Multiple flexible disk file

Claim 2

In a storage apparatus having flexible magnetic disks mounted to a spindle assembly for rotation, the combination comprising: discrete uniformly apertured spacers concentrically seated on said spindle assembly and disposed between adjacent disks; and means for providing a flow of fluid outwardly from said spindle assembly and through said spacers, so that a uniform air flow is provided radially relative to said disks, wherein said spacers are of smaller diameter than said disks.

Claim 3

A magnetic storage apparatus comprising: a stack of flexible record disks; a hollow rotary spindle assembly having its rotary axis disposed substantially horizontally for mounting said disks concentrically along said axis, said spindle assembly having uniform openings along the axial direction; means for rotating said spindle assembly with said disks; uniformly apertured spacers concentrically seated on said spindle assembly and disposed between adjacent ones of said disks, and not attached to said disks, for evenly spacing said disks one from each other when said spindle assembly and disks are rotated; and means for applying a flow of air through the hollow interior of said spindle and through said uniform openings to provide uniform air movement radially relative to said rotating disks and through said apertured spacers, so that said dIsks are effectively separated and evenly spaced from each other, and maintained mechanically stable during rotation.

Claim 4

A magnetic storage apparatus comprising: a stack of flexible record disks; a hollow rotary spindle assembly having its rotary axis disposed substantially horizontally for mounting said disks concentrically along said axis, said spindle assembly having uniform openings along the axial direction; means for rotating said spindle assembly with said disks; uniformly apertured spacers concentrically seated on said spindle assembly and disposed between adjacent ones of said disks, and not attached to said disks, for evenly spacing said disks one from each other when said spindle assembly and disks are rotated; and means for applying a flow of air through the hollow interior of said spindle and through said uniform openings to provide uniform air movement radially relative to said rotating disks and through said apertured spacers, so that said dIsks are effectively separated and evenly spaced from each other, and maintained mechanically stable during rotation.

Claim 5

A magnetic storage apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said spacers are formed from porous polyester.

Claim 6

A magnetic storage apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said spacers are formed with cross-woven mesh.

Claim 7

A magnetic storage apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said spindle assembly is formed with air relief slots.

Claim 8

A magnetic storage apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said fluid flow applying means comprises a pressurized air source.

Claim 9

A magnetic storage apparatus as in claim 2, further including means for inserting an accessing magnetic transducer assembly between selected disks to enable transducing operation across selected surfaces of said disks.

Claim 10

A magnetic storage apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said inserting means comprises a wedge-like separator element.

Claim 11

A magnetic storage apparatus as in claim 8, including means for providing pressurized air to said separator element.

Claim 12

A magnetic storage apparatus as in claim 2, including an accessing structure, a head assembly mounted to said accessing structure, and means for moving said accessing structure axially relative to said spindle assembly, and for moving said head assembly orthogonally relative to the axis of said spindle assembly.

Claim 13

A magnetic storage apparatus as in claim 2, further including backing support plates clamped at each end of the disk stack for providing stability to said disk stack.