Abstract: A two and one-half inch form factor disk drive. The disk drive includes a base having a top and a bottom, and at least one storage disk. A spin motor is secured to the base and the disk is mounted thereon. Read/write heads are provided for reading information from and writing information on the storage disk. The read/write heads are supported and positioned by an actuator in response to control signals, the actuator having top and bottom plates comprising a support structure, the top plate being supported on the base. A cover is sealably attached to the base, such that the base and cover enclose the disk, the heads, and the actuator. In addition, control electronics, mounted on the head-disk assembly so that the control electronics are adjacent to the bottom of the base, generate the control signals to control the actuator means and provide information signals to and receive information signals from the read/write heads.

Abstract: The present invention provides a back-up tape drive having a precision molded chassis with a fine positioning system for a tape head. This system includes a follower nut threadingly mounted on a lead screw that is bi-directionally rotated by a stepper motor. A lever arm engages the follower nut in a manner such that torsional moments between the forces of the follower nut and lever arm are minimized. The other end of the lever arm engages a tape head mounting unit. The lever arm pivotally engages the chassis at a predetermined midpoint of the lever arm such that a mechanical advantage is derived. The positioning system is designed so the forces acting on the tape head mounting unit are aligned to minimize the torsional forces acting on the tape head mounting unit. The tape head mounting unit further includes reference features that reduce the need for azimuth and zenith adjustment.