Lightweight, rigid, compact configuration for the voice coil, carriage and printed circuit cable in a disc drive

Claim 1

In a magnetic disc memory storage apparatus including a base, spindle means mounted to the base for rotation of a plurality of discs, a transducer array for accessing information magnetically recorded on each disc, and an actuator assembly for moving the transducer array along a straight radial path to spaced track locations on each discs, comprising a carriage, means adjacent the rotating discs for guiding the carriage for movement along a desired linear path of travel relative to the discs comprising upper and lower rails arrayed along said linear path, a pair of symmetrically disposed motor sections, one section on each side of said path, said carriage comprising a rectangular framework comprising at least four upright posts joined together by a base and a top to form said rectangular carriage framework, bearing means coupling the carriage to the guide means for travel on said linear path said bearing means comprising three pairs of bearings, two of said pairs of bearings engaging one of said rails and preceding and following said rectangular framework, and said third pair of bearings engaging the other of said rails and located adjacent the rectangular framework, and a single coil carried on said carriage in an orientation defined by said upright posts and aligned with the motor sections to drive the carriage along the path, said single coil being mounted on and supported by a rectangular bobbin located within said rectangular framework of said carriage to define semi-cylindrical open voice coils extending on either side of the carriage arranged to pass over semi-cylindrical pole piece sections of said motor as the carriage passes between the motor sections, means for mounting said transducer array comprising a head mounting block attached to the lead surface of said rectangular framework the carriage being generally symmetrical about a vertical plane through its center line, said carriage being shaped so that a center of gravity thereof is on said plane and midway between the pole pieces of said motor and midway between said rails for guiding said carriage so that forces used to linearly move said carriage are centralized in said carriage, said bobbin and said coil and said head mount block serving to maintain the shape of and provide structural rigidity to said rectangular framework and form in combination with said rectangular framework an integrated carriage assembly with maximum structural stiffness and minimal moving mass.