Head retract assembly for disk drive

Details Head retract assembly for disk drive Head retract assembly for disk drive

1999-10-14

2001-11-27

Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2652)

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval

Head mounting

For moving head into/out of transducing position

C360S099060

Reexamination Certificate

active

06324033

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cartridge transport assembly in a disk drive for receiving a cartridge thereinto, retaining the received cartridge, and ejecting the retained cartridge therefrom, and also to a head retracting assembly for ensuring that a disk drive read/write head is retracted prior to such cartridge ejection. More particularly, the present invention relates to such assemblies that operate under the direction of a single actuator, where the assemblies and the actuator are relatively inexpensive.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A disk drive for receiving a removable disk cartridge is known. Examples of such a disk drive include a conventional 3.5 inch ‘floppy’ disk drive, a “ZIP” disk drive as developed and marketed by IOMEGA Corporation of Roy, Utah, and the like. Such a disk drive is typically coupled to a processor or the like, and facilitates an exchange of information between the processor and a disk contained within the disk cartridge. The disk and the disk drive may be magnetically or optically based, for example.
The disk cartridge typically includes an outer casing or shell that houses the aforementioned disk therein. The disk is mounted on a hub and can rotate freely within the cartridge. Typically, the disk drive includes a motor which engages the hub of the disk and applies a rotating force to such hub. The outer shell has an aperture at an edge thereof (at least in the case of a “ZIP” disk as developed and marketed by IOMEGA Corporation of Roy, Utah for use in connection with the aforementioned “ZIP” disk drive), and the disk drive includes at least one read/write head that is brought into close proximity to the disk in the disk cartridge by way of the aperture for purposes of reading data from the disk and/or writing data to the disk. A shutter may be provided to cover the aperture when the disk cartridge is removed from the disk drive. Such disk drive may include a shutter opening feature for automatically opening the shutter upon inserting the disk cartridge into the disk drive.
In a relatively sophisticated drive such as the aforementioned “ZIP” disk drive, it is desirable to include an electronically actuatable disk cartridge ejection feature. Accordingly, ejection of the disk cartridge merely requires an appropriate electronic command, originating either from the processor coupled to the disk drive or from the disk drive itself. Of course, prior to disk cartridge ejection, the read/write head(s) of the disk drive are retracted from the disk inside the disk cartridge to a retracted position where ejection of the disk cartridge will not harm or destroy the sensitive head(s).
In the case of the aforementioned “ZIP” disk drive, one assembly is provided for receiving the disk cartridge, retaining the received cartridge, and ejecting the retained disk cartridge, and another assembly is provided for retracting the read/write head(s) prior to disk cartridge ejection, where both assemblies are actuated by a single actuation unit. However, a current version of such actuation unit is a rather complicated affair having multiple cogs, gears, worms, levers, and the like, and consequently is relatively expensive to manufacture.
A need exists, then, for an actuation unit that is simpler and that is therefore relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Moreover, a need exists for corresponding assemblies that are compatible with such a simpler actuation unit, where such assemblies are also simple and therefore relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, the aforementioned need is satisfied by a disk drive that has a frame for receiving and retaining a generally planar disk cartridge therein. The cartridge moves along a first line within the frame and includes a disk therein. The disk within the retained cartridge is rotatable about a first axis generally perpendicular to the frame and cartridge.
A selectively actuatable actuator is mounted to the frame, and is movable a first amount from a first position to a second position and also is movable a second amount greater than the first amount from the first position to a third position. A retract/eject lever is also mounted to the frame, is rotatable on an axis generally parallel to the first axis between a cartridge-receiving/-retaining and guide pin retaining position, a head-retracting position, and a cartridge-ejecting position, and is biased to the cartridge-receiving/-retaining and guide pin retaining position.
The actuator upon being moved the first amount from the first position to the second position contacts the retract/eject lever and thereby rotates the retract/eject lever into the head-retracting position. The actuator upon being moved the second amount from the first position to the third position contacts the retract/eject lever and thereby rotates the retract/eject lever to the head-retracting position, and further rotates the retract eject lever to the cartridge-ejecting position.
A read/write head assembly is mounted to the frame and is generally movable toward and away from the retained disk cartridge and the disk therein for reading data from/writing data to such disk. A head retracting assembly is mounted to the frame for retracting the head assembly away from the retained disk cartridge. The head retracting assembly is coupled to the retract/eject lever and retracts the head assembly when the retract/eject lever is rotated to the second position.
A cartridge transport assembly is mounted to the frame for receiving the cartridge into the frame, retaining the received cartridge, and ejecting the retained cartridge. The cartridge transport assembly is coupled to the retract/eject lever and ejects the retained cartridge when the retract/eject lever is rotated to the third position.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5237473 (1993-08-01), Yoshida
patent: 5278819 (1994-01-01), Shimegi et al.
patent: 5438465 (1995-08-01), Noda
patent: 5650891 (1997-07-01), Thayne et al.
patent: 5898539 (1999-04-01), Yokota et al.

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