Abstract: In a head stack assembly, opposed pairs of up-facing and down-facing head gimbal assembly suspensions are supported on an actuator arm with a sloped end between the suspensions to provide different support to each pair member during staking operations that fasten the suspension to the arm to minimize gram load change differentials resultant from staking.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension is provided comprising a load beam, a flexure partially overlying the load beam, the flexure having frame and tongue for supporting a slider, and a flexible conductor comprising a laminate of conductive leads and insulating plastic film, the flexure load beam-overlying portion and the load beam are fixed together and closely spaced to clamp the flexible conductor in place mechanically and freely of bonding to the load beam or flexure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is provided for controlling unwanted flow of slider bonding adhesive from the flexure tongue portion to the flexure outrigger portion including roughening the tongue portion surface opposite the slider, enclosing the locus of slider attachment fully or partially with a trough etched into the tongue portion, and increasing the depth of fluid adhesive at the locus to increase the adhesive mass and improve the bonding at the slider.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is provided for controlling unwanted flow of slider bonding adhesive from the flexure tongue portion to the flexure outrigger portion including roughening the tongue portion surface opposite the slider, enclosing the locus of slider attachment fully or partially with a trough etched into the tongue portion, and increasing the depth of fluid adhesive at the locus to increase the adhesive mass and improve the bonding at the slider.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has increased protection against signal loss and mechanical damage and increased isolation from ambient electrical disturbances where the metal layer of the flexible conductive laminate is remote to the load beam rather than next to the load beam to mechanically and electrically protect the conductive traces of the laminate on two sides against signal loss and mechanical damage and have increased isolation from ambient electrical disturbances.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension load beam suspension comprising a load beam and a flexure has an elongatable portion on the flexure frame attached to the flexure tongue tip for elongation by flexure tongue movement such that the flexure tongue is tethered against unduly large excursions but free to gimbal in the normal way as well.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has improved fixing of the load beam to the actuator arm by positively interlocking the actuator arm and the mount plate carrying the load beam with cooperating locking structure on the plate and arm.

Abstract: A load beam is mounted in a head stack assembly without staking operations by mounting a mounting plate having an annular boss and carrying the load beam to an actuator arm having a circular opening by having the plate annular boss larger than the circular opening and providing for interfittment by having a split ring structure including a slot of an original width on the annular boss or the circular opening that deflects during mounting and thereafter resiliently retains the plate and arm together by the tendency of the slot to return to its original width.

Abstract: A flexible conductor is mounted to a suspension comprising a flexure and a load beam using a flowable adhesive-passing channel at a locus of flexible conductor attachment to the suspension and a flowable adhesive forced into the channel in a manner forming a crown of the adhesive over and around the channel inlet, and hardening the adhesive in bonding relation with the flexible conductor and the suspension, the adhesive crown mechanically locking the suspension load beam, flexure and flexible conductor in their desired alignment.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension assembly of a flexure and a flexure support, the flexure having a tongue adapted to carry in gimbaling relation a slider in operating proximity to a disk, the flexure support and the flexure tongue defining cooperating structures which limit motion of the tongue relative to the disk to a predetermined range.

Abstract: As manufactured disk drive head suspension load beams are modified for facile permanent adjustment in pitch characteristic by a localized reduction in material in the load beam forward portion web and/or rails within a transverse locus to facilitate deflection of the load beam to a different pitch characteristic.

Abstract: An ultra compact disk drive suspension for supporting a read-write head slider at a disk surface comprising a load beam having generally an E-shape with a base, and extending from the base a center portion, a left portion and a right portion all generally extending in a first horizontal plane, a flexure generally extending in a second horizontal plane vertically spaced from the first horizontal plane, the flexure being attached to the left and right load beam portions, the load beam having a dimple in contact with the flexure, a head slider supported by the flexure in disk surface opposed relation, and a mounting plate extending in a third horizontal plane, the mounting plate being attached to the load beam at the left and right portions only.

Abstract: A liftable disk drive suspension load beam of spring steel comprises a base portion, a spring portion, an elongated beam portion having left and right edge rails, and a lift tip beyond the elongated beam portion. The beam portion has a longitudinally disposed flexure support tongue defining an attachment locus for attaching a flexure in cantilevered relation and having a situs for gimballing dimple contact with the flexure. The beam portion has left and right continued extents on either side of the tongue, these continued extents being, free of connection to said the support tongue fore and aft of the flexure attachment locus, the extents being joined beyond the attachment locus to support the lift tip from the elongated beam portion. The flexure tongue provides the flexure freedom of gimballing movement free of interference from the lift tip and the continued extents.

Abstract: Disk drive suspension load beam has a unitary lift bracket formed from a deflection of the load beam distal portion laterally of the load beam into a curvilinear shape to define a cam follower adapted to engage a camming surface used to lift the load beam carried head from its normal proximity to a disk.

Abstract: Extended arcuate travel of the flexure in a disk drive suspension head gimbal assembly is provided by reducing the load beam body thickness in the areas where the load beam body normally interferes with full arc traverse, by etching some or all of the load beam material away in the interference areas.

Abstract: Unduly large travel of a flexure resulting in overflexure or the permanent loss of dimple contact between flexure and load beam in a disk drive suspension is blocked by having the flexure and load beam loosely coupled by a blocking structure which freely permits desired movement, within a predetermined range, but blocks other movement, by defining a gap between flexure and load beam equal to or less than the maximum tolerable amount of travel against movement beyond the predetermined range.

Abstract: Disk drive suspension in which roll and pitch biases are minimized by routing the wire bundle of oppositely twisted wire pairs in a groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the load beam, and then each of the pairs separately about the suspension flexure for connection to the head.

Abstract: An improved resonance and non-operating shock performance, low debris-generating disk drive suspension head gimbal assembly for positioning a head at a disk in which the load beam body is locally relieved or deflected to provide shelter for the portion of the flexure usually in the path of the lift arm against debris causing contact of the lift arm with the flexure edges and distortion of the flexure from lift arm contact in a load beam unsupported condition. The local relief reduces the load beam mass for high shock performance; the modification of the load beam contour improves stiffness and thereby improves resonance qualities.

Abstract: A disk head assembly attachment means and method for reducing the height of each support arm of a head stack assembly of a disk drive, thereby reducing the required disk-to-disk spacing. A first load beam assembly having a first boss is attached to a support arm of a head stack assembly. A second load beam assembly having a second boss is attached to the same support arm of the head stack assembly, with the second load beam assembly being positioned on the side of the support arm opposite the first load beam assembly. The first and second boss are designed to either nest one in the other, or set adjacent each other, such that each support arm of the head stack assembly need only accommodate the height of a single boss rather than the combined height of both bosses.

Abstract: A flexure for supporting a slider/electromagnetic read/write head assembly for a rotary actuator-type disk drive. The flexure is designed to improve yaw stiffness while simultaneously improving pitch and roll compliance compared to prior art designs. The flexure has a support structure having a pair of forked outriggers. Attached at the end of each outrigger arm is a spaced-apart flexure tongue structure. The width of the flexure at the connection between the tongue and outriggers is less than the width of the flexure at the connection between the support structure and outriggers. A gimbaling dimple is provided on the tongue structure that is positioned such that when a slider is mounted on the flexure, the dimple is positioned at approximately the center of pressure of the slider.