Granted Patent B1

US 7,064,932 · App. 10/306,984 · Granted Jun 20, 2006

Abstract

Claims (107)

1. A head stack assembly for a disk drive, the head stack assembly defining a pivot axis and comprising:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, the actuator arm spacer having an axis that is parallel to and offset from the pivot axis of the head stack assembly, the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms,

wherein the actuator arm spacer, the body portion, and the first and second actuator arms are a single part having material continuity rather than being an assembly of sub-parts.

2. The head stack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first actuator arm and is attached to the second actuator arm.

3. The head stack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second actuator arms each have a free end that is furthest away from the body portion and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms at or near the free ends thereof.

4. The head stack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator arm defines a first surface and wherein the second actuator arm defines a second surface, the first surface facing the second surface, and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms between the first and second surfaces.

5. A disk drive, comprising:

a disk;

a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk, the head stack assembly defining a pivot axis and including:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, the actuator arm spacer having an axis that is parallel to and offset from the pivot axis of the head stack assembly, the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms,

wherein the actuator arm spacer, the body portion, and the first and second actuator arms are a single part having material continuity rather than being an assembly of sub-parts.

6. The disk drive of claim 5 , wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first actuator arm and is attached to the second actuator arm.

7. The disk drive of claim 5 , wherein the first and second actuator arms each have a free end that is furthest away from the body portion and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms at or near the free ends thereof.

8. The disk drive of claim 5 , wherein the first actuator arm defines a first surface and wherein the second actuator arm defines a second surface, the first surface facing the second surface, and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms between the first and second surfaces.

9. A head stack assembly for a disk drive, the head stack assembly comprising:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a first suspension assembly coupled to the first actuator arm, the first suspension assembly having a first weight;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second suspension assembly coupled to the second actuator arm, the second suspension assembly having a second weight;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer having a weight that is about equal to a sum of the first and second weights, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms.

10. The head stack assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second weights is about equal to a weight of the first suspension assembly.

11. The head stack assembly of claim 9 , wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first actuator arm and is attached to the second actuator arm.

12. The head stack assembly of claim 9 , wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first actuator arm and is attached to the second actuator arm.

13. The head stack assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second actuator arms each have a free end that is furthest away from the body portion and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms at or near the free ends thereof.

14. The head stack assembly of claim 9 , wherein the actuator arm spacer is formed integral to the body portion and to the first and second actuator arms.

15. The head stack assembly of claim 9 , wherein the actuator arm spacer is a discrete element that is formed separately from the actuator body and from the first and second actuator arms.

16. The bead stack assembly of claim 15 , wherein the discrete actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms by a swaging process.

17. The head stack assembly of claim 16 , wherein the discrete actuator arm spacer defines first and second neck portions having a first radius and a central portion having a second radius and disposed between the first and second neck portions, the first radius being smaller than the second radius to enable the first and second neck portions to be swaged onto the first and second actuator arms, respectively.

18. The head stack assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first actuator arm defines a first surface and wherein the second actuator arm defines a second surface, the first surface facing the second surface, and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms between the first and second surfaces.

19. A disk drive, comprising:

a disk;

a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk, including:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a first suspension assembly coupled to the first actuator arm, the first suspension assembly having a first weight;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second suspension assembly coupled to the second actuator arm, the second suspension assembly having a second weight;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer having a weight that is about equal to a sum of the first and second weights, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms.

20. The disk drive of claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second weights is about equal to a weight of the first suspension assembly.

21. The disk drive of claim 19 , wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first actuator arm and is attached to the second actuator arm.

22. The disk drive of claim 19 , wherein the first and second actuator arms each have a free end that is furthest away from the body portion and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms at or near the free ends thereof.

23. The disk drive of claim 19 , wherein the actuator arm spacer is formed integral to the body portion and to the first and second actuator arms.

24. The disk drive of claim 19 , wherein the actuator arm spacer is a discrete element that is formed separately from the actuator body and from the first and second actuator arms.

25. The disk drive of claim 24 , wherein the discrete actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms by a swaging process.

26. The disk drive of claim 24 , wherein the discrete actuator arm spacer defines first and second neck portions having a first radius and a central portion having a second radius and disposed between the first and second neck portions, the first radius being smaller than the second radius to enable the first and second neck portions to be swaged onto the first and second actuator arms, respectively.

27. The disk drive of claim 19 , wherein the first actuator arm defines a first surface and wherein the second actuator arm defines a second surface, the first surface facing the second surface, and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms between the first and second surfaces.

28. A head stack assembly for a disk drive, the head stack assembly comprising:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being a discrete element that is formed separately from the body portion and from the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being attached to the first and second actuator arms by a swaging process, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms,

the head stack assembly further comprising a first suspension assembly coupled to the first actuator arm and a second suspension assembly coupled to the second actuator arm and wherein the first suspension assembly has a first weight and the second suspension assembly has a second weight and wherein the actuator arm spacer has a weight that is about equal to a sum of the first and second weights.

29. The head stack assembly of claim 28 , wherein each of the first and second weights is about equal to a weight of the first suspension assembly.

30. A head stack assembly for a disk drive, the head stack assembly comprising:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being a discrete element that is formed separately from the body portion and from the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being attached to the first and second actuator arms by a swaging process, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms,

wherein the discrete actuator arm spacer defines first and second neck portions having a first radius and a central portion having a second radius and disposed between the first and second neck portions, the first radius being smaller than the second radius to enable the first and second neck portions to be swaged onto the first and second actuator arms, respectively.

31. A head stack assembly for a disk drive, the head stack assembly comprising:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being a discrete element that is formed separately from the body portion and from the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being attached to the first and second actuator arms by a swaging process, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms,

wherein the first actuator arm defines a first surface and wherein the second actuator arm defines a second surface, the first surface facing the second surface, and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms between the first and second surfaces.

32. A disk drive, comprising:

a disk;

a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk, including:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being a discrete element that is formed separately from the body portion and from the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being attached to the first and second actuator arms by a swaging process, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms,

further comprising a first suspension assembly coupled to the first actuator arm and a second suspension assembly coupled to the second actuator arm and wherein the first suspension assembly has a first weight and the second suspension assembly has a second weight and wherein the actuator arm spacer has a weight that is about equal to a sum of the first and second weights.

33. The disk drive of claim 32 , wherein each of the first and second weights is about equal to a weight of the first suspension assembly.

34. A disk drive, comprising:

a disk;

a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk, including:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being a discrete element that is formed separately from the body portion and from the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being attached to the first and second actuator arms by a swaging process, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms,

wherein the discrete actuator arm spacer defines first and second neck portions having a first radius and a central portion having a second radius and disposed between the first and second neck portions, the first radius being smaller than the second radius to enable the first and second neck portions to be swaged onto the first and second actuator arms, respectively.

35. A disk drive, comprising:

a disk;

a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk, including:

a body portion;

a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion;

an actuator arm spacer disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, the actuator arm spacer mechanically linking the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being a discrete element that is formed separately from the body portion and from the first and second actuator arms, the actuator arm spacer being attached to the first and second actuator arms by a swaging process, and

a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms,

wherein the first actuator arm defines a first surface and wherein the second actuator arm defines a second surface, the first surface facing the second surface, and wherein the actuator arm spacer is attached to the first and second actuator arms between the first and second surfaces.

Assignments (8)