Burnishing tape handling apparatus and method

A method comprising:

• providing a disk between a first pad and a second pad;
• rotating said disk;
• providing burnishing tape between said first pad and a first surface of said disk and between said second pad and a second surface of said disk;
• moving said first pad and said second pad so that said first pad and said second pad press said burnishing tape in contact with said first surface and said second surface of said disk, respectively
• moving said first pad and said second pad away from said first surface and said second surface of said disk, respectively;
• and
• holding said burnishing tape away from said first pad and said second pad when said first pad and said second pad are moved away from said first surface and said second surface of said disk.

An apparatus comprising:

• burnishing tape;
• pads to press said burnishing tape against opposing surfaces of a disk to be burnished;
• pad holders coupled to said pads;
• and
• means for holding said burnishing tape away from said pads when said pads are not pressing said burnishing tape against said opposing surfaces of said disk.

An apparatus comprising:

• a disk handling mechanism for rotating a disk;
• a first pad and a second pad;
• and
• a first pad holder upon which said first pad is mounted and a second pad holder upon which said second pad is mounted, said first pad holder and said second pad holder being configured to hold said first pad and said second pad on opposing sides of said disk mounted on said disk handling mechanism, said first pad holder and second pad holder being biased together such that said first pad and said second pad automatically apply approximately equal pressure to both sides of said disk;
• wherein said first pad holder and said second pad holder are linearly movable in unison in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said disk wherein said first pad holder and said second pad holder move linearly to center said first pad and said second pad on said disk.