Abstract: A disk drive comprises a drive enclosure defining a generally rectangular form factor; an electromechanical assembly contained within the drive enclosure, and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) at least partially contained within the drive enclosure. The drive enclosure possesses at least one of the following characteristics: the drive enclosure defines chamfers on at least one of four corners of the generally rectangular form factor; and the drive enclosure defines a first surface and a second surface that defines an interior second surface portion and a peripheral second surface portion and wherein the interior second surface portion is further away from the first surface than is the peripheral second surface portion.

Abstract: A disk drive including a disk having a top surface, a cover positioned over the disk, and a disk limiter protruding from the cover toward the disk. The disk limiter is configured to contact a portion of the top surface of the disk when the disk is deflected toward the cover, and has a middle portion between two end portions. At least one portion of the disk limiter curves or slopes in a direction away from the disk.

Abstract: Described herein is an actuator latch, for limiting rotational movement of a disk drive actuator. The latch preferably includes a coupling portion that has an elongate member received by a bore in a disk drive base. The coupling portion is configured to be rotatable about an axis defined by the elongate member. The latch also includes an engagement portion, integrally formed with the elongate member, that extends in a direction transverse to the axis and engages and limits rotation of a disk drive actuator.

Abstract: A novel disk drive includes a disk drive base that includes a plurality of mounting recessions. Each of a plurality of mounting inserts at least partially protrudes into a respective one of the plurality of mounting recessions, and contacts the disk drive base. Each of the plurality of mounting inserts includes a body portion that is adapted to be attached to a host computer system. Each of the plurality of mounting inserts also includes at least one cantilevered beam having a root end that is attached to the body portion and having a distal end that is in contact with the disk drive base in a respective one of the plurality of mounting recessions. The root end is not in contact with the disk drive base when the mounting insert is in an undeformed state.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a ramp having a fixed portion that is fixed to the disk drive base, and a guide portion that is not. The guide portion includes a guide surface having a parking region that is in contact with an HGA lift-tab with the disk drive in a non-operational state. The guide surface also has a load/unload region that extends over a disk outer periphery. The guide surface defines a guide surface length that is measured from the parking region to the load/unload region. The ramp also includes a torsionally-compliant member connecting the fixed portion to the guide portion. A distance between the torsionally-compliant member and the parking region, measured approximately parallel to the guide surface length, is less than half the guide surface length. The guide portion is not connected to the fixed portion over at least two-thirds of the guide surface length.

Abstract: A novel disk drive head stack assembly (HSA) includes a first head gimbal assembly attached to a first actuator arm. A dummy mass is attached to a second actuator arm. The dummy mass includes a mounting plate portion defining a mounting plate width. The mounting plate portion includes first and second projections. The dummy mass also includes a neck portion defining a neck width and a neck length. A root portion of the neck portion is disposed between the first and second projections, and defines first and second alcoves between the root portion and the first and second projections, respectively. The dummy mass also includes a distal mass portion defining a distal mass width and a distal mass length. The neck width is less than the mounting plate width, and the neck width is less than the distal mass width.

Abstract: A novel actuator latch includes a catch portion interfering with actuator rotation with the latch in a closed position. The latch includes a first stop portion that is in contact with a fixed member with the latch in the closed position. The latch includes a pusher portion that is in contact with the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in an extreme rotational position. The pusher portion has a torsional stiffness about the latch pivot location in the range 5 JA/rad·sec2 to 30 JA/rad·sec2, where JA is the rotational inertia of the actuator about the actuator pivot location expressed in units of kg·m2. The first stop portion has a torsional stiffness about the latch pivot location that is at least 5 times that of the pusher portion.

Abstract: A mold cleaning apparatus and method is provided for removing debris from an advancing masonry mold product. At least one rotatable tire is arranged at an acute angle to the masonry mold product and engages the mold product to provide a cleaning or scraping force to remove debris from the mold product. The cleaning force of the tire can be adjusted by changing the angle of the tire, the air pressure of the tire or the height of the tire relative to the mold surface. Multiple tires can be employed, while being rotated periodically to evenly distribute wear or replaced as needed.

Abstract: A disk drive having a translatable ramp is disclosed. The disk drive includes a head gimbal assembly having a proximate end that is attached to an actuator, and a distal end that includes a lift tab. The ramp includes a lift tab supporting surface located as close to a pivot axis of the actuator as is the lift tab. The ramp also includes a ramp guiding surface that is in contact with a mating surface of the disk drive base. A fastener selectively allows or prevents relative translation between the ramp and the disk drive base. The aforementioned contact constrains the relative translation so that the relative translation changes the distance between the lift tab supporting surface and the disk axis of rotation more than the relative translation changes the distance between the lift tab supporting surface and the actuator pivot axis.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a ramp having a fixed portion that is fixed to the disk drive base, and a guide portion that is not. The guide portion includes a guide surface having a parking region that is in contact with an HGA lift-tab with the disk drive in a non-operational state. The guide surface also has a load/unload region that extends over a disk outer periphery. The guide surface defines a guide surface length that is measured from the parking region to the load/unload region. The ramp also includes a torsionally-compliant member connecting the fixed portion to the guide portion. A distance between the torsionally-compliant member and the parking region, measured approximately parallel to the guide surface length, is less than half the guide surface length. The guide portion is not connected to the fixed portion over at least two-thirds of the guide surface length.

Abstract: A vibration decoupler for a swing-type head actuator pivot bearing assembly in a disk drive. The invention selectively decouples axial actuator vibrations from the pivot shaft while retaining the radial and rotational rigidity needed to ensure head positioning precision. The head stack assembly is rigidly coupled to the pivot bearing shaft in the radial and rotational dimensions and is pliably coupled to the same shaft in the axial dimension. This decoupling scheme eliminates most acoustic vibration components created in the rotary actuator. Axial decoupling eliminates most acoustic vibration components transmitted from the pivot shaft to the drive housing. The vibration isolator may be fabricated as a single piece of injection-molded plastic, including all necessary elements for coupling to the pivot bearing and the actuator body.

Abstract: A disc is firmly clamped to the end of a rotatable spindle by a coaxial clamping plate spaced from the spindle end by a ring between the plate and disc surface and attached to the spindle by a single coaxial bolt. The flexible plate, thicker at its center than near its periphery, has a substantially flat inner surface which, when stressed by tightening of the bolt, is deformed without exceeding its yield stress to the point where its center section contacts the spindle end surface to provide a constant predetermined clamping force evenly around the disc.The disc and spindle assembly is rapidly and accurately balanced without loosening the clamped disc from the spindle with an adjustable balancing bar which is attached to the head of the coaxial bolt and which may be properly adjusted by the use of a conventional balancing system which can indicate magnitude and direction of the imbalance.