Abstract: A data storage device includes at least one data storage disc, at least one head supported by a rotatable actuator arm, an elevator configured to move the rotatable actuator arm in a z direction, a first vertical guide post, a ramp assembly configured to support the head on a movable ramp, and a bracket attached to the movable ramp. The at least one head is configured to communicate with the at least one data storage disc when positioned over the at least one data storage disc. The movable ramp is moveable in a z direction parallel to the first vertical guide post. The bracket is engageable to the rotatable actuator arm so that the bracket moves along the first vertical guide post in unison with z direction motion of the rotatable actuator arm via the elevator, and the bracket is disengageable from the rotatable actuator arm.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes a motor, a base to which the motor is affixed, an actuator supporting a head-slider, and an air-flow control component affixed inside the base. The motor is configured to spin a disk. The actuator is configured to access the disk and to rotate about a pivot shaft to move the head-slider. The air-flow control component includes a plate which faces a recording surface of the disk, and a support portion supporting the plate. The thickness of the plate gradually decreases towards an outflow side of the air-flow control component. The bodies of the plate and the support portion are made of resin; and, a surface of the plate is configured to be held at an electrical potential selected from the group consisting of ground potential and a negative potential.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a plurality of disk surfaces including a first disk surface and a second disk surface. The disk drive further comprises a plurality of heads including a first head actuated over the first disk surface, and a second head actuated over the second disk surface, as well as a ramp proximate an outer diameter of the disk surfaces. A first interval is measured while moving the first head toward the ramp until the first head contacts the ramp, and a second interval is measured while moving the second head toward the ramp until the second head contacts the ramp.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base, and a spindle. A disk is attached to the spindle, and the disk includes a disk outer peripheral extent. An actuator is attached to the disk drive base and defines an actuator pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the spindle rotation axis. At least one actuator arm extends away from the actuator pivot axis. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) is attached to the at least one actuator arm. A first disk limiter tab protrudes from a side of the actuator towards the spindle rotation axis. The disk drive also includes a ramp that has a parking surface that is in contact with the HGA with the disk drive in a non-operational state. The first disk limiter tab extends over the disk outer peripheral extent in the non-operational state.

Abstract: A load-unload ramp structure with a cantilevered fin portion to reduce drop shock in a hard-disk drive (HDD). The load-unload ramp structure includes a first load-unload ramp, a fin, and a bracket portion. The first load-unload ramp is configured to lift a first head-slider away from a magnetic-recording disk. The fin is coupled to the first load-unload ramp and is disposed below a first parking position of the first head-slider. The fin includes a fin base portion and a first cantilevered fin portion. The first cantilevered fin portion is coupled to, and extends outward from, the fin base portion. The bracket portion is integrally attached to the first load-unload ramp, and is configured to allow affixing the load-unload ramp structure in a static position in a disk-enclosure base of the HDD. A HDD including the load-unload ramp structure and a method for providing protection from drop shock are also provided.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a ramp having a fixed portion that is fixed to the disk drive base, and a guide portion that is not. The guide portion includes a guide surface having a parking region that is in contact with an HGA lift-tab with the disk drive in a non-operational state. The guide surface also has a load/unload region that extends over a disk outer periphery. The guide surface defines a guide surface length that is measured from the parking region to the load/unload region. The ramp also includes a torsionally-compliant member connecting the fixed portion to the guide portion. A distance between the torsionally-compliant member and the parking region, measured approximately parallel to the guide surface length, is less than half the guide surface length. The guide portion is not connected to the fixed portion over at least two-thirds of the guide surface length.

Abstract: For cushioning a shock to prevent problems such as a reading error, a ramp for a magnetic disc apparatus is made of a resin material for forming a ramp main body and a material having higher rigidity than the resin material, disc facing surfaces in the disc insertion portion for inserting a magnetic disc is provided with disc contact portions made of the high rigidity material, a bottom surface portion of a concave portion of the disc insertion portion is constructed by a combination of a bottom surface portion made of the resin material and a bottom surface portion made of the high rigidity material, and a step structure is provided by arranging the bottom surface portion made of the high rigidity material at a position moved rearward in a depth direction of the concave portion in comparison with the bottom surface portion made of the resin material.

Abstract: A ramp to park a read/write head includes a fixed portion fixed to a base member of the hard disk drive, and a supporting portion to contact and support the tip-tab of the suspension assembly and includes an inclined rail surface and a horizontal rail surface which extend in a moving direction of the tip-tab, wherein a rail boundary between the inclined rail surface and the horizontal rail surface is inclined with respect to a lengthwise axis of the tip-tab. The rail boundary can be a straight line inclined at an angle with respect to the lengthwise axis of the tip-tab, or can be curved toward the horizontal rail surface or the inclined rail surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent data error occurrence in a hard disk drive by reducing the generation of dust caused by friction between a magnetic disk and a ramp. According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive comprises an enclosure, a motor for rotating a magnetic disk, an actuator for supporting a head slider for accessing the disk, and a ramp for loading/unloading the head slider disposed in the enclosure. The ramp comprises a tab slide formed of a resin material having a sliding characteristic to slide a tab at a tip end of the actuator at a specific velocity, and a slit on which a reinforcement made of a resin material with higher mechanical strength than the tab slide is formed.

Abstract: An apparatus with a head gimbal assembly designed to reduce movement and rotation of components of the head gimbal assembly structure is disclosed. One embodiment head gimbal assembly may comprise a flexure including a ramp limiter, a suspension assembly further comprising a suspension tongue, a slider further comprising a magnetic head; and a load beam further comprising a lift tab; and a ramp further comprising a step to engage and support the ramp limiter and support and constrain the movement of the slider. In certain embodiments, the flexure may further comprise a flexure rail located at its end to reduce movement and rotation of the suspension tongue.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide achieve an increase of storage capacity and thinning down of a disk drive by reducing effects from an error in an assembly position of a ramp. A data storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a head, a ramp, a load beam, and an actuator. The ramp includes a portion onto which the head is retracted from a surface of a medium. The load beam includes a head support portion that supports the head and a tab disposed more on the side of a leading end than the head support portion. The tab has a leading end that slides over, while being in contact with, a sliding surface of the ramp. The actuator includes the load beam and loads and unloads the head.

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: Embodiments of the invention prevent contact between a peripheral edge of a magnetic disk and a counter surface of a ramp when the magnetic disk is displaced. In one embodiment, a ramp is disposed near the peripheral side surface of a magnetic disk. The ramp has magnetic disk retainers each having slide surfaces and counter surfaces respectively facing the recording surfaces of the magnetic disk. Grooves or recesses are formed in the counter surfaces to define relief spaces. When the peripheral side surface of the magnetic disk is displaced toward the counter surface by shocks exerted on the magnetic disk drive, the relief space prevents the peripheral edge from coming into contact with the counter surface. Thus the amount of particles produced by the collision of the magnetic disk with the ramp can be reduced.

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: The present invention provides a head holding member and a head holding method of a head actuator having a very high impact resisting property, and having a simple construction, and a disk device using the head holding member and the head holding method. The head holding member resists an impact applied at a stopping time, and a stable operation can be performed at a power turning-on time.

Abstract: A magnetic head used in a lamp load type magnetic disk device is disclosed. The magnetic head includes a head slider having a recording element and/or a reproducing element, and a suspension that supports the head slider. The suspension includes a magnetic head support unit arranged at its tip portion. The magnetic head support unit comes into contact with a lamp unit of the magnetic disk device when at least one of magnetic head loading operations and magnetic head unloading operations are performed and has a surface on which a lubricating layer is formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a moveable member comprises a ramp structure with an inclined surface. A lift tab of the moveable member advances along the ramp structure to the inclined surface while pivoting about a pivot point to undergo an increase in elevation above a base surface. The inclined surface has a slope determined in relation to angular deflection of the lift tab induced by said increase in elevation. Preferably, the slope of the inclined surface substantially matches an angle of the lift tab when the lift tab is disposed on the inclined surface. The inclined surface preferably constitutes a parking surface, and the ramp structure further preferably comprises an entry/exit ramp surface and a latch surface along which the lift tab travels to reach the parking surface. The moveable member preferably comprises a flexible suspension which supports a transducer adjacent a data storage medium in a data storage device.

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: A disk drive includes a ramp having a fixed portion that is fixed to the disk drive base, and a guide portion that is not. The guide portion includes a guide surface having a parking region that is in contact with an HGA lift-tab with the disk drive in a non-operational state. The guide surface also has a load/unload region that extends over a disk outer periphery. The guide surface defines a guide surface length that is measured from the parking region to the load/unload region. The ramp also includes a torsionally-compliant member connecting the fixed portion to the guide portion. A distance between the torsionally-compliant member and the parking region, measured approximately parallel to the guide surface length, is less than half the guide surface length. The guide portion is not connected to the fixed portion over at least two-thirds of the guide surface length.

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: 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: A ramp loading unit includes a holding part that holds, outside a recording medium, a lift tab connected to a suspension that supports a head used to record information in or reproduce the information from the recording medium, and a sliding part to which the lift tab elastically contacts in loading the head onto the recording medium and in unloading the head from the recording medium, wherein the sliding part includes an inclined part that projects at least partially above the recording medium, inclines relative to a surface of the recording medium, and partially changes an inclination angle of the inclined part.

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: A head support unit includes a head used to record information in or reproduce the information from the recording medium, a suspension that supports the head, and a lift tab that is connected to the suspension, and slides on a sliding surface of a ramp loading unit which holds the head outside the recording medium in loading the head onto the recording medium and in unloading the head from the recording medium, wherein the lift tab inclines from a connection part with the suspension relative to a surface of the recording medium, and a contact position between the lift tab and the sliding surface moves on the lift tab as the suspension moves.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a fly height of a magnetic transducer comprises flying the magnetic transducer at a distance of separation from a recording media. A read-back signal is read with the magnetic transducer from the recording media. The read-back signal is rectified to produce a rectified signal. The rectified signal is filtered thereby providing a filtered signal. A fault signal is provided in response to the filtered signal exceeding a threshold.

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 magnetic recording apparatus comprises a magnetic disk; a magnetic head, including a magnetoresistive device, for reading information from the magnetic disk; an arm attached to the magnetic head and swings so as to load and unload the magnetic head to or from the magnetic disk; a magnetic field applying part disposed close to the magnetic disk, made of a magnetic material, and formed with a groove for surrounding the magnetic head; and a holding part for holding the arm such that the unloaded magnetic head stays at a position surrounded by the groove; whereas the magnetic material contains a plastic magnet.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a case provided with a base and a top cover. On the base in the case are arranged a motor, a disk-shaped recording medium rotatably supported on the motor, a head, a head actuator which supports the head for movement with respect to the recording medium, and a ramp load mechanism. The ramp load mechanism includes a ramp arranged on the outer peripheral side of the recording medium, and an engaging portion which extends from the head actuator and is configured to run on the ramp when the head is moved to the outer peripheral portion of the recording medium. The ramp has a recess and an elastically deformable bridge portion which straddles the recess and being fixed between the base and the top cover with the bridge portion elastically pressed against the pressing portion of the top cover.

Abstract: A storage device includes a head configured to record information in or reproduce the information from a recording medium, a suspension configured to support the head, a lift tab provided onto the suspension, a ramp, which the lift tab elastically contacts, the lift tab being configured to slide on the ramp, the ramp being configured to support the lift tab so as to hold the head at a position apart from the recording medium in loading the head over the recording medium and in unloading the head from the recording medium, and a heating member provided outside the ramp at a position close to the ramp.

Abstract: A transducing system includes a support assembly for supporting a transducer and a lift tab extending from the support assembly. The lift tab has a surface configured to lift the support assembly carrying the transducer up a load/unload ramp. The surface of the lift tab has a radius of curvature of less than 0.013 inches.

Abstract: Formation of wear powder caused by wear of a ramp which is attributable to mutual contact of a lift tab and the ramp is to be reduced in loading and unloading operations. In one embodiment, a spindle motor is turned on by application of power, then the temperature of a ramp is measured and it is determined whether the temperature of the ramp has reached a preset temperature (about 25° C.) or not. If the answer is negative, a heater is energized to heat the ramp for raising the temperature of the ramp. When it is detected that the temperature of the ramp has reached the preset temperature, the heating of the ramp is stopped and the execution of loading and unloading operations is permitted, then an ordinary processing is started.

Abstract: A disk apparatus includes a ramp which holds a tip end of an arm at a position away from a disk, and a slit shroud having an airflow control plate. A side surface of the airflow control plate is opposed to a side surface of the disk, the airflow control plate spreads to a position where the airflow control plate is superposed on the tip end of the arm held by the ramp. The airflow control plate has the same thickness as that of the disk, and is flush with the disk 12.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a moveable member comprises a ramp structure with an inclined surface. A lift tab of the moveable member advances along the ramp structure to the inclined surface while pivoting about a pivot point to undergo an increase in elevation above a base surface. The inclined surface has a slope determined in relation to angular deflection of the lift tab induced by said increase in elevation. Preferably, the slope of the inclined surface substantially matches an angle of the lift tab when the lift tab is disposed on the inclined surface. The inclined surface preferably constitutes a parking surface, and the ramp structure further preferably comprises an entry/exit ramp surface and a latch surface along which the lift tab travels to reach the parking surface. The moveable member preferably comprises a flexible suspension which supports a transducer adjacent a data storage medium in a data storage device.

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: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide achieve an increase of storage capacity and thinning down of a disk drive by reducing effects from an error in an assembly position of a ramp. A data storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a head, a ramp, a load beam, and an actuator. The ramp includes a portion onto which the head is retracted from a surface of a medium. The load beam includes a head support portion that supports the head and a tab disposed more on the side of a leading end than the head support portion. The tab has a leading end that slides over, while being in contact with, a sliding surface of the ramp. The actuator includes the load beam and loads and unloads the head.

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: Methods to provide a ramp to remove a read/write head connected with a suspension from a media in accordance with the present invention can comprise calculating a grade of one or more surfaces having a plurality of progressively shallower grades. A transition between a steep grade and a less steep grade can occur at a nominal location at which the read/write head is removed from communicative proximity with the media. By shaping a ramp such that it includes a maximum steep grade, a surface of the media can have an optimized data region, potentially increasing the spacing of tracks or alternatively increasing the capacity of the media.

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 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 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: A ramp having a surface hardness of 2.6 GPa or more, which is obtained by molding a polyacetal resin. Such a ramp made of a polyacetal resin is excellent in moldabilities, and an abrasion loss at the resin portion of the ramp is remarkably small when a hard disk is operated. Thus it is suitable as a ramp for housing and guiding a head within a hard disk drive.

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: In a magnetic disk apparatus including a base, a magnetic head, a magnetic disk, and a spindle motor having a stator fixed to the base and a rotor for mounting the magnetic disk, a ramp road structure for parking the magnetic head is fixed to the stator.

Abstract: A magnetic disc drive includes a base, a disc rotatably attached to said base, and a ramp attached to the base near said disc. The magnetic disc drive also has an actuator assembly pivotably attached to the base. The actuator assembly rotates about an actuator pivot point. The actuator assembly further includes a suspension attached to one end of the actuator assembly, and a transducer attached to the suspension. The actuator assembly moves the transducer between a transducing position and an unload position. The suspension includes a lift tab which contacts the ramp at a contact point as the transducer is moved to the unload position. As the actuator assembly moves the transducer to the unload position, the contact point moves toward the actuator pivot point. This results in a change of the resonant frequency of the actuator assembly. The resonant frequency is lower when the transducer is near the end of the ramp proximate the disc. The ramp can have a straight or a curved lift tab contact path.

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 ramp wherein the amount of deformation in the front end edges of guiding parts caused by thermal expansion. The ramp includes at least two guiding parts individually formed for each suspension arm and made of a polymeric material having a small friction coefficient for guiding the suspension arm by sliding into a accommodation zone, and a guide supporting member made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the polymeric material of the guiding part for supporting each guiding part at a predetermined position. The guide supporting member has guide support holes which are located in zones to be contacted with the associated guiding parts, are not contacted with associated recording disks, and are engaged with the associated guiding parts at such positions that distances to the front end edges of the guiding parts become shortest. Each of the guiding parts has a projection.

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: 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.