Abstract: A portable hard disk drive module enclosing all of the operative components of the disk drive is removably received by a receptacle in a microcomputer system. The disk drive module and the receptacle each have an electrical connector and these connectors are coupled when the module is in an operating position within the receptacle. The connectors comprise the sole interface between the operative components of the disk drive and the remainder of the computer system. The receptacle includes a transport mechanism for moving the module from a load position to the operating position and from the operating position to a module unload position. Accordingly, movement of the module between these positions in the receptacle is completely under machine control.

Abstract: In methods of making head assemblies, a ceramic slider having a row of receiving apertures is united with a multiple serial ferrite arch structure shaped in complementary fashion so that successive arches thereof register within the apertures to define erase pole pieces. The face of the resulting assembly is ground flat and parallel to the arch base and the bridges thus formed on the base side may be separated between the arches. The assembly is then bisected along the row of pole pieces into complementary halves, and the facing surfaces are ground and lapped to provide a desired width for the erase member formed by the pole piece half and associated leg of one of the ferrite arches. Grooves are cut into the bisected surfaces at the pole pieces to define the erase track width and the erase gap length for the erase member.

Abstract: In a data storage system using a non-rigid magnetic storage surface, such as a floppy disc, and in which recording and reproduction are to be effected on both sides of the element by contact transducers, significant improvements over prior art devices are realized by employing a fixed transducer on one side of the element, and a movable transducer element on the opposite side. The movable transducer may be gimbal mounted on a pivoted spring-loaded arm of low mass and high stiffness to urge the magnetic storage surface against the fixed transducer with a light force. The force is adequate, together with a slight penetration of the fixed transducer into the plane of the disc, to correct deflections of the storage surface in directions transverse to its principal plane in the region between the transducers. Thus the transducers are maintained in operative relation for maximum flux interchange, but without introducing undue wear or requiring a long head settling time.