David R Swift

US Patent:

6779252, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Jun 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/883629

Inventors:

Joseph Patrick Tracy - South Haven MN
Mark T. Girard - South Haven MN
Ryan A. Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN
Roger Rhea Livermore - Hutchinson MN
David Richard Swift - Glencoe MN

Assignee:

Applied Kinetics, Inc. - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

B23P 1900

US Classification:

29739, 2960303, 29720, 29721, 29729, 29833, 29760

Abstract:

The present invention provides an assembly apparatus employing at least a robotic or automated assembly apparatus to manipulate the components to be assembled and at least a first vision alignment system to align the components prior to their assembly. An adhesive dispense system is provided to connect, attach or otherwise adhere the components together. In a method in accord with the present invention for assembling components, a source of the components is provided is located relative to a global reference system. The components held by the source are then located relative to the global reference system based upon the determined location of the source. An adhesive is dispensed onto a first of the components and a second component is manipulated into an initial attachment position relative to the first component. The components are imaged by a local imaging system to establish their position relative to each other and the second component is moved into a desired attachment position and then moved into engagement with the adhesive and the first component. The adhesive may then be at least partially cured if desired.

US Patent:

7027141, Apr 11, 2006

Filed:

May 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/138728

Inventors:

Mark T. Girard - South Haven MN, US
Joseph P. Tracy - South Haven MN, US
David R. Swift - Glencoe MN, US
Ryan A. Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN, US

Assignee:

Applied Kinetics, Inc. - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G01N 21/00

US Classification:

3562371, 356614, 356624

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for determining and adjusting the static attitude of a head suspension or a head suspension assembly for use in a dynamic storage device. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a workpiece support and an adjust device, operatively positioned with respect to the workpiece support, for adjusting the head suspension. The adjust device includes first and second clamp portions for restraining a gimbal arm and an adjust body for deforming the restrained gimbal arm while the gimbal arm is restrained by the first and second clamp portions. A method in accordance with the present invention includes determining the planar orientation of a surface indicative of the static attitude of the slider mounting tongue or a slider mounted thereto and controllably deforming an individual gimbal arm of the flexure independently from another gimbal arm of the flexure to introduce a permanent deformation of the gimbal arm thereby adjusting the static attitude of the slider mounting tongue or slider if present.

US Patent:

7127799, Oct 31, 2006

Filed:

Feb 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/073600

Inventors:

Mark T. Girard - South Haven MN, US
Ryan A. Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN, US
David R. Swift - Glencoe MN, US
Joseph P. Tracy - South Haven MN, US

Assignee:

Applied Kinetics, Inc. - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G11B 5/127
H04R 31/00

US Classification:

296031, 2960307, 2960312, 2960316, 29851, 73104, 73105, 3602345, 3602358

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method for assembling a head gimbal assembly useful in a hard disk drive and for testing such an assembly. In a method in accord with the present invention a head/slider is mounted to a circuited gimbal in an automated assembly machine. Following this step the head/slider circuited gimbal assembly will be subjected a dynamic electrical test with those head/slider circuited gimbal assemblies not passing being sorted from the lot. Following this step the head/slider circuited assembly will be attached to a suspension.

US Patent:

7191512, Mar 20, 2007

Filed:

Feb 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/073620

Inventors:

Mark T. Girard - South Haven MN, US
Ryan A. Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN, US
David R. Swift - Glencoe MN, US
Joseph P. Tracy - South Haven MN, US

Assignee:

Applied Kinetics, Inc. - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

B23P 19/00

US Classification:

29759, 29721, 29742, 29760, 2960303, 206725, 206564, 206722, 3602442

Abstract:

The present invention provides a tray for holding components having first and second sides, wherein the first side has at least one first component receptacle for engaging said component; and the second side has at least one component engaging member, and further wherein the first component receptacle and the component engaging member are aligned such that when multiples of the tray are stacked upon each other the first component receptacle and the component engaging member will cooperate to restrain the motion of the component relative to the tray. In such an embodiment the component will have first and second engagement surfaces and the first component receptacle will engage the first component engagement surface and the component engaging member will engage the second component engagement surface.

US Patent:

7433023, Oct 7, 2008

Filed:

Sep 20, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/230981

Inventors:

David R. Swift - Glencoe MN, US
Mark T. Girard - Hutchinson MN, US
Joseph P. Tracy - Hutchinson MN, US

Assignee:

Applied Kinetics, Inc. - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G01C 3/08

US Classification:

356 401, 356 402, 356 41

Abstract:

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for determining spatial information of a workpiece surface positioned in a predetermined coordinate system. Apparatuses and methods of the present invention can be used to determine one or more coordinates of one or more measurement locations of a workpiece within a predetermined coordinate system. Such coordinates can be used to define points, lines, and/or surfaces of the workpiece within the coordinate system. In one exemplary application, apparatuses and methods of the present invention can be used to determine spatial information of surfaces of head suspensions or head suspension assemblies such as those that are generally utilized in dynamic storage devices such as magnetic disk drives. Such spatial information can be used to determine z-height and/or static attitude, for example.

US Patent:

7764387, Jul 27, 2010

Filed:

Mar 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/713550

Inventors:

Mark T. Girard - Hutchinson MN, US
Joseph P. Tracy - Hutchinson MN, US
Ryan A. Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN, US
David R. Swift - Glencoe MN, US

Assignee:

Applied Kinetics, Inc. - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G01B 11/14
G01B 11/26
G01C 1/00
G01N 21/86
G01V 8/00

US Classification:

356614, 35613903, 3561391, 25055929, 25055937

Abstract:

An optical measurement device for determining at least two parameters of a measurement location of a surface of at least one workpiece positioned in a known coordinate system is described. The device comprises a first light source providing a first measurement beam. The first measurement beam is directed at a first surface of a workpiece. The device also comprises a second light source providing a second measurement beam. The second measurement beam is directed at a second surface of a workpiece facing opposite the first surface. Further, the device comprises a first system of receiving optics. The first system of receiving optics detects the incoming position of the first measurement beam. The first system of receiving optics is positioned on an opposite side of a workpiece from the first light source. Further still, the device comprises a second imaging system.

US Patent:

20020135926, Sep 26, 2002

Filed:

Aug 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/938321

Inventors:

Mark Girard - Hutchinson MN, US
Joseph Tracy - Hutchinson MN, US
David Swift - Hutchinson MN, US
Ryan Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN, US

International Classification:

G11B021/02

US Classification:

360/075000

Abstract:

The present invention provides apparatus for measurement of suspension assembly component position and static attitude and for adjustment thereof. An apparatus in accord with the present invention includes modules for the measurment and adjustment of the gimbal portion of suspensions, FSAs, and HGAs.

US Patent:

20070024870, Feb 1, 2007

Filed:

Aug 1, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/497179

Inventors:

Mark Girard - Hutchinson MN, US
David Swift - Glencoe MN, US
Joseph Tracy - Hutchinson MN, US

International Classification:

G01B 11/14

US Classification:

356623000

Abstract:

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for determining spatial information of a workpiece surface positioned in a predetermined coordinate system. Apparatuses and methods of the present invention can be used to determine one or more coordinates of one or more measurement locations of a workpiece within a predetermined coordinate system. Such coordinates can be used to define points, lines, and/or surfaces of the workpiece within the coordinate system. In one exemplary application, apparatuses and methods of the present invention can be used to determine spatial information of surfaces of head suspensions or head suspension assemblies such as those that are generally utilized in dynamic storage devices such as magnetic disk drives. Such spatial information can be used to determine z-height and/or static attitude, for example.