US 2003/0214748 A1 · Dual stage enclosure for servo track writer utilizing low-density gas

Abstract

A method of writing servo patterns on a disc in an external servo track writer (“STW”) includes enclosing the disc and an actuator arm within an internal enclosure, while additionally enclosing the internal enclosure and the remainder of the STW by an outer cover. The internal enclosure is filled with a low-density gas prior to writing the servo patterns on the disc. Gas overflowing from the internal enclosure is contained by the outer cover which further retains the low-density gas once the internal enclosure is opened at the conclusion of the servo writing process. The low-density gas is then purged from the STW for recycling before the outer cover is opened and the disc is removed. The internal enclosure may comprise two separate components moveable between an open and closed position to allow for loading and removal of the disc from a spindle motor of the STW.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of writing servo patterns on a disc in an external servo track writer (“STW”) including a spindle motor and an actuator assembly having an actuator arm and a dedicated servo writing head, the method comprising steps of:

(a) loading the disc on a spindle shaft of the spindle motor;
(b) enclosing the disc and the actuator arm within an internal enclosure;
(c) closing an outer cover to form an enclosed environment that surrounds the internal enclosure;
(d) activating the spindle motor and the actuator assembly to load the head on the disc;
(e) filling the internal enclosure with a low-density gas to achieve a predetermined concentration and pressure of the low-density gas within the internal enclosure;
(f) writing the servo patterns on the disc while the internal enclosure is filled with the low-density gas;
(g) opening the internal enclosure once the servo patterns have been written to the disc;
(h) purging the low-density gas from the enclosed environment of the external STW to recover the low-density gas while the outer cover remains closed;
and
(i) opening the outer cover to access the disc once a predetermined amount of the low-density gas has been recovered.

7 more elements

An external servo track writer (“STW”) for writing servo patterns on a disc in a low-density gas environment, the external STW having a base supporting a spindle motor for rotating the disc and an actuator assembly having an actuator arm and a dedicated servo writing head for writing servo patterns on the rotating disc, the external STW comprising:

an internal enclosure movable between an open position for loading the disc on the spindle motor and a closed position substantially surrounding the disc and the actuator arm and servo writing head of the actuator assembly;
an outer cover movable between an open position and a closed position forming a substantially closed internal environment with the base, wherein the internal enclosure is fully contained within the internal environment defined by the outer cover;
a source of low-density gas connected to a port on the internal enclosure for directing the low-density gas into the internal enclosure prior to writing servo patterns on the disc;
and
an outflow port attached to the outer cover to recover the low-density gas from the internal enclosure.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual stage enclosure for servo track writer utilizing low-density gas

Life of this patent

Dual stage enclosure for servo track writer utilizing low-density gas

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19