Spacing device for magnetic recording and/or reading head-holder pads in a disc memory apparatus

Claim 2

The combination comprising a disc having an axis of rotation and having on at least one surface a plurality of concentric magnetic areas, a plurality of pads each carrying at least one head, a plurality of support arms extending radially over said surface of said disc, at least one pad mounted on each support arm, an attitude spring bearing each pad on said support arm, mounting means mounting said support arms for radial movement relative to said disc and to position each said pad at a very short distance from said surface of a disc, drive means coupled to said mounting means for radially moving said support arms relative to said disc, fixed spacing ramp means defining a plurality of surfaces inclined with respect to said surface of said disc, said fixed spacing ramp means located near said surface radially inwardly from the periphery of the disc near the axis of said disc, each said support arm having a sliding part defined at its radially inner end for cooperating with an inclined surface of said fixed spacing ramp means to space the pad mounted on said support arm from the surface of the disc without force exerted directly on said pad or its attitude spring when said drive means is actuated and said support arm is moved radially toward the axis of said disc.

Claim 3

The combination comprising a stack of at least two discs coaxially arranged in spaced relationship, said discs on their facing surfaces each defining a plurality of concentric magnetic areas, a plurality of pads each carrying at least one head, a plurality of support arms extending radially into the space between facing surfaces of adjacent discs, at least one pad mounted on each support arm, an attitude spring bearing each pad on said support arm, mounting means mounting said support arms for radial movement relative to said stack of discs and to position each said pad at a very short distance from a surface of a disc, drive means coupled to said mounting means for radially moving said support arms relative to said stack of discs, fixed spacing ramp means defining a plurality of surfaces inclined with respect to the facing surfaces of the stack of discs, said fixed spacing ramp means located between said facing surfaces radially inwardly from the peripheries of the discs near the axis of said stack of discs, each said support arm having a sliding part defined at its radially inner end for cooperating with an inclined surface of said fixed spacing ramp means to space the pad mounted on said support arm from the associated surface of the disc without force exerted directly on said pad or its attitude spring when said drive means is actuated and said support arm is moved radially toward the axis of said stack of discs.

Claim 4

The combination comprising a stack of at least two discs coaxially arranged in spaced relationship, said discs on their facing surfaces each defining a plurality of concentric magnetic areas, a plurality of pads each carrying at least one head, a plurality of support arms extending radially into the space between facing surfaces of adjacent discs, at least one pad mounted on each support arm, an attitude spring bearing each pad on said support arm, mounting means mounting said support arms for radial movement relative to said stack of discs and to position each said pad at a very short distance from a surface of a disc, drive means coupled to said mounting means for radially moving said support arms relative to said stack of discs, fixed spacing ramp means defining a plurality of surfaces inclined with respect to the facing surfaces of the stack of discs, said fixed spacing ramp means located between said facing surfaces radially inwardly from the peripheries of the discs near the axis of said stack of discs, each said support arm having a sliding part defined at its radially inner end for cooperating with an inclined surface of said fixed spacing ramp means to space the pad mounted on said support arm from the associated surface of the disc without force exerted directly on said pad or its attitude spring when said drive means is actuated and said support arm is moved radially toward the axis of said stack of discs.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein support arms bearing pads are arranged in each of the spaces defined between neighboring discs of the stack, one group of pads being assigned to one of the discs and the other group to the other disc, said fixed spacing ramp means defining a common part having two inclined surfaces symmetrical with one another with respect to a middle plane parallel with the discs, said inclined surfaces being respectively assigned to said groups of pads.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2 further including locking means for locking said support arms for maintaining the pads in their spaced position from the respective surfaces of the discs, even when said drive means are not actuated.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 2 further including movement limiters constituting stops for the pads, adapted to limit their movement with respect to the respective support arms and to prevent deformation of the attitude springs when said arms are in their locked position with the pads spaced from the respective discs.