Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent leakage of low-density gas during low-density gas injection into a disk drive device and to perform low-density gas injection efficiently. In a hard disk drive (HDD) according to one embodiment of the present invention, an injection hole filter with a valve function is attached to a helium injection hole in order to inject helium gas in an enclosure. The injection hole filter has a valve member configured to operate in an open state or closed state. The open state is a state while the helium gas is being injected and the closed state is a state after the helium gas has been finished to be injected. The valve member is in the open state if the outside pressure is higher than the inside pressure and is in the closed state if the inside pressure is higher than the outside pressure.

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: 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: 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: When a cover is joined with the base of a magnetic disc drive by welding, bubbles in the die casting suddenly expand due to high temperature at the time of welding and blow off fused metal, and a blowhole occurs. Low density gas sealed up in a casing is liable to easily leak through a leak path made by joining of blowholes. Embodiments of the present invention provide a joint structure of a base and a cover so that helium does not easily leak through the blowholes by filling low density gas such as helium gas in a disc drive so as to be capable of sealing for a long period of time. According to one embodiment, after assembly of a magnetic disc drive, the magnetic disk drive is put into a basket and sent in a vacuum container containing low vapor pressure oil. After that, the vacuum container is vacuumed, and the magnetic disc drive put in the basket is immersed in low vapor pressure oil, and a valve is opened to make the vacuum container atmospheric pressure condition.

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: 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: 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 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 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 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: A technique of connection between VCM system wires and a FPC of a disk drive is improved in the following manner to enable miniaturization and thinning of the disk drive and reduction in cost. There is provided a disk drive comprising a disk-shaped medium for recording information, an actuator on which a head for recording/reproducing information is mounted, a VCM for driving the actuator, a coil holder supporting a coil of the VCM, a FPC for transmitting a signal, which is read by the head, and a signal to the VCM, a cut groove formed on a side of the coil holder, ends of coil lead wires and an end of a ground wire, which are arranged in the cut groove, and an end of the FPC inserted into the cut groove to thereby be connected to the ends of the coil lead wires and the end of ground wire.

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 magnetic disc apparatus, it is hard to fix a pivot mechanism in a carriage, in view of a mounting space, and in the case that a casing is made of resin, it is hard to fix in accordance with a conventional screwing method in view of a rigidity and a strength. A pivot mechanism (107) is fixed to a base (100) by press fitting a plastically deformable pivot pin (108) of the pivot mechanism (107) to the base (100), passing the pivot pin (108) through a sleeve (107-a) of the pivot mechanism (107) and plastically deforming the pivot pin (108). In the case of dissembling, the pivot pin (108) is pushed out from the base (100) together with a carriage (104), and thereafter the pivot pin (108) is separated from the pivot mechanism (107). Only the pivot pin (108) is disposable.

Abstract: A technique of connection between VCM system wires and a FPC of a disk drive is improved in the following manner to enable miniaturization and thinning of the disk drive and reduction in cost. There is provided a disk drive comprising a disk-shaped medium for recording information, an actuator on which a head for recording/reproducing information is mounted, a VCM for driving the actuator, a coil holder supporting a coil of the VCM, a FPC for transmitting a signal, which is read by the head, and a signal to the VCM, a cut groove formed on a side of the coil holder, ends of coil lead wires and an end of a ground wire, which are arranged in the cut groove, and an end of the FPC inserted into the cut groove to thereby be connected to the ends of the coil lead wires and the end of ground wire.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thinner-type magnetic disc apparatus while maintaining the stiffness of the case. The magnetic disc apparatus includes a magnetic disk 100, a spindle motor 109 that rotationally actuates the magnetic disk, a magnetic head 110 that records and reproduces information on the magnetic disk, a carriage 209 with the magnetic head mounted at its tip, a voice coil motor (VCM) 101 that drives the carriage, electronic components 200 and 201 for processing signals from the magnetic head and a case 102 that encloses these structural element. Electrical wiring 108 interconnects the magnetic head and the electronic components or interconnects the electronic components, or both, and is plated onto the inner bottom surface of the case. An interface connecting part 300 is plated onto the outer bottom surface of the case and is connected to electrical wiring that is plated onto the inner bottom and side-wall surfaces of the case.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thinner-type magnetic disc apparatus while maintaining the stiffness of the case. The magnetic disc apparatus comprises a magnetic disk 100, a spindle motor 109 that rotationally actuates the magnetic disk, a magnetic head 110 that records and reproduces information on the magnetic disk, a carriage 209 with the magnetic head mounted at its tip, a voice coil motor (VCM) 101 that drives the carriage, electronic components 200 and 201 for processing signals from the magnetic head, a case 102 that encloses these structural elements, electrical wiring 108 that interconnects the magnetic head and the electronic components or interconnects the electronic components, or both, and is plated onto the inner bottom surface of the case, and an interface connecting part 300 that is plated onto the outer bottom surface of the case and is connected to electrical wiring that is plated onto the inner bottom and side-wall surfaces of the case.