Apparatus for adjusting the gram load of head gimbal assemblies

An apparatus for adjusting a gram load of a selected head gimbal assembly having a longitudinal axis while located in a head stack assembly having a plurality of head gimbal assemblies, each of said head gimbal assemblies includes an elongated flexible member having a predetermined bend that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said head gimbal assembly comprising:

• means for removably mounting said head stack assembly for movement in a plane parallel to said longitudinal axis of said selected head gimbal assembly to a gram load adjusting station;
• means for restraining movement of said selected head gimbal assembly during a gram load adjustment;
• means comprising an elongated, rigid, straight bearing edge for applying a force to said flexible member to adjust said gram load;
• means for positioning said edge parallel to said bend, and in contact with the bend area of said flexible element
• means for moving said edge a predetermined distance for adjusting the gram load of said head gimbal assemble;
• including a gram load measuring station for measuring the gram load of each of said head gimbal assemblies in said head stack assembly, and wherein said means for removably mounting includes a slidable platform having a head stack assembly mounting post;
• wherein said gram load measuring station includes indicator means for providing an indication to an operator that the gram load of said selected head gimbal assembly needs to be adjusted by a predetermined amount;
• wherein said means for removably mounting includes means for sliding said platform in a plane along a path connecting respective operating positions at said stations;
• and
• clamping means on said mounting post for clamping said head stack assembly with said head gimbal assemblies substantially parallel to the plane of movement of said platform and said longitudinal axis parallel to said path.

An apparatus for adjusting a gram load of at least one head gimbal assembly having a longitudinal axis and while located in a head stack assembly having a plurality of head gimbal assemblies, each of said head gimbal assemblies includes an elongated flexible member having a predetermined bend that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said head gimbal assembly, comprising:

• first means for removably mounting said head stack assembly for movement in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said head gimbal assembly to a gram load adjusting station, said first means comprising a platform and a mounting post having an axis disposed normal to said platform;
• means for maintaining the head gimbal assemblies of said head stack assembly in a relatively fixed position, including a support block having a plurality of cantilevered support members positionable relative to said head gimbal assemblies for restraining movement of the head stack assembly during a gram load adjustment, said support block being movable in a direction normal to said longitudinal axis;
• a force-transmitting bar having an elongated bearing edge;
• means for positioning said bar with said edge disposed transverse to the lengthwise axis of the selected head gimbal assembly at the point where the flexible element is bent, and in force-transmitting contact with said flexible element;
• and
• means for moving said bar a predetermined distance for adjusting the gram load of said head gimbal assembly that is provided by said flexible element.