Actuator Stopper Layout for Low-Displacement Disk Head Collisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disk devices face issues with stoppers that cause excessive displacement and material outgassing, leading to contamination and reduced reliability due to elastic deformation during actuator assembly collisions, which affect the magnetic head and recording medium.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of auxiliary stoppers with lower hardness materials and strategic placement to limit actuator assembly displacement, reducing collision-induced deformation and outgassing by providing additional contact points before the primary stoppers fully deform.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If buffer members with elastic deformation capability are used in stoppers to reduce collision shock, then the shock absorption is improved, but the displacement of the actuator assembly increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock absorption capabilityVSAvoiddisplacement of actuator assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is divided into a hard stopper portion and a separate buffer member portion. The hard stopper provides primary stopping with minimal displacement, while the buffer member provides secondary shock absorption. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the stopper structure are assigned different material properties: the stopper portion is made hard (high elasticity modulus) to minimize displacement, while the buffer member is made soft (low elasticity modulus) to maximize shock absorption. This local differentiation of material qualities resolves the contradiction between displacement reduction and shock absorption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a larger contact margin is ensured between the actuator assembly and other components, then collision prevention is improved, but the data area of the recording medium is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision preventionVSAvoiddata area of recording medium

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper system is segmented into hard and soft portions, enabling the hard stopper to provide precise positioning with minimal displacement, thereby reducing the required contact margin and increasing the data area while maintaining collision prevention capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elasticity modulus parameter is changed by using different materials for different portions: high elasticity modulus for the stopper to minimize displacement, and low elasticity modulus for the buffer member to absorb shock. This parameter differentiation allows reduced contact margin while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If buffer members are used in stoppers to elastically deform during collision, then shock reduction is improved, but outgassed components are generated causing contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock reductionVSAvoidoutgassed components and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer member function is extracted as a separate component from the main stopper structure. This allows the buffer member to be specifically designed for shock absorption while the hard stopper handles positioning, enabling material selection that minimizes outgassing in the critical stopper portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper portion is made of hard material with properties optimized to minimize outgassing, while the buffer member is made of soft material optimized for shock absorption. This local quality differentiation allows the critical stopper area to avoid contamination while still providing shock reduction through the buffer member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Reduces actuator assembly displacement and outgassing, increasing data area and design freedom while enhancing the reliability and life of the disk device by selecting materials with reduced outgassing.

Implementation Method 1

each stopper comprises a buffer member which can elastically deform

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12626719B2Disk device with stopper for actuator assembly

Publication Date: 2026.05.12 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a disk device includes a disk-shaped recording medium, an actuator assembly, a magnetic head supported in the actuator assembly, a first stopper which is provided contactably with the actuator assembly and defines a move of the actuator assembly in a first direction, and a first auxiliary stopper which is provided at a position where the actuator assembly comes into contact with the first auxiliary stopper after the actuator assembly comes into contact with the first stopper, and which defines the move of the actuator assembly in the first direction.