Stops and a clutch for a loader that test the flying height of a disk drive head gimbal assembly
US5786677A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/58
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An HGA loader for a flying height tester. The loader includes a clamp that holds a head gimbal assembly (HGA) of a hard disk drive. The clamp is mounted to a pivot assembly that is coupled to a ball screw by a transfer housing. The ball screw is rotated by a belt that is coupled to an electric motor by a pair of pulleys. Rotation of the ball screw moves the transfer housing and clamp between a first position and a second position. The loader has a pair of stops that impede the movement of the transfer housing so that the clamp cannot move beyond the first and second positions. The stops are adjustable so that the first and second positions can be varied. The motor pulley has a clutch that allows the motor to turn even when the clamp reaches the first and second positions. The clutch allows the motor to continue rotation and maintain a proper motor count even when the ball screw and driving belt have stopped moving.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.