Abstract: A dual motor linear actuator is disclosed for use in a magnetic disc drive device. It includes a carriage reciprocatably guided between a pair of guide rails, with the accessing transducers being mounted to its inner end. Separate rectangular drive coils are affixed in symmetrical outboard relationship at the sides of the body of the carriage. The actuator assembly further includes two pairs of slab shaped magnets mounted to E-shaped magnet support structures that are integrally formed with the base of the disc drive device. The magnets are mounted to form two air gaps that are symmetrically disposed relative to a center plane and so that they respectively cooperate with the drive coils to apply motive forces on the carriage generally along two lines that are equidistantly spaced from the aforesaid plane of symmetry. The outer ends of pole pieces of the two magnet support structures are rigidly interconnected by a single plate that acts as an end pole piece for both magnet support structures.

Abstract: A transducer actuator assembly (10) for a rotating disc memory apparatus has at least one pair of coils (40, 41) symmetrically spaced from a center plane of a linearly moving carriage (21) where the coils are stationary with respect to a fixed actuator base (11) and surrounding spaced center poles (34) of a magnetic pole piece flux return structure (31, 32, 33) having an E-Shaped configuration closed by pole plate (38). At least one pair of magnets (24a-d or 60, 61) are affixed to and extend horizontally from the sides (23) of the carriage and are spaced in longitudinally extending air gaps (45-48, 49) between the fixed coils and linearly extending pole piece portions (32, 33).Due to the low mass and small envelope size of the moving carriage-magnets subassembly and the removal of the heat generating coils from the carriage, very rapid access times with high location accuracies are possible along with minimization of magnet field effects on the memory discs being accessed.

Abstract: A fixed disc drive type of memory storage devices includes an annular elastomeric pad that is engaged between the actuator base plate and a bowl-shaped lower casing. The pad is concentric with the spindle axis and forms an air-tight seal at the edge of a circular opening in the lower casing that prevents dust from entering the housing. The base plate has a circular platform portion with the hub for the spindle shaft being formed at its center. The circular form of the opening and platform portion are such that any temperature differential across the lower housing induces an oil-scanning type of deformation in the base plate so that the spindle does not tilt relative to the plane of motion of the transducers.

Abstract: A shipping container for computer peripherals such as disk drives or other payloads is provided in which a bottom cap (21a) and apertured block (23a), both of resilient foam material, are partially adhesively bonded (as to 27, 28) and inserted separately or as a unit into a closed end of an outer box (10). The payload, contained in an inner box (30,50), is inserted into an aperture (25) in the block (23a). A second spaced apertured block (23b) and partially bonded top cap (21b) are inserted into the top of the box (10) separately or as a unit with the aperture (25) in block (23b) holding the top (31) of inner box (30, 50) in suspended position. The box (10) flaps are then closed over the top of block (21b). Slits (40) are provided at the corners of the apertures in the blocks to prevent tearing due to repeated shocks to the package.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the second pulse P2 of pulse pair P1, P2 on a disk memory servo track is used as the optional pulse which conveys information relating to the status of the track. In this manner, the possibility of erroneous data being read due to variations in the speed of rotation of the disk is substantially minimized as compared with prior art systems. Furthermore, in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the determination of whether the servo track pulses comprise the pulse pair P1, P2 or other pulses, as well as analysis of the data from a plurality of pulse pairs P1, P2, is performed by a simple and inexpensive hardware circuit which is capable of utilizing a simple, inexpensive yet highly reliable fixed frequency clock in place of the rather expensive phase lock loop circuit typically used in the prior art.

Abstract: A fixed disc drive type of rotating disc memory storage device includes an annular elastomeric pad that is engaged between the actuator base plate and a bowl-shaped casing. The base plate has a circular platform portion with the boss for the spindle shaft for the discs being formed at its center. The annular pad forms an air-tight seal at the edge of a circular opening in the lower casing to prevent dust from entering the housing. The annular pad is engaged against the entire side marginal area of the base plate so that it dampens resonant vibrations in the base plate thus providing stable servo response within the range of said resonant vibration range.

Abstract: A disk drive assembly includes an internal air filter which is placed adjacent to but downstream from, the actuator assembly area thereby to pass air which has been decelerated from the rotating disk and passed through the actuator assembly area to the rotating disk while simultaneously filtering this air to remove particles. By passing through the actuator assembly area the air cools the actuator assembly and removes certain particles from this area as it is filtered.

Abstract: A linear actuator for translating accessing transducers such as read/write heads along a straight line path of travel relative to a rotating magnetic disk includes a carriage, a flat coil mounted to the disk and having an effective winding extending transversely at the rear end of the carriage, one pair of rollers mounted at right angles to each other at one side of the carriage in rolling engagement upon a cylindrical guide rail, two pairs of rollers similarly mounted at the other side of the carriage in rolling engagement upon a second guide rail. The second guide rail is fixedly mounted to a base frame; the other guide rail is pivotally mounted parallel to the other rail and is biased by a spring to preload the single pair of rollers against the pivotal rail. A pair of block magnets are mounted at the rear end of the base frame with a gap therebetween that is aligned with the path of travel of the effective winding.

Abstract: A dual motor linear actuator is disclosed for use in a magnetic disc drive device. It includes a carriage reciprocatably guided between a pair of guide rails, with the accessing transducers being mounted to its inner end. Separate rectangular drive coils are affixed in symmetrical outboard relationship at the sides of the body of the carriage. The actuator assembly further includes two pairs of slab shaped magnets mounted to E-shaped magnet support structures that are integrally formed with the base of the disc drive device. The magnets are mounted to form two air gaps that are symmetrically disposed relative to a center plane and so that they respectively cooperate with the drive coils to apply motive forces on the carriage generally along two lines that are equidistantly spaced from the aforesaid plane of symmetry. The outer ends of pole pieces of the two magnet support structures are rigidly interconnected by a single plate that acts as an end pole piece for both magnet support structures.

Abstract: A dual motor linear actuator is disclosed for use in a magnetic disc drive device. It includes a carriage reciprocatably guided between a pair of guide rails, with the accessing transducers being mounted to its inner end. Separate rectangular drive coils are affixed in symmetrical outboard relationship at the sides of the body of the carriage. The actuator assembly further includes two pairs of slab shaped magnets mounted to E-shaped magnet support structures that are integrally formed with the base of the disc drive device. The magnets are mounted to form two air gaps that are symmetrically disposed relative to a center plane and so that they respectively cooperate with the drive coils to apply motive forces on the carriage generally along two lines that are equidistantly spaced from the aforesaid plane of symmetry. The outer ends of pole pieces of the two magnet support structures are rigidly interconnected by a single plate that acts as an end pole piece for both magnet support structures.