CA-2991238-C - HARD DRIVE DISMANTLING SYSTEM

Abstract

A system and method for reclaiming select components containing rare earth metals of electronic media electronic storage devices such as hard disk drives, solid state drives and hybrid hard drives and destroying the data containing components thereof comprising first devices to loosen various components of the storage device, the components including the components containing the rare earth elements and the data containing portions. Second devices are provided for removing components from the storage device. A holding chassis receives the storage device, and moves the storage device for engagement with the first and second devices. A section is provided for destroying the data containing portion of the electric storage device when it is removed from the storage device.

Inventors

• Kevin P. Clark

Assignees

• SERENITY DATA SERVICES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20160701

Priority Date

20150702

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS 1. A system for reclaiming select components containing rare earth metals of an electronic media electronic storage device selected from the group consisting of hard disk drives, solid state drives and hybrid hard drives and destroying data containing components thereof comprising: a product visioning system with a database of electronic storage devices, said database including location data for the select components containing the rare earth metals and location data for components including hard drives and circuit boards, said product visioning system arranged to scan a data containing portion of the storage device and retrieve said location data; first devices to loosen various components of the storage device, said components including the components containing the rare earth metals and the data containing portion; second devices for removing the components from the storage device; a holding chassis for receiving said storage device, and moving the storage device for engagement with said first and second devices; and a section for destroying the data containing the components of the electric storage device when the components are removed from the storage device wherein the location data from the database is employed to control and position the first devices and the second devices.
2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first devices includes a milling spindle to bore out screws from a cover of the storage device.
3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first devices includes a milling tool on the back side of the storage device to bore out screws holding the storage device's circuit board in place. Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-04-15
4. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein said second devices includes a pick and place mechanism for removing the cover and circuit board.
5. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said second devices include a milling tool for boring out screws that hold voice-coil magnets of the storage device in place.
6. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said second devices include a pick and place mechanism for removing the voice-coil magnets.
7. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said pick and place system includes a clamping mechanism for assisting in the removal of the voice-coil magnets.
8. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said second devices includes a hole cutting saw to bore out a slug containing a spindle motor em bedded in the base of the storage device.
9. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said second devices includes a pick and place mechanism for removing information platters and hubs from the storage device.
10. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said section includes a mechanism for shredding the platters.
11. 11. The system of claim 9, wherein said mechanism includes a milling tool to grind away the platters.
12. 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the section includes a milling tool mounted in a track for movement toward the hub and around the axis of the platter shredding the platter.
13. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein there are a plurality of milling tools. 21 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-04-15
14. 14. The system of claim 9, wherein said section includes a burr grinding device having a milling chamber into which the platters of the storage device are introduced for grinding into a powder consistency.
15. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises a hard drive with information platters and said section includes a flat lap grinding device whereby said platters are ground into a powder consistency.
16. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein said holding chassis is rotatable 180 degrees.
17. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage device comprises a hard drive having information platters coupled to a spindle hub, and said first devices includes a milling tool to core out the spindle hub to separate the information platters from the spindle hub.
18. 18. The system of claim 1, further including a first chamber and a second chamber, said first devices being in said first chamber and said second dvices being in said second chamber, said holding chassis being moveable between said first and secod chambers.
19. 19. A method for reclaiming select components containing rare earth metals of an electronic media electronic storage device selected from the group consisting of hard disk drives, solid state drives and hybrid hard drives and destroying data containing components thereof comprising: scanning a data containing portion of the storage device to obtain location data for the select components containing the rare earth metals; employing said location data to loosen various components of the storage device, said components including the components containing the rare earth elements and the data containing portion in a first chamber; removing the loosened components from the storage device in a second chamber; and 22 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-04-15 destroying the data containing portion of the electric storage device when the loosened components are removed from the storage device.
20. 20. The method of claim 19, comprising: separating the components containing the rare earth metals into a container or onto a conveyor belt. 23 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-04-15

Description

HARD DRIVE DISMA.NTLING SYSTEM [0001} Continue to [0002]. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This application relates generally to a system for dismantling various components of a hard drive and more particularly, to a system that will identify and extract selected components from hard drives and destroy the data containing portions of the hard drive. BACKGROUND [0003} Various types of data are stored on the hard drives of computers. Such data may include personal confidential information concerning individuals. This data may include their social security numbers, financial information, health information and private telephone numbers as examples. The hard drives are also used to store corporate information which may include proprietary information such as developing products, customer lists, and business plans. The government may store confidential information including highly classified information on the hard drives. [0004] When it is desired to replace the computer, the data must be removed from the hard drive so that it cannot be misused by unscrupulous individuals. Merely erasing the data by using the computer commands is not sufficient as the data can be recaptured. This is true even if the hard drive is removed for upgrade purposes. However, even if the hard drive is removed, something must be done to destroy the data. [0005} One way of ensuring that the data cannot be used or recovered from an unwanted hard drive is to completely destroy the hard drive. This has been accomplished in the past by completely shredding the entire hard drive. However, as the hard drive is encased in metal, the complete destruction involves the shredding of a relatively large volume of metal that requires a lot of energy. 1 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2022-12-05 [0006] Additionally, hard dives use rare earth elements in their construction. Rare earth elements include cerium {Ce), dysprosium {Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadoliniym (Gd), holmium (Ho), l1otbanum (La), lytetlyn, (Lu), neodyrrdum (Nd), graseodymlUm (Pr), gromethium (Pm), 11mmdY!ll (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), ~rbiuro (Yb) and yttrium (Y). It is becoming desirable to recycle such elements. The complete destruction of a hard drive does not readily permit the recapture of such elements. [0007] It is thus desirable to have a process and apparatus for reclaiming the elements of the hard drive that contain the rare earth elements and then destroying the data containing portion of the drive. [0008] An example of a hard drive data destroying device that does not destroy the entire hard drive is shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 8,851,404 entitled Hard Drive Shredding Device, issued October 7, 2014 by Clark et al. Another example of such a hard drive data destroying device is shown in copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/202,234 entitled Hard Drive Shredding Device, filed March 12, 2013 by Clark et al. SUMMARY [0009] According to one aspect of the disclosure there is provided a system for reclaiming select components containing rare earth metals from electronic media storage devices such as hard disk drives, solid state drives and hybrid hard drives and destroying the data containing components thereof comprising first devices to loosen various components of the storage device, said components including the components containing the rare earth elements and the data containing portions. Second devices are provided for removing components from the storage device and a holding chassis is provided for 2 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2022-12-05 WO 2017/004575 PCT /0S2016/040812 receiving said storage device and moving the storage device for engagement with said first and second devices. A section is provided for destroying the data containing portion of the electric media storage device when it is removed from the storage device. [0010] According to another aspect there is a method provided for reclaiming select components containing rare earth metals from electronic media storage devices such as hard disk drives, solid state drives and hybrid hard drives and destroying the data containing components thereof comprising loosening various components of the storage device, said components including the components containing the rare earth elements and the data containing portions in a first chamber; removing the loosened components from the storage device in a second chamber; and destroying the data containing portion of the electric storage device when it is removed from the storage device. [0011] According to a further aspect, there is provided a dismantling system for electronic devices compring a chassis for holding said electgronic device; a frame, a plurality of milling units mounted on said frame for coring out variious components of said electric device; and a suction system to aid in the removal of said selected components, said milling units movable in unison or independently on said frame to be in position to engage select area of said electric