Abstract: The improved disk drive system has an improved actuator arm assembly where the arms are independently and individually insertable and removable from the actuator member. Furthermore, each arm is individually self-locked into the actuator member without the need for external retaining means such as screws, springs, and rings. Since the arms are individually insertable/removable, the arms can be made very thin thereby allowing easy attachment of the head suspension assembly to the arm without the need for swaging, bonding, welding or screw-in. Since the arms can be made very thin, that provides substantial reduction in disk to disk spacing and therefore, substantial reduction in the overall height of a disk drive system.

Abstract: A rotary actuator utilized to read and/or write data on disks includes an integral, one piece support member for carrying a transducer head along a path over the surface of a disk in a disk drive assembly. The member is directly mounted for pivotal movement.

Abstract: High density magnetic disk storage and semiconductor module technologies are combined to provide a disk drive using a standard multilayer ceramic substrate as the disk drive base support member to support spindle and actuator assemblies including 1 inch diameter disks. The ceramic substrate has components and very large scale integration (VLSI) chips mounted directly thereon to avoid use of one level of packaging and presents standard pins to mount the drive using standard sockets to afford economy and reliability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for attaching a bearing cartridge to an actuator arm assembly in a disk drive. The bearing cartridge includes the actuator shaft, an outer sleeve and a set of bearings. The actuator arm assembly has a bore therein which receives the bearing cartridge. The bearing cartridge is anchored to the actuator arm assembly at a single location.

Abstract: A linear actuator for positioning the heads of a disk file relative to tracks on the disks employs a ceramic material having wear properties superior to steel in guide surfaces for guiding a head supporting carriage running on rotary bearings in contact with the guide surfaces. The preferred ceramic material is tetragonally stabilized zirconia.

Abstract: The head suspension assembly of a magnetic disk file is mounted to the disk file`s rigid actuator arm by means of an intermediate, arm-encircling, low profile, mounting band. A number of different mounting bands are disclosed for use in securing the head suspension assembly to the actuator arm. A head suspension assembly is permanently attached to the mounting band during a subassembly manufacturing procedure. The unitary mounting-band/head-suspension subassembly is then removably mounted on the end of the actuator arm by use of the mounting band.

Abstract: An actuator for positioning transducers with respect to a disk storage device data surface provides a substantially sealed head-disk enclosure from which the voice coil motor permanent magnets are excluded. The mounting flange-inner core member, end cap and collar and shorted turn provide a sealed enclosure about the transducer carriage, voice coil and working air gap of the voice coil motor (VCM) with the permanent magnet and outer core pieces assembled to the device thereafter. The permanent magnets can be excluded from the clean room assembly area and this source of the most destructive particulate contamination are outside the head-disk enclosure.

Abstract: A voice coil motor for a moving storage media actuator has a permanent magnet assembly wherein a radially polarized magnet is formed as sectors, with like sectors of the outer housing which forms a portion of the pole piece assembly. These sectors are then mounted on the remainder of the pole piece assembly for the magnetic actuator to form a cylindrical magnet and cylindrical outer pole piece. The sectors require no further attachment or adhesive in addition to the magnetic field and provides substantially zero clearance contact between magnet and pole piece, to afford a continuous magnetic path interrupted only by the working gap through which the voice coil travels.

Abstract: A high speed, small diameter disk storage system having a plurality of disk drive devices utilizing disks with a nominal 65 mm diameter rotated at a speed of approximately 10,000 RPM which can be optimally arranged in a four drive system to match the space geometry of the traditional half-high flexible disk drive used in a personal computer.