Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a feeding roller to feed a sheet, a conveyance roller conveys the sheet, a printing head prints on the sheet, a reversing path that reverses the sheet from a first surface to a second surface, and a control unit that controls feeding of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet fed next to the preceding sheet. The control unit starts feeding of the succeeding sheet when a trailing edge of the preceding sheet, which was reversed by the reversing path, reaches a predetermined position and feeds the succeeding sheet so that a distance between the trailing edge of the preceding sheet and a leading edge of the succeeding sheet is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Provided is a wiring thin plate capable of suppressing deterioration of an electric characteristic and variation in thickness of an aerial wiring portion while advancing reduction of rigidity of the aerial wiring portion. The wiring thin plate includes an aerial wiring portion including wiring traces and passing over an airspace, aerial base layers provided at the respective wiring traces in the aerial wiring portion and being apart from each other, and an aerial cover layer provided in the aerial wiring portion and spanning from the wiring traces of the aerial wiring portion through the aerial base layers to interspaces between adjacent aerial base layers of said aerial base layers.

Abstract: A method and system for preserving data of a storage device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a number of times data is written to a first track in a first region of a storage medium, and rewriting data from a second track that is adjacent to the first track in the first region if the number of times data is written to the first track in the first region exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method further includes determining a number of times data is rewritten to the second track in the first region, and relocating data from the second track in the first region to a second region of the storage medium if the number of times data is rewritten to the second track in the first region exceeds a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a method for manufacturing a disk drive head suspension component. Such methods can comprise providing a head suspension component comprising a layer of insulating material on a spring metal layer. Such methods can further comprise forming a strain gauge element and a trace seed layer by depositing a first metal on the insulating material layer, such as by sputtering. The strain gauge element and the trace seed layer can be formed simultaneously by the depositing of the first metal as part of the same process step. The first metal can be of a strain gauge class of metal having relatively high resistivity, such as constantan. Such methods can further comprise plating a second metal on the trace seed layer to form one or more traces.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a suspension for a disk drive includes providing and assembling an actuator coupling plate, a bend region, a load beam, and a head receiving gimbal. The load beam has a first end and a second end and defines a longitudinal axis that bisects the first end and the second end. The load beam is coupled to the gimbal proximate the first end and includes a base region proximate the second end, the base region having a first lateral section to one side of the longitudinal axis and a second lateral section to another side of the longitudinal axis. The first and the second lateral sections define a gap therebetween, and the base region has a bridge extending across the gap. A constraint layer overlays the gap and the bridge.

Abstract: A token value is maintained based on an allowable number of low power transitions of a hard disk drive without adversely affecting reliability, compared to an actual number of low power transitions of said hard disk drive. The allowable number of low power transitions increases over the hard disk drive's lifetime. Before the hard disk drive performs a low power transition, the token is evaluated to determine if the hard disk drive is allowed to perform a low power transition. Low power transitions discussed include parking the head and spinning-down the hard disk drive.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a slider supporting apparatus for flying a slider of a hard disk drive in the manufacturing process to provide electrical performance characteristics. The present invention discloses an integrated design including the electrical interconnect, the gimballing mechanism, the preload mechanism and the slider supporting mechanism integrated into a single supporting structure.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a slider supporting apparatus for flying a slider of a hard disk drive in the manufacturing process to provide electrical performance characteristics. The present invention discloses an integrated design including the electrical interconnect, the gimballing mechanism, the preload mechanism and the slider supporting mechanism integrated into a single supporting structure.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a slider supporting apparatus for flying a slider of a hard disk drive in the manufacturing process to provide electrical performance characteristics. The present invention discloses an integrated design including the electrical interconnect, the gimballing mechanism, the preload mechanism and the slider supporting mechanism integrated into a single supporting structure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a reproducing section. The reproducing section detects a medium magnetic field recorded in a magnetic recording medium. The reproducing section includes a stacked film and a magnetic field application unit. The stacked film includes a first magnetization layer and a second magnetization layer. The first magnetization layer has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. A magnetization of the first magnetization layer being is fixed. The second magnetization layer is stacked with the first magnetization layer and oscillates. The magnetic field application unit is stacked with the stacked film and applies a bias magnetic field having a component along the first axis to the stacked film. A resistance of the stacked film changes in accordance with the medium magnetic field when a current not less than a value at which the second magnetization layer oscillates is passed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a head suspension is capable of suppressing the dispersion in the vibration control effect of a head suspension and improve productivity, the manufacturing method includes a step of punching, by use of a hollow punch having a tooth portion at a distal end thereof, a vibration damper piece out from a base material having a vibration damper provided detachably on a liner through an attaching surface, to hold the vibration damper piece on a hollow internal surface of the punch, a step of positioning the punch holding the vibration damper piece on an objective portion of a semi-finished head suspension, and a step of attaching, by use of an extruding implement, the vibration damper piece on the objective portion with the attaching surface through extruding the vibration damper piece from the punch.

Abstract: An opening (3) is formed on a surface of a metal film (2), a plurality of axes (4, 5, 6, 7) cross each other substantially perpendicularly at the opening (3), a plurality of periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) are provided for respective axes (4, 5, 6, 7), and each of the periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) includes a plurality of grooves (8-n, 9-n, 10-n, and 11-n) substantially perpendicular to the axis for which each periodic groove is provided, and the periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) is positioned point-symmetrically with respect to the opening (3).

Abstract: An improved elastic member structure of a magnetic head comprises: a base having a first and a second holder plates, a first through hole being formed on the first holder plate, and a gap being formed between the first and second holder plates; a fixing base plate being fixed onto the first holder plate and having a second through hole formed at the center, and the two sides of the second through hole comprising a third through hole respectively; an engaging elastic member being disposed onto the fixing base plate and having a fourth through hole formed at the center, and both ends of the engaging elastic member are passed through the third through holes respectively for fixing the engaging elastic member onto the fixed base plate; and a magnetic head module being passed into the first, second and fourth through holes for contacting a card and reading data.

Abstract: A method for loading single head in a hard disk drive includes the following steps: mounting a head assembly (30) in a baseplate (10) of a hard disk drive, the head assembly comprising an actuator arm (32), a suspension (34) and a HGA, the baseplate engaging a motor (110) and the HGA is positioned close to the motor; biasing the suspension by a mounting tool (50) from the original position, the mounting tool comprising a cantilever arm (52), a pressing head (54) and a supporting rod (56), wherein, the mounting tool rotates to the suspension and gets down to press the suspension; mounting a disk (90) on the motor in the baseplate; and releasing the pressing head from the suspension, loading the HGA of the head assembly to a parking zone of the disk.

Abstract: A tolerance ring has a band with outwardly extending corrugated protrusions forming waves that engage an outer surface of a shaft. At one end of the tolerance ring is an inwardly flared guide surface extending axially and radially from the band. The guide surface acts as a tapered entrance to a bore of a housing to assist during assembly.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing is configured that a distance L1 from an annular region of a cover member along a direction of an axis of rotation to a first thrust bearing surface of a radial bearing member, and a distance L2 from a stopper surface of a stopper portion to a second thrust bearing surface of a thrust bearing member, satisfy the following relationship: L1<L2, wherein the annular region of the cover member is in contact with the stopper surface of the stopper portion, and the first thrust bearing surface of the radial bearing member is separated from the second thrust bearing surface of the thrust bearing member to form a gap being filled with a lubricant fluid when the radial bearing member is in non-rotating state with respect to a stationary shaft.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing disk drive head suspension components includes supporting the components from carrier strips and/or other components by tab regions consisting substantially of a polyimide insulating layer. The components are detabbed by severing the insulating layer at the tab regions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for mounting an object to a base. In one example, the apparatus includes a base and a protuberant feature extending from the base. The protuberant feature includes a datum surface sized to matingly engage a corresponding surface of an object to precisely position the object with respect to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is provided for precisely positioning a datum surface of a component. The apparatus has a housing defining a tooling datum surface. A collet is supported by the housing that is selectively operable between a retracted mode and an expanded mode. In the retracted mode a clearing disengagement is defined with the component. In the expanded mode a contacting engagement with the component is defined. The contacting engagement and a simultaneous longitudinal force transferred by the contacting engagement to the component pressingly engage the datum surfaces together. The apparatus further has a bias member exerting the longitudinal force and urging the collet to the retracted mode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a head suspension includes forming a rigid part chain product where the rigid parts are provided continuously, including forming a plate-like framework for formation of the rigid part including formation margins for formation of the rails and forming a deformable part along a longitudinal curve of each formation margin and forming the rails by bending the formation margins to rise, forming a resilient member chain product where the resilient members are provided continuously, forming the flexures, forming the bases, and a stacking and coupling step stacking and coupling the rigid part chain product, the resilient member chain product, the bases, and the flexures, to form a stacked set, and cutting and separating respective head suspensions from the stacked set.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head stack assembly includes stack members stacked on a bearing unit, a suspension and a head on one of the stack members, and an elastic member being between the stack members to damp vibration when there is the vibration which is transmitted from the bearing unit to the stack members.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is provided for precisely positioning a datum surface of a component. The apparatus has a housing defining a tooling datum surface. A collet is supported by the housing, and is thereby selectively operable between an expanded mode and a retracted mode. In the expanded mode, a clearing disengagement is defined with the component. In the retracted mode, a contacting engagement is defined with the component as well as a simultaneous longitudinal force that is transferred by the contacting engagement to the component capable of pressingly engaging the datum surfaces together. The apparatus further has a bias member urging the collet to the retracted mode.

Abstract: The application relates to utilizing a head assembly, having a default boot-up head and at least one other head, in a depopulated configuration. If, during testing of the head assembly, the default boot-up head is found to be flawed, it designated as faulty in a non-volatile memory in the head assembly. The head assembly with the default boot-up head is used in a data storage device.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a low-priced magnetic head evaluation apparatus capable of evaluating characteristics at high speed. According to one embodiment, a magnetic head evaluation apparatus includes a spindle motor, a VCM actuator as a head moving mechanism, and a ramp mechanism. A spindle motor used in a product HDD is used for the spindle motor. A VCM actuator used in the product HDD is used for the VCM actuator. A ramp mechanism used in the product HDD is used for the ramp mechanism. The apparatus further includes a non-contact type position detector such as a laser length measuring instrument. The non-contact type position detector irradiates a side surface of a load beam with a laser beam. An absolute position of the load beam over a magnetic disk is detected by detecting light reflected off the side surface of the load beam. Mounting of an HGA relative to the load beam is achieved by using a caulking hole in a mount plate.

Abstract: Methods and systems are shown that specify at least one low track-per-inch (TPI) region and at least one normal TPI region on a disk. The low TPI region may be used to store information that may be rewritten frequently. The normal TPI region may be used to store information that may be rewritten less frequently. The low TPI region may reduce the need for adjacent-track-erasure (ATE) refresh.

Abstract: A head clip used in a task of assembly, inspection, and maintenance such as repair or cleaning of a device having a head attached to an actuator, and to a working method using the head clip. The heads are located at an extreme end of the actuator. The head clip includes first and second support units inserted into the actuator so as to support suspensions to which the heads are disposed. The first support units are in contact with adjacent suspensions and support them at a first position which is located nearer to the pivoting fulcrum than to the heads in the longitudinal direction of the actuator. The second support units regulate the adjacent suspensions at a second position located at the extreme end, and the heads are disposed between the first position and the second position on the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A suspension load beam used for attachment to a slider assembly and an actuation arm in a disc drive for data storage has a rigid middle beam section comprising a rigid bottom layer, a rigid top layer and a composite core layer sandwiched between the bottom layer and the top layer. A method for fabricating a vibration resistant mechanical member used a disc drive subject to high frequency motion operations is also disclosed. The method involves making an integral laminate structure and fabricating the mechanical member from the integral laminate structure. The integral laminate structure has a rigid bottom layer, a composite core layer on top of the rigid bottom layer, and a rigid top layer on top of the core layer so that the composite core layer is sandwiched between the rigid bottom layer and the rigid top layer.

Abstract: A head assembly for writing or reading information to or from a recording medium. The head assembly includes a suspension having an electrode pad; a mounting member placed on the suspension; a head mounted on the mounting member and having an electrode, for writing or reading information; and a first bonding member made of a hot-melt adhesive and fixing the electrode to the electrode pad.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a suspension, a suspension has first and second opposing surfaces and includes a flexure, a load beam, a mounting arm, and traces. The flexure is coupled to a proximal end of the load beam, and the mounting arm is coupled to a distal end of the load beam. The traces are coupled to the flexure. A suspension property to be altered is identified. A value of the unaltered suspension property is measured. An altered value of the suspension property is determined. The flexure, the load beam, or the mounting arm of the suspension, or a combination thereof, is coated with at least one layer of at least one film to alter the identified suspension property from the measured value to the predetermined altered value.

Abstract: A method for forming rails on the beam region of a disk drive head suspension. Rails are formed on a first portion of the beam region while supporting the beam region at a first location. Rails are formed on a second portion of the beam region while supporting the beam region at a second location that is different than the first location.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for positioning a head. An exemplary system includes a light source; a detector configured to receive signals from the light source; a transducer that reads signals from a magnetic tape; a plurality of structures coupled to the transducer and configured to pass in opposition to the detector; a stepping motor; and circuitry configured to determine whether or not a light signal is received by the detector. If the light signal is received, the circuitry commands the stepping motor to move the transducer incrementally in a first direction. If the light signal is interrupted by moving the transducer within a first distance, the circuitry commands the stepping motor to move the transducer in a direction opposite the first direction until the light signal has been continuously received across more than the first distance.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of an electronic information storage apparatus and an associated method and system. For example, according to one illustrative embodiment, a disk drive comprises a base and at least one disk that are rotatably attached to the base. The at least one disk can include a burnished and lubricant-free outer surface. The disk drive can also include an actuator coupled to the base. The actuator can comprise a read/write head that is positionable in a reading/writing relationship with the at least one disk to define a lubricant-free space intermediate the read/write head and the outer surface. The disk drive can further include a read/write head loading and unloading ramp that is attached to the base. The ramp can include a ramp surface that is positioned proximate a periphery of the at least one disk.

Abstract: The method of the present invention for assembling a hard disk drive includes the following steps: 1) Position a head stack assembly onto a fixture; 2) position a magnetic block assembly onto the fixture; and 3) move the magnetic block assembly horizontally, making an upper and a lower magnetic blocks of the magnetic block assembly moved in place located at the upper and the lower sides of a coil of the head stack assembly, respectively. The magnetic block assembly of the hard disk drive dedicated for this assembling method includes the upper and the lower magnetic blocks, which are fixedly connected to form a whole, and between which there is a gap for accommodating the coil of the head stack assembly. The entire magnetic block assembly is moved to face the coil of the head stack assembly through a horizontal movement, and thus there is no need for a complicated fixture, making the assembling of the hard disk drive simpler and faster without damaging the disc.

Abstract: A system and method that directs a transducer to a home position while taking into account whether a light source, used to detect light interruption is inoperative. The method for the system including a light source, a detector configured to receive signals from the light source, a transducer that reads signals from a magnetic tape and a plurality of structures coupled to the transducer and configured to pass in opposition to the detector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of producing a magnetic disk device in which a plurality of heads can appropriately record servo data on a magnetic disk. The method of producing the magnetic disk device according to one embodiment includes the steps of: attaching a magnetic disk, a plurality of heads and head amplifier circuit to the magnetic disk device; and recording the servo data input through the head amplifier circuit with the plurality of heads on the magnetic disk all at once; wherein the head amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers provided corresponding to the plurality of heads respectively and a plurality of registers which is provided corresponding to the plurality of amplifiers respectively and holds set values determining the amplification of the amplifiers, and the step of recording the servo data is conducted with the plurality of registers included in the head amplifier circuit individually set.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for manufacturing a magnetic head support having a piezoelectric device on a metal plate member comprises the steps of: providing a metal plate member; forming a piezoelectric layer of a piezoelectric material on the plate member at an elevated temperature; forming a first electrode layer of an electrical conducting material on the piezoelectric layer; and bending the metal plate member at a bending portion adjacent to the piezoelectric layer while the temperature is lowered from the elevated temperature after forming the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A micro-machined vibration-damping device comprises a patterned visco-elastic polymer and a substrate for receiving the patterned visco-elastic polymer.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a suspension for supporting a magnetic head slider with a thin-film magnetic head, having a slider mounting section on which the magnetic head slider is fixed, and a heating unit formed on the slider mounting section of the suspension. The heating unit is capable of producing heat.

Abstract: The present invention aims to accurately fix members together and includes: an arranging process in which a cylindrical section of a second member of which inner wall has a noncircular cross-sectional shape is inserted into a bore made in a first member and the second member is placed relative to the first member; an inserting process in which a rod-like jig of which cross-section has a noncircular shape that has the maximum external diameter larger than the minimum inside diameter in the cylindrical section of the second member is inserted into the cylindrical section of the second member; and a turning process that fixes the cylindrical section of the second member in the bore of the first member by turning the rod-like jig in the cylindrical section to forcedly widen the cylindrical section.

Abstract: Compositions and materials for use in load/unload ramps in magnetic disk drive assemblies are disclosed, particularly compositions or materials to improve at least one of the desired characteristics of low wear, low cost, high mechanical stability and high moldability. Thermoplastic polymers, such as acetal homopolymers, acetal copolymers, polyetherimides, polyphenylene sulfides, and polysulfones, are combined with other compositions, such as polyaramides, to improve the characteristics of a load/unload ramp constructed therefrom. Additionally, another material may be added, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene or perfluoropolyether.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making sliders having larger roll off shapes and smaller pole tip recessions on the overcoat areas of air bearing surfaces (ABS) are provided. In certain example embodiments, at least one row bar may be positioned on a lapping machine's mounting fixture. Each row bar may include at least one slider, and each slider may include a side having a thin-film element formed thereon. A dummy bar may be positioned on the mounting fixture such that the dummy bar is lapped before any of the row bars. Then, the mounting fixture may be used to bring the surface of each row bar into contact with the lapping table's lapping surface. The row bar may be rotationally lapped such that for each row bar, the side having the thin-film element is lapped first. Thus, sliders having small pole tip recessions and larger roll off shapes may be produced.

Abstract: A head stack assembly of a disk drive unit including a head arm assembly (HAA) having a head gimbal assembly, a drive arm to be connected with the head gimbal assembly; wherein the drive arm comprises a securing portion, a connection portion and a spacer connecting the securing portion with the connection portion. In the present invention, at least one undercut is formed on the spacer of the drive arm to strengthen the drive arm. The invention also discloses a method of manufacturing such a head stack assembly.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head that has a configuration in which the element-formed surface and the opposed-to-medium surface are perpendicular to each other, and a light source is sufficiently distanced from the medium surface is provided. The head comprises at least one near-field-light-generating layer for heating a part of a magnetic medium during write operation by generating a near-field light, having a shape tapered toward a head end surface on the opposed-to-medium surface side, and comprising a near-field-light-generating portion having a light-received surface and a tip reaching the head end surface on the opposed-to-medium surface side, and the light-received surface being sloped in respect to the element-formed surface and being provided in a position where an incident light propagating from a head end surface opposite to the opposed-to-medium surface can reach at least a part of the light-received surface.

Abstract: A head suspension or head suspension component for supporting a head slider over a rigid disk in a dynamic storage device and a method of manufacturing. The head suspension includes a head suspension component and a compliant locating feature formed within the head suspension component. The compliant locating feature includes a plurality of spring beam tabs defined by an aperture and positioned to extend toward an opening. The compliant feature is preferably configured to receive a tapered cylindrical pin through the opening for precisely locating the head suspension component relative to a desired reference while the spring beam tabs are engaged by the tapered pin. The head suspension component may include two or more compliant locating features, and the head suspension may include two or more components that each include one or more compliant locating features.

Abstract: A head suspension for a disk drive has a base plate (19) to be attached to a carriage of the disk drive and a load beam (21) consisting of a rigid part (27) and a resilient part (29), to apply load onto a slider. The rigid part and resilient part are separately formed. The rigid part is joined to a first side (29a) of the resilient part. The suspension also has a reinforcing plate (37) to hold and fix a second side (29b) of the resilient part between the reinforcing plate and the base plate. The base plate stably and resiliently supports the load beam. This suspension satisfies required characteristics.

Abstract: A write-inhibit signal is generated by a head-disk interaction sensor during a write process that is integrated with a suspension of a hard disk drive (HDD) when fly-height modulation of the slider is detected during a write process The suspension load beam includes a dimple and a laminated flexure. The laminated flexure includes a surface that is adapted to receive a slider and a surface that is adapted to contact the dimple. The head-disk interaction sensor is fabricated as part of the laminations of the flexure. The head-disk interaction sensor can be an accelerometer that senses an acceleration of the flexure when the slider contacts the disk of the disk drive and/or a pressure sensor that senses a pressure between the flexure and the dimple when the slider contacts the disk. A write-inhibit circuit is responsive to the sensor signal by inhibiting the write process.

Abstract: A suspension load beam for an actuator assembly of a disk drive includes a bend radius portion with a spring rate that is less than 18 Newtons per meter, a first bending mode that is greater than 3,500 Hertz, and a first torsion mode that is greater than 5,300 Hertz. The method of making this suspension load beam includes cutting a sheet of material to form a flat suspension load beam including a bend radius portion, removing material in the bend radius portion from full thickness, inspecting the bend radius portion to determine its thickness, and removing material from the bend radius portion and/or from the main body of the suspension load beam to compromise the performance difference due to thickness variation in bend radius portion.

Abstract: There is provided a support structure for a magnetic head in which a magnetic head having a function of being capable of following a warp or the like of a magnetic card can be easily attached and detached without using a fastening member such as a screw. A support structure for a magnetic head for swingably supporting a magnetic head includes a fixed member fixed to a fixed portion, a movable member rotatably supported by the fixed member and urged toward a fixed position, and support shafts protrusively provided at the front and back of the magnetic head, in which groove portions for removably supporting the support shafts are formed at corresponding portions of the fixed member and the movable member in one of them in a vertical direction and in the other in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: An XY stage includes a movable frame having a rectangular space inside thereof and movable on a reference base along one of X and Y axes, a first drive source provided in the reference base for moving the movable frame, a rectangular movable base mounted in the rectangular space of the movable frame, which is movable on the reference base along the other of the X and Y axes and stopped on the reference base, and a second drive source provided in the movable frame, for moving the movable base.

Abstract: A magnetic reader head assembly includes a magnetic reader head compartment, a frame and an elastic component. The magnetic reader head compartment comprises electronic and mechanical components of the magnetic reader head. The frame has a front side and a back side and has a footprint matching the footprint of the magnetic reader head compartment. The front side is configured to attach to a back wall of the magnetic reader head compartment while allowing the magnetic reader head compartment to move out or retract from the frame. The elastic component is configured to be placed at the back side of the frame and to push the frame out in order to press the magnetic reader head compartment against a magnetic card stripe.