Abstract: A disk drive has at least one disk for storing data and at least one transducer for reading or writing data to or from the disk. The transducer is attached to an actuator which positions the transducer with respect to the disk. The actuator includes a controllable motor which is used to move the actuator and the transducer attached thereto. The disk drive also includes a ramp for off loading the transducer or for parking the transducer off of the surface of the disk. The disk drive includes a combination shock absorber and gasket that has locking tabs to keep the combination shock absorber and gasket in place during a shock or impact loading event. The combination shock absorber and gasket also can be provided with additional extensions to lessen shocks caused by flat drops. Elastomeric blocks or pads can be provided on the cover and the base to lessen shocks caused by flat drops.

Abstract: A disk drive has at least one disk for storing data and at least one transducer for reading or writing data to or from the disk. The transducer is attached to an actuator which positions the transducer with respect to the disk. The actuator includes a controllable motor which is used to move the actuator and the transducer attached thereto. The disk drive also includes a ramp for off loading the transducer or for parking the transducer off of the surface of the disk. The disk drive includes a combination shock absorber and gasket that has locking tabs to keep the combination shock absorber and gasket in place during a shock or impact loading event. The combination shock absorber and gasket also can be provided with additional extensions to lessen shocks caused by flat drops. Elastomeric blocks or pads can be provided on the cover and the base to lessen shocks caused by flat drops.

Abstract: A disk drive rotary actuator with a rocking pivot allowing limited angular rotation of an actuator arm assembly. A surface (34) fixed to the arm 16 rocks on fixed surface (32) held in contact by a spring (50). Second rocking surfaces are also provided on the rotational axis. A flexure leaf (40) connects the arm (16) to the disk drive base to provide positional stability. The rocking pivot actuator has advantages of simplicity, and improved frictional characteristics. A flexible circuit connection may pass through the pivot.

Abstract: A multiple disk drive system having two disk-head assemblies (HDA) internally mounted on a rigid frame and accessible via a common industry-standard interface connector is provided. Each HDA is enclosed in a separate housing which is mounted on the disk drive system frame. A vibration damper mounted on the disk drive system frame physically contacts each HDA housing providing a spring force which minimizes the effects of shock and vibration on the operation of the HDAs. The vibration damper is coated with a low-wear, electrically insulating material to provide electrical isolation between the vibration damper and the HDAs housings. The coating material is chosen to also provide a desired coefficient of friction between the vibration damper and the HDA housings. A single electronic controller board is shared by both HDAs and is mounted on the bottom side of the frame underlying the HDAs. The controller board may implement SCSI or IPI interfaces in either differential or single-ended versions.

Abstract: A linear actuator for positioning the heads of a disk file relative to tracks on the disks employs a ceramic material having wear properties superior to steel in guide surfaces for guiding a head supporting carriage running on rotary bearings in contact with the guide surfaces. The preferred ceramic material is tetragonally stabilized zirconia.

Abstract: A disk file of the kind employing a vented hub assembly and slotted spacers between disks to provide a passage for circulatory airflow employs a filter assembly extending circumferentially around the axial region of the hub assembly. The primary path for airflow is from a high pressure region at the periphery of the disks, through the filter assembly into the vented hub assembly and out again via the slotted spacers. A parallel leakage path between the filter itself and the hub assembly is limited by making the separation between a substantially planar surface of the filter assembly and the adjacent disk uniform and very small. Airflow rates through the filter are consequently enhanced.

Abstract: A disk file comprises a disk stack subassembly and a head positioning actuator each mounted on opposite sides of a central box frame. The disk stack subassembly has a non-rotating central spindle and an in-hub electric motor whose stator is mounted on the spindle. The rotor of the motor is mounted internally of a hub supported for rotation about the spindle by two bearings at opposite ends of the spindle. A stack of disks is mounted externally on the hub. The box frame is open to one side and the opposite ends of the stationary spindle are located and fixed in the frame so that the disk stack subassembly spans the open side. Because of the symmetry and rigidity of the design, susceptibility to thermal or vibration induced misregistration is reduced. Finally a cover completes the enclosure.

Abstract: A disk cartridge file employs a cartridge which is a rigid enclosure containing a flexible information storage disk mounted on a drive hub. One wall of the cartridge comprises a central hub drive aperture and an arcuate radially extending access slot for a read/write transducer. In operation, the disk flies over the inner surface of the apertured wall on an air bearing. This surface is planar over a major portion including the access slot but has a smoothly contoured raised land bordering the slot on the downstream side thereof. When employed in combination with a transducer of the ring stabilized type which projects through the slot and penetrates into the normal path of the medium, the transducer is coupled with the medium in a stable closely spaced air bearing relationship. The raised land extends the range of penetration over which the transducer is coupled, particularly at the outer diameter of the disk.

Abstract: A print head assembly with interchangeable pluggable printed circuit print heads has means for automatically positioning a head during insertion with the aim of ensuring registration of printed circuit electrodes on the head with correspondingly positioned conductors on a body portion. The print heads are supplied as a variety of types all of which are interchangeable as a simple push-fit in the body portion. A clamp ensures that ohmic contact is established and maintained between the registering electrodes and conductors. Each head is also provided with a pattern of electrodes which serve to identify the head type. The pattern bridges selected additional conductors on the body portion and provides a decodable pattern of signals in response to an interrogate signal unique to heads of that type.

Abstract: A paper shear mechanism consists of a guillotine having a fixed blade and a pivoted blade. The cutting edge of the fixed blade is concavely curved so that paper to be cut as fed between the blades assumes a corresponding curvature and is given some longitudinal rigidity during the cutting operation. The pivoted blade is of composite structure to simplify the manufacturing process and thus reduce cost. Essentially, it includes a cutting section stamped from flexible sheet steel shim to provide a cutting edge with the desired nip angle. The flexible steel section is spot welded to a mild steel backing member with an elongated spring member sandwiched between the two. The spring member has a number of spring teeth which exert a force along the length of the flexible section to deflect its cutting edge laterally towards the fixed blade. By this means contact between the cutting edges is maintained along the length of a cut and relief between the facing surfaces of the two blades is provided.

Abstract: An electric rotary actuator for producing rotation through a limited angle comprises a rotor winding made of a plurality of thin loop coils arranged in a continuous cylindrical framework as part of a rotor shell. The rotor shell lies in an annular flux gap defined by a stator magnet assembly and a flux return means. Each pair of adjacent axially extending limbs of adjacent loop coils lies opposite to and cooperates with a respective stator pole face. This winding arrangement helps to optimize the torsional resonance characteristics of the rotating mass.

Abstract: Printing apparatus, in particular for performing multi-color printing operations, has a ribbon shift mechanism for selectively interposing different transversely spaced portions of a print ribbon between a print head and platen. The print head is of the impact type and probably, although not necessarily, of the type which moves along the platen to define a print row. When color printing is required, a ribbon having a plurality of longitudinally extending stripes of different colors transversely spaced across its width is used. Selection of required portions or colors of the ribbon is performed by moving the head to pre-selected positions along the print row to engage, for example, a camming mechanism (including a cam and follower) which moves the shift mechanism the required amount to make the selection. Selection of the ribbon portion or color is by program control and in the case of color printing, the range of colors is increased by superimposed printing of the available colors on the print ribbon.

Abstract: A print mechanism for a wire printer has a robust single-turn closed-loop transformer secondary winding as the moving part for driving a print wire into and out of a print position. Each secondary winding threads a transformer core on which is wound a multi-turn primary winding. A stack of such secondary windings, arranged with print wires in a closely spaced print row across the stack is supported in a static magnetic field produced by a magnetic assembly. Energization of a selected primary winding induces a large current flow in its associated secondary winding which reacts with the static magnetic field to drive the associated print wire into the print position. In one embodiment, the stack of secondary windings are all mounted on a single pivot and each secondary winding swings about the pivot as a whole upon energization of its associated primary winding.