Abstract: A sealed head disk assembly has a base casting for providing attachment points for the major components of the head disk assembly. The base casting has a semi-hermetic seal encompassing an outer perimeter of the base casting and allows the semi-hermetic seal to be juxtaposed to at least one complementary surface on the cover. The cover for enclosing the major components of the head disk assembly has a hermetic seal outside a perimeter of the complementary surface for the semi-hermetic seal thus allowing the hermetic seal to be juxtaposed to at least one complementary surface on the base casting.

Abstract: A sealed head disk assembly having a base casting that provides attachment points for major components of the head disk assembly and a cover for enclosing major components of the head disk assembly. The base casting has a hermetic seal encompassed by an outer perimeter of the base casting. The hermetic seal is juxtaposed to at least one complementary surface on the cover. The cover has a semi-hermetic seal inside a perimeter of the complementary surface for the hermetic seal. The semi-hermetic seal is juxtaposed to at least one complementary surface on the base casting. The sealed head disk assembly includes a screw causing deflection in a zone of the cover and provides spring force allowing registering the hermetic seal against a complementary surface of the hermetic seal on the base casting and the semi-hermetic seal against the complementary surface of the semi-hermetic seal on the base casting.

Abstract: A sealed head disk assembly has a cover for enclosing major components of the head disk assembly. The cover has a hermetic seal encompassing an outer perimeter of the cover and a semi-hermetic seal inside a perimeter of the hermetic seal. The hermetic seal and semi-hermetic seal are juxtaposed to at least one complementary surface on the base casting. The base casting, which provides attachment points for the major components of the head disk assembly has at least one complementary surface.

Abstract: A disk drive rotary actuator with a rocking pivot allowing limited angular rotation of an actuator arm assembly. A surface (34) fixed to the arm 16 rocks on fixed surface (32) held in contact by a spring (50). Second rocking surfaces are also provided on the rotational axis. A flexure leaf (40) connects the arm (16) to the disk drive base to provide positional stability. The rocking pivot actuator has advantages of simplicity, and improved frictional characteristics. A flexible circuit connection may pass through the pivot.

Abstract: A multiple disk drive system having two disk-head assemblies (HDA) internally mounted on a rigid frame and accessible via a common industry-standard interface connector is provided. Each HDA is enclosed in a separate housing which is mounted on the disk drive system frame. A vibration damper mounted on the disk drive system frame physically contacts each HDA housing providing a spring force which minimizes the effects of shock and vibration on the operation of the HDAs. The vibration damper is coated with a low-wear, electrically insulating material to provide electrical isolation between the vibration damper and the HDAs housings. The coating material is chosen to also provide a desired coefficient of friction between the vibration damper and the HDA housings. A single electronic controller board is shared by both HDAs and is mounted on the bottom side of the frame underlying the HDAs. The controller board may implement SCSI or IPI interfaces in either differential or single-ended versions.

Abstract: A method of assembling a disk file comprises merging a pre-assembled actuator assembly and disk stack assembly prior to attaching them to a common base. The relative axial positions of the actuator assembly and disk stack assembly are measured and adjusted to align head arms with collapsed suspensions with the inter disk spaces. Once aligned the two assemblies can be moved together and the heads released.

Abstract: A disk file comprises a head disk enclosure 1 connected to a support frame by a plurality of isolation mounts. Each isolation mount comprises a constrained layer flexure 23 which is rigidly attached at both ends to a bracket 25 of the support frame. Located in an aperture in the constrained layer flexure is a resilient grommet 24. This grommet supports a bolt 27 which passes through the grommet and into the head-disk enclosure casting.

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: A disk file of the kind employing a vented hub assembly and slotted spacers between disks to provide a passage for circulatory airflow employs a filter assembly extending circumferentially around the axial region of the hub assembly. The primary path for airflow is from a high pressure region at the periphery of the disks, through the filter assembly into the vented hub assembly and out again via the slotted spacers. A parallel leakage path between the filter itself and the hub assembly is limited by making the separation between a substantially planar surface of the filter assembly and the adjacent disk uniform and very small. Airflow rates through the filter are consequently enhanced.

Abstract: A disk file comprises a disk stack subassembly and a head positioning actuator each mounted on opposite sides of a central box frame. The disk stack subassembly has a non-rotating central spindle and an in-hub electric motor whose stator is mounted on the spindle. The rotor of the motor is mounted internally of a hub supported for rotation about the spindle by two bearings at opposite ends of the spindle. A stack of disks is mounted externally on the hub. The box frame is open to one side and the opposite ends of the stationary spindle are located and fixed in the frame so that the disk stack subassembly spans the open side. Because of the symmetry and rigidity of the design, susceptibility to thermal or vibration induced misregistration is reduced. Finally a cover completes the enclosure.

Abstract: A paper shear mechanism consists of a guillotine having a fixed blade and a pivoted blade. The cutting edge of the fixed blade is concavely curved so that paper to be cut as fed between the blades assumes a corresponding curvature and is given some longitudinal rigidity during the cutting operation. The pivoted blade is of composite structure to simplify the manufacturing process and thus reduce cost. Essentially, it includes a cutting section stamped from flexible sheet steel shim to provide a cutting edge with the desired nip angle. The flexible steel section is spot welded to a mild steel backing member with an elongated spring member sandwiched between the two. The spring member has a number of spring teeth which exert a force along the length of the flexible section to deflect its cutting edge laterally towards the fixed blade. By this means contact between the cutting edges is maintained along the length of a cut and relief between the facing surfaces of the two blades is provided.

Abstract: A disk, tape, etc. record member is contained in a cartridge or cassette. A cartridge type record player has a movable receptacle for receiving the cartridge. The receptacle has two stable and one momentary positions. A center stable position is a load position wherein the cartridge can be inserted into the receptacle. A second stable position, on one side of the center position, is a play position wherein a transducer is in operative association with the second member. The third and momentary position on a second side of the center stable position causes a spontaneous ejection of the cartridge from the receptacle. Usually, from the eject position, the receptacle returns to the center stable position.

Abstract: A record disc cartridge has a single internal shutter for opening and closing a head access port adjacent a spindle access member in one wall. A further aperture allows the shutter to be actuated to an open position as the cartridge is moved into a playing position. A spring in the cartridge yieldably biases the shutter to a closed position. When the shutter is open, the spring in the cartridge is cocked to eject the cartridge from a player. Upon release, the spring acts to eject the cartridge.

Abstract: Flexible disk record storage apparatus has a chordally perturbed backing plate for inducing a dynamic stiffness in a flexible recording disk rotating immediately adjacent the plate. A head radially movably disposed between the chordal perturbations provides reliable recording and playback. A web portion of the backing plate has a predetermined flatness circumscribing a transducing location for enhancing recording and playback quality.

Abstract: A record disk cartridge has a single internal shutter for opening and closing a head access port adjacent a spindle access member in one wall. A further aperture allows the shutter to be actuated to an open position as the cartridge is moved into a playing position. The shutter also brakes the disk against movement when the cartridge apertures are closed. A magnetic coupling enables rotation of the disk inside the cartridge.