Disk Pack

A Disk pack is a layered grouping of hard disk platters (circular, rigid discs coated with a magnetic data storage surface). A disk pack is the core component of a hard disk drive. In modern hard disks, the disk pack is permanently sealed inside the drive. In many early hard disks, the disk pack was a removable unit, and would be supplied with a protective canister featuring a lifting handle.

The protective cover consisted of two parts, a clear plastic shell, with a handle in the center, that enclosed the top and sides of the disks and a separate bottom that completed the sealed package. To remove the disk pack, the drive would be taken off line and allowed to spin down. Its access door could then be opened and an empty top shell inserted and twisted to unlock the disk platter from the drive and secure it to the top shell. The assembly would then be lifted out and the bottom cover attached. A different disk pack could then be inserted by removing the bottom and placing the disk pack with its top shell into the drive. Turning the handle would lock the disk pack in place and free the top shell for removal.

The first removable disk pack was invented in 1965 by two IBM engineers, Thomas G. Leary and R. E. Pattison. The 14-inch (356 mm) diameter disks introduced by IBM became a de facto standard, with several vendors producing "IBM-compatible" drives and disk packs.

Examples of disk drives that employed removable disk packs include the IBM 2311, and the Digital RP04.

• Operator selects a disk pack

• Bottom cover is removed

• Disk pack is ready for insertion

• The removable pack is in place

• IBM 2314s with removable disk packs and empty covers on top

• Data general Nova computer with removable disk cartridge