W-patterned tools for transporting/handling pairs of disks
Various apparatus and methods are provided for handling and transporting pairs of disks. A transfer tool engages a pair of disks in gap merge orientation along the outer perimeter edge of the disks and maintains the orientation while transferring the pair of disks to a second location where the disks are transferred to other equipment or subjected to processing. Various disks carriers are also provided for handling and transporting multiple pairs of disks in gap merge orientation.
1. A method for manufacturing hard memory disks, comprising:
positioning a cassette at a first location, the cassette containing a plurality of disks arranged in parallel axial alignment;
orienting a pair of adjacent disks in the cassette on a transfer tool such that the disks remain in parallel axial alignment with a space between them;
moving the pair of disks from a first location to a second location;
simultaneously processing the pair of disks.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining of the pair of disks on the transfer tool while simultaneously processing the disks.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing the disk pair in the cassette with transfer tool, following processing.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing the plurality of disks in the cassette, prior to orienting the pair of disks on the transfer tool.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein said processing comprises subjecting the pair of disks to temperatures of at least approximately 350 degrees Celsius.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said processing comprises adding material to the outwardly facing surface of each disk.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said processing comprises sputtering.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said processing comprises deposition.
9. A method of manufacturing single-sided hard memory disks, comprising:
positioning a carrier containing a plurality of disks in parallel axial alignment at a first location;
positioning two adjacent disks in the carrier on a transfer tool in the parallel axial alignment with a space between the disks;
removing the pair of disks from the carrier using the transfer tool;
simultaneously processing the pair of disks;
returning the pair of disks to the carrier.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising maintaining the orientation of the disk pair on the transfer tool during processing.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising removing the pair of disks from the transfer tool prior to processing.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising changing the position of the carrier following the return of a pair of disks to the carrier.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising repeating the steps of positioning, removing, processing and returning until all disks in the carrier have been processed.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
positioning the carrier at a second location;
positioning two disks on a transfer tool in parallel axial alignment with a space between the disks;
removing the pair of disks from the carrier using a second transfer tool;
simultaneously processing the pair of disks;
returning the pair of disks to the carrier.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising repeating the steps of positioning, removing, processing and returning at the second location until all disks in the carrier have been processed a second time.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first processing step differs from the second processing step.
17. The method of claim 9 , wherein said carrier is made with aluminum.
18. The method of claim 9 , wherein said carrier is made from material resistant to temperatures of at least 350 degrees Celsius.
19. The method of claim 9 , wherein said carrier is a single piece of metal.
20. The method of claim 9 , wherein said carrier is plated for abrasion resistance.
21. The method of claim 9 , further comprising placing a plurality of disks in a carrier prior to positioning a carrier at a first location.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising placing up to 50 disks in the carrier.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein said step of placing a plurality of disks in the carrier comprises orienting the disks in parallel axial alignment and in pairs with a space between the disks, and wherein the space between disks within a pair is no greater than the space between adjacent pairs of disks.
24. The method of claim 9 , wherein positioning two disks on a transfer tool comprises engaging a length of the outer perimeter edge of each disk.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein engaging a length of the outer perimeter edge of each disk comprises placing the disks in parallel adjacent grooves formed in the transfer tool.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein placing the disks in parallel adjacent grooves further comprises locating a separating member between the disks.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein engaging a length of the outer perimeter edge of each disk comprises engaging an outer perimeter edge of the disks along the bottom of each disk.
28. The method of claim 9 , wherein removing the pair of disks from the carrier comprises moving the transfer tool vertically between a position substantially beneath the carrier and a position such that the pair of disks are above the carrier.
29. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transferring the pair of disks to a second transfer tool following removing the disks from the carrier using a transfer tool.
30. The method of claim 29 , further comprising moving the second transfer tool to a second position following transferring the pair of disks to a second transfer tool.
31. The method of claim 9 , wherein positioning two disks in a transfer tool comprises engaging each disk at three locations.
32. The method of claim 31 , further comprising engaging the two disks at three locations spaced around the outer perimeter of the disks.
33. The method of claim 31 , wherein the three locations are substantially evenly spaced apart.
34. The method of claim 9 , wherein positioning two disks on a transfer tool does not block access to the outwardly facing surface of either disk.
35. The method of claim 31 , further comprising maintaining the orientation of the disks on the transfer tool during movement of the transfer tool.
36. A method of manufacturing single-sided hard memory disks, comprising:
positioning a carrier at a first location in relation to an indicia defined by the carrier, the carrier containing a plurality of disks in parallel axial alignment;
positioning two disks in the carrier on a transfer tool in the parallel axial alignment with a space between the disks;
removing the pair of disks from the carrier using the transfer tool;
simultaneously processing the pair of disks;
returning the pair of disks to the carrier.
37. A method of manufacturing single-sided hard memory disks, comprising:
positioning a carrier containing a plurality of disks in parallel axial alignment at a first position;
positioning two disks in the carrier on a transfer tool in the parallel axial alignment with a space between the disks;
removing the pair of disks from the carrier using the transfer tool;
simultaneously processing the pair of disks;
returning the pair of disks to the carrier;
adjusting the position of the carrier in relation to an indicia defined by the carrier.
38. A method of manufacturing single-sided hard memory disks, comprising:
placing a plurality of discs in a carrier arranged in pairs, wherein a space between adjacent pairs of disks is greater than a space between disks forming a pair;
positioning the carrier containing the plurality of disks in parallel axial alignment at a first position;
positioning two disks in the carrier on a transfer tool in the parallel axial alignment with a space between the disks;
removing the pair of disks from the carrier using the transfer tool;
simultaneously processing the pair of disks;
returning the pair of disks to the carrier.