Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-13
2001-01-30
Evans, Jefferson (Department: 2754)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Disk record
C360S099020, C360S099050
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181511
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data storage device, or disk drive, for receiving a removable disk cartridge. More particularly, the present invention relates to a latch member mounted on a guide rail on which a platform disposed in the data storage device moves.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Removable disk cartridges for storing digital electronic information typically comprise an outer casing or shell that houses a rotatable recording medium, or disk, upon which electronic information can be stored. The cartridge shell often comprises upper and lower halves that are joined together to house the disk. The disk is mounted on a hub that rotates freely within the cartridge. When the cartridge is inserted into platform within a disk drive, a spindle motor in the drive engages with the disk hub in order to rotate the disk within the cartridge. The outer shell of the cartridge typically has some form of opening near its forward edge to provide the recording heads of the drive with access to the recording surfaces of the disk. A shutter or door mechanism is often provided to cover the opening when the cartridge is not in use to prevent dust or other contaminants from entering the cartridge and settling on the recording surface of the disk.
Disk drives for receiving removable disk cartridges, including conventional 3.5″ floppy disk drives, must have some mechanism for bringing the hub of a disk cartridge into engagement with the spindle motor of the disk drive and for maintaining tight tolerances between the cartridge hub, spindle motor and magnetic head actuator of the disk drive. In many conventional floppy disk drives, a floppy disk cartridge is guided vertically into engagement with the spindle motor of the drive which is rigidly mounted to a base plate in the disk drive. The head actuator is also mounted to the base plate. With this arrangement, it is difficult to ensure critical tolerances and spacing between the disk cartridge, the head actuator and the spindle motor.
Data storage devices, e.g. disk drives, for receiving removable disk cartridges perform a number of functions incident to the recording and/or retrieval of information from a disk cartridge. For example, critical functions include: (I) latching or holding the cartridge in place on a platform during operation, releasing and ejecting the cartridge only at an appropriate time and only under certain conditions, (ii) locking the read/write heads of the disk drive in place to prevent movement of the heads under inappropriate circumstances, and (iii) holding the platform in an unloaded (e.g., forward) position when a cartridge is not in the drive.
A conventional platform forward latch holds the platform forward when a cartridge is not in the drive. This is achieved by using an angled feature on the platform forward latch and a matching angled feature on the pin of the platform. However, under drop shock loads, tangential forces can cause the conventional latch to release and allow the platform to move back into a latch-back position, which is undesirable. In some cases, the latch-back position will allow the recording heads to move out from their parked position, thereby exposing them to head damage.
Although the art of disk drives is well developed, there remain some problems inherent in this technology, particularly preventing the platform from moving under force or shock. Therefore, a need exists for a disk drive latch member that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to apparatus for use in a data storage device, or disk drive, of the type that receives a removable disk cartridge. According to the present invention, the apparatus comprises a pair of opposing guide rails and a platform movably mounted on the guide rails. The guide rails have opposing slots formed therein that guide a disk cartridge into the disk drive and that bring the disk cartridge into engagement with a cartridge receiving stop on the platform. Once the cartridge reaches the cartridge receiving stop, continued insertion of the cartridge into the disk drive pushes the platform from a first, or forward, position to a second, or rearward, position.
Further in accordance with the present invention, an actuator, which in the preferred embodiment comprises a linear actuator, is mounted on the platform. The actuator carries a head for recording and reading information to and from a recording medium within the disk cartridge. A spindle motor is also mounted on the platform for rotating the recording medium. Means for mounting the actuator and spindle motor are molded with the platform. A retaining cover is used to secure these components. By mounting these components on the platform, critical tolerances between the spindle motor, actuator and disk cartridge can be achieved.
The platform has a plurality of pins formed thereon, and the guide rails have corresponding cam slots that receive the pins. The pins follow the cam slots as the platform moves between its forward and rearward positions. In accordance with the present invention, the platform rises as it moves from its forward position to its rearward position in order to bring the spindle motor into engagement with the hub of the disk cartridge.
According to a preferred embodiment, a latch member is pivotally mounted on one of the guide rails for latching the platform in place in its forward (unloaded) position when no cartridge is inserted in the disk drive. The latch member has a first projection that extends into the cartridge guide slot on the guide rail. A second projection on the latch member extends into one of the cam slots on the guide rail so that it blocks the corresponding pin on the platform from moving along the cam slot, thereby locking the platform in place. A disk cartridge inserted into the disk drive will engage the first projection and cause the latch member to pivot such that the second projection moves out of the cam slot, thereby releasing the platform. Preferably, the latch member is biased toward the latched position and is self-latching. More preferably, the latch member comprises a torsion spring and one of the projections has a notch for preventing the platform from moving from the unloaded position to the loaded position when an unloaded disk drive is subjected to shock forces, such as when the disk drive is dropped.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5617397 (1997-04-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5650891 (1997-07-01), Thayne et al.
patent: 5768059 (1998-06-01), Bishop et al.
patent: 5943193 (1999-08-01), Thayne et al.
patent: 5966268 (1999-10-01), Nicklos
patent: 6018433 (2000-01-01), Thayne et al.
Leavitt Richard F.
Reynolds Douglas S.
Evans Jefferson
Iomega Corporation
Woodcock Washburn Kurtz Mackiewicz & Norris LLP
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