Method of manufacturing rigid disk drive with dynamic head loading apparatus

• US 6,032,352 A
• Filed: 10/16/1996
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mobile Storage Technology Inc
• Original Assignee: Mobile Storage Technology Inc
• Inventors: Emo, Bruce D., Alt, Robert A., Morehouse, James H., Furay, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Application Number:
  US08/731,501
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 29/603.03, 360/103, 360/104, 360/105, 360/106
• US Class Current: 29/603.03
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 21/22 while the head is out of operative position
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4833 Structure of the arm assembly, e.g. load beams, flexures, parts of the arm adapted for controlling vertical force on the head G11B5/484 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/54 with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/6005 Specially adapted for spacing from a rotating disc using a fluid cushion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49025 Making disc drive

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a rigid disk drive of the dynamic head loading type which includes a rotary actuator, and a load beam having a lift tab which cooperates with a cam surface of a cam assembly to load and unload a read/write recording element with respect to a surface of a disk. The method includes positioning the left tab so that it extends along an axis which is displaced with respect to a center line of the load beam. The method also includes providing the cam surface with a detent. The method of manufacturing further includes providing a portion of said lift tab with a cylindrical shape.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a rigid disk drive compromising the steps of:

(a) providing a baseplate;

(b) providing a rigid disk and supporting said rigid disk for rotation on said baseplate;

(c) providing an elongated actuator arm comprising a load beam and pivotally supporting said actuator arm for rotation about a center of rotation on said baseplate;

(d) providing an end of said load beam with a lift tab extending along an axis which is displaced with respect to a centerline of said load beam;

(e) providing a read/write recording element and supporting said read/write recording element by said load beam at a position intermediate said center of rotation and said lift tab; and

(f) providing a cam assembly comprising a cam surface and locating said cam assembly on said baseplate at a position adjacent to an edge of said disk and in a location in which said lift tab can contact said cam surface.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(g) placing said lift tab in contact with a portion of said cam surface.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

rotating said rigid disk; and

rotating said elongated actuator arm to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein after step (g) the method further comprises the step of:

(h) rotating said elongated actuator arm to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface and to a position wherein said read/write recording element is in an operative relationship with a surface of said rigid disk.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein prior to step (h) the method comprises the step of:

rotating said rigid disk.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of providing said cam surface with a contour which permits rotation of said elongated actuator arm in a direction and in an amount sufficient to permit in step (b) installation of said rigid disk on said baseplate without interference with said elongated actuator arm.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing said lift tab with a curvilinear portion at a location at which said lift tab can contact said cam surface.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing said lift tab with a semicircular portion at a location at which said lift tab can contact said cam surface.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (c) said load beam is constructed by the steps of:

providing a support arm portion having a first end supported for rotation about said center of rotation;

providing a lift tab portion and attaching a first end of said lift tab portion to said first end of said support arm portion;

providing said lift tab portion with a second end which extends beyond said first end of said support arm portion,

providing on said lift tab portion a lift tab contact portion having a centerline which is displaced with respect to a centerline of said load beam.

10. The method according to any of claims 1-9, wherein step (d) further comprises positioning said lift tab such that an axis of said lift tab is skewed with respect to a centerline of said load beam.

11. The method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the step of providing a lift tab further comprises providing a cylindrical lift tab.

12. The method according to any of claims 1-9, wherein step (d) further comprises positioning said lift tab such that a centerline of said lift tab is offset from said centerline of said load beam.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of positioning said lift tab such that a centerline of said lift tab is offset from said centerline of said load beam further comprises providing said offset in a direction parallel to a surface of said rigid disk.

14. The method according to any of claims 1-9, wherein step (d) further comprises positioning said lift tab such that a centerline of said lift tab is parallel to and offset from centerline of said load beam.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a cam assembly further comprises providing a cam assembly which is removably supported on said baseplate.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a cam assembly on said baseplate further comprises providing a cam assembly which is positionable at a plurality of locations.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a cam assembly comprising a cam surface further comprises constructing said cam surface such that one portion of said cam surface terminates at a first location adjacent to a surface of said disk and further such that another portion of said cam surface terminates at a second location, the method further comprising the steps of:

positioning said elongated actuator arm at a location such that said lift tab is adjacent to said second location; and

moving said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position said lift tab on said cam surface.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of providing a detent on said cam surface, and wherein the step of moving said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position said lift tab on said cam surface comprises positioning said lift tab at said detent.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

rotating said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said method further comprises the step of rotating said disk, and wherein the step of rotating said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface comprises moving said actuator by an amount sufficient to position said read/write recording element in an operative relationship with a surface of said rigid disk while said disk is rotating.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of providing a detent on said cam surface.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of providing a detent on said cam surface.

23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing another elongated actuator arm comprising a load beam and pivotally supporting said another actuator arm for rotation about said center of rotation;

providing an end of said another load beam with a lift tab extending along an axis which is displaced with respect to a centerline of said another load beam;

providing another read/write recording element and supporting said another read/write recording element by said another load beam at a position intermediate said center of rotation and said lift tab; and

providing on said cam assembly another cam surface in a location in which said lift tab of said another load beam can contact said another cam surface.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of providing a detent on said cam surface and providing another detent on said another cam surface.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the steps of providing said cam surface and providing said another cam surface further comprises the steps of:

constructing said cam surface such that a first portion of said cam surface terminates at a first location adjacent to a surface of said disk and a second portion of said cam surface terminates at a second location displaced from said first location, constructing said another cam surface such that one portion of said another cam surface terminates at a third location adjacent to another surface of said disk and another portion of said another surface terminates at a location displaced from said third location, the method further comprising the steps of;

positioning said elongated actuator arm at a location such that said lift tab is adjacent to said second location, and moving said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position said lift tab on said cam surface; and

positioning said another elongated actuator arm at a location such that the associated lift tab is adjacent to said third location, and moving said another elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position the associated lift tab on said another cam surface.

26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

placing said lift tab and said another lift tab in contact with a portion of their associated cam surfaces.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of:

providing a planar plate and positioning said planar plate such that said plate is between said read/write recording element and said another read/write recording element in a location adjacent to an edge of said disk.

28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

rotating said elongated actuator arm and rotating said another elongated actuator arm to move their associated lift tabs out of contact with their associated cam surfaces and to a position wherein said read/write recording element is positioned in an operative relationship with one surface of said rigid disk, and wherein said another read/write recording element is positioned in an operative relationship with another surface of said rigid disk.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the step of rotating said rigid disk is performed prior to positioning said read/write recording element and said another read/write recording element in operative relationship with their respective disk surfaces, and further wherein the positioning of said read/write recording element and said another read/write recording element is performed while said disk is rotating.

30. A method of manufacturing a rigid disk drive comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a baseplate;

(b) providing a rigid disk and supporting said rigid disk for rotation on said baseplate;

(c) providing an elongated actuator arm comprising a load beam and pivotally supporting said actuator arm for rotation about a center of rotation on said baseplate;

(d) providing an end of said load beam with a lift tab;

(e) providing a read/write recording element and supporting said read/write recording element by said load beam at a position intermediate said center of rotation and said lift tab;

(f) providing a cam assembly comprising a cam surface and locating said cam assembly on said baseplate at a position adjacent to an edge of said disk in a location in which said lift tab can contact said cam surface; and

(g) providing on said cam surface a first raised lobe, a second raised lobe and a detent disposed therebetween.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of:

(h) placing said lift tab in contact with a portion of said cam surface.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

rotating said rigid disk; and

rotating said elongated actuator arm to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein after step (h) the method further comprises the step of:

(i) rotating said elongated actuator arm to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface and to a position wherein said read/write recording element is in an operative relationship with a surface of said rigid disk.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein prior to step (i) the method comprises the step of:

rotating said rigid disk.

35. The method according to claim 30, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of providing said cam surface with a contour which permits rotation of said elongated actuator arm in a direction and in an amount sufficient to permit in step (b) installation of said rigid disk without interference with said elongated actuator arm.

36. the method according to any of claims 30-35, wherein the step of providing a lift tab further comprises providing a cylindrical lift tab.

37. The method according to claim 30, wherein step (d) further comprises providing said lift tab with a curvilinear portion at a location at which said lift tab can contact said cam surface.

38. The method according to claim 30, wherein step (d) further comprises providing said lift tab with a semicircular portion at a location at which said lift tab can contact said cam surface.

39. The method according to claim 30, wherein in step (c) said load beam is constructed by the steps of:

providing a support arm portion having a first end supported for rotation about said center of rotation;

providing a lift tab portion and attaching a first end of said lift tab portion to said first end of said support arm portion;

providing said lift tab portion with a second end which extends beyond said first end of said support arm portion,

providing on said lift tab portion a lift tab contact portion.

40. The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of providing a cam assembly further comprises providing a cam assembly which is removably supported on said baseplate.

41. The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of providing a cam assembly on said baseplate further comprises providing a cam assembly which is positionable at a plurality of locations.

42. The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of providing a cam assembly comprising a cam surface further comprises constructing said cam surface such that one portion of said cam surface terminates at a first location adjacent to a surface of said disk and further such that another portion of said cam surface terminates at a second location, the method further comprising the steps of:

positioning said elongated actuator arm at a location such that said lift tab is adjacent to said second location; and

moving said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position said lift tab on said cam surface.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the step of moving said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position said lift tab on said cam surface comprises positioning said lift tab at said detent.

44. The method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of:

rotating said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein said method further comprises the step of rotating said disk, and wherein the step of rotating said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface comprises moving said actuator by an amount sufficient to position said read/write recording element in an operative relationship with a surface of said rigid disk while said disk is rotating.

46. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

providing another elongated actuator arm comprising a load beam and pivotally supporting said another actuator arm for rotation about said center of rotation;

providing an end of said another load beam with a lift tab;

providing another read/write recording element and supporting said another read/write recording element by said another load beam at a position intermediate said center of rotation and said lift tab of said another load beam;

providing on said cam assembly another cam surface in a location in which said lift tab of said another load beam can contact said another cam surface; and

providing a detent position on said another cam surface.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the steps of providing said cam surface and providing said another cam surface further comprises the steps of:

constructing said cam surface such that a first portion of said cam surface terminates at a first location adjacent to a surface of said disk and a second portion of said cam surface terminates at a second location displaced from said first location, constructing said another cam surface such that one portion of said another cam surface terminates at a third location adjacent to another surface of said disk and another portion of said another surface terminates at a location displaced from said third location, the method further comprising the steps of;

positioning said elongated actuator arm at a location such that said lift tab is adjacent to said second location, and moving said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position said lift tab on said cam surface; and

positioning said another elongated actuator arm at a location such that the associated lift tab is adjacent to said third location, and moving said another elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position the associated lift tab on said another cam surface.

48. The method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of:

placing said lift tab and said another lift tab in contact with a portion of their associated cam surfaces.

49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the step of:

providing a planar plate and positioning said planar plate such that said plate is between said read/write recording element and said another read/write recording element in a location adjacent to an edge of said disk.

50. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the steps of:

rotating said elongated actuator arm and rotating said another elongated actuator arm to move their associated lift tabs out of contact with their associated cam surfaces and to a position wherein said read/write recording element is positioned in an operative relationship with one surface of said rigid disk, and wherein said another read/write recording element is positioned in an operative relationship with another surface of said rigid disk.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein the step of rotating said rigid disk is performed prior to positioning said read/write recording element and said another read/write recording element in operative relationship with their respective disk surfaces, and further wherein the positioning of said read/write recording element and said another read/write recording element is performed while said disk is rotating.

52. A method of manufacturing a rigid disk drive comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a baseplate;

(b) providing a rigid disk and supporting said rigid disk for rotation on said baseplate;

(c) providing an elongated actuator arm comprising a load beam and pivotally supporting said actuator arm for rotation about a center of rotation on said baseplate;

(d) providing an end of said load beam with a lift tab, and providing a portion of said lift tab with a cylindrical shape;

(e) providing a read/write recording element and supporting said read/write recording element by said load beam at a position intermediate said center of rotation and said lift tab; and

(f) providing a cam assembly comprising a cam surface and locating said cam assembly on said baseplate at a position adjacent to an edge of said disk and in a location in which said cylindrical shaped portion of said lift tab can contact said cam surface.

53. The method according to claim 52, further comprising the step of:

(g) placing at least a portion of said cylindrically shaped portion of said lift tab in contact with a portion of said cam surface.

54. The method according to claim 53, further comprising the steps of:

rotating said rigid disk; and

rotating said elongated actuator arm to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface.

55. The method according to claim 53, wherein after step (g) the method further comprises the step of:

(h) rotating said elongated actuator arm to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface and to a position wherein said read/write recording element is in an operative relationship with a surface of said rigid disk.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein prior to step (h) the method comprises the step of:

rotating said rigid disk.

57. The method according to claim 52, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of providing said cam surface with a contour which permits rotation of said elongated actuator arm in a direction and in an amount sufficient to permit in step (b) installation of said rigid disk without interference with said elongated actuator arm.

58. The method according to claim 52, wherein in step (c) said load beam is constructed by the steps of:

providing a support arm portion having a first end supported for rotation about said center of rotation;

providing a lift tab portion having a first and a second end, and attaching said first end of said lift tab portion to said first end of said support arm portion such that said second end extends beyond said first end of said support arm portion;

providing on said lift tab portion a lift tab for contacting a portion of said cam surface.

59. The method according to claim 52, wherein the step of providing a cam assembly further comprises providing a cam assembly which is removably supported on said baseplate.

60. The method according to claim 52, wherein the step of providing a cam assembly on said baseplate further comprises providing a cam assembly which is positionable at a plurality of locations.

61. The method according to claim 52, wherein the step of providing a cam assembly comprising a cam surface further comprises constructing said cam surface such that one portion of said cam surface terminates at a first location adjacent to a surface of said disk and further such that another portion of said cam surface terminates at a second location, the method further comprising the steps of:

positioning said elongated actuator arm at a location such that said lift tab is adjacent to said second location; and

moving said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position at least a portion of said cylindrically shaped portion of said lift tab in contact with a portion of said cam surface.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of providing a detent on said cam surface, and wherein the step of moving said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position at least a portion of said cylindrically shaped portion of said lift tab in contact with a portion of said cam surface comprises positioning said lift tab at said detent.

63. The method according to claim 61, further comprising the step of:

rotating said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein said method further comprises the step of rotating said disk, and wherein the step of rotating said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to move said lift tab out of contact with said cam surface comprises moving said actuator by an amount sufficient to position said read/write recording element in an operative relationship with a surface of said rigid disk while said disk is rotating.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of providing a detent position on said cam surface.

66. The method according to claim 52, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of providing on said cam surface a first raised lobe, a second raised lobe and a detent disposed therebetween.

67. The method according to claim 52, further comprising the steps of:

providing another elongated actuator arm comprising a load beam and pivotally supporting said another actuator arm for rotation about said center of rotation;

providing an end of said another load beam with another lift tab, and providing a portion of said another lift tab with a curvilinear shape;

providing another read/write recording element and supporting said another read/write recording element by said another load beam at a position intermediate said center of rotation and said lift tab; and

providing on said cam assembly another cam surface in a location in which said curvilinear shaped portion of said lift tab of said another beam can contact said another cam surface.

68. The method according to claim 67, further comprising the steps of providing a detent position on said cam surface and providing another detent position on said another cam surface.

69. The method according to claim 67, wherein the steps of providing said cam surface and providing said another cam surface further comprises the steps of:

constructing said cam surface such that a first portion of said cam surface terminates at a first location adjacent to a surface of said disk and a second portion of said cam surface terminates at a second location displaced from said first location, constructing said another cam surface such that one portion of said another cam surface terminates at a third location adjacent to another surface of said disk and another portion of said another surface terminates at a location displaced from said third location, the method further comprising the steps of;

positioning said elongated actuator arm at a location such that said lift tab is adjacent to said second location, and moving said elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position at least a portion of said cylindrical portion of said lift tab in contact with a portion of said cam surface; and

positioning said another elongated actuator arm at a location such that the associated lift tab is adjacent to said third location, and moving said another elongated actuator arm by an amount sufficient to position at least a portion of the curvilinear portion of the associated lift tab in contact with a portion of said another cam surface.

70. The method according to claim 67, further comprising the step of:

placing said lift tab and said another lift tab in contact with a portion of their associated cam surfaces.

71. The method according to claim 70, further comprising the step of:

providing a planar plate and positioning said planar plate such that said plate is between said read/write recording element and said another read/write recording element in a location adjacent to an edge of said disk.

72. The method according to claim 70, further comprising the steps of:

rotating said elongated actuator arm and rotating said another elongated actuator arm to move their associated lift tabs out of contact with their associated cam surfaces and to a position wherein said read/write recording element is positioned in an operative relationship with one surface of said rigid disk, and wherein said another read/write recording element is positioned in an operative relationship with another surface of said rigid disk.

73. The method according to claim 72, wherein the step of rotating said rigid disk is performed prior to positioning said read/write recording element and said another read/write recording element in operative relationship with their respective disk surfaces, and further wherein the positioning of said read/write recording element and said another read/write recording element is performed while said disk is rotating.