Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A flexible magnetic disk drive unit comprising a flexible magnetic disk with a metallic thin-film type recording layer thereon, the disk being enclosed in a jacket, the jacket having a radial opening which permits access to both sides of the magnetic disk along a radius from the center of the disk to its edge; motor means for rotating the disk at a preset speed, and a magnetic head assembly means for recording data on and retrieving data from the disk, the magnetic head assembly means further comprising: a magnetic recording and retrieving head means for magnetic recording and retrieving having a magnetic recording and retrieving head arranged on one side of the flexible magnetic disk, capable of moving back and forth along the radial opening in the jacket, thereby permitting access to the disk, the head being in sliding contact with the metallic thin-film type recording layer of the flexible magnetic disk; and first pad means for supporting the flexible magnetic disk on the side opposite to the side where the magnetic recording and retrieving head means contacts said disk while said disk rotates, the first pad means including a plurality of supporting pads with contact end faces disposed so as to surround the area which is opposite that area being contacted by said recording and retrieving head, the contact end faces of the supporting pads having a Vickers hardness equal to or more than 500.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A flexible magnetic disk drive unit comprising a flexible magnetic disk with a metallic thin-film type recording layer thereon, the disk being enclosed in a jacket, the jacket having a radial opening which permits access to both sides of the magnetic disk along a radius from the center of the disk to its edge; motor means for rotating the disk at a preset speed, and a magnetic head assembly means for recording data on and retrieving data from the disk, the magnetic head assembly means further comprising: a magnetic recording and retrieving head means for magnetic recording and retrieving having a magnetic recording and retrieving head arranged on one side of the flexible magnetic disk, capable of moving back and forth along the radial opening in the jacket, thereby permitting access to the disk, the head being in sliding contact with the metallic thin-film type recording layer of the flexible magnetic disk; and first pad means for supporting the flexible magnetic disk on the side opposite to the side where the magnetic recording and retrieving head means contacts said disk while said disk rotates, the first pad means including a plurality of supporting pads with contact end faces disposed so as to surround the area which is opposite that area being contacted by said recording and retrieving head, the contact end faces of the supporting pads having a Vickers hardness equal to or more than 500.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The drive unit of claim 1, wherein the contact end faces of the supporting pads have a spherical surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device unit of claim 2 wherein the supporting pads are made of an abrasion-resistant thermally conductive non-magnetic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The drive unit of claim 3, the supporting pads being further comprised of crystallized glass and aluminum ceramics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drive unit of claim 1, wherein the contact end faces of the supporting pads are formed with at least one recess for trapping dust and other foreign materials therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The drive unit according to claim 5, wherein the recess in each contact end face is formed so as to extend in a direction approximately at right angles to the sliding direction of the flexible magnetic disk in sliding contact with the supporting pads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
The drive unit of claim 1, wherein the head assembly means further comprises: carriage means for commonly mounting thereon at least the magnetic recording and retrieving head means and the first pad means, the carriage means being movable along the radius of the disk in the area of the radial opening in the jacket so that the magnetic recording and retrieving head means can be positioned at a desired read/write position on said flexible magnetic disk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
The drive unit of claim 7, wherein the carriage means further comprises a first mounting arm extended above the disk and a second mounting arm extended beneath the disk, said first arm having a spring element attached thereto for resiliently holding the magnetic recording and retrieving head onto the disk, the head being directed perpendicularly downwards towards the recording layer of said disk, and wherein the second arm holds the first pad means, the first pad means being directed perpendicularly upwards towards the disk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of supporting pads of said first pad means has a columnar shape extending toward said flexible magnetic disk.