Abstract: An actuator assembly and method for orienting a head over a disc within a multi-disc servo-track writer incorporates an actuator block, rotational air bearing, translational air bearing, adaptor plate, E-block and actuator arm/head assembly. Rotation of the E-block, and hence actuator arm/head assembly, is directly controlled by the movement of the rotational air bearing, which is rotated by a motor. The air bearing provides for reduced friction and, as a result, decreased eccentricity of the head as compared to related art configurations. A translational air bearing laterally positions the actuator assembly within the multi-disc servo-track writer for servo-track recording.

Abstract: An apparatus for a pivot assembly that can strongly and reliably fix a sleeve to an outer ring, and in addition, that can also solve the problem of out gas. Ball bearings 2 are mated to both ends of a shaft 1, and to the outer circumference of these ball bearings 2, an inner wall part 31 mates a sleeve disposed between both ball bearings 2, and the sleeve 3 was fixed by laser welding to the outer ring 22 of the ball bearings 2.

Abstract: A servo track writer assembly and method are provided for recording servo pattern information on a disc. The servo track writer assembly includes a spindle assembly, an actuator assembly and a servo recording head. The spindle assembly has a hub, which supports the disc and a spindle motor for rotating the hub. The actuator assembly has an actuator arm supported by an actuator bearing for positioning the actuator arm relative to the disc. At least one of the spindle motor and the actuator bearing has a gas-lubricated bearing with a working fluid, which includes helium. The servo recording head is supported by the actuator arm relative to the disc to record the servo pattern information on the disc as the spindle motor rotates the disc and the actuator bearing positions the actuator arm.

Abstract: A pivot bearing cartridge for use in a head stack assembly. The pivot bearing cartridge includes a pivot shaft including a shaft body and a shaft distal end. The pivot bearing cartridge further includes a cap disposed about the pivot shaft. The cap includes a cap annular body and a cap closed end. The pivot bearing cartridge further includes a ball bearing set in mechanical communication with the pivot shaft and the cap annular body. The pivot bearing cartridge further includes a central pivot element disposed between and in mechanical communication with the shaft distal end and the cap closed end for facilitating rotation of the cap relative to the pivot shaft.

Abstract: Assemblies in accordance with the present invention can replace cumbersome and potentially contaminating bearing assemblies for rotary actuators. One such assembly comprises a bearing assembly with a threaded base for insertion into a bore, wherein the bore includes threads for engaging the threaded base of the bearing assembly, eliminating the contamination associated with glueing. The bearing assembly is designed such that it can be disconnected from the rotary actuator for rework without damaging or contaminating the rotary actuator or bearing assembly. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: To supply a pivot assembly that narrows the gap of the seal member as much as possible and can effectively restrain the diffusion of gas and dirt from the inside, and, moreover, can also solve the problem of out gas from a hub cap. A pivot assembly that has mated ball bearings 2 to both ends of a shaft 1, and to the outer circumferences of these ball bearings 2 a spacer 31 has mated a sleeve 3 disposed between both ball bearings 2, and has provided a hub cap 4 member that covers the outside end face of the ball bearings at one end of the shaft 1. The hub cap 4 is laser welded to the outer circumference of the shaft 1 and the inner circumference of the sleeve 3, and after laser welding, is thin-width cut by a laser along the entire circumference at the radial middle part.

Abstract: A low-profile pivot assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes two generally coaxial bearings having differing diameters so as to define inner and outer bearings. This arrangement permits the pivot assembly to be constructed with a lower profile than conventional pivot bearings. These and other and benefits will become apparent upon a review of the attached figures and the accompanying description.

Abstract: A pivot assembly for use in a hard disk drive, in which ball bearings are placed at both ends of a shaft, and a spacer is disposed between outer rings of the ball bearings. The spacer is fixed to the outer rings by laser welding.

Abstract: A disk drive pivot assembly design has a shaft that supports two actuators. The pivot assembly design compensates for the tilting of the actuators due to shaft bending during seek operations. Two types of bearings of differing stiffness are used to achieve improved performance. The axially innermost bearings are stiffer than the axially outermost bearings, which are relatively compliant. By having two different bearing stiffnesses, the boundary conditions of the pivot assembly are adjustable and can compensate for shaft bending, which is greatest near the center of the pivot assembly.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a base including an axle shaft, a disc stack rotationally mounted to the base, a head assembly coupled to the disc stack, a voice coil and a bearing. The bearing has an inner hub rotationally mounted on the axle shaft, and an outer hub that mounts the voice coil and the head assembly. The outer hub is rotationally mounted to the inner hub through a plurality of flexible spokes that are integrally formed with the inner and outer hubs. The flexible spokes allow the outer hub to rotate when the inner hub is stopped by stiction. Integral forming provides a predictable response desired for a disc drive.

Abstract: A head assembly supports an arm for angular displacement about an axis in a disk drive. The bearing assembly includes a fixed shaft 3, a plurality of bearings 6 and 7, a sleeve 4 and dampers 8. The bearings 6 and 7 are disposed about the shaft 3. The sleeve is coupled to the bearings 6 and 7 for angular displacement about the shaft 3, and one or more darpers 8 are coupled to the sleeve. Each damper includes a plurality of holding portions and one or more damping masses the holding portions are arranged circumferentially about the axis of the shaft as an axis of rotation of the arm, and distance between each adjacent two damping portions is approximately equal to each other, each holding portion has an inner space. The damping masses are movably accommodated in the inner space of the respective holding portions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for orienting a head over a disc within a multi-disc servo-track writer preferably uses two gas bearings, an adaptor plate, and an actuator assembly including an E-block and arm/head assembly. Rotation of the E-block, and hence actuator arm/head assembly, can be controlled by the movement of a rotational gas bearing, which is rotated by a motor. The gas bearing provides for reduced friction and, as a result, decreased eccentricity of the head as compared to related art configurations. A translational gas bearing can be used for laterally positioning the actuator assembly for servo track recording.

Abstract: A rolling bearing is used for supporting a rocking mechanism or a rotating mechanism, and a film comprising a fluorine-containing polymer having a functional group(s) under a fluidizied state or a film comprising a fluorine-containing polyurethane compound under a solid state is formed on at least the track surface of the rolling bearing. Since this film does not contain ions for uniformly dispersing a thickner having non uniform particle sizes such as fluorine based grease of the prior art, breakage of the film between a rolling element and a race is not likely to occur, and wear of a rolling element race resulting from the direct contact between them due to breakage of the film can be reduced. When this film is tha same kind of a film as a protective film of the surface of an information recording disk, dust generating components of the film are the same kind of components as those of the protective film, and information recording/reproduction of the information recording disk is not impeded.

Abstract: A disk drive pivot assembly design has a shaft that supports two actuators. The pivot assembly design compensates for the tilting of the actuators due to shaft bending during seek operations. Two types of bearings of differing stiffness are used to achieve improved performance. The axially innermost bearings are stiffer than the axially outermost bearings, which are relatively compliant. By having two different bearing stiffnesses, the boundary conditions of the pivot assembly are adjustable and can compensate for shaft bending, which is greatest near the center of the pivot assembly.

Abstract: A multiple actuator disk drive is disclosed. The mechanical vibration in one actuator induced by motion in the second actuator is greatly reduced by providing an independent bearing shaft for each actuator. The bearing shafts are mounted substantially along the same geometric axis.

Abstract: In a hard disk drive, there are provided a head assembly 13 that drives a magnetic head 33 that reads and writes data on a recording disk, and a flange section that extends toward the periphery on the sleeve 21 of a pivot member 20 that supports this head assembly 13 so that it is free to pivot; and planar sections 41A and 41B are formed on the peripheral surface of this flange section in order to adjust the balance of the center of gravity of the head assembly 13.

Abstract: A disc drive having an actuator assembly which includes an actuator arm and having a pivot cartridge which consists of a sleeve, a shaft and a hinge. The hinge is thin and short in the horizontal direction along the x-y plane and long in the vertical direction along the z-axis. The hinge engages the sleeve and the shaft with the ends of the hinge, allowing only the central part of the hinge configured to be flexible. The assembly of the pivot cartridge into the actuator assembly forces the actuator arm to rotate only about the z-axis.

Abstract: A bearingless pivot cartridge for an actuator arm of a hard disk drive assembly having no moving contact points while providing precise rotational movement of the actuator arm about an axis within an axial region and within a limited angular arc range. The actuator arm is mounted to the frame of the hard drive assembly through a cantilever member that is capable of flexing through a limited arc of approximately 20 to 50 degrees along a hinge line, but without stretching or warping.

Abstract: A pivot mechanism is disclosed for mounting a rotatable actuator on a base of a disc drive. The pivot mechanism is made up of a shaft on which a housing is rotatably mounted by a lower ball bearing set and an upper bearing provided by co-acting surfaces of the shaft and the housing.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing ceramic balls useful as ball bearings is described, wherein spherical green bodies are formed into ceramic balls having few pores and substantially uniform strength distribution, using a rubber die having a hardness not higher than 65.

Abstract: A pivot assembly for use with a planar disc drive actuator has bearings which are mounted within the deck of a disc drive. A pivoting shaft is supported by the bearings and extends upwardly, and includes an upper surface for supporting the actuator. A fastener is provided which secures the actuator to the upper surface of the pivot shaft.

Abstract: There is provided a pivot assembly for a magnetic disk storage which is improved in its rotating accuracy and reduced in manufacturing cost. A pivot assembly includes a pair of ball bearings each having an outer ring, and the outer ring is fitted directly into an axial bore of an actuator block. This arrangement requires no sleeve to be interposed between the pair of ball bearings and the actuator block, thus enabling to reduce its manufacturing cost. No need to interpose any sleeve allows to increase the thickness of the outer ring of the ball bearing and thus the rigidity thereof, thereby improving the rotating accuracy of the pivot assembly.

Abstract: A tolerance ring is disclosed which provides increased hoop strength and resistance to deformation. The tolerance ring is placed on a stationary post so as to circumferentially extend about an outer surface of the post. An actuator assembly with an inner bored recess is thereafter placed onto the post so that the tolerance ring is compressed between the surface of the inner bored recess and the outer surface of the post, thereby maintaining a desired nominal position of the actuator assembly about the actuator pivot axis. The mechanical configuration of the tolerance ring includes a substantially cylindrical base portion from which at least one brace portion and a plurality of contact portions project. The brace portion preferably extends along the circumference of the base portion and preferably comprises either a circumferentially extending ridge or flange.