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Protecting and merging a head stack assembly of a data storage deviceRelated Patent Categories: Metal Working, Means To Assemble Or Disassemble, Means To Assemble Electrical Device, Magnetic Memory DeviceProtecting and merging a head stack assembly of a data storage device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080060190, Protecting and merging a head stack assembly of a data storage device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/817,609 entitled "Protecting and Merging a Head Stack Assembly of a Data Storage Device," filed Apr. 2, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] Digital data storage devices are used to store and retrieve large amounts of user data in a fast and efficient manner. A typical data storage device uses a head stack assembly to support an array of vertically aligned data transducers adjacent recording surfaces in a disc stack. [0003] The disc stack is rotated at a relatively high rotational velocity by a spindle motor. An actuator motor (such as a voice coil motor, VCM) pivots the head stack assembly to align the transducers with data tracks defined on the recording surfaces to write data to the tracks and retrieve previously written data from the tracks. The transducers are typically hydrodynamically supported adjacent the recording surfaces by fluidic currents established by rotation of the disc stack. [0004] During manufacturing, it is desirable to protect the head stack assembly during handling and installation (merging) of the transducers with the recording surfaces to prevent damage to the head stack assembly and the disc stack. In devices that employ non-contact recording, it is further generally desirable to prevent contact between the transducers and the recording surfaces during the merging operation. [0005] While various head stack assembly protection and merging methodologies have been proposed in the art, there nevertheless remains a continued need for improvements that provide enhanced protection to the head stack assembly and the disc stack, accommodate smaller dimensional sizes and clearances within the data storage device and facilitate efficient merging of the transducers. It is to these and other improvements that the claimed invention is generally directed. SUMMARY [0006] In accordance with various embodiments, a method comprises supporting a distal end of a cantilevered flexure with a carrier support surface; aligning a merge support surface of a merge tool with a medial portion of the flexure; and using the merge support surface to displace the distal end of the flexure from the carrier support surface and to advance a transducer supported by said distal end to a final position. [0007] In accordance with other embodiments, a method comprises placing a carrier onto an actuator, the actuator comprising an actuator body and at least one cantilevered flexure which supports a transducer at a distal end thereof. The carrier is affixed to the actuator body so as to individually support each said flexure. The actuator is mounted to a base deck adjacent a rotatable medium while the carrier remains placed on the actuator. The actuator is then merged with the medium by advancing a merge tool which displaces the carrier from each said flexure and moves each said flexure to a final position adjacent the medium. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a data storage device constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. [0009] FIG. 2 is top plan view of a head stack assembly of the device of FIG. 1 in conjunction with a carrier (shipping comb) used to protect the head stack assembly during handling and installation. [0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the head stack assembly and carrier of FIG. 2. [0011] FIG. 4 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of a first retention feature of the carrier. [0012] FIG. 5 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of a second retention feature of the carrier. [0013] FIG. 6 shows an elevational view of the carrier to generally illustrate support surfaces that contactingly engage distal ends of flexures of the head stack assembly. [0014] FIG. 7 provides a top plan view of a merge tool used in conjunction with the carrier of FIGS. 2-6 to merge the transducers with the disc stack of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 8 is an elevational representation of the merge tool of FIG. 7. [0016] FIG. 9 illustrates the merge tool in conjunction with the carrier. [0017] FIG. 10 provides an elevational view of the distal end of FIG. 9. [0018] FIGS. 11-13 represent a merge sequence during which the merge tool and carrier protect the head stack assembly and disc stack during merging. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] While the claimed invention has utility in any number of different applications, FIG. 1 has been provided to illustrate a particularly suitable environment in which the claimed invention can be advantageously practiced. 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