Patent ID: 6624978
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A method for loading and unloading a read/write head in a disk drive which comprises a disk drive base, a ramp motion mechanism having a ramp base, a nose slidably mounted on the ramp base, the method comprising:causing the ramp motion mechanism to load and unload the head; causing a head lifter engaged to the head to be supported by the nose during loading and unloading, where the ramp base has a channel along which the nose slides, and the nose has at least one surface to support the head lifter to guide the head during loading and unloading operations; causing the nose to extend over a disk in the disk drive to load the head to the disk or to unload the head from the disk; causing the nose to retract from the disk when a loading or unloading operation is completed; and causing forces to be applied to the nose to confine position and orientation of the nose, wherein a plurality of reaction pads are formed on two opposite sides of the nose to apply the forces.