Abstract: A tape withdrawal and positioning system is provided for withdrawing tape from its initial position within a tape cassette and positioning it in proximity to or in contact with a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The tape withdrawal and positioning system comprises a pair of lever arms having tape guide posts adjustable between an initial position wherein the tape guide posts are positioned behind an access portion of the tape within the tape cassette and an operating position whereon the lever arms are extended and the tape guide posts are positioned in proximity to the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. In the operating position, and tape is in contact with a portion of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: In a disc drive, a lightweight, elongate actuator arm is provided supporting a high strength flexure. One end of the actuator arm carries a gear sector having teeth that mesh with a pinion carried on the stepper motor shaft. The gear sector and pinion are biased into engagement by a spring whose force extends directly along the access of the elongate actuator arm. The flexure supporting the transducer head extends out to the side of the actuator arm over the disc, and is positioned over selected tracks on the disc with rotation of the gear across the sector faces.

Abstract: A brushless direct current motor with the rotating magnet cup permanently attached to the spindle hub. After attachment, the combination spindle hub and magnet cup are affixed to the shaft and the resulting subassembly is dynamically balanced. The motor using this balanced subassembly can be assembled with no balancing required after assembly. The motor can also be disassembled for repair and reassembled without disturbing the dynamic balance. The motor includes an air seal at one end thereof and is especially useful for disk drive applications.

Abstract: A flexible hub for a disk is described. The disk includes a relatively large center hole into which a flexible planar member is mounted or clamped. The size of the flexible member is slightly larger than the hole, thereby requiring that the flexible member be slightly bowed or flexed in order for it to fit within the hole. The flexible member is preferably attached to the disk at three respective equi-angularly spaced locations around the periphery of the hole. In the center of the flexible member is a collar adapted to receive a protruding spindle neck from a spindle mechanism upon which the disk is mounted. The end of the spindle neck and the inside wall of the collar are tapered at the same angle. Insertion of the spindle neck into the collar thereby forces alignment or centering of the center of the collar with the longitudinal axis of the spindle neck.

Abstract: The centering and clamping device consisting: a disk elevator, a disk support, a disk centering assembly, a disk clamping assembly, and a disk rotating assembly. In operation the disk is raised out of the disk insert tray cartridge by the disk elevating means and raised upward to engage a taper on the spindle of the device spin motor, moving upward until the cooperation between the taper on the neck spindle and the tapering on the disk centering collar cause the disk to move laterally until precisely centered on the spindle. Thereafter, the continued upward movement on the disk on the elevator lifting assembly causes a magnet located on the disk support means to come into magnetic contact with a steel plate on the spindle platform, thereby securely clamping the disk to the spindle for rotation. Thereafter, the elevator moved downward and clamping the disk from disk support means, thereby allowing the free rotation of the spindle disk and disk support assembly relative to a stationary elevating means.

Abstract: A magnetic or optical disk load/unload device for automatically centering and clamping a disk to the spindle of an information storage device. The apparatus is comprised of a toggle arm, a toggle arm rotating device, a support base, a support hub having a centering stem and a concentric annular steel ring disposed on its mating surface, a member for clamping the hub to the support base, a spindle having a centering hole on its mating surface and a concentric magnetic material ring on its mating surface, and a spindle rotating motor. In operation, the toggle arm is rotated from a first bent position causing the support base hub and disk located thereon to advance toward the spindle, the hub slidably retained on the base by a of clamping member activated by a cam assembly. Upon full extension of the toggle arm, the hub and disk are centered on the spindle, clamped to same by the magnetic and steel rings.