MAGNETIC DISK APPARATUS

Abstract: A magnetic disc apparatus has an electric portion, a mechanical portion (200), a base (102) and a cover (104). A concave portion (106) corresponding to the mechanical portion (200) is formed in the base (102). On the upper side of the base the mechanical portion (200) is arranged and is covered with the cover (104). On the under side of the base the electrical parts are arranged and the taller electrical parts (310) on the printed wired board (302) are arranged in a space (G) formed between the printed wired board (302) and the base (102) at the outer side of the circumference of the concave portion (106).

Description: The present invention relates to a magnetic disk apparatus and more particularly to a construction of the magnetic disk apparatus. The magnetic disk apparatus has been used as the external memory means for a computer and a wordprocessor. So far, in such a magnetic disk apparatus, there is arranged a mechanical portion including a spindle motor equipped with a magnetic disk and a carriage having the magnetic head on a die cast base and the mechanical portion is sealed up with a cover. On the under side of the base, there is arranged a circuit board equipped with electrical parts for the input/output of the various signals and for the various controls. The foregoing used in the magnetic disk apparatus is formed by using a model shaped to the mechanical portion in accordance with the die-cast method. Although the die cast base of the magnetic disk apparatus may be easily formed even if it is of a complicated shape, it is difficult to thin the thickness. Furthermore, a blow hole is formed on the surface of the die cast base requiring a complexed surface treatment. In another conventional magnetic disk apparatus, the base is made of a plate material such as a metal plate to thin the base thickness. In such apparatus, the mechanical portion is mounted on the base and is covered with a cover for sealing up. On the under side of the base, the circuit board is mounted. According tot this kind of conventional magnetic disk apparatus, it is possible to thin the base thickness. However, since the base is made of a plate shape and the mechanical portion must be mounted on the upper side and the circuit board must be mounted on the under side, it requires relatively large space and has a difficulty in effectively thinning the whole apparatus thickness. EP-A-153461 discloses a magnetic disk apparatus having a base plate with a mechanical portion having a spindle motor which rotates a magnetic disk. The spindle motor is mounted on the base plate and a cover covers at least the mechanical portion. An electronics assembly is also provided. An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a magnetic disk apparatus which can be relatively thin. According to the present invention, there is provided a magnetic disk apparatus comprising a base plate, a mechanical portion having a spindle motor which rotates a magnetic disk, the spindle motor being mounted on the base plate, a cover covering at least the mechanical portion, and an electronics assembly, characterized in that the base plate has a first surface and a second surface backing the first surface, in that the base plate has an indentation corresponding to the outer shape of said mechanical portion therein, in that the indentation is concave on the first surface and convex on the second surface, in that the spindle motor is mounted on the first surface in the indentation, in that the cover is mounted on the first surface of the base plate, in that the electronics assembly has a printed circuit board, parallel to and spaced at a predetermined distance from the base plate, in that the printed circuit board has first electrical parts and second electrical parts disposed thereon, the first electrical parts being taller than the second electrical parts, in that the first electrical parts are arranged to protrude into a zone beyond the outer circumference of the indentation, and in that the second electrical parts are arranged to protrude into a zone between the indentation and the printed circuit board. The present invention can provide a magnetic disk apparatus capable of reducing the manufacturing cost and the sub-standard article rate. The present invention may use plate material for the base plate with optimum plastic processing, thereby eliminating the finishing treatment after manufacturing and making it possible to provide the better reference side for assembling the mechanical portion. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic disk apparatus according the one embodiment of the present invention with that disk apparatus open; Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the assembled magnetic disk apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional part plan view of the magnetic disk apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side sectional view depicting the magnetic disk apparatus of a second embodiment according to the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a side sectional view depicting the magnetic disk apparatus of the embodiment of Fig. 4. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the magnetic disk apparatus comprises a body portion 100, a mechanical portion 200 and a circuit board 300. The body portion 100 includes a base plate 102 and a cover 104. The base plate 102, consisting of plate material such as a steel, an aluminum and an alloy, includes a concave portion 106 formed by plastic working such as shearing, bending, reducing of area and forging workings. Base plate 102 includes a first surface and an opposing second surface. The area of the concave portion will hereinafter be referred to as the first area and the remaining portions of the base will be referred to as the second area. The shape of the concave portion 106 is adapted to the shape of the mechanical portion 200. On the side of the base plate 102 where the concave portion 106 is formed, stopped bolts 108 are positioned at the four corners for forming the space. Screw portion 110 are formed at the tips of these stepped bolts 108. In the concave portion 106 of the base plate 102, a spindle motor 202 of the mechanical portion 200 is arranged. To the spindle motor 202, a magnetic disk 204 as a recording medium is equipped. The magnetic disk 204 is rotatably driven by the spindle motor 202. A carriage 208 is installed through a carriage rail 206 in the concave portion 106. The carriage 208 is movable in the radial direction of the magnetic disk 204 by the carriage driving motor 210 mounted on the under side of the concave portion 106. To the tip of the carriage 208, a magnetic head 212 which records and reproduces the data for the magnetic disk 204 is mounted through an arm 214. The magnetic head may access the respective tracks of the magnetic disk 204 through movement of the carriage 208 in the radial direction of the magnetic disk by the carriage driving motor 210. A cover 104 is arranged on the base plate 102 to cover the mechanical portion. A printed wired board 302 having a circuit board is mounted on the under side of the base 102. An insertion hole 304 and a cut portion 306 are formed in the printed wired board 302. The insertion hole 304 and the cut portion 306 correspond to the spindle motor 202 and the carriage driving motor 210 protruding from the under side of the base 102, respectively. Electrical parts 308 and 310 are disposed on the side of the printed wired board 302 facing base plate 102, and the taller electrical parts 310 are arranged in a space formed on the outer circumference side of the concave portion 106 of the base plate 102. At the four corners of the printed wired board 302 there are insertion holes 312 corresponding to the stepped bolts of the base plate 102. The stepped bolts 108 are inserted through the insertion holes of the printed wired board 302 and are fastened by means of nuts 314. As described above, according to this embodiment, the circuit board portion 300 is mounted on the under side of the base plate 102 and the taller electrical parts 310 on the printed wired board 302 of the circuit board portion 300 are arranged in the space formed around the outer circumference of the concave portion 106, thereby making it possible to reduce the housing space for the circuit board portion 300 and thereby reduce the thickness of the entire magnetic disk apparatus. Furthermore, if plate material is used for the base plate 102 and plastic working conditions are optimized, a special finishing treatment is not necessary for the reference side of the base plate 102 after the manufacturing. Even if the minimum machine manufacturing is performed, finishing is much easier compared to the finishing required for the conventional die cast plates. Defects such as blowholes are unlikely to occur. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the space in the apparatus may be effectively utilized and the thinning and miniaturizing the whole magnetic disk apparatus becomes possible. Moreover, the final finishing treatment process for the reference side of the base plate 102 may be eliminated or reduced. As a result, the sub-standard article rate and cost may be reduced. It is to be noted that more effective utilization of the space may be possible by forming the concave portion 106 of a plurality of stages such as three stages, as shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 5, the stiffness of the base plate 102 is improved by arranging a rib 114 at the appropriate position of the base plate 102. In Figs. 4 and 5, common parts in Figs. 1 through 3 are designated by the same numerals and the redundant description is omitted here.

Claims: A magnetic disk apparatus comprising a base plate (102), a mechanical portion (200) having a spindle motor (202) which rotates a magnetic disk (204), the spindle motor being mounted on the base plate (102), a cover (104) covering at least the mechanical portion (200), and an electronics assembly, characterized in that the base plate (102) has a first surface and a second surface backing the first surface, in that the base plate (102) has an indentation corresponding to the outer shape of said mechanical portion (106) therein, in that the indentation (106) is concave on the first surface and convex on the second surface, in that the spindle motor (202) is mounted on the first surface in the indentation, in that the cover (104) is mounted on the first surface of the base plate (102), in that the electronics assembly has a printed circuit board (300), parallel to and spaced at a predetermined distance from the base plate (104), in that the printed circuit board (300) has first electrical parts (310) and second electrical parts (308) disposed thereon, the first electrical parts (310) being taller than the second electrical parts (308), in that the first electrical parts (310) are arranged to protrude into a Zone beyond the outer circumference of the indentation, and in that the second electrical parts (308) are arranged to protrude into a zone between the indentation and the printed circuit board (300). A magnetic disk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base plate (102) is made of metal. A magnetic disk apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising stepped bolts (108) for connecting said base plate (102) and said circuit board (300). A magnetic disk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base plate (102) is made of steel.

Inventors: MORITA, ISAO C/O PATENT DIVISION
Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G11B33
IPC codes: G11B33, G11B25, G11B17