Patent ID: 6226154
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A load/unload ramp for use in a disk drive having a disk and a head/arm assembly, the disk having a first surface, a second surface, a perimeter, and a median plane passing between the first surface and the second surface, the head/arm assembly having a first load beam with a first tab, a first read/write head suspended from the first load beam toward the first surface of the disk, a second load beam with a second tab, and a second read/write head suspended from the second load beam toward the second surface of the disk, the head/arm assembly pivoting to load the first read/write head and the second read/write head onto the disk and unload the first read/write head and the second read/write head from the disk, the load/unload ramp engaging the first tab and the second tab when the first read/write head and the second read/write head are being loaded and unloaded, the load/unload ramp comprising:a first compound surface disposed on one side of the median plane of the disk, having a first parking surface disposed outside the perimeter of the disk, the first tab resting on the first parking surface when the first read/write head and the second read/write head have been unloaded, the first parking surface separated from the median plane of the disk by a first distance; anda second compound surface disposed on another side of the median plane of the disk, having a second parking surface disposed outside the perimeter of the disk, the second tab resting on the second parking surface when the first read/write head and the second read/write head have been unloaded, the second parking surface separated from the median plane of the disk by a second distance;wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.