Removable disk cartridge for use with a rotary actuated disk drive

A disk storage device, comprising:

• a rotary actuator having an arm mounted thereon, a read/write head mounted at a free end of said arm, said rotary actuator for positioning said read/write head along an arcuate path;
• a disk cartridge including an enclosure having a top, a bottom, and a side, said side connecting said top and bottom, said enclosure having a segment shaped cutout formed by removal of a portion of said top, removal of a facing portion of said bottom, and removal of a portion of said side connecting said removed top portion and said removed bottom portion, said enclosure further including a disk mounted for rotation inside said enclosure, said disk exposed at a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge within said segment shaped cutout, and said enclosure having a segment shaped door pivotally mounted on said enclosure, said segment shaped door generally U-shaped in cross section, said segment shaped door having a top surface to shield said top surface of said disk, a lower surface to shield said bottom surface of said disk, and a side surface to shield said edge of said disk, said segment shaped door having a closed position to fully seal said cutout, and said segment shaped door having an open position to fully expose said cutout, said cutout for providing access for said read/write head to said top surface, bottom surface, when said read/write head is positioned along said arcuate path by said rotary actuator while said cartridge is inserted in said disk drive, said enclosure having a spindle access hole surrounded by a magnet, and said disk having a metal washer to engage with said magnet when said disk is not in operation;
• a guide plate mounted adjacent to said rotary actuator, said guide plate for receiving said cartridge, said guide plate for positioning said cartridge relative to said rotary actuator when said cartridge is inserted in said disk storage device;
• and
• a spindle assembly including a spindle shaft attached to a spindle motor for rotating said disk when said disk is inserted in the disk drive, and said spindle shaft is inserted in said spindle access hole.

A method for accessing a disk cartridge, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a read/write head along an arcuate path, said read write/head mounted at a free end or an arm of a rotary actuator;
• placing a disk cartridge in the path of said arcuate path, said disk cartridge including an enclosure having a top, a bottom, and a side, said side connecting said top and bottom, said enclosure having a segment shaped cutout formed by removal of a portion of said top, removal of a facing portion of said bottom, and removal of a portion of said side connecting said removed top portion and said removed bottom portion, said cartridge further including a disk mounted for rotation inside said enclosure, said disk exposed at a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge within said cutout, and said cartridge having a segment shaded door pivotally mounted on said enclosure, said door generally U-shaped in cross section, said door having a top surface to shield said top surface of said disk, a lower surface to shield said bottom surface of said disk, and a side surface to shield said edge of said disk, said door having a closed position to fully seal said cutout, and said door having an open position to fully expose said cutout, said cutout for providing access for said read/write head to said top surface and said bottom surface of said disk when said read/write head is positioned along said arcuate path;
• opening said door to expose said disk;
• magnetically coupling said disk to a spindle assembly;
• rotating said disk by means of said spindle assembly while positioning said read/write head;
• and
• magnetically coupling a washer placed on said disk with a magnet positioned around an access hole for said spindle assembly to seal said access hole when said disk is not in operation.

A disk cartridge, comprising:

• an enclosure having a segment shaped cutout formed by removal of a segment shaped portion said enclosure, a fixed latch formed on an interior surface of said enclosure, and said enclosure having a centrally located access hole surrounded by an annular magnet, a ferrous-washer attracted by said annular magnet when said cartridge is not in operation to seal said access hole;
• a disk mounted for rotation inside said enclosure, a segment shaped portion of said disk exposed at a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge by said segment shaped cutout, said ferrous-metal washer mounted on a central portion of one side surface of said disk in an opposing relationship with said annular magnet;
• a segment shaped door pivotally mounted inside said enclosure, said segment shaped door having a closed position to fully seal said segment shaped cutout, said segment shaped door having an open position to enable access to said segment shape portion of said disk by a rotary actuator positioned along an arcuate path during operation of the cartridge;
• and
• a locking mechanism for maintaining said door in said closed position, said locking mechanism including a lever for engaging with said latch.

A disk cartridge, comprising:

• an enclosure having a top cover and a bottom cover, said enclosure having a segment shaped cutout;
• a disk mounted for rotation inside said enclosure;
• a segment shaped door mounted inside said enclosure, said door having a closed position to fully seal said cutout, said door having an open position to enable access to an exposed portion of said disk by an actuator during operation;
• said bottom cover including a centrally located access hole for receiving a spindle to rotate said disk during operation, said access hole surrounded by an annular magnet fixed to said bottom cover, said disk including a ferrous metal washer fixed to the central portion of said disk, said annular magnet to attract said washer to seal said access hole when said disk is not in operation.