Disk drive having a crash stop detent actuator latch

A disk drive, comprising:

• a. a support;
• b. at least one rotatable memory disk on said support;
• c. at least one transducer;
• d. a movable actuator on said support for positioning said transducer at different radial locations on said disk between an outer radial limit and an inner radial limit;
• e. a flexible cantilever arm secured at one end to said support and having a distal end opposite said one end;
• f. a crash stop end face on said distal end of said cantilever arm for engaging a surface on said actuator when said actuator is in one radial limit, and
• g. a detent latch comprising two detent parts, a first detent part on said flexible cantilever arm at said distal end and a second detent part on said actuator, relative movement of said detent parts during engagement and disengagement movement being in a direction substantially transversely of said cantilever arm and correspondingly laterally displacing said distal end of said flexible cantilever arm, said actuator surface engaging said crash stop end face when said detent latch is engaged.

A disk drive, comprising:

• a. a support having an opening therethrough;
• b. at least one rotatable memory disk on said support;
• c. at least one transducer;
• d. a movable actuator on said support for supporting said transducer adjacent a surface of said disk;
• e. an actuator motor for moving said movable actuator to move said transducer between inner and outer radial limits with respect to a surface of said disk;
• f. a detent actuator latch for engaging and latching said actuator in one of said inner and outer radial limits, said detent actuator latch comprising a catch member on said movable actuator and a flexible integral elongated latch member, said elongated latch member being of a flexible plastic material, an integral part of said elongated latch member extending through said opening in said support and terminating in an enlarged end and thereby being immovably secured in said opening in said support, forming a flexible elongated cantilever latch member having a distal end positioned adjacent said catch member, flexibility of said flexible material permitting displacement of said distal end of said cantilever latch member relative to said catch member;
• g. a detent projection on said distal end of said cantilever latch member;
• h. a mating depression on said catch member, said depression being mated to said projection;
• i. a crash stop face on said distal end of said cantilever latch member for engaging a surface on said catch member on said movable actuator, said detent projection and said detent depression when engaged latching said movable actuator in said one of said radial limits with said crash stop face engaging said surface of said catch member on said movable actuator, and
• j. an electrical pulse generator for electrically pulsing said actuator motor to apply intermittent forces to said movable actuator to move said movable actuator and to relatively displace and disengage said detent on said distal end of said cantilever latch member from said depression on said catch member and thereby to release said movable actuator.

A disk drive, comprising:

• a. a support having an opening therein;
• b. at least one rotatable memory disk on said support;
• c. at least one transducer;
• d. a movable actuator on said support for supporting said transducer adjacent a surface of said disk;
• e. an actuator motor for moving said movable actuator to move said transducer between inner and outer radial limits with respect to a surface of said disk;
• f. a detent actuator latch for engaging and latching said actuator in one of said inner and outer radial limits, said detent actuator latch comprising a catch member on said movable actuator and a flexible integral elongated latch member, said elongated latch member being of a flexible plastic material, an integral part of said elongated latch member being immovably secured in said opening in said support, forming a flexible elongated cantilever latch member having a distal end positioned adjacent said catch member, flexibility of said flexible material permitting displacement of said distal end of said cantilever latch member relative to said catch member;
• g. a detent projection on said distal end of said cantilever latch member;
• h. a mating depression on said catch member, said depression being mated to said projection;
• i. a crash stop face on said distal end of said cantilever latch member for engaging a surface on said catch member on said movable actuator, said detent projection and said detent depression when engaged latching said movable actuator in said one of said radial limits with said crash stop face engaging said surface of said catch member on said movable actuator, and
• j. an electrical pulse generator for electrically pulsing said actuator motor to apply intermittent forces to said movable actuator to move said movable actuator and to relatively displace and disengage said detent on said distal end of said cantilever latch member and said depression on said catch member and thereby to release said movable actuator.