Transferring disk drives within disk drive testing systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of transferring disk drives within a disk drive system, the method comprising:
- performing one or more of first operations or second operations;
wherein the first operations comprise;
loading, into the disk drive system at a first location, the disk drives;
actuating an automated transporter to retrieve a plurality of the disk drives;
actuating the automated transporter to deliver a first disk drive from the plurality of the disk drives to a first disk drive slot in a second location;
actuating the automated transporter to insert the first disk drive in the first disk drive slot; and
unloading one or more of the disk drives from the disk drive system;
wherein the second operations comprise;
loading a disk drive tote into the disk drive system;
actuating the automated transporter to retrieve a second disk drive from a second test slot of the disk drive system;
actuating the automated transporter to deliver the second disk drive to the disk drive tote; and
unloading, by the disk drive tote, the second disk drive from the disk drive system.
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Abstract
A method of transferring disk drives within a disk drive testing system includes actuating an automated transporter to retrieve multiple disk drives presented for testing, and actuating the automated transporter to deliver each retrieved disk drive to a respective test slot of the disk drive testing system and insert each disk drive in the respective test slot.
408 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of transferring disk drives within a disk drive system, the method comprising:
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performing one or more of first operations or second operations; wherein the first operations comprise; loading, into the disk drive system at a first location, the disk drives; actuating an automated transporter to retrieve a plurality of the disk drives; actuating the automated transporter to deliver a first disk drive from the plurality of the disk drives to a first disk drive slot in a second location; actuating the automated transporter to insert the first disk drive in the first disk drive slot; and unloading one or more of the disk drives from the disk drive system; wherein the second operations comprise; loading a disk drive tote into the disk drive system; actuating the automated transporter to retrieve a second disk drive from a second test slot of the disk drive system; actuating the automated transporter to deliver the second disk drive to the disk drive tote; and unloading, by the disk drive tote, the second disk drive from the disk drive system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of transferring disk drives within a disk drive system, the method comprising:
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receiving, into the disk drive system at a first location, one or more disk drive totes holding multiple disk drives, with the one or more disk drive totes configured for movement between a position outside of the disk drive system and a position that is accessible to an automated transporter in the disk drive system; actuating the automated transporter having a manipulator to retrieve a first disk drive and a second disk drive from the one or more disk drive totes, the manipulator being configured to transport the multiple disk drives; actuating the automated transporter to insert the first disk drive into a first disk drive slot of the disk drive system; actuating the automated transporter to insert the second disk drive into a second disk drive slot of the disk drive system; actuating the automated transporter to retrieve the first disk drive housed in the first disk drive slot actuating the automated transporter to deliver the first disk drive to the second disk drive slot; actuating the automated transporter to retrieve the second disk drive from the second disk drive slot while carrying the first disk drive; and actuating the automated transporter to insert the first disk drive into the second disk drive slot while carrying the second disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A disk drive system comprising:
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an automated transporter; at least one rack arranged about the automated transporter for access by the automated transporter; multiple disk drive slots housed by a rack, a disk drive slot being configured to receive a disk drive; a transfer station arranged for access by the automated transporter, the transfer station configured for presentation of disk drives; and a manipulator attached to the automated transporter, the manipulator being configured to carry the disk drives; wherein the disk drive system is configured to perform one or more of first operations or second operations; wherein the first operations comprise; loading, into the disk drive system at a first location, the disk drives; actuating the automated transporter to retrieve a plurality of the disk drives; actuating the automated transporter to deliver a first disk drive from the plurality of the disk drives to a first disk drive slot in a second location; actuating the automated transporter to insert the first disk drive in the first disk drive slot; and unloading one or more of the disk drives from the disk drive system; wherein the second operations comprise; loading a disk drive tote into the disk drive system; actuating the automated transporter to retrieve a second disk drive from a second test slot of the disk drive system; actuating the automated transporter to deliver the second disk drive to the disk drive tote; and unloading, by the disk drive tote, the second disk drive from the disk drive system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification