Abstract: A storage apparatus includes a disk-shaped recording medium having a surface, a motor configured to drive and rotate the recording medium, a head configured to read information from and write information to the recording medium, a ramp mechanism configured to move the head from a position above the surface of the recording medium to a head receded position, and a ramp retracting mechanism configured to move the ramp mechanism from a position above the surface of the recording medium to a ramp retracted position. Each of the head receded position and the ramp retracted position is outside a range of the recording medium in a plan view viewed from above the recording medium in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving loading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a disk medium. Particular embodiments may assist in loading a read or write head to, or unloading a read or write head from, a load location over a surface of a disk medium in such a manner that damage to the surface of the disk medium (e.g., load location) is either prevented or minimized. The prevention or reduction of damage may be achieved by ensuring that a read or write head has sufficient clearance over the surface of a disk medium as the read or write head moves over the surface (e.g., as the head moves parallel to the surface) during a head loading or unloading process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving loading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a disk medium. Particular embodiments may assist in loading a read or write head to, or unloading a read or write head from, a load location over a surface of a disk medium in such a manner that damage to the surface of the disk medium (e.g., load location) is either prevented or minimized. The prevention or reduction of damage may be achieved by ensuring that a read or write head has sufficient clearance over the surface of a disk medium as the read or write head moves over the surface (e.g., as the head moves parallel to the surface) during a head loading or unloading process.

Abstract: A ramp for hard discs which is obtained by molding a resin composition containing (A) a polyoxymethylene resin, and (B) at least one polymeric lubricant selected from the group consisting of (b-1) a polyolefin resin, and (b-2) a polymer obtained by polymerizing an isocyanate compound and a polyalkylene oxide, and which has an excellent sliding property and no deterioration of sliding property due to solvent washing.

Abstract: A disk drive (310) is disclosed that uses an integral load/unload ramp (350) with one or more integrated air features. In one embodiment, the load/unload ramp (350) includes a body (352), a plurality of head load/unload sections (354) for head parking operations, a plurality of air dams (370) for affecting the airflow on at least part of the primary data storage surfaces of the data storage disks (318) used by the disk drive (310), and a plurality of disk extenders (380) for affecting the airflow at the perimeter (320) of the various data storage disks (318). There is no joint of any kind between the body (352) and any of the head load/unload sections (354), between the body (352) and any of the air dams (370), or between the body (352) and any of the disk extenders (380).

Abstract: A disk drive having a translatable ramp is disclosed. The disk drive includes a head gimbal assembly having a proximate end that is attached to an actuator, and a distal end that includes a lift tab. The ramp includes a lift tab supporting surface located as close to a pivot axis of the actuator as is the lift tab. The ramp also includes a ramp guiding surface that is in contact with a mating surface of the disk drive base. A fastener selectively allows or prevents relative translation between the ramp and the disk drive base. The aforementioned contact constrains the relative translation so that the relative translation changes the distance between the lift tab supporting surface and the disk axis of rotation more than the relative translation changes the distance between the lift tab supporting surface and the actuator pivot axis.

Abstract: A method for creating a disk drive. A slider is installed in a disk drive having at least one unlubricated disk. The slider is designed to be in initial contact. The slider is burnished to the final design point. A vapor phase lubricant reservoir system is installed in the drive either before or after the burnishing step.

Abstract: A data recording disk drive has one or more capacitive sensors for sensing out-of-plane vibration of the disk or disks. The sensors are attached to a support structure that is attached to the disk drive housing. Each sensor is associated with a disk and faces a surface of the disk near the outer perimeter of the disk and close to the recording head. The support structure can be made of a metal or a high-strength plastic and can be a separate structure mounted to the housing, or integrated as part of the single-piece housing casting. If it is metallic, as would be the case if it were integrated with the housing, then layers of insulating material separate the sensors from the support structure. A support structure that serves other functions in the disk drive can also function as the support structure for the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: A head stack assembly comb (154) for maintaining the heads (44) of a head stack assembly (26) in spaced relation is disclosed. The head stack assembly comb (154) includes a comb body (158) and a latch (218). The comb body (158) engages an upper surface of an uppermost actuator arm (30a) in the head stack assembly (26). The latch (218) engages a lower surface of this same actuator arm (30a). When installing the comb (154), the comb (154) is pivoted relative to the head stack assembly (26). This brings the latch (218) into engagement with the noted actuator arm (30a) and causes the latch (218) to pivot in a first direction against a spring (214), and then in the opposite direction by the action of the spring (214) on the latch (218) to engage the latch (218) with the lower surface of the noted actuator arm (30a).

Abstract: A method for creating a hard drive includes installing a slider in a disk drive having at least one disk lubricated with a first stage lubricant. The slider is designed to be in contact with the disk at initial use. The slider is burnished. A second stage lubricant is added to the disk after the burnishing step. The first stage lubricant provides less lubrication than the second stage lubricant, allowing the slider to be burnished in a controllable manner during the burnishing step. The second stage lubricant then provides lubrication to the disk during use by the end consumer.

Abstract: A magnetic head parking apparatus of a hard disk drive for parking a magnetic head installed on an actuator includes a deformation member reversibly deformable in a direction in which the magnetic head is separated from a disk by pressing one side of the actuator, and a deformation control unit controlling deformation of the deformation member such that during parking the magnetic head, the deformation member is deformed in the direction in which the magnetic head is separated from the disk. Thus, since the slider is parked in a state of being separated from the hard disk, damage to the magnetic head due to an impact can be reduced. Also, since an additional parking area is not needed to be made in the hard disk, more data space can be secured in the hard disk.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of A wipping part of the load ramp is a convex finger crossing the read-write head path of motion with respect to a lifting tab engagably moving across the loading ramp.

Abstract: A load/unload mechanism includes a load bar fixed to the tip end of a head suspension and a ramp member. When a recording disk stands still, a swinging arm swings to reach a standby position. The load bar is received on the ramp member, while the head suspension is connected to a suspension holding member. The load bar serves to keep the head suspension distanced away from a recording disk. If any hard impact acts on the recording disk drive from the outside, the load bar received on the ramp member inevitably suffers from a relatively larger displacement. On the other hand, the magnitude of displacement can be suppressed at the head suspension which is located nearer to the swinging arm as compared with the load bar. It is possible to reliably prevent release of the connection between the head suspension and the suspension holding member.

Abstract: A low cost, reliable and high density magnetic disk device of a ramp loading type, in which a ramp or a dimple or dimples are free from wear even if loading and unloading are repeated. A plurality of dimples are arranged or running tracks are inclined so that the running tracks (ramp), on which a portion (a dimple or dimples) of a magnetic head supporting mechanism runs, includes different tracks at the time of loading and unloading. Alternatively, the magnetic head supporting mechanism has different portions engaging with the ramp at the time of loading and unloading.