Method of and apparatus for driving a disk storage

Claim 1

In a digital information-storage apparatus of the type having a read and/or write head which inscribes information bits onto, and/or reads them from, at least one data storage disk which is rotated at high speed relative to such head by means of a rotary disk-holding structure comprised of a disk-support member configured to be accommodated in the large central aperture of such disk for transmitting rotation thereto, the combination with said rotary disk-support member of a motor-brake system, the system comprising an external-rotor motor, the motor having a stationary part and a rotating part, the rotating part comprising an axially extending rotor shaft and a rotating cup-shaped rotor housing having an outer surface provided with a braking surface portion, the stationary part of the motor including a mounting flange which is generally planar and extends normal to the axis of the rotor shaft, the rotor shaft extending axially in a first direction from the stationary mounting flange to the rotary disk-support member at a first axial side of the mounting flange, and a brake mounted on the stationary part of the motor and located spaced from the mounting flange in an opposite second axial direction and thus located at the opposite second axial side of the mounting flange, the brake including a braking part movable into and out of braking engagement with the braking surface portion of the rotor housing.