JP2003141841A - Disk device and head saving mechanism to be packaged in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk device and a head saving mechanism to be packaged in the same, in which an operational fault is prevented from occurring by sticking worn particle caused by wearing on a disk and a head or the like by preventing eccentric wearing of a head tab and a lamp and suppressing the slide resistance of the head tab and the lamp in the disk device of a lamp load system. SOLUTION: This disk device is provided with a head saving mechanism for holding a magnetic head 33 away from disks 12a and 12b when moving the relevant magnetic head 33 outside the disks 12a and 12b, and continuously changing a contact point straight to the slide locus of this load/unload plane 181 with the relevant tab 34 for unload while having a load/unload plane 181, where a tab 34 for unload is slid with the movement of this magnetic head 33.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk device and a head retracting mechanism mounted on the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, improvement of recording density and impact resistance has become the most important issue in small magnetic disk devices.
In order to solve this, a device equipped with a load / unload mechanism has been proposed. The mainstream of this mechanism is called a ramp load. For example, US Pat.
5,237,472 and USP 5,574,604.
No. A lift tab protruding from the suspension tip is driven by using a cam curved surface called a ramp fixed to the base as a guide to load the head onto the disk. At the end of the read / write operation, the head is unloaded from the disk and retracted to the ramp. Since the head is retracted from the disk, there is no concern about head sticking. For this reason, it is possible to use a smooth disk without the need to perform conventional anti-sticking processing such as texture. Therefore, the flying height of the head can be reduced and the recording density can be improved. Further, since the head is retracted from the disk, the shock resistance characteristic when not operating can be remarkably improved.

In the ramp load type magnetic disk device as described above, the lift tab protruding at the tip of the suspension is fixed to the suspension, and the ramp is fixed to the base with screws or the like. Therefore, at the time of unloading, an impact force due to a collision when the lift tab rides on the ramp becomes an excessive source, which may damage the head. Further, due to the collision, the lift tab and the lamp are worn, and the abrasion powder adheres to the disk, the slider, the head, etc., and in some cases, the operation failure occurs. Therefore, the number of load / unload operations may be limited.

As described above, even when the loading and unloading operations are repeatedly performed frequently, the head damage due to the collision of the lift tabs during the unloading operation is reduced, the lift tabs and the lamp are less worn, and the operation failure due to the abrasion powder is reduced. A low-reliability load / unload mechanism is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 00-173213.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-173213 discloses a structure for supporting the position of the ramp so that it can be displaced during loading and unloading. Specifically, when loading, the lift tab starts to move on the ramp. The position or attitude of the ramp changes, and the position or attitude of the ramp changes immediately after the lift tab collides during unloading.

However, in the ramp structure as described above, since the shape of the head tab traveling surface of the ramp does not change, the same portion of the head tab and the ramp always slides during loading / unloading. Therefore, only the same portion of the head tab or the ramp does. The problem of wear on the surface has arisen.

That is, when the head tab and the ramp traveling surface are worn by the carriage repeatedly loading and unloading on the medium, the mutual sliding resistance increases. At this time, if one specific portion of the head tab is always in contact with the ramp traveling surface, the surface roughness of that portion is promoted, and the sliding resistance is further increased.

In order to prevent these, a measure is taken such that the entire sliding surface of the ramp is inclined so that the entire head tab contacts the ramp evenly. The relative height of the head tab is not constant over the entire sliding area between the head tab and the ramp, and the height is changed according to the function in the range from the tip of the media side to the position where the carriage rests. The angle of contact with the surface was not constant.

Further, the relative heights of the ramp running surface and the head tab may vary due to dimensional tolerances in manufacturing the respective components such as the head tab and the lamp, and the tab contact angle also varies. Therefore, there is a case where one portion of the head tab is always in one-side contact with the lamp, and uneven wear of the head tab or the lamp may occur to increase the sliding resistance.

[0010]

As described above, the height of the traveling surface of the lamp (even if the head tab is evenly contacted with the entire head tab by inclining the sliding surface of the lamp). (Relative height to the carriage) is not constant over the entire sliding area between the head tab and the ramp.
Since the height of the carriage changes from the front end on the medium side to the rest position, the angle at which the head tab contacts the ramp running surface is not constant.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent uneven wear between the head tab and the ramp, thereby suppressing the sliding resistance between the head tab and the ramp, so that the wear powder generated by the wear causes the disc,
(EN) It is possible to provide a disk device that does not adhere to a slider, a head or the like to cause an operation failure, and a head retracting mechanism mounted on the device.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the disk device according to the present invention prevents uneven contact of the head tab by continuously changing the cross-sectional shape of the ramp traveling surface. A writable disc, a disc driving means for driving the disc to rotate, a head for recording and reproducing information on the disc, and an engaging portion having a rotation center at one end and holding the head at the other end. Head supporting means for supporting the head movably in the radial direction of the disk with the center of rotation as a starting point, and the head at a position separated from the disk when the head moves outside the disk. It has a sliding portion that holds and slides the engaging portion with the movement of the head, and the contact point that is orthogonal to the sliding locus of the sliding portion with the engaging portion changes continuously. Those comprising a head retracting mechanism that.

According to the disk device constructed as described above, since the ramp contact points of the head tab are evenly distributed in the longitudinal direction, it is possible to suppress an increase in sliding resistance without causing uneven wear of the head tab. Therefore, it is possible to provide a disk device in which abrasion powder generated by the abrasion of the head tab or the lamp adheres to the disk, the slider, the head, etc. and does not cause an operation failure.

In the disk device according to the present invention, the cross section of the sliding portion of the head retracting mechanism has an arc shape, and the radial center position of the arc is along the sliding locus with the engaging portion. It is characterized in that it changes in the longitudinal direction of the engaging portion.

Also by this, similarly, the ramp contact points of the head tab are evenly distributed in the longitudinal direction, and it is possible to suppress the increase of the sliding resistance without causing the uneven wear of the head tab, which is caused by the wear of the head tab or the ramp. It is possible to provide a disk device in which the abrasion powder that adheres to the disk or the like does not cause a malfunction.

Further, in the disk device according to the present invention, the sliding portion of the head retracting mechanism has a predetermined radial center, is formed in an arc shape along the sliding locus, and has a radial center of the head retracting mechanism. Is set at a position different from a straight line passing through the center of rotation of the head supporting means and the engaging portion.

Also by this, similarly, the ramp contact points of the head tab are evenly distributed in the longitudinal direction, and it becomes possible to suppress an increase in sliding resistance without causing uneven wear of the head tab, which is caused by the wear of the head tab or the ramp. It is possible to provide a disk device in which the abrasion powder that adheres to the disk or the like does not cause a malfunction.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) as an information recording / reproducing apparatus will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the HDD has a rectangular box-shaped casing 10 having an open top surface and a casing 10 formed by a plurality of screws.
And a top cover (not shown) that is screwed to and closes the upper end opening of the housing.

In the case 10, a magnetic recording medium 2 is provided.
A plurality of magnetic disks 12a and 12b, a spindle motor 13 that supports and rotates these magnetic disks, a plurality of magnetic heads 33 that records and reproduces information on and from the magnetic disks 12a and 12b, and these magnetic heads 33 are magnetic disks. Head actuator 14 and head actuator 1 movably supported with respect to 12a and 12b
Voice coil motor (VC
M) 16, the magnetic head 33 includes the magnetic disks 12a, 12
The ramp load mechanism (ramp member) 18 for holding the magnetic head 33 at a position separated from the magnetic disks 12a and 12b when the magnetic head 33 is moved to the outermost periphery of the head actuator 1
An inertial latch mechanism 20 for holding 4 in the retracted position and a flexible printed circuit board unit (hereinafter referred to as an FPC unit) 17 on which circuit components such as a preamplifier are mounted are housed.

On the outer surface of the housing 10, a spindle motor (SPM) 13, a voice coil motor (VCM) 16, and a magnetic head 33 are provided via an FPC unit 17.
A printed circuit board (not shown) that controls the operation of is fastened with a screw and is positioned to face the bottom wall of the housing 10.

Each of the magnetic disks 12a and 12b is formed, for example, to have a diameter of 65 mm (2.5 inches) and has magnetic recording layers on the upper and lower surfaces. The two magnetic disks 12a and 12b are the spindle motor (SPM) 13
Are coaxially fitted to a hub (not shown), are clamped by a clamp spring, and are laminated at a predetermined interval along the axial direction of the hub. The magnetic disks 12a and 12b are the spindle motor (SP
M) 13 rotates at a predetermined speed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the head actuator 14 includes a bearing assembly 24 fixed on the bottom wall of the housing 10.
Is equipped with. Bearing assembly 24 functioning as a bearing unit
Is a pivot that is erected on the bottom wall of the housing 10, a cylindrical hub that is rotatably supported on the pivot through a pair of bearings,
have. An annular flange is formed on the upper end of the hub, and a screw part (not shown) is formed on the outer periphery of the lower end.

Further, the head actuator 14 includes four arms 27 attached to the hub and two arms (not shown).
It has one spacer ring and four magnetic head assemblies 30 supported by the arms 27.

Each of the arms 27 is, for example, SUS30.
A stainless steel material such as No. 4 is formed into a thin flat plate having a plate thickness of about 250 μm, and a circular through hole is formed at one end, that is, the base end.

Each magnetic head assembly 30 includes an elongated suspension 32 formed of a leaf spring, and a magnetic head 33 fixed to the suspension 32. The suspension 32 is composed of a leaf spring having a plate thickness of 60 to 70 μm, and its base end is fixed to the tip of the arm 27 by spot welding or adhesion and extends from the arm 27.

Each magnetic head 33 has a substantially rectangular head slider and a recording / reproducing MR formed on the slider.
(Magnetic resistance) head and is fixed to a gimbal portion formed at the tip of the suspension 32. Also,
Each magnetic head 33 has four electrodes (not shown). The suspension 32 may be integrally formed with the arm 27 by using the same material as the arm 27. In addition, each suspension 32 and arm 27,
It constitutes the rotating arm in the present invention.

On the other hand, each magnetic head 33 of the head actuator 14 is electrically connected to a flexible printed circuit board 17, which will be described later, via a relay flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as a relay FPC) which is not shown. The relay FPC functioning as the first flexible printed circuit board is attached and fixed to the surfaces of the arms 27 of the head actuator 14 and the suspension 32, and extends from the tip end of the suspension 32 to the rotation base end of the arm 27.

The relay FPC is formed in an elongated strip shape as a whole, and its tip end is electrically connected to the magnetic head 33, and its base end portion constitutes a connecting portion.
The relay FPC includes a base layer made of an insulating material such as polyimide, a conductor pattern made of copper foil formed on the base layer, and a solder resist layer formed on the base layer so as to overlap the conductor pattern except for the pad portion. And have.

The electrode of the magnetic head 33 is soldered to a pad portion (not shown) provided at the tip of the relay FPC. In addition, the connecting portion of the relay FPC has a plurality of first contacts formed by exposing a part of the conductor pattern, and is provided adjacent to the side edge of the arm 27 at the rotation base end portion of the arm 27. There is. Each connecting part has six elongated first contacts 65, and these first contacts extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the arm 27, that is, in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side edge of the arm 27. The arms 27 are arranged side by side with a predetermined gap in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The HDD of the embodiment is assumed to be a head load / unload (ramp load) type HDD as shown in FIG. This drive is a case 1
Disks 12a, 12 which are data recording media inside 0
b, the actuator 14 and the lamp 18. Disks 12a and 12b are spindle motors (SPM)
13 is fixed to the spindle motor (SPM) 1
3 rotates at high speed.

The actuator 14 has an arm 27 connected to the bearing assembly 24 and a suspension 32 connected to the arm 27, and the arm 27 is centered on the rotary shaft 25 of the bearing assembly 24 and the arm 27 is a disk. 12
It is configured to be rotationally driven in the radial directions of a and 12b. The suspension 32 mounts a magnetic head (a slider on which a magnetic element is mounted) 33, and has an unloading tab (bar-shaped member) 34 at its tip.

As will be described later, the unloading tab 34 is an element constituting a mechanism for unloading (retracting) the magnetic head 33 together with the ramp member 18. The actuator 14 is driven by a voice coil motor (VCM) 16. Further, the actuator 14 is limited in the outer movement range of the disks 12a and 12b by a rubber stopper provided at a predetermined position (not shown). A description of the HDD control system will be omitted. The control system also includes a CPU that controls the unload operation of the same embodiment.

The ramp member 18 is a member for retracting the head, and as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, when the actuator 14 moves to the outside of the disks 12a and 12b, it is a load for holding the unloading tab 34. -Has an unloading surface 181. As shown in FIG. 2, the loading / unloading surface 181 has the contact area 1 of the unloading tab 34 centered on the locus 182 of the contacting center of the unloading tab 34.
83 and a non-contact area 184 that escapes the contact of the unloading tab 34.

FIG. 3 shows the ramp member 18 and the actuator 1.
4 shows a sliding locus of the unloading tab 34 provided at the tip of the suspension 32 of No. 4 in FIG. A in FIG. 3 is
This is a rest position of the actuator 14 for retracting the magnetic head 33 to the outside of the disks 12a and 12b when the HDD is not operating or when the read / write command is not received from the host device for a predetermined time. Also, B in FIG. 3 is HD
D is operating, that is, the HDD receives a predetermined command from the host device and reads / writes to / from the disks 12a and 12b.
The position where the magnetic head 33 is being loaded or unloaded in order to execute the write operation is shown.

FIG. 4 shows the position of A in FIG. 3, that is,
A'- when the magnetic head 33 is in the rest position
4A is a cross-sectional view of the ramp member 18 and the unloading tab 34 taken along line A1 as seen from the direction of the arrow A1, and is at the position B in FIG. 3, that is, the magnetic head 33 is loaded or unloaded. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ramp member 18 and the unloading tab 34 taken along the line B′-B ″ in a state where the ramp member 18 is in the middle of loading, as seen from the direction of arrow B1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the load / unload surface 181 that is the ramp traveling surface of the ramp member 18 in this embodiment is such that the non-contact area 184 in which the contact of the unload tab 34 escapes. It is formed in a shape with R in an arc shape. Then, the center of the R is from the rest position A of the magnetic head 33 to the magnetic head 33 on the disk 12 side.
As it moves to a and 12b and slides, it shifts in the direction of the tip of the unloading tab 34 (direction of arrow C in the figure).

That is, the contact center 182 where the unloading tab 34 slidably contacts the loading / unloading surface 181 of the ramp member 18 takes a locus like a chain line shown in FIG.

By using the ramp member 18 of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned ramp structure, the unloading tab 3
4 and the contact point of the ramp member 18, that is, the sliding position of the unload tab 34 with the ramp member 18 changes in the longitudinal direction of the unload tab 34 (suspension 32) and falls within the range of the unload tab 34. Since the contact positions are evenly distributed, uneven wear of the unloading tab 34 does not occur, and an increase in sliding resistance can be suppressed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
~ It demonstrates using FIG.

The ramp member 18 in the same embodiment is also a member for retracting the magnetic head 33 to the outside of the disks 12a, 12b, and the actuator 14 is used for the disks 12a, 12b.
Unload tab 3 when moved to the outside of 12b
4 has a loading / unloading surface 185 for holding 4.

In the loading / unloading surface 185 of the ramp member 18 in this embodiment, the width W1 of the area 186 near the disks 12a and 12b is larger than the width W2 of the stop area 187 of the magnetic head 33, as shown in FIG. Is also narrowing. That is, the sliding surface of the unloading tab that is the loading / unloading surface 185 is the stop area 1 of the magnetic head 33.
It has a structure in which it gradually narrows from 87 toward a region 186 near the disks 12a and 12b.

The tip 185a of the loading / unloading surface 185 of the ramp member 18 of this embodiment has an arc shape having its center point (center: O2) near the center 25 (center: O1) of the rotation axis of the actuator 14. Is formed so as to have a locus 185a. That is, the center point (center: O2) of the locus 185a of the tip of the loading / unloading surface 185 of the ramp 18 member is set to the rotation axis center 25 of the actuator 14.
It is set at a position different from (center: O1).

FIG. 7 shows the position D'in FIG. 6, that is, D'- when the magnetic head 33 is in the rest position 187.
7 is a cross-sectional view of the ramp member 18 and the unloading tab 34 taken along the line D ”as seen from the direction of the arrow D1 at the position E in FIG. 6, that is, when the magnetic head 33 is loaded or unloaded. A cross-section of the ramp member 18 and the unloading tab 34 taken along E′-E ″ when the ramp member 18 and the unloading tab 34 are in a state of being located in the disk vicinity region 186 which is in the middle of loading is viewed from the direction of arrow E1. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ramp member 18 in this embodiment has a load / unload surface 185, which is a ramp traveling surface, having a sectional shape of a head 33 located near the disks 12a and 12b at an E position 186. The width is defined as W1, and the width is defined as W2 at the position 187 of the magnetic head 33 which is the stop area of the magnetic head 33, and W1 <W2. And
The sliding surface of the unloading tab that is the loading / unloading surface 185 is continuous from the position 187 of the magnetic head 33 where the magnetic head 33 stops to the position 186 of E that is the area near the disks 12a and 12b. It has a narrow structure.

That is, the locus 185a is such that the position where the unloading tab 34 slidably contacts the load / unload surface 185 of the ramp member 18 is along the end of the load / unload surface 185 shown in FIGS. I take the.

By using the ramp member 18 of this embodiment having such a ramp structure, the contact point between the unloading tab 34 and the ramp member 18, that is, the sliding of the unloading tab 34 with the ramp member 18. Since the position changes in the longitudinal direction of the unloading tab 34 (suspension 32) and the contact positions are evenly distributed within the range of the unloading tab 34, uneven wear of the unloading tab 34 does not occur, It is possible to suppress an increase in sliding resistance.

Although the structure and operation have been described by taking the HDD, which is a magnetic disk device, as an example in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. It is needless to say that the same operation and effect as described above can be obtained even if the head is used in a magneto-optical disk device having a structure retracted from the disk.

[0049]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
The ramp structure is such that the contact point between the unloading tab 34 and the ramp 18, that is, the sliding position of the unloading tab 34 with the ramp member 18 changes in the longitudinal direction of the unloading tab 34 (suspension 32). As a result, since the contact positions are evenly distributed within the range of the unloading tab 34, uneven wear of the unloading tab 34 does not occur,
The sliding resistance between the unloading tab 34 and the ramp member 18 is suppressed, and the abrasion powder generated by the abrasion is generated by the disks 12a, 12
It is possible to provide a disk device which does not adhere to the slider b, the slider, the magnetic head 33, or the like to cause an operation failure, and a head retracting mechanism mounted in the device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram showing the overall structure of a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the lamp member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the shape of the ramp member and the sliding operation of the ramp member and the unloading tab according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the ramp member and the sliding operation of the ramp member and the unloading tab according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an overall structure of a lamp member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a shape of a ramp member and a sliding operation of the ramp member and an unloading tab according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of the ramp member and the sliding operation of the ramp member and the unloading tab according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Magnetic disk 12a, 12b ... discs 13: Spindle motor (SPM) 14 ... Head actuator 16 ... Voice coil motor (VCM) 17: Flexible printed circuit board unit 18 ... Ramp load mechanism (ramp member) 181 ... Load / unload surface 182 ... Contact center locus of unloading tab 183 ... Tab contact area for unloading 184 ... Tab for unloading Non-contact area 185 ... Load / unload surface 185a ... Tip of loading / unloading surface 186 ... Area near disk 187 ... Head stop area 20 …… Inertia latch mechanism 24: Bearing assembly 25 ... Center of rotation axis 27 ... Arm 30 ... Magnetic head assembly 32 ... Suspension 33 ... Magnetic head 34 ... Tab for unloading

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A disc on which information can be written, a disc drive means for driving the disc to rotate, a head for recording and reproducing information on the disc, a center of rotation at one end, and the other end at the other end. A head supporting means having an engaging portion for holding the head, the head supporting means movably supporting the head in the radial direction of the disk with the center of rotation as a starting point, and the head when the head moves outside the disk. A contact point, which is held at a position separated from the disk, has a sliding portion on which the engaging portion slides as the head moves, and which is orthogonal to a sliding locus of the sliding portion with the engaging portion. Disk drive having a head retracting mechanism that continuously changes. 2. A cross-sectional shape of the sliding portion of the head retracting mechanism is an arc shape, and a radial center position of the arc is along a longitudinal direction of the engaging portion along a sliding locus with the engaging portion. The disk device according to claim 1, wherein the disk device changes. 3. A sliding portion of the head retracting mechanism is formed in an arc shape along a sliding locus from a predetermined radial center, and the sliding portion radial center of the head retracting mechanism rotates the head supporting means. The disk device according to claim 1, wherein the disk device is set at a position different from a straight line passing through the center and the engaging portion. 4. A disc on which information can be written, a disc driving means for rotating the disc, a head for recording and reproducing information on the disc, a rotation center at one end, and a rotation center at the other end. A head retracting mechanism for use in a disk device, comprising: an engaging portion for holding the head; and head supporting means for movably supporting the head in the radial direction of the disk with the center of rotation as a starting point. When the head moves to the outside of the disc, the head is held at a position separated from the disc, and the engaging part has a sliding part that slides with the movement of the head. A head retracting mechanism in which a contact point perpendicular to a sliding locus with the engaging portion continuously changes. 5. The cross-sectional shape of the sliding portion is arcuate,
4. The head retracting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the radial center position of the circular arc changes in the longitudinal direction of the engaging portion along the sliding locus with the engaging portion. 6. The sliding portion has a predetermined radial center and is formed in an arc shape along the sliding locus, and the radial center passes through the rotation center of the head supporting means and the engaging portion. The head retracting mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the head retracting mechanism is set at a position different from that on a straight line.