Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a bearing mechanism for a head used in a magnetic disk drive capable of preventing scattering of dust and dirt at a high level and a magnetic disk drive having the same. In one embodiment, a base is provided with a bearing hole. An inner shaft is joined to the bearing hole. The inner shaft is inserted internally in an outer sleeve mounted with a head stack assembly. The outer sleeve is swingably connected to the inner shaft by way of upper and lower bearing mechanisms. A receiving surface is formed around the bearing hole on the base. The receiving surface is higher by a predetermined height than a basic plane of the base. An extended portion is formed on an end portion on a lower side (the end facing the base) of the outer sleeve. A labyrinth seal structure is provided between an end face of the extended portion and the receiving surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to suppressing a fluttering phenomenon of a wiring structure portion which is for signal transmission between a head and an FPC. In one embodiment, an actuator has a support portion which accommodates a wiring structure portion for signal transmission between a head and an FPC. The wiring structure portion is provided at a rear end portion thereof with a wide tab, the tab having pads for connection with the FPC. The support portion has a convex wall portion which is formed so as to overlap a front end portion of the tab. An air current occurs at an end portion of a magnetic disk in the vertical direction. When the head accesses a track present on the inner periphery side of the magnetic disk, the tab approaches the disk end portion. Since the convex wall portion protects the tab against the air current, it is possible to prevent oscillation of the tab.

Abstract: An actuator arm with suppressed arm fluttering is provided. On a main surface of each actuator arm in an actuator arm unit there are formed a rigid area which extends centrally in the longitudinal direction and flow uniformizing areas which are each formed in a substantially flat shape extending longitudinally in adjacency to the rigid area and which are thinner than the rigid area. A balance aperture is not formed in the portion where the flow uniformizing areas and the rigid area are formed, to diminish arm fluttering. Instead of a balance aperture, the flow uniformizing areas also exhibit the effect of reducing the weight of the actuator arm.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for restraining and releasing an actuator suspension assembly in a magnetic disk device which is in a retracted position. In a magnetic disk device, according to one embodiment, a magnetic disk 4a is formed of an electrically conductive material and there is disposed a latch member 50 which holds an eddy-current magnet at one end thereof and is provided with a latching portion at an opposite end thereof. An actuator suspension assembly 8 lies in a retracted position and is restrained at a frame engaging portion 23 thereof by means of the latch member. The eddy current magnet is disposed in such a manner that a magnetic pole thereof is opposed to a surface of the magnetic disk at a position close to the disk surface. When the magnetic disk is rotated, an eddy-current is generated and a force is exerted on the eddy-current magnet, so that the latch member turns and releases the actuator suspension assembly.

Abstract: One feature of the invention is to support a wiring structure on a side surface of an actuator arm used in a magnetic disk device so as not to allow fluttering to occur. In one embodiment, a wire support member 102a used in a magnetic disk device includes a protruding wall 108a provided with an opposing surface facing a wiring structure 90a and protruding in a width direction, and a protruding wall 110a provided with an opposing surface facing the wiring structure 90a and protruding in a width direction. The wire support member 102a is provided with a fixing area for accommodating the wiring structure between the opposing surface of the protruding wall 108a and the opposing surface of the protruding wall 110a. The wire support member 102a is further provided with an open area adjoining the fixing area at a longitudinal end portion of the protruding wall and includes protruding walls 328, 330, 332 each having an opposing surface facing the wiring structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a crash stop which is capable of adjusting shock absorptivity by employing the same elastic material and where the mounting and demounting operations are easy. A metal pin has a recess in its intermediate portion. An elastic body has three blade portions. In a crash stop, the metal pin is press fitted into the pin inserting hole of the elastic body, and the portion between the support portion and the knob portion of the metal pin is covered with the elastic body. In the boundary between the intermediate portion of the metal pin and the elastic body, a cavity is formed. The support portion is fitted into the crash stop support hole of the base so that it can be freely pulled out and inserted. At this time, the upper end of the blade portion contacts the inner side surface of the crash stop inserting hole of the upper yoke and is contracted, and by the frictional force generated between the crash stop inserting hole and the upper end of the blade portion, the crash stop is locked.