Abstract: A disk drive with removable cartridges that is designed for laptop and notebook sized computers which are battery powered. The drive includes a disk cartridge that upon insertion into the disk drive is split open to move an underside portion down over a disk drive spindle where the disk, having been released by the splitting of the cartridge engages the spindle for rotation. The spindle is mounted in the drive in a fixed location so that loading of disks thereon is repeatable and interchangeable and do not change with wear of a spindle elevating mechanism. The read/write heads on their actuator arms extend through an opening in the back of the cartridge formed when the cartridge is split. When ejected, the cartridge seals about the disk to prevent contamination thereof and to assure a long life in harsh environments. The cartridge may include an inner door that is opened upon cartridge insertion to provide clearance for the heads and actuator arms.

Abstract: A compact disk drive useful with a laptop computer comprises at least one glass disk, thin film read/write heads and a head actuator preferably made of magnesium material. The drive motor hub and hub flange are made of steel and the magnet housing for the actuator is made from an integral steel unit. A flexible cable assembly, which is connected to the read/write head circuits and to external circuitry for data processing and for providing control signals, is formed with two flexible sections. Each section is attached to the head actuator and to stationary posts of the disk drive housing thereby balancing the forces applied to the actuator when it is moved for head accessing. A clamp for holding the disk to the motor hub is designed to minimize distortion and to prevent shifting and misalignment of the disk relative to the center of the motor hub.

Abstract: An improved gasket for a disc drive system having magnetic information storage media located within a sealed housing. The housing includes top and bottom casing members that are clamped together with the gasket disposed therebetween to seal the drive. The gasket includes a stiffener layer sandwiched by a pair of foam layers.

Abstract: An improved flexure mounting arrangement for a disc drive system having a head positioning apparatus located within a housing for locating a plurality of magnetic read/write heads relatvie to recording media disposed within the housing. The mounting system includes one or more flexure mounts each having a base, a pair of attachment arms each having a screwhole extending longitudinally therethrough and a flexure support pad. The attachment arms extend from opposite sides of the base and are substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the flexure. A pair of longitudinally extending screws may thus be used to secure the flexure mount to the head positioning apparatus. The flexure support pad is thinner than the base and extends distally therefrom. The top and bottom surfaces of the support pad are adapted to engage separate flexures, thereby allowing the flexure mount to support one or two flexures independently of any other flexures within the disc drive.

Abstract: In a device for retrieving and recording (read/write) information on at least one rigid disk, a stepping motor servo system operated in an open-loop manner is provided to rapidly and accurately position read/write heads relative to the disk. A fixed guide shaft adjacent to and transverse to the motor shaft carries a carriage slidably thereon, preferably on oil impregnated bearings, the carriage member including a gear rack and the stepping motor having a pinion gear thereon interfacing with the gear rack. A preload bearing is urged against the carriage at a position between the guide shaft and the pinion gear such that the carriage is rotated around the guide shaft into engagement with the pinion gear at the rack portion thereof.

Abstract: A ventilation and filtration system and method for an enclosure isolating a memory device spinning disk mechanism from airborne contaminants in which a vent through a remote filter from the ambient atmosphere is positioned with one opening adjacent the center portion of the spinning disk whereby the enclosure is vented through the filter to the ambient pressure at a location at substantially the lowest pressure within the enclosure as a result of the air pumping action of the spinning disk to thereby over pressurize the remainder of the enclosure and minimize unfiltered leaks of outside air into the enclosure.

Abstract: An improvement in a digitizer for use in computer drafting has been provided wherein a multiple wire connector located in both the X beam and Y beam is held in a taut and concealed condition within the respective beams for any position of the digitizer. An adjustable attachment is provided between the extrusions for the X and Y beam and the respective X and Y guide bars so that the guide bar can be aligned in a straight condition regardless of any warping of the beams during extrusion. A mechanical brake is also provided for fixing the position of the digitizer during use.