System and method for locking a disk actuator in vertical and horizontal directions

An actuator locking method comprising the steps of:

• employing an actuator for moving a transducer across the surface of a disk recording medium, said actuator including an arm assembly extending from a pivot axis and a rearward section extending from said pivot axis opposite the arm assembly, said rearward section being supported at said pivot axis for pivotal movement between an upper and lower yoke of a vcm assembly;
• employing a locking device located between said upper and lower yoke of said vcm assembly and movable along a lock axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the disk recording medium for locking and releasing said actuator;
• latching said lock device to the first position by the aid of a first magnetic force;
• moving said actuator to a predetermined position;
• generating a magnetic force larger than and opposite in direction to said first magnetic force to move said lock device to a second position;
• locking said actuator by latching said lock device to the second position by the action of a second magnetic force;
• and
• generating a magnetic force larger than and opposite in direction to said second magnetic force to move said lock device to the first position, thereby releasing said actuator.

An actuator locking method comprising the steps of:

• employing an actuator for moving a transducer across the surface of a disk recording medium said actuator including an arm assembly extending from a pivot axis and a rearward section extending from said pivot axis opposite the arm assembly, said rearward section being supported at said pivot axis for pivotal movement between an upper and lower yoke of a vcm assembly;
• employing a locking device located between said upper and lower yoke of said vcm assembly and which contains a bias member having elasticity and which is movable along a lock axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the disk recording medium, for latching and releasing said actuator;
• moving said lock device to a first position with a first magnetic force larger than the bias force of said bias member in a first direction;
• moving said actuator to a predetermined lock position;
• generating a force larger than the difference between said first magnetic force and the bias force of said bias member to move said lock device to a second position;
• locking said actuator by latching said lock device to the second position by the action of the bias force of said bias member;
• and
• generating a force larger than the bias force of said bias member to move said lock device to the first position, thereby releasing said actuator.