Movable internal platform for a disk drive

Apparatus for use in a data storage device of the type that receives a removable disk cartridge, said apparatus comprising:

• a pair of guide rails opposed to each other and spaced at a predetermined interval;
• a platform movably mounted on said guide rails and having a cartridge receiving stop, the disk cartridge engaging the cartridge receiving stop upon insertion of the disk cartridge into the data storage device and thereby pushing said platform along said guide rails from a forward position to a rearward position within the data storage device;
• an actuator mounted on said platform, said actuator having a head mounted thereon for recording and reading information to and from a recording medium within the disk cartridge;
• a spindle motor mounted on said platform for rotating the recording medium, wherein the elevation of said platform relative to a plane of said disk cartridge changes as the platform moves from said forward position to said rearward position, such that the spindle motor is brought into engagement with a hub of the disk cartridge;
• and
• a latch member movably mounted on one of said guide rails that engages the platform and locks the platform substantially in place on said guide rails in said forward position when a disk cartridge is not inserted in the data storage device, said latch mechanism interacting with a disk cartridge upon insertion of the disk cartridge into the disk drive to release the platform from the forward position.