Intertial latching system for a disc drive actuator

摘要

An apparatus for latching an actuator of a disc drive at a park position in the presence of applied mechanical shocks. An inertial latching system includes a contact feature coupled to and moveable with the actuator and a stationary surface along and in contact with which the contact feature moves to and from a park position. An inertial latching element is moveable in response to applied mechanical shock from an unlatched position to a latched position, with the inertial latching element normally biased to the unlatched position. The inertial latching element includes a moveable contact surface which, when the inertial latching element is in the latched position, is disposed at an angle relative to the stationary surface, thus forming a narrowing path which prevents the contact feature from moving away from the park position in a critical direction.