US 3,947,886 AGranted

Flexible disc recording apparatus

AssigneeDynastor, Inc.

InventorsRobert F. Hiedecker, A. Kenneth Johnson, Galen B. Royer

Life of this patent

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Abstract

In electromagnetically reading or writing information on a flexible recording medium, commonly referred to as a "floppy" disc, a read/write head is permanently secured for translational movement with respect to each of a succession of discs which are brought into position beneath the head, the disc being rotated until its recording surface is raised into close proximity to the head for reading and writing information thereon. An airflow pattern is established between the disc and a flat reference plate to form an air bearing interface therebetween which will maintain the disc in a flat plane of rotation directly beneath the head. A second air bearing is formed between the head and the disc to maintain a slight, precise separation therebetween so as to prevent direct contact in close proximity between the head and disc to facilitate electromagnetic recording.

Claims12

Dependent claims

In a magnetic head positioning apparatus for reading and writing information, the combination comprising:

drive means having a drive shaft extending therefrom,
a reference plate having said drive means attached in fixed relation on one side thereof with said drive shaft extending axially through a port located centrally of said reference plate, said reference plate having an elongated slot therethrough positioned in spaced relation from said port but radially oriented relative thereto, and said port communicating with an air flow orifice adjacent to said port,
a flexible disc recording medium,
a read/write head,
a head carrier mounted on said one side of said reference plate and including bearing means supporting said head for extension through said elongated slot for linear movement over a selected distance corresponding to the radial distance of the recordable surface on said flexible disc recording medium,
means for securing said flexible disc recording medium on said drive shaft into position adjacent to a flat surface portion on the other side of said reference plate opposite to said head carrier and into operative engagement with said drive means whereby to spin said disc at a speed sufficient to raise said disc into a substantially flat plane of rotation in proximity to the flat surface on the other side of said reference plate,
a housing having an opening thereinto but otherwise being attached to said reference plate in air-tight enclosing relation to said reference plate slot and the intake of said air flow orifice, air filter means covering said housing opening, and
means establishing a flow of air from said one side of said reference plate through said reference plate port for establishing a first air bearing interface between said disc and the flat surface of said reference plate to maintain said disc in its flat plane of rotation in close proximity to said reference plate and to establish a second air bearing interface between said disc and said head to establish a slight spacing therebetween in reading and writing information on said recording medium.

5 more elements

A flexible disc recording apparatus for reading and writing information on a flexible disc recording medium, comprising in combination:

a base plate,
a disc drive motor attached to a first side of said base plate and including a drive shaft projecting downwardly through said base plate,
a read/write head,
a head carrier mounting said head on said first side of said base plate for extension downwardly through a recording slot in said base plate for a limited distance, bearing means between said head carrier and said base plate supporting said head for linear movement over a predetermined distance radially toward and away from the axis of said drive shaft and for a distance corresponding to the radial distance of the recordable surface on the disc recording medium,
selectably operable head drive means attached to said first side of said base plate for linearly moving said head carrier for radially positioning said head in said recording slot relative to the axis of said drive shaft,
limit stop means attached to said base plate at opposite ends of said recording slot for limiting the distance of movement of said head under the control of said head drive means,
biasing means including a stationary member attached in fixed relation to said base plate and positioned in spaced relation above said head carrier and a spring member interposed between said stationary member and said head carrier,
means for mounting said flexible recording disc on said drive shaft beneath said read/write head and on the side of said base plate opposite to said first side whereby upon energization of said disc drive motor said disc is driven at a speed sufficient to raise said disc into a flat plane of rotation in close proximity to said head, and
airflow means including air intake means mounted on said base plate having an air-controlled orifice for establishing a flow path of air downwardly through said base plate and across the upper surface of said disc between said disc and said base plate to form a bearing surface therebetween.

6 more elements

A flexible disc recording apparatus for reading and writing information on a flexible disc recording medium, comprising in combination:

a base reference plate,
a disc drive motor attached to a first side of said plate and including a drive spindle projecting downwardly through said base plate,
a read/write head,
a head carrier on said first side of said plate mounting said read/write head for extension downwardly through a recording slot in said base plate and for a limited distance beneath said base plate,
bearing means between said head carrier and said base plate being operative to guide said head for linear movement over a predetermined distance rearwardly toward and away from the center of said drive spindle and for a distance corresponding to the radial distance of the recordable surface on the disc recording medium, said bearing means including a pair of spaced bearing surface portions on said base plate extending in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said head, one of said bearing surface portions being generally V-shaped and the other being flat, and spaced bearing members on said head carrier including a pair of bearing members provided with forwardly convergent bearing pads adapted to be received by said V-shaped bearing surface and a bearing pad provided with a downwardly facing slightly curved bearing surface aligned with the flat bearing surface portion on said base plate, said bearing means further including means for adjusting the position of one of said bearing pads in a direction transverse to the associated said V-shaped bearing surface for aligning said read/write head in a radial direction in said recording slot,
support means for mounting said flexible recording disc on said drive spindle beneath said read/write head whereby upon energization of said disc drive motor said disc is driven at a speed sufficient to raise said disc into a flat plane of rotation on the other side of said plate and in close proximity to said head, and
air delivery means establishing a flow path of air downwardly through said base plate and across the upper surface of said disc between said disc and said base plate to form a bearing interface therebetween.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/464,054Filed 25 Apr 1974
Granted: 30 Mar 1976
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G11B 17/32
Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor: maintaining desired spacing between record carrier…
G11B 5/48
Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor: disposition or…
G11B 5/5521
Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head: across disk tracks
G11B 5/6005
Fluid-dynamic spacing of heads from record-carriers: specially adapted for spacing from a rotating disc using a fluid cushion