Abstract: A removable cartridge for a disk drive where the cartridge has a housing, a disk contained within the housing and a mechanism for reducing the rattling of the disk when the cartridge is not inside the disk drive and for permitting the free rotation of the disk when the cartridge is inside the disk drive. The rattle-reduction mechanism includes an inclined surface defined in the housing and a member having a first portion and a second portion. The interaction between the second portion of the member and the inclined surface of the housing may cause the first portion of the member to move into and out of contact with the hub. The contact between the first portion and the hub reduces the tendency of the disk to rattle. In one example embodiment, the cartridge has a housing with cartridge nut threads and a cartridge screw with cartridge screw threads.

Abstract: A cartridge adapted to be inserted into a disk drive where the disk drive includes a read/write head and a finger for engaging the cartridge. The cartridge includes a housing defining a cartridge door port and a door control port, a rotatable media within the housing, a door that rotates about a pivot point between a closed position and an open position, a portion of the door blocking access to the rotatable media through the cartridge door port when the door is closed, and a door opening link having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the door closer to the pivot point of the door than to the portion of the door that blocks the cartridge door port, the second end being movable between a closed location and an open location. The door is in the closed position when the second end of the door opening link is in the closed location, and the door is in the open position when the second end of the door opening link is in the open location.

Abstract: A disk drive (30) conforms to the 1.8 inch form factor through of use of, for example, a removable cartridge (200) which has a disk (220) mounted on the hub (226) which hub (226) is manipulatable by a multifunction handle (58) of the disk drive (30), allowing the hub (226) to be seated on the spindle motor nose (56) of the disk drive (30). The multifunction handle (58) of the drive (30) provides for a compact, high capacity design by performing cartridge hub seating operations, cartridge ejection operations, head arm assembly unlocking operations, and handle locking and unlocking operations to ensure proper operation of the disk drive (30). The disk drive (30) includes an inventive ramp (66) design which allows the head arm assembly (64) to be initially received within the cartridge (200) as the cartridge (200) is inserted into its final registration position in the disk drive receiving mechanism (53) and to be more tangent with respect to the disk (220).

Abstract: A removable cartridge (200) for a disk drive (30) which has a 1.8 inch form factor, has multifunction features which allow for high data storage capacity at a reduced size. The cartridge (200) includes a cartridge screw (206) which engages the cartridge nut (221) defined in the cartridge housing base (204) for allowing the disk (220) in the cartridge (200) to be positioned relative to the cartridge housing base (204) in order to successfully engage the spindle motor nose (56) of a disk drive (30). The cartridge screw (206) additionally prevents the disk (220) from rattling within the cartridge (200) whether the cartridge (200) is removed from the disk drive (30).

Abstract: A removable cartridge disk drive includes a removable cartridge adapted to be received by a disk drive having a base plate and right and left guide walls. The cartridge inserts into the drive at an angle with the aid of a movable slider attached to one of the guide walls. Once inserted, the cartridge is locked in and held. During operation, a rotary actuator arm with adjustable angular orientation loads one or more read/write heads off of a fixed ramp onto the surface of a data storage disk contained inside the cartridge. After read/write operations are finished, the head is unloaded onto the fixed ramp and the cartridge is ejected from the drive at an angle.

Abstract: A removable cartridge 200 for a disk drive 30 which has a 1.8 inch form factor, has multifunction features which allow for high data storage capacity at a reduced size. The cartridge 200 includes a cartridge screw 206 which engages the cartridge nut 221 defined in the cartridge housing base 204 for allowing the disk 220 in the cartridge 200 to be positioned relative to the cartridge housing base 204 in order to successfully engage the spindle motor nose 56 of a disk drive 30. The cartridge screw 206 additionally prevents the disk 220 from rattling within the cartridge 200 whether the cartridge 200 is removed from the disk drive 30. The cartridge 200 further includes a multiplicity of projections 212, 214, 214, tang 208 and rails 216 which contact the drive 30 to perform the functions of proper reception and registration of the cartridge 200 in the cartridge receiving mechanism 53 of the disk drive 30 and proper operation of the cartridge 200 as the cartridge 200 is manipulated by the disk drive 30.

Abstract: A disk drive 30 conforms to the 1.8 inch form factor through of use of, for example, a removable cartridge 200 which has a disk 220 mounted on the hub 226 which hub 226 is manipulatable by a multifunction handle 58 of the disk drive 30, allowing the hub 226 to be seated on the spindle motor nose 56 of the disk drive 30. The multifunction handle 58 of the drive 30 provides for a compact, high capacity design by performing cartridge hub seating operations, cartridge ejection operations, head arm assembly unlocking operations, and handle locking and unlocking operations to ensure proper operation of the disk drive 30. The disk drive 30 includes an inventive ramp 66 design which allows the head arm assembly 64 to be initially received within the cartridge 200 as the cartridge 200 is inserted into its final registration position in the disk drive receiving mechanism 53 and to be more tangent with respect to the disk 220.

Abstract: Recirculation hot water system including a fluid delivery system used to supply potable water throughout a home or other facility, having a hot water supply pipe, a cold water supply/return pipe, a hot water heater, a pump, a manifold, a control system, a hot water and cold water faucet or valve, and a demand site (typically a sink or wash basin). The manifold further includes a thermostatic actuator and a check valve. The control means further includes a sending unit, installed in close proximity to the demand site, and a receiving unit, installed in close proximity to the heater. Command signals are transferred, from the sending unit to the receiving unit, via modulated signals that pass through the AC power lines that are used to distribute power throughout the home or facility.

Abstract: An integrated read/write transducer and flexure support structure is provided for use with rotating magnetic media such as a hard disc drive. The integrated structure includes at least one magnetic pole structure integral with a unitary sheet of flexible magnetic material from which the flexure support is formed. A second magnetic pole is supported on the structure, together with conductive coils, to form an electromagnetic transducer. The integrated structure includes an air-bearing surface mounted for parallel motion with respect to adjacent magnetic media. A pattern of positive-pressure air-bearing rails and negative-pressure recesses provides an aerodynamically stable configuration designed to fly at a height of approximately 5 microinches above the moving magnetic media. Conductors and interconnect pads are provided on the magnetic sheet material substrate.

Abstract: A disc drive 20 includes a tray assembly 34 for positively seating and locking a cartridge 21 onto a spindle motor 82. The drive 20 includes heads 108, 110 mounted on a radial arm voice coil actuator assembly 112 and appropriate mechanisms including the arm control assembly 126 and the ratchet 124 and pawl projection 170 to ensure that the heads 108, 110 are properly loaded onto the disc 90 and that the cartridge 21 insertion and ejection process does not cause damage to the heads 108, 110 or the disc 90 contained in the cartridge 21. Further the drive 20 includes controls such as the cartridge load lever 32 and the release button 30 which are not exposed and cannot be accidentally tripped during data transfer operations.

Abstract: A disc drive 20 includes a tray assembly 34 for positively seating and locking a cartridge 21 onto a spindle motor 82. The drive 20 includes heads 108, 110 mounted on a radial arm voice coil actuator assembly 112 and appropriate mechanisms including the arm control assembly 126 and the ratchet 124 and pawl projection 170 to ensure that the heads 108, 110 are properly loaded onto the disc 90 and that the cartridge 21 insertion and ejection process does not cause damage to the heads 108, 110 or the disc 90 contained in the cartridge 21. Further the drive 20 includes controls such as the cartridge load lever 32 and the release button 30 which are not exposed and cannot be accidentally tripped during data transfer operations.

Abstract: A removable cartridge 20 for a disc drive includes a door 34 which is movable from a locked closed position to an open position by a shutter lever of the disc drive.

Abstract: A positioning system for a magnetic disk storage system. A first and second lead screw connected to their respective stepper motors are mechanically connected by a lever arm that adds these motions. The first stepper motor is controlled by an open loop control circuit and the second stepper motor is controlled by a closed loop circuit that reads servo information off the magnetic disk. The head is constantly repositioned to follow track eccentricities and can accurately read very closely spaced tracks on non-rigid disks.

Abstract: A floppy disk drive mechanism includes a clamping lever which is turned to align the floppy disk with a drive spindle and clamp it thereto. The clamping lever is not accessible until the disk has been fully inserted into the drive mechanism thus minimizing damage as may occur by operating the clamping mechanism when the disk is not fully inserted. Further, turning of the accessible handle causes a rotational clamping device to be moved vertically downward along a line perpendicular to the plane of the floppy disk so as to further align the disk with the drive spindle and clamp it thereto. The clamping lever also is not accessible when in the fully clamped condition. An overcenter link holds the clamping mechanism in the fully clamped condition and a lock-out prevents ejection of said disk during operation. By pushing a release button, the over-center link is disengaged and a spring-loaded mechanism unclamps the clamping mechanism and raises the read/write head free of the disk.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning magnetic record/playback heads in a floppy disk data storage and retrieval devices and including a carriage 12 upon which heads 14 and 16 are mounted, and a linear guidance mechanism comprising a fixed guide rod 18, a spring-loaded guide rod 20, and three carriage mounted bearing assemblies 25. The spring-loaded guide rod 20 is biased toward the fixed guide rod 18 and forces two of the bearing assemblies 25 against the fixed guide rod 18 by action through the third bearing assembly. Each bearing assembly 25 comprises two spherical balls 28 and 30 which are mounted in spherical seats 32 and spin in reaction to translation of the carriage 12. Radial positioning of carriage 12 and the attached heads is accomplished by a lead screw 22 driven by a stepper motor 24 which is coupled to the carriage through a zero backlash nut follower 75.

Abstract: A recording apparatus in which the cantilevered arm supporting a recording device has a smoothly curved surface adjacent the flexure spring joining the arm to a carriage whereby a rolling pivot is provided such that the bending stress on the flexure spring is minimized and is constant and independent of the degree that the cantilevered arm is raised. An end of the cantilevered arm is held against the carriage by a spring, one end of which is coupled to a translation mechanism which permits the recording device load force to be adjusted.

Abstract: A pliant magnetic disc recording assembly having two adjacent transducer heads, with the center lines of the heads oriented at an angle to the axis of rotation of the magnetic disc and arcuately spaced with respect to such axis of rotation. The bearing surface of each head has a radius, and each bearing surface extends into the plane of the disc, whereby the disc has a wavy contour over the heads. The orientation, position and shape of the heads causes the disc to have a large wrap angle about each head whereby wear producing forces are distributed over a large area of the disc which lowers stresses on the disc.