US4881140A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated disc drive and actuators support
Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
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Filing: 1987-11-02
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Granted: 1989-11-14
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Expires: 2007-11-02
Abstract
Abstract In a disc drive, the normal bearing pivot assembly is replaced with a combination of a lightweight actuator arm and biasing strip spring. One end of the strip spring is mounted to a block and the effective force of the spring is aligned with the actuator arm running toward the stepper motor. The other, or head end of the actuator arm contains a gear sector having gear teeth on its face which mesh with a pinion on a motor shaft so rotation of the motor shaft across the face of the gear sector causes movement of the head mounting arm.
Inventors
- 👤 Sanjoy Ghose
- 👤 Efim Bronshvatch
- 👤 Miles L. Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:18
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/12; G11B33/121; G11B19/00; G11B19/20; G11B19/2009; G11B21/00; G11B21/02; G11B21/08; G11B21/16; G11B25/00; G11B25/04; G11B25/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A rotary actuator head positioning apparatus located within the housing of a disc drive comprising means for positioning a transducer relative to a recording medium comprising a constantly rotating disc within the housing, including an arm releasably having a transducer affixed to one end of a head arm portion, an elongate positioner arm being movable about a pivot point for positioning the transducer relative to the recording medium, spring means supporting an end of said arm assembly at a pivot point, first motor means mounted in the housing and having an output drive shaft coupled to a driven end of the arm assembly distal from said pivot point and the transducer for positioning the arm assembly selectively over tracks on the disc, second motor means mounted in said housing for supporting and constantly rotating said discs, whereby mounting both of said motors in said common base housing assures reliable relative positioning of said actuator and said discs, and said head arm portion being attached to the side of said positioner arm and extending directly over said disc from a location between said pivot point and said first motor mount.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A rotary actuator head positioning apparatus located within the housing of a disc drive comprising means for positioning a transducer relative to a recording medium comprising a constantly rotating disc within the housing, including an arm releasably having a transducer affixed to one end of a head arm portion, an elongate positioner arm being movable about a pivot point for positioning the transducer relative to the recording medium, spring means supporting an end of said arm assembly at a pivot point, first motor means mounted in the housing and having an output drive shaft coupled to a driven end of the arm assembly distal from said pivot point and the transducer for positioning the arm assembly selectively over tracks on the disc, second motor means mounted in said housing for supporting and constantly rotating said discs, whereby mounting both of said motors in said common base housing assures reliable relative positioning of said actuator and said discs, and said head arm portion being attached to the side of said positioner arm and extending directly over said disc from a location between said pivot point and said first motor mount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a single base casting for supporting said arm assembly and said motor, said base casting including an upright wall portion defining a housing envelope for a rotor and stator of said first motor means, whereby the need for a separate housing envelope for said motor is eliminated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first motor comprises a stepper motor including first and second bearings supporting said shaft in said housing, a pinion on said drive shaft between said first and second bearings providing coupling between the shaft and said positioner arm assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said stator of said stepper motor is located outside the region defined by said first and second bearings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A disc drive as in claim 1 wherein said motor means for positioning the arm assembly comprises a stepper motor supported by said housing with a shaft extending up through said housing to contact said distal end of the arm assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A disc drive as in claim 5 wherein said stepper motor and said second motor means are each supported in a housing, said disc drive housing including a base casting having said stepper motor and second motor means housings as an integral part thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A disc drive as in claim 6 wherein an actuator arm of said arm assembly from said end supported by the leaf spring to said driven end is made of a molded material comprising carbon filter
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A disc drive as in claim 7 wherein said actuator arm material comprises a lubricant whereby the arm interface between the actuator arm and the stepper motor shaft is lubricated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A disc drive as in claim 8 wherein said distal portion of said arm includes teeth which mate with gear sectors carried on the face of said motor shaft, engagement between said teeth and said sectors being maintained by the force exerted by said leaf spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-05-15 | 1993-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-13 | 1997-05-15 | 1997-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-13 | 2001-05-15 | 2001-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |