ASSEMBLY THAT ENABLES REDUCTION IN DISK TO DISK SPACING

• US 20190333533A1
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Mendonsa, Riyan Alex, Gage, Edward Charles, Gomez, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 10,811,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2508 Magnetic discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/012 Recording on, or reproducing or erasing from, magnetic disks G11B17/00, G11B19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4813 Mounting or aligning of arm assemblies, e.g. actuator arm supported by bearings, multiple arm assemblies, arm stacks or multiple heads on single arm G11B5/484 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4826 Mounting, aligning or attachment of the transducer head relative to the arm assembly, e.g. slider holding members, gimbals, adhesive G11B5/484 takes precedence; details of head housings or structures G11B5/10, G11B5/127; adjustment relative to the record carrier G11B5/56
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5573 Details of the magnetic circuit, e.g. of actuators

Abstract

An apparatus includes a plurality of storage media mounted on a rotatable spindle. The apparatus also includes an actuator with at least one actuator arm configured to translate among the plurality of storage media and at least two heads supported on the at least one actuator arm. Each of the at least two heads is configured to communicate with the plurality of storage media.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of storage media mounted on a rotatable spindle;

an actuator mechanism with at least one actuator arm configured to translate along an axis among the plurality of storage media; and

at least two heads supported on the at least one actuator arm, each of the at least two heads is configured to communicate with the plurality of storage media.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the at least one actuator arm comprises a single actuator arm having the at least two heads.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one actuator arm comprises multiple actuator arms with each of the multiple actuator arms having a different single head of the at least two heads.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of storage media are translatable vertically on an axis of the rotatable spindle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 and wherein the plurality of storage medium are translatable vertically to increase or decrease spacing between the plurality of storage media and thereby enable the at least two heads to communicate with the plurality of storage media.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the at least two heads comprise an up head configured to communicate with bottom surfaces of different ones of the plurality of storage media.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the at least two heads comprise a down head configured to communicate with top surfaces of different ones of the plurality of storage media.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the plurality of storage media comprises a plurality of recording disks.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the plurality of storage media comprises a plurality of magnetic film coated foil.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein a single head of the two heads is placed between two storage media of the plurality of storage media.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of storage media mounted on a spindle;

at least one actuator mechanism with an actuator arm configured to translate vertically among the plurality of storage media; and

a least one head supported on the actuator arm, the at least one head is configured to communicate with multiple ones of the plurality of storage media.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 and wherein the at least one actuator mechanism comprises a plurality of actuator mechanisms to position a plurality of actuator arms among the plurality of storage media.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the plurality of storage media are configured to translate vertically on an axis of the spindle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising an inner shaft coupled to the spindle to vertically translate the plurality of storage media.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising a clamp system to maintain a position of the plurality of storage media on an axis of the rotatable spindle.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 and wherein the at least one actuator mechanism further comprises an alignment system including alignment combs to translate the actuator arm vertically and position the at least one head for communication with one of the plurality of storage media.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 and further comprising a ramp load mechanism to aid in loading or unloading the at least one head for communication with at least one of the plurality of storage media.

18. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of storage media mounted on a rotatable spindle; and

providing an actuator mechanism having an actuator arm supporting a head, the actuator arm being capable of translating vertically among the plurality of storage media.

19. The method of claim 18 and the plurality of storage media are capable of translating vertically on an axis of the rotatable spindle.

20. The method of claim 18 and further comprising translating the plurality of storage media to increase or decrease spacing between the plurality of storage media and thereby enable the head to communicate with one of the plurality of storage media.