Bulk transfer of storage devices using manual loading

• US 8,964,361 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teradyne Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teradyne Incorporated
• Inventors: Truebenbach, Eric L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US13/593,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20120321435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 361724-727, 360/31, G9B/15.142, G9B/17.054
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/225 wherein the disks are transferred from a fixed magazine to a fixed playing unit using a moving carriage
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis

Abstract

A storage device transfer station is provided for transferring storage devices from a human operator to automated machinery for testing. The storage device transfer station includes a plurality of slots each capable of holding a storage device. The plurality of slots is arranged in at least one field, and the field is arranged between two parallel planes. Each slot has a first open end and a second open end, such that each open end is accessible for loading and unloading a storage device. The first open ends are accessible at a first plane of the two parallel planes and the second open ends are accessible at a second plane of the two parallel planes.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

loading at least a first storage device into a first open end of a first slot of a storage device transfer station;

wherein the storage device transfer station comprises a plurality of slots;

wherein the first slot comprises the first open end and a second open end;

wherein the first open end is accessible for loading at least the first storage device into the first slot and for unloading at least the first storage device from the first slot;

wherein the second open end is accessible by automated machinery;

actuating the automated machinery to access the second open end to transfer at least the first storage device between (i) the first slot of the storage device transfer station, and (ii) at least one slot of a storage device testing system; and

unloading at least a second storage device from at least a second slot of the storage device transfer station;

wherein the first slot and the second slot are arranged in at least one field between two parallel planes;

wherein the first open end is accessible at a first plane of the two parallel planes;

wherein the second open end is accessible at a second plane of the two parallel planes; and

wherein the storage device transfer station is a component of the storage device testing system, with the storage device transfer station being in proximity to one or more racks of the storage device testing system, with the storage device transfer station differing from a rack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein movement of the automated machinery is restricted during loading and unloading.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein loading comprises loading at least the first storage device into a subset of slots of the storage device transfer station.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

grouping together storage devices with substantially similar test results together.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage device transfer station is a component of the storage device testing system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein loading comprises manually loading.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein unloading comprises manually unloading.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein unloading comprises:

unloading at least the second storage device from an open end of the second slot that is accessible for unloading.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving at least a first storage device that is loaded into a first open end of a first slot of a storage device transfer station in a storage device testing system;

wherein the storage device transfer station comprises a plurality of slots;

wherein the first slot comprises the first open end and a second open end;

wherein the first open end is accessible for loading at least the first storage device into the first slot and for unloading at least the first storage device from the first slot;

wherein the second open end is accessible by automated machinery;

accessing, by the automated machinery, at least the first storage device through the second open end of the first slot; and

transferring, by the automated machinery, at least the first storage device between (i) the first slot, and (ii) at least one slot in a rack of the storage device testing system;

wherein at least a second storage device is unloaded from at least a second slot of the storage device transfer station;

wherein the first slot and the second slot are arranged in at least one field between two parallel planes;

wherein the first open end is accessible at a first plane of the two parallel planes;

wherein the second open end is accessible at a second plane of the two parallel planes; and

wherein the storage device transfer station is a component of the storage device testing system, with the storage device transfer station being in proximity to the rack of the storage device testing system, with the storage device transfer station differing from the rack.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

restricting movement of the automated machinery during loading or unloading.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving comprises receiving at least the first storage device into a subset of slots of the storage device transfer station.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

grouping together at least two storage devices with substantially similar test results.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first storage device is manually loaded into the first slot of the storage device transfer station.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the second storage device is manually unloaded from the second slot of the storage device transfer station.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein at least the second storage device is unloaded from an open end of the second slot that is accessible for unloading.