Claims
- 1. A disc fixing apparatus for fixing a data storage disc in rotation with the hub of a motor that is rotatable around a motor axis of rotation in a data storage device, the disc fixing apparatus comprising:
a clamp engageable with the hub comprising a reference surface associated with the clamp axis of rotation; and a fastener comprising a registration feature cooperable with the reference surface, the fastener attachable to the motor hub fixing the disc and hub in rotation and registering the clamp to the motor axis of rotation.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp is adapted for coaxial registration to the longitudinal axis of the fastener.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp is adapted for coaxial registration to the motor axis of rotation.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reference surface defines an opening receivingly engageable with the registration feature in a closely-fitting relationship.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the registration feature is engageable in the opening in a frictional-fitting relationship, maintaining the clamp registration with the fastener.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the registration feature comprises a surface disposed parallel to the fastener longitudinal axis.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the clamp comprises opposing planar faces with the reference surface connecting the faces, wherein the reference surface is characteristically arcuate and thereby receivingly engageable with the registration feature in a point contact relationship.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the registration feature terminates in an arcuate surface operably engageable with the reference surface in a mating relationship.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an opening defined by the clamp receivingly engageable with a removable locating member passable through the clamp and engageable with the hub to fix the clamp and hub in rotation.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the opening is circular and the registration feature is cylindrical.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the clamp comprises a contact surface pressingly engageable against the disc and concentric with the opening.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11 Wherein the contact surface is annular.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp defines a relief notch characteristically positioned and sized to operably compensate or rotational imbalance.
- 14. A disc stack assembly, comprising:
a motor comprising a hub rotatable around a motor axis of rotation; a disc disposed around the hub; a disc fixing apparatus, comprising:
a clamp engaging the hub comprising a reference surface associated with the clamp axis of rotation; and a fastener comprising a registration feature cooperating with the reference surface, the fastener attached to the motor hub fixing the disc and hub in rotation and registering the clamp with the motor axis of rotation.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the clamp is coaxially registered to the longitudinal axis of the fastener.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the clamp is coaxially registered to the motor axis of rotation.
- 17. The disc stack assembly of claim 14 wherein the reference surface defines an opening matingly engaging the registration feature.
- 18. The disc stack assembly of claim 14 wherein the registration feature comprises a surface disposed parallel to the fastener longitudinal axis.
- 19. The disc stack assembly of claim 17 wherein the opening is circular and the registration feature is cylindrical.
- 20. The disc stack assembly of claim 17 wherein the clamp comprises an annular contact surface pressingly engaging the disc and concentric with the opening.
- 21. The disc stack assembly of claim 14 wherein the clamp defines a relief notch characteristically positioned and sized to compensate for rotational imbalance.
- 22. A disc drive, comprising:
a base supporting a motor comprising a hub operably rotatable around a motor axis of rotation and supporting, in turn, a disc disposed around the hub; means for fixing the disc in rotation with the hub by registering a longitudinal clamping force and associated rotational inertia with the motor axis of rotation.
- 23. The disc drive of claim 22 wherein the means for fixing comprises a disc clamp, comprising:
a clamp comprising a reference surface associated with a clamp axis of rotation; and a fastener comprising a registration feature cooperating with the reference surface, the fastener attached to the motor hub fixing the disc and hub in rotation and registering the clamp with the motor axis of rotation.
- 24. The disc drive of claim 23 wherein the means for fixing is further characterized by a reference surface defining an opening matingly engaging the registration feature.
- 25. The disc drive of claim 23 wherein the means for fixing is further characterized by a registration feature comprising a surface disposed parallel to the fastener longitudinal axis.
- 26. The disc drive of claim 24 wherein the means for fixing is further characterized by a circular opening and a cylindrical registration feature.
- 27. The disc drive of claim 24 wherein the means for fixing is further characterized by a contact surface of the clamp pressingly engaging the disc and concentric with the opening.
- 28. A method for fixing a disc in balanced rotation with a rotatable hub of a motor around a motor axis of rotation, comprising:
providing a clamp member comprising a reference surface associated with a clamp axis of rotation; registering the clamp member with a longitudinal axis of a fastener; aligning the fastener and clamp together with the hub; attaching the fastener to the hub so as to register the clamp member with the motor axis of rotation.
- 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising before the step of attaching the fastener to the hub a step of positioning the fastener and clamp into a rough alignment with the hub by passing an alignment member through openings in the clamp and the hub.
- 30. The method of claim 29 further comprising a step of withdrawing the alignment member from the clamp and the hub after attaching the fastener to the hub.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/341,323.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60341323 |
Dec 2001 |
US |