Burroughs, Inc.

Magnetic Information Technology, Inc.

Unisys Corporation

Megatape Corporation

Ko Ko Gyi

Herbert U Ragle

Gurbachan S Grewal

Wilfred D Iwan

Michael Isaac Behr

Dean L DeMoss

Norman S Blessum

Werner Brutsch

Joseph C Palotay

Improved spacer means for flexible magnetic disk pack storage systems are illustrated in the embodiments, each preferably comprising a set of fingers arrayed on each disk.

Spacer means on floppy disks and associated techniques

An arrangement for loading a tape cartridge in a deck of a magnetic tape transport has a motor-driven pair of cams engaging different ones of a pair of pivotally mounted elongated arms disposed beneath the deck with one of the arms mounting a pawl extending through an aperture in the deck. Rotation of the cams causes movement of the pawl-mounting arm enabling the pawl to engage a ridge at the underside of a tape cartridge being loaded in the deck and push the cartridge into the region of an operative position adjacent a magnetic transducer assembly. Movement of the other elongated arm in conjunction with the pawl-mounting arm slides a fork assembly beneath the deck so as to raise three different pins coupled thereto and mounted within the deck. A partially conical pin and a rectangular pin adjacent the transducer assembly engage recesses of similar configuration at the underside of the tape cartridge to precisely position the cartridge relative to mutually perpendicular X and Y axes while at the same time urging the top of the cartridge base against a pair of height referencing rods so as to precisely position the forward portion of the cartridge relative to a vertical Z axis. The third pin engages the underside of the cartridge adjacent the rear portion thereof so as to position the rear portion of the cartridge relative to the Z axis against a further reference surface. Further rotation of the pair of cams and the resulting rotation of the pair of elongated arms pulls the pawl away from the cartridge and lowers the pins to permit removal of the cartridge from the deck.

Tape cartridge loading apparatus

A fixture or fixtures and method for assembly and/or fabrication of a component of magnetic information storage apparatus. The component is a flexure arm carrying parts including a gimbal plate; transducer, that is, a magnetic slider head; and a flex cable connecting to the magnetic poles of the magnetic slider head. A fixture is provided having a configuration and holding pins for holding the magnetic slider head; for holding the gimbal plate, and a flexure arm with parts in aligned relationship, the fixture having a removable part which holds the gimbal plate and which is removable from the fixture for subsequent positioning of the flexure arm. Fixture parts are provided for configurating the flex cable. The method comprises a series of steps including positioning parts to be assembled in relationship to the fixture; taking out the removable fixture part; positioning the flexure arm and bonding and attaching the parts together to complete the fully assembled and fabricated component.

Apparatus and method for aligning and assembly of a gimbal, magnetic

Fixture means and method for accurately positioning a carrier member or button with a magnetic slider head having a gap, in a carriage to be mounted in magnetic information storage equipment, particularly adapted for use with micro and mini computers. The fixture embodies a pair of parallel rods on which the carriage can be mounted for relative sliding movement. The fixture has a transparent panel at one end. The carriage is positionable in the fixture with the carrier button and the magnetic slider head directly underneath the transparent panel. A plunger and spring is provided in the fixture to provide a holding force against the magnetic slider head against the underside of the transparent panel. A video camera is provided having a lens with a reticle in it positioned with the optical axis aligned to provide an image of the magnetic gap. The camera is connected in closed circuit relationship with a television set or projector so that an image of the magnetic gap and the reticle appear on the display screen magnified 20 times. The operator then manually adjusts the button and the magnetic gap to orient the gap with reference to the image of the reticle in azimuth, track to track relationship and in indexed relationship.

Apparatus and method for orienting a magnetic gap in a slider head in a

Tooling and method for assembling parts of a component of a drive apparatus for disc records. A fixture is provided having a cavity for holding a carrier member or button for a magnetic slider head. The slider head is held in an opening in the button while in the fixture, the fixture establishing a predetermined relationship between the button and the slider head. A holding plate is provided with means for holding the parts in the fixture. The method includes the steps of providing the fixture, placing the slider head in the opening in the button, placing these parts in the fixture and holding them in predetermined relationship; applying bonding material to the slider head and the opening; holding the parts in the said relationship for a period of time, while the bonding material cures.

Apparatus and method for assembling component parts

Improved disk drive equipment is illustrated, being characterized by improved partitioning means for partitioning a pack of flexible magnetic recording disks, the partitioning means featuring 'pneumatic commutator' means for distributing air streams to various inter-disk gaps in the pack--this commutator means constituting part of an external, rotationally stabilized jet-select apparatus.

Pneumatic commutator for end-wise partitioning

Disclosed are flexible disk packs formed of disks which have an engagement section along their periphery, this section being adapted to be engaged by associated partition wedge means; in one embodiment each disk is made identical and includes a 'partition edge'; then the disks are stacked so that each edge occupies a unique angular position in the stack--this facilitating engagement of any edge by the wedge, according to when the wedge is activated; whereby to effect pack-partition and exposure of a 'selected' disk surface for transducer access.

Partitionable flexible disk pack

Improved flexible disk pack magnetic storage systems and associated sub-assemblies and media are illustrated as combined with improved partition means in the embodiments, these involving a pack of flexible magnetic according disks stacked for co-rotation at high rpm on a manipulator assembly which includes a pneumatic separator-hub as the partitioner, being adapted to be shifted axially along the disk array so as to direct an air jet between selected disks and thereby selectable split the stack for entry of a transducer assembly.

Partition of high performance floppy pack and associated means

Shown and described are paired floppy-disk memory modules advantageously interlaced together and coupled to a CPU to provide a direct-access Mass Store Memory capability, each module comprising a pair of 'short-stack' floppy disk files and an associated pair of transducer-actuator assemblies 'shared' by the files.

Mass storage device

The disclosed embodiments are characterized by flexible disk packs and related storage apparatus characterized by disks with a circumferential tab section adapted to be engaged by associated partition wedge means; in one form each disk is identical and the disks are stacked so that each tab occupies a unique angular position in the stack -- this facilitating selective engagement of any tab by the wedge so as to effect pack-partition and exposure of a 'selected' disk surface for transducer access.

Flexible disk pack, related storage apparatus having disks with

Embodiment illustrates technique for better controlling 'head spacing' i.e., spacing of a magnetic transducer from the recording surface of a moving medium, such as a magnetic disk -- this involving impressing signals on the recording surface (along a given track) at two prescribed frequencies, so that, upon detection of this signal, one frequency will be attenuated discriminatorily more than the other at all 'erroneous' head spacings whereby a 'null-seeking' servo control and associated head elevation system may be monitored to maintain optimum head spacing, (e.g., where two frequencies detected at same amplitude). Better control of head/medium spacing in non-contact magnetic recording systems is achieved, especially where one signal is a very high frequency signal which is significantly attenuated whenever there is significant spacing error, while it is readily detected at the proper spacing; while the other signal is relatively unaffected by head spacing.

Head spacing control

Data is recorded on a magnetic recording disk with data transducers adjustably positioned relative to respective 'data zones,' each zone comprising a prescribed number of adjacent data tracks. A family of such transducers may be mounted together as a unitary recording head which is positionable radially over an excursion approximating the width of the (multi-track) data zones. A typical head reciprocation excursion approximates from one dozen to several dozen mils; thus, the heads are aptly mounted on flexure pivots and reciprocated directly by electro-magnetic means which are mechanically isolated from the head array.

Flexure mounted magnetic head positioner for high-speed translation

Improved flexible disk magnetic storage systems and associated sub-assemblies and media are illustrated in the embodiments as comprising a pack of flexible magnetic recording disks stacked for co-rotation at high rpm on a manipulator assembly which includes a pneumatic separator-hub adapted to be shifted axially along the disk array so as to direct an air jet between selected disks and thus 'partition' the stack for entry of a transducer assembly.

High performance floppy pack and associated system

A magnetic transducer head adapted for flying on a fluid atmospheric bearing and a gimbal mounting device comprising a spring structure including an inner spring element secured to the head for inhibiting movement thereof in directions parallel with a plane therethrough and including an outer spring element coupled to the inner element and adapted to restrain rotation movement of the head about a pivot point thereon, the inner element being oriented in a plane coextensive with the line through the center of mass of the head and the head having a load point approximating the center of mass.

Head and gimbal assembly

In the manufacture of a transducer head, a plurality of elongated slots are formed in a non-magnetic substrate to receive magnetic cores having a transducing gap. A sealing composition bonds the cores in the slots and the cores are then laser trimmed to predetermined widths and at predetermined core-to-core spacings.

Growing community of inventors

Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Ko Ko Gyi