Automated assembly device for assembly of components of a disc drive

An assembly device for assembling components of a disc drive, the assembly device being adapted to assembly components of a disc drive supported at a disc drive station. The assembly members are operably supported for operation between a load position and an install position aligned with the disc drive station. Components are engaged by the assembly members and transported to the disc drive station. At the disc drive station, the components are aligned for assembly in the disc drive.

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What is claimed is:

1. An assembly device for assembling components of a disc drive comprising:

an assembly base including a disc drive station configured to support an unassembled disc drive;

a plurality of assembly members operably coupled to the assembly base and including gripping members operable to selectively grip and release an assembly component and the assembly members movable in unison between a load position and an installposition aligned with the disc drive station, in the load position, the gripping members gripping assembly components and in the install position, the gripping members releasing the assembly components to install the assembly components in theunassembled disc drive;

an operating device operating the gripping members to grip the assembly components in the load position and moving the assembly members in unison from the load position to the install position with the gripping members gripping the assemblycomponents and operating the gripping members in the install position to release the assembly components for installation of the assembly components; and

a controller operably coupled to the operating device to synchronously operate the assembly members between the load position and the install position.

2. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein at least three assembly members are included.

3. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein the operating device includes:

an x-axis operating device coupled to the assembly members to move the assembly members along an x-axis between a component station, supporting a plurality of components for installation, and the disc drive station; and

a z-axis operating device coupled to the assembly members to move the assembly members between a lower position and an elevated position to operate between the load position and the install position.

4. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein the assembly members operate between a component station, supporting a plurality of components for installation, and the disc drive station, and the operating device includes:

a track coupled to the assembly base and having a slide movably supported thereon and adapted to move between the component station and the disc drive station, operation of the slide being controlled by the controller;

a lift block operably coupled to the slide and movable therewith, and including a lift moveable along a track of the lift block transverse to the movement of the slide, operation of the lift being controlled by the controller; and

the assembly members being operably coupled to the lift and concurrently moved thereby, said lift supporting the assembly members above the disc drive station and the component station in an elevated position, and operable to a lower position toload and to install the assembly components in the unassembled disc drive.

5. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of assembly members includes a latch assembly member adapted to assemble a latch assembly for an actuator block of the unassembled disc drive.

6. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of assembly members includes a filter housing assembly member adapted to assemble a filter housing of the unassembled disc drive.

7. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of assembly members includes a magnet-and-backiron assembly member adapted to assemble a magnet-and-backiron assembly relative to a coil bobbin for constructing a voice coil motor of theunassembled disc drive.

8. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of assembly members includes a latch assembly member, a filter housing assembly member and a magnet-and-backiron assembly member.

9. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein the unassembled disc drive is supported along a conveyor movable along a conveyor path spaced from the disc drive station and including a disc drive transport operable between the conveyor and the discdrive station to move the unassembled disc drive from the conveyor to the disc drive station and from the disc drive station to the conveyor.

10. The assembly device of claim 4 wherein the plurality of assembly members are compliantly coupled relative to said lift via a slide movable along a track rigidly coupled to the lift to adjust the position of the assembly members relative tothe lift to compensate for obstructions.

11. The assembly device of claim 6 wherein the filter housing assembly member includes fingers movably supported between a retracted position for insertion relative to posts of the filter housing, and a second expanded position to grip the poststo selectively grip and release the filter housing.

12. The assembly device of claim 5 wherein the latch assembly member includes fingers movably supported between a first spaced position and a second closed position to selectively grip and release the latch assembly.

13. The assembly device of claim 12 wherein the latch assembly member includes a pivot plate pivotally coupled relative to the assembly base, said fingers being coupled to said pivot plate and movable thereby between the install position and alocked position to align the latch assembly in the unassembled disc drive.

14. The assembly device of claim 7 wherein the magnet-and-backiron assembly member includes gripper arms movably supported to operate between an opened extended position and a closed gripping position to selectively grip and release themagnet-and-backiron assembly.

15. The assembly device of claim 14 wherein the gripper arms are operably coupled to a slide and are movable thereby to operate between a retracted position and an insertion position to align the magnet-and-backiron assembly supported via thegripper arms relative to a coil bobbin of the unassembled disc drive, and to advance the magnet-and-backiron assembly to insert the coil bobbin in a gap of the magnet-and-backiron assembly for installation.

16. The assembly device of claim 1 including a photosensor to detect obstructions, said photosensor being operably coupled to the controller to restrict operation when an obstruction is detected.

17. A method of assembling a disc drive comprising the steps of:

positioning an unassembled disc drive relative to a disc drive station coupled to an assembly base, and aligning a latch base, filter housing and magnet-and-backiron assembly components in a predefined pattern in a component station;

providing an assembly train including a latch assembly member, a filter housing assembly member and a magnet-and-backiron assembly member operable between the disc drive station and the component station;

positioning the assembly train relative to the component station;

operating the latch assembly member, the filter housing assembly member, and the magnet and backiron assembly member to engage the assembly components supported at the component station for transport via the assembly train;

moving the assembly train with the assembly components supported thereby to the disc drive station and aligning the supported assembly components for installation; and

disengaging the assembly components to install the assembly components in the unassembled disc drive.

18. An assembly device for assembling components of a disc drive comprising:

a base including a disc drive station; and

assembly means for assembling components in the disc drive, said assembly means being adapted to engage assembly components and transport assembly components for installation in the disc drive.