Latch for head positioning actuator for disc files

Claim 1

A latching mechanism for an actuating mechanism for a head support arm of a disk drive assembly, said arms having relative movement along a predetermined path between two limits associated with the movement of a head across a disk surface, comprising: a latching member mounted on said actuating mechanism for movement between latching, intermediate and unlatching positions; said latching member being formed with a latching detent portion obtruding into said path to block said relative movement in the latching position but freeing said path in the unlatching position; said latching member also having a trigger detent portion obtruding into said path in the unlatching position so as to be engaged and actuated by the actuating mechanism to cause said movement of the latching member to the latching position; said latching member being provided with a spring means mounted for aiding the movement of said latching member toward each of said latching and unlatching positions from said intermediate position thereof; and said actuating mechanism, during said movement between said limits and while spaced from said trigger detent portion, obtruding continuously in the path of said latching detent portion so as to prevent said latching member from moving to the latching position except when actuated to do so by engagement of said trigger detent portion by said actuating mechanism.