JP2003173637A - Disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk device which reduces occurrence of noise and increases stillness by simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: A head actuator 22 supporting a magnetic head 40 moves to a stopping position when not operating and is held by a latch mechanism 50. The latch mechanism has a magnetic member 52 which is disposed at the head actuator and is located at an opposite side to the magnetic head around a rotary center of the head actuator and a latch magnet which latches the magnetic member of the head actuator rotated to the stopping position by magnetic attractive force. The latch magnet is disposed at a position where a distance from the magnetic member is minimum on a line A passing the rotary center of the head actuator rotated to the stopping position and the magnetic member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk device having a latch mechanism for latching a head actuator at a stop position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, disk devices such as magnetic disk devices and optical disk devices have been widely used as recording / reproducing devices for computers. A disk device of this type, for example, a magnetic disk device using a magnetic disk as a recording medium, generally supports a magnetic disk arranged in a case, a spindle motor for supporting and rotating the magnetic disk, and a magnetic head. The rotary head actuator, a voice coil motor for driving the head actuator, a substrate unit, and the like.

The head actuator includes a bearing portion attached to the case, a plurality of arms extending from the bearing portion, and a suspension extending from each arm.
The magnetic head is attached to the extended end of the suspension. A voice coil that constitutes a voice coil motor is provided at the end of the head actuator opposite to the magnetic head.

In such a magnetic disk device, as a method of holding the magnetic head at a predetermined retracted position when the device is not in operation, the magnetic head is separated from the surface of the magnetic disk by a lamp provided on the outer peripheral side of the magnetic disk. A ramp load method is known in which the lamp is held at.

Further, in the magnetic disk device, when an external shock acts, when the head actuator rotates and the magnetic head moves on the magnetic disk, the magnetic disk or the magnetic head may be damaged and information may not be recorded / reproduced. is there. Therefore, when the magnetic disk device is not in operation, it is necessary to fix and hold the magnetic head in the retracted position even when it receives a shock. Therefore, as a technique for holding the magnetic head in the retracted position, a latch mechanism for an actuator has been provided. At present, as a latch mechanism of an actuator, a magnet latch mechanism utilizing a magnetic force, an inertia latch mechanism utilizing an inertial force, etc. are known.

[0006]

When the apparatus is not operating, the magnet latch mechanism uses the magnetic attraction force of the magnet to press the head actuator against the stopper and hold it in the retracted position. When the head actuator is driven by the voice coil motor with a force greater than the magnetic attraction force of the magnet during the operation of the apparatus, the constraint of the head actuator is released, and the movement of the magnetic head is allowed. In such a magnet latch mechanism, in order to obtain a large holding force so that the movement of the head actuator can be regulated even when an external impact with a large acceleration acts, it is necessary to increase the attraction force of the latch magnet.

However, if the attraction force of the latch magnet is increased, a relatively large collision noise is generated when the head actuator rotates from the operating position to the non-operating position and contacts the stopper, which causes noise. Further, in the case of the inertial latch mechanism, it is difficult to guarantee an accurate latching operation with respect to an arbitrary impact acceleration, and the structure is complicated, so that there is a problem that the design is difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a disk device which has a simple structure to reduce noise and improve quietness.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a disk apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a magnetic head for performing information processing on the disk and a movably supporting the head with respect to the disk. In addition, the magnetic head is rotatable about a rotation center between an information processing position where the head is located on the disk and a stop position where the magnetic head is located outside the disk. A head actuator, a ramp load mechanism for holding the head at a position separated from the disk when the head actuator moves to the stop position, and a latch mechanism for latching the head actuator rotated to the stop position, The latch mechanism is provided on the head actuator and is located on the side opposite to the head with respect to the center of rotation. A magnetic member and a latch magnet that latches the magnetic member of the head actuator rotated to the stop position by a magnetic attraction force, the latch magnet rotating the head actuator rotated to the stop position. It is characterized in that it is provided at a position where the distance between the magnetic member and the magnetic member is minimized on a line passing through the center and the magnetic member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk device, a drive means for supporting and rotating the magnetic disk, a magnetic head for processing information on the magnetic disk, and the magnetic head for the magnetic disk. The magnetic head is movably supported with respect to the magnetic disk, and is rotated between an information processing position where the magnetic head is located on the magnetic disk and a stop position where the magnetic head is located outside the outer circumference of the magnetic disk. A head actuator rotatably provided around a center, a ramp load mechanism for holding the magnetic head at a position separated from the magnetic disk when the head actuator moves to the stop position, and a ramp load mechanism for turning the magnetic head to the stop position. And a latch mechanism for latching the moved head actuator. A magnetic member located on the side opposite to the magnetic head with respect to the center of rotation, and a latch magnet for latching the magnetic member of the head actuator rotated to the stop position by a magnetic attraction force. The latch magnet is characterized in that it is provided at a position where a distance between the latch member and the magnetic member is minimized on a line passing through the magnetic center and the rotation center of the head actuator rotated to the stop position.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the HDD includes a rectangular box-shaped case 12 having an open top surface, and a top cover (not shown) screwed to the case by a plurality of screws to close the upper end opening of the case. .

In the case 12, three magnetic disks 16 as magnetic recording media, a spindle motor 18 as a driving means for supporting and rotating the magnetic disks,
A plurality of magnetic heads for writing / reading information to / from a magnetic disk, a head actuator 22 movably supporting these magnetic heads with respect to the magnetic disk 16, and a voice coil motor for rotating and positioning the head actuator (hereinafter A VCM) 24, a ramp load mechanism 25 that holds the magnetic head at a position separated from the magnetic disk when the magnetic head moves to the outermost periphery of the magnetic disk, and a substrate unit 21 having a head IC and the like are housed. .

On the outer surface of the bottom wall of the case 12, a spindle motor 18 and a VCM 2 are provided via a board unit 21.
4, and a printed circuit board (not shown) that controls the operation of the magnetic head is screwed.

The magnetic disk 16 has a diameter of 65 mm (2.
5 inches) and has magnetic recording layers on the upper and lower surfaces. The three magnetic disks 16 are fitted to the outer circumference of a hub (not shown) of the spindle motor 18, and are fixedly held by the clamp springs 17. By driving the spindle motor 18,
The three magnetic disks 16 are integrally rotated at a predetermined speed.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the head actuator 22 includes a bearing assembly 26 fixed on the bottom wall of the case 12 which functions as a base. The bearing assembly 26 has a pivot 27 that is erected perpendicularly to the bottom wall of the case 12, and a cylindrical hub 28 that is rotatably supported by the pivot through a pair of bearings. . The head actuator 22 includes six arms 32 and a plurality of spacer rings attached to the hub 28, and a magnetic head assembly 36 supported by each arm.
And are equipped with.

The arm 32 is formed of, for example, a stainless steel material such as SUS304 into a flat plate shape having a plate thickness of about 250 μm, and a through hole (not shown) is formed at one end, that is, the base end. .

Each magnetic head assembly 36 comprises an elastically deformable elongated plate-shaped suspension 38 and a magnetic head 40 fixed to the tip of the suspension.
The suspension 38 is composed of a leaf spring, and its base end is fixed to the tip of the arm 32 by spot welding or adhesion and extends from the arm.

The fixed arm 32 of the magnetic head assembly 36 is fitted in the outer periphery of the hub in a laminated state by inserting the hub 28 of the bearing assembly 26 into the through hole at the base end. . The spacer ring is fitted on the outer periphery of the hub 28 while being sandwiched between the arms 32. As a result, the six arms 32 are positioned parallel to each other with a predetermined space therebetween and extend from the hub 28 in the same direction.

Each suspension 38 is integrally provided with a tab 42 extending from its tip. The tab 42 functions as an engaging portion forming a part of the ramp load mechanism 25 described later, and extends parallel to the central axis C of the suspension 38.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the head actuator 22 has a support frame 44 extending from one spacer ring in the direction opposite to the arm 32. It supports a voice coil 45 that constitutes a part. The support frame 44 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the voice coil 45 with a synthetic resin and is fixed to the spacer ring.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each magnetic disk 16 is located between two arms 32 when the head actuator 22 constructed as described above is incorporated in the case 12. The magnetic head 40 attached to the suspension 38 faces the upper surface and the lower surface of the magnetic disk 16, respectively, and holds the magnetic disk 16 from both sides. Each magnetic head 40
A predetermined head load is applied toward the surface of the magnetic disk 16 by the spring force of the suspension 38.

The voice coil 45 fixed to the support frame 44 of the head actuator 22 is located between the pair of yokes 48 fixed on the case 12, and these yokes and the driving fixed to one of the yokes. Magnet 46
Together with this, it constitutes the VCM 24. Then, by energizing the voice coil 45, the head actuator 22 causes the magnetic head 40 to position the information processing position where the magnetic head 40 is located on the magnetic disk 16 and the magnetic head is the outer periphery of the magnetic disk with the pivot 27 of the bearing assembly 26 as the center. It is rotated between the stop position shown by the solid line in FIG. At the information processing position, the magnetic head 40 is moved and positioned on a desired track of the magnetic disk 16 by the head actuator 22.

The board unit 21 has a plurality of electronic parts, connectors and the like (not shown), and is connected to the head actuator 22 via a flexible printed circuit board (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ramp loading mechanism 25 includes a ramp 70 provided on the bottom wall of the case 12 and outside the magnetic disk 16. The lamp 70 has six guide surfaces that guide and support the tabs 42 provided on the six suspensions 38 of the head actuator 22 while the head actuator 22 moves from the information processing position to the stop position when the HDD is not operating. It has 72a-72f.

The guide surfaces 72a to 72d are arranged along the axial direction of the magnetic disk 16 at a predetermined interval, and are arranged in accordance with the height of the corresponding suspension 38. In addition, each of the guide surfaces 72a to 72d
Extends almost along the radial direction of the magnetic disk 16 to the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the magnetic disk 16 and is arranged on the movement path of the tab 42 provided on the suspension 38. Then, the three guide surfaces 72 corresponding to the first, third, and fifth suspensions 38 from the top.
The a, 72c, and 72e are formed facing upward, and the three guide surfaces 72b, 72d, and 72f corresponding to the second, fourth, and sixth suspensions 38 are formed facing downward.

Each guide surface is inclined toward the magnetic disk 16 and has an inclined surface 74 for loading and unloading the magnetic head 40 onto the magnetic disk, and a flat surface extending parallel to the surface of the magnetic disk following the inclined surface. And a section 75. The inclined surface 74 is formed in an arc shape that is convex with respect to the surface of the magnetic disk 16 in order to facilitate the connection with the flat portion 75.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the HDD is not in operation, the latch mechanism 50 for locking the head actuator 22 at the stop position is provided with a latch pin provided at the end of the support frame 44 of the head actuator 22 and functioning as a magnetic member. 52 and a latch magnet that locks the latch pin 52 by a magnetic attraction force when the head actuator rotates to the stop position.

In the present embodiment, this latch magnet is composed of a magnet 46 for driving the VCM 24. The magnet 46 is formed in a substantially fan shape, and has a substantially arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 46a. The outer peripheral surface 46a is provided with the latch pin 52 when the head actuator 22 rotates.
It extends so as to be located at a substantially constant distance from the path of movement. The magnet 46 extends outward from the outer peripheral surface 46a at the end on the magnetic disk 16 side, that is,
The head actuator 22 is integrally provided with a protrusion 54 protruding in a direction away from the rotation center of the head actuator 22.

The protrusion 54 is located on the line A passing through the rotation center of the actuator and the latch pin 52 at the stop position of the head actuator 22, and the distance between the magnet 46 and the latch pin 52 is the position of the protrusion 54. It is the smallest.
Therefore, as shown in FIG.
While 2 rotates between the information processing position and the stop position, the magnetic attraction force acting on the latch pin 52 from the magnet 46 becomes the largest at the stop position. Therefore, when the head actuator 22 rotates to the stop position, the protrusion 5 of the magnet 46
The latch pin 52 is magnetically attracted by the portion 4 and the head actuator 22 is latched or locked at the stop position.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a safety block 56 is provided on the yoke 48, and the support frame 4 of the head actuator 22 rotated to the stop position.
It is arranged slightly away from the magnetic disk 16 on the magnetic disk 16 side. The safety block 56 contacts the support frame 44 when the head actuator 22 rotates beyond the stop position in the direction opposite to the information processing position, and restricts excessive rotation of the head actuator.

According to the HDD configured as described above,
As shown in FIG. 1, during normal operation, by rotating the head actuator 22 by the VCM 24, the magnetic head 40 is moved onto a desired track of the magnetic disk 16, and information is recorded or reproduced on the magnetic disk. I do.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the head actuator 22 is rotated by the VCM 24 toward the stop position indicated by the solid line when the HDD shifts to the non-operating state, the plurality of magnetic heads 40 are moved to the magnetic disk. It moves from the inner circumference side of 16 toward the outermost circumference. And the magnetic head 4
When 0 moves to the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the magnetic disk 16, the tabs 42 extending from the respective suspensions 38 project outward from the outer peripheral edge of the magnetic disk 16, and the ramps 70 respectively.
Riding on the corresponding guide surfaces 72a to 72f.

At this time, each tab 42 moves in the direction away from the surface of the magnetic disk 16 along the inclined surface 74 of the corresponding guide surface and rides on the flat portion 75. And
As shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, each tab 42 slides on the flat portion 75. As a result, the magnetic head 40 is unloaded in a state of being separated from the surface of the magnetic disk 16.

When the head actuator 22 rotates to the stop position, the latch pin 52 attached to the support frame 44 is magnetically attracted to the protrusion 54 of the driving magnet 46. As a result, the head actuator 22 is latched at the stop position by the latch mechanism 50.

As described above, when the head actuator 22 rotates between the information processing position and the stop position, the tab 42 of each suspension 38 slides on the corresponding guide surface of the ramp 70. Since the inclined portion is formed by the arc-shaped inclined surface 74 and the flat portion 75 following the inclined surface 74, the friction noise between the tab 42 and the guide surface can be reduced. Further, since the latch mechanism 50 has a structure in which the conventionally used stopper is abolished and the head actuator 22 is latched to the stop position only by the latch pin 52 and the magnet 46, it occurs when the head actuator 22 hits the stopper. The collision noise can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the noise generated when the HDD is stopped and when the HDD starts to operate, and to obtain an HDD with improved quietness. At the same time, the structure of the latch mechanism 50 can be simplified.

In the above-described embodiment, the latch mechanism 50 is constructed by utilizing a part of the magnet 46 of the VCM 24. However, as shown in FIG. 6, it is constructed by using the independent latch magnet 60. Good. That is, according to the HDD according to the second embodiment, the latch mechanism 50 includes the latch pin 52 provided at the end of the support frame 44 of the head actuator 22 and the latch magnet 60. At the stop position of the head actuator 22, the latch magnet 60
Is the center of rotation of the head actuator and the latch pin 52.
It is arranged on a line A passing through and on the opposite side of the latch pin 52 with respect to the center of rotation of the head actuator, and the distance from the latch pin 52 is minimized. Therefore, while the head actuator 22 rotates between the information processing position and the stop position, the magnetic attraction force that acts on the latch pin 52 from the latch magnet 60 becomes the largest at the stop position. Therefore, when the head actuator 22 rotates to the stop position, the latch pin 60 is magnetically attracted by the latch magnet 60, and the head actuator 22 is latched at the stop position.

The other structure is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Also in the other embodiment configured as described above, it is possible to reduce the noise generated at the time of stopping and starting the operation of the HDD and to obtain the HDD with improved quietness, as in the above-described embodiment. The latch mechanism 50 can be simplified.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the magnetic member is not limited to the pin shape and may have another shape. Further, the number of magnetic disks and the number of magnetic heads corresponding thereto can be increased or decreased as necessary.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the magnetic disk device, but can be applied to other disk devices such as an optical disk device and a magneto-optical disk device.

[0040]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a disk device which has a simple structure but which reduces noise and improves quietness.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a head actuator of the magnetic disk device is rotated to a stop position.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a ramp load mechanism of the magnetic disk device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing a head actuator and a latch mechanism rotated to the stop position.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the magnetic attraction force acting on the latch pin of the latch mechanism and the rotational position of the head actuator.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing a head actuator and a latch mechanism of a magnetic disk device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 ... Case 16 ... Magnetic disk 18 ... Spindle motor 22 ... Head actuator 24 ... Voice coil motor 25 ... Lamp load mechanism 26 ... Bearing assembly 32 ... Arm 38 ... Suspension 40 ... Magnetic head 44 ... Support frame 45 ... Voice coil 46 ... Magnet 50 ... Latch mechanism 52 ... Latch pin 54 ... Projection 60 ... Latch magnet 70 ... Lamp 72a to 72f ... Guide surface

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic head for performing information processing on a disk, an information processing position for supporting the head movably with respect to the disk, the head being located on the disk, and the magnetic head. A head actuator rotatably provided around a rotation center between a stop position located on the outer peripheral side of the disk, and the head when the head actuator moves to the stop position. And a latch mechanism for latching the head actuator rotated to the stop position. The latch mechanism is provided on the head actuator and is provided with the head with respect to the center of rotation. The magnetic member located on the opposite side to the magnetic member of the head actuator rotated to the stop position. A latch magnet that is latched by a magnetic attraction force, and the latch magnet has a minimum distance from the magnetic member on a line passing through a magnetic member and a rotation center of the head actuator that is rotated to the stop position. A disk device, which is provided at a position. 2. A voice coil motor for driving the head actuator, wherein the voice coil motor is attached to the head actuator on the side opposite to the head with respect to the central axis, and faces the voice coil. 2. The disk device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive magnet fixedly provided, and a part of the drive magnet constitutes the latch magnet. 3. The drive magnet is provided with a peripheral edge portion that extends at a substantially constant distance from the moving path of the magnetic member, and a protrusion that protrudes from the peripheral edge portion and constitutes the latch magnet. The disk device according to claim 2. 4. A voice coil motor for driving the head actuator, wherein the voice coil motor is attached to the head actuator on the side opposite to the head with respect to the central axis, and faces the voice coil. And a drive magnet fixedly provided, wherein the latch magnet is arranged on the side opposite to the drive magnet with respect to the magnetic member at the stop position of the head actuator. The disk device according to claim 1. 5. The ramp loading mechanism is provided on the outside of the disk and has a guide surface, and a ramp provided on the head actuator and slides on the guide surface in response to rotation of the head actuator. The guide surface has an inclined surface adjacent to the magnetic disk, and a flat portion that is continuous with the inclined surface and extends substantially parallel to the disk. The magnetic disk device according to claim 1. 6. A drive means for supporting and rotating the magnetic disk, a magnetic head for processing information on the magnetic disk, a magnetic head for movably supporting the magnetic disk, Between the information processing position where the magnetic head is located on the magnetic disk and the stop position where the magnetic head is located off the outer peripheral side of the magnetic disk,
A head actuator rotatably provided around a rotation center; a ramp load mechanism for holding the magnetic head at a position separated from the magnetic disk when the head actuator moves to the stop position; and the stop position. And a latch mechanism for latching the head actuator rotated to the above position, wherein the latch mechanism is provided on the head actuator and is located on a side opposite to the magnetic head with respect to the center of rotation and a magnetic member located at the stop position. A latch magnet for latching the rotated magnetic member of the head actuator by a magnetic attraction force, and the latch magnet is on a line passing through the rotation center of the head actuator rotated to the stop position and the magnetic member. A disk device characterized by being provided at a position where the distance from the magnetic member is minimized. Place