Magnetic disk storage device having a return mechanism for automatically positioning heads to non-data area

Claim 2

A magnetic disk storage device comprising: at least one magnetic disk disposed for rotation about an axis through the center thereof and having an annular data area for recording information signals and an annular non-data area; drive means for rotating the magnetic disk about said axis; a magnetic head for reading and writing data to and from the data area of the magnetic disk, the magnetic head being disposed for movement along a travel path generally coincidental with a radius of the magnetic disk; transfer means for moving the magnetic head along the travel path when said transfer means is actuated; parking means for forcing the magnetic head in a direction along the travel path so as to move the magnetic head into the non-data area; said transfer means comprising a carrying arm for carrying the magnetic head, the carrying arm being disposed in a plane parallel to the magnetic disk for pivoting about an axis, and positioning means for pivoting the carrying arm about said carrying arm axis, the magnetic head being mounted on the carrying arm and moving therewith, the parking means comprising lever means for engaging said carrying arm, the lever means being rotatably disposed, and spring means for acting on the lever means so as to urge the lever means to the carrying arm, a pivot point for rotation of said lever means being located between the pivot axis for motion of said carrying arm and a contact point between said lever means and said carrying arm.

Claim 3

A magnetic disk storage device according to claim 1, wherein the lever means of the parking means includes at least a portion made of a magnetic substance, and further comprising locking means for preventing the parking means from jarring the magnetic head when the disk storage device is operative, the locking means including an electromagnet, said electromagnet magnetically holding the lever means when the positioning means is actuated, whereby preventing the parking means from jarring the magnetic head.

Claim 4

A magnetic disk storage device according to claim 1, wherein the parking means impacts against the carrying arm so as to force the magnetic head into said non-data area, one of the carrying means and the parking means having cushion means for contacting the other of the carrying means and parking means, the cushion means being made of a resilient material so as to reduce the impact of the parking means with the carrying means.

Claim 5

A magnetic disk storage device comprising: at least one magnetic disk disposed for rotation about an axis through the center thereof and having an annular data area for recording information signals and an annular non-data area; drive means for rotating the magnetic disk about said axis; a magnetic head for reading and writing data to and from the data area of the magnetic disk, the magnetic head being disposed for movement along a travel path generally coincidental with a radius of the magnetic disk; transfer means for moving the magnetic head along the travel path when said transfer means is actuated; parking means for forcing the magnetic head in a direction along the travel path so as to move the magnetic head into the non-data area; a locking means for preventing the parking means from jarring the magnetic head when the transfer means is actuated; wherein the transfer means comprises a carrying arm for carrying the magnetic head and a positioning means for positioning the carrying arm, the carrying arm being disposed in a plane parallel to the magnetic disk for pivoting about the axis, the positioning means pivoting the carrying arm about said carrying arm axis, the magnetic head being mounted on the carrying arm so that the positioning means positions the magnetic head, the parking means impacts against the carrying arm so as to force the magnetic head into said non-data area, one of the carrying arm and the parking means having cushion means for contacting the other of the carrying arm and the parking means, the cushion means being a resilient material so as to reduce the impact of the parking means with the carrying arm, the data area of the magnetic disk including a starting position at a peripheral portion thereof, the carrying arm of the transfer means thrusting on the parking means through the cushioning means when the magnetic head moves from said non-data position to the starting position, the locking means locking the parking means in position when the magnetic head is positioned at the starting position, the cushioning means including an adjusting means for adjusting a distance between the carrying arm and the parking means when said magnetic head is in said non-data position, whereby the starting position of the magnetic head is adjustable.

Claim 6

A magnetic disk storage device comprising: at least one magnetic disk disposed for rotation about an axis through the center thereof and having an annular data area for recording information signals and an annular non-data area; drive means for rotating the magnetic disk about said axis; a magnetic head for reading and writing data to and from the data area of the magnetic disk, the magnetic head being disposed for movement along a travel path generally coincidental with a radius of the magnetic disk; transfer means for moving the magnetic head along the travel path when said transfer means is actuated; parking means for forcing the magnetic head in a direction along the travel path so as to move the magnetic head into the non-data area; a locking means for preventing the parking means from jarring the magnetic head when the transfer means is actuated; wherein the transfer means comprises a carrying arm for carrying the magnetic head and a positioning means for positioning the carrying arm, the carrying arm being disposed in a plane parallel to the magnetic disk for pivoting about the axis, the positioning means pivoting the carrying arm about said carrying arm axis, the magnetic head being mounted on the carrying arm so that the positioning means positions the magnetic head, the parking means impacts against the carrying arm so as to force the magnetic head into said non-data area, one of the carrying arm and the parking means having cushion means for contacting the other of the carrying arm and the parking means, the cushion means being a resilient material so as to reduce the impact of the parking means with the carrying arm, the data area of the magnetic disk including a starting position at a peripheral portion thereof, the carrying arm of the transfer means thrusting on the parking means through the cushioning means when the magnetic head moves from said non-data position to the starting position, the locking means locking the parking means in position when the magnetic head is positioned at the starting position, the cushioning means including an adjusting means for adjusting a distance between the carrying arm and the parking means when said magnetic head is in said non-data position, whereby the starting position of the magnetic head is adjustable.

Claim 7

A magnetic disk storage device according to claim 4, the magnetic disk storage device is a portable type.

Claim 8

A magnetic disk storage device according to claim 5, wherein a diameter of the magnetic disk is equal to or less than 96 mm.

Claim 9

A magnetic disk storage device including a rotatably mounted magnetic disk storage device including a rotatably mounted magnetic storage disk, said disk being divided into at least a data area and a non-data area, drive means for rotating said disk, a carrier arm holding a magnetic head and mounted for motion that moves said head along a travel path relative to said disk, motor means for transferring said carrier arm to thereby move said head between said non-data and data areas, comprising: parking means biased for forcing the magnetic head along the travel path into a position where the magnetic head is in the non-data area; locking means for holding the parking means in position for preventing the parking means from forcing the magnetic head when said storage device is operative and said magnetic head is in said data area, and for releasing said parking means when said storage device in inoperative, said parking means forcing said magnetic head to said non-data area; cushion means on one of said carrier arm and parking means for force transmission, said cushion means being positioned between said carrier arm and said parking means leaving a gap between said carrier arm and said parking means when said parking means forces said head along said travel path to said non-data area and when said motor means moves said head along said travel path from said non-data area to said data area, said cushion means including adjusting means for adjusting said gap between said carrier arm and said parking means, whereby a starting position of said magnetic head relative to said data area may be adjusted.

Claim 10

A magnetic disk storage device including a rotatably mounted magnetic disk storage device including a rotatably mounted magnetic storage disk, said disk being divided into at least a data area and a non-data area, drive means for rotating said disk, a carrier arm holding a magnetic head and mounted for motion that moves said head along a travel path relative to said disk, motor means for transferring said carrier arm to thereby move said head between said non-data and data areas, comprising: parking means biased for forcing the magnetic head along the travel path into a position where the magnetic head is in the non-data area; locking means for holding the parking means in position for preventing the parking means from forcing the magnetic head when said storage device is operative and said magnetic head is in said data area, and for releasing said parking means when said storage device in inoperative, said parking means forcing said magnetic head to said non-data area; cushion means on one of said carrier arm and parking means for force transmission, said cushion means being positioned between said carrier arm and said parking means leaving a gap between said carrier arm and said parking means when said parking means forces said head along said travel path to said non-data area and when said motor means moves said head along said travel path from said non-data area to said data area, said cushion means including adjusting means for adjusting said gap between said carrier arm and said parking means, whereby a starting position of said magnetic head relative to said data area may be adjusted.