Auto balancing apparatus for disk drive with guide

Abstract

An auto balancing apparatus for a disk drive including a ball casing having a circular racing space installed concentrically with respect to a rotation member capable of rotating a disk. A plurality of balls roll along a racing face formed in the racing space for implementing a balancing operation. A guide member guides the movements of the balls. The proper guiding of the movements of the balls used for an auto balancing apparatus automatically corrects an unstable rotation of a disk and provides an accurate balancing operation.

1. An auto balancing apparatus for a disk drive, comprising:
 a ball casing having a racing space on a rotation member, said rotation member adapted to rotate a disk;  
 said racing space including a racing face and a floor surface;  
 a plurality of balls which roll along the racing face for implementing a balancing operation; and  
 a guide for guiding movement of the balls,  
 wherein said guide includes a limiter which prevents movement of the balls before the balancing operation is performed, and a plurality of ribs formed on the floor surface for guiding movement of the balls and preventing the balls from gathering.  
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said guide renders the balls to perform a balancing operation when the rotation member is rotated at a certain speed. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , where said guide includes a  limiter for limiting  limits the balancing operation of the balls when the rotation member is rotated at a relatively lower rotation speed, and an enhancing member for guiding  said plurality of ribs guide the balls toward the racing face when said rotation member is rotated at a relatively higher rotation speed. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said guide includes an enhancing member for guiding  plurality of ribs guide the balls on the racing face during the balancing operation. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said enhancing member includes the plurality of ribs and the  plurality of ribs are formed at a certain interval on the floor surface in the racing space. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said balls collide with the upper portions of the ribs during the balancing operation, and the moving speed of the balls is increased. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said ribs are spaced-apart at an angle of 90°, respectively. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim  4    1 , wherein said enhancing member is  limiter includes an inclined surface which is upwardly inclined from a center portion of an inner floor surface of the ball casing, which forms the racing space, toward the racing face. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim  4    1 , wherein said enhancing member is  limiter includes an inclined step portion formed at an outer side in the racing space. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said inclined step portion includes:
 an inclined surface extended from the floor surface of the racing space toward the racing face; and  
 a plane surface formed at a portion neighboring the racing face.  
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim  4    1 , wherein said enhancing member  limiter includes:
 an inclined step portion formed at an outer portion of the upper surface in the racing space; and  
 a lower plate made of a metallic material and installed at a lower portion in the racing space.  
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said inclined step portion includes:
 a guide inclined surface extended from an upper surface in the racing space toward the racing face; and  
 a plane surface formed at a portion neighboring with the racing face.  
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said limiter includes a plurality of magnets installed at a certain interval on an inner wall surface in the racing space. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a friction rough surface is formed on a floor portion in the racing space. 
     
     
       15. An auto balancing apparatus for a disk drive, comprising:
 a rotation member for rotating a disk;  
 a ball casing on the rotation member and having a racing space, said racing space including a racing face and a floor surface;  
 a plurality of balls for implementing a balancing operation by rolling along the racing face; and  
 a guide for guiding a movement of the balls, said guide including a limiter which prevents movement of the balls before the balancing operation is performed, and a ball stroker for guiding movement of the balls preventing the balls from gathering.  
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said ball stroker comprises a plurality of ribs formed on the floor surface for guiding movement of the balls and preventing the balls from gathering. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said ball stroker is an increased friction surface located on at least one surface of said racing space. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said ball stroker comprises an increased friction surface located on a ceiling surface of said racing space. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said increased friction surface is a separate element attached to said ceiling of said racing space. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said ball stroker comprises an increased friction surface located on said floor surface of said racing space. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said increased friction surface is formed integrally with said floor surface by corroding certain portions of said ball casing which form said floor surface of said racing space. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said ball stroker comprises an increased friction surface located on said racing face of said racing space. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said increased friction surface is formed integrally with said racing face by corroding certain portions of said ball casing which form said racing face of said racing space. 
     
     
       24. An auto balancing apparatus for a disk drive, comprising:
   a rotation member for rotating a disk;        a ball casing on the rotation member and having a racing space, said racing space including a racing face and a floor surface;        a plurality of balls for implementing a balancing operation by rolling along the racing face; and        a guide for guiding a movement of the balls, said guide including a ball stroker for guiding movement of the balls preventing the balls from gathering,        wherein said ball stroker is an increased friction surface located on at least one surface of said racing space, and        wherein said increased friction surface is located on said floor surface of said racing space.     
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said increased friction surface is a sheet attached to said at least one surface of said racing space.