Patent ID: 7672083
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A disk drive comprising: a disk drive base; a disk rotably coupled to the disk drive base, the disk defining a disk axis of rotation and having an outer circumference; an actuator coupled to the disk drive base, the actuator defining an actuator pivot axis; a head gimbal assembly that includes a proximate end that is attached to the actuator, and a distal end, the distal end including a lift tab; a ramp, the ramp including a lift tab supporting surface located as close to the actuator pivot axis as is the lift tab, a portion of the lift tab supporting surface extending over the outer circumference of the disk with the ramp in a normal operating position, the ramp also including a ramp guiding surface, the ramp guiding surface being in contact with a mating surface of the disk drive base; and a fastener configured to selectively allow or prevent relative translation between the ramp and the disk drive base; wherein said contact between the ramp guiding surface and the mating surface constrains the relative translation so that the relative translation changes the distance between the lift tab supporting surface and the disk axis of rotation more than the relative translation changes the distance between the lift tab supporting surface and the actuator pivot axis; and wherein the relative translation is oriented and of sufficient extent to allow the ramp to translate from the normal operating position away from the disk axis of rotation to a second position where the entire ramp is outside the disk outer circumference, while keeping the lift tab supporting surface close enough to the actuator pivot axis to remain within reach of the lift tab.