Abstract: The disk device according to one embodiment includes magnetic disks, a magnetic head, a ramp, and a suspension. The suspension includes a sliding portion provided on a load beam. The suspension rotates about a second rotation axis between a load position and an unload position. The ramp includes a wall and a protrusion. The wall has a first support surface that supports the sliding portion when the suspension is located in the unload position. The protrusion includes a second support surface and an intermediate portion. The second support surface faces the magnetic head when the suspension is located in the unload position. The intermediate portion is located between the wall and the second support surface. The intermediate portion includes a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is located between the first portion and the first support surface in the radial direction of the second rotation axis.

Abstract: A load/unload ramp includes a body with ramps, load/unload surfaces, and a vertical wall. The ramps include outer grooves positioned between the ramps. The load/unload surfaces extend from the respective ramps. The vertical wall includes channels extending through the vertical wall. In embodiments, the channels are positioned between the load/unload surfaces.

Abstract: A load/unload ramp assembly for a hard disk drive includes a support plate having at least one interlock slot and a plurality of ramp units interconnected with the support plate. At least one of the ramp units includes an interlock structure that protrudes into a corresponding interlock slot of the support plate, and is configured to move within the interlock slot in response to shrinkage of the ramp unit upon cooling associated with manufacturing of the ramp assembly. The ends of the interlock slot may be configured to manage the shrinkage and/or to maintain design dimensions.

Abstract: Examples of slide-in ramps for hard-disk drives are disclosed. In one example according to aspects of the present disclosure, a slide-in ramp includes: a ramp body, a head load/unload section connected to the ramp body, and a slot defined in the ramp body. The slot includes a first portion and a second portion. A first upper surface of the ramp body surrounds the first portion of the slot at a top side of the ramp body, and a second upper surface of the ramp body surrounds the second portion of the slot at the top side of the ramp body. The second upper surface is non-coplanar with the first upper surface according to various examples.

Abstract: A magnetic hard disk drive apparatus includes a first slider with a magnetic head for recording to the disk, the first slider supported by a first suspension arm, and a second slider having a magnetic head, the second slider supported by a second suspension arm. The apparatus further includes a ramp configured to guide and hold the first and second suspension arms in place when parked, and a separator configured to be suspended beyond leading edges of the first and second sliders, such that the first and second sliders are suspended between the separator and the ramp.

Abstract: The invention provides a position control system comprising a moving portion that is movable, a position-detection portion that detects a position of the moving portion, a drive portion that applies driving force to the moving portion thereby moving the moving portion, a control portion that controls the driving force of the drive portion, and an input portion for inputting a drive target position for the moving portion, characterized in that the control portion is operable to determine the driving force to be applied to the drive portion based on a correction coefficient acquired based on a first deviation that is a difference between the drive target position inputted into the input portion and the reference position, and a second deviation that is a difference between a position detected by the position-detection portion and the drive target position inputted into said input portion.

Abstract: An example hard disk drive (HDD) comprising a magnetic disk and a ramp within the HDD is disclosed. A slit is disposed between a ramp body and a flange.

Abstract: A bracket for a hard disc drive combining three separate functions, a ramp, a latch and a connector bracket into a single assembly. The bracket assembly, mounted with ramp and latch, secures and seals the electrical connector connecting the flexible printed circuit on the head side of the actuator. Traditionally, latches are on the coil side of the actuator. Moreover, the combination bracket improves manufacturability while reducing overall cost for the disc drive. The assembly can be purchased complete from a supplier.

Abstract: A disk drive under assembly is disclosed that comprises a suspension assembly that includes a head gimbal assembly (HGA) that has a lift tab and a shipping comb that includes a protruding member that extends from the shipping comb and a bearing member that supports the suspension assembly, in which the lift tab extends beyond the bearing member. The disk drive under assembly further comprises a ramp that includes a receiving portion to receive the protruding member as the shipping comb couples with the ramp to transfer the lift tab to the ramp.

Abstract: One embodiment in accordance with the invention is an apparatus comprising a movement guide that can be utilized with a data storage device. The movement guide can be for preventing a magnetic head of the data storage device from contacting a disk of the data storage device during operation.

Abstract: A ramp for a polyoxymethylene hard resin disk drive, which has an outgas level of not more than 20 ?g/g. The ramp for a polyoxymethylene resin hard disk drive comprises the steps of providing an extruder, melt kneading a polyoxymethylene resin with a colorant while degassing through one or more vents under a reduced pressure of ?0.06 Mpa or less to prepare polyoxymethylene resin pellets, and injection molding the polyoxymethylene resin pellets, washing the molding with a solvent, and drying the molding.

Abstract: A base plate and hard disk drive having the base including a head stack assembly installation portion on which a head stack assembly carried by a shipping comb having a middle support portion is rotatably installed; and a step portion formed on a surface of the base plate to restrict rotation of the shipping comb by hooking the middle support portion of the shipping comb when the head stack assembly installed on the head stack assembly installation portion is rotated with the shipping comb coupled to the head stack assembly.

Abstract: A hard disk drive including an end tab extending from an end portion of a suspension that supports a read/write head, and a ramp including a plurality of end tab limiters and preventing the end tab from being separated, due to an external impact, from a parking zone where the end tab is supported, and at least one assembly guide rail inclined at a predetermined angle to form an assembly guide slope that guides movement of the end tab to the parking zone. At least one end tab limiter may be connected to at least one assembly guide rail and upper and/or lower sides of the end tab limiter forms with the assembly guide slope a movement guide path to guide the movement of the end tab to the parking zone.

Abstract: A method for assembling a disk drive includes providing a head stack assembly (HSA), providing a shipping comb for assembling the disk drive, inserting a comb pin of the shipping comb into a locating holes in a HSA to assemble the shipping comb with the HSA together, positioning the HSA and shipping comb on a base cover of the disk drive, installing the HSA on the base cover via a bearing device thereof, rotating the assembled HSA and shipping comb to park the HSA on the ramp and aligning the comb pin with the securing hole, pushing the comb pin into a securing hole to lock the HSA in the base cover, assembling a latch device and a top voice coil magnet on the base cover, and rotating out the shipping comb to a position where the shipping comb is not interfered with the disk drive.

Abstract: Gimbal designs are provided that minimize adverse dynamic performance of a HDD suspension, particularly subsequent to head-disk-interface (HDI) interactions. The improvement of operational performance can be seen in graphical representations of the vibrational modes of a gimbal mounted slider subsequent to such HDI interactions. Each gimbal design includes a ramp limiter formed as two separated arms connected by one or two transverse bars and a routing of conducting traces that relieves stress and minimally contacts these bars.

Abstract: An apparatus which provides improved positional control for an access element moveable adjacent a rotatable surface, such as a data transducing head adjacent a data recording disc in a data storage device. The apparatus comprises a fluidic stripper with one or more cantilevered arms which project proximate a corresponding array of one or more rotatable surfaces. Each arm comprises an edge surface which extends proximate to and in facing relationship with a movement path of an access element across the associated rotatable surface to impede fluidic currents established by rotation of the rotatable surface. Each arm further supports a ramp structure which receivingly supports the access element at a position away from the rotatable surface and proximate the innermost diameter during a deactivated mode when the rotatable surface is stationary.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention reduce the height of a ramp to provide a thin data storage device that is capable of inhibiting the deterioration of the dynamic characteristics at the time of loading/unloading. In one embodiment, a data storage device includes a head that accesses a recording region of a recording disk; a ramp that is positioned circumferentially apart from an outermost end of the recording disk to unload the head from a surface of the recording disk; and an actuator that includes a load beam for supporting the head and moves the head. The load beam includes a tab that is extended from a leading end section of the load beam, beyond the head support section of the load beam, and toward the recording disk, and slides over a ramp surface.

Abstract: A head parking ramp for a data storage device includes a fixed portion fixed to a base member, a support portion extending from the fixed portion toward the disk and supporting an end portion of an actuator where the read/write head is installed, an extended portion extending from the fixed portion toward the disk, having a lead end portion overlapping each of an upper surface and a lower surface of an outer circumferential portion of the disk, and having a plurality of disk facing surfaces facing each of the upper and lower surfaces of the disk, and a protruding surface protruding from each of the disk facing surfaces of the extended portion at a position corresponding to an edge portion of the disk and restricting a vibration of the disk as the edge portion of the disk contacts the protrusion surface when the disk vibrates.

Abstract: Turbulence of an airflow returning to a magnetic disk along the base sidewall of a HDD is reduced to thereby reduce flutter of an actuator or a magnetic disk caused by the airflow, thus improving read/write performance. An HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a base, a top cover fixed to the base, a motor for rotating a magnetic disk, an actuator for moving a head which gets access to the magnetic disk, a ramp slope portion on which an extreme end is ridden up, a ramp support portion for supporting the ramp slope portion, and a stage for holding the ramp support portion. A flow passage is formed which runs toward the magnetic disk through an area near the ramp support portion on the side of the top cover. An inclined portion running toward the bottom of the base is formed on the end of the flow passage on the side of the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selecting a dynamic fly height (DFH) control setting for a head in a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a plurality of disk surfaces and plurality of respective heads. The method comprises servoing a first head over a first disk surface in response to servo data recorded on the first disk surface, adjusting a DFH control setting for a second head, and while servoing the first head over the first disk surface, detecting whether the second head has contacted a second disk surface.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive apparatus includes a magnetic disk, a ramp mechanism, a pair of magnetic head sliders each having an MR read head element, and a load/unload mechanism for retracting the pair of magnetic head sliders to the ramp mechanism under unloading states and for putting the pair of magnetic head sliders back to face front and back surfaces of the magnetic disk respectively under loading states. The ramp mechanism has head resting portions and a pair of permanent magnets. The pair of magnetic head sliders respectively resting in the head resting portions in a manner to face to each other during unloaded states. The pair of permanent magnets generates a closed loop magnetic field applied to the pair of magnetic head sliders rested in the respective head resting portions. The magnetic fields applied to the respective magnetic head sliders are in opposite directions along the track width of the magnetic head sliders.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive that can effectively suppress the influence of an air stream coupled with the rotation of a magnetic disk. In one embodiment, the magnetic disk drive is adapted to have a disk assembly that includes at least one magnetic disk medium, a head assembly that includes at least one magnetic head which writes magnetic signals onto and reads them out from the magnetic disk medium or media, and at least one arm which supports the magnetic head(s), a ramp assembly that includes at least one ramp which guides the magnetic head(s) to a required retreat position(s) when the particular magnetic head is moved away from the associated magnetic disk medium, and shroud fins as many in number as the magnetic disk media, in which case, each shroud fin is disposed integrally with the ramp assembly and in association with and next to either of the magnetic disk media in order to guide an air stream produced by the rotation of the disk assembly.

Abstract: A head stack assembly (HSA) protecting member to be installed in the HSA to protect the HSA, and a method of installing the HSA in a hard disk drive (HDD) by using the HSA protecting member are provided. The HSA protecting member includes a first spacer which is interposed between front ends of a pair of suspensions on which a pair of sliders facing each other are mounted, respectively, and which projects to prevent both front ends of the suspensions from contacting each other; a pair of limiters formed above and below the first spacer, such that the front ends of the pair of suspensions can be inserted into the suspension receiving portions, respectively, to restrain the front ends of the suspensions from shaking up and down; and an installation pin formed opposite the first spacer and the limiters and inserted into the HSA.

Abstract: In certain example embodiments, a shipping comb for assembling a disk drive is provided. The shipping comb has a comb block which includes a locking portion having a comb pin hole formed therein, at least one spacer, and a connecting beam to connect the locking portion and the at least one spacer. A comb pin is received in the comb pin hole of the locking portion. The comb pin includes at least two engaging portions. A controlling system has a comb latch selectively engagable with the at least two engaging portions so as to control the comb pin to move in the comb pin hole. In certain example embodiments, a method for assembling a disk drive using the shipping comb is provided.

Abstract: A shipping comb for use when moving an actuator of a hard disk drive, the actuator including a swing arm installed on a base member of the hard disk drive capable of pivoting, at least a pair of load beams coupled to an end portion of the swing arm, and at least a pair of sliders respectively coupled to the load beams to face each other. The shipping comb includes a frame operative to be coupled to the actuator and capable of pivoting, a first finger provided at the frame and for maintaining an interval between the load beams by being inserted between the load beams, and a second finger provided at the frame and for preventing collision between the sliders by being inserted between the sliders.

Abstract: A ramp mechanism for a storage device reduces power consumption during head loading/unloading operations, and reduces magnetic disk drive failure due to generation and dispersion of wear powder generated by head loading and unloading operations. Wear powder is accumulated in longitudinal grooves in the ramp mechanism. A lateral groove can be provided at the head entry/exit end of the ramo mechanism to capture wear powder, if desired. The grooves are separated by wall parts having flat, tip-shaped or semi-circularly shaped tops, and the tops can extend partially over the grooves, if desired, to trap powder which falls into the grooves.

Abstract: Parking sliders on disk surfaces by a load tab contacting a tab ramp to engage sliders into secure contact. Head gimbal assemblies including these load tabs; the disk clamp, disk spacer, spindle motors, each including at least one tab ramp; the hard disk drive, their manufacturing processes and the products of those processes.

Abstract: A guiding passage is formed on a ramp member. The guiding passage defines an inclined surface angled towards plane including the surface of a recording disk at a position toward an inoperative position. A restriction member is allowed to restrict the movement of the load tab on the inclined surface when the load tab moves from the inoperative position toward the recording disk. If an impact acts on a recording disk drive when the recording disk stands still, the restriction member serves to restrict the movement of the load tab on the inclined surface. The elasticity of a head suspension enables the load tab to move down the inclined surface. The downward movement of the load tab causes a reduction in deformation of the head suspension. The head suspension thus receives a smaller load.

Abstract: A particle remover for a data storage device that removes particles attached to a surface of a disk, the particle remover including a fixed portion installed on a base plate of the data storage device; and pressure plates extending from the fixed portion toward the disk and respectively overlapping an upper surface and a lower surface of the disk, and having disk opposing surfaces with shapes that are convex toward the disk to form a space between the disk opposing surfaces and the surface of the disk that becomes narrower and then wider along a rotational direction of the disk.

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: The present invention is directed to a load/unload ramp assembly which is interconnectable with a base plate of a dynamic load/unload-type disk drive. The load/unload ramp assembly generally includes a load/unload ramp and at least one base plate attachment cantilever. A fastener shaft is directed past each of the base plate attachment cantilevers and into a fastener receptacle on the base plate. A fastener head simultaneously exerts a force on each of the base plate attachment cantilevers that are engaged by the head to deflect such base plate attachment cantilevers toward the base plate, to in turn dispose the load/unload ramp assembly in forcible engagement with the base plate.

Abstract: A recording disk drive comprises a head actuator coupled to a support shaft for relative rotation so as to support a head slider at a tip end of the head actuator. A rectifier plate is located at a location outside an arc defined along a movement path of the tip end of the head actuator. The rectifier plate is thus located downstream of the head slider. The distance between the rectifier plate and the head slider is maintained constant regardless of the position of the head slider. Turbulence of the airflow can reliably be suppressed downstream of the head slider during the rotation of the recording disk.

Abstract: An apparatus provides improved positional control for an access element moveable adjacent a rotatable surface, such as a data transducing head adjacent a data recording surface of a data storage device. A circumferentially extending windage plate is adapted for placement adjacent the rotatable surface. The plate includes an edge surface configured to extend adjacent a movement path of an access element across the rotatable surface. The edge surface supports a ramp structure adapted to receivingly support the access element at a position away from the rotatable surface.

Abstract: An actuator gripping device which prevents the actuator of the head support device from serious trouble such as damage to the surface of the recording medium due to external shocks. An actuator 7 comprises actuator sub-unit 27 having a tab 8 at one end and provided with a head 9, and a voice coil 10 mounted at the other end, a pivot pedestal 30 with a pair of abutments, and a spring plate 28 having an activating force to push the head 9 toward the recording medium 4, and that the actuator gripping device for gripping the actuator 7 comprises a ramp 14 formed with the first stepped side surface 14d and the second stepped side surface 14f having a specified angle respectively at either side of the second plane 14e on which the tab 8 is abutted at the shunt position in stop mode of the recording medium 4.

Abstract: An apparatus has an information storage medium with an information storage surface, and structure operable to effect relative movement of the head and surface within a first zone while maintaining the head adjacent the surface and while using the head to effect at least one of reading information from and writing information to the surface. A head cleaning section includes a cleaning part engageable with the head when the head is in a second zone where the head is spaced from the surface, the structure being operable to effect relative movement of the engaged head and cleaning part in a manner which includes a component of movement that is representative of an applied force subject to a damping influence.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus having a head support device with high impact resistance which ensures L/UL operation and CSS operation. The disk drive apparatus includes a supporting arm rotating about a bearing in a direction perpendicular to a recording face of a recording medium; and a ramp provided at any position between the bearing and a head of the supporting arm. The ramp vertically moves the supporting arm while the supporting arm rotates or linearly moves in a radial direction of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a base, at least one disc rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly rotatably attached to base and supporting a slider and a transducer at a distal end thereof. The slider and transducer are positioned to be in transducing relation with respect to the disc. An air dam is positioned over the disc and near an arc through which the slider and transducer are rotated. The air dam is positioned so as to produce an area of high pressure substantially about an area including a portion of the arc through which the slider and transducer are rotated. Surfaces are aligned with and extend in a coplanar relationship with the disc to transfer an outwardly directed airflow away from the disc without impinging turbulent flow on or at the disc edge.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a load/unload ramp assembly which is interconnectable with a base plate of a dynamic load/unload-type disk drive. The load/unload ramp assembly generally includes a load/unload ramp and at least one base plate attachment cantilever. A fastener shaft is directed past each of the base plate attachment cantilevers and into a fastener receptacle on the base plate. A fastener head simultaneously exerts a force on each of the base plate attachment cantilevers that are engaged by the head to deflect such base plate attachment cantilevers toward the base plate, to in turn dispose the load/unload ramp assembly in forcible engagement with the base plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is disk drive having a molded head disk assembly enclosure including insert molded components and methods for manufacturing the same. In one aspect, the invention may be regarded as a disk drive having a molded enclosure including a base, a cover, and a coupling mechanism to couple the base to the cover. A pivot is insert molded into the base. A first portion of a spindle motor is insert molded into the base. A second portion of a spindle motor is attached to the first portion to form the spindle motor. Further, a disk is mounted to the spindle motor and a head stack assembly having a coil portion is pivotally coupled to the pivot.

Abstract: Windage proximate to a spinning disk within a disk drive is directed through a plurality of apertures in a ramp situated near the outside diameter of the disk. A tab extending from a load beam that supports a slider rests on the ramp when the drive is not in use. When the drive is started the disk begins to spin and an actuator moves the load beam to bring the slider over the surface of the disk. As the load beam moves, the tab is guided along the ramp and cushioned by the air flow emerging from apertures in the ramp beneath it. When the drive is stopped the actuator brings the load beam back so that the tab engages the ramp. A cushion of air is again provided as the tab is moved along the ramp as the tab is returned to a parked position.

Abstract: A particle remover for a data storage device that removes particles attached to a surface of a disk, the particle remover including a fixed portion installed on a base plate of the data storage device; and pressure plates extending from the fixed portion toward the disk and respectively overlapping an upper surface and a lower surface of the disk, and having disk opposing surfaces with shapes that are convex toward the disk to form a space between the disk opposing surfaces and the surface of the disk that becomes narrower and then wider along a rotational direction of the disk.

Abstract: Windage proximate to a spinning disk within a disk drive is directed through a plurality of apertures in a ramp situated near the outside diameter of the disk. A tab extending from a load beam that supports a slider rests on the ramp when the drive is not in use. When the drive is started the disk begins to spin and an actuator moves the load beam to bring the slider over the surface of the disk. As the load beam moves, the tab is guided along the ramp and cushioned by the air flow emerging from apertures in the ramp beneath it. When the drive is stopped the actuator brings the load beam back so that the tab engages the ramp. A cushion of air is again provided as the tab is moved along the ramp as the tab is returned to a parked position.

Abstract: A conductive path is provided to discharge electrostatic charges from a slider in a magnetic disk drive directly to the housing of the disk drive. In one embodiment conductive fibers electrically connect the slider with the housing. In another embodiment a cantilevered conductive finger electrically connects the slider with the housing. By providing a discharge path the accumulation of potentially damaging electrostatic charges is prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a disk drive that has heads and a loading/unloading mechanism including a parking ramp. The parking ramp is so structured that it is likely to contact the outermost area of a disk, never contacting or hitting the loading/unloading area of the disk, when the disk drive receives an external shock. The outermost area of the disk remains unused to record data or park the heads.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive includes a magnetic head slider, a magnetic head slider support mechanism for supporting the magnetic head slider and moving it to a predetermined position, and a load/unload mechanism for detaching the magnetic head slider from the surface of a magnetic disk or moving it thereto. When the magnetic head slider is detached from the magnetic disk surface for unloading, the magnetic head slider support mechanism is restrained against displacement in at least one direction perpendicular to the magnetic disk surface by a restraining part which is provided at a position, on other than the load/unload mechanism, between the magnetic head slider and a pivot of the magnetic head slider support mechanism.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus having a head support device with high impact resistance which ensures L/UL operation and CSS operation. The disk drive apparatus includes a supporting arm rotating about a bearing in a direction perpendicular to a recording face of a recording medium; and a ramp provided at any position between the bearing and a head of the supporting arm. The ramp vertically moves the supporting arm while the supporting arm rotates or linearly moves in a radial direction of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Windage proximate to a spinning disk within a disk drive is directed through a plurality of apertures in a ramp situated near the outside diameter of the disk. A tab extending from a load beam that supports a slider rests on the ramp when the drive is not in use. When the drive is started the disk begins to spin and an actuator moves the load beam to bring the slider over the surface of the disk. As the load beam moves, the tab is guided along the ramp and cushioned by the air flow emerging from apertures in the ramp beneath it. When the drive is stopped the actuator brings the load beam back so that the tab engages the ramp. A cushion of air is again provided as the tab is moved along the ramp as the tab is returned to a parked position.

Abstract: A disk device includes a chassis base, at least one disk rotatably supported on the chassis base, at least one carriage arm pivotable about an axis on one end and, at the other end, having a slider with a read/write head and a load bar extending from the slider, a ramp member attached to the chassis base at a position outside the disk, the ramp member having a guiding part and a parking part, and an actuator for driving the carriage arm between a loaded position in which the slider is held above the disk and an unloaded position in which the load bar rests on the parking part of the ramp member. The ramp member is provided with cleaning structure for removing powder attached to the load bar as the load bar moves along the parking part.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic recording/reading apparatus comprising a ramp formed of a material having at least 30% of a tensile elongation as defined by ASTM D638. The distance c, which is defined as the length between a ramp and a tab measured at the point a/3 apart from the contact portion, a being the contact width of the ramp and the tab, is 0.0015a, or at least 0.015 &mgr;m where a is 10 to 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A retract mechanism for a magnet head which can read from and/or write to a disk, the mechanism includes a spring arm which supports the head and urges the head toward the disk. The spring arm includes a cam follower which rides along the surface of the cam, which has two parallel horizontal surfaces and two incline surfaces. The spring arm is moved by an actuator in a radial direction along the disk. When the spring arm is moved radially away from the center of the disk, the cam urges the spring arm upwardly, thereby lifting the head up and away from the disk. As the spring arm continues to move radially away from the center of the disk, the cam guides the spring arm such that the head rests safely on a landing platform.