Patent ID: 6040960
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A disc drive having a disc drive housing and an actuator for moving an array of heads relative to data recorded on a plurality of tracks on the surfaces of an array of discs, the actuator having a moving portion and the disc drive including a predetermined park location to which the moving portion of the actuator can be moved, the disc drive further comprising:latching means for maintaining the actuator at the park location comprisinga latching feature carried on the moving portion of the actuator, anda latching mechanism cooperating with the latching feature for generating a latching force which acts to hold the latching feature in contact with the latching mechanism, andmounting means for mounting the latching mechanism and supporting the latching mechanism in relation to the disc drive housing and the moving portion of the actuator, the mounting means further comprising damping means for providing controlled, damped compliance in parallel with the latching force; said damping means comprising:an outer can element fixed in relationship to the disc drive housing;an inner can element axially movable within the outer can element;bias means for maintaining the inner can element at a rest position relative to the outer can element, and;a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of air into and out of a cavity formed between the inner and outer can elements by motion of the inner can element relative to the outer can element.