Abstract: A disk drive includes a spindle motor attached to a disk drive base. The spindle motor includes a hub that rotates about a spindle rotation axis. An annular disk is mounted on the hub. A clamp is attached to the hub. The clamp has a body portion that is stamped from a metal sheet. The clamp also includes an annular rib that protrudes from the stamped sheet metal body portion towards the annular disk. The annular rib includes an annular contact surface that may be lapped to enhance flatness and that contacts the annular disk. The annular rib also includes inner and outer side walls that are each normal to the annular contact surface.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a hub on which a plurality of disks are rotatably assembled, and a spacer assembled to the hub to be alternately arranged with the disks to separate the disks and having at least one area of an inner wall surface that elastically contacts and is pressed against an outer wall surface of the hub for centering with respect to the hub.

Abstract: A storage system is provided having at least one storage unit, the storage unit including an electrical power source, a communication source and a cover that defines, at least in part an interior space. The storage system operates with a media blade that comprises a plurality of data storage elements, the media blade moveable in a drawer like motion though a cooperating opening in the cover. The storage system further includes a motion accommodating conductor apparatus connecting the plurality of data storage elements to the electrical power source and the communication source such that power from the electrical power source and communication from the communication source may be provided to the media blade without interruption when the media blade is moved in the drawer like motion outward from at least partially within the interior space.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are provided whereby first and second spindles operably rotate first and second overlapping storage discs, respectively. First and second data transfer members are operably disposed adjacent storage areas of the respective storage discs. An edge of the first disc moves in a prescribed close spatial separation from a rotating surface of the second spindle so that the second spindle strips windage, generated by the rotation of the first disc, away from the second data transfer member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for securing an HDD, includes a carrier containing the HDD and a plurality of fixtures to secure the HDD in the carrier. The carrier includes a bottom frame and two opposite sidewalls connected to two opposite edges of the bottom frame. Each fixture includes a post and a cushion. The cushions are fixed in the sidewalls and abut against two opposite sides of the HDD. The posts are extended through the cushions and inserted into the two opposite sides of the HDD to hold the HDD spaced apart from the bottom frame and the sidewalls of the carrier.

Abstract: An improved disk stack assembly for a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a generally cylindrical hub with flange having a downward sloping conical flange surface. The conical flange surface is defined between a radially inner circular ridge and a radially outer circular edge. The bottom disk in the stack is in contact with the flange inner circular ridge. The disk stack assembly also includes a disk clamp with a contact surface having a contact rim that is in contact with either the radially inner portion of the top disk in the stack or a spacer ring. The clamp contact rim is located at approximately the same radial distance from the hub's central cylindrical axis as the flange circular ridge so that the clamping force is applied to the disks close to the area where the disk stack is supported on the conical flange surface.

Abstract: A pass-through accessor comprising a fixturing apparatus that can store a plurality of portable data storage cassettes. The pass-through accessor comprises a moveable gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripping members. The gripper assembly releaseably attaches to a portable data storage cassette disposed in a storage slot, pulls that portable data storage cassette outwardly from the storage slot, and releaseably attaches that portable data storage cassette to one of a plurality of fixturing assemblies disposed on the fixturing apparatus.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hard disk drive includes measuring an imbalance value including an imbalance position with respect to a rotation center of a rotation shaft of the hub, with respect to each of a plurality of disks installed on a hub of a spindle motor to rotate the disks, allowing different imbalance positions of the disks to approach each other in a circumferential direction by applying an impact to the hard disk drive, and correcting the imbalance value by applying an impact to the hard disk drive in a direction opposite to the imbalance positions of the disks approaching each other with respect to the rotation shaft of the hub, to move the imbalance positions of the disks approaching each other in a radial direction of the disks with respect to the rotation center of the rotation shaft of the hub.

Abstract: A spindle system includes: a spindle motor section controlled to rotate at a predetermined speed; and a clamp base section disposed at an upper part of the spindle motor section and having screw holes that are formed in a side surface of the clamp base section and extend in a radial direction. The spindle system further includes: screws respectively inserted into the screw holes and changing a center of gravity of the clamp base section; a clamp fixing section that fixes the spindle motor section and the clamp base section; and an elastic member disposed between the clamp base section and the clamp fixing section, and contacted by and pressed against the screws.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, there is provided a storage-medium mounting method that includes detecting a rotation center axis of a rotor by rotating the rotor relative to a stator, the rotor being rotatably supported by the stator. The storage-medium mounting method includes mounting a storage medium on the rotor while aligning a center axis of the storage medium with the rotation center axis of the rotor.