JP2001155457A - Head supporting mechanism and information recording and reproducing device using the mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head supporting mechanism which allows the recording and reproducing of high density by realizing stable low floating of the head and an information recording and reproducing device equipped with the same. SOLUTION: This head supporting mechanism of a magnetic disk drive is provided with a suspension 38 which supports a magnetic head 40 and an arm which supports the suspension. The suspension is extended from the arm and, at the same time, is provided with a plate like load beam 62 which is elastically deformable and a flexure 64 which is elastically deformable. The flexure is provided with a head attaching part 65 to which the magnetic head is attached, a base edge part which is fixed to the load beam and a gimbal part 48 which connects the head attaching part with the base edge part. In the load beam, an opening 76 which prevents the interference between the load beam and the gimbal part is disposed at the position facing the edge part of the base edge part side of the gimbal part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a head support mechanism and a recording / reproducing apparatus using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, recording and reproducing devices such as magnetic disk devices and optical disk devices have been widely used as external storage devices for computers. In such a recording / reproducing device, for example, a magnetic disk device, the smaller the distance between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk, the higher the reproducing sensitivity of the magnetic head and the higher the recording density. Therefore, in recent years, in order to reduce the distance between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk, the flying height of the head slider on which the magnetic head is mounted has been gradually reduced to about 20 nm.

Usually, a magnetic disk drive has a head support mechanism for supporting a magnetic head. The head support mechanism includes an arm provided rotatably with respect to the magnetic disk, a suspension extending from the arm, have. The suspension includes an elongated plate-shaped load beam made of a leaf spring or the like, and a flexure attached to the tip of the load beam, and the head slider is attached to the tip of the flexure.

At present, MR heads and GMR heads whose magnetic head performance has been greatly improved have been put to practical use. Even when these heads are used, the smaller the distance between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk, the more advantageous. What is the same.

[0005] However, if the flying height of the head slider is too low, sudden collision between the head slider and the magnetic disk is likely to occur. For this reason, it is necessary to minimize the variation in the flying height of the head slider, which makes it very difficult to design and mass-produce the head slider.

[0006]

One of the causes of the fluctuation of the flying height of the head slider is the action of an unnecessary external force from the suspension to the head slider. These external forces mainly include a pitch moment and a roll moment, and when these moments act, the attitude of the head slider changes, causing variations in magnetic spacing, and the contact between the head slider and the magnetic disk. May lead to

The head support mechanism has a gimbal portion formed at the tip of the flexure supporting the head slider, and by forming this gimbal portion flexibly, the unnecessary external force as described above is applied to the head slider as much as possible. Designed not to work. However, if this gimbal part does not function as designed due to interference with the load beam, not only is external force acting on the head slider unnecessary, but also the head slider flexibly responds to changes such as undulations on the magnetic disk surface. You cannot follow. Therefore,
It is important to design the gimbal to function stably.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to prevent the action of unnecessary external force on the head slider and realize stable low flying, thereby enabling high-density recording and reproduction. An object of the present invention is to provide a head support mechanism and an information recording / reproducing apparatus having the same.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a head support mechanism according to the present invention comprises: a suspension supporting a magnetic head for recording and reading information on and from a disk-shaped information recording medium; And an arm supporting the suspension.
A plate-shaped load beam extending from the arm and capable of being elastically deformed, a head mounting portion to which the magnetic head is mounted, a base end portion fixed to the load beam, the head mounting portion and the base An elastically deformable flexure having an end portion and a gimbal portion, wherein the load beam is provided at a position facing an end portion of the gimbal portion on the base end side. And an opening for preventing interference with the gimbal portion.

An information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes a magnetic disk, a driving unit for supporting and rotating the magnetic disk, a magnetic head for recording and reading information on and from the magnetic disk, A head support mechanism that supports a magnetic head, a rotation support unit that rotatably supports the arm of the head support mechanism, and a drive unit that generates a driving force for rotating the arm;
It is characterized by having.

According to the head mechanism configured as described above and the information recording / reproducing apparatus including the same, the opening is provided in the portion of the load beam of the suspension opposite to the base end of the gimbal portion of the flexure. Accidental contact between the flexure gimbal and the load beam,
Interference is prevented. Thus, an unnecessary contact reaction force does not act on the gimbal portion, and the designed gimbal function can be ensured. Therefore, the magnetic head can flexibly follow a change such as the undulation of the recording medium surface, and a stable low flying of the magnetic head can be obtained. As a result, it is possible to provide a head support mechanism and an information recording / reproducing device capable of high-density recording / reproducing.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as an HDD) as an information recording / reproducing apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the HDD has a rectangular box-shaped case 12 having an open upper surface, and a top cover (not shown) which is screwed to the case with a plurality of screws and closes an upper end opening of the case. ing.

In the case 12, two magnetic disks 16a and 16b as magnetic recording media, a spindle motor 18 as a driving means for supporting and rotating the magnetic disks, and writing and reading of information to and from the magnetic disks. A plurality of magnetic heads, a head actuator 22 that movably supports these magnetic heads with respect to the magnetic disks 16a and 16b, and a voice coil motor (hereinafter VC) that rotates and positions the head actuator.
M) 24, when the magnetic head moves to the outermost periphery of the magnetic disk, a ramp load mechanism 25 that holds the magnetic head at a retracted position separated from the magnetic disk, and a head actuator is latched to the retracted position in response to impact or the like. A substrate unit 21 having an inertia latch mechanism 24 and a head IC is housed.

On the outer surface of the bottom wall of the case 12, a spindle motor 18, a VCM 2
4, and a printed circuit board (not shown) for controlling the operation of the magnetic head are screwed.

Each of the magnetic disks 16a and 16b has a diameter of 6 mm.
It is formed to 5 mm (2.5 inches) and has a magnetic recording layer on the upper and lower surfaces. The two magnetic disks 16a and 16b are fitted on the outer periphery of a hub (not shown) of the spindle motor 18, and the clamp spring 1
7 are fixedly held. Thus, the two magnetic disks 16a and 16b are coaxially stacked with a predetermined gap therebetween. Then, by driving the spindle motor 18, the two magnetic disks 16
a and 16b are integrally rotated at a predetermined speed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the head actuator 22 has a bearing assembly 26 fixed on the bottom wall of the case 12. The bearing assembly 26 has a pivot 27 that stands vertically to the bottom wall of the case 12 and a cylindrical hub 28 that is rotatably supported on the pivot via a pair of bearings. . The head actuator 22 includes four arms 32 attached to the hub 28.
And a plurality of spacer rings, and a magnetic head assembly 36 supported by each arm.

The arms 32 are fitted on the outer periphery of the hub in a stacked state by inserting the hub 28 of the bearing assembly 26 through the through hole at the base end. Thus, the four arms 32 are located parallel to each other at a predetermined interval and extend from the hub 28 in the same direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, each magnetic head assembly 36 includes an elongated plate-like suspension 38 that can be elastically deformed, and a magnetic head 40 fixed to the tip of the suspension. This suspension 38
The arm 32 and the arm 32 constitute a head support mechanism according to the present invention.

The suspension 38 has a load beam 62 constituted by a leaf spring and a flexure 64 fixed to the load beam. The load beam 62 is
The base end of the arm 32 is formed by spot welding or bonding.
Is fixed to the tip of the arm and extends from the arm. Note that each suspension 38 may be formed integrally with the corresponding arm 32.

The flexure 64 is formed of a stainless material having a thickness of about 20 to 25 μm, and is processed into a desired shape by etching or the like. And flexure 64
Has a substantially rectangular head mounting portion 65 to which the magnetic head 40 is fixed, and a base end portion 66 spot-welded to the load beam 62 at the distal end thereof. It is connected to the base end 66 via two elongated outriggers 68 with hatching. The outrigger portion 68 formed thinner than the other portions functions as a gimbal portion that flexibly holds the magnetic head 40.

The magnetic head 40 has a substantially rectangular head slider 61 and an unillustrated recording / reproducing MR (magnetoresistive) head formed on the head slider. A dimple 70 having a predetermined height is formed on the load beam 62 by press working.
Reference numeral 0 protrudes toward the flexure 64 and is located opposite the head mounting portion 65. The flexure 64 is pressed against the dimple 70 while being elastically deformed in a direction away from the load beam 62 by the height of the dimple 70. Then, a load is applied to the magnetic head 40 to press the magnetic head 40 through the dimple 70 toward the magnetic disk.

The pair of outriggers 68 forming the gimbal portion are freely deformed by using a gap corresponding to the height of the dimple 70, so that deformation between the load beam 62, the flexure 64 and the magnetic head 40 is prevented. Absorb.

In the magnetic head assembly 36 having the above-described structure, the vicinity of the base end 66, which is the junction of the flexure 64, is very close to the load beam 62, and there is a risk of contact with and interference with the load beam. Suppose line B in FIG.
When the load beam 62 and the flexure 64 interfere near each other, the portion of each outrigger portion 68 on the root side from the line B cannot be freely deformed, and cannot perform the gimbal function. Therefore, the gimbal portion that should function flexibly becomes substantially shorter, and the magnetic head 40
Is difficult to flexibly support.

Such contact and interference may occur due to undulation of the flexure surface, unexpected bending at the time of assembling the magnetic head assembly 36, variation in dimple height, adjustment processes such as flexure bending, and the like. There is. Further, such contact and interference may occur when the flexure 64 is twisted when the head slider is inclined and pressed against the magnetic disk surface during the assembly of the HDD.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, an opening 76 is provided in the load beam 44 in a portion where the risk of interference between the load beam 62 and the flexure 64 is high, so that contact and interference between the load beam and the gimbal portion are prevented. Preventing.

More specifically, a portion of the load beam 62 between the spot welding point 78 of the flexure 64 and the end of the head slider 61 on the side of the arm 32 opposing the base end of each outrigger portion 68. Are formed with openings 76, respectively.

When the height of the dimple 70 provided on the load beam 62 is h, the opening 7 of the load beam 62
6 has a gap between the load beam and the flexure 64 of about 1 /
In a region of 3 h or less, each of the outrigger portions 68 may be formed at a portion facing the base end portion.

Alternatively, when the distance between the spot welding point 78 of the flexure 64 and the tip of the load beam 62 is L, the opening 76 of the load beam 62
In the region of / 3L to 1 / 2L, each of the outrigger portions 68 may be formed at a portion facing the base end. The number of the openings 76 is not limited to two, and may be formed as one continuous opening.

As described above, by providing the opening 76 in the portion of the load beam 62 facing the base end of each outrigger portion 68, the outrigger portion of the flexure 64, that is, the gimbal portion, Accidental contact and interference with the load beam 62 can be prevented. As a result, an unnecessary contact reaction force does not act on the flexure 64, and the gimbal function as designed can be ensured and a stable head slider flying can be obtained.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the head actuator 22 has a support frame 44 extending from the bearing assembly 26 in a direction opposite to the arm 32.
A voice coil 45 constituting a part of the VCM 24 is supported. The support frame 44 is formed integrally with the outer periphery of the voice coil 45 using a synthetic resin. In addition, support frame 4
4 is formed with a recess 51 that engages with the latch claw 50 of the inertia latch mechanism 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the head actuator 22 constructed as described above is incorporated in the case 12, each of the magnetic disks 16a, 16
b is located between the two arms 32. The four magnetic heads 40 attached to the four suspensions 38 face the upper and lower surfaces of the magnetic disks 16a and 16b, respectively, and hold the magnetic disks from both sides. The two magnetic heads located between the two magnetic disks 16a and 16b are arranged with their back sides facing each other. A predetermined head load is applied to each magnetic head 40 toward the magnetic disk surface via the dimple 42 by the spring force of the suspension 38.

As shown in FIG. 1, a voice coil 45 fixed to a support frame 44 of the head actuator 22 is provided.
Is located between a pair of yokes 48 fixed on the case 12, and constitutes the VCM 24 together with these yokes and the magnet 46 fixed to one of the yokes. When the voice coil 45 is energized, the head actuator 22 rotates, and the magnetic head 40 is moved and positioned on a desired track of the magnetic disk 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a ramp loading mechanism 25 is provided on a bottom wall of the case 12 and a ramp 60 disposed outside the magnetic disk 16.
And a tab 52 extending from the tip of each load beam 62 and functioning as an engagement member. When the head actuator 22 rotates to the retracted position outside the magnetic disks 16a and 16b, each tab 52 engages with the ramp surface 54 formed on the ramp 60, and is then pulled up by the inclination of the ramp surface. An unload operation of the magnetic head is performed.

According to the HDD configured as described above,
In each suspension 38 of the head actuator 22, by providing an opening 76 in a portion of the load beam 62 that faces the base end of each outrigger portion 68 of the flexure 64, accidental connection between the flexure 64 and the load beam 62 can be achieved. Contact and interference can be prevented. Thereby,
No unnecessary external force acts on the head slider 61,
The gimbal function as designed can be ensured by the outrigger section 68. Therefore, the magnetic head can flexibly follow a change such as the undulation of the magnetic disk surface, and the stable low flying of the magnetic head 40 can be obtained. As a result, it is possible to provide a head support mechanism and a HDD capable of high-density recording and reproduction.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the HDD including the ramp load mechanism has been described.
CSS (contact-start-stop) HD
Even when applied to D and its head support mechanism, the same effect as described above can be exerted.

The shape of the aperture formed in the load beam is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified as needed. The same effect can also be exerted in a suspension in which wiring is integrally formed with a load beam.

The number of magnetic disks, the number of magnetic heads corresponding to the magnetic disks, the number of arms, and the like can be increased or decreased as necessary. Further, even when only one magnetic disk is used, the present invention can be applied. The same operation and effect as described above can be obtained.

[0039]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a head support mechanism capable of preventing unnecessary external force from acting on the head and realizing stable low flying, thereby enabling high-density recording and reproduction, And a recording / reproducing apparatus provided with the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view showing an HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a head actuator and a lamp in the HDD.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a suspension tip of the head actuator and a tab of a ramp load mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a flexure of the suspension.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Case 16a, 16b ... Magnetic disk 18 ... Spindle motor 22 ... Head actuator 24 ... Voice coil motor 25 ... Ramp loading mechanism 26 ... Bearing assembly 32 ... Arm 38 ... Suspension 40 ... Magnetic head 52 ... Tab 61 ... Head slider 62 … Load beam 64… flexure 65… head mounting part 68… outrigger part 70… dimple 76… aperture

Claims (7)

[Claims] A suspension supporting a magnetic head for recording and reading information on and from a disk-shaped information recording medium; and an arm supporting the suspension, wherein the suspension extends from the arm. A plate-shaped load beam that can be elastically deformed, a head mounting portion to which the magnetic head is mounted, a base end fixed to the load beam, and the head mounting portion and the base end connected to each other. An elastically deformable flexure having a gimbal portion, wherein the load beam is provided at a position facing the base end side end of the gimbal portion and interferes with the load beam and the gimbal portion. A head support mechanism having an opening for preventing the occurrence of the head. 2. The magnetic head has a substantially rectangular head slider, and the opening is formed between a fixed position of a base end of the flexure and a load beam and an end of the head slider on the arm side. The head support mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the head support mechanism is provided in a region of (1). 3. The load beam has dimples of a predetermined height protruding toward the flexure side and abutting on the head mounting portion. The opening of the load beam has a gap between the load beam and the flexure. The head support mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the head support mechanism is provided at a position facing the arm-side end of the gimbal portion in a region where the height of the gimbal portion is about ３ h or less. 4. A distance between a fixed position of the base end of the flexure and the load beam and an extension end of the load beam is L.
Then, the opening is 開 L to 1 from the fixed position.
2. The head support mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the head support mechanism is provided at a portion of the gimbal portion facing the end on the arm side in a region of / 2L. 5. The flexure includes a pair of elongated outriggers extending from the base end to the head mounting portion and forming the gimbal portion, and the opening is provided in each outrigger portion. The head support mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. A magnetic disk, driving means for supporting and rotating the magnetic disk, a magnetic head for recording and reading information on and from the magnetic disk, and supporting the magnetic head. A head support mechanism according to any one of: a rotation support section rotatably supporting the arm of the head support mechanism; and a drive section that generates a driving force for rotating the arm. An information recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: 7. A ramp load mechanism for holding the magnetic head at a position separated from the magnetic disk when the magnetic head moves to an outer peripheral portion of the magnetic disk, wherein the ramp load mechanism includes an outer peripheral surface of the magnetic disk. A ramp provided on the outer end of the load beam, and an engaging member that engages with the ramp and raises the magnetic head when the magnetic head moves to the outer peripheral portion of the magnetic disk. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information recording / reproducing apparatus is provided.