Abstract: Instead of installation using screws, an installation mechanism is configured by an installation structure formed on a disk drive side and a mating installation structure formed on a system unit side and, using this mechanism, the disk drive is installed and fixed in the system unit. The installation structure on the disk drive has a fitting member that fits the disk drive into the system unit side, and this fitting member fits the disk drive into the system unit side for installing and fixing it therein without using screws. This increases workability and installability and reduces installation costs.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus according to the present invention includes a horizontal guide mechanism and a vertical guide mechanism, which are disposed between a frame (10) and a slider (60) for slidably guiding the slider (60). The horizontal guide mechanism includes an engaging piece (69b) disposed in at least one of the frame (10) and the slider (60) and an engaging hole (24a), which is disposed in the other and is engaged with the engaging piece (69b). One of the frame (10) and the slider (60), in which the engaging piece (69b) is formed, is made of a metallic sheet material while the engaging piece (69b) is formed by bending part of the metallic sheet material. Forming the engaging piece (69b) by bending part of the metallic sheet material in such a manner simplifies the structure of the disk drive apparatus according to the present invention so that the fabrication is facilitated, enabling fabricating cost to be reduced.

Abstract: If a floppy disk (200) is inserted into a disk drive unit, a link member (52) rotates due to the movement of the floppy disk (200), and a slide piece (61) recedes from under a projecting piece (131) of an upper head support arm (121). In consequence, the distal end of the upper head support arm (121) descends, so that an upper head which is mounted on the distal end of the upper head support arm approaches a lower head which is mounted on the distal end of a lower head support arm.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus according to the present invention includes a horizontal guide mechanism and a vertical guide mechanism, which are disposed between a frame (10) and a slider (60) for slidably guiding the slider (60). The horizontal guide mechanism includes an engaging piece (69b) disposed in at least one of the frame (10) and the slider (60) and an engaging hole (24a), which is disposed in the other and is engaged with the engaging piece (69b). One of the frame (10) and the slider (60), in which the engaging piece (69b) is formed, is made of a metallic sheet material while the engaging piece (69b) is formed by bending part of the metallic sheet material.

Abstract: An azimuth regulating mechanism is provided which can easily perform the azimuth regulation with an increased precision after a carriage including a magnetic head mounted thereon has been fixed to the frame of a floppy disc drive. The carriage is slidably supported by a guide rail which is firmly held against fixing pins on the frame by means of a guide rail holder. One of the fixing pins is in contact with an eccentric portion formed on the guide rail. When the guide rail is rotated, it can be finely regulated in the horizontal direction to regulate the azimuth angle of the head on the carriage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a floppy disk drive which can removably receive a cartridge containing a floppy disk and which can travel a READ/WRITE head to the desired track on the floppy disk while rotating the floppy disk at a constant speed for effecting the desired read/write action under an electric-magnetic conversion. The drive is of a top-up type which includes a frame portion and a carrier which can be popped up from the frame portion. The frame portion includes a spindle motor for directly driving the floppy disk, a plurality of positioning pins for positioning the disk cartridge relative to the spindle motor, and a carriage carrying the READ/WRITE head for travelling the head to the desired track on the disk. The carrier is pivotably supported by the frame portion and adapted to receive the disk cartridge. The cartridge can be loaded into the lower portion of the carrier upon popping-up of the carrier.

Abstract: A tension mechanism for an .alpha.belt drive apparatus comprising an .alpha.belt which is wound around a drive pulley, the one end of which is fixed to a carriage and the end of which is formed an engaging portion, and a lever which is rotatingly and pivotally supported on the part of the carriage and forms a short hand portion having a stopper on its tip end to engage with the engaging portion and a long hand portion being urged on its tip end to be stopped at the part of the carriage.The lever above mentioned is rotated and stopped on its tip end of the long hand portion at the part of the carriage so that the .alpha.belt can be applied a tension force.