Quantum Corporation

Lou Pace

Thomas R Stone

Thomas A Tacklind

An improved actuator apparatus is employed in a hard disk drive device for positioning read/write heads over tracks on a data storage disk of the disk drive. The actuator apparatus includes an all plastic C-block assembly providing the actuator apparatus with a reduced weight, lower inertia and better damping characteristic which enable improved dynamic performance. The C-block assembly includes a body portion and a pair of tapered support arms extending from the body portion in a parallel orientation. The support arms each have a suspension for a read/write head staked thereto within a mounting surface aperture at a distal end of the arm. The mounting surface aperture is configured to have a non-circular shape to facilitate staking of the read/write head to the support arm and enable construction of the C-block assembly out of plastic. The non-circular shape of the mounting surface aperture additionally enables swaging within the aperture of the plastic support without causing the plastic support arm to break or crack.

Growing community of inventors

San Carlos, CA, United States of America

Lou Pace