Abstract: Systems and methods for improving loading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a disk medium. Particular embodiments may assist in loading a read or write head to, or unloading a read or write head from, a load location over a surface of a disk medium in such a manner that damage to the surface of the disk medium (e.g., load location) is either prevented or minimized. The prevention or reduction of damage may be achieved by ensuring that a read or write head has sufficient clearance over the surface of a disk medium as the read or write head moves over the surface (e.g., as the head moves parallel to the surface) during a head loading or unloading process.

Abstract: A system is provided that increases the spindle stiffness of a disk drive while optimizing power consumption. A multipurpose bearing provides axial stiffness and enhanced stiffness against radial and pitch loads applied to the spindle. When used in combination with a journal bearing, conventional thrust bearings may be eliminated without sacrificing overall stiffness. As a result, the height of the disk drive may be reduced, thereby making the system desirable to be used in smaller electronic devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving loading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a disk medium. Particular embodiments may assist in loading a read or write head to, or unloading a read or write head from, a load location over a surface of a disk medium in such a manner that damage to the surface of the disk medium (e.g., load location) is either prevented or minimized. The prevention or reduction of damage may be achieved by ensuring that a read or write head has sufficient clearance over the surface of a disk medium as the read or write head moves over the surface (e.g., as the head moves parallel to the surface) during a head loading or unloading process.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head stack assembly cartridge is provided. The head stack assembly cartridge includes a base plate having a pivot shaft for pivotally mounting a head stack assembly and a base voice coil motor magnet attached to an inner surface of the base plate. The base voice coil motor magnet is arranged on the inner surface of the base plate to be adjacent to a coil of the head stack assembly pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft. The head stack assembly cartridge further includes a cover removably attached to the base plate and a pivot clamp removably attached to the cover and configured to secure the head stack assembly pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a head stack assembly cartridge is provided. The head stack assembly cartridge includes a base plate having a pivot shaft for pivotally mounting a head stack assembly and a base voice coil motor magnet attached to an inner surface of the base plate. The base voice coil motor magnet is arranged on the inner surface of the base plate to be adjacent to a coil of the head stack assembly pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft. The head stack assembly cartridge further includes a cover removably attached to the base plate and a pivot clamp removably attached to the cover and configured to secure the head stack assembly pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus includes a cartridge holder which is rotatably provided on a chassis, into which a disc cartridge enclosing a magneto-optical disc is inserted, and which holds the inserted disc cartridge, an optical pickup that irradiates laser light onto the magneto-optical disc, a magnetic head that is provided on the upper surface side of the cartridge holder facing the optical pickup and that is moved between a lowered position close to the optical disc and a raised position away from the magneto-optical disc, at least one first sliding member that is movably provided on the cartridge holder, a head raising/lowering mechanism that moves the magnetic head between the upper position and the lower position by moving the first sliding member, and a driving mechanism that is disposed on a lower surface side of the chassis, engages the sliding member, and moves the first sliding member.

Abstract: A disk drive unit includes a first cover having a first part of magnet component and a head stack assembly mounted on the first cover; and a second cover assembled with the first cover, which having a second part of magnet component, a spindle motor and at least one disks. The invention also discloses a ramp tool used for assembling the disk drive which has its disk and HSA assembled in two different halves, which includes a tool body; and a holding means extending from the tool body to hold a lift tab of a head stack assembly in a loading status. The invention also disclose a method of assembling such as disk drive unit.

Abstract: A head stack assembly comb (154) for maintaining the heads (44) of a head stack assembly (26) in spaced relation is disclosed. The head stack assembly comb (154) includes a comb body (158) and a latch (218). The comb body (158) engages an upper surface of an uppermost actuator arm (30a) in the head stack assembly (26). The latch (218) engages a lower surface of this same actuator arm (30a). When installing the comb (154), the comb (154) is pivoted relative to the head stack assembly (26). This brings the latch (218) into engagement with the noted actuator arm (30a) and causes the latch (218) to pivot in a first direction against a spring (214), and then in the opposite direction by the action of the spring (214) on the latch (218) to engage the latch (218) with the lower surface of the noted actuator arm (30a).

Abstract: Disclosed is a head stack load comb used in the controlled loading of a head of a head stack assembly (HSA) onto a disk during the assembly of a disk drive. The HSA includes an actuator arm, a head, and a loading surface. The load comb includes a base structure and at least one ramp finger projecting approximately perpendicularly from the base structure. In order to load the head in a controlled manner onto the disk, the loading surface of the HSA is rotated along the ramp finger until the head is in a load position and then the base structure is actuated in a vertical direction such that the ramp finger is correspondingly actuated in the vertical direction towards the disk until the head is loaded onto the disk.

Abstract: A disc drive device for driving a disc accommodated in a cartridge comprises: a magnetic head; a magnetic head supporting member for supporting the magnetic head to contact the disc and to be separated from the disc; a lifting plate configured to lift the magnetic head supporting member; and moving means for moving the lifting plate in a direction parallel to a surface of the disc, in which the moving means moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction until the lifting plate abuts the magnetic head supporting member, and further moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction with the lifting plate abutting the magnetic head supporting member so that the lifting plate lifts the magnetic head supporting member up to separate the magnetic head from the disc.

Abstract: A first lifting/lowering section (21) is disposed on the information recording medium side of a support member (6) having a head main body (5) attached to the free end thereof, while a second lifting/lowering section (22) is disposed on the side opposite to the information recording medium of the support member (6) and nearer to the fixed end side than the first lifting/lowering section (21) is. The first lifting/lowering section (21) moves away from information recording medium to abut against the lower surface of die support member (6) so as to lift the head main body (5), during which process the second lifting/lowering section (22) abuts against die upper surface of the elastic section (10) of the support member (6).

Abstract: A disk apparatus includes a disk loading device which loads a disk from an insert/eject position to a read/write position, the disk having a first surface and a second surface. A head device records information to and/or reproduces information from the disk at the read/write position, the head device configured as a pair of upper and lower heads which are brought into contact with the first and second surfaces of the disk when the disk is loaded to the read/write position. A shock absorbing member is movably arranged on the disk loading device and has a shock absorbing effect on the upper and lower heads of the head device. The shock absorbing member is maintained at an active position between the upper head and the lower head when the disk is at the insert/eject position. When the disk is loaded to the read/write position, the shock absorbing member is transferred from the active position into an inactive position where the shock absorbing member does not interfere with the head device.

Abstract: An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring.

Abstract: A disk drive adapted to accept and eject a disk cartridge accommodating a disk includes a carriage movable in a radial direction of the disk, a magnetic head assembly mounted on the carriage and having a magnetic head, and a cartridge ejecting mechanism for ejecting the disk cartridge from the disk drive. The disk drive further includes a magnetic head lifter pivotally movable between a first position where the magnetic head lifter is engaged with the magnetic head assembly to lift the magnetic head from the disk when the disk cartridge is not inserted in the disk drive and a second position where the magnetic head lifter is pushed by the disk cartridge to gradually disengage from the magnetic head assembly and allow contact of the magnetic head with the disk when the disk cartridge is inserted into the disk drive.

Abstract: A spinstand head-loading mechanism of a magnetic tester includes a protector bar and a lift arm which control the loading and unloading operations of a magnetic head, as part of a head-gimbal assembly, with respect to a magnetic disk. A series of actuators control the engagement and disengagement of protector bar and lift arm with a head-gimbal assembly that includes read/write elements as part of a slider. The protector bar is driven in a Y-axis direction by an actuator, while the head-gimbal assembly is disposed in an X-axis direction, orthogonally to the Y-axis. The lift arm is also driven in the Y-axis direction by an actuator, but is also driven in a Z-axis direction by a different actuator. Before testing, the head of the head-gimbal assembly is loaded onto a magnetic disk. To accomplish this, the head-gimbal assembly is initially installed on the head-loading mechanism.