Three systems for the destruction of the data storage portion of electronic media storage devices such as hard disk drives, solid state drives and hybrid hard drives. One system utilizes a mill cutter with which the hard drive has relative motion in the direction of the axis of the mill cutter to destroy the data storage portion. A second system utilizes a laser to physically destroy the data storage portion. The third system utilizes a chemical solvent to chemically destroy the data storage portion.

The current invention is a Degausser Mechanism Utilizing Magnetic Fluid for Destroying the Functionality of Data Bearing Components of Magnetic Media Data Bearing Devices. This degausser mechanism utilizing magnetic fluid provides reconciliation and tracking with a unique identification tag using a secure database of the provider of the degausser mechanism utilizing magnetic fluid. This degausser mechanism utilizing magnetic fluid provides destruction of the functionality of the data bearing components of magnetic media data bearing devices, and containment of the remains of the magnetic media devices with the functionality of data destroyed onsite by the user until auditing. This degausser mechanism utilizing magnetic fluid is portable and is intended to be used in small enterprise offices or other locations.

A method of erasing data using a file-based protocol from a data storage apparatus for repurposing, reallocation to a new user or retirement of the data storage apparatus, the data storage apparatus comprising a memory using a file-based protocol, and the method comprises: receiving one or more signals representative of the available free space of at least one selected region of the memory; iteratively writing files to the at least one selected region of the memory using the file based protocol, wherein: at least one of the files is sized based on at least one of the received signals and the iterative writing of the files comprises writing the files in sequence such that for at least part of the sequence each file is smaller in size than the preceding file of the sequence; and wherein the files are written to collectively occupy all of the at least one selected region of the memory; and the method further comprises receiving an indication that said at least one selected region of memory is full following the writing of said files, and in response to the indication writing at least one further file to said at least one region of memory.

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.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus and/or device to scrape a hard disk drive (HDD) to completely and permanently erase, remove, and/or destroy digital and/or electronic data and/or information stored on and/or written to the HDD without using and/or necessitating the use of external induction. The apparatus includes a first part of a HDD scrapper mounted on an arm of the HDD and a second part of the HDD scrapper mounted on a scrapper head. The apparatus also includes a turner that simultaneously permits a turning operation of magnetic platters of the HDD and the HDD scrapper. The first part, the second part, the arm, the scrapper head, the turner, and the magnetic platters are included in an enclosure of the HDD.

A management system for a hard drive dismantling system automatically monitors the operation and the output of the dismantling system either remotely or onsite. In one embodiment, the number of hard drives processed by the system is determined and a contract value is determined in real-time. A distributed ledger is employed. Payments are automatically transferred between a customer and a service provider according to a contractual arrangement. The market values of various components, such as rare earth materials, are also optionally provided.

A system and method for recycling rare earth materials from dissimilar hard disk drives are provided. The system and method generally include scanning each hard disk drive, sorting and aligning each hard disk drive, rapid fastener removal or diversion to a metrology station, and the collection of separated value streams, optionally for formation into new magnetic stock. For each scanned hard disk drive having a match in an inventory database, the method includes the separation of an internal magnet from residual components. For each scanned hard disk drive lacking a match in the inventory database, the method includes generating a metrology data collection record containing the location of each fastener on multiple surfaces of the corresponding hard disk drive. The system and method are commercially scalable with the potential to generate between 600 and 700 metric tons of rare earth elements from a single processing facility annually, including neodymium for example.

An apparatus for disposal of electronic devices includes a transport mechanism for transferring the storage devices through the apparatus. A scanner scans or reads the devices as the devices move through the apparatus, a sanitizer for degaussing or erasing the storage devices, and a destruction mechanism for physically deforming the devices. The apparatus is further configured to receive scanned information from the scanner, determine identification information for the devices based on the scanned information, and update status information of the devices during movement of the devices between the scanner, sanitizer, and destruction mechanism.

A verification apparatus securable to a media destruction device to document sanitization processes. The apparatus includes a SSD disk inlet, an SSD disk outlet constructed and arranged to align with an opening to the media destruction device, and a SSD disk ejection outlet. A carrier drum having a receptacle for holding the SSD disk in a first position, rotatable to a second position for placement of the SSD disk in front of a scanner camera, rotatable to a third position for aligning the SSD disk to a media destruction device inlet if the media disk was properly scanned, and rotatable to a fourth position for aligning the SSD disk to the ejection outlet if the media disk was not properly scanned. Pseudo random codes are transmitted and received during a sanitization procedure to assure the SSD disk has sanitized without interruption.

A system and method for physically destroying the data storage portion of electronic media electronic storage devices such as hard disk drives, solid state drives and hybrid hard drives that comprises a rotatable milling cutter and a cradle for locating the media electronic storage device in a positioned to engage the milling cutter. An integrated computer is included containing a data base of various parameters of different types of hard drives available. A scanning system determines information about the type of media electronic storage device being introduced in the system to be destroyed and conveys the such information to the computer whereby the data base may be used to provide information to properly locate the cradle and milling cutter to destroy the data storage portion and for printing out a certificate of destruction specifically identifying the hard drive that has had it data destroyed. A slug cutter is provided to retrieve slugs containing the rare earth metal after the data storage portion is destroyed.