Abstract: A disk clamp has a data position in a recording track that is resistant to positional deviations even after temperature cycling is conducted. The distribution of data positions can be centered in the vicinity of the center position. A disk top clamp and hub are made from materials that are stable in terms of chemical properties over a temperature range in which the disk recording apparatus is used and have such a coefficient of elasticity that a clamping force required to clamp the recording disks while the disk recording apparatus is in use can be obtained from the tightening force to tighten the screws. The material of the top clamp and the hub has a thermal expansion coefficient that is close to that of the recording disk.

Abstract: A ramp wherein the amount of deformation in the front end edges of guiding parts caused by thermal expansion. The ramp includes at least two guiding parts individually formed for each suspension arm and made of a polymeric material having a small friction coefficient for guiding the suspension arm by sliding into a accommodation zone, and a guide supporting member made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the polymeric material of the guiding part for supporting each guiding part at a predetermined position. The guide supporting member has guide support holes which are located in zones to be contacted with the associated guiding parts, are not contacted with associated recording disks, and are engaged with the associated guiding parts at such positions that distances to the front end edges of the guiding parts become shortest. Each of the guiding parts has a projection.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus is constructed with a filter attached to an enclosure through a through hole formed in the enclosure. A special positioning operation is eliminated by inserting the filter into the through hole because a portion of the filter is exposed to the outside through the enclosure. The disk drive apparatus can be constructed so that the filter is supported on the enclosure. In this case, the enclosure has a chamfered portion around the circumference of the through hole; the filter has a flange corresponding to the chamfered portion; and the flange is brought into contact with the chamfered portion. The filter can be fixed to the enclosure by sticking adhesive tape on a circumference of the flange and a circumference of the chamfered portion of the enclosure. Adhesive residue is eliminated because the fixation of the filter is performed with single-coated tape.

Abstract: A ramp 200 has an attaching portion 221 and an arm holding portion 222. The attaching portion is molded with high polymer material so that the attaching portion has a screw hole 25 for fixing the ramp to the housing of an information recording disk apparatus by a screw. The arm holding portion is molded with high polymer material whose fiction coefficient is small, and the arm holding portion has a storing portion 27 to hold the suspension arm retracted from the recording disk and also has a guide portion 28 against which the suspension arm slides so that it is easily moved in and out of the storing portion 27. The attaching portion 221 and the arm holding portion 222 are united in one by subsequently molding the attaching portion and the arm holding portion.

Abstract: A disk clamp has a data position in a recording track that is resistant to positional deviations even after temperature cycling is conducted. The distribution of data positions can be centered in the vicinity of the center position. A disk top clamp and hub are made from materials that are stable in terms of chemical properties over a temperature range in which the disk recording apparatus is used and have such a coefficient of elasticity that a clamping force required to clamp the recording disks while the disk recording apparatus is in use can be obtained from the tightening force to tighten the screws. The material of the top clamp and the hub has a thermal expansion coefficient that is close to that of the recording disk.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus is constructed with a filter attached to an enclosure through a through hole formed in the enclosure. A special positioning operation is eliminated by inserting the filter into the through hole because a portion of the filter is exposed to the outside through the enclosure. The disk drive apparatus can be constructed so that the filter is supported on the enclosure. In this case, the enclosure has a chamfered portion around the circumference of the through hole; the filter has a flange corresponding to the chamfered portion; and the flange is brought into contact with the chamfered portion. The filter can be fixed to the enclosure by sticking adhesive tape on a circumference of the flange and a circumference of the chamfered portion of the enclosure. Adhesive residue is eliminated because the fixation of the filter is performed with single-coated tape.

Abstract: A ramp wherein the amount of deformation in the front end edges of guiding parts caused by thermal expansion. The ramp includes at least two guiding parts individually formed for each suspension arm and made of a polymeric material having a small friction coefficient for guiding the suspension arm by sliding into a accommodation zone, and a guide supporting member made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the polymeric material of the guiding part for supporting each guiding part at a predetermined position. The guide supporting member has guide support holes which are located in zones to be contacted with the associated guiding parts, are not contacted with associated recording disks, and are engaged with the associated guiding parts at such positions that distances to the front end edges of the guiding parts become shortest. Each of the guiding parts has a projection.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrally formed ramp that is used for evacuating the suspension arm of a data storage device. The ramp has sliding portions, each having guiding zones and a landing zone. The boundary between the guiding zones and the landing zone is formed parallel to a reference line, so even if the landing portion had a recessed shape, the sliding portion could be molded with a casting mold by pulling out the casting mold in the direction of the reference line. The necessary portion of a support portion which is formed with the same casting mold as the sliding portions is formed so as not to disturb the pulling-out of the casting mold in the direction of the reference line. The integrally molded ramp is high in fabrication accuracy and excellent in defining an accurate loading/unloading position of the suspension arm.

Abstract: In a hard disk drive, power and signals are transferred through a flexible cable 42 between a carriage having a magnetic head reading magnetic information while the positioning of the magnetic head is controlled on a magnetic disk and a card provided on the lower surface of a base. The movable section 44 of the flexible cable 42 is supported by the carriage to follow the carriage. A nonmovable section 46 is bent so as to enclose a reinforcement plate 50 and installed on the base through the reinforcement plate 50. The reinforcement plate 50 is used as a reinforcement for installing an AE module 54 on the upper surface 52 thereof. The reinforcement plate is also used as a reinforcement for connecting a carriage connector 84 to the card 40 through the lower surface 60 thereof. The reinforcement plate is used for maintaining an attitude to maintain the attitude of the movable section 44 in the lateral direction on a surface 64 of thickness of the plate.

Abstract: When an HDD is subjected to shock with a magnetic head (22) retracted to the parking zone, a suspension (34) having a magnetic head (36) at the free end thereof swings. When a lowest suspension (34) swings, the free end of the suspension (34) is brought into contact with a pin projection (50) and further displacement toward the base (12) is impeded. The suspension (34) that further swings in this condition presents not a swing in a primary mode (cantilever support mode) but a swing in a secondary mode (two-point support mode), and the maximum displacement of the suspension (34) occurs at the longitudinal intermediate portion of the suspension (34). The intermediate portion that is displaced is made to go into a groove (48), and the contact of the intermediate portion of the suspension (34) with the base (12) is impeded by the groove (48).

Abstract: A fixed disk storage unit is mounted in a protective outer case and is supported by elastic shock absorbers. A head/disk enclosure including a rotatable disk and a head actuator of the fixed disk storage unit therein, and an electronic card on which electronic circuits are mounted, are placed abreast with a gap there between on substantially the same plane in the protective outer case, and the head/disk enclosure is supported on all sides including the side next to the gap by the shock absorbers. This construction provides a shockproof and portable disk storage apparatus which is small-sized and whose manufacturing process is simple.

Abstract: A fixed disk storage unit is mounted in a protective outer case, and is supported at one end by a flexible cable which connects a connector of the protective outer case with the fixed disk storage unit in the protective outer case, and supported at the other end by using elastic shock absorbers against the elasticity of the flexible cable. A head/disk enclosure including a rotatable disk and a head actuator of the fixed disk storage unit therein, and an electronic card on which electronic circuits are mounted, are placed abreast on substantially the same plane in the protective outer case, and the head/disk enclosure is supported by the shock absorbers. This construction provides a shockproof and portable disk storage apparatus which is small-sized and whose manufacturing process is simple.