Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head mounting – For shifting head between tracks
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-08-28
Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head mounting
For shifting head between tracks
C360S267600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282065
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk apparatus provided with a head carriage device including a read/write head, a head carriage, a carriage drive motor, a guide shaft, and a flexible printed circuit cable. In the disk apparatus of this type, the head carriage is moved along the guide shaft by a force of the carriage drive motor, so that the head on the head carriage is positioned to a disk in its radial direction when reading information from or writing information to the disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a magnetic disk apparatus, a flexible-type magnetic disk is inserted therein. In the disk apparatus of this type, a head carriage which carries a read/write head thereon is moved along a guide shaft, so that the read/write head on the head carriage is positioned to the magnetic disk in a radial direction thereof when reading information from or writing information to the magnetic disk.
A typical head carriage device, which is used by a conventional disk apparatus of the above type, includes a head carriage and a lead screw connected to a carriage drive motor. The head carriage is linked to the lead screw, and the lead screw is rotated by the carriage drive motor so that the head carriage is moved relative to the magnetic disk in the radial direction. The head carriage has a connecting pin which is linked to an external thread on the lead screw. When the lead screw is rotated by the carriage drive motor, the head carriage is moved relative to the magnetic disk in the radial direction by a distance proportional to a rotational angle of the lead screw.
The above-mentioned movement of the head carriage relative to the magnetic disk in the radial direction is proportional to a rotational angle of the lead screw, or to a rotational angle of a drive shaft of the carriage drive motor. In order to enable the head on the head carriage to be moved in an entire range from the innermost track to the outermost track of the magnetic disk, it is necessary to suitably adjust the position where the carriage drive motor is installed in the conventional disk apparatus during assembly.
During the assembly of the conventional disk apparatus, the carriage drive motor is temporarily attached to a mounting surface of a frame such that the drive shaft of the motor is freely rotatable with respect to the connecting pin of the head carriage. After the position of the carriage drive motor installed is suitably adjusted, the carriage drive motor is permanently fixed to the mounting surface of the frame by fastening two or more screws.
In the above-described head carriage device, a plurality of connection terminals are provided on the outer periphery of the carriage drive motor, and they are projecting from the outer periphery. During the assembly of the conventional disk apparatus, a flexible printed circuit cable is soldered to the connection terminals of the carriage drive motor so that an electrical connection between the carriage drive motor and a control circuit via the flexible printed circuit cable is established. After the soldering is performed, the flexible printed circuit cable is arranged in a slack condition so as to allow for the positioning of the carriage drive motor to which the cable is soldered. For example, the flexible printed circuit cable is folded back at its end in a U-shaped formation in order to keep the cable in a slack condition.
However, in the conventional disk apparatus, the flexible printed circuit cable arranged in the slack condition may interfere with the connection terminals on the outer periphery of the carriage drive motor, which is detrimental to the surface of the flexible printed circuit cable.
A conceivable measure to eliminate the interference between the flexible printed circuit cable and the connection terminals is to shorten the connection terminals of the carriage drive motor by cutting off the edges of the connection terminals. However, if this measure is taken, it is difficult to ensure good quality of soldering of the flexible printed circuit cable and the connection terminals of the carriage drive motor. Further, if the measure is taken, an additional assembly operation to cut off the leading edges of the connection terminals is required. It is difficult to maintain efficiency of assembly operations needed for the conventional disk apparatus at the desired level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved disk apparatus in which the above-described problems are eliminated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk apparatus having an improved head carriage device which safely prevents the interference between a flexible printed circuit cable and connection terminals of a carriage drive motor while ensuring good quality of soldering of the flexible printed circuit cable and the connection terminals with the efficiency of assembly operations needed for the disk apparatus being maintained at the desired level.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a disk apparatus having an improved head carriage device which allows the disk apparatus to have a small size while ensuring the movement of the head of the head carriage in the entire range from the innermost track to the outermost track of the disk.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a disk apparatus having an improved head carriage device which allows the disk apparatus to have a small size while ensuring a mounting space where a retaining device for retaining the guide shaft on the frame is mounted.
The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are achieved by a disk apparatus including: a head carriage which has a read/write head which reads information from or writes information to a disk, the head carriage provided to support the head thereon such that the head can be positioned to the disk in a radial direction of the disk together with the head carriage; a carriage drive motor which is provided to move the head carriage in the radial direction of the disk in accordance with a control signal, the carriage drive motor having a number of connection terminals on an outer periphery of the motor; a guide shaft which is provided to guide the movement of the head carriage; and a flexible printed circuit cable which is provided to supply the control signal to the connection terminals of the carriage drive motor, wherein the flexible printed circuit cable has a first portion, a second portion and a clearance opening therebetween, the first portion being fixed to the outer periphery of the motor and having a corresponding number of through holes through which the connection terminals are passed, and the second portion being folded back from the first portion at an end of the clearance opening such that the connection terminals, projecting from the through holes of the first portion, are located within the clearance opening, causing no interference between the flexible printed circuit cable and the connection terminals.
The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are achieved by a disk apparatus including: a frame; a head carriage which has a read/write head which reads information from or writes information to a disk, the head carriage provided to support the head thereon such that the head can be positioned to the disk in a radial direction of the disk together with the head carriage; a carriage drive motor which is provided to move the head carriage in the radial direction of the disk in accordance with a control signal; a guide shaft which is provided to guide the movement of the head carriage, the guide shaft having a first end extended to an inner position of the disk; and a guide shaft support which is provided to support the guide shaft at the first end, the guide shaft support being arranged at a position adjacent to the inner position of the disk.
The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are achieved by a disk apparatus including: a frame; a head carriage which has a read/write head which reads information fro
Abe Atsushi
Inoue Kazuhiko
Anderson Kill & Olick P.C.
Teac Corporation
Tupper Robert S.
LandOfFree
Disk apparatus having an improved head carriage structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Disk apparatus having an improved head carriage structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Disk apparatus having an improved head carriage structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2528646