Abstract: An actuator rotational limiter mechanism for a multiple disk-stack, shared actuator hard disk drive includes an actuator comb with a protruding pin, whereby rotation of the actuator comb is limited by an attraction between the pin and a magnet. An enclosure base may include a curved slot in which the pin is disposed, where one end of the slot may correspond to the head slider being near the inner diameter of a first disk stack and the other end of the slot may correspond to the head slider being near the inner diameter of a second disk stack adjacent to the first disk stack. The magnet may be disposed within or adjacent to the curved slot, at a midway location, whereby the pin is held in place by the magnet at a position that corresponds to the head slider being parked on a ramp positioned between the disk stacks.

Abstract: An inertial drive actuator includes a shift unit that generates a shift in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a base plate that moves with the shift of the shift unit, and a mover disposed on a surface of the base plate and having a magnetic field generating unit. The mover has a first yoke that guides magnetic flux generated by the magnetic field generating unit such that the magnetic flux concentrates on a surface of the mover facing the base plate with respect to both S and N poles. Also included is a second yoke provided on a side of the base plate facing away from the mover. The frictional force acting between the mover and the base plate is controlled by controlling a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit to drive the mover.

Abstract: An inertial drive actuator includes a shift unit that generates a small shift, a vibration base plate that moves to and fro with the small shift of the shift unit, a mover having a first magnetic field generating unit, a first yoke, and a second yoke. The first yoke and an end portion of the second yoke are opposed to each other at a position outside the vibration base plate, thereby restricting movement of the mover with respect to the direction perpendicular to the driving direction. The frictional force acting between the mover and the vibration base plate is controlled by controlling a magnetic field generated by the first magnetic field generating unit to drive the mover.

Abstract: A disk drive assembly having a base; a voice coil motor assembly (VCM) comprising a VCM cover; a post extending from the base toward the VCM cover; and a latch movable mounted on the post such that the post extends there through, wherein the post comprises a cover supporting portion configured to support the VCM cover, and prevent the VCM cover from compressing the latch and causing the latch to contact both the VCM cover and the base simultaneously when a load is applied to a portion of the VCM cover above the latch.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base and a disk rotatably mounted to the disk drive base. First and second permanent magnets are fixed to the disk drive base. An actuator is pivotably mounted to the disk drive base. The actuator defining an actuator pivot axis about which the actuator pivots. The actuator includes an actuator coil disposed between the first and second permanent magnets. An actuator latch is disposed adjacent to the actuator. The actuator latch includes a biasing element that comprises a ferromagnetic material. An overlapping portion of the first permanent magnet overlaps the second permanent magnet as viewed from a viewing direction that is parallel to the actuator pivot axis. A protruding portion of the first permanent magnet does not overlap the second permanent magnet as viewed from the viewing direction.

Abstract: Described herein is an actuator latch, for limiting rotational movement of a disk drive actuator. The latch preferably includes a coupling portion that has an elongate member received by a bore in a disk drive base. The coupling portion is configured to be rotatable about an axis defined by the elongate member. The latch also includes an engagement portion, integrally formed with the elongate member, that extends in a direction transverse to the axis and engages and limits rotation of a disk drive actuator.

Abstract: There is provided a disk drive that includes a base, a limiting member, an actuator, and a latch. The actuator includes an actuator catch with a catch path. The latch contacts the limiting member with the latch in an open position. The latch is biased to rotate to a defeat position. An arresting portion is in the catch path with the latch in a closed position. The arresting portion is not in the catch path with the latch in the open position, and not in the catch path with the latch in the defeat position. A crash stop portion contacts the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in a stop position. The crash stop portion does not contact the actuator with the latch in the defeat position.

Abstract: Provided are an actuator latch apparatus and a hard disk drive (HDD) having the actuator latch apparatus. The HDD includes a spindle motor, a data storage disk which is installed on the spindle motor, an actuator which moves a read/write head to a desired position above the data storage disk, and the actuator latch apparatus which locks the actuator in a parking position. The actuator latch apparatus includes a notch which is formed at a rear end of a swing arm and a latch lever which is combined with and pivots on a pivot shaft installed on a base. A retractor member is installed on one of upper and lower surfaces of a counterbalance which is adjacent to a magnet, wherein the counterbalance is formed at a rear end of the latch lever. When the read/write head operates, the latch lever contacts an upper yoke or the base due to a vertical component force of a magnetic force working from the magnet to the retractor member, thereby liming a vertical vibration of the latch lever.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes: a head for accessing a data recording area of a disk; an actuator for pivoting to move the head; a voice coil motor; and, a latch configured to lock the actuator from pivoting toward the data recording area in response to an external force. The voice-coil motor includes a voice coil, a magnet, and a yoke. The latch is positioned at a closed position when the actuator is positioned at a stand-by position, and is configured to pivot by application of a magnetic bias force with pivoting of the actuator from the stand-by position into proximity with the data recording area such that the latch is configured to stop at an open position. The yoke includes a protrusion which protrudes toward the magnetic body at the open position.

Abstract: This application discloses a Load-UnLoad (LUL) hard disk drive comprising a disk base, a spindle motor mounted on the disk base for rotating at least one disk to create at least one rotating disk surface, and a head stack assembly pivotably coupled to the disk base and configured to engage an actuator latch when the sliders of the head stack assembly are to be parked. The actuator latch includes a latch beam coupled through a latch pivot to the disk base and a boss coupled to the latch beam and configured to limit the stroke of latch motion in the event of a rotary non-operational shock.

Abstract: An actuator latch system of a hard disk drive (HDD) retains a rotatable swing arm of the HDD in place when a magnetic head of the HDD is parked. The actuator latch system includes a portion of the swing arm that defines a notch at an end portion of a swing arm, and a latch lever that has at least one main hook and a rebound hook, and an elastic buffering arm. The latch lever is disposed on the base member adjacent the end portion of the swing arm and is supported so as to be rotatable. The at least one main hook prevents the swing arm from initially rotating in one direction beyond a certain point, and the rebound hook prevents the swing arm from rotating beyond a certain point after the swing arm rebounds upon colliding with the at least one main hook.

Abstract: An HDD includes a base, a swing arm, a VCM coil disposed on the rear end portion of the swing arm, a lower yoke and an upper yoke disposed below and above the VCM coil, at least one magnet attached to the yokes, and a latch lever levitated by the at least one magnet. The latch lever includes a hook at one end and a counterbalance at another end. A first magnetic retractor is installed on the counterbalance to apply torque to the latch lever. The first retract member is disposed such that the vertical component of the net magnetic force applied to the first retractor by the magnet(s) is about 0 when the latch lever is located at a position at which a first air gap and a second air gap exist, respectively, immediately below and above the latch lever.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with an actuator arm assembly that is coupled to a head and includes a voice coil motor. The drive also includes a drive circuit that provides a drive current to the voice coil motor to move the actuator arm assembly into contact with a magnet. The drive circuit limits an amplitude, and/or changes the pulse width, of the drive current as the actuator arm assembly approaches the magnet. Limiting the amplitude and/or changing the pulse widths reduces any audible noise associated with retracting the heads.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a base, an actuator arm pivotably installed on the base, and a latch device to latch the actuator arm at a parking position. The latch device includes a latch stop that protrudes from a side wall of the base and has an inclined surface, and a latch lever pivotably installed on the base and contacts and slides along the inclined surface of the latch stop during the rotation in an unlatching direction.

Abstract: An actuator latch mechanism of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a latch lever and a magnetic latch carried by the latch lever. The latch lever is mounted to a base of the HDD so as to be rotatable and prevents an actuator arm from rotating from a position, at which a read/write head carried by the actuator arm is parked, to a read/write position at which the read/write head is located over a recording surface of a disk. A bobbin on which a VCM coil is provided extends from a rear end of the actuator arm. A permanent magnet of the VCM is fixed to the base as juxtaposed with the bobbin.

Abstract: A novel actuator latch includes a catch portion interfering with actuator rotation with the latch in a closed position. The latch includes a first stop portion that is in contact with a fixed member with the latch in the closed position. The latch includes a pusher portion that is in contact with the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in an extreme rotational position. The latch includes a second stop portion comprising a cantilevered finger having a supported end and a free distal end. The free distal end is in contact with the second fixed member with the latch in the open position. Neither the catch portion nor the pusher portion is disposed on the cantilevered finger.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a magnetic retractor situated at and integrated with the pivot holder of a head stack assembly. An actuator arm of the head stack assembly supports a read/write head, a bobbin supports a voice coil of a voice coil motor, and the actuator arm and bobbin extend in generally opposite directions from pivot holder. The pivot holder receives a pivot such that the actuator arm can be rotated about an axis of the pivot. The voice coil motor also includes a pair of magnets (permanent magnet). The retractor interacts with the magnets of the voice coil motor to generate a retract force which urges the actuator arm to a position at which the read/write head is parked. By providing the retractor on the pivot holder, the retract force will always be close to that specified according to the design of the drive.

Abstract: An actuator latch system of a hard disk drive selectively locks in place and releases a rotatable swing arm having a front end portion supporting a magnetic head and a rear end portion on which a voice coil motor (VCM) coil is disposed. The actuator latch system includes a notch in the rear end portion of the swing arm, and a rotatable latch lever having a front end portion including a hook and a magnet. The hook is received in the notch in the rear end portion of the swing arm to arrest rotation of the swing arm in a predetermined direction. The magnet of the latch lever faces a section of the VCM coil such that when the hard disk drive is started, the latch lever is rotated by a force generated due to current flowing through the section of the VCM coil faced by the magnet and the magnetic field generated by the magnet. The rotation of the latch lever prevents the hook from interfering with the rotation of the swing arm in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: Provided are an actuator latch apparatus and a hard disk drive (HDD) having the actuator latch apparatus. The HDD includes a spindle motor, a data storage disk which is installed on the spindle motor, an actuator which moves a read/write head to a desired position above the data storage disk, and the actuator latch apparatus which locks the actuator in a parking position. The actuator latch apparatus includes a notch which is formed at a rear end of a swing arm and a latch lever which is combined with and pivots on a pivot shaft installed on a base. A retractor member is installed on one of upper and lower surfaces of a counterbalance which is adjacent to a magnet, wherein the counterbalance is formed at a rear end of the latch lever. When the read/write head operates, the latch lever contacts an upper yoke or the base due to a vertical component force of a magnetic force working from the magnet to the retractor member, thereby liming a vertical vibration of the latch lever.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive includes a rotatable carriage which supports a head configured to read information from a disk recording medium and to write data to the a disk recording medium, and a latch mechanism configured to latch and hold the carriage in a retracted position when subjected to an external force with the carriage in the retracted position. The latch mechanism includes an engaging portion on the carriage, a first latch pivotably provided on a base in a first mode and includes a latch lug configured to engage the engaging portion, and a second latch pivotably provided on the base in a second mode different from the first mode and includes a latch lug configured to engage the engaging portion.

Abstract: A novel actuator latch includes a catch portion interfering with actuator rotation with the latch in a closed position. The latch includes a first stop portion that is in contact with a fixed member with the latch in the closed position. The latch includes a pusher portion that is in contact with the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in an extreme rotational position. The pusher portion has a torsional stiffness about the latch pivot location in the range 5 JA/rad·sec2 to 30 JA/rad·sec2, where JA is the rotational inertia of the actuator about the actuator pivot location expressed in units of kg·m2. The first stop portion has a torsional stiffness about the latch pivot location that is at least 5 times that of the pusher portion.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes: a head for accessing a data recording area of a disk; an actuator for pivoting to move the head; a voice coil motor; and, a latch configured to lock the actuator from pivoting toward the data recording area in response to an external force. The voice-coil motor includes a voice coil, a magnet, and a yoke. The latch is positioned at a closed position when the actuator is positioned at a stand-by position, and is configured to pivot by application of a magnetic bias force with pivoting of the actuator from the stand-by position into proximity with the data recording area such that the latch is configured to stop at an open position. The yoke includes a protrusion which protrudes toward the magnetic body at the open position.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a base, an actuator arm pivotably installed on the base, and a latch device to latch the actuator arm at a parking position. The latch device includes a latch stop that protrudes from a side wall of the base and has an inclined surface, and a latch lever pivotably installed on the base and contacts and slides along the inclined surface of the latch stop during the rotation in an unlatching direction.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes an actuator arm pivoting over a disk around a pivot shaft as a center of rotation to allow a read/write head to access data on the disk, a bobbin provided at the opposite side to the read/write head with respect to a pivot shaft holder that rotatably supports the pivot shaft, and a voice coil coupled to the bobbin. The bobbin includes a bobbin body coupled an end portion of the voice coil adjacent to the pivot shaft holder, and a plurality of bobbin legs extending from an end portion of the bobbin body toward areas of the other end portion of the voice coil that are separated from each other, and coupled to the areas of the other end portion of the voice coil that are separated from each other.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a magnetic recording medium rotatably supported, a spindle motor for spinning the recording medium, a slider having a head, a supporting arm having the slider at a first end facing the recording medium, a bearing for holding the supporting arm rotatably along a recording surface of the medium and pivotably in a vertical direction with respect to the recording surface, a leaf spring giving thrusting force to a first end of the supporting arm toward the medium, and a driver for rotating the supporting arm along the recording surface. When the driver rotates the supporting arm along the recording surface and parks the head in a given evacuation area on the recording surface, a second end of the supporting arm is depressed.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a base, a head stack assembly (HSA) that is mounted to the base so as to be rotatable relative to the base, a voice coil motor (VCM) block that has an upper section and a lower section respectively disposed above and below a voice coil support of the HSA, and a crash stopper that limits the rotation of the HSA at the voice coil support. The upper section of the VCM block has a through-hole through which the crash stopper extends into a space between the upper and lower sections of the VCM block. The lower section of the VCM block has a groove in which the crash stopper is received. The hard disk drive can be assembled in a top down manner to allow the assembly process to be fully automated.

Abstract: An HDD includes a head stack assembly, a voice coil motor, and a retracting pin unit. The retracting pin unit includes a mobile retracting pin generating a retracting force to maintain the actuator arm at a predetermined position by interacting with the magnet when the read/write head is parked, and coupled to the bobbin to be capable of relatively moving with respect to the bobbin toward the magnet when the bobbin is separated from the magnet due to an external shock. A head on disk phenomenon, in which the parking state of the read/write head is removed when an external shock such as a linear shock or a rotary shock, which may be generated as the HDD is installed in a notebook computer, is applied to the HDD, may be reduced.

Abstract: An actuator latch apparatus for a disk drive, having a notch positioned at a first end portion of the swing arm, a latch lever rotatably installed in a base member, a first core provided on a second end portion of the swing arm, and a second core provided at a counterbalance of the latch lever. The first and second cores apply a torque to the swing arm and latch lever, respectively, in a first direction by a magnetic force of the magnet. The latch lever has a latch pivot, a latch arm provided at a first side of the latch pivot and having a hook to be caught by the notch when the actuator is locked, and the counterbalance provided on a second side of the latch pivot. The latch arm of the latch lever is elastically deformed when contacted by the swing arm during parking of the head.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a disk device includes a latch mechanism configured to retract a head on a distal end portion of an actuator to a ramp mechanism and latch a ferromagnetic member disposed on the actuator on the side of a motor coil by a latch magnet, a shaft protruding from that part of a base of the disk device which is located near the latch mechanism, and a rotary lever pivotably mounted on the shaft. The rotary lever includes a first arm on the disk side being extended over the disk so that the rotary lever is rotated by a pressure of airflow produced as the disk rotates, and a second arm on the latch magnet side configured to move as the rotary lever is rotated by the airflow pressure, to weaken magnetic coupling between the latch magnet and the ferromagnetic member.

Abstract: A disk drive includes an actuator rotatably coupled to a disk drive base. A fixed member is in fixed spatial relation to the base. A latch is rotatably coupled to the base. The latch includes a catch portion in contact with the actuator with the latch closed and not in contact the actuator with the latch open. The catch portion comprises a first material. The latch includes a crash stop portion comprising a second material having a lesser stiffness than the first material. The crash stop portion includes a stop portion and a pusher portion. The stop portion is in contact with the fixed member with the latch closed and not in contact with the fixed member with the latch open. The pusher portion is in contact with the actuator with the latch closed and with the actuator in an extreme rotational position.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a disk drive apparatus includes a case, a disk-shaped recording medium, a drive motor, a head, a head actuator, and a latch mechanism configured to latch the head actuator and hold the head actuator at a retracted position when the head actuator receives an external force. A latch member of the latch mechanism is arranged to be movable between a latch position and a release position and has an abutment portion, which abuts the head actuator when the head actuator moves from the information processing position to the retracted position, and a latch claw which latches the head actuator. The abutment portion has a first abutment portion, which abuts the head actuator first, and a second abutment portion, which abuts the head actuator following the first abutment portion, and the first abutment portion being formed less rigid than the second abutment portion.

Abstract: An actuator apparatus used with a hard disk drive. The actuator apparatus includes a pivotable actuator arm, a magnetic head mounted onto a first end of the actuator arm, an overmold connected to a second end of the actuator arm and including a metal piece, a voice coil motor (VCM) having a coil coupled to the overmold and at least one magnet positioned to face the coil, and a stopper positioned to be spaced apart at a predetermined interval from the overmold of the actuator arm when the magnetic head is positioned at a parked position, to limit pivoting of the actuator arm. Specifically, the stopper may be positioned to be spaced at the interval from the overmold of the actuator arm positioned at a position where a torque acting on the actuator arm due to the metal piece and the magnet is substantially 0.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a housing including a support post extending from the housing. The support post defines a post axis. The disk drive further includes an actuator rotatably coupled to the housing. The disk drive further includes a VCM top plate physically coupled to the housing and comprising a ferromagnetic metal. The disk drive further includes a VCM magnet magnetically coupled to the VCM top plate. The disk drive further includes an actuator latch contactable with the actuator. The latch includes a post opening. The latch is pivotably mounted about the support post with the support post disposed in the post opening. The disk drive further includes a pivot ball disposed in the post opening and partially protruding from the latch between the VCM top plate and the latch along the post axis.

Abstract: An actuator latch mechanism of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a latch lever and a magnetic latch carried by the latch lever. The latch lever is mounted to a base of the HDD so as to be rotatable and prevents an actuator arm from rotating from a position, at which a read/write head carried by the actuator arm is parked, to a read/write position at which the read/write head is located over a recording surface of a disk. A bobbin on which a VCM coil is provided extends from a rear end of the actuator arm. A permanent magnet of the VCM is fixed to the base as juxtaposed with the bobbin.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a recording disk drive includes a head actuator assembly, a voice coil motor, a housing, a step, a latch lever, a latch member, and first and second contact pieces. The head actuator assembly supports a head slider. The housing houses defines a flat surface for receiving the voice coil motor. The step is connected to one end of the flat surface and defines a stepped surface expanding parallel to the flat surface. The latch lever is rotatably supported by a first shaft. The latch member is rotatably supported by a second shaft, and rotate between a first posture and a second posture. The first and second contact pieces on the latch member cause the latch member to rotate about the second shaft toward the first posture by contact with the latch lever rotating in first and second directions, respectively.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base and an actuator that is rotatably coupled to the disk drive base. The actuator has an axis of rotation. The disk drive further includes a latch. The latch includes a fixed portion that is firmly coupled to the disk drive base, and a latching portion. The latch further includes a latch arm portion connecting the latching portion to the fixed portion. The latch arm portion includes a hinge region. The latch arm portion is thinner in a direction normal to the axis of rotation in the hinge region than the latch arm portion is outside of the hinge region. The latch arm portion, the latching portion, and the fixed portion are a single component having material continuity rather than an assembly of sub-components.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive apparatus includes a base, a recording medium, a drive motor, a head, a carriage, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a latch member, which is supported on the base to be movable between a latch position and a release position, and a latch stop provided on the base and configured to regulate the movement of the latch member in a direction of the latch position. The latch member has a first abutment portion which abuts the carriage and moves the latch member from the release position to the latch position according to the movement of the carriage, when the carriage moves from the information processing position to the retracted position, a latch hook capable of latching the carriage at the latch position, and a second abutment portion which confronts to the latch hook with a gap at the latch position.

Abstract: A rotary type actuator comprises an actuator assembly rotatably attached to a base and supporting a head at an end thereof via an arm and supporting a coil at the other end thereof, and a magnetic circuit unit having a yoke and a magnet secured to the base. The latch mechanism has a projection arranged from the inner periphery of the magnet provided in the magnetic circuit toward the rotational center and a latching magnet which produces an attraction force directed toward the latch position caused by leaking magnetic flux between itself and the projection near the latch position where the actuator assembly is in contact with the stopper and holds it at the latch position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention permit a magnet-based actuator lock mechanism to operate smoothly in a magnetic disk drive that uses a base made of a magnetic material. In one embodiment, the base to be used is made of a magnetic material. The actuator lock mechanism includes a rotatable arm that retains a magnet. A magnetic attraction force, which is oriented toward the base as indicated by an arrow, is generated in the magnet. The base is provided with a cut to reduce the attraction force. The cut is covered with a sealing material to maintain internal airtightness. The actuator lock mechanism may be, for instance, an eddy-current latch, inertia latch, or magnetic latch.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a motor that drives a disc, a slider that accesses the disc, a carriage that moves the slider, a housing that houses the disc, motor, slider, and carriage, and includes a rotating part that has an engagement part with the carriage at one end, and a first magnetic member at another end, and a printed board being provided on and approximately parallel to a bottom surface of the housing. The printed board includes a second magnetic member that extends from the inside of the housing to the printed board, and the printed board further includes a coil that forms an electromagnet with the second magnetic member, and is arranged in accordance with a shape of the bottom surface of the housing.

Abstract: An actuator latch system of a hard disk drive selectively locks in place and releases a rotatable swing arm having a front end portion supporting a magnetic head and a rear end portion on which a voice coil motor (VCM) coil is disposed. The actuator latch system includes a notch in the rear end portion of the swing arm, and a rotatable latch lever having a front end portion including a hook and a magnet. The hook is received in the notch in the rear end potion of the swing arm to arrest rotation of the swing arm in a predetermined direction. The magnet of the latch lever faces a section of the VCM coil such that when the hard disk drive is started, the latch lever is rotated by a force generated due to current flowing through the section of the VCM coil faced by the magnet and the magnetic field generated by the magnet. The rotation of the latch lever prevents the hook form interfering with the rotation of the swing arm in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A latch (100) for a disk drive head positioner assembly (26) is disclosed. A latch assembly (140) is mounted on a printed circuit board (136), and is thereby disposed exteriorly of the disk drive (10?). This latch assembly (140) includes a coil (144), a first pole (148), and a second pole (156). A latch housing (104) includes a pair of blind holes (112) for receiving the poles (148, 156). The latch (100) also includes an armature (120) that is disposed within an interior space (17) of the disk drive (10?) and that is rotatably supported by the latch housing (104). This armature (120) includes a permanent magnet (124) and a stop (128). The armature (120) is rotated to either dispose the stop (128) in the path of or out of the path of a tail (32) of the head positioner assembly (26) (the latched and unlatched positions, respectively).

Abstract: An actuator latch apparatus for a disk drive, having a notch positioned at a first end portion of the swing arm, a latch lever rotatably installed in a base member, a first core provided on a second end portion of the swing arm, and a second core provided at a counterbalance of the latch lever. The first and second cores apply a torque to the swing arm and latch lever, respectively, in a first direction by a magnetic force of the magnet. The latch lever has a latch pivot, a latch arm provided at a first side of the latch pivot and having a hook to be caught by the notch when the actuator is locked, and the counterbalance provided on a second side of the latch pivot. The latch arm of the latch lever is elastically deformed when contacted by the swing arm during parking of the head.

Abstract: An actuator latch device for locking an actuator of a hard disk drive, the actuator having a swing arm rotatably installed at a base member, a voice coil motor (VCM) coil provided at one end of the swing arm, and magnets oppositely arranged at the VCM coil. The actuator latch device includes a notch provided at one end of the swing arm; a latch lever, which is rotatably installed at a base member, having at a first end thereof a hook interfering with the notch to restrict one way rotation of the swing arm, and a counterbalance device at a second end thereof; and a stopper provided in the base member to block the counterbalance device to restrict a rotation of the latch lever.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a disk drive apparatus includes a case, a disk-shaped recording medium, a drive motor, a head, a head actuator, and a latch mechanism configured to latch the head actuator and hold the head actuator at a retracted position when the head actuator receives an external force. A latch member of the latch mechanism is arranged to be movable between a latch position and a release position and has an abutment portion, which abuts the head actuator when the head actuator moves from the information processing position to the retracted position, and a latch claw which latches the head actuator. The abutment portion has a first abutment portion, which abuts the head actuator first, and a second abutment portion, which abuts the head actuator following the first abutment portion, and the first abutment portion being formed less rigid than the second abutment portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive apparatus includes a base, a recording medium, a drive motor, a head, a carriage, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a latch member, which is supported on the base to be movable between a latch position and a release position, and a latch stop provided on the base and configured to regulate the movement of the latch member in a direction of the latch position. The latch member has a first abutment portion which abuts the carriage and moves the latch member from the release position to the latch position according to the movement of the carriage, when the carriage moves from the information processing position to the retracted position, a latch hook capable of latching the carriage at the latch position, and a second abutment portion which confronts to the latch hook with a gap at the latch position.

Abstract: A retraction mechanism for a head actuator having a head at the end thereof includes a metal piece that is attached to a coil arm, a stopper, and a magnet. The metal piece is configured to be attracted to the stopper with a magnetic force exerted by the magnet to retract the head outside the outer periphery of a storage medium. The metal piece is attached in contact with a surface of the coil arm other than the one facing the stopper.

Abstract: An electromagnetic damping apparatus for locking an actuator for a head stack assembly including at least one read/write head thereon is provided. In certain example embodiments, the electromagnetic damping apparatus may comprise a magnetic element and a metal element that cooperate in response to an electromagnetic field created by a current (e.g. an eddy current) to lock the actuator in a predetermined position. One of said magnetic element and said metal element may be fixed, and the other one may be movable by said actuator. The damping apparatus may be operable to selectively apply the current to lock the actuator by preventing the magnetic element and the metal element from moving apart. Certain electromagnetic damping apparatuses may be used with a disk drive device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for latching an actuator arm assembly can position a read/write head relative to a data storage disk in a disk drive. A latch arm is configured to be moved between a closed position that inhibits movement of an actuator arm assembly in a landing zone and an open position that does not inhibit movement of the actuator arm assembly in the landing zone. A coil is configured to generate an electromagnetic force on the latch arm responsive to a coil current. A bias device is configured to provide a bias force on the latch arm that is substantially opposed to the electromagnetic force from the coil. The latch operating current/voltages is controlled and modified according to environmental conditions such as temperature.

Abstract: In a disk apparatus, an actuator includes a magnetic plate member which generates a magnetic attraction force for turning the actuator in the unloading direction by interaction with a stationary magnet. The plate member is superposed on the stationary magnet in the plane direction while keeping a gap with the stationary magnet in the vertical direction. An area of the plate member superposed on the stationary magnet is increased as the actuator turns in the unloading direction and approaches the outer stopper. When the actuator approaches the outer stopper, the stationary magnet gives, to the plate member, a magnetic attraction force of such an intensity that brings the actuator on the outer stopper against a friction force applied to the actuator.