Magnetic head accessing mechanism utilizing spring bias

Claim 2

An arm assembly forming an integral structure for automatically loading a magnetic transducer to a surface of a magnetic medium in response to movement of said transducer parallel to said surface comprising: a single leaf spring element biased to act continuously in a direction perpendicular to and toward said medium surface; means connected to one end of said element for supporting said transducer; means joined to the other end of said spring element for providing a fulcrum, said spring element having a predetermined spring constant so that the magnetic transducer is constantly urged toward the medium surface by virtue of the existing bias of the spring element; and means integral with said spring element adapted to move said one end perpendicular to and away from said surface when said arm is moved parallel to said surface.

Claim 3

An arm assembly as in claim 1, wherein said means integral with said spring element comprises a cam cooperating surface.

Claim 4

A random access magnetic disc file comprising: a plurality of disc record surfaces; a plurality of longitudinal magnetic head arm assemblies for accessing said disc surfaces, each of said magnetic head arm assemblies being formed with: a rigid mount element at one end of the arm assembly; a transducer support portion at the other end of the arm assembly, including a flexure on which the transducer is positioned for providing a gimbal action to said transducer, said flexure and transducer being located at one side of said arm assembly relative to the longitudinal axis; a ramp section formed at the other side of said arm assembly and in nonalignment with said flexure and transducer with reference to the longitudinal dimension of said arm assembly; a pretensioned leaf spring element coupled between said mount element and said transducer support portion, the spring element being sandwiched between a clamp and said mount, the clamp providing a fulcrum for said spring element; and a receiver structure having slots for engaging said rigid mounts of said head assemblies, said structure being movable bidirectionally and radially relative to said disc surfaces.

Claim 5

A random access magnetic disc file comprising: a plurality of disc record surfaces; a plurality of longitudinal magnetic head arm assemblies for accessing said disc surfaces, each of said magnetic head arm assemblies being formed with: a rigid mount element at one end of the arm assembly; a transducer support portion at the other end of the arm assembly, including a flexure on which the transducer is positioned for providing a gimbal action to said transducer, said flexure and transducer being located at one side of said arm assembly relative to the longitudinal axis; a ramp section formed at the other side of said arm assembly and in nonalignment with said flexure and transducer with reference to the longitudinal dimension of said arm assembly; a pretensioned leaf spring element coupled between said mount element and said transducer support portion, the spring element being sandwiched between a clamp and said mount, the clamp providing a fulcrum for said spring element; and a receiver structure having slots for engaging said rigid mounts of said head assemblies, said structure being movable bidirectionally and radially relative to said disc surfaces.

Claim 6

A random access magnetic disc file as in claim 3, including a stationary tower structure having a series of spaced cams aligned parallel to the axis along which said plurality of disc surfaces are coaxially mounted, so that as said receiver structure and the head arm assemblies are transported radially towards the disc record surfaces, said stationary cams cooperate with said ramp sections, thereby simultaneously loading said pretensioned arm assemblies to said record surfaces to a predetermined flying height.