Abstract: A disk drive includes an actuator with a shaft and a base with a sleeve that receives the shaft and includes as least one bearing. The shaft extends into the sleeve and through the bearing where it supports the actuator and allows it to pivot in response to electro-magnetic forces. The shaft defines at least one opening for aligning a main body of the actuator together with the shaft and facilitating attachment of the two in proper and secure alignment.

Abstract: A method for swaging a suspension assembly to an actuator arm of a data storage device is disclosed. The method includes steps of inserting a deformable tubular stake into an aperture of an actuator arm and inserting an expandable swaging member into a channel of the tubular stake within the aperture of the actuator arm. Thereafter, the method includes the step of expanding the swaging member to deform the tubular stake to swage the tubular stake to the actuator arm of the data storage device.

Abstract: Each arm module includes plate-shaped arms which lie on top of each other. A head slider is supported by the extending end of each arm module and faces a data recording surface of a magnetic disk. An actuator drives each arm module. Each arm module has a structure in which the plate-shaped arms which lie on top of each other are integrated with each other.

Abstract: An actuator assembly having a plurality of head suspensions removably secured to a spindle of the actuator assembly. Each head suspension is mounted to an arm, which is mounted to an actuator spindle through the use of a spacer having an annular lip. A spacer having an aperture is coupled to the actuator spindle by inserting the spindle through the aperture of the spacer. The actuator arm includes a pair of spring arms that can be expanded from a neutral state to a stressed state to engage an annular lip on the spacer for removably securing the arm to the spacer. A stacked array of arms can be formed on the actuator spindle by arranging a desired number of spacers on the spindle and mounting the arms to the spacers. In one embodiment, the spacer includes a single annular lip extending from a first planar surface of the spacer. In a second embodiment, the spacer includes an annular lip that extends from each of a pair of opposite planar surfaces, and an arm is attached to each of the lips.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension is mounted to an actuator arm by axial and not radial forces, the forces being imparted by upper and lower flanges of a cylindrical connector extending through the actuator arm and the mount plate to which the load beam is attached.

Abstract: A hard disk drive has a rotatable disk and an actuator arm that pivots relative to the disk. The arm has a cantilevered mounting support with a suspension extending therefrom. A head gimbal assembly is secured to the suspension for reading/writing data to the disk. The mounting support is a two-piece design with a pair of virtually identical support elements. The distal end of each support element has an aperture with a tab that protrudes into the aperture. The tabs extend in opposite directions. The support elements mount on top of each other in a matching alignment configuration. The proximal ends of the support elements closely receive a pivot assembly to secure them from relative movement. On the distal ends, the apertures of the support elements substantially align such that their tabs precise engage each other in an interference fit.

Abstract: An E-block (20) and head stack assembly (15) for maintaining one or more data transducers (18) proximate one or more rotating storage disks (28) of a disk drive (10) is provided herein. The E-block (20) includes an actuator hub (52) and one or more actuator arms (22). The actuator arms (22) cantilever away from the actuator hub (52) and hold the data transducers (18) proximate the rotating storage disks (28). As provided herein, at least one of the actuator arms (22) has a roll-bias angle (70) over the majority of the length of the actuator arm (22). Moreover, the head stack assembly (15) maintains a suspension assembly (24) at a reduced suspension z-height (72) relative to the storage disk (28). As provided herein, the roll-bias angle (70) of the actuator arms (22) and the reduced suspension z-height (72), each decrease track misregistration.

Abstract: A swaging device for connecting suspension assemblies to an actuator block of a disc drive. The swaging device includes an expandable member which is designed for insertion into channels of tubular stakes coupled to suspension assemblies to swage the tubular stakes relative to a hole of an actuator arm. The expandable member is expandable between an insertion dimension and a swaging dimension. In the insertion dimension, the expandable member is sized for insertion into the channels of the tubular stakes. The expandable member is inserted into stake channels and is expanded to the swaging dimension to impart a swaging force to connect tubular stakes to actuator arms.

Abstract: An interface component for a positioning system. The interface component includes a positioning arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being positionable against an object to be positioned and the second end being attachable to an actuator arm of the positioning system, and a damping element operably connected in parallel with the positioning arm.

Abstract: A body and an arm are produced as separate components, a fitting recess and a flange are formed on the body, and a magnetic head mounting portion, a fitting portion capable of being fitted to and removed from the fitting recess of the body, and an engagement portion engaging with the flange of the body and prevented from falling off in an axial direction are formed on the arm. At least two fitting recesses are formed in an interval in the axial direction of the body. The arm is fitted to the body, and the fitting portion is molded by a resin to the body. A moving coil of a motor is molded to the body. The fitting portion of the arm is shaped into a ring shape. The fitting portion is shaped into the ring shape having a transverse opening. A rotary bearing having, or not having, a sleeve is fitted into a shaft hole of the body.

Abstract: Differing gram loads and actuator arm resonances are compensated for through the method and apparatus of positioning z-height of outer actuator arm at an optimal height. Specifically, an actuator arm driven by a closed loop servo motor system for a disc drive system is configured so that the outer upper and lower actuator arms are positioned at an optimum distance, called optimum z-height, from the disc surface. At the optimum z-height position, the gram load of the outer actuator arms are shifted as near as possible to the gram load of the inner actuator arms. At the optimum z-height, the resonances on the head gimbal assemblies of the inner and outer actuator arms are closest.

Abstract: An actuator for a hard disk drive has a separable assembled arm. The assembled arm is assembled adjacent to the actuator to add an additional head or heads to a basic actuator for including of arms having two or four heads, thereby allowing a large drive to be realized having a large number of arms and disks.

Abstract: A joined metal-resin plate body having a metal plate (1, 12) and a resin plate (2, 13) joined together, in which an insert member having a through-hole therein is embedded in the resin plate. The insert member is in close contact with the resin of the resin plate in the outer periphery of the insert member except for the faces where the through-hole opens. The metal plate has a metallic joining member (4, 16) adhered thereto. The resin plate is joined to the metal plate with the aid of the joining member fitted in the through-hole. The insert member and the surrounding resin have elastic stresses (F3, F4), which give rise to a sufficient joining strength among the joining member, the insert member and the resin plate. The stress of the surrounding resin is due to elastic deformation. The amount (V2-V3) of the elastic deformation is smaller than the amount (V2) of deformation of the insert member which can give rise to an elastic stress (F3) of the insert member.

Abstract: A disk drive rotary actuator has a head arm rotatable about a pillar. The pillar has abutments engaging a rolling member located in a recess in the head arm. The rolling member and pillar provide a space between abutment surfaces through which a flexure plate passes. A spring holds the pillar and arm together with the rolling member between them.

Abstract: An improved micro-actuator position sensor which provides an accurate position signal for higher bandwidth control of a micro-actuator. The position sensor allows closed loop control of the micro-actuator position. Preferred embodiment micro-actuator sensors include a piezo-resistive stress sensor integrated within the springs, a capacitance sensor and magnetic reluctance sensor. Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail as integrated sensors for a micro-actuator used in hard disk drives. The sensor is integrated with a micro-actuator at the tip of the conventional actuator arm to improve the precision seeking capability of the actuator arm.

Abstract: An actuator arm assembly comprises stacked suspensions, spacers, a pivot, washer and nut. The pivot and washer have hold portions for engagement during assembly to prevent misalignment of the suspensions. The suspensions, spacers, and washer each have alignment apertures for receiving an alignment bolt for maintaining proper alignment of the suspensions.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for suspending and positioning at least one read/write head over at least one substantially flat surface of magnetic media is disclosed. The actuator assembly is comprised of at least one HSA and at least one actuator arm. Each actuator arm has an actuator arm distal end mating surface for coupling to at least one HSA and actuator arm upper and lower bearing mating surfaces for coupling to other actuator arms. Each HSA has an HSA proximal end mating surface for coupling to an actuator arm and an HSA distal end mating surface for coupling to a read/write head. At least one of the actuator arm distal end mating surfaces, HSA proximal end mating surfaces, actuator arm upper bearing mating surfaces, and actuator arm lower bearing mating surfaces is roughened to increase frictional coupling such that component alignment is not disturbed if the disk drive system is subjected to a mechanical shock. In addition, adhesive may be employed between the mating surfaces to increase coupling strength.