Magnetic disk storage apparatus

Claim 2

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and a stationary housing disk drive structure having a linearly movable actuator external to said cartridge, comprising: a frame assembly; apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle mounted in said frame assembly to which said disk means is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed interchangeable cartridge integrally joined with said frame assembly for enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; and means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said carriage and head assemblies including means for positioning and aligning said cartridge relative to said disk drive structure in at least two intersecting planes, so that the interfaces of said cartridge are joined to the interfaces of said disk drive structure.

Claim 3

A storage assembly as in claim 1, wherein said actuator that is external to said cartridge comprises a linear D.C. motor including a movable coil bobbin structure.

Claim 4

A storage assembly as in claim 2, wherein said carriage provides support and alignment for said movable bobbin structure.

Claim 5

A storage assembly as in claim 1, wherein said cartridge includes an access door for enabling coupling of said head assemblies with said housing actuator, said access door having an airtight seal for preventing contamination from entering said cartridge; and further including access door opening means for moving said access door outwardly from said cartridge to break such seal, and means for sliding said door to provide access for coupling said head assembly carriage with said actuator.

Claim 6

A storage assembly as in claim 1, wherein said cartridge is formed with a drive pulley coupled to said spindle; said housing structure includes a drive motor, drive pulley and pulley belt; and means for coupling said cartridge pulley with said housing pulley belt and drive motor for rotating said disk means.

Claim 7

A storage assembly as in claim 1, including braking means for maintaining said disks and said spindle stationary when said cartridge is removed from said file housing; and means for releasing said disks and disk spindle for rotation when said catridge is coupled to said file housing.

Claim 8

A storage assembly as in claim 1, further including braking means for maintaining said head assembly carriage stationary when said cartridge is removed from said file housing, and means for releasing said head carriage for bidirectional travel when said carriage is coupled to said actuator means.

Claim 9

A storage assembly as in claim 1, wherein the path of motion of each of said accessing head assemblies relative to its associated disk surface is limited to an area between the outer and inner peripheries of said apertured disk means.

Claim 10

A storage assembly as in claim 1, including air circulation means for directing air flow between said cartridge and said file housing.

Claim 11

A storage assembly as in claim 1, including camming means for actuating said coupling and uncoupling means.

Claim 12

A storage assembly as in claim 10, including a hinged door mounted to said housing structure and operable to drive said camming means.

Claim 13

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said cartridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally addressing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said carriage and head assemblies; including means for aligning said cartridge relative to said housing structure and said actuator, comprising a shroud mounted to said housing structure having registration means for cooperating with registration and alignment means of said cartridge, said shroud and said cartridge being movable relative to said stationary housing structure.

Claim 14

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said cartridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally addressing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said carriage and head assemblies; including means for aligning said cartridge relative to said housing structure and said actuator, comprising a shroud mounted to said housing structure having registration means for cooperating with registration and alignment means of said cartridge, said shroud and said cartridge being movable relative to said stationary housing structure.

Claim 15

A storage assembly as in claim 12, wherein said housing structure comprises guide elements including angular ramps and flat ways along which said cartridge and shroud are moved when being coupled to and uncoupled from said housing structure.

Claim 16

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said cartridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk mean is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said cartridge and head assemblies; wherein said housing structure includes a load cart, means for coupling said cartridge with said load cart to enable movement of said cartridge to and from said actuator for coupling and uncoupling of said cartridge and said actuator.

Claim 17

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said cartridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk mean is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said cartridge and head assemblies; wherein said housing structure includes a load cart, means for coupling said cartridge with said load cart to enable movement of said cartridge to and from said actuator for coupling and uncoupling of said cartridge and said actuator.

Claim 18

A storage assembly as in claim 14, wherein said load cart cooperates with a slotted cam for moving said cartridge into proper alignment, horizontally and vertically relative to said actuator.

Claim 19

An interchangeable data storage module comprising: a frame assembly; at least one storage disk; hub means for mounting said disk; a spindle mounted in said frame assembly for driving said hub and disk; at least one magnetic head assembly for cooperating with said storage disk to record and read information; means for supporting said head assembly with relation to said disks; a sealed, airtight interchangeable container including a cover integrally joined with said frame assembly for enclosing said disk, hub means, spindle, head assembly, and supporting means; and, pulley means coupled to said spindle and disposed externally to said container.

Claim 20

An interchangeable data storage module comprising: a frame assembly; at least one storage disk; hub means for mounting said disk; a spindle mounted in said frame assembly for driving said hub and disk; at least one magnetic head assembly for cooperating with said storage disk to record and read information; means for supporting said head assembly with relation to said disks; a sealed, airtight interchangeable container including a cover integrally joined with said frame assembly for enclosing said disk, hub means, spindle, head assembly, and supporting means; and, pulley means coupled to said spindle and disposed externally to said container.

Claim 21

A data storage module as in claim 16, wherein said supporting means is a movable carriage disposed within said module; and means for locking said carriage to a linear drive actuator external to said module so that said head assembly is adapted to access radially across said disk to different data tracks.

Claim 22

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and a stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said carTridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said carriage and head assemblies; wherein said cartridge includes an access door for enabling coupling of said head assemblies with said housing actuator, said access door having an airtight seal for preventing contamination from entering said cartridge; and further including access door opening means for moving said access door outwardly from said cartridge to break such seal, and means for sliding said door to provide access for coupling said head assembly carriage with said actuator; wherein said access door opening means comprises rotary force providing means and linear motion providing means.

Claim 23

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and a stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said carTridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said carriage and head assemblies; wherein said cartridge includes an access door for enabling coupling of said head assemblies with said housing actuator, said access door having an airtight seal for preventing contamination from entering said cartridge; and further including access door opening means for moving said access door outwardly from said cartridge to break such seal, and means for sliding said door to provide access for coupling said head assembly carriage with said actuator; wherein said access door opening means comprises rotary force providing means and linear motion providing means.

Claim 24

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and a stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said cartridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said carriage and head assemblies; wherein said cartridge includes an access door for enabling coupling of said head assemblies with said housing actuator, said access door having an airtight seal for preventing contamination from entering said cartridge; and further including access door opening means for moving said access door outwardly from said cartridge to break such seal, and means for sliding said door to provide access for coupling said head assembly carriage with said actuator; wherein said access door opening means includes a latch cam responsive to said camming means, a finger assembly coupled to said latch cam adapted to be rotated for opening and closing said sealed access door; a cable and pulley means; and a push rod responsive to said cable and pulley means for moving said door laterally to provide open access for coupling of said head assembly carriage and said actuator.

Claim 25

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and a stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said cartridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said carriage and head assemblies; wherein said cartridge includes an access door for enabling coupling of said head assemblies with said housing actuator, said access door having an airtight seal for preventing contamination from entering said cartridge; and further including access door opening means for moving said access door outwardly from said cartridge to break such seal, and means for sliding said door to provide access for coupling said head assembly carriage with said actuator; wherein said access door opening means includes a latch cam responsive to said camming means, a finger assembly coupled to said latch cam adapted to be rotated for opening and closing said sealed access door; a cable and pulley means; and a push rod responsive to said cable and pulley means for moving said door laterally to provide open access for coupling of said head assembly carriage and said actuator.

Claim 26

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and a stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said cartridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said carriage and head assemblies; wherein said cartridge is formed with a drive pulley coupled to said spindle; said housing structure includes a drive motor, drive pulley and pulley belt; and means for coupling said cartridge pulley with said housing pulley belt and drive motor for rotating said disk means; wherein said coupling means includes idler arms disposed in said housing structure to maintain said pulley belt tautly spread to allow placement of said cartridge and cartridge drive pulley within the perimeter of said belt; and means to Withdraw said idler arms so that said cartridge pulley and drive motor pulley may engage said pulley belt in a drive relation.

Claim 27

A data storage assembly including an interchangeable sealed magnetic disk cartridge and a stationary housing structure having an actuator external to said cartridge, comprising: apertured rotary magnetic disk means for storing data; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted for rotation; movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disks; a carriage supporting said head assemblies for moving said assemblies in response to said actuator; a sealed cartridge enclosing said disk means, spindle, carriage and head assemblies; means for coupling and uncoupling said cartridge to said housing structure, and said actuator to said carriage and head assemblies; wherein said cartridge is formed with a drive pulley coupled to said spindle; said housing structure includes a drive motor, drive pulley and pulley belt; and means for coupling said cartridge pulley with said housing pulley belt and drive motor for rotating said disk means; wherein said coupling means includes idler arms disposed in said housing structure to maintain said pulley belt tautly spread to allow placement of said cartridge and cartridge drive pulley within the perimeter of said belt; and means to Withdraw said idler arms so that said cartridge pulley and drive motor pulley may engage said pulley belt in a drive relation.

Claim 28

A data storage module interchangeable with any one of a multiplicity of like modules for engagement with a disk file housing comprising: a rotary shaft; at least one record disk mounted to said shaft; at least one transducer for accessing concentric tracks on said disk to write and read data; movable means for supporting said transducer to accomplish said accessing; an enclosure for enclosing said disk, said transducer, and said movable transducer supporting means; means for locating said module in a predetermined position in said housing, said locating means having portions protruding from said enclosure; means for coupling said rotary shaft to a drive power source external to said enclosure; and means for coupling said movable means and said transducer to a bidirectional drive means that is external to said enclosure for positioning said transducer to different tracks on said disk.

Claim 29

A data storage module interchangeable with any one of a multiplicity of like modules for engagement with a disk file housing comprising: a rotary shaft; at least one record disk mounted to said shaft; at least one transducer for accessing concentric tracks on said disk to write and read data; movable means for supporting said transducer to accomplish said accessing; an enclosure for enclosing said disk, said transducer, and said movable transducer supporting means; means for locating said module in a predetermined position in said housing, said locating means having portions protruding from said enclosure; means for coupling said rotary shaft to a drive power source external to said enclosure; and means for coupling said movable means and said transducer to a bidirectional drive means that is external to said enclosure for positioning said transducer to different tracks on said disk.

Claim 30

A data storage module for use with any one of a plurality of like disk drives, said module having a first set of interfaces adapted to coact with a second set of interfaces on each of said drives, said module comprising in combination: a frame assembly; a shaft mounted in said frame assembly for rotation relative thereto; means associated with one end of said shaft to define a first interface of said first set; at least one magnetic disk for storing data in concentric circular tracks; means mounting said disk for rotation with said shaft; transducing means including at least one magnetic transducer adapted to be selectively positioned in transducing relationship relative to said one disk; circuit means operable to selectively convert data signals to magnetic transitions on said tracks and transitions on said tracks to data signals, said circuit means including a first group of terminals defining a second interface of said first set adapted to be interconnected with terminals on any one of said like disk drives for transferring said data signals between said module and said any one drive; means for moving said transducer relative to said disk including an element defining a third interface of said first set, said element adapted to cooperate with means on said any one drive to position said transducer at a selected track; and means including a cover integrally joined with said frame assembly for enclosing said disk, said transducer and said transducer moving means, and for exposing said first interface, and for maintaining said first, second and third interfaces in a fixed postion relative to each other.

Claim 31

A data storage module for use with any one of a plurality of like disk drives, said module having a first set of interfaces adapted to coact with a second set of interfaces on each of said drives, said module comprising in combination: a frame assembly; a shaft mounted in said frame assembly for rotation relative thereto; means associated with one end of said shaft to define a first interface of said first set; at least one magnetic disk for storing data in concentric circular tracks; means mounting said disk for rotation with said shaft; transducing means including at least one magnetic transducer adapted to be selectively positioned in transducing relationship relative to said one disk; circuit means operable to selectively convert data signals to magnetic transitions on said tracks and transitions on said tracks to data signals, said circuit means including a first group of terminals defining a second interface of said first set adapted to be interconnected with terminals on any one of said like disk drives for transferring said data signals between said module and said any one drive; means for moving said transducer relative to said disk including an element defining a third interface of said first set, said element adapted to cooperate with means on said any one drive to position said transducer at a selected track; and means including a cover integrally joined with said frame assembly for enclosing said disk, said transducer and said transducer moving means, and for exposing said first interface, and for maintaining said first, second and third interfaces in a fixed postion relative to each other.

Claim 32

An interchangeable data storage module for operation with any one of a number of like disk drives which have a linearly movable actuator and a drive belt, said module having rotary magnetic disk means for storing data and servo information, and movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disk means, comprising: a carriage for supporting said head assemblies for bidirectional movement relative to said rotary disk means; a sealed interchangeable cartridge for enclosing said disk means, carriage and head assemblies; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted within said cartridge, said spindle supporting a pulley to be driven, disposed externally of said module; means for coupling and uncoupling said module to a selected disk drive including; registration means formed on said cartridge for positioning said spindle pulley within a loop formed by said drive belt; module positioning means for aligning and coupling said head carriage with said linearly movable actuator; and module electrical connection means for connecting to electrical signal supply means of said disk drive; said registration means, positioning means, and electrical connection means having a fixed geometric relationship, so tHat said module and any like module is interchangeable for coupling to any one of said like disk drives in operative relationship.

Claim 33

An interchangeable data storage module for operation with any one of a number of like disk drives which have a linearly movable actuator and a drive belt, said module having rotary magnetic disk means for storing data and servo information, and movable head assemblies for bidirectionally accessing different data tracks of said disk means, comprising: a carriage for supporting said head assemblies for bidirectional movement relative to said rotary disk means; a sealed interchangeable cartridge for enclosing said disk means, carriage and head assemblies; a drive spindle to which said disk means is mounted within said cartridge, said spindle supporting a pulley to be driven, disposed externally of said module; means for coupling and uncoupling said module to a selected disk drive including; registration means formed on said cartridge for positioning said spindle pulley within a loop formed by said drive belt; module positioning means for aligning and coupling said head carriage with said linearly movable actuator; and module electrical connection means for connecting to electrical signal supply means of said disk drive; said registration means, positioning means, and electrical connection means having a fixed geometric relationship, so tHat said module and any like module is interchangeable for coupling to any one of said like disk drives in operative relationship.

Claim 34

An interchangeable data storage module for coacting with a disk file apparatus comprising: a frame assembly; a shaft mounted in said frame assembly for rotation relative thereto; magnetic disk means; means for mounting said disk means to said shaft for rotation; magnetic head means movable parallel to the surface of said disk means for transducing data registered on said disk means; means for supporting said head means and for transporting said head means relative to said disk means, operable to be coupled to an external actuator associated with said apparatus; means for positioning and aligning said module relative to said disk file apparatus in at least two intersecting planes when joining said module to said disk file apparatus; and an interchangeable enclosure for containing said disk means, disk mounting means, head means and head supporting and transporting means, said module being interchangeable among a plurality of like said file apparatus, so that data recorded by means of a magnetic head on a surface of said disk means of the data module, when coacting with a first disk file apparatus, may be effectively read by the same magnetic head when said data module is coacting with the same or a second like disk file apparatus.

Claim 35

An interchangeable data storage module for coacting with a disk file apparatus comprising: a frame assembly; a shaft mounted in said frame assembly for rotation relative thereto; magnetic disk means; means for mounting said disk means to said shaft for rotation; magnetic head means movable parallel to the surface of said disk means for transducing data registered on said disk means; means for supporting said head means and for transporting said head means relative to said disk means, operable to be coupled to an external actuator associated with said apparatus; means for positioning and aligning said module relative to said disk file apparatus in at least two intersecting planes when joining said module to said disk file apparatus; and an interchangeable enclosure for containing said disk means, disk mounting means, head means and head supporting and transporting means, said module being interchangeable among a plurality of like said file apparatus, so that data recorded by means of a magnetic head on a surface of said disk means of the data module, when coacting with a first disk file apparatus, may be effectively read by the same magnetic head when said data module is coacting with the same or a second like disk file apparatus.

Claim 36

A data storage module as in claim 24, including means for locking and unlocking said enclosure in cooperation with external drive means so that said module is interchangeable.

Claim 37

A data storage module as in claim 24, including means for coupling said shaft to an external rotary drive means, comprising a pulley wheel joined to said shaft, said pulley wheel engaging a drive belt of said disk file apparatus when said module and said disk file apparatus are connected in transducing operative relation.

Claim 38

A data storage module as in claim 24, including signal connection means coupled internally of said enclosure to said head means and to a source of signals external to said enclosure.

Claim 39

A data storage module as in claim 24, wherein said magnetic disk means includes a recorded servo track reference disk surface, and said movable magnetic head means includes a servo transducer.