David Allen 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:

58153489, Sep 29, 1998

Filed:

Dec 15, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/572789

Inventors:

Reid C. Danielson - Cokato MN
Michael W. Davis - Humboldt IA
David R. Swift - Glencoe MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G11B 548

US Classification:

360104

Abstract:

A load beam of a suspension assembly has one or more longitudinal channels in the rigid region between the side edges. The load beam blank (from which the load beam itself is constructed) has a relief means, such as a channel-compensating gap extending through the actuator mounting region from the proximal end to provide additional width of sheet material to the rigid region of the load beam blank and to enable the formation of these longitudinal channels. A method for manufacturing a load beam of a suspension assembly from a generally planar sheet of resilient spring material is described. A load beam blank is shaped to include an actuator mounting region on the distal end, and a rigid region between the actuator mounting region and the distal end. A relief means, such as a channel-compensating gap extends through the actuator mounting region from the proximal end. At least one channel is constructed in the rigid region.

US Patent:

62668692, Jul 31, 2001

Filed:

Feb 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/250823

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:

H05K 330

US Classification:

29740

Abstract:

The present invention provides an assembly system 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:

56360134, Jun 3, 1997

Filed:

Jan 4, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/368547

Inventors:

David R. Swift - Glencoe MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G01C 300
G01B 1126
G01B 1114

US Classification:

356 303

Abstract:

An instrument for measuring both the static attitude and Z-height of a suspension assembly flexure. The instrument includes an autocollimation system for measuring static attitude angles. The autocollimation system is fixedly mounted to a laser point range sensor for measuring Z-height distances. Optics coincidentally direct the beams of light from the collimation system and from the point range sensor system to a measurement point. The optics include at least one reflector or other optical device. The instrument offers accurate distance and angle readings in a shore amount of time with no repositioning of the instrument, the base, or the part to be measured.