Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
  • G11B5/48—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed
  • G11B5/54—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks
  • G11B5/55—Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head
  • G11B5/5521—Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head across disk tracks
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B25/00—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus
  • G11B25/04—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus using flat record carriers, e.g. disc, card
  • G11B25/043—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus using flat record carriers, e.g. disc, card using rotating discs
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
  • G11B5/40—Protective measures on heads, e.g. against excessive temperature 

Definitions

• This invention relates to a linear actuator for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium and, more particularly, to crash stops which are molded in the retainer plate of such an actuator.
• Linear actuators have been used to carry magnetic heads into engagement with recording disks. Linear actuators have been used for magnetic disk drives, CD players and optical recording drives. These actuators typically use a voice coil motor to move the carriage of the actuator.
• U.S. Patent Nos. 4,939,611 Connolly and 5,134,608 Strickler et al. describe the use of crash stops in disk drives having either rotary or linear actuators.
• Typical disk drive crash stops are made of foam which provides the necessary damping. These foam parts are typically stuck onto the drive in the right place.
• two leaves are molded into the retainer plate of a magnetic disk drive. These leaves are resilient to provide the appropriate shock resistance for stopping the carriage of the disk drive. When the carriage impacts the stops, impact energy is absorbed by the leaves and dissipated by the various friction components such as bearings, head wiper and heads.
• the carriage rides on a central guide which is held in place by a post on the retainer plate.
• the crash stops are formed by leaves molded into this post.
• crash stops As part of the molding process of the retainer plate, additional steps in the manufacturing process are avoided. Also, part costs and yield costs due to misassembly are avoided.
• the spring rate of the molded crash stops is more constant, as opposed to an exponentially increasing rate produced by, for example, foam crash stops.
• Figure 1 shows the disk drive of the present invention with the cover removed;
• Figure 2 shows the actuator of the present invention;
• Figure 3 is an exploded view of the actuator; and Figure 4 is a close-up view of the actuator;
• Figure 5 is a close-up view of the crash stops of the invention.
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of the drive. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
• Fig. 1 shows a disk drive for reading and writing data on a recording disk in a cartridge.
• the cartridge is inserted into the drive at 11.
• a motor which is mounted on the platform 12 at 13 rotates the flexible disk in the cartridge.
• the disk is engaged by read/write heads 14 and 15 which are carried by the actuator of the present invention.
• Opposed heads 14 and 15 engage both sides of the disk.
• the heads 14 and 15 are mounted on standard Winchester hard disk drive suspensions which have been modified to include the lifting rods 16 and 17 (Fig. 2).
• the voice coil motor for driving the carriage 18 into and out of engagement of the heads with the recording medium includes an outer return path 20 (Fig. 1), and inner return path members 21 and 21a (Fig. 3).
• a voice coil 22 (Figs 2 and 3) is mounted on the carriage assembly. The coil is bonded to the carriage assembly. When the coil 22 is energized, it interacts with the magnets to move the carriage 18 linearly so that the heads 14 and 15 engage concentric tracks on disk.
• the carriage includes two lightweight arms 24 and 26 (Fig. 4). The carriage travels on a central guide track 28 which is a cylindrical member, a small wire guide in the preferred embodiment.
• the carriage has cylindrical bushings 30 and 32 through which the cylindrical guide track 28 passes.
• the guide track 28 aligns the heads 14 and 15 with the disk and the motor.
• Bushings 30 and 32 are sapphire jewel bearings in the preferred embodiment.
• An outrigger guide 31 travels along outrigger track 33 to stabilize the carriage as it travels the central guide track 28.
• a flex circuit 34 (Fig. 6) provides an electrical connection between the heads 14 and 15 and the circuitry for the disk drive.
• a solenoid 36 actuates platform latch 38 so the carriage cannot be moved when there is no cartridge in the disk drive. Platform latch 38 latches the carriage.
• Load ramps 40 and 42 load the heads onto the disk when the carriage is actuated for engagement of the heads with the disk.
• a retainer plate 44 holds in place the return members 20, 21 and 21a, the flex circuit 34, the solenoid 36 (which fits in the indentation 36a in the retainer plate), the platform latch 38 and the load ramps 40 and 42.
• a post 45 extends from the retainer plate to hold down the end of the cylindrical guide track 28.
• the leaves 46 and 48 are molded into the retainer plate 44 (Figs. 5 and 6).
• the leaves 46 and 48 are set in recesses 50 and 52 in the retainer plate 44.
• the recesses 50 and 52 give added length to the leaves 46 and 48, whereas the available space would otherwise limit the length. This gives the leaves 46 and 48 the desired resiliency for shock abso ⁇ tion in the space which is available.

Landscapes

• Moving Of Heads (AREA)
• Supporting Of Heads In Record-Carrier Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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ID=24186479

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Country Status (3)

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Citations (3)

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• 1996
  • 1996-10-08 EP EP96934134A patent/EP0880775A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-10-08 WO PCT/US1996/016152 patent/WO1997015919A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-10-08 JP JP9516625A patent/JPH11513836A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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