Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading a magnetic head assembly on a magnetic recording surface which permits separation of function between load/retract and flying and which produces a predictable pitch to the magnetic head assembly in the static condition and no pitch bias in the dynamic flying condition. The present invention improves on the IBM type 3370 by adding to the single piece spring/load beam element a pair of wings which extend laterally on each side thereof and a pair of stationary cam members positioned on opposite sides of the element. The arrangement of the torque wings and cams permits unrestricted retraction of the slider. The placement of the wings results in a favorable ratio of lift point to load beam bending point and more control of load zone accuracy.

Abstract: A pattern, useful in providing data to a processing scheme to control the fine positioning of a transducer head of a disk drive unit, comprises an erased gap followed by an automative gain control (AGC) information burst followed by a first burst of servo control information followed by a second burst of servo control information. The pattern is written on a disk by the disk drive unit using a mechanical index on an armature associated with the rotation of the disk as a primary time reference, with all other time references being based on a transition between the erased gap and the AGC burst. The first and second servo control information bursts are written alternately off track by one half of the track separation between the track of interest and the next adjacent tracks to each side thereof.

Abstract: A runout correction pattern is recorded on the peripheral track of the disk during the initial recording of the data stored thereon. The runout correction pattern comprises an integer number of sequentially recorded groups, each comprised of an increment of full track erasure, a like increment of high transition density automatic gain control information, a first burst of servo control information, and a second burst of servo control information. Previously necessary clock tracks are not incorporated. The bursts of servo control information are recorded "off-track" by one-half of the center line to center line spacing between adjacent tracks so that all first bursts are to one side of the center line of the track and all second bursts are to the opposite side of the center line of the track.

Abstract: In an apparatus of the type including a magnetic transducer head adapted for flying on a fluid bearing in close proximity to a transducing surface and a gimbal apparatus to which the head is mounted for flying so as to provide flexural freedom of rotation of the head around roll and pitch axes parallel to the transducing surface and flexural freedom of translation in the direction of an axis perpendicular to the surface while restraining rotation of the head about the axis perpendicular to the surface and translation of the head in directions parallel to the surface, the gimbal apparatus comprising a thin, resilient, gimbal sheet having an external shape and interior openings defining an outer ring attachable to a gimbal sheet support at substantially opposite points on the outer ring and an inner ring spaced apart from the outer ring and attached to it by a pair of webs intersecting the outer ring at opposite interior edges between the points at which the outer ring is attached to the gimbal sheet support, t

Abstract: In a magnetic disc storage system and a magnetic disc therefor, the disc having opposed surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being coated with a magnetic material, the disc being adapted to be mounted on a spindle for rotation relative to a magnetic transducer positioned for recording data on and retrieving data from the disc, a plurality of concentric annular tracks being defined on the surface of the disc, each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of sectors, each sector having associated therewith prerecorded servo data for identification thereof, the improvement wherein the servo data for each sector comprises a unit distance track identification code recorded three times in succession, the code changing between adjacent sectors of adjacent tracks, and a clock shift check code recorded immediately following the last recorded one of the track identification codes, the same clock shift check code being recorded for each sector of every track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic disc storage system of the type including a housing having an openable front door for receipt of a cartridge containing a rigid magnetic disc. When the front door is open, a compartment is exposed for receipt of the cartridge, which compartment is completely sealed from another compartment containing the transducer heads. It is only when a cartridge is fully inserted into the compartment and the front door closed that the compartment containing the heads is opened and the door in the cartridge is opened. This system provides for positive control against external contamination entry into the head flying environment.

Abstract: In a magnetic disc drive, there is disclosed a method for cleaning the magnetic disc surfaces and the heads. The heads are loaded and caused to fly on the disc surfaces. The spindle motor speed is reduced to a speed where the heads fly at approximately 50% of the normal flying height and the head support structure drive motor is commanded to sweep the heads across the disc surfaces, forward and reverse, for several cycles, to remove any particles down to an elevation that is 50% of the normal flying height. The heads are then positioned over unused tracks on the disc surfaces and the spindle motor speed is reduced to a speed where the heads fly at approximately 25% of the normal flying height so as to scrub off any particles left on the heads. The spindle motor speed is then returned to normal speed and a 25% margin of interference-free operation has been assured.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a magnetic head assembly adjacent a recording surface and for loading and retracting the head assembly.

Abstract: In a disc drive including a disc having a magnetic surface and supported for rotation on a spindle, a spindle motor for driving the spindle, a linear motor having a positioner coil for radially moving a head support structure along the disc surface, and a circuit responsive to an emergency condition for causing the linear motor positioner coil to retract the head support structure, there is disclosed an improvement wherein the spindle motor is a rotating magnet DC motor and the kinetic energy stored in the rotating spindle mass is used to provide the energy required to unload the heads upon the occurrence of an emergency situation. Under emergency conditions, the spindle motor windings are switched directly to the linear motor positioner coil and the spindle motor acts as a generator to supply the head retract energy.