Patent · US Expired

Programmable manufacturing system for load/support arms for magnetic disk drive data storage systems

US4603567A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
3References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 19, 1985
Grant dateAug 5, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 19, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P90/02
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A manufacturing system is described for sequentially bending a plurality of planar spring elements extending from a regularly perforated bar or fret, then adjusting the resiliency of each element to provide a precise load when deflected to a particular position, and finally shearing only those elements meeting the desired deflection load criteria from the fret. A microprocessor obtains necessary processing data while controlling the several stations at which the spring elements are measured, formed (bent), thermally adjusted and sheared from the fret. A walking beam transport system also controlled by the microprocesser incremently transports the frets of spring elements between and through each station. An oven can be incorporated into the walking beam transport system between the forming and thermal adjust stations for stress relieving the spring elements before adjustment. Particular features of the system include a translating shuttle mechanism with a plurality of parallel rails for loading frets onto the walking beam transport system, linear cam actuators for moving load cells into engagement with a load arm extending from each spring element, a resilient deflecting guard mech…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.