IP Library Granted Patent US 6,982,853
Granted Patent B1
US 6,982,853 · App. 10/404,456 · Granted Jan 3, 2006

Disk drive including a stamped arm assembly and method of making an actuator arm assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,982,853
App. No.
10/404,456
Granted
Jan 3, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

An arm assembly of an actuator arm assembly of a disk drive is stamped from a single flat sheet of material and includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions. A method of making an arm assembly for a disk drive includes steps of providing a flat sheet of material and stamping an arm assembly from the sheet such that the stamped arm assembly includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions.

Claims (31)

1. An actuator arm assembly for a disk drive, the actuator arm assembly comprising:

an arm assembly stamped from a single flat sheet of material, the arm assembly comprising a first actuator arm portion that defines a first through bore, a second actuator arm portion that defines a second through bore that is configured to align with the first through bore and a first bendable portion integrally joining the first actuator arm portion to the second actuator arm portion and,

a collar that is configured to fit within the first and second through bores to stiffen the actuator arm assembly.

2. The actuator arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bendable portion is configured to bend such that a major surface of the first actuator arm portion faces and is substantially parallel to a major surface of the second actuator arm portion.

3. The actuator arm assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second bendable portion disposed away from the first bendable portion, the second bendable portion integrally joining the first actuator arm portion to the second actuator arm portion.

4. A head stack assembly for a disk drive, the head stack assembly comprising:

an actuator arm assembly comprising an arm assembly stamped from a single flat sheet of material, the arm assembly comprising a first actuator arm portion that defines a first through bore, a second actuator arm portion that defines a second through bore that is configured to align with the first through bore, a collar that is configured to fit within the first and second through bores to stiffen the actuator arm assembly and a first bendable portion integrally joining the first actuator arm portion to the second actuator arm portion, and

a first head gimbal assembly coupled to the first actuator arm portion.

5. The head stack assembly of claim 4 , further including a second head gimbal assembly coupled to the second actuator arm portion.

6. The head stack assembly of claim 4 , further including:

a coil portion, and

an overmold portion configured to attach the coil portion to the arm assembly.

7. The head stack assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first bendable portion is configured to bend such that a major sure of the first actuator arm portion faces and is substantially parallel to a major surface of the second actuator arm portion.

8. The head stack assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a second bendable portion disposed away from the first bendable portion, the second bendable portion integrally joining the first actuator arm portion to the second actuator arm portion.

9. A disk drive, comprising:

a disk;

a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk, the head stack assembly comprising:

an actuator arm assembly comprising an arm assembly stamped from a single flat sheet of material, the arm assembly comprising a first actuator arm portion that defines a first through bore, a second actuator arm portion that defines a second through bore that is configured to align with the first through bore, a collar that is configured to fit within the first and second through bores to stiffen the actuator arm assembly and a first bendable portion integrally joining the first actuator arm portion to the second actuator arm portion, and

a first head gimbal assembly coupled to the first actuator arm portion.

10. The disk drive of claim 9 , further including a second head gimbal assembly coupled to the second actuator arm portion.

11. The disk drive of claim 9 , further including:

a coil portion, and

an overmold portion configured to attach the coil portion to the actuator arm assembly.

12. The disk drive of claim 9 , wherein the first bendable portion is configured to bend such that a major surface of the first actuator arm portion faces and is substantially parallel to a major surface of the second actuator arm portion.

13. The disk drive of claim 9 , further comprising a second bendable portion disposed away from the first bendable portion, the second bendable portion integrally joining the first actuator arm portion to the second actuator arm portion.

14. A method of making an actuator arm assembly for a disk drive, comprising the steps of:

providing a flat sheet of material;

stamping an arm assembly from the provided sheet of material such that the stamped arm assembly includes a first actuator arm portion that defines a first through bore, a second actuator arm portion that defines a second through bore and a first bendable portion integrally joining the first actuator arm portion to the second actuator arm portion;

bending the first bendable portion such that a major surface of the first actuator arm portion faces and is substantially parallel to a major surface of the second actuator arm portion and such that the first through bore aligns with the second through bore, and

fitting a collar within the first and second through bores to stiffen the actuator arm assembly.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the stamping step creates a first through bore in the first actuator arm portion and a second through bore in the second actuator arm portion.

Assignments (9)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038744 FRAME 0481 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058982/0556 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 045501/0714 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0481 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038722/0229 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0281 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2008
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), INC.
Reel/Frame 020599/0489 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2004
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 014830/0957 →