Disk drive apparatus having an improved spindle motor loading mechanism

Abstract

A disk drive apparatus has an eject member that moves in tandem with a disk cartridge from a first position to a second position upon insertion of the disk cartridge into the disk drive apparatus. The eject member has a projection formed thereon. A first spring biases the eject member in a direction opposite the direction of insertion of the removable disk cartridge. A motor ring assembly mounted on a chassis of the apparatus has a rotating member that rotates between an unloaded position and a loaded position. A second spring biases the rotating member toward its loaded position. A spindle motor is mounted in the motor ring assembly. The rotating member has a first cam surface, a second cam surface that extends substantially perpendicularly to the first cam surface, and a lead-in cam angle surface that extends between the first and second cam surfaces at an angle thereto. A shape memory alloy wire or other means is provided to rotate the rotating member from its loaded position toward its unloaded position. As that occurs, the second cam surface of the rotating member moves past the projection on the eject member, thereby allowing the eject member to move back toward its first position under the force of the first spring. This, in turn, allows the projection on the eject member to push against the lead-in cam angle surface of the rotating member to rotate the rotating member further toward its unloaded position.