HEAD LOAD/UNLOAD AND CLEANING IN A DATA STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract: In a magnetic disk drive, heads (18,19) are loaded and unloaded onto a magnetic disk (14) by wings (43, 44) attached in close proximity to the magnetic heads (18, 19). The wings (43, 44) ride on opposed profiles (41, 41A, 42, 42A) to separate the heads (18, 19) so that they can travel on either side of the disk (14) and the heads (18, 19) are then brought together properly onto the disk (14). As the heads (18, 19) are withdrawn from the disk (14), they are separated by the opposed profiles (42, 42A) and then the heads (18, 19) are parked on a cleaning pad (48).

Description: HEADLOAD/UNLOADAND CLEANING INADATASTORAGEDEVICE Related Applications "Actuator For Data Storage Device," Jones, et al, Serial No. 324,599 (Attorney's Docket No. IOM-8908) is incorporated herein by reference. Background of the Invention This invention relates to an actuator for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium and more particularly, to the loading, unloading and cleaning of heads. U.S. Patents 4,740,851 - Jones, et al and 4,663,677 - Griffith, et al show removable media magnetic disk drives of the type made by the assignee of the present invention. A cartridge having a flexible recording medium is inserted into the disk drive. A motor rotates the disk which is engaged by magnetic read/write heads. Out of plane flexible disk edge stability and flutter, as well as variations due to assembly tolerances, causes difficulty in loading and unloading a pair of opposing heads on to or off of a disk. Loading and unloading generally needs a large amount of vertical displacement of the heads in order to avoid damaging the heads on the edge of the spinning and fluttering disk. Also, reduction in the preload of the heads can occur as the heads are loaded and unloaded at large vertical displacements. In floppy disk drives, the cleaning of the magnetic heads is usually accomplished by using a cleaning medium which is rotated in the same manner that the normal data disk is rotated. In rigid disk drives the cleaning material can be accurately located so that it contacts the magnetic head. In floppy disk drives, the head normally contacts the disk so that the cleaning material can merely be substituted for the disk data. Disk drives of the type described in the aforementioned patents have a automatic head cleaning feature. U.S. Patent 4,663,686 - Freeman, et al describes a head cleaning cartridg for a removable media magnetic disk drive. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanis for loading and unloading the heads on the magnetic medium and for cleaning th magnetic heads. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, the position of the magnetic head with respect to the disk is carefully controlled during the loading and unloading of th heads. Head loading and unloading is accomplished in a more efficient displacement thus assuring that the heads will not be destroyed during the load/unload process. B reducing the vertical displacement, more heads and more disks can act into the sam vertical height, thereby allowing more data storage capacity in the same form factor o volume. In accordance with the invention, wings have been added to the heads to ac as lifters which control the vertical position of the heads. The wings are in clos proximity to the heads to fully ensure that the motion of the wing is the motion of th heads. The wings ride on opposed profiles as the actuator carriage moves towar and away from the disk. As the heads move toward the disk, first opposed profile separate the heads so that the heads can pass on both sides of the disk. Further travel o the actuator causes the wings to ride over second opposed profiles which bring the heads together onto the disk in a controlled manner. As the actuator is withdrawn away from the disk, the wings ride up on the opposed profiles to again separate the heads. Further retraction of the actuator moves the heads away from the disk and down the first opposed profiles. This brings the heads together onto a cleaning medium. The heads come to rest on the cleaning medium and slide for a short distance which cleans the heads while they are out of contact with the disk. When not operating, the heads are parked on the cleaning medium, not parked in the air as in much of the prior art. This prevents damage from shock or vibration. The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following more detailed description and appended claims. Short Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 shows the disk drive of the present invention with the cover removed; Fig. 1A shows a cartridge of the type used in such a disk drive; Fig. 2 shows the head loading/unloading mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows the head cleaner; Fig. 4 shows the carriage in more detail; and Fig. 5 shows a close-up of the head cleaning device. Description of the Preferred Embodiment Fig. 1 shows a disk drive of the type in which a cartridge 10 (Fig. 1A) contains a recording media 14. The cartridge is inserted into the drive at 11. A motor is mounted on platform 12 and 13. The motor rotates the flexible disk in the cartridge. The cartridge shown in Fig. 1A has a disk 14 with a hub 16 rotatably mounted therein to be rotated by the motor. The disk is engaged by opposed read/write heads 18 and 19 which are carried by the actuator. Opposed heads engage both sides of d e disk. The voice coil motor for driving the carriage into and out of engagement of the heads with the recording medium includes an outer return path member 20. A coil 22 is mounted on the carriage assembly. When the coil 22 is energized, it interacts with the magnets to move the carriage linearly so that the heads 18 and 19 engage concentric tracks on the disk. The carriage includes two lightweight arms 24 and 26. The carriage travels on a central guide track 28 which is a cylindrical member, a small wire guide in the preferred embodiment. The coil has two bushings through which the cylindrical guide track passes. (Bushing 30 is shown in Fig. 4). In accordance with the present invention, the head load/unload device 4 is provided. It includes first opposed profiles 41 and 41a (Figs. 2 and 3. A set o complementary profiles on the other side of the suspension arm do not show in th drawings) and second opposed profiles 42 and 42a and complementary profiles 42B an 42C. A typical profile is shown in Fig. 5. It has an arcuate contour which sets the head down carefully on the disk or on the cleaning medium. Wings 43 and 44 ride on the opposed profiles as the actuator carriag travels toward and away from the magnetic disk. In accordance with the preferre embodiment of the invention, the wings 43 and 44 are rods which are attached to th suspension arms 45 and 46. Magnetic heads 18 and 19 are flexibly mounted on th suspension arms 45 and 46 (Fig. 4). This flexible mounting biases the heads toward eac other. In Figs. 2 and 4, the heads are shown biased together in the position in which the would engage opposite sides of the magnetic disk. From the position shown in Fig. 2, as the actuator is retracted, the wing ride up on the second opposed profiles, or cam surfaces, 42, 42 A, 42B, 42C to separat the heads. This unloads the heads from the disk surface. Further travel of the actuato away from the disk causes die wings 43 and 44 to ride on the plateau surfaces 46, 46 A, 47 and 47 A. During continued travel of the actuator away from the disk, the wings ride down the second opposed profiles 41, 41 A and the complementary set. This brings the heads together onto the cleaning medium, or pad, 48. The cleaning page 48 is located in the slot 49 in the head load/unload device 40. The heads are parked on the cleaning medium 48. The contour of profiles 41, 41 A slides the heads along the cleaning pad 48 to clean the heads. During travel in the opposite direction, the contour of the profiles 42, 42 A, 42B and 42C sets the heads down on the disk in a carefully controlled manner. The end 50 of the guide track 28 is mounted directly to the head load/unload device 40. This provides precise positioning of the heads relative to cleaning pad 48. While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various modifications are within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are, therefore, intended to cover all such modifications.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. An actuator for carrying opposed read/write head into engagement with both sides of a recording medium comprising: a carriage assembly, said opposed heads being flexibly mounted on said carriage assembly, said flexible mounting biasing said heads toward each other; wings mounted in proximity to said heads; a head load/unload device having first opposed profiles, said wings riding on said first opposed profiles to separate said heads as said carriage moves toward said disk; and second opposed profiles, said wings riding on said second opposed profiles to bring said heads together. 2. The actuator recited in claim 1 further comprising: a cleaning medium between said first and second opposed profiles; said wings riding on said first opposed profiles to bring said heads into contact with said cleaning medium as said heads are withdrawn away from said disk. 3. The actuator recited in claim 1, wherein said first opposed profiles include two cam surfaces extending toward each other in the direction away from said disk and wherein said second opposed profiles include two cam surfaces extending toward each other in the direction toward said disk. 4. The actuator recited in claim 3 wherein each wing includes a rod, said rod riding on said two cam surfaces. 5. The actuator recited in claim 4 and complementary cam surfaces for each of said opposed profiles on both sides of said heads. 6. The actuator recited in claim 1 further comprising: a central guide track on which said carriage travels linearly. 7. The actuator recited in claim 6 wherein one end of said central guid track is mounted to said head load/unload device. 8. The actuator recited in claim 7 further comprising: a cleaning medium between said first and second opposed profiles, the mounting of said central guide track to said head load/unload device providing precise positioning of said heads relative to said cleaning medium. 9. The actuator recited in claim 1 wherein said second opposed profiles are arcuate surfaces which bring said heads together on the surface of said disk in a controlled manner. 10. The actuator recited in claim 2 wherein said first opposed profiles are arcuate surfaces which bring said heads together on the surfaces of said cleaning medium and slide said heads on said cleaning medium. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the international bureau on 11 March 1996 ( 11 .03.96) ; original claims 1 , 3-6 and 9 amended ; new cl aims 11 -24 added ; remaining claims unchanged ( 4 pages ) ] 1. An actuator for carrying opposed read/write heads into engagement with both sides of a recording medium comprising: a carriage assembly, said opposed heads having flexible mounting on said carriage assembly, said flexible mounting biasing said heads toward each other; wings mounted in proximity to said heads; a head load/unload device having first opposed profiles, said wings riding on said first opposed profiles to separate said heads as said carriage assembly moves toward said recording medium; and said head load/unload device having second opposed profiles, said wings riding on said second opposed profiles to bring said heads toward one another. 2. The actuator recited in claim 1 further comprising: a cleaning medium between said first and second opposed profiles; said wings riding on said first opposed profiles to bring said heads into contact with said cleaning medium as said heads are withdrawn away from said disk. 3. The actuator recited in claim 1 , wherein said first opposed profiles include two cam surfaces extending toward each other in the direction away from said recording medium and wherein said second opposed profiles include two cam surfaces extending toward each other in the direction toward said recording medium. 4. The actuator recited in claim 3 wherein each wing includes a rod, said rod riding on said cam surfaces. 5. The actuator recited in claim 4 and complementary cam surfaces for each of said opposed profiles on the other side of said heads. 6. The actuator recited in claim 1 further comprising: a central guide track on which said carriage assembly travels linearly. 7. The actuator recited in claim 6 wherein one end of said central guid track is mounted to said head load/unload device. 8. The actuator recited in claim 7 further comprising: a cleaning medium between said first and second opposed profiles, th mounting of said central guide track to said head load/unload device providing precis positioning of said heads relative to said cleaning medium. 9. The actuator recited in claim 1 wherein said second opposed profiles are arcuate surfaces which bring said heads toward one another onto the surface of said disk in a controlled manner. 10. The actuator recited in claim 2 wherein said first opposed profiles are arcuate surfaces which bring said heads together on the surfaces of said cleaning medium and slide said heads on said cleaning medium. 11. An actuator for carrying opposed read/write heads into engagement with both sides of a recording medium comprising: a carriage assembly, said opposed heads having flexible mounting on said carriage assembly, said flexible mounting biasing said heads toward each other; wings mounted in proximity to said heads; a head load/unload device having first opposed profiles, said wings riding on said first opposed profiles to separate said heads as said carriage assembly moves toward said recording medium; and a cleaning medium adjacent said first opposed profiles, said first opposed profiles being arcuate surfaces which bring said heads together on the surfaces of said cleaning medium and slide said heads on said cleaning medium. 12. The actuator recited in claim 11 wherein said head load/unload device has second opposed profiles which are arcuate surfaces which bring said heads toward one another onto the surface of the disk in a controlled manner. 13. The actuator recited in claim 12 wherein said first opposed profiles include two cam surfaces extending toward each otiier in the direction away from said recording medium and wherein said second opposed profiles include two cam surfaces extending toward each other in the direction toward said recording medium. 14. The actuator recited in claim 13 wherein each wing includes a rod, said rod riding on said cam surfaces. 15. The actuator recited in claim 12 and complementary cam surfaces for each of said opposed profiles on the other side of said heads. 16. The actuator recited in claim 11 further comprising: a central guide track on which said carriage assembly travels linearly. 17. The actuator recited in claim 16 wherein one end of said central guide track is mounted to said head load/unload device wherein the mounting of said central guide track to said head load/unload devices provides precise positioning of said heads relative to said cleaning medium. 18. An actuator for carrying opposed read/write heads into engagement with both sides of a recording medium comprising: a carriage assembly, said opposed heads having flexible mounting on said carriage assembly, said flexible mounting biasing said heads toward each other; wings mounted in proximity to said heads; and a head load/unload device having opposed profiles, said wings riding on said opposed profiles to bring said heads toward one another as said carriage assembly moves toward said recording medium, said opposed profiles being arcuate surfaces which bring said heads toward one another onto the surface of the disk in a controlled manner as said carriage assembly moves toward said recording medium. 19. The actuator recited in claim 18 wherein said arcuate surfaces extend toward each other in the direction toward said recording medium. 20. The actuator recited in claim 18 wherein said head load/unload device has other opposed profiles, said wings riding on other opposed profiles to separate said heads as said carriage assembly moved toward said recording medium. 21. The actuator recited in claim 18 wherein each wing includes a rod, said rod riding on one of said arcuate surfaces. 22. The actuator recited in claim 18 and complementary cam surfaces for each of said opposed profiles on the other side of the said heads. 23. The actuator recited in claim 18 further comprising: a central guide track on which said carriage assembly travels linearly. 24. The actuator recited in claim 23 wherein one end of said central guide track is mounted to said head load/unload device. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19(1) The amendments of claims 1, 3-6, and 9 and the addition of claims 11-24 are made in order to bring the application in compliance with changes made in the U.S. application. The amendments consisting of the amendments to claims 1, 3-6, and 9 and the addition of claims 11-24 do not go beyond the disclosure of the Internationa] Application as filed since full support for these claims can be found in the description, as well as in the orignally filed claims.

Inventors: BISHOP ROSS W, BRACKEN ALLEN T, BRIGGS JOHN C, GRIFFITH DAVID W, JONES DAVID E, NICKLOS CARL F, PATTERSON ROBERT S, SONDEREGGER RALPH L, BISHOP, ROSS, W., BRACKEN, ALLEN, T., BRIGGS, JOHN, C., GRIFFITH, DAVID, W., JONES, DAVID, E., NICKLOS, CARL, F., PATTERSON, ROBERT, S., SONDEREGGER, RALPH, L.
Applicants: IOMEGA CORP, IOMEGA CORPORATION
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G11B5
IPC codes: G11B5, G11B21