JP2004164738A - Top cover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a top cover 4 which constitutes the casing 2 of a device storing articles to be stored including factors of vibration generating sources such as a motor 6 or an actuator together with a base plate and which can efficiently reduce noise and prevent the intrusion of foreign matters such as dust into the casing 2 from a screw insertion hole 11 and thus can prevent the malfunction of the device. <P>SOLUTION: The top cover 4 has the screw insertion hole 11 through which a fixing screw 9 for fixing the stored articles to the top cover 4 is inserted and an elastic member 31 for controlling vibrations interposed between the cover 4, the stored articles and the fixing screw 9 and disposed in the periphery of the screw insertion 11. It is suitable to form the elastic member 31 for controlling vibrations integrally with the cover 4 using the same material as that of a gasket which seals an interval between the base plate and the cover 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a top cover used for a disk drive device represented by a hard disk drive and the like. Further, the top cover of the present invention is used as a top cover of a magnetic storage device, a top cover of an electric / electronic device housing, or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a hard disk drive (HDD), which is widely and generally used as data storage means of a computer, drives a magnetic disk, which is a recording medium, with a spindle motor, and writes and calls data on the magnetic disk with a magnetic head. It has a structure driven by an actuator using a voice coil motor or the like as a drive source, and further has a structure in which these components are housed in a housing composed of a combination of a base plate and a top cover.
[0003]
In recent years, as the processing capacity of computers and the storage capacity of hard disks have increased, the rotational speed of disks and the operating speed of actuators have also tended to increase, and this has led to the transmission of vibrations of these disks and actuators to the top cover. The noise generated by the noise is even more problematic. On the other hand, the inventor of the present application has previously developed a technique using a damping steel plate for the top cover in order to suppress the vibration of the top cover and reduce noise (see Patent Document 1). Vibration can be effectively suppressed and noise can be reduced by the vibration damping action exhibited by the vibrating steel sheet. However, the vibration-damping steel sheet itself has an inconvenience that it takes a lot of time and effort to manufacture because the elastic body is sandwiched between a plurality of steel sheets.
[0004]
On the other hand, there is also a problem of the hermeticity of the HDD from the outside air. That is, the top cover is provided with a screw insertion hole into which a fixing screw for fixing the above-described component to the top cover is inserted. After the HDD is assembled, the peripheral portion of the screw insertion hole and the fixing screw inserted into the screw hole are connected. There is a small gap between them. Therefore, strictly speaking, the HDD is in a state where the inside and outside of the housing communicate with each other even after assembly, but since the HDD may malfunction even with minute dust, the housing must be protected so that even the outside air does not enter. It must be completely sealed. For this reason, conventionally, measures have been taken to close the gap by sticking an adhesive seal to the outer surface of the top cover, but according to this measure, the seal sticking operation must be performed manually, There is an inconvenience that much work is required. Further, since the adhesive seal is peeled off relatively easily after being adhered, there is a possibility that the intrusion of dust is allowed, and eventually the HDD malfunctions.
[0005]
Conventionally, as a disk drive device having a vibration damper, a device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-124072 is known (see Patent Document 2). However, the damper described in this document is a top cover. Instead, it is disposed on the back surface of the base plate on the opposite side, and does not utilize the vibration damping action of the elastic body as in the present invention.
[0006]
Conventionally, as a top cover in which a soundproofing and vibration-proofing plate is provided on a rotating shaft of a spindle motor and a pivot shaft of an actuator, a top cover disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-328945 is known. Reference), the soundproof and vibration-proof plate described in this publication is made of the same material as the rotating shaft and the pivot shaft, and is preferably made of stainless steel. An excellent sealing action (housing sealing property) due to the vibration damping action and the adhesion of the elastic body cannot be expected.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-49471 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-124072 [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-11-328945
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above points, the present invention can effectively reduce noise and prevent foreign matter such as dust from entering a housing through a screw insertion hole, thereby preventing malfunction of the device. It is intended to provide a top cover that can be used.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a top cover according to claim 1 of the present invention is a top cover that forms a housing of a device that accommodates an object including a vibration source element such as a motor or an actuator together with a base plate. A screw insertion hole into which a fixing screw for fixing to the top cover is inserted, and a vibration damping elastic member interposed between the top cover and the housing and the fixing screw at a peripheral portion of the screw insertion hole. It is characterized by having a body.
[0010]
Further, in the top cover according to claim 2 of the present invention, in the top cover according to claim 1 described above, the vibration damping elastic body uses the same material as a gasket that seals between the base plate and the top cover. It is characterized by being formed integrally with the top cover.
[0011]
The top cover according to claim 3 of the present invention is the top cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vibration source element is a spindle motor for rotating a magnetic disk in the disk drive device, and the top cover is fixed by a fixing screw. The object fixed to the cover is a shaft that supports rotation of the spindle motor.
[0012]
The top cover according to claim 4 of the present invention is the top cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vibration source element is an actuator for swinging a magnetic head in the disk drive device, and the top cover is fixed by a fixing screw. The object fixed to the cover is a shaft portion that supports the swing of the actuator.
[0013]
In the top cover according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above structure, the vibration damping elastic body is interposed between the top cover, the storage object, and the fixing screw at the periphery of the screw insertion hole provided in the top cover. Is provided, it is possible to suppress propagation of vibration from the vibration source element to the top cover by interposing the elastic body for vibration suppression, and at the same time, the screw insertion hole is formed by the elastic body. It is possible to close the gap between the peripheral portion of the base member and the fixing screw inserted therein.
[0014]
As the elastic body used in the present invention, it is preferable to use a viscoelastic body having excellent vibration damping properties. For example, fluorine rubber (FKM), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), butyl rubber (IIR) ), Natural rubber (NR), ethylene propylene rubber (EPM, EPDM), chloroprene rubber (CR), butadiene rubber (BR), isoprene rubber (IR), acrylic rubber (ACM), silicone rubber (VMQ) or urethane rubber ( A rubber material such as U) or a thermoplastic elastomer is effective.
[0015]
The structure or method of fixing the elastic body to the top cover is not particularly limited. However, as described in claim 2, the elastic body uses the same material as the gasket that seals between the base plate and the top cover. If the gasket is integrally formed with the top cover, the gasket can be integrally formed on the top cover and the elastic body can be simultaneously formed.
[0016]
The vibration source is, for example, a spindle motor for rotating a magnetic disk in a disk drive device, and in many cases, the rotation of the spindle motor is supported by a shaft. Therefore, in this case, since the shaft portion is screwed to the top cover, an elastic body is provided in the insertion hole of the screw for fixing the shaft portion (claim 3).
[0017]
The vibration source is, for example, a swing actuator for swinging a magnetic head in a disk drive device, and in many cases, the swing is supported by a shaft. Therefore, in this case, since the shaft portion is screwed to the top cover, an elastic body is provided in the insertion hole of the screw for fixing the shaft portion (claim 4).
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
First embodiment ...
FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of an HDD with a top cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
The HDD drives the magnetic disk, which is a recording medium, with a spindle motor as described above, writes and calls data on the magnetic disk with a magnetic head, and drives the magnetic head with an actuator using a voice coil motor or the like as a drive source. And a structure for accommodating these components (housing material) inside a housing composed of a combination of a base plate and a top cover. FIG. The pivot point is shown.
[0021]
That is, reference numeral 3 denotes a base plate, and reference numeral 4 denotes a top cover. The housing 2 of the HDD 1 is formed by a combination of these, and a spindle motor 6 for rotating the magnetic disk 5 is provided inside the housing 2. Housed with other components.
[0022]
The spindle motor 6 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 8 via a bearing 7, and is configured to rotate about the shaft 8.
[0023]
The shaft 8 has a lower end 8 a fixed to the base plate 3 side and an upper end 8 b fixed to the top cover 4 by a fixing screw 9.
[0024]
The top cover 4 made of a metal plate such as stainless steel or aluminum is provided with a recess 10 that is recessed into the housing 2 in accordance with the screw position, and a fixing screw 9 is inserted into the bottom of the recess 10. Screw hole 11 is provided. Therefore, when assembling the HDD 1, the fixing screw 9 is inserted into the screw insertion hole 11 from outside the top cover 4 and screwed into the female screw hole 12 provided on the end face of the upper end 8 b of the shaft 8.
[0025]
Since the shaft 8 is fixed to the top cover 4 by the fixing screw 9 as described above, if the shaft 8 directly contacts the top cover 4 after the fixing, the spindle motor 6 There is a possibility that the vibration generated at this time is transmitted to the top cover 4 via the shaft portion 8. Further, since the fixing screw 9 comes into contact with the top cover 4, there is a possibility that vibration generated in the spindle motor 6 is transmitted to the top cover 4 via the shaft portion 8 and the fixing screw 9. Furthermore, since a minute gap (not shown) is formed between the peripheral edge of the screw insertion hole 11 and the fixing screw 9 inserted therein, the outside is inserted into the housing 2 through this gap. There is a possibility that foreign matter such as dust may enter.
[0026]
In contrast, the top cover 4 is provided with the following vibration damping and sealing structures.
[0027]
That is, the elastic body 31 for vibration damping is attached to the periphery of the screw insertion hole 11 provided in the top cover 4, and this elastic body 31 is provided between the shaft portion 8 and the top cover 4 and between the fixing screw 9 and the top cover 4. Each is interposed.
[0028]
The elastic body 31 is formed of a viscoelastic body made of a rubber material such as the above-mentioned fluorine rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer, and as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. A cylindrical portion 31a interposed between the covers 4, an inner flange portion 31b interposed between the shaft portion 8 and the top cover 4, and an outer portion interposed between the head 9b of the fixing screw 9 and the top cover 4; It has an integral flange portion 31c and is formed in a substantially U-shape in half cut.
[0029]
Therefore, according to the top cover 4 provided with the vibration damping and sealing structure, the elastic body 31 is interposed between the shaft portion 8 and the top cover 4 and between the fixing screw 9 and the top cover 4, respectively. The vibration generated in the spindle motor 6 can be suppressed from being transmitted to the top cover 4 via the shaft 8 or the shaft 8 and the fixing screw 9 by the vibration damping action exerted by the elastic body 31. Therefore, noise generated in the top cover 4 can be reduced.
[0030]
In addition, since the gap between the peripheral edge of the screw insertion hole 11 and the fixing screw 9 inserted therein is closed by the elastic body 31, dust or the like enters the housing 2 from outside through the gap. Foreign matter can be suppressed from entering. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the malfunction of the HDD 1 caused by the invasion of foreign matter.
[0031]
The structure and method of attaching the elastic body 31 to the top cover 4 are not particularly limited, but the elastic body 31 may be provided with a gasket (top cover gasket, not shown) for sealing between the base plate 3 and the top cover 4. If the same material is used to integrally mold the top cover 4, the integral molding of the gasket to the top cover 4 and the integral molding of the elastic body 31 can be performed simultaneously, which is convenient in the molding process. In this case, specifically, the cover 4 is inserted into a mold provided with the cavity space for elastic body molding together with the cavity space for gasket molding, and in this state, the gasket and the elastic body 31 are simultaneously molded, and both are molded and simultaneously. It will adhere to the cover 4. The gasket is provided around the entire periphery of the cover 4 and is in close contact with the base plate 3.
[0032]
Second embodiment ...
FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section of a main part of an HDD with a top cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0033]
The HDD drives the magnetic disk, which is a recording medium, with a spindle motor as described above, writes and calls data on the magnetic disk with a magnetic head, and drives the magnetic head with an actuator using a voice coil motor or the like as a drive source. And a structure for accommodating these components (housing material) inside a housing composed of a combination of a base plate and a top cover. FIG. The pivot point is shown.
[0034]
That is, reference numeral 3 denotes a base plate, and reference numeral 4 denotes a top cover. The housing 2 of the HDD 1 is formed by a combination of these, and a magnetic head (not shown) is swung inside the housing 2. Actuator 13 is housed together with other components.
[0035]
The actuator 13 has a central portion in the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction in the drawing) attached to a pivot 14 and is configured to swing around a shaft 15 of the pivot 14. The actuator 13 is not shown. A magnetic head is provided at the left end, and a voice coil motor 16 which is a driving source of the swing operation is provided at the right side of the pivot 14 in the drawing.
[0036]
The lower end 15a of the shaft 15 of the pivot 14 is positioned and positioned in a central recess 18 of an annular boss 17 provided on the inner surface of the base plate 3, and the upper end 15b is fixed to the top cover 4 by a fixing screw 19. Fixed to.
[0037]
The top cover 4 made of a metal plate such as stainless steel or aluminum is provided with a recess 20 that is recessed into the housing 2 in accordance with the screw position, and a fixing screw 19 is inserted into the bottom of the recess 20. Screw hole 21 is provided. Therefore, when assembling the HDD 1, the fixing screw 19 is inserted into the screw insertion hole 21 from the outside of the top cover 4 and screwed into the female screw hole 22 provided on the end face of the upper end 15 b of the shaft 15.
[0038]
Since the fixing of the shaft portion 15 to the top cover 4 is performed by the fixing screw 19 as described above, if the shaft portion 15 has a structure in which the shaft portion 15 directly contacts the top cover 4 after the fixing, the motor 16 is provided. There is a possibility that vibrations generated during the operation of the actuator 13 are transmitted to the top cover 4 via the pivot 14 and the shaft 15. Further, since the fixing screw 19 comes into contact with the top cover 4, the vibration generated in the actuator 13 may be transmitted to the top cover 4 via the pivot 14, the shaft 15 and the fixing screw 19. Furthermore, since a minute gap (not shown) is formed between the peripheral edge of the screw insertion hole 21 and the fixing screw 19 inserted therein, the outside is inserted into the housing 2 through this gap. There is a possibility that foreign matter such as dust may enter.
[0039]
In contrast, the top cover 4 is provided with the following vibration damping and sealing structures.
[0040]
That is, the elastic body 31 for vibration damping is attached to the periphery of the screw insertion hole 21 provided in the top cover 4, and this elastic body 31 is provided between the shaft portion 15 and the top cover 4 and between the fixing screw 19 and the top cover 4. Each is interposed.
[0041]
The elastic body 31 is formed of a viscoelastic body made of a rubber material such as the above-mentioned fluoro rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer, and as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. A cylindrical portion 31a interposed between the covers 4, an inner flange portion 31b interposed between the shaft portion 15 and the top cover 4, and an outer portion interposed between the head 19b of the fixing screw 19 and the top cover 4; It has an integral flange portion 31c and is formed in a substantially U-shape in half cut.
[0042]
Therefore, according to the top cover 4 provided with the vibration damping and sealing structure, the elastic body 31 is interposed between the shaft portion 15 and the top cover 4 and between the fixing screw 19 and the top cover 4, respectively. Due to the vibration damping action exerted by the elastic body 31, vibration generated in the actuator 13 having the motor 16 and the like is generated via the pivot 14 and the shaft 15 or via the pivot 14, the shaft 15 and the fixing screw 19. Can be suppressed. Therefore, noise generated in the top cover 4 can be reduced.
[0043]
In addition, since the gap between the peripheral portion of the screw insertion hole 21 and the fixing screw 19 inserted into the screw hole 21 is closed by the elastic body 31, dust or the like enters the housing 2 from outside through the gap. Foreign matter can be suppressed from entering. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the malfunction of the HDD 1 caused by the invasion of foreign matter.
[0044]
The structure and method of attaching the elastic body 31 to the top cover 4 are not particularly limited, but the elastic body 31 may be provided with a gasket (top cover gasket, not shown) for sealing between the base plate 3 and the top cover 4. If the same material is used to integrally mold the top cover 4, the integral molding of the gasket to the top cover 4 and the integral molding of the elastic body 31 can be performed simultaneously, which is convenient in the molding process. In this case, specifically, the cover 4 is inserted into a mold provided with the cavity space for elastic body molding together with the cavity space for gasket molding, and in this state, the gasket and the elastic body 31 are simultaneously molded, and both are molded and simultaneously. It will adhere to the cover 4. The gasket is provided around the entire periphery of the cover 4 and is in close contact with the base plate 3.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention has the following effects.
[0046]
That is, first, in the top cover according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the vibration damper interposed between the top cover, the storage object, and the fixing screw is provided at the periphery of the screw insertion hole provided in the top cover. Since the elastic body is provided, it is possible to suppress the propagation of vibration from the vibration source element in the housing to the top cover by the vibration damping action exerted by the elastic body. Therefore, noise generated in the top cover can be effectively reduced.
[0047]
Further, since the gap between the peripheral portion of the screw insertion hole and the fixing screw inserted therein is closed by the elastic body, foreign matter such as dust enters the inside of the housing from outside through the gap. It is possible to suppress. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the malfunction of the device due to the invasion of foreign matter.
[0048]
In addition to this, in the top cover according to claim 2 of the present invention having the above configuration, since the elastic body is integrally formed with the top cover using the same material as the gasket, the gasket is attached to the top cover. It is possible to simultaneously perform the integral molding and the integral molding of the elastic body with the top cover. Therefore, the molding step can be performed efficiently. In addition, a complicated operation of manually attaching a seal, which has been conventionally performed, can be omitted, and the operation can be made more efficient in this regard.
[0049]
According to the top cover according to the third aspect of the present invention, the vibration source element is a spindle motor for rotating a magnetic disk in the disk drive device, and an object fixed to the top cover by a fixing screw is a spindle motor. Since the shaft portion supports the rotation of the spindle motor, the vibration generated when the spindle motor operates can be effectively reduced. Therefore, the quietness and the enclosure tightness of the disk drive device including the spindle motor can be improved.
[0050]
Further, according to the top cover according to claim 4 of the present invention, the vibration source element is an actuator for swinging the magnetic head in the disk drive device, and the housing fixed to the top cover by the fixing screw is the actuator. Since the shaft portion supports the swing, the vibration generated when the actuator is operated can be effectively reduced. Therefore, the quietness and the enclosure tightness of the disk drive device including the actuator can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an HDD to which a top cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention is assembled. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of an HDD in which is assembled. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG.
1 HDD
2 Housing 3 Base plate 4 Top cover 5 Magnetic disk 6 Spindle motor 7 Bearing 8, 15 Shaft 8a, 15a Lower end 8b, 15b Upper end 9, 19 Fixing screw 9a, 19a Male screw 9b, 19b Head 10, 20 Concave portions 11, 21 Screw insertion holes 12, 22 Female screw holes 13 Actuator 14 Pivot 16 Voice coil motor 17 Annular boss 18 Central concave portion 31 Vibration damping elastic body 31 a Cylindrical portion 31 b Inner flange portion 31 c Outer flange portion

Claims (4)

In a top cover that forms a housing of an apparatus that accommodates an object including a vibration source element such as a motor or an actuator together with a base plate,
A screw insertion hole for inserting a fixing screw for fixing the container to the top cover is provided, and a peripheral portion of the screw insertion hole is interposed between the top cover, the container, and the fixing screw. Top cover characterized by providing an elastic body for vibration damping. The top cover according to claim 1,
A top cover, wherein the damping elastic body is formed integrally with the top cover using the same material as a gasket for sealing between the base plate and the top cover. The top cover according to claim 1 or 2,
The vibration source element is a spindle motor for rotating a magnetic disk in the disk drive device, and the storage object fixed to the top cover with a fixing screw is a shaft portion that supports rotation of the spindle motor. Top cover to do. The top cover according to claim 1 or 2,
The vibration source element is an actuator for swinging a magnetic head in a disk drive device, and a housing fixed to the top cover with a fixing screw is a shaft portion that supports the swing of the actuator. Top cover to do.

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