Abstract: Disclosed is a method for aligning a rotating device such as an actuator assembly to a base of, for example, a disk drive. The device is rotatably mounted to the base about the pivot pin. The method may involve adjusting the angular position of the pivot pin relative to the base unless or until the actuator assembly rotates in a first plane parallel to a second plane containing a surface of the data storage disk. In one embodiment, the data storage disk is mounted for rotation on a disk rotation motor. The disk rotation motor, in turn, is mounted to a base. With the device positioned between the base and the data storage disk, the device is rotated about the pivot pin. While the device is rotated about the pivot pin, electrical current is provided to the device. The magnitude of the electrical current is proportional or inversely proportional to a distance D separating the device from the data storage disk. The electrical current is monitored as the device rotates about the pivot pin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for mounting a device such as a spindle rotation motor to a base of a disk drive such as a miniature optical disk drive. In one embodiment, the method employs a tool. More particularly, the method may include mounting the tool to the base. The tool may include first and second substantially parallel surfaces separated by a first distance. The base may include a base surface and a first raised surface, wherein the base surface and the first raised surface are contained in respective, substantially parallel planes that are separated by a second distance. The first surface of the tool may engage the first raised surface of the base when the tool is mounted to the base. The base may also include a base aperture formed through the base surface. This base aperture may be sized to receive a rotation cylinder of the rotation motor. When the rotation cylinder extends through the aperture, the rotation cylinder may engage the second surface of the tool.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus such as a disk drive that includes a base, a first device, and a second device. The first device can read or write data to a data storage disk. The first device is movably mounted to the base. For example, the first device can move in orthogonal first and second planes. The second device is mounted to the base and is configured to limit movement of the first device in the second plane. In one embodiment, the first device is rotatably mounted to the base and includes first and second portions. The first portion is rotatably mounted to the base, and the second portion is rotatably connected to the first portion. In this embodiment, the first portion rotates in the first plane, and the second portion rotates in the second plane. The second device is configured to limit rotation of the second portion in the second plane. Rotation of the second portion is limited when the second portion engages the second device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for aligning a rotating device such as an actuator assembly to a base of, for example, a disk drive. The device is rotatably mounted to the base about the pivot pin. The method may involve adjusting the angular position of the pivot pin relative to the base unless or until the actuator assembly rotates in a first plane parallel to a second plane containing a surface of the data storage disk. In one embodiment, the data storage disk is mounted for rotation on a disk rotation motor. The disk rotation motor, in turn, is mounted to a base. With the device positioned between the base and the data storage disk, the device is rotated about the pivot pin. While the device is rotated about the pivot pin, electrical current is provided to the device. The magnitude of the electrical current is proportional or inversely proportional to a distance D separating the device from the data storage disk. The electrical current is monitored as the device rotates about the pivot pin.

Abstract: A data storage disk drive is provided with a spindle which supports a plurality of disks having at least one magnetic disk surface to form a spindle assembly for rotation of the disk surfaces about a common axis and a rotary actuator which supports magnetic transducers for movement in unison about respective disk surfaces. The disk drive includes a disk drive enclosure having die-cast generated predetermined zero draft geometries for mounting the spindle motor shaft and the actuator bearing shaft. The enclosure includes a base casting and a cover casting, each casting including structure for locating and retaining electrical connectors used for connecting to a planar electronics card located outside the drive enclosure. The disk drive includes an effective and easily manufacturable electrical path from a flex circuit to an actuator comb. The disk drive includes a tubular chemical breather filter arranged with integral housing and diffusion channels formed in the cover casting.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive for storing data which includes disks and an actuator mounted on a frame or first housing part. A second housing part, when joined with the first housing part, forms a disk enclosure. The disk enclosure includes rails which have openings therein for mounting the disk drive to the user frame of a computer system. Deformable inserts are placed into the openings in the rails and screws are passed through openings in the frame of the computer system and into the inserts in the openings in the rails of the disk drive. The inserts are more forgiving and result in less distortion than in a mounting system in which the screws are passed directly into tapped holes in the rails of the disk drive. The inserts also electrically insulate the disk drive from the user frame of the computer system.

Abstract: An actuator of a high performance tape drive for coarse and fine positioning of a read/write head incorporates at least a pair of cantilevered beam springs which support a read/write head for controlled movement relative to a moving storage tape. The beam springs and head are controlled by a rocker member that transmits movement of a voice coil to the head for servo controlled fine positioning of the head relative to the data track of the tape.

Abstract: A data storage disk drive is provided with a spindle which supports a plurality of disks having at least one magnetic disk surface to form a spindle assembly for rotation of the disk surfaces about a common axis and a rotary actuator which supports magnetic transducers for movement in unison about respective disk surfaces. The disk drive includes a disk drive enclosure having die-cast generated predetermined zero draft geometries for mounting the spindle motor shaft and the actuator bearing shaft. The enclosure includes a base casting and a cover casting, each casting including structure for locating and retaining electrical connectors used for connecting to a planar electronics card located outside the drive enclosure. The disk drive includes an effective and easily manufacturable electrical path from a flex circuit to an actuator comb. The disk drive includes a tubular chemical breather filter arranged with integral housing and diffusion channels formed in the cover casting.

Abstract: An actuator of a high performance tape drive for coarse and fine positioning of a read/write head incorporates at least a pair of cantilevered beam springs which support a read/write head for controlled movement relative to a moving storage tape. The beam springs and head are controlled by a rocker member that transmits movement of a voice coil to the head for servo controlled fine positioning of the head relative to the data track of the tape.

Abstract: An actuator for coarse and fine positioning of a read/write head incorporates at least one pivoted member to position the read/write head relative to storage tape that stores the data. The pivoted member may be a beam supporting a read/write head or link of a four bar linkage and is typically pivoted on a carriage. The pivoted motion and the associated motion of the read/write head must not introduce excessive zenith tilt or the recording/writing of data will be unreliable.

Abstract: A pivot bearing structure formed of a leaf spring is incorporated into a rocker or force transmission member which whenever mounted to a carriage of a high density data tape drive system precisely defines the pivot axis of the rocker and provides a very high degree of stiffness in a vertical plane, that plane being parallel to the recording surface of the magnetic tape. The rocker derives motion from a voice coil motor (VCM) and transmits that controlled motion to a magnetic head which is suspended for movement in a vertical plane while in contact with a length of magnetic tape upon which data is recorded or from which data is read. The movement of the magnetic head may be very precisely controlled by energizing the VCM, because the pivot axis is extremely well defined due to the stiffness in the vertical plane of the pivot bearing. Movement of the VCM coil directly translates into movement of the magnetic head.

Abstract: A tape drive which may accommodate tapes having a servo control track thereon as well as tapes without such tracks advantageously uses a lockout to prevent unwanted head translation when operating in an open loop mode. The lockout may be accomplished by energizing a voice coil motor to fix the head position, driving the voice coil motor to a fixed stop positioning the head, or latching a rocker connected to the head, thereby preventing movement of the head. The latching/unlatching function may be accomplished by driving an actuator supporting the beam springs, head and latch to an end-of-track position to similarly unlatch the rocker and return the assembly to a servo controlled mode of operation.

Abstract: A tape drive is fabricated with a chassis and a bridge. The bridge acts to support the read/write head actuator and to also define the datum surfaces for locating a mating magnetic tape cartridge. The bridge is manufactured of materials which are highly rigid and stable dimensionally. The chassis of the tape drive is fabricated from materials such as plastics which are relatively flexible and do not have the rigidity of that characterized by the bridge. The more flexible chassis of the tape drive permits the isolation of distortions and distortionary forces in the chassis and does not transmit those forces and distortions to the bridge. The effect of the two piece arrangement is that the pieces may be made relatively inexpensively and retain reliability of much more expensive materials in manufacturing processes herefore considered necessary.

Abstract: A tape drive system is described which incorporates a zero clearance bearing for use on a lead screw positioning system having a structure which inherently flexes or closes onto the external surfaces of the lead screw to cause a precise positioning of the lead screw axis relative to a bearing and a bearing support for the bearing. The bearing contact surfaces of the central passage of the bearing which engage the external surfaces of the lead screw are generally planar in form and thus form line contacts with the external surface of the lead screw. The disclosed tape drive system is enhanced in that the play and loose fitting parts in conventional bearing systems are eliminated, and the subject bearing will act to confine the axis of the lead screw to a fixed position relative to the carriage structure of a high density tape drive or other device utilizing a precision lead screw positioning system.