Random access disk file with axial translation of disks and end plate
First Claim
1. In a storage device:
- a pair of parallel end plates rotating about a common axis;
one of said plates slidably supported for reciprocating low friction displacements to said axis;
a stack of multiple storage disks supported between said plates for co-rotation about said axis and for low friction sliding displacements parallel to said axis;
said disks and end plates surrounded by a fluid;
means linked directly to said one plate for reciprocally actuating said one plate for causing close and loose confinement of said disks;
means coordinated with said actuating means for forcing edges of said closely confined disks slightly apart at a selected interface in said stack to cause partial expansion of said selected interface, associated with causing a fluid pressure difference between the selected interface and the other interfaces;
said partial expansion insufficient for unobstructed transducing access to said disks; and
means operable following said partial expansion for operating said actuating means to shift said one plate quickly to said position of loose confinement, whereby, due to cohesion and suction effects accompanying said shaft and due to said established pressure difference, the disks between said partially expanded interface and said one plate are shifted slidably with said one plate as a cohesive unit, thereby further expanding said selected interface sufficient for unobstructed transducing access.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a random access storage device a head transported relative to a rotating assembly of flexible disks and a pair of co-rotating end plates operates in clearance spaces formed by sliding the disks apart at a selected interface. One of the end plates is attached to a low friction spline which is quickly shiftable between predetermined axial limit positions. In the most confining position of this plate a single selected interface space between the disks is partially opened by deflection of the disks. The partial opening is sufficient to establish a pressure difference relative to the other interfaces but not enough for unobstructed entrance of the head. Shortly after formation of the partial opening the shiftable plate is actuated away from the disks in a quick movement. Due to the suction effects accompanying this movement, and the just-mentioned pressure difference, the disks between the partial opening and the shifting plate are cohesively moved away from the selected interface as a sliding unit; thereby expanding that interface sufficiently to accommodate the head.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. In a storage device:
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a pair of parallel end plates rotating about a common axis;
one of said plates slidably supported for reciprocating low friction displacements to said axis;a stack of multiple storage disks supported between said plates for co-rotation about said axis and for low friction sliding displacements parallel to said axis;
said disks and end plates surrounded by a fluid;means linked directly to said one plate for reciprocally actuating said one plate for causing close and loose confinement of said disks; means coordinated with said actuating means for forcing edges of said closely confined disks slightly apart at a selected interface in said stack to cause partial expansion of said selected interface, associated with causing a fluid pressure difference between the selected interface and the other interfaces;
said partial expansion insufficient for unobstructed transducing access to said disks; andmeans operable following said partial expansion for operating said actuating means to shift said one plate quickly to said position of loose confinement, whereby, due to cohesion and suction effects accompanying said shaft and due to said established pressure difference, the disks between said partially expanded interface and said one plate are shifted slidably with said one plate as a cohesive unit, thereby further expanding said selected interface sufficient for unobstructed transducing access. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a random access storage device:
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multiple flexible storage disks arranged in a stack between confining end plates, said disks and plates arranged for rotation about a common axis, one of said plates having a fixed axial position, said disks and the other said plate being mounted for low friction sliding displacement relative to said one plate during said rotation; means coupled to said other plate for positioning said other plate, while it and the disks are rotating, to a predetermined closely confining position relative to said disks; means subject to random selection operation for causing partial separation of said closely confined disks at a selected interface; and means for quickly shifting said other plate from said confining position to a predetermined less confining position at a rate sufficient to exert suction action upon said partially separated disks, sliding said disks as a unit and widening said selected interface thereby sufficiently for allowing unobstructed transducing access to a disk surface at said selected interface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification