Granted Patent B1

US 9,129,639 · App. 14/316,377 · Granted Sep 8, 2015

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A disk drive assembly comprising:

a disk hub;

a disk media; and

an annular disk clamp that engages a radial surface of the disk hub to couple the disk media to disk hub,

wherein the disk clamp comprises:

a body portion having a transverse hole extending through the body portion; and

a groove formed in a surface of the body portion and extending in a circumferential direction substantially parallel to at least a portion of the circumference of the disk clamp; and

a balance weight installed in the groove formed in the surface of the disk clamp, wherein the balance weight comprises a quantity of material applied in the groove.

2. The disk drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the groove has a substantially semi-circular cross section.

3. The disk drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the groove has a cross-section comprising one or more steps formed on a bottom thereof.

4. The disk drive assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the groove has a cross-section comprising an inclined bottom.

5. The disk drive assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the groove comprises a protrusion that extends from a radially inner wall of the groove toward the center of the groove.

6. A disk clamp configured to engage a disk hub to couple a disk media to a disk hub, wherein the disk clamp comprises:

an annular body portion having a transverse hole extending through the body portion, the body portion configured to engage a radial surface of the disk hub;

and

a groove formed in a surface of the body portion and extending at least in a circumferential direction substantially parallel to at least a portion of the circumference of the disk clamp; and

a balance weight installed in the groove formed in the surface of the disk clamp, wherein the balance weight comprises a quantity of material applied in the groove.

7. The disk clamp according to claim 6 , wherein the groove has a substantially semi-circular cross section.

8. The disk clamp according to claim 6 , wherein the groove has a cross-section comprising one or more steps formed on a bottom thereof.

9. The disk clamp according to claim 6 , wherein the groove has a cross-section comprising an inclined bottom.

10. The disk clamp according to claim 9 , wherein the groove comprises a protrusion that extends from a radially inner wall of the groove toward the center of the groove.

11. A method of balancing a disk pack in a disk drive, the method comprising:

providing a disk media, a disk hub and a disk clamp having a circumferentially extending groove formed in a surface thereof;

positioning the disk media proximate to the disk hub;

coupling the disk clamp to the disk hub to apply a clamping force to the disk media;

determining an imbalance of the coupled disk clamp, disk hub, and disk media; and

attaching a quantity of material so as to be in a stationary position within the groove to correct the imbalance.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the attaching a quantity of material comprises inject a quantity of molten material into the groove.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the quantity of molten material is injected into the groove using jet printing.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the attaching a quantity of material comprises attaching a bearing to the groove using adhesive.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the groove has an inclined surface; and

wherein the attaching a quantity of material into the groove comprises:

positioning the material along the inclined surface to correct the imbalance in three-dimensions.

16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the groove has a cross-section having one or more steps formed on a bottom thereof; and

wherein the attaching a quantity of material into the groove comprises:

positioning the material on the one or more steps formed on a bottom of the groove to correct the imbalance in three-dimensions.

Assignments (8)