Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to provide a magnetic disk drive in which the base and the lid are securely welded together, so that the low-density gas sealed therein is protected from leakage. According to one embodiment, the peripheral surface of the rib of the base is machined to form the surface, which is free of electrocoating and weld surface. The outer lid, which completely conforms to the contour of the base, is placed on the rib, and the laser beam is directed onto the outer lid. Thus the position of laser beam irradiation varies within only ±0.05 mm for both the base and the lid. Laser welding in this manner yields the bead invariably, which makes the enclosure completely sealed without helium leakage.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes a motor, a hub coupled to a spindle shaft of the motor, at least two disks each having a center hole and being coupled to the hub, and a spacer having a center hole. The spacer is disposed around the hub such that the hub is disposed within the center hole of the spacer; and, the spacer is sandwiched between and in contact with the two disks to define spacing between the disks. The spacer includes at least two conductive rings and the conductive rings are secured between the two disks. The spacer also includes a damping sheet configured to absorb vibration between the conductive rings, and a conductive ring-shaped spring having a spring characteristic in a radial direction of the disks to make a diameter variable. Moreover, the conductive ring-shaped spring is in contact with both of the two conductive rings.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow a cover of a magnetic disk drive to be temporarily joined to a base without widening a mounting space, and completely joined after a head disk assembly (HDA) inspection. According to one embodiment, a cover includes a metal plate, an adhesive, and a seal member. The adhesive has a surface wider than the metal plate and the seal member has a surface wider than the adhesive. A solder is coated or printed at an outer periphery of the seal member. A gasket is set at a flange of a base sidewall and an outer peripheral portion of the adhesive of the cover is affixed to an upper surface of the base sidewall to temporarily fix the cover. Low-density gas is injected in a casing interior and a functional inspection of the HDA is performed. After the inspection is finished, helium is injected again, and the casing is completely sealed by melting the solder of the seal member, and joining the seal member to a collar-shaped protrusion of the base sidewall by the solder.

Abstract: A method for re-injecting low density gas into a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. The method includes providing a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. In addition, the method includes re-injecting low density gas from a hole penetrating the hermetically sealed disk enclosure from an exterior of the disk drive to an interior of the disk drive. Moreover, the method includes covering the hole with a sealing label including a metal layer and an adhesive layer.

Abstract: In a disk drive device having a double cover structure with low-density gas enclosed therein, embodiments of the present invention allow a more reliable leak inspection to be performed on the second cover and to prevent defects caused by joining the secondary cover. An HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a ventilation path from a ventilation hole on an inner cover to a space between the inner cover and an outer cover. An outer peripheral end of an adhesive layer is apart from a joining section, which is exposed in the space. Helium gas flowing out of the ventilation hole flows to the space via the ventilation path and remains within the space. This enables detection of leakage of the helium gas from the joining section to be performed more easily.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention improve bonding reliability in a feedthrough sealing portion. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an opening of a through hole is provided on the bottom of the base of the magnetic disk device and a feedthrough mounting plane which is one of the steps formed toward the outside of the device is provided around the opening. The feedthrough includes a flange and pins which are fixed to the flange by a glass material and pass an electric signal. The flange is larger in outer shape than the opening of the base. The periphery of the flange of the feedthrough is mounted on the feedthrough mounting plane of the base from the outside and bonded thereto by solder.

Abstract: In a disk drive device in which low-density gas is sealed, embodiments of the present invention help to improve joint reliability at a solder joint section between a feedthrough and an enclosure with respect to stress applied by deformation due to changes in temperature environment in use. According to one embodiment, helium gas is sealed in an interior space of an HDD. A feedthrough is solder jointed to a feedthrough mounting surface of a base. At a part with relatively large thermal stress, a width of the feedthrough mounting surface is increased, and at a part with relatively small thermal stress, a width of the feedthrough mounting surface is decreased. This prevents a crack penetrating path from being generated at the solder joint section due to the thermal stress and prevents the solder joint section from contacting pins.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes a head for accessing a disk, a suspension for supporting the head, a carriage coupled to the suspension, a pivot-bearing assembly, an adhesive, and an adhesion inhibitor. The pivot-bearing assembly is housed in a hole of the carriage that is configured to rotate in such a way that the carriage is configured to oscillate. The adhesive is disposed between the pivot-bearing assembly and an inner circumferential surface of the hole for bonding the pivot-bearing assembly with the carriage. The adhesion inhibitor is disposed on the same surface as the adhesive for controlling a region of adhesion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive with an enclosure that prevents the low-density gas from leaking out owing to reduction of shrinkage cavities near tapped holes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an aluminum alloy is forced into the region of the base in which the tapped hole is to be made, by squeezing in the final stage of die casting to form the base. This procedure increases the density of aluminum alloy above 2.7 g/cm3, and the densified aluminum alloy in the region for tapped holes, is free of shrinkage cavities that can cause gas leakage.

Abstract: In order to effectively reduce disk flutter in a disk drive by using simple structures and efficient manufacturing techniques, a disk drive, in one embodiment, includes a base, a spindle motor coupled to the bottom of the base, a disk coupled to and rotated by a rotational shaft of the spindle motor, an airflow reduction plate coupled inside the base and positioned opposite to and away from a main plane of the disk, and a sidewall section inside the base which is positioned opposite to an outer edge of the disk and has a form along the outer edge of the disk. A first gap between at least one half of a part positioned opposite to the sidewall section in an outer edge of the airflow reduction plate and the sidewall section is smaller than a second gap between the sidewall section and the outer edge of the disk.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive that allows members to be mounted onto a base simply and accurately. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises: a base; a disk assembly including at least one magnetic disk and mounted rotatably on the base; and an actuator assembly including at least one actuator having a magnetic head and mounted swingably on the base. The base is formed with a guide. The guide functions to guide, when a member to be disposed on the base is to be mounted, the member from a corresponding initial placement position of the member on the base to a target position, at which the member is to be disposed. Further, the guide includes a positioning portion, against which the member abuts at the corresponding target position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus that allows a mounting space for an electric signal wiring to be sufficiently secured relative to a circuit board and the circuit board to be secured stably to the case. In one embodiment, a case having a built-in head disk assembly includes board fixing bodies disposed in a protruding condition at two of four corners thereof. Protruding ends of the board fixing bodies include fit grooves. A circuit board for drivingly controlling the head disk assembly is fitted into the fit grooves in the board fixing bodies.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive is to be provided which not only can promote the reduction of size thereof but also maintain a state in which outside air does not directly enter the interior of a case. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises a base member, the base member having an upper surface at least a part of which is open to receive therein a magnetic disk assembly, a plate-like cover member for covering the magnetic disk assembly received within the base member, and a sheet-like sealing member affixed to an upper surface of the cover member and upper and side faces of the base member to seal a clearance between the base member and the cover member.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive is provided which can attain the reduction in size and thickness without deteriorating the sealing performance for a space defined by a base and a cover. In one embodiment, a cover member is fixed to a base member with fixing screws. An FPC assembly is formed with leg portions extending from respective appropriate positions toward the cover member. The edges of the leg portions are abutted against the cover member fixed to the base member. Further, a stress member is provided between the base member and the FPC assembly. When the cover member is fixed to the base member to urge the FPC assembly adjacent the stress member, the stress member collapses to induce stress from the stress member, whereby a frictional force is generated at abutment surfaces of the cover member and the leg portions, thus fixing the FPC assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to effectively suppress vibration of the disk in a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) with low density gas sealed therein, and securely prevent leakage of the low density gas from the base. In an embodiment, helium gas is sealed in a hermetically sealed enclosure of an HDD, and a shroud is formed integrally with a base. In manufacturing the base, a magnetic disk facing surface of the shroud is shaped by cutting after die-casting. This accomplishes a small and precise size of the gap between the magnetic disk facing surface and the circumferential edge of the disk. Cutting the shroud formed independently from the exterior walls, which ensure the hermeticity with the shroud, suppresses the vibration of the magnetic disk and eliminates the necessity of cutting of the inner surfaces of the exterior walls for the purpose of suppression of the vibration to reduce the risk of helium leakage.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a small, thin, yet reliable magnetic disk drive. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises: a motor hub including a disk support portion and a flange portion, the disk support portion supporting a magnetic disk thereon, the flange portion being located higher than the disk support portion and protruding radially outward with respect to a rotational center of the magnetic disk; a clamp having a ring shape and including an inclined undersurface inclined downward from the outer circumference of the ring shape toward the inner circumference of the ring shape, the ring shape encircling the flange portion, the clamp being engaged around the outer circumference of the flange portion; and an O-ring engaged with the inclined undersurface of the clamp so as to press the clamp against the flange portion or clamp the clamp, the O-ring being further engaged with the magnetic disk so as to press the magnetic disk against the disk support portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive that can effectively suppress the influence of an air stream coupled with the rotation of a magnetic disk. In one embodiment, the magnetic disk drive is adapted to have a disk assembly that includes at least one magnetic disk medium, a head assembly that includes at least one magnetic head which writes magnetic signals onto and reads them out from the magnetic disk medium or media, and at least one arm which supports the magnetic head(s), a ramp assembly that includes at least one ramp which guides the magnetic head(s) to a required retreat position(s) when the particular magnetic head is moved away from the associated magnetic disk medium, and shroud fins as many in number as the magnetic disk media, in which case, each shroud fin is disposed integrally with the ramp assembly and in association with and next to either of the magnetic disk media in order to guide an air stream produced by the rotation of the disk assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a simpler, miniaturizable, and highly reliable hermetically sealed enclosure structure in a disk drive device. According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive (HDD) comprises an HDD main unit, a case for housing the HDD main unit, a lid with a feedthrough function for closing an opening of the case, and an FPC connector for interconnecting the HDD main unit and a plurality of pins fixed to the lid. The lid is joined to the case and completely closes the opening of the case. The case and the lid form a sealed enclosure; the internal HDD main unit is housed in the sealed space. Housing the HDD main unit in a sealed space may increase resistance of the HDD to external environmental changes. Sealing low density gas like helium in the sealed space may improve the performance of the HDD.

Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus capable of reducing deformation of a magnetic disk is disclosed. The magnetic disk apparatus comprises a magnetic disk on which data is recorded while the disk is driven, a hub around which the magnetic disk is supported from an under side of the magnetic disk, and a clamp in contact with the other side of the magnetic disk and fixing the magnetic disk. An O-ring is interposed between a flange formed at an outer circumference of the hub and the magnetic disk, and a spacer is interposed between the magnetic disk and the O-ring. Thus an upper surface of the hub is in contact with an under surface of the clamp and defines a vertical position of the magnetic disk.

Abstract: In a disk drive device having a double cover structure with low-density gas enclosed therein, embodiments of the present invention allow a more reliable leak inspection to be performed on the second cover and to prevent defects caused by joining the secondary cover. An HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a ventilation path from a ventilation hole on an inner cover to a space between the inner cover and an outer cover. An outer peripheral end of an adhesive layer is apart from a joining section, which is exposed in the space. Helium gas flowing out of the ventilation hole flows to the space via the ventilation path and remains within the space. This enables detection of leakage of the helium gas from the joining section to be performed more easily.