Data storage apparatus employing a single magnetic disk

Claim 1

A magnetic disk file for processing signals by transducing operation between a magnetic head assembly and a flexible magnetic disk which is enclosed in an interchangeable cartridge, with the cartridge having a central aperture larger than a concentric central aperture in said disk, so that an annular portion of said disk surrounding said central aperture of said disk is exposed, said cartridge further having an elliptical aperture disposed radially relative to said disk, comprising: a housing for enclosing said disk file, including a movable cover attached thereto; guide means joined to said housing into which said cartridge is inserted for maintaining said cartridge stationary during rotation of said disk; a non-rotary shaft having a rotatable centering cone at one end and a rotatable flange adjacent to said cone, said cone and flange being coaxially mounted to said shaft, said shaft movable along its longitudinal axis in response to the movement of said cover, said centering cone serving to penetrate the central aperture of said disk for centering said disk relative to said shaft, and said flange acting to engage the exposed portion of one surface of said disk, when said cover is moved to close the housing; a rotary drive hub assembly for clamping the exposed portion of the other surface of said disk and for engaging said rotatable centering cone with the disk therebetween; drive means connected to said hub assembly for rotating said hub assembly, centering cone and flange, so that said disk is rotated therewith; means for loading said flexible disk into intimate contact with said head assembly, so that said head assembly is aligned with said elliptical aperture; including a U-type spaced arm within which said disk is located, said arm serving to mount said head assembly and said disk in juxtaposition to said head aSsembly; a pressure pad mounted within said arm for urging said disk into contact with said head assembly; and flexure means for actuating said pressure pad toward said disk and head assembly in a loading mode, and for retracting said pressure pad from said disk in an unloading mode.