Abstract: A recording medium library apparatus is constructed of a magnetic tape library apparatus which is capable of smoothly transferring a magnetic tape cartridge among a carrier, a cartridge storage portion and a read/write portion by sandwiching the magnetic tape cartridge between cartridge transfer-rollers and a row of rollers. In the recording medium library apparatus, during a final stage of a loading operation of the magnetic tape cartridge into the read/write portion or into the cartridge storage portion, a roller arm itself is rotary driven on its center pin in a manner such that cartridge transfer-rollers pivoted to each of opposite-end portions of the roller arm directly pushes a rear-end surface or a front end surface of the magnetic tape cartridge.

Abstract: A media cartridge magazine that accommodates a plurality of cartridges. In the state where a cartridge is not inserted into a main body of the magazine, a lever is freely and pivotally supported by a rotating shaft. Since a leaf spring connected with the lever and having a claw at an end thereof can move freely in a disengaging direction, the cartridge is not interrupted during its insertion into the main body. When the cartridge is inserted into the main body, an end of the lever is pushed by the rear end of the cartridge that is inserted into the main body. The claw is pressed against the cartridge by the leaf spring and engages a concave portion of the cartridge. In this state, the cartridge is clamped by the leaf spring so that the cartridge is stably accommodated. Since a nearly perpendicular surface of the claw is substantially parallel or acute to a perpendicular surface of the concave portion, the claw is not disengaged from the concave portion by an external event, such as a shock.

Abstract: A recording medium library apparatus is constructed of a magnetic tape library apparatus which is capable of smoothly transferring a magnetic tape cartridge among a carrier, a cartridge storage portion and a read/write portion by sandwiching the magnetic tape cartridge between cartridge transfer-rollers and a row of rollers. In the recording medium library apparatus, during a final stage of a loading operation of the magnetic tape cartridge into the read/write portion or into the cartridge storage portion, a roller arm itself is rotary driven on its center pin in a manner such that cartridge transfer-rollers pivoted to each of opposite-end portions of the roller arm directly pushes a rear-end surface or a front end surface of the magnetic tape cartridge.

Abstract: A spindle motor rotational unbalance correction mechanism has a stand onto which the magnetic disk apparatus is placed, a mounting device for fixing the magnetic disk apparatus to the stand, and a base plate onto which the stand is placed, with an intervening resilient material therebetween. An acceleration sensor detects the vibration of the magnetic disk apparatus when it is operated. A vibrator applies a mechanical shock to the magnetic disk apparatus. A control circuit calculates from a detection signal from the acceleration sensor any shift in position of the magnetic recording medium mounted on the magnetic disk apparatus and controls the supply of electrical driving power to the vibrator in order to correct for the position shift of the magnetic recording medium, thereby providing a high-performance magnetic disk apparatus in which the position shift of the magnetic disk is corrected.

Abstract: A mechanism for fixing a magnetic head of a magnetic disk drive in place over the parking area of a recording medium when the disk drive is not in operation. The head records or reproduces data in or out of the data storage area of the medium. When the disk drive is not operated, a magnet and a magnetic piece cooperate to retain the head above the parking area of the medium. A yoke adjoins the side of the magnet for absorbing magnetic lines of force issuing from the magnet, so that the magnetic lines of force may not act on the magnetic piece when the head records or reproduces data.

Abstract: A voice coil motor actuator for a magnetic disk device includes a pivot bearing shaft, a positioner, a magnet, and a coil. The positioner is pivotally supported by the pivot bearing shaft. The positioner has a distal end portion at which a magnetic head is mounted, and a proximal end portion projecting to a side opposite to the distal end portion with respect to the pivot bearing shaft. The magnet is fixed in correspondence with the pivot range of the proximal end portion of the positioner. The coil is arranged at the proximal end portion of the positioner to oppose the magnet. The coil has a pair of effective length portions which generate a magnetic flux to act on the magnet upon energization, thereby applying a pivot force to the positioner. The position of an intersection between the extended lines of the effective length portions of the coil is set between the pivot bearing shaft and the coil.

Abstract: The magnetic disk device spindle structure according to the present invention includes a hub on which is mounted a magnetic recording medium, a spindle shaft which is a fixed shaft, bearings which are secured to this spindle shaft and which rotatably support the hub, and finally, a film inserted at the contact surfaces of the hub and the bearings. In addition, a plurality of grooves for accommodating the film that are of a depth that is less than the thickness of the film may be provided in the contact surface of the hub that contacts the bearings.

Abstract: A disk clamping device in a magnetic disk drive includes a clamper which presses an uppermost one of a plurality of magnetic recording disks and a clamping force transmission member which presses the clamper against the uppermost magnetic recording disk. A material having a small Young's modulus, such as a polymeric material and a super elastic material, is used for the clamper or the clamping force transmission member, or both of them. The device may include a shim whose Young's modulus is larger than that of the clamper. The clamping force of the clamper is transmitted to the uppermost disk through the shim. The arrangement makes it possible to reduce the variations in the clamping force caused by a lack of manufacturing precision or a change in temperatures and to provide a stable clamping force. The uniform clamping force reduces the occurrence of undulation in the disks otherwise caused by the circumferential clamping force differences in the clamper.

Abstract: The voice coil motor drive unit for a magnetic disk device includes a voice coil motor, a VCM driver, and a waveshaping unit. The voice coil motor has a coil and is driven in positioning and moving a magnetic head. The VCM driver supplies a driving current to the coil of the voice coil motor through a pair of power supply lines. The waveshaping unit shapes the waveform of the driving current supplied from the VCM driver to the voice coil motor into a waveform having a smooth leading edge. The waveshaping unit has a capacitor connected between the power supply lines, and a pair of Zener diodes having the same Zener characteristics and identical poles connected to two poles of the capacitor to be opposite to each other. Each of the Zener diodes has a Zener voltage which is set higher than a voltage applied to the coil in positioning the magnetic head, and lower than the voltage applied to the coil in moving the magnetic head.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive apparatus includes a data storage medium, a magnetic head, an arm assembly, and a magnetic head retracting mechanism. The arm assembly includes a voice coil motor for driving the magnetic head. The magnetic head retract mechanism includes a lifter for moving the magnetic head from an area over the data storage medium in a first start/stop mode or a head load/unload mode and a retract magnet constantly urging the magnetic head towards a contact start/stop zone on the data storage medium in a second start/stop mode or a contact start/stop mode.

Abstract: A magnetic disk unit for data storage in which a magnetic read/write head is attached to a suspension arm. To prevent the head from making direct contact with the associated disk when the disk is not rotating, the disk unit is provided with a head lifting mechanism which comprises at least one linearly contractable and extendable bellows mounted on the base of the disk unit, a lifter member fixed to a movable end face of the bellows and a pressure transmitting passage to transmit a negative pressure created within the magnetic disk unit in the vicinity of a radially inner region of the rotating disk to the interior of the bellows. When the disk is stationary the bellows is in the expanded state, and the lifter member supports thereon the suspension arm so as to keep the head spaced from the disk. In read/write operations the negative pressure causes the bellows to contract such that the lifter member remains apart from the suspension arm.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive having a rotary positioning mechanism which positions a magnetic head relative to a recording medium in a rotary motion. A suspension arm supports the head at the top thereof and is movable parallel with the surface of the medium in a rotary motion. As the suspension arm is moved toward the outer edge of the medium, it abuts against and urges the side of a lifter. As a result, the lifter is rotated about a pivot to lift the suspension arm with a lug extending out from the side thereof. The magnetic disk drive prevents the head from sticking to the medium, reduces the power consumption of motors, increases the resistivity to shocks and impacts during transport, and positions the head accurately at all times.