Transferring Disk Drives Within Disk Drive Testing Systems

Abstract

A method of transferring disk drives within a disk drive testing system includes actuating an automated transporter to retrieve multiple disk drives presented for testing, and actuating the automated transporter to deliver each retrieved disk drive to a respective test slot of the disk drive testing system and insert each disk drive in the respective test slot.

1 . A method of transferring disk drives within a disk drive system, the method comprising:
 loading the disk drives into the disk drive system;   actuating an automated transporter to retrieve a plurality of the disk drives;   actuating the automated transporter to deliver a disk drive from the plurality of the disk drives to a slot;   actuating the automated transporter to insert the disk drive into the slot; and   unloading one or more of the disk drives from the disk drive system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 actuating the automated transporter to retrieve multiple disk drive transporters; and   actuating the automated transporter to carry the disk drive from the plurality of the disk drives with a disk drive transporter to the slot;   wherein actuating the automated transporter to deliver the disk drive to the slot comprises:
 actuating the automated transporter to insert the disk drive transporter carrying the disk drive into the slot. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein insertion of the disk drive transporter into the slot provides closure of the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 presenting one or more disk drive totes to the disk drive system.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 positioning the disk drive transporter below the disk drive;   lifting the disk drive off a disk drive support of a disk drive tote; and   carrying the disk drive in the disk drive transporter away from the disk drive tote.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automated transporter comprises a manipulator configured to transport the disk drives. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the manipulator comprises:
 a manipulator body; and   first and second connectors disposed on the manipulator body and arranged in a substantially V-shaped configuration with respect to each other, with a connector being configured to releasably attach to a disk drive transporter.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 moving, at a substantially simultaneous time, at least two of the plurality of the disk drives.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 placing the disk drive in the slot in a position in which a disk drive connector of the disk drive is engaged with a slot connector of the slot.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disk drives are loaded into the disk drive system one at a time. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the disk drives are retrieved one at a time. 
     
     
         12 . A disk drive system comprising:
 an automated transporter;   at least one rack arranged about the automated transporter for access by the automated transporter; and   multiple slots housed by the at least one rack, a slot being configured to receive a disk drive;   wherein the disk drive system is configured to perform operations comprising;
 loading disk drives into the disk drive system; 
 actuating the automated transporter to retrieve a plurality of the disk drives; 
 actuating the automated transporter to deliver a disk drive from the plurality of the disk drives to a slot in the at least one rack; 
 actuating the automated transporter to insert the disk drive from the plurality of the disk drives into the slot; and 
 unloading one or more of the disk drives from the disk drive system. 
   
     
     
         13 . The disk drive system of  claim 12 , wherein the automated transported comprises a manipulator configured to releasably attach to multiple disk drive transporters. 
     
     
         14 . The disk drive system of  claim 13 , wherein the manipulator comprises:
 a manipulator body; and   first and second connectors disposed on the manipulator body and arranged in a substantially V-shaped configuration with respect to each other, a connector being configured to releasably attach to a disk drive transporter.   
     
     
         15 . The disk drive system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a transfer station configured to receive and to support one or more disk drive totes in a presentation position for servicing by the automated transporter, wherein a disk drive tote comprises a tote body defining multiple disk drive receptacles configured to house a disk drive.   
     
     
         16 . The disk drive system of  claim 12 , wherein the disk drives are loaded into the disk drive system one at a time. 
     
     
         17 . The disk drive system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of the disk drives are retrieved one at a time. 
     
     
         18 . A disk drive system comprising:
 an automated transporter;   at least one rack arranged about the automated transporter for access by the automated transporter; and   multiple slots housed by the at least one rack, a slot being configured to receive a disk drive;   wherein the automated transporter is configured to perform operations comprising;
 retrieving a plurality of disk drives that are loaded into the disk drive system; 
 delivering a first disk drive from the plurality of the disk drives to the slot in the at least one rack; 
 inserting the first disk drive into the slot; and 
 delivering a second disk drive to a location in the disk drive system for unloading from the disk drive system. 
   
     
     
         19 . The disk drive system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of the disk drives are retrieved one at a time. 
     
     
         20 . The disk drive system of  claim 18 , wherein the first drive comprises a same disk drive as the second disk drive.