Abstract:
A removable cartridge for a disk drive where the cartridge has a housing, a disk contained within the housing and a mechanism for reducing the rattling of the disk when the cartridge is not inside the disk drive and for permitting the free rotation of the disk when the cartridge is inside the disk drive. The rattle-reduction mechanism includes an inclined surface defined in the housing and a member having a first portion and a second portion. The interaction between the second portion of the member and the inclined surface of the housing may cause the first portion of the member to move into and out of contact with the hub. The contact between the first portion and the hub reduces the tendency of the disk to rattle. In one example embodiment, the cartridge has a housing with cartridge nut threads and a cartridge screw with cartridge screw threads. In this embodiment, interaction between the cartridge nut and the cartridge screw threads may cause a portion of the cartridge screw to move into and out of contact with a flange of the hub. A structure in the disk drive causes the cartridge screw to rotate in a manner such that the interaction between the cartridge screw threads and cartridge nut threads causes the cartridge screw to move away from and no longer contact the hub.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/346,856 filed on Jul. 2, 1999, ABN which is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 08/977,467 filed on Nov. 24, 1997 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,444 on Apr. 11, 2000, which is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 08,357,856 filed Dec. 15, 1994 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,790 on Nov. 3, 1998, which is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 07/977,262 filed Nov. 13, 1992 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,436 on Aug. 8, 1995. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to disk drives and, in particular, disk drives where data is stored on hard disks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     The present assignee holds a number of patents describing removable cartridge disk drives and cartridges therefore. By way of example, these patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,474 issued Mar. 5, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,879 issued Mar. 12, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,981 issued Jan. 5, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,506 issued Jul. 28, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,012 issued Jan. 26, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,518 issued Sep. 26, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,685 issued Oct. 23, 1990; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,452 issued Sep. 5, 1989. All of these references are incorporated herein by reference. These patents are directed to a removable cartridge disk drive which can receive a cartridge containing a hard disk upon which can be stored substantial amounts of data comparable, in some cases, to that stored on fixed disk drives. 
     In reviewing these patents, it is evident that design challenges reside in accurately receiving the cartridge into the disk drive cartridge receiver and settling the hub of the cartridge repeatedly and accurately onto the spindle shaft of a spindle motor. The spindle motor causes the disk contained in the cartridge to rotate at the appropriate operating speed. Design challenges also reside in the ability of the head and head arm assembly, located in the disk drive, to be positioned through a door in the cartridge in order to be loaded onto the disk contained in the cartridge for the read/write operations. Further, the design feature of reliably ejecting the cartridge from the disk drive once the read/write operations have been concluded is addressed. 
     A removable cartridge disk drive is highly useful for a number of reasons. The first reason is that a substantial amount of data can be stored on the cartridge, the cartridge can be removed, and, if desired, conveniently shipped to another location. With the requirement to transport ever increasing amounts of data, as for example found in graphics files, the removable cartridge can store a substantial amount of data which would otherwise require a multitude of floppy disks. The data can thus be conveniently sent to, for a example, a publisher for publishing the graphics. 
     A second reason for such designs is that removable cartridge disk drives have an infinite capacity. Once a cartridge is filled with data, the cartridge can be replaced with a blank cartridge. Unlike with fixed drives, there is no need to trade up to a higher capacity disk drive or to purge lesser used documents from the hard disk drive. 
     A third reason is that if confidential or secret information is contained on the disk, the disk can be removed from the disk drive and secured in a safe location so that the data cannot be accessed by unauthorized individuals. 
     The trend in the computer market, and in particular the personal computer market, is to develop smaller, higher capacity and less expensive hardware. Thus, what used to be acceptable as far as performance and capacity in a desk top computer is now required for a notebook computer but at a substantially reduced size. Accordingly, there is a need to provide computer hardware, and for example, a removable cartridge disk drive and removable cartridge which is smaller, easier to manufacture as for example, having fewer parts, and with higher data capacity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to providing a removable cartridge disk drive having a smaller form factor, which can be produced more economically, as for example with fewer parts, and with a higher data capacity. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a removable cartridge disk drive and cartridge which has a form factor of 1.8 inches and smaller. 
     Within this form factor, cartridges containing 40, 60 and 80 megabytes and more of storage can be configured. 
     The invention includes a system of a disk drive and a removable cartridge which are designed in such a way in order to minimize the size of the disk drive and cartridge. Such advantages are achieved by, for example, limiting the number of parts, designing the parts to perform multiple functions and designing the drive and cartridge system such that spaces in the system perform multiple functions such that when the disk in the cartridge is accurately positioned on a spindle motor for access by a read/write head, there is no unwasted space other than the space required for clearances. 
     The invention further includes a disk drive which is slidable into a docking port for immediate connection to, for example, a notebook or laptop computer. 
     The invention includes a cartridge which has a disk which is movable within the cartridge in order to appropriately position the hub which mounts the disk onto a spindle motor and also to appropriately position the disk so that the disk can be accessed by a read/write heads of the disk drive. 
     The invention further includes the ability to move the disk into clearance space in the cartridge preparatory to positioning the hub of the cartridge onto a spindle motor and then positioning the disk out of the clearance space and the appropriate distance between the walls of the cartridge for allowing the spindle motor to spin the disk at operating speeds. 
     The invention includes the cartridge having a hub which is extendable past the envelope of the cartridge in order to allow the disk to be positioned within the cartridge. 
     The invention includes a disk drive operating handle which performs multiple functions in order to allow a cartridge to be received and registered in a disk drive, allow the read/write heads of the disk drive to access the disk in the cartridge and allow the cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. Such a multiple function handle provides for a compact design which can be provided on a 1.8 inch form factor. 
     The invention includes a head arm ramp of the disk drive which allows the position of the head to be accurately controlled and allows the head arm to be efficiently, smoothly and dynamically loaded onto the spinning disk as well as allows the head to be removed from the spinning disk. 
     The invention includes a disk drive cover which is easy and convenient to assemble to the drive base. 
     The invention further includes the cartridge having one or more projections extended therefrom for operating with the disk drive in order to register the cartridge with respect to the disk drive and to position the disk contained in the cartridge so that the disk can be properly accessed by the read/write heads of the drive. 
     The invention includes a cartridge design which protects the projections on the cartridge which are used to interface the cartridge with the disk drive. In keeping with the space reduction criteria of the design, these projections perform additional functions such as (1) ensuring that the cartridge is correctly inserted into the drive, and (2) operating the multifunction handle of the drive. 
     As part of the innovative cartridge registration design, the screw nut of the cartridge is accurately and repeatedly positioned both axially and radially with respect to a receiver in the disk drive to accurately position the cartridge in the drive. 
     Additionally, the cartridge includes a device for preventing the disk from rattling when the cartridge is removed from the disk drive. 
     A further invention of the cartridge includes the cartridge door and the door opening mechanism. 
     In addition to the reasons for having a disk drive with a reduced form factor as specified above, is the fact that with a 1.8 inch form factor cartridge, a single project can be assigned to a single cartridge and thus multiple projects can conveniently be stored and transported on multiple cartridges. This allows greater flexibility for use of such drivers with notebook computers. 
     Other important inventions, features and objects of the disk drive and removable cartridge are described herein and in the claims and figures. It is to be understood that the invention is multifaceted and that there is no requirement that the various aspects of the invention described hereinabove and herein throughout be associated with each other, for the advantages of the invention to be gained. Thus, there is no requirement that any particular grouping of the above aspects of the invention be made. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the disk drive of the invention. 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  depict plan and side views of an embodiment of the disk cover of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 3 a ,  3   b ,  3   c  and  3   d  depict an embodiment of the disk drive of the invention of FIG. 1 with disk drive in non-operational, intermediate and operational modes. 
     FIGS. 4 a ,  4   b ,  4   c  and  4   d  depict an embodiment of the multifunction operating handle of the disk drive of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the baseplate of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b ,  6   c  and  6   d  depict an embodiment of the ramp of the invention of FIG. 1 with the head arm assembly and head positioned relative to the ramp in FIGS. 6 c  and  6   d.    
     FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view through FIG. 8, showing the cartridge mounted on the spindle motor of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 depicts a cartridge of the invention received in the embodiment of the disk drive of the invention of FIG. 1 with the cartridge door fully opened. 
     FIG. 9 depicts a top perspective view of the cartridge of the invention. 
     FIG. 10 depicts a bottom perspective view of the cartridge of the invention. 
     FIGS. 11 a  and  11   b  depict an embodiment of the cartridge of the invention of FIG. 9 with the cover removed to reveal the door and link mechanisms of other inventive features. 
     FIG. 12 a  depicts a bottom view of the cartridge of the invention of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 12 b  depicts the cartridge screw and cartridge nut of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 a.    
     FIG. 13 a  depicts a front edge view of an embodiment of the cartridge of the invention of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 13 b  depicts a side edge view of the embodiment of the cartridge of the invention of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 14 depicts the inside of the bottom of the cartridge of the invention of FIG. 9, showing the location of the cartridge nut of FIG. 12 b.    
     FIGS. 15 a ,  15   b  and  15   c  depict cross-sectional views of the cartridge of FIG. 9, revealing specifically the cartridge screw, cartridge nut, the cartridge bottom and the disk in operation, non-operation and intermediate positions. 
     FIGS. 16 a ,  16   b  and  16   c  depict views of the cartridge screw of the embodiment of the invention of FIG.  9 . FIG. 16 c  depicts the entire peripheral edge of the screw as shown in FIG. 16 a  which edge has been placed on a flat surface. 
     FIGS. 17 a ,  17   b  and  17   c  depict the inventive interaction between the embodiment of the cartridge screw of the embodiment of FIG.  9  and the embodiment of the disk drive handle of the disk drive embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 18,  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c  and  18   d  depict the inventive interactions of the embodiment of the disk drive handle of the invention in FIG. 1 with an embodiment of the cartridge of the invention of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Removable Cartridge and Cartridge Housing 
     It is to be understood that in a preferred embodiment, that the height of the disk drive  30  is 10.5 millimeters and that the disk drive is configured to take a cartridge with a disk having a diameter of approximately 1.8 inches. In a specific embodiment, the diameter of the disk is about 1.890 inches. By way of comparison, the cartridge  200  of the invention as shown in FIG. 9 has a width across the front side of the cartridge where the door is located of approximately 1.968 inches (49.98 millimeters) and a length or depth of 2.03 inches (51.56 millimeters). The height or thickness of the cartridge is 0.222 inches (5.64 millimeters). 
     The removable cartridge  200  of the invention (FIG. 9) includes a top cover  202  which is mated to a base  204  (FIG.  10 ). The top cover can be made of molded engineering plastic or metal and can be secured to the base using snap fits  207 , adhesive bonding or by screws. The base  204  can be comprised of, for example, a molded engineering plastic. 
     Viewing FIG. 10, it is evident that mounted through the base is a cartridge screw  206  with a tang  208  projecting therefrom. Base  204  includes a substantially planar surface  210  with first and second projections  212 ,  214  extending therefrom. The tang  208  also extends away from the planar surface  210 . Surrounding the tang  208  and the first and second projections  212 ,  214 , and protecting same from damage, is a peripheral rail  216 . As shown in FIG. 10, the peripheral rail  216  extends above the planar surface  210  and about three of the four peripheral edges of the base  204 . The one peripheral edge  218  from which the peripheral rail does not extend is the leading side  218  of the cartridge (FIG. 13 a ) which defines a cartridge port through which the heads can be projected in order to access the hard disk  220  contained in the cartridge  200 . As will be explained more fully hereinbelow, the cartridge screw  206  includes, in a preferred embodiment, three screw threads  224  (embodied as grooves in this configuration) which mate with cartridge nut threads  222  which are defined in the cartridge base  204  (FIGS. 12 b ,  14 ). Thus movement of the tang  208  causes the cartridge screw  206  to move relative to the cartridge nut  221  of cartridge base  204 . 
     Mounted in the center of the cartridge screw  206  is the cartridge hub  226  onto which is mounted the disk  220  (FIG. 15 a ). The cartridge hub  226  includes a spindle nose engagement mechanism  228  which is used to accurately and repeatedly cause the hub  226  to be engaged and positioned on the spindle nose  56  of the spindle motor  54 . The spindle motor engagement mechanism  228  includes, in a preferred embodiment, includes first and second contact points or bosses  230 ,  232 . The engagement mechanism  228  further includes an elongated groove  234  within which is disposed a stiff spring locator  236 . With spindle motor engagement mechanism  228  positioned over the spindle motor nose  56 , the spring locator  236  is displaced causing the spindle motor nose  56  to be located by essentially three points defined by the two contact point  230 ,  232  and a point on the spring locator  236 . 
     Cartridge Screw 
     A more detailed view of the cartridge screw  206  can be seen in FIGS. 16 a ,  16   b  and  16   c . In FIG. 16 a  a plan view of the cartridge screw  206  is depicted. It can be seen that the cartridge screw  206  includes screw threads  224 . In a preferred embodiment, the screw threads  224  are specified as follows. The thread form is 60° stub as viewed normal to the pitch helix. The pitch angle is 30° with a left handed thread being specified. The pitch diameter is 0.733−0.000+0.003 with a lead of 1.330. The thread pitch is 0.065 normal to the pitch helix. Three equally spaced thread starts are provided. Reference is further called to the American Standard B1-3-1941. A similar mating thread is defined by a nut thread  222  in the base  204  (FIG. 10) of the cartridge housing. Thus, the cartridge nut threads  222  may be inclined surfaces in the cartridge base  204 . 
     As can be seen in FIG. 15 a , the disk  220  is secured to the hub  226  by methods known in the art such as by use of appropriate adhesives and/or mechanical techniques. The cartridge screw  206  is retained between a flange  238  projecting from the hubs  226  and a retainer ring  240  which can be positioned in an annular groove  242  of the hub after positioning the cartridge screw  206  adjacent the flange  238 . It is noted that there is substantial leeway between the flange  238  and the retainer  240  so that the cartridge screw  206  can alternatively urge against the flange  238  and retainer ring  240  in order to position the disk  220  in the cartridge  200  while also allowing the cartridge screw to be spaced from both the flange  238  and the retainer  240  during read/write operations as will be described hereinbelow. Also positioned in the cartridge  200  is a cartridge door pivot  274  and spacer  244 . 
     In FIG. 15 a , the cartridge hub is positioned engaging the spindle nose  56 . This is the position that the hub  226  and disk  220  would occupy with the disk being rotated at an operating speed by the spindle motor and with the disk having the appropriate clearances between the cartridge top cover  202  and the cartridge base  204 . In this configuration, the hub  226  is spaced an appropriate distance from the cartridge door pivot and spacer  244  with the cartridge screw  206  spaced between the flange  238  and the retainer  240  without touching either. As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 15 a , in the operational position, both the nut  206  and the hub  226  project below the plane of the planar surface  210  of the cartridge base  204 . 
     FIG. 15 b  depicts a cross-section as the cartridge would appear when the cartridge is external to disk drive. In this figure, it can be seen that the hub  226  is pushed up against the cartridge door pivot and spacer  244  by the cartridge screw  206  being urged against the flange  238  of the hub  226  pursuant to the urging of a spring  258  (FIG. 12 b ). This is an anti-rattle configuration of the hub and thus the disk is retained in a stationary position relative to the cartridge housing. 
     In FIG. 15 c , the cartridge screw  206  is urging against the retainer  240  as the spindle nose engagement mechanism  228  begins to engage the spindle nose  56 . As can be seen in FIG. 15 c  the spring locator  236  is just beginning to engage the spindle nose  56 . The magnetic ring  57  on the spindle motor then proceeds to draw the hub  226  into contact with the spindle motor with the hub  226  fully seated on the spindle nose  56  as shown in FIGS. 7 and 15 a.    
     Cartridge Base 
     FIG. 14 depicts an inner surface  246  of the base  204  without any parts of the cartridge assembled thereto. As can be seen in FIG. 14, the base includes a central port  248  which defines the cartridge nut  221  and the nut threads  222 . The nut threads  222  mate to the screw threads  224  of the cartridge screw  206 . The cartridge screw  206  is held in position relative to the cartridge base  204  by a key  250  (FIG. 12 b ). Key  250  is positioned in a slot  252  of the cartridge screw  206 . The key  250  includes a tab  254  which extends into a slot  256  defined by the cartridge base  204 . The tab  254  of the key  250  allows the key  250  and the cartridge screw  206  to have limited rotational movement with respect to the cartridge base  204  with the tab  254  moving from one end to the other of the slot  256 . The key  250  is biased in the first position, shown in FIG. 12 b , by a spring  258 . In this first position, the tang  208  is in a position which is properly aligned for reception by the drive  30  as will be described hereinbelow. In order for the disk to be properly positioned within the cartridge, preparatory to bring the disk up to operating speed, the tang, as will be described hereinbelow, is moved approximately 13.5° in order to reposition the disk. The slot  256  is approximately 15° wide allowing for variations and backlash. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 14, an upstanding spiral wall  260  extends from the base  204  and spirals from the central port  248  to the side of the cartridge. The spiral wall  260  is used to move air toward the cartridge filter which is located in space  262  so that the air can be exhausted through port  264 . Defined in the cartridge base  204  are recesses  266 ,  270 . These recesses are used to accommodate the portion of the head arm assembly which mounts the head  68  as the cartridge is inserted into the disk drive and as the head arm assembly is being ramped down onto a spinning disk so that the head  68  can be loaded onto the disk  220 . 
     Cartridge Door 
     Turning to FIGS. 11 a  and  11   b , the cartridge door  272  is depicted in an open position (FIG. 11 a ) and a closed position (FIG. 11 b ). Door  272  is pivotally mounted at pivot point  274  to the cartridge door pivot and spacer  244  as can be seen in FIG. 15 a . Pivotally secured to the cartridge door  272  at pivot point  276  there is a door opener link  278 . The door opener link  278  includes a first section  280  and a second section  282  which is angled with respect to the first section  280  and disposed to ride in a groove  284  defined by the cartridge base  204 . At the end of the second section  282  is a downwardly dependent tab  286 . A coil spring  288  is captured between the downwardly dependent tab  286  and the back of the groove  284 . A finger  170  (FIG. 3 a ) from the disk drive is inserted through port  290  to urge the tab  286  against the spring  288 , thereby urging the door opener link  278  rearwardly causing the door to pivot about pivot point  274  from the closed position of FIG. 11 b  to the open position of FIG. 11 a . When finger  170  is removed from port  290 , the spring  288  causes the tab  286  to move forward towards the leading side  218  of the cartridge urging the door  272  to pivot to the closed position of FIG. 11 b.    
     FIG. 8 depicts an outline of an cartridge fully received within the drive. A finger  170  projects through the port in the cartridge in order to urge rearwardly the door opener link  278  thus causing the door to pivot to the open position as shown in FIG.  8 . This action occurs on initial insertion of the cartridge into the drive as the heads even in a parked position (due to compactness of the drive) are immediately received within the enclosure of the cartridge even before they are unloaded onto the disk. FIG. 8 depicts the internal mechanisms of the drive in the same position as FIG. 3 d.    
     The cartridge has been specially designed for the above functions and additionally has been designed so that it cannot be inadvertently inserted into the receiver of the disk drive in an improper orientation. By way of example only, handle  58  which extend up from the baseplate  32  of the disk drive, would hit against the rail  216  of the cartridge or the cover  202  of the cartridge (if the cartridge is upside down) if the rear side  292  or the lateral sides  294   296  were urged into the disk drive cartridge receiver instead of the leading side  218 . Whether the cartridge is right side up or upside down if other than the leading side  218  is inserted into the cartridge receiver of the disk drive, the handle  58  would interfere with the passage of the cartridge and thus protect the heads. Further, should the leading side  218  be inserted first, but the cartridge be upside down, the cover  202  of the cartridge would prevent the cartridge from being fully received in the disk drive cartridge receiver as the cover would interfere with the handle  58 . Only when the cartridge is properly inserted does the absence of a rail downwardly depending adjacent to leading side  218  allow the cartridge to clear the handle  58  so that the cartridge can be properly registered within the drive. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge  200  located in the drive receiver  53 . As can be seen in this figure and FIG. 11 a , the cartridge door  272  is substantially “L” shaped in cross-section with a wedge shaped radial arm portion  298  from which a downwardly dependent arcuate side  300  extends. Side  300  is disposed in part in groove  302  defined in the cartridge base  204 . Groove  302  defines a track for arcuate side  300 . The door  272  seals the disk  220  from the outside by being disposed across the cartridge door port  205 . 
     In FIG. 7 the retainer  62  is depicted with a chamfered head  63  and the cartridge screw  206  is also depicted with a chamfered or beveled edge  207 . Chamfered edge  207  for the cartridge screw can additionally be seen in FIGS. 15 a ,  15   b  and  15   c . These two chamfered edges come in sliding engagement with each other as the cartridge screw is being lowered toward the spindle motor by the handle  58 . As this occurs, the cartridge screw is accurately positioned both axially and radially with respect to the retainer  62  as can be seen in FIG. 7 in the final resting position. The chamfered edges  62 ,  207  cause the cartridge screw  206  to be initially engaged and properly centered with the retainer  62  as the cartridge screw  206  is being urged down toward the retainer  62  by the handle  58 . A distinct advantage of this arrangement is that as the cartridge screw is engaged in a thread of the nut of the cartridge base  204 , the cartridge base  204  is in effect rigidly positioned with respect to the cartridge screw  206 . Thus, with the cartridge screw  206  both axially and radially positioned by the retainer  62 , the cartridge itself is accurately positioned with respect to the retainer  62  and the cartridge receiver of the disk drive. This provides an inventive apparatus and method of registering the cartridge with respect to the disk drive so that the heads can be accurately unloaded. 
     Disk Drive and Disk Drive Housing 
     Referring to the figures and, in particular, to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the removable cartridge disk drive of the invention is depicted and identified by the numeral  30 . The disk drive  30  includes a disk drive base  32 , which in a preferred embodiment, can be cast from aluminum or other suitable material. The base cover  34  is secured onto the base  32 . The base  32  defines base rails  36 ,  38  which can be used to cause the disk drive  30  to be slidably received into a PC MCIA interface such that the disk drive is slidable into and out of use with appropriate notebook, laptop or palmtop computers. The disk drive includes appropriate docking connectors  40  which communicate power, data, addresses and other signals between the disk drive  30  and the microprocessor or other computing means which requires data to be stored on the disk drive  30 . The disk drive  30  includes a spring biased door  88  which is pivotally mounted to base  32 . 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  depict the plan and side view of the base cover  34  of the invention which provide for ease of connection of the cover to the base and to limit the space required. The cover includes “J” shaped fingers  42  projecting from the sides  44  of the cover  34  adjacent to front end  46  of the cover. Through the upper surface of the rear portion of the cover are disposed bores  48  through which screws can be provided in order to secure the disk drive cover  34  to the base  32 . In practice, the “J” shaped fingers  42  are positioned in the disk drive base openings  48  defined in the base  32  and locked under the base  32 , with screws positioned through bores  48  received in the threaded bores  52  (FIG. 3 a ) defined in the base  32 . Such an arrangement can conveniently hold the disk drive onto the base while minimizing the number and size of fasteners required. 
     Disk Drive Multifunction Handle Arrangement 
     FIGS. 3 a ,  3   b ,  3   c  and  3   d  depict an embodiment of the disk drive of the invention of FIG. 1 with the disk cover  34  removed to reveal the internal operating mechanisms of the invention. FIG. 3 a  depicts the disk drive  30  preparatory to the insertion of cartridge  200  into the disk drive. FIG. 3 b  depicts the position on the mechanisms with the cartridge registered and the cartridge hub not as yet unloaded onto the spindle motor of the disk drive. FIG. 3 c  depicts the position of the mechanism of the drive with the cartridge hub engaging the nose of the spindle motor. FIG. 3 d  depicts the internal mechanism with the heads unloaded onto the disk contained in the cartridge. 
     Describing the internal mechanisms of the disk drive in greater detail, FIG. 3 a  depicts a spindle motor  54  which, in a preferred embodiment, is affixed to the base  32  and stationary with respect to said base  32 . The spindle motor  54  includes a spindle motor shaft or nose  56 . 
     Positioned about the spindle motor  54  is the multifunction handle  58 . The multifunction handle  58  is shown by itself in FIGS. 4 a  through  4   d . This multifunction handle  58  includes a central opening  60  which is retained by a handle retainer  62  so that the handle  58  can be pivoted about the spindle motor  54  during the operation of seating the cartridge  200  onto the spindle nose  56 , and unlocking the head arm assembly so that it can be unloaded down ramp  66  with the head or transducer  68  unloaded onto the spinning disk  220 . 
     The multifunction handle  58  includes an operator lever  70  and a cartridge engaging lever  72 . Cartridge engaging lever  72  can be engaged by the first and second projections  212 ,  214  which are downwardly depending from the cartridge base  204  as will be described more fully hereinbelow. The multifunction handle  58  includes a central annular body  74 . Defined in the annular body  74 , adjacent the operator lever  70 , is cartridge tang engagement mechanism  76 . This mechanism  76  includes a passageway  78  for initially receiving the tang  208  of the cartridge  200 . As is evident from FIG. 10, upon insertion of the cartridge into the drive, the tang  208  trails the spindle nose engagement mechanism  228  of the cartridge  200  so that when the spindle nose engagement mechanism  228  is essentially above the spindle nose  56 , the tang  208  is disposed in passageway  78  of the cartridge tang engagement mechanism  76  as can be seen represented schematically in FIG. 17 a.    
     The cartridge tang engagement mechanism  76  further includes a cartridge seating tab  80  and a cartridge unseating tab  82 . Immediately below the cartridge seating tab  80  is a groove  84  which can receive the tang  208  as described hereinbelow. Inserting the cartridge fully into the drive, causes the cartridge engaging lever  72  to be engaged by the first cartridge projection  212  which, in a preferred embodiment, is essentially parallel to a radius of the disk  220  (FIG. 18 a ). Thus, insertion of the cartridge  200  into the cartridge receiver  86  through the disk drive door  88  causes the operator level  70  to be rotated by the first projection  212  pushing against the cartridge engaging lever  72 , in a preferred embodiment, approximately 18° to the position shown in FIGS. 3 b  and  18   b . At this point the operator can easily access the operator lever  70  and as shown in FIG. 17 a  the tang  208  is engaged by the cartridge seating tab  80 . 
     Once the operator lever  70  extends from the drive  30 , the operator can urge the operator lever  70  to the position shown in FIGS. 3 c  and  18   c  which is approximately 13.5° from the position shown in FIGS. 3 b  and  18   b  for a total of approximately 31.5° from the non-operational cartridge unload position of the handle (FIGS. 3 a  and  18   a ). During the rotation of the operator lever  70 , the incremental 13.5° from the position of FIGS. 3 b  and  18   b  to the position of FIGS. 3 c  and  18   c , the disk and the hub of the cartridge are urged downwardly toward the spindle motor by the cartridge screw acting against the threads on the cartridge nut located in the cartridge base. As the hub approaches the spindle motor, the hub begins to engage the spindle nose, and the spindle magnetic ring  57  pulls the hub fully onto the nose in order to securely position the hub of the cartridge onto the spindle nose (FIG.  7 ). As can be seen in FIG. 17 b , as this occurs, the tang  208  moves downwardly between tabs  80  and  82  to rest in the lower position as shown in FIG. 17 b . At this point, the cartridge is fully seated onto the spindle motor. The operator lever  70  can then be urged by the operator up to an additional 18.5° (including 2° for backlash) to the fully closed position in order to allow the heads to be unloaded onto the disk as will be described hereinbelow. When this occurs, the tang  208  remains stationary and is locked into the groove  84  as the tab  80  passes over the tang  208 . This overtravel allows for the multifunction handle  58  to perform a function of unlocking the head arm assembly  64  and other functions described below without effecting the position of the cartridge hub secured to the spindle motor and the disk in the cartridge. Thus during overtravel, the handle  58  moves to the final operational position shown in FIGS. 3 d  and  18   d  which, as will be described below, allows the head arm assembly to be released. 
     Prior to cartridge ejection, the cartridge unseating tab  82  is moved clockwise to apply force on the tang to unseat the hub from the spindle motor. This occurs as the operator lever is moved clockwise from the position of FIGS. 3 c  and  18   c  to the position of FIGS. 3 b  and  18   b.    
     As can be determined by viewing FIGS. 18 a ,  18   b ,  18   c  and  18   d , the insertion of the cartridge into the cartridge receiver causes the first projection  212 , extending from the cartridge base  204 , to engage the cartridge engaging lever  72  urging the lever to the position shown in FIG. 18 b . It is noted that the second projection  214  slides past the cartridge engaging lever  72  with the operator lever in the non-operational, most leftward position as shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  18   a . Upon cartridge ejection, the first cartridge projection  212  urges against the cartridge engaging lever  72  to eject the cartridge as the operator lever  72  is moved from the position of FIGS. 3 b  and  18   b  to the position of FIGS. 3 a  and  18   a . As discussed elsewhere, if the operator lever  70  is not fully seated in the non-operational position of FIGS. 3 a  and  18   a , then the second cartridge projection  214  which is, in a preferred embodiment, substantially perpendicular to the first cartridge projection  212 , engages lever  72  to urge the operator lever  70  to the position of FIGS. 3 a  and  18   a.    
     Disk Drive Handle Cartridge Ejection Function 
     The multifunction handle  58  further performs a cartridge ejection function. The handle includes a groove  90  within which is disposed a spring  92  (FIGS. 3 a ,  3   b ,  3   c  and  3   d ). A pin  94  is upstanding from the base  32  of the disk drive  30  and is disposed in the groove  90 . As the operator lever  70  is moved approximately 18.5° from the position of FIGS. 3 c  and  18   c  to the position of FIGS. 3 d  and  18   d  wherein the handle  58  overrides the tang  208  of the cartridge screw  206 , the spring  92  is compressed between the pin  94  and the end of the groove  90 . The multifunction handle  58  is locked in this position by the latch  124  as will be discussed hereinbelow. When read/write operations have ceased, the latch  124  releases the handle  58  and the spring  92  causes the operator lever  70  to extend out of drive to the position shown in FIGS. 3 c  and  18   c . At this point, the operator can urge the lever to the left to the position of FIGS. 3 a  and  18   a . By so doing, this action unseats the hub of the cartridge from the spindle nose, and then the cartridge engaging lever  72  engages the first projection  212  which extends from the cartridge base in order to urge the cartridge out of the drive. Should the operator lever  70  not be fully pushed to the leftmost, non-operational position as shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  18   a , the second projection  214  will come in contact with the cartridge engaging lever  72  to urge the handle  58  in a counter-clockwise motion insuring that the operator lever  70  is fully to the leftmost, non-operational position. So positioned, the operator lever is concealed in the drive so that it cannot be inadvertently actuated prior to a cartridge being inserted into the drive. Additionally the heads and head arm assembly loaded on the ramps are not damaged by being prematurely unloaded onto the cartridge receiver  86  without the cartridge received therein. 
     Handle Overcenter and Head Arm Assembly Lock Function 
     The multifunction handle  58  performs a number of other functions. Engaging a groove  98  in a periphery of the multifunction handle  58  is an overcenter link  100  which pivots about pin  102  which is upstanding from the drive base  32 . The overcenter link  100  defines a groove in which is loaded the pin  102  and a spring  104 . As the multifunction handle is rotated in a counter-clockwise manner from the position of FIG. 3 a  to the position of FIG. 3 c , a finger projection  106  of overcenter link  100  which is engaged in the groove  98  of the multifunction handle  58 , is urged in a counter-clockwise manner from the position of FIG. 3 a  to the position of FIG. 3 c . As this occurs, the spring  104  is compressed as the overcenter position is reached. The purpose of the overcenter link  100  is to lock the multifunction handle  58  in the non-operational position as shown in FIG. 3 a  and can also be used to assist in ejecting the cartridge  200  from the drive  30 . It is to be understood that the cartridge can be ejected by the handle  58 . However, in some embodiments, the overcenter link  100  can be used to urge against the handle to assist with the cartridge ejection. Inserting the cartridge  200  into the disk drive  30  and having the operator actuate the operator lever in a counter-clockwise motion overcomes the overcenter link  100  in order to unlock the multifunction handle  58 . Adjacent to the groove  98  is a second groove  108  defined in the periphery of handle  58 . A push link crank  110  is pivotally mounted to the disk drive base  32  at pivot point  112  such that the crank  110  can pivot from the position shown in FIG. 3 a  to the position shown in FIG. 3 d  thus pivoting in a clockwise manner as the multifunction handle  58  is urged in a counter-clockwise manner. The crank  110  includes a cam follower  114  which follows a peripheral edge of the handle  58  until it resides in the groove  108  as can be seen in FIG. 3 d . This occurs at the end of the overtravel motion of the handle  58 . As this occurs, an arm push link  116  which is pivotally secured at pivot point  118  to an extension of the crank  110  is moved toward the spindle motor  54 , releasing the head arm assembly  64 . In a preferred embodiment, a pin  120  extends downwardly from the head  5  arm assembly  64  and is engaged by the arm push link  116 . Causing the multifunction handle  58  to rotate in a clockwise direction causes the crank  110  to move in a counter-clockwise direction urging the link  116  against the pin  120  to cause the head arm assembly to be lifted off the disk  220  and urged up the ramp  66 . 
     Handle Latch 
     Preceding in a counter-clockwise manner about the handle  58  another groove  122  is defined in the periphery of the handle. This groove is designed to mate with the latch  124  in order to lock the handle in the operational position shown in FIGS. 3 d  and  18   d  with the cartridge fully received in the cartridge receiver, the cartridge hub mounted on the spindle motor nose, and the head arm assembly unlocked. The latch  124  pivots about pivot point  126  and a spring biases the latch toward the handle  58  so that it will be urged into groove  122  when groove  122  presents itself to the projection  128  from the latch  124 . As this occurs, a spring biased interposer  130  is urged downwardly towards the door opening side  132  of the disk drive. A projection  134  on the interposer then falls into a slot  136  defined in the latch to retain the latch in a locked position. In an emergency situation with power removed from the disk drive, a small diameter wire can be inserted through a port  138  in the door opening side  132  of the disk drive  30  in order to urge the interposer to become disengaged from the latch, so that spring  92  contained in the handle  58  will urge the handle  58  to extend from the disk drive (FIGS. 3 c  and  18   c ) so that the operator can manually turn the operator lever clockwise from the position of FIGS. 3 c  and  18   c  to the position of FIGS. 3 a  and  18   a  in order to cause the cartridge to is be ejected from the disk drive. 
     In normal operation, the latch  124  is disengaged from the groove  122  of the handle by use of the solenoid  140  which pulls up on the solenoid link  142  and which in turn pulls up on the interposer  130  to release the latch  124 . 
     It is to be understood that alternatively, the latch  124  can be replaced with a solenoid which would have a plunger which would engage groove  122  of the handle. An appropriate emergency release mechanism which can be manually operated from the door opening side  132  would release the handle should power to the disk drive cease with a cartridge locked in the disk drive cartridge receiver. 
     Disk Drive Ramp 
     In FIG. 3 a , the head arm assembly  64  is pivotally mounted at pivot point  144  and is actuated by a voice coil motor  146 . As previously indicated the head arm assembly  64  can be loaded onto the disk  220  from the ramp  66 . As seen in FIGS. 6 a  through  6   d , the ramp  66  is of an innovative design and includes upper and lower head arm landing surfaces  148 ,  150 . The ramp  66  is secured to the base by appropriate fastening means at point  152  with a pin  154  upstanding from the base received in a slot  156  of the ramp. In a preferred embodiment, the arm loading surfaces  148 ,  150  terminate in a landing ridge  158 ,  160 . In a preferred embodiment, the head arm loading surfaces  148 ,  150  slope downwardly from the ridges  158 ,  160  at approximately a 2.74° slope. The head arm assembly  64  includes an arm  164 , a leafspring  166 , a load beam  168  and a gimble mount  169  to which the read/write head  68  is mounted. As can be seen in FIG. 6 c , a lower corner  162  of the head arm loading surface  148  is first to engage a portion of the load beam  168  of the head arm assembly  64 . In the position with the head arm assembly fully received on the ramp  66 , the load beam  168  is supported by the ridge  158  nearly adjacent to the gimble mount  169  and read/write head  68 . The reason for this arrangement is that the ramp  66  needs to be able to remove the head from the disk at a point well before the portion of head arm assembly  64  adjacent the head can be picked up by the ramp  66 . Thus, the ramp picks up a portion of the load beam  168  well removed from the head  68  as can be seen in FIG. 6 c . It is further to be understood that due to the confined spacing, as the cartridge is received into the disk drive, that the cartridge door is opened and the heads, fully loaded on the ramp  66 , are received in the cartridge. Accordingly, there is a need to exactly control the position of the heads so that they are not damaged by the cartridge as the cartridge is urged into the disk drive. Thus, as seen in FIG. 6 d , the ramp  66  needs to accurately control the load beam  168  adjacent to the head. Once the disk is properly positioned within the cartridge due to the motion of the cartridge screw, the load beam can move down the arm loading surfaces  148 ,  150  so that the heads are unloaded onto the spinning disk. 
     As can be seen in the present embodiment, the ramp  66  picks up and first engages the load beam  168  at a point which is distant from the location where the head is mounted and, in fact, as shown in FIG. 6 c  is adjacent to the leafspring  166 . As the voice coil motor rotates the head arm assembly  64 , the load beam  168  moves up the ramp such that the head  68  is positioned accurately by the ridge  158  of the ramp  66  which contacts the load beam  168  substantially adjacent to the location where the head is mounted. Thus, a substantial portion of the load beam is traversed by the ramp as the load beam moves relative to the ramp. 
     The disk drive and cartridge can be made of a number of materials as are known in the trade. Some of these materials are disclosed in the above prior art references. By way of example only, the cartridge cover can be made of aluminum with the bottom of the cartridge made of plastic such as polycarbonate. The base of the disk drive can be made of cast aluminum with the top made of formed aluminum. Other plastics which can be used for the parts in addition to polycarbonate and include Delrin®, Nylon® and the like. These parts can include graphite and nylon composites and other composites and in addition have Teflon® composites in order to increase lubricity. 
     Industrial Applicability 
     The operation and further advantages of the invention are as follows. First it is evident from the above that the above design accomplishes a removable cartridge disk drive and removable cartridge that successfully fits within a 1.8 inch form factor wherein the disk is approximately 1.8 inches in diameter and the height of the drive is 10.5 millimeters. In this form factor, 40, 60 and 80 megabyte and greater capacity cartridges can be used. The ability of the drive to conform to the 1.8 inch form factor is attributable to a number of factors taken separately, which separate factors also offer additional advantages taken together. These factors include the fact that the disk drive and the removable cartridge act as a system, which minimize the number of parts and which has a highly inventive system interface for allowing the cartridge to be received, the disk to be properly positioned and the remaining functions of the disk drive to be carried out. In particular, in order to accomplish the 1.8 inch form factor, the cartridge, has been designed so that the disk and the hub on which the disk is mounted can be relocated relative to the housing of the cartridge in order to have the hub clear the spindle motor and spindle motor nose as the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receiving mechanism of the disk drive. This results in an efficiency of utilization of space so that after the hub is mounted on the spindle motor there is no unnecessary dead space above or below the cartridge that does not have a purpose. That is to say that the disk and the hub are movable in the normal clearance space required by the disk when it is spinning relative to the housing walls. Movable within this clearance space, the disk and hub can be engaged with the spindle motor nose and once this engagement has occurred, the disk is properly spaced between the upper and lower surfaces of the cartridge housing. In this configuration, the hub extends from the envelope of the cartridge housing. Such an arrangement accordingly does not require that the cartridge be moved in the drive in order to properly position the hub on the spindle motor or that the spindle motor be moved in order to engage the hub of the cartridge, both activities potentially creating wasted space once the drive is actually operating. 
     Further, with respect to the cartridge and disk drive interface, the cartridge has several projections extending therefrom which can engage the internal mechanisms of the disk drive in order to ensure proper operation of the disk drive once the cartridge is received into the cartridge receiving mechanism. This interface assists in limiting the number of moving parts required in the disk drive, allowing the parts to have multifunctions and assisting in accomplishing the 1.8 inch form factor design. By way of example, the cartridge screw includes a tang extending therefrom. The engagement of the tang with the multifunction handle of the disk drive causes the repositioning of the disk within the cartridge and assists in locking the tang and thus the cartridge to the disk drive during disk drive operation. Further, the cartridge projections assist in positioning the multifunction handle. The projections further provide a compact mechanism for allowing the cartridge to be ejected from the drive and also ensuring that the operator level in the full non-operational position once the cartridge has been removed from the drive. The cartridge includes a rail which protects the tang and projections from damage. This rail has an additional function of preventing the cartridge from being incorrectly inserted in the drive. 
     It is noted that there are other multifunction purpose of the cartridge screw and cartridge design. When the cartridge is removed from the disk drive and for example being transported, the hub is urged up against a spacer in order to place the disk in a stationary position relative to the housing so that there is no rattle of the disk in the cartridge. A spring mechanism within the cartridge urges the cartridge screw to the a position so that the hub butts up against the spacer to accomplishing the anti-rattle function. The spacer also provides a mount for pivotally mounting the cartridge door. 
     A further aspect which allows the disk drive to be compact, efficient and meet the 1.8 inch form factor and also smaller form factors is the design of the arm ramp which allows for the exact positioning of the heads so that as the cartridge is inserted into the drive, the ramp and heads simultaneously come within the envelope of the cartridge housing and prior to the cartridge hub being seated on the spindle motor. This arrangement allows the disk drive to be shorter in length, and also allows the heads, parked in a stationary position loaded on the ramps, to be positioned as close as possible to the disk. This allows, for example, for the head to be tangent with more of the tracks resulting in greater recording efficiencies. 
     Further the above design allows the entire disk drive to be slidable and dockable in a port provided on a notebook or other computing device. 
     The above compactness is in addition attributed to the multifunction handle located within the disk drive and adjacent to the cartridge receiving mechanism. The handle performs the functions of (1) engaging the cartridge and locking the cartridge in position, (2) positioning the hub and disk so that the hub engages the spindle motor nose and the disk is properly positioned within the cartridge, (3) ejecting the cartridge when desired, (4) releasing the head arms assembly so that they can be unloaded from the ramp onto the disk for read/write operations, (5) pivoting an overcenter link in order to lock the handle in the non-operational position and (6) allowing a mechanism to lock the handle in a fully operational position. 
     Even the disk drive cover affords compactness in design in that it has appropriate catches for engaging the base of the disk drive and only requires a minimal number of fasteners to secure to disk drive base. 
     In addition to the above, the cartridge further includes an internal spiral wall for assisting and directing air within the cartridge to exit the cartridge through a filter. The cartridge additionally has recesses formed in the internal surface of the housing in order to accommodate the heads and ramp prior to the heads being loaded onto the disk. 
     It is to be understood that other objects, aspects and inventive features can be obtained from a review of the figures and claims. Further, it is to be understood that embodiments other than those presented herein can be fabricated and come within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein.