuator and disk subassemblies in precision registration when said one fixture is in said second position;
• said head and disk fixtures being mounted on a common platform;
• and
• further including guide means projecting upwardly from said platform for guiding a housing base of a disk drive unit into seated relation with a disk subassembly on said disk fixture and an actuator subassembly on said head fixture.

A disk drive assembly station for precision assembly of a head actuator subassembly and a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit into a housing base for the disk drive unit, said station comprising:

• a platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and defining a first reference surface for removable seated support of the actuator subassembly said head fixture including means for drawing a portion of the actuator subassembly into seated relation with said first reference surface;
• a disk fixture defining a second reference surface for removable seated support of the disk subassembly, said disk fixture including means for drawing a portion of the disk subassembly into seated relation with said second reference surface;
• and
• track means on said platform for movably supporting said disk fixture relative to said platform, said disk fixture being movable between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture for facilitated reception of the disk subassembly , and a second position supporting the disk subassembly in substantially precision registration with the actuator subassembly;
• said actuator subassembly including a threaded bore at one end thereof, said head fixture including a support sleeve, means for mounting said support sleeve relative to said platform such that one end of said support sleeve defines said first reference surface, and a torque spindle rotatably received within said support sleeve and including a threaded tip for threaded engagement into said threaded bore to draw said one end of the actuator subassembly into seated relation with said first reference surface.

A disk drive assembly station for precision assembly of a head actuator subassembly and a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit into a housing base for the disk drive unit, said station comprising:

• a platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and defining a first reference surface for seated support of the actuator subassembly, said head fixture including means for drawing a portion of the actuator subassembly into seated relation with said first reference surface;
• a disk fixture defining a second reference surface for seated support for the disk subassembly, said disk fixture including means for drawing a portion of the disk subassembly into seated relation with said second reference surface;
• and
• track means on said platform for movably supporting said disk fixture relative to said platform, said disk fixture being movable between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture for facilitated reception of the disk subassembly, and a second position supporting the disk subassembly in substantially precision registration with the actuator subassembly;
• said disk subassembly including a threaded bore at one end thereof, said disk fixture including a support sleeve, means for mounting said support sleeve relative to said platform such that one end of said support sleeve defines said second reference surface, and a torque spindle rotatably received within said support sleeve and including a threaded tip for threaded engagement into said threaded bore to draw said one end of the disk subassembly into seated relation with said second reference surface.

A disk drive assembly station for precision assembly of a head actuator subassembly and a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit into a housing base for the disk drive unit, said station comprising:

• platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and defining a first reference surface for seated support of the actuator subassembly, said head fixture including means for drawing a portion of the actuator subassembly into seated relation with said first reference surface;
• a disk fixture defining a second reference surface for seated support for the disk subassembly, said disk fixture including means for drawing a portion of the disk subassembly into seated relation with said second reference surface;
• and
• track means on said platform for movably supporting said disk fixture relative to said platform, said disk fixture being movable between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture for facilitated reception of the disk subassembly, and a second position supporting the disk subassembly in substantially precision registration with actuator subassembly;
• further including a loading comb mounted on said platform and having a plurality of teeth adapted for movement between a first position retracted from said head fixture and a second position with said comb teeth engaging the actuator subassembly on said head fixture to maintain read/write heads of the actuator subassembly in spaced relation.

A disk drive assembly station for precision assembly of a head actuator subassembly and a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit into a housing base for the disk drive unit, said station comprising:

• a platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and defining a first reference surface for seated support of the actuator subassembly, said head fixture including means for drawing a portion of the actuator subassembly into seated relation with said first reference surface;
• a disk fixture defining a second reference surface for seated support for the disk subassembly, said disk fixture including means for drawing a portion of the disk subassembly into seated relation with said second reference surface;
• track means on said platform for movably supporting said disk fixture relative to said platform, said disk fixture being movable between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture for facilitated reception of the disk subassembly, and a second position supporting the disk subassembly in substantially precision registration with the actuator subassembly;
• and
• further including guide means projecting upwardly from said platform for guiding the housing base of a disk drive unit into seated relation with the disk subassembly on said disk fixture and the actuator subassembly on said head fixture.

A disk drive assembly station for precision assembly of a head actuator subassembly and a disk subassembly of a disk drive unit into a housing base for the disk drive unit, said station comprising:

• platform;
• a head fixture on said platform and defining a first reference surface for seated support of the actuator subassembly, said head fixture including means for drawing a portion of the actuator subassembly into seated relation with said first reference surface;
• a disk fixture defining a second reference surface for seated support for the disk subassembly, said disk fixture including means for drawing a portion of the disk subassembly into seated relation with said second reference surface;
• track means on said platform for movably supporting said disk fixture relative to said platform, said disk fixture being movable between a first position spaced substantially from said head fixture for facilitated reception of the disk subassembly, and a second position supporting the disk subassembly in substantially precision registration with the actuator subassembly;
• and
• further including means for supporting said platform for movement between upright and inverted orientations, said platform having at least one opening formed therein to expose at least a portion of an actuator subassembly supported on said head fixture when said platform is in said inverted orientation.