Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head mounting – For moving head into/out of transducing position
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-05
2001-07-31
Ometz, David L. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head mounting
For moving head into/out of transducing position
C360S133000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268982
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to disk drives that employ removable cartridges, and more specifically, to a load ramp that cooperates with an actuator to unload and load a read/write head that unlatches a removable cartridge.
Conventionally, a removable cartridge disk drive has an actuator upon which read/write heads are mounted for communicating with a disk. Actuators typically are of two types: linear or rotary. Linear actuators translate along an axis that is radial to the disk and aligned with a centerline of the actuator. Rotary actuators typically consist of a structural arm that pivots on a voice coil motor, and a suspension arm that extends from the structural arm opposite the voice coil motor. The heads are mounted to the end of the suspension arm distal from the voice coil motor.
Disk drives that employ removable disk cartridges commonly retract the actuator to disengage the heads from the disk surface before ejection of the cartridge from the drive to prevent damage to the heads and disk surface. Disk drives that employ nonremovable may also disengage the heads from the disk, especially with highly polished disks to which the heads may stick if left in motionless contact. A load ramp is typically disposed near the outer edge of the disk to facilitate loading (that is, moving the head onto the disk) and unloading (that is, moving the head off of the disk) of the heads. The load ramp may be disposed over the disk surface to lift/raise and support the suspension. Also, the load ramp may be disposed outside of the disk perimeter, in which case a lifting tab is typically employed.
The head lifting tab slides on the load ramp during loading and unloading, and rests on the load ramp to support the actuator while the heads are in an unloaded state (that is, the heads are positioned off of the disk). During loading, the head lifting tab slides along the load ramp until it reaches the end of the load ramp. Upon reaching the end of the load ramp, the lifting tab slides off of the load ramp and the heads of the actuator engage the storage medium. Similarly, during unloading, the lifting tab slidably engages the end of the load ramp and slides onto the load ramp and thereby lifts the heads away from the disk cartridge.
The lifting tab configuration preferably is lightweight to minimize the mass extending from the suspension, yet have sufficient strength such that deflection of the suspension is within a predetermined amount to prevent damage to the lifting tab, heads, or other components. The trend toward higher a real density, which diminishes the magnetic charge of the information and slider flying height, often has diminishes slider height. For example, disk drives using MR heads are growing in popularity, and are significantly thinner than thin film heads that have often been employed. Thinner heads, such as MR heads, cause a diminished gap (compared with thicker heads) between the suspension arm and the disk surface, which is problematic for the load ramp design and manufacturing.
In configurations in which the load ramp extends over top the disk surface, the diminished gap requires load ramps having even thinner ends. This is especially problematic for removable cartridge drives because the disk must be accurately positioned numerous times, and interchangeable cartridges might not have uniform dimensions because of manufacturing tolerances. Producing load ramps that have uniform, knife-like edges by conventional plastic manufacturing is difficult. Further, the plastic load ramp may wear after repeated loading and unloading cycles. Such wear may cause damage to the disk if the head is not sufficiently lifted. Further, the wear exacerbates the difficulties related to ramp edge thinness.
Dust infiltration into removable media cartridges is another important factor because of the trend toward higher a real density. Further, the cartridge may create particles because moving parts within the cartridge may abrade and form particles that can contaminate the media. Protection of recording media from dust is an important aspect of disk drive design.
It is a goal of the present invention to create a latch system that is easy to manufacture and avoids the drawbacks of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An actuator for communicating with a disk cartridge may include an actuator arm for rotatably mounting the actuator to a disk drive. The actuator may be disposed in a disk drive that can receive a disk cartridge that has a storage medium. Disposed on the actuator may be a head gimbal assembly having read/write heads for interfacing with the storage medium. The actuator may also have a suspension arm mounted to the actuator arm and extending from the actuator arm. The suspension arm may have a longitudinal axis and a head lifting tab disposed in an angular relationship with the longitudinal axis of the suspension arm. One purpose of the head lifting tab is to lift the actuator away from a disk cartridge that has been inserted into the disk drive to which the actuator is installed.
When disposed in a disk drive, the actuator can move between a retracted position and a loaded position. In the retracted position, the head lifting tab rests on a load ramp disposed in the disk drive and supports the suspension arm and the read/write heads. In the loaded position, the head lifting tab is disengaged from the load ramp so that the read/write heads can interface with a storage medium of disk cartridge.
The head lifting tab may include a first portion, disposed proximal to the suspension arm, and a second portion extending from the first portion. The second portion may define an end of the head lifting tab. Both the first and the second portions may be curved. The first portion is preferably curved about a longitudinal axis of the head lifting tab, and the second portion may be curved about a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head lifting tab. In addition, the second portion may also be curved about the longitudinal axis of the head lifting tab. The first curved portion preferably increases the effective stiffness of the suspension. The second curved portion preferably stiffens the suspension and defines a camming (or rounded) surface for slidably engaging the load ramp of the disk drive. In a preferred embodiment, the first and the second curved portions are integrally formed with the suspension arm.
In the retracted position, the second curved portion of the head lifting tab rests on the load ramp of the disk drive and supports the actuator. When the actuator is moved to a loaded position to interface with a storage medium of a disk cartridge, the second curved portion slides along the load ramp until it reaches an end of the load ramp. At the end of the load ramp, the head lifting tab slides off of the load ramp and moves to the loaded position when the heads of the actuator interface with the storage medium of the disk cartridge. In order to move back to the retracted position, the actuator is moved so that the second curved portion of the head lifting tab slidably engages the load ramp. As the head lifting tab slidably engages the load ramp, the head lifting tab acts as a cam and lifts the read/write heads away from the storage medium of the disk cartridge. The head lifting tab can then slide along the load ramp to move the actuator and the read/write heads to the retracted position.
Preferably, the improved actuator of this invention can be rotatably mounted to a disk drive. A voice coil motor or similar device can be used to rotate the actuator, and thereby slide the head lifting tab along the load ramp.
The disk drive into which the improved actuator of this invention may be disposed may have a sensor and an eject system. The sensor preferably detects when a disk cartridge is inserted into the disk drive, and the eject system ejects the disk cartridge from the disk drive. Further, the disk drive into which the improved actuator of this invention may be disposed may be in electrical communication with a microprocessor and a computer program
Fahey James D.
McGrath Michael C.
Taylor David A.
Iomega Corporation
Ometz David L.
Watko Julie Anne
Woodcock Washburn Kurtz Mackiewicz & Norris LLP
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