# US 7,610,672 B1 · Method of reworking disk drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,672 B1 - Document ID: US7610672B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/494,239 - Filed: 2006-07-27 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-07-27 - Assignees: Western Digital Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Michael K. Liebman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610672B1 ## CPC - G11B 25/043: {using rotating discs} - Y10T 29/49025: Making disc drive - Y10T 29/49027: Mounting preformed head/core onto other structure - Y10T 29/4903: with bonding - Y10T 29/49032: Fabricating head structure or component thereof - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract There is provided a disk drive that includes a base, a limiting member, an actuator, and a latch. The actuator includes an actuator catch with a catch path. The latch contacts the limiting member with the latch in an open position. The latch is biased to rotate to a defeat position. An arresting portion is in the catch path with the latch in a closed position. The arresting portion is not in the catch path with the latch in the open position, and not in the catch path with the latch in the defeat position. A crash stop portion contacts the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in a stop position. The crash stop portion does not contact the actuator with the latch in the defeat position. Also provided is a method of reworking a disk drive having the latch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of reworking a disk drive, the disk drive including a disk drive base and a first actuator rotatably coupled to the disk drive base about an actuator axis of rotation, the first actuator including an actuator catch, rotation of the first actuator defining an arcuate catch path of the actuator catch, the disk drive also including a latch including a latch arresting portion disposed in the catch path with the latch in a closed position, the latch arresting portion not in the catch path with the latch in an open position, the latch also including a crash stop portion that prevents an extreme rotational position of the first actuator where a read head of the first actuator is disposed radially beyond a disk outer diameter of the disk drive, the crash stop portion preventing the extreme rotational position of the first actuator with the latch in the closed position or in the open position but not with the latch in a defeat position, the latch arresting portion not in the catch path with the latch in the defeat position, the disk drive also including a fixed limiting member preventing the latch from rotating from the open position to the defeat position, the method comprising: removing the fixed limiting member from the disk drive during a reworking period; allowing the latch to biasedly move to the defeat position from the open position during the reworking period; removing the first actuator from the disk drive including translating the first actuator in a direction parallel to the actuator axis of rotation during the reworking period; and replacing the first actuator with a replacement actuator into the disk drive including translating the replacement actuator in a direction parallel to the actuator axis of rotation during the reworking period; wherein the latch is never removed from the disk drive during the reworking period. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the removing of the first actuator further includes rotating the first actuator coupled to the disk drive base of the disk drive to the extreme rotational position of the first actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the replacing of the first actuator further includes rotating the replacement actuator from an extreme rotational position of the replacement actuator in which a read head of the replacement actuator is disposed radially beyond a disk outer diameter of the disk drive, to an installed position in which the read head of the replacement actuator is disposed radially closer to the disk axis of rotation than when in the extreme rotational position of the replacement actuator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 in which the first actuator and the replacement actuator are the same actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the fixed limiting member comprises a top voice coil motor (VCM) plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the fixed limiting member comprises a disk drive cover. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the latch further includes a latch biasing element comprising a ferromagnetic metal material and wherein the allowing of the latch to biasedly move includes allowing a magnetic interaction to move the latch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the magnetic interaction is between the latch biasing element and a voice coil motor (VCM) magnet of the disk drive. ### Claim 9 A method of reworking a disk drive, the disk drive including a disk drive base and a first actuator rotatably coupled to the disk drive base about an actuator axis of rotation, the disk drive also including a latch limiting a rotation of the first actuator, the method comprising: removing a fixed limiting member from the disk drive during a reworking period; allowing the latch to biasedly move during the reworking period; removing the first actuator from the disk drive including translating the first actuator in a direction parallel to the actuator axis of rotation during the reworking period; and replacing the first actuator with a replacement actuator into the disk drive including translating the replacement actuator in a direction parallel to the actuator axis of rotation during the reworking period; wherein the latch is never removed from the disk drive during the reworking period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the removing of the first actuator further includes rotating the first actuator coupled to the disk drive base of the disk drive to an extreme rotational position of the first actuator with a read head of the first actuator disposed radially beyond a disk outer diameter of the disk drive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the replacing of the first actuator further includes rotating the replacement actuator from an extreme rotational position of the replacement actuator in which a read head of the replacement actuator is disposed radially beyond the disk outer diameter of the disk drive, to an installed position in which the read head of the replacement actuator is disposed radially closer to a disk axis of rotation than when in the extreme rotational position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 in which the first actuator and the replacement actuator are the same actuator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the fixed limiting member comprises a top voice coil motor (VCM) plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the fixed limiting member comprises a disk drive cover. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the latch includes a latch biasing element comprising a ferromagnetic metal material and wherein the allowing of the latch to biasedly move includes allowing a magnetic interaction to move the latch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the magnetic interaction is between the latch biasing element and a voice coil motor (VCM) magnet of the disk drive.