Disk drive including an actuator latch with a pivot ball in a latch post opening and between a VCM top plate and the latch
View Patent ↗A disk drive includes a housing including a support post extending from the housing. The support post defines a post axis. The disk drive further includes an actuator rotatably coupled to the housing. The disk drive further includes a VCM top plate physically coupled to the housing and comprising a ferromagnetic metal. The disk drive further includes a VCM magnet magnetically coupled to the VCM top plate. The disk drive further includes an actuator latch contactable with the actuator. The latch includes a post opening. The latch is pivotably mounted about the support post with the support post disposed in the post opening. The disk drive further includes a pivot ball disposed in the post opening and partially protruding from the latch between the VCM top plate and the latch along the post axis.
1. A disk drive comprising:
a disk drive housing including a support post extending from the disk drive housing, the support post defining a post axis;
an actuator rotatably coupled to the disk drive housing;
a VCM top plate physically coupled to the disk drive housing, the VCM top plate comprising a ferromagnetic metal;
a VCM magnet magnetically coupled to the VCM top plate;
an actuator latch contactable with the actuator, the latch including a post opening, the latch being pivotably mounted about the support post with the support post disposed in the post opening;
a pivot ball disposed in the post opening and partially protruding from the latch between the VCM top plate and the latch along the post axis; wherein the pivot ball is seated upon and in contact with the support post without contacting the VCM top plate; and wherein the pivot ball pivots on the end of the support post.
2. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the pivot ball is press-fit into the latch.
3. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the pivot ball comprises a ceramic material.
4. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the pivot ball comprises steel.
5. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the disk drive housing includes a disk drive base, the support post being press-fit attached to the disk drive base.
6. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the support post and the disk drive housing are all a single component having material continuity rather than an assembly of subcomponents.
7. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the VCM top plate comprises steel.
8. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the VCM magnet is physically coupled to the disk drive housing.
9. The disk drive of claim 8 wherein the disk drive housing includes a disk drive base and a cover, the VCM magnet being physically coupled to the disk drive base, the VCM top plate being physically coupled to the cover.
10. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the pivot ball protrudes from the latch between the VCM top plate and the latch along the post axis between 5% and 45% of a diameter of the pivot ball.
11. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the pivot ball is between 50 and 150 micrometers from the VCM top plate in a direction parallel the post axis with the pivot ball seated upon the support post.
12. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the pivot ball is between 50 and 100 micrometers in diameter.
13. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the support post is between 30 and 80 micrometers in diameter.