Whitney-type head loading/unloading apparatus

• US 4,535,374 A
• Filed: 11/04/1982
• Issued: 08/13/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amcodyne Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Amcodyne Incorporated
• Inventors: Morehouse, James H., Anderson, Kurt M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolff, John H.
• Application Number:
  US06/439,190
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 360/102-105, 360/109, 360/97-98, 360/75, 360/86
• US Class Current: 360/255.9
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/54 with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for loading a head onto a spinning disk and unloading the head from the spinning disk so that contact between the head and the disk is essentially prevented. The apparatus includes a Whitney-size head joined to the flexure of a Whitney-type suspension arm. A triangular-shaped ramp is fixed to a face of the suspension arm for engagement with a stationary cam. The stationary cam is located along the path of movement of the head, suspension arm and flexure. The contact between the cam and ramp causes movement of the head relative to the disk. In the case of loading the head, this movement results in a desired approach of the head towards the disk and enhances loading of the head onto the disk.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for positioning a head relative to a magnetic disk for translating data during read/write operations, an assembly comprising:

a Whitney-size head, said Whitney-size head being spaced from the disk during the positioning of said Whitney-size head for read/write operations;

a Whitney-type flexure to which said Whitney-size head is supportably connected;

a substantially triangular-shaped Whitney-type suspension arm having a longitudinal axis, said Whitney-type suspension arm being sent about an axis that perpendicularly intersects said longitudinal axis of said Whitney-type suspension arm; and

dynamic loading means, operatively associated with said Whitney-type suspension arm, said dynamic loading means including a cooperating portion and a ramp-like member for use in positioning said Whitney-size head relative to the magnetic disk for data translation therewith, wherein said cooperating portion and said ramp-like member provide for simultaneous horizontal and vertical movement of said Whitney-size head relative to the disk as said cooperating portion and said ramp-like member movingly engage each other, said moving engagement between said cooperating portion and said ramp-like member being along the gravitational center line of the combination of said Whitney-type suspension arm, said Whitney-type flexure, and said Whitney-size head to minimize unwanted movement of the Whitney-size head during positioning thereof relative to the magnetic disk.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ramp-like member is integrally formed with said Whitney-type suspension arm.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said ramp-like member is longitudinally centered about the gravitational center line of said Whitney-type suspension arm.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said ramp-like member comprises a first ramp section and second ramp section that are contiguously adjacent.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal axis of said Whitney-type suspension arm substantially corresponds with said gravitational center line of the combination of the Whitney-type suspension arm, said Whitney-type flexure, and said Whitney-size head to minimize unwanted movement of the Whitney-size head during positioning thereof relative to the magnetic disk.

6. In an apparatus for positioning a head relative to a spinning magnetic disk for translating data during read/write operations, ramp loading means comprising:

a movable suspension arm adapted to be operatively associated with the head;

a cooperating member; and

ramp-like means, fixedly held to said suspension arm, that comprises a substantially linear first ramp section having a length that is non-parallel to said suspension arm, a substantially linear second ramp section having a length that is non-parallel to said suspension arm, and a portion between said first ramp section and said second ramp section having a length and joining said first ramp section and said second ramp section together, each of said lengths of said first and second ramp sections being greater than said length of said joining portion, and, before translating data during read/write operations, said first ramp section causing the head to move in a first direction during moving engagement between said first ramp section and said cooperating member and said second ramp section causing the head to move in a second direction during moving engagement between said second ramp section and said cooperating member, both said first direction and said second direction being comprised of a horizontal component of movement and a vertical component of movement.