Abstract: The transfer assembly includes a belt, a transfer device, a contact-and-separation device including a retainer, and a first vibration absorber. The transfer device contacts an image bearer via the belt to form a transfer nip portion between the image bearer and the belt and to transfer the toner image onto one of a surface of the belt and a recording medium carried on the surface of the belt. The contact-and-separation device moves the transfer device to contact and separate from the image bearer. The retainer is pivotally supported by a swingable shaft and movable in a first direction in which the transfer device approaches the image bearer and in a second direction opposite to the first direction in which the transfer device separates from the image bearer, to hold the transfer device. The first vibration absorber absorbs vibration transmitted from the swingable shaft to the transfer device via the retainer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive having improved vibration characteristics and a reduced size. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises: a motor shaft for rotating a magnetic disk; a sleeve for rotatably supporting the motor shaft; and a motor hub into which the motor shaft is press fit. The motor hub supports the magnetic disk and includes a projection portion having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is in contact with the press-fit motor shaft in directions perpendicular to the rotational axis of the motor shaft. The outer surface faces the sleeve.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive that allows members to be mounted onto a base simply and accurately. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises: a base; a disk assembly including at least one magnetic disk and mounted rotatably on the base; and an actuator assembly including at least one actuator having a magnetic head and mounted swingably on the base. The base is formed with a guide. The guide functions to guide, when a member to be disposed on the base is to be mounted, the member from a corresponding initial placement position of the member on the base to a target position, at which the member is to be disposed. Further, the guide includes a positioning portion, against which the member abuts at the corresponding target position.

Abstract: A rotational member and a stationary member included in a spindle motor provided with air bearings are electrically connected while the bearing is rotating, and abrasion of the rotational member and the stationary member at stages of starting and stopping and damaging the rotational member and the stationary member by external shocks that may be exerted thereon during transportation and handling are avoided. In one embodiment, a sleeve is formed integrally with a motor base. The sleeve has an inside surface serving as a radial-bearing surface that forms a radial bearing together with the outside surface of a rotational shaft, and a thrust-bearing surface that forms thrust bearing together with a thrust plate attached to the rotational shaft. The radial-bearing surface of the sleeve is provided with a recess (groove) for holding lubricating oil while the rotational shaft is rotating.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive that allows members to be mounted onto a base simply and accurately. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises: a base; a disk assembly including at least one magnetic disk and mounted rotatably on the base; and an actuator assembly including at least one actuator having a magnetic head and mounted swingably on the base. The base is formed with a guide. The guide functions to guide, when a member to be disposed on the base is to be mounted, the member from a corresponding initial placement position of the member on the base to a target position, at which the member is to be disposed. Further, the guide includes a positioning portion, against which the member abuts at the corresponding target position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive having improved vibration characteristics and a reduced size. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises: a motor shaft for rotating a magnetic disk; a sleeve for rotatably supporting the motor shaft; and a motor hub into which the motor shaft is press fit. The motor hub supports the magnetic disk and includes a projection portion having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is in contact with the press-fit motor shaft in directions perpendicular to the rotational axis of the motor shaft. The outer surface faces the sleeve.

Abstract: Servo-write arrangements to self-record servo signals onto magnetic disk arrangements.

Abstract: A rotational member and a stationary member included in a spindle motor provided with air bearings are electrically connected while the bearing is rotating, and abrasion of the rotational member and the stationary member at stages of starting and stopping and damaging the rotational member and the stationary member by external shocks that may be exerted thereon during transportation and handling are avoided. In one embodiment, a sleeve is formed integrally with a motor base. The sleeve has an inside surface serving as a radial-bearing surface that forms a radial bearing together with the outside surface of a rotational shaft, and a thrust-bearing surface that forms thrust bearing together with a thrust plate attached to the rotational shaft. The radial-bearing surface of the sleeve is provided with a recess (groove) for holding lubricating oil while the rotational shaft is rotating.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device having a magnetic disk for recording information, a spindle motor for driving the magnetic disk for rotation, a magnetic head for reading information from the magnetic disk, a carriage arm for supporting the magnetic disk, a voice coil motor for moving the carriage arm, a loading/unloading mechanism for retracting the carriage arm from a position on the magnetic disk, and a shroud for forming a peripheral wall. The magnetic device includes an air passage positioned between the loading/unloading mechanism and the shroud.

Abstract: The magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk for storing thereinto information; a head equipped with a recording conversion element for writing information into the magnetic disk and a reproducing conversion element for reading information from the magnetic disk; an actuator arranged by a suspension for supporting the head so as to move the head on the magnetic disk, and also a drive apparatus for driving the suspension; and a stopper for limiting a movable range of the actuator, whereby a distance between a reproduction element and a recording element is measured and also a track width of the magnetic disk is measured in order to execute a self-servo write operation.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device having a magnetic disk for recording information, a spindle motor for driving the magnetic disk for rotation, a magnetic head for reading information from the magnetic disk, a carriage arm for supporting the magnetic disk, a voice coil motor for moving the carriage arm, a loading/unloading mechanism for retracting the carriage arm from a position on the magnetic disk, and a shroud for forming a peripheral wall. The magnetic device includes an air passage positioned between the loading/unloading mechanism and the shroud.

Abstract: Return channels 45a, 45b, 45c, and 50 are formed to guide air flowing through a clearance between a magnetic disk (11) and a shroud (41) so that the air flows behind a voice coil motor, bypasses a loading/unloading mechanism (31) and flows toward a region on the lower side of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 with respect to the rotating direction of the magnetic disk (11). Thus, production of turbulent flow in the vicinity of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 is controlled. Fluttering of the magnetic disk (11) can be controlled by placing a filter 60 in one of the return channels.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk for recording information, a spindle motor for driving the magnetic disk for rotation, a magnetic head for writing information to and reading information from the magnetic disk, a carriage arm supporting the magnetic head, a voice coil motor for moving the carriage arm, a shroud forming a peripheral wall, an air passage passing between the voice coil motor and the shroud and connecting an upper side of the carriage arm with respect to the direction of rotation of the magnetic disk to a lower side of the carriage arm, and a filter. The filter is placed away from an outer edge of the magnetic disk and wholly within the air passage to clean air inside the disk drive.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk device after being sealed, just when a magnetic head is loaded onto a disk on which any signal is not recorded yet, a write current to the head that the magnetic disk device itself has is turned on and off to thereby write a recording region detecting signal at the loading point on the disk. In addition, a product-purpose recording region is provided between this signal-recorded position and the inner periphery (or outermost periphery) to which the head is regulated by a stopper. According to the present invention, the recording region can be specified by the disk device itself, and self servo-write can be performed to write a designed number of tracks at a precise pitch without using any external writing device.

Abstract: The magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk for storing thereinto information; a head equipped with a recording conversion element for writing information into the magnetic disk and a reproducing conversion element for reading information from the magnetic head; an actuator arranged by a suspension for supporting the head so as to move the head on the magnetic disk, and also a drive apparatus for driving the suspension; and a stopper for limiting a movable range of the actuator, whereby a distance between a reproduction element and a recording element is measured and also a track width of the magnetic disk is measured in order to execute a self-servo write operation.

Abstract: Return channels 45a, 45b, 45c, and 50 are formed to guide air flowing through a clearance between a magnetic disk (11) and a shroud (41) so that the air flows behind a voice coil motor, bypasses a loading/unloading mechanism (31) and flows toward a region on the lower side of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 with respect to the rotating direction of the magnetic disk (11). Thus, production of turbulent flow in the vicinity of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 is controlled. Fluttering of the magnetic disk (11) can be controlled by placing a filter 60 in one of the return channels.

Abstract: Return channels 45a, 45b, 45c, and 50 are formed to guide air flowing through a clearance between a magnetic disk (11) and a shroud (41) so that the air flows behind a voice coil motor, bypasses a loading/unloading mechanism (31) and flows toward a region on the lower side of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 with respect to the rotating direction of the magnetic disk (11). Thus, production of turbulent flow in the vicinity of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 is controlled. Fluttering of the magnetic disk (11) can be controlled by placing a filter 60 in one of the return channels.

Abstract: Return channels 45a, 45b, 45c, and 50 are formed to guide air flowing through a clearance between a magnetic disk (11) and a shroud (41) so that the air flows behind a voice coil motor, bypasses a loading/unloading mechanism (31) and flows toward a region on the lower side of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 with respect to the rotating direction of the magnetic disk (11). Thus, production of turbulent flow in the vicinity of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 is controlled. Fluttering of the magnetic disk (11) can be controlled by placing a filter 60 in one of the return channels.

Abstract: A disk locating actuator of a disk apparatus has a carrier member carrying a head and a curved flexible printed circuit fixed at its one end to the carrier member and at its other end to a base. Angles at which the flexible printed circuit is fixed are suitably determined so as to diminish any dynamic reacting force produced by vibration of the flexible printed circuit, thus ensuring high degree of head locating precision.

Abstract: A magnetic disk unit comprising a one-piece carriage structure having a small thermal off-tracking amount, with the carriage structure including a rotary shaft; guide arms integrally supported on a guide-arm retainer at their proximal ends and extending independently and parallely; bearing retainers formed on both ends of the guide-arm retainer; and bearings fixed on the bearing retainers rotatably connecting the guide-arm retainer to the rotary shaft. A center line in a direction of thickness of the outermost guide arm is located outside of that of the bearing in a direction of height thereof, and a concave portion is continuously formed on the bearing retainer. Thermal coefficients of expansion of the guide arms and the guide-arm retainer are substantially equal, with the carriage structure being fashioned of an alloy mainly containing Al and Si, eutectic crystal Si particles in the guide arm and/or the guide-arm retainer. The average value of the longest eutectic crystal Si particles therein is 1.6 .mu.