Operating system for operating an eject system and a head retraction system of a disk drive

Abstract

An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring. The disk drive motor can be inserted into the aperture in the chassis with the member depressing the spring. The disk drive motor can then be rotated to mate the threads of the disk drive motor with the threaded ring. When rotated, the slotted member releases the spring. The spring prevents rotation of the disk drive motor past a predetermined point and thereby prevents the motor from becoming dislodged from the chassis. When inserted into the disk drive, the motor can be moved between a loaded and an unloaded position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for retracting a head that can be adapted to read a disk cartridge inserted into a disk drive and for ejecting the disk cartridge from a disk drive, comprising: 
 a head crank that is mechanically linked to the head and can be adapted to cause the head to be retracted from the disk cartridge when inserted into the disk drive;    an eject crank that can be adapted to eject the disk cartridge from the disk drive; and    a motor that can be selectively linked to either the eject crank or the head crank so that it can power either the eject crank or the head crank.    
     
     
         2 . The system of    claim 1   , further comprising a mechanical linkage coupled to the motor and moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position coupling an output of the motor to the eject crank and the second position coupling the output of the motor to the head crank.  
     
     
         3 . The system of    claim 2   , further comprising an actuator mechanically connected to the mechanical linkage so that the actuator can move the linkage between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         4 . The system of    claim 2   , wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a plurality of gears.  
     
     
         5 . The system of    claim 2   , wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a first set of gears coupled to the output of the motor, a second set of gears driven by the first set of gears and a third set of gears driven by the second set of gears, the third set of gears being moveable between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         6 . The system of    claim 5   , wherein the third set of gears is moveable about an axis of the second set of gears.  
     
     
         7 . The system of    claim 3   , wherein the actuator comprises a voice coil motor.  
     
     
         8 . The system of    claim 7   , wherein the toggle member is spring biased.  
     
     
         9 . A disk drive, comprising: 
 a head crank that is mechanically linked to a head and can be adapted to be rotated to cause the head to be retracted from a disk cartridge inserted into the disk drive;    an eject crank that can be adapted to eject the disk cartridge from the disk drive;    a motor that can power either the head crank or the eject crank; and    an actuator that can be adapted to selectively connect the motor to either the head crank or the eject crank.    
     
     
         10 . The disk drive of    claim 9   , further comprising a gear train disposed at an output of the motor.  
     
     
         11 . The disk drive of    claim 9   , further comprising a microprocessor that can be adapted to selectively control the actuator.  
     
     
         12 . The disk drive of    claim 9   , further comprising a mechanical linkage adapted to be responsive to the actuator to link the motor to either the head crank or the eject crank.  
     
     
         13 . The system of    claim 12   , wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a first toggle member adaptable to respond to movement of the actuator to selectively connect the motor to either the head crank or the eject crank.  
     
     
         14 . The system of    claim 9   , wherein the heads are mounted on a carriage assembly.  
     
     
         15 . A method of retracting heads of a disk drive and ejecting a disk cartridge from the disk drive, comprising: 
 activating an actuator to link a motor to a head crank;    powering the motor to rotate the head crank and thereby retract the heads;    operating the actuator to link the motor to an eject crank; and    rotating the eject crank with the motor to eject the disk cartridge from the disk drive.    
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 15   , wherein the step of activating further comprises engaging an output gear with the head crank.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 15   , wherein the step of operating further comprises engaging an output gear with the eject crank.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 15   , wherein the step of operating further comprises moving a gear to link the motor to the eject crank.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 15   , wherein the actuator comprises a voice coil motor.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 15   , further comprising the step of inputting an eject signal to a microprocessor to activate the actuator.  
     
     
         21 . A disk drive adaptable to receive a disk cartridge, comprising: 
 a first crank that is adaptable to perform a first function;    a second crank that is adaptable to perform a second function;    a motor that can selectively power either the first crank or the second crank; and    a gear train coupled to the motor and the first crank in a first position and coupled to the motor and the second crank in a second position.    
     
     
         22 . The disk drive of    claim 21   , wherein the first crank comprises an eject crank and the first function comprises ejecting a disk cartridge from the disk drive.  
     
     
         23 . The disk drive of    claim 21   , wherein the second crank comprises a head crank and the second function comprises retracting the heads from the disk cartridge.  
     
     
         24 . The disk drive of    claim 21   , further comprises an actuator that selectively couples the gear train to the first crank and the second crank.  
     
     
         25 . The disk drive of    claim 24   , wherein the actuator comprises a voice coil motor.  
     
     
         26 . A standoff assembly comprising: 
 a first receptacle having sidewall defining a first open end and a second open end with a bore extending therebetween, said first end adapted to be attached to first structure, said first bore adapted to receive a portion of a fastening member such that the screw is relatively flushly positioned with the first structure; and    a second receptacle having a sidewall defining a proximal open end and a distal open end with a bore extending therebetween, said proximal end adapted to be attached to a second structure, said second bore adapted to receive another portion of the fastening member wherein said first structure and said second structure can be mechanically coupled together with the fastening member positioned through the first bore and second bore.    
     
     
         27 . The standoff assembly in    claim 26    wherein said first receptacle is attached to the first structure and said second receptacle is attached to the second structure wherein said first and second receptacles are coaxially aligned with a fastening member positioned through each bore with the first and second structures coupled together with the fastening member portioned relatively flush with the first structure or below the first structure.  
     
     
         28 . The standoff assembly in    claim 26    wherein said first receptacle is attached to the first structure and said second receptacle is attached to the second structure wherein said first and second receptacles are coaxially aligned with a fastening member positioned through each bore with the first and second structures coupled together with the fastening member portioned below the first structure.  
     
     
         29 . The standoff assembly in    claim 26    wherein said first and second bores are threaded to receive a screw having a head wherein said first end is adapted to enable the screw head to be positioned relatively flush with the first structure or below the first structure.  
     
     
         30 . The standoff assembly in    claim 26    wherein said first and second bores are threaded to receive a screw having a head wherein said first end is adapted to enable the screw head to be positioned below the first structure.  
     
     
         31 . A disk drive assembly comprising: 
 a chassis, said chassis having a receptacle having a first end attached to the chassis and a second open end with a bore extending therebetween; and    a printed circuit board having a second receptacle having a sidewall defining a proximal open end and a distal open end with a bore extending therebetween, said proximal end attached to said circuit board, said second bore; and    a fastening member secured through each of said bores such that said chassis and printed circuit board are coupled together with the fastening member positioned at least relatively flush against said printed circuit board.    
     
     
         32 . The disk drive assembly in    claim 31    wherein said fastening member is portioned below the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         33 . The disk drive assembly in    claim 31    wherein said fastening member is a screw having a screw head, said screw secured within each of said bores such that said screw head is at least relatively flush with said printed circuit board.  
     
     
         34 . The disk drive assembly in    claim 31    wherein said fastening member is a screw having a screw head, said screw secured within each of said bores such that said screw head is positioned below the printed circuit board.