Abstract: This invention includes a carnage assembly for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium. The carriage assembly comprises a carriage body formed from molded plastic. The body defines a sidewall having a first open end and a second open end with a passage extending therebetween. A coil is interlockingly coupled with the carriage body sidewall by being molded to carriage body. At least one carnage arm for carrying at least one head is interlockingly coupled with the carriage body sidewall by being molded to the carnage body.

Abstract: An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a carriage assembly for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium is provided. The carriage assembly comprises a carriage body. The body defines a sidewall having a first open end and a second open end with a passage extending therebetween. A coil is interlockingly coupled with the carriage body sidewall. At least one carriage arm for carrying at least one head is interlockingly coupled with the carriage body sidewall.

Abstract: An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring.

Abstract: A carriage assembly for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium is provided. The carriage assembly includes a carriage body that defines a sidewall having a first opening and a second opening with a passage extending therebetween. A coil is securely coupled with the carriage body sidewall. The carriage assembly rides on a central guide track when the carriage assembly is mounted within a disk drive. The carriage assembly is free to rotate about the central guide track. A first in-rigger extends laterally from the carriage body and a second in-rigger extends laterally from the carriage body. Each of the in-riggers has a protrusion extending from an inner surface. If the carriage assembly rotates sufficiently in one direction one of the protrusions will contact a magnet of the disk drive to prevent further rotation of the carriage assembly in that direction.

Abstract: An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring.

Abstract: A disk drive of the type that receives a removable disk cartridge containing a disk-shaped storage medium, includes an actuator for carrying a pair of opposed read/write heads into engagement with respective opposite surfaces of the disk-shaped storage medium, and a pair of opposed projections disposed adjacent the read/write heads when they are in a retracted position. The opposed projections have opposed angled surfaces that deflect and capture the edge of the disk-shaped storage medium during cartridge insertion to prevent the edge of the storage medium from damaging the read/write heads. The opposed projections are preferably formed as part of a load ramp member that is snap-fit to another structure within the disk drive to facilitate assembly of the disk drive.

Abstract: This invention includes a carriage assembly for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium. The carriage assembly comprises a carriage body formed from molded plastic. The body defines a sidewall having a first open end and a second open end with a passage extending therebetween. A coil is interlockingly coupled with the carriage body sidewall by being molded to carriage body. At least one carriage arm for carrying at least one head is interlockingly coupled with the carriage body sidewall by being molded to the carriage body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive having a linear actuator for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium. The heads are mounted on a carriage assembly along with a voice coil motor for driving the carriage assembly into and out of engagement of the heads with the medium. The carriage assembly slides linearly on a central guide track. A flexure is provided for the central guide track for linear movement by the carriage assembly so that initial linear movement of the carriage assembly is by flexing the flexure and further, larger linear movement of the carriage assembly is by sliding along the guide track. In one form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at the front end by a flexure and at the rear end by a bearing. In another form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at each end by a flexure. The flexure has an attaching mechanism for attaching the flexure to the central guide track so that the flexure pivots freely on the central guide track.

Abstract: A linear actuator for carrying a pair of read/write heads into engagement with a surface of a recording medium includes a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly may have a load beam upon which the read/write heads are mounted. A lift wing that is integrally formed with the actuator preferable extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the actuator. Preferably, the lift wing extends from the sides of the actuator and not the end of the actuator where the read/write heads are preferably mounted. The integral lift wing may have a first portion that extends from one side of the actuator, and a second portion that extends from the other side of the actuator. Preferably, the lift wing does not have a portion which extends beneath or over the width of the load beam portion of the actuator. This lift wing preferably interfaces with a load ramp of the disk drive to position the read/write heads proximal to the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring.

Abstract: A tape drive chassis with isolation mounting features in the back half of the chassis that enable the chassis to be mounted in a computer bay that is twisted or has misaligned mounting features. The isolation mounting features of the chassis are integral with the chassis and designed to deflect and conform to torque in the computer bay. The isolation mounting features include travel limit stops that limit the distance that the isolation mounting features can be bent. The isolation mounting features ensure that the drive chassis remains planar even if the host computer bay may be twisted or have mounting holes that are not co-planar.

Abstract: A linear actuator carries read/write heads into engagement with a removable cartridge having a recording disk. The magnetic heads are mounted on a carriage which moves linearly on a central guide track. The carriage moves linearly on front and rear bearings which move on a central guide track as the magnetic motor is energized. The rear bearing is elongated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the disk to allow movement of the carriage transverse to the direction of travel. This compensates for planar misalignment of the plane of the recording disk with respect to the axis of the central track.

Abstract: A carriage assembly for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium is provided. The carriage assembly includes a carriage body that defines a sidewall having a first opening and a second opening with a passage extending therebetween. A coil is securely coupled with the carriage body sidewall. The carriage assembly rides on a central guide track when the carriage assembly is mounted within a disk drive. The carriage assembly is free to rotate about the central guide track. A first in-rigger extends laterally from the carriage body and a second in-rigger extends laterally from the carriage body. Each of the in-riggers has a protrusion extending from an inner surface. If the carriage assembly rotates sufficiently in one direction one of the protrusions will contact a magnet of the disk drive to prevent further rotation of the carriage assembly in that direction.

Abstract: A dual loop flex circuit for conducting signals between heads of an actuator carriage assembly and an electrical circuit board and for supplying power to a voice coil is provided. The first loop conducts the signals between the heads and the second loop supplies power to the coil. Each loop is mounted in part on a shroud which serves as an anchor for the loops. The other parts of the loops are attached to opposite sides of the actuator carriage assembly such that forces exerted on the actuator carriage assembly by the first loop are canceled by forces exerted on the actuator carriage assembly by the second loop.

Abstract: There is disclosed a disk drive having a linear actuator for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium. The heads are mounted on a carriage assembly along with a voice coil motor for driving the carriage assembly into and out of engagement of the heads with the medium. The carriage assembly slides linearly on a central guide track. A flexible mounting suspension is provided for the central guide track for linear movement by the carriage assembly so that initial linear movement of the carriage assembly is by flexing the suspension and further, larger linear movement of the carriage assembly is by sliding along the guide track. In one form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at the front end by a flexure and at the rear end by a bearing. In another form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at each end by a flexure.

Abstract: A tape drive chassis with isolation mounting features in the back half of the chassis that enable the chassis to be mounted in a computer bay that is twisted or has misaligned mounting features. The isolation mounting features of the chassis are integral with the chassis and designed to deflect and conform to torque in the computer bay. The isolation mounting features include travel limit stops that limit the distance that the isolation mounting features can be bent. The isolation mounting features ensure that the drive chassis remains planar even if the host computer bay may be twisted or have mounting holes that are not co-planar.

Abstract: A magnetic head positioning mechanism for a tape backup device includes a carriage carrying the head that has an opening with a substantially conical surface, a guide rod extending through the carriage that restricts translation of the carriage to motion along a predetermined axis, a lead screw extending into the opening in the carriage that is driven by a stepper motor via a gear train, a follower nut threaded on the upper portion of the lead screw for translating the carriage and head along the axis as the lead screw is rotated by the stepper motor, and a spring for urging the carriage into contact with the follower nut. The base end of the lead screw has a conical indentation that contacts and rotates on the rounded end of a protrusion extending from the chassis. The relative positions of this indentation and protrusion can be reversed, if desired. The follower nut includes a rounded (or spherical) surface for contacting the conical surface within the opening in the carriage.