Magnetic latching apparatus for an actuator of a hard disk drive

Abstract

The invention relates to a magnetic actuator latching apparatus in a hard disk drive, for maintaining the actuator of the hard disk drive in a parking zone while the actuator is not in operation. A magnetic actuator latching apparatus of a hard disk drive comprises a latching screw installed at the voice coil end of an actuator, which is easily latched by a permanent magnet, in order that a head of the actuator is positioned in a parking zone of a disk so that data recorded on a disk can be safely protected while said hard disk drive is not in operation. The permanent magnet attracts the latching screw through a magnetic force and then enables the head of the actuator to be positioned on the parking zone, upon the power-off of said hard disk drive. A damper, which houses the permanent magnet, buffers a shock or an impact resulting from being contacted with the latching screw. A latch assembly has a damper inserting part for receiving the damper and a plate extending from the damper inserting part. A lower yoke, which supports a magnet over which the voice coil of the actuator passes, has a lug extending upward to receive a lug inserting hole in the plate of the latch assembly so the latch assembly can be attached to the lower yoke. The lower yoke also has a supporting member assembly hole aligned with a supporting member passing hole of the plate of the latch assembly. A supporting member has a peg extending therefrom which is passed through the supporting member passing hole and fit into the supporting member assembly hole so that the latch assembly is fixedly attached to the lower yoke.