JP2007164968A - Head stack assembly, disk unit equipped with same, and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head stack assembly (HSA) equipped with a turbulent flow preventive structure for a head gimbal assembly capable of protecting a magnetic head slider mounted on the head gimbal assembly against a turbulent flow causing vibration and excitation. <P>SOLUTION: The head stack assembly includes a voice coil, an E block coupled to the voice coil and having at least one actuator arm, at least one head gimbal assembly equipped with a suspension which has a flexure coupled to respective tip parts of actuator arms and mounted with the magnetic head slider, and at least one support block which has a support part supporting a tail end of the flexure in order to reduce displacement of the flexure and is formed at each of the actuator arms. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a disk device, and in particular, a structure that prevents a turbulent flow to a head gimbal assembly (HGA) mounted on the disk device and suppresses a positional deviation of a magnetic head slider mounted on the head gimbal assembly. The head stack assembly (HSA) provided with

  The disk device is an information storage device using a magnetic disk for storing data. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, a general disk device is first provided with a housing 801 that houses a set of magnetic disks 802. A magnetic coating is applied to the surface of each magnetic disk, and a plurality of tracks (not shown) are formed concentrically. The magnetic disk 802 is mounted on a spindle motor 803 that rotates the disk 802. The housing 801 is provided with an actuator arm 804. The actuator arm 804 is controlled by a voice coil motor 807 (VCM) so that the HGA 805 floats on the magnetic disk 802. Then, the magnetic head slider 806 (or magnetic head) carried on the magnetic disk 802 by the HGA 805 moves between the tracks formed on the surface of the magnetic disk 802 in order to record and reproduce data on the magnetic disk 802. Moving.

  When the disk device is operated, a flying force is generated by an aerodynamic action between the magnetic head slider 806 and the rotating magnetic disk 802. This levitation force is equal in the opposite direction to the spring force urged by the suspension of the HGA 805, and the levitation on the surface of the rotating magnetic disk 802 is caused during the radial movement of the actuator arm 804. Maintained.

  Further, with the rapid increase in the capacity of the disk device and the improvement of the head seeking time and the head ring time, the RPM (round per minute) of the disk is, for example, 7200, 10000, 15000 RPM. So that it is getting higher and higher. As a result of such high-speed rotation of the magnetic disk, the air flow generated toward the ABS (floating surface) of the magnetic head slider along the actuator arm and the HGA suspension by the rotation of the magnetic disk becomes higher and higher. ing. As a result, the air flow rate with respect to the actuator arm and the suspension of the HGA is increased, and a large turbulent flow is generated. Then, due to such vibration, the magnetic head slider loaded on the magnetic disk is displaced, and a recording / reproducing error of the disk device may occur.

  Here, the structure of the actuator arm for suppressing the air flow in the related art is very small, and the thickness of the structure is limited, so that the air flow can be reduced from the space between the actuator arm / suspension and the disk surface. It easily passed to the ABS of the magnetic head slider. Therefore, there is still a problem that turbulent flow and vibration of the actuator arm / suspension can occur.

  Further, since the actuator arm and the load beam of the suspension are formed of a rigid material, the flexure of the suspension, particularly the tail side (rear end side) thereof, is likely to vibrate due to turbulence. Moreover, the flexure is flexible and is not supported at all on the tail side, so its vibration is more severe. This affects the flying of the magnetic head slider (or magnetic head), and can cause turbulent flow and displacement of the magnetic head slider.

  In order to solve the above problem, in Patent Document 1 below, an air flow that causes vibration and vibration in the actuator arm and the HGA is generated along the air flow path to the air flow inflow side end of the magnetic head slider. Equipped with a shield to prevent it. Here, FIG.11 and FIG.12 shows the detail of patent document 1. FIG. In FIG. 11, the actuator arm 78 controls the HGA 76, whereby the magnetic head slider 84 floats on the magnetic disk 101. When the magnetic disk 101 is rotated by the spindle motor, an air flow 94 is generated. The air flow 94 flows around the surface of the magnetic disk 101 as shown in the figure and is blocked by the HGA 76 and the actuator arm 78. The shield has a projection 112 that extends from the side of the tip 77 of the actuator arm 78 (the side on the side in which the airflow flows). The protrusion 112 protrudes from the side of the actuator arm 78 and the HGA 76, and forms a flow path that guides turbulent flow away from the HGA 76. Therefore, the turbulent air region 100 moves away from the HGA 76. As a result, vibrations and vibrations to the microactuator 78 and the HGA 76 can be suppressed, and the magnetic head slider can be prevented from being disturbed at the time of flying, thereby causing a positional deviation of the magnetic head slider and a recording / reproducing error of the disk device. Can be reduced.

  However, the shield that restricts the air flow and changes the turbulent region is more likely to cause vibration of the magnetic head slider as the restriction force on the actuator arm increases. That is, according to the prior art, the magnetic head slider and the flexure (particularly, the tail portion of the flexure) can be easily caused to vibrate, greatly affecting the flying height of the magnetic head slider and causing the positional deviation of the magnetic head slider.

  FIG. 13 to FIG. 14 show the positional deviation measurement data in the conventional design. In this figure, two peaks 301 in the region of 10 to 14 kHz indicate the positional deviation amount of the magnetic head slider when the magnetic head slider is levitated by a 7200 RPM disk device. Further, in FIG. 14, two peaks 302 in the region of 10 to 15 kHz indicate the influence of turbulence in the tail portion of the flexure. In this way, displacement occurs in the tail portion of the flexure, and displacement of the magnetic head slider also occurs.

US Pat. No. 6,570,742

  As described above, the head stack assembly (HSA) having the turbulent flow prevention structure for the head gimbal assembly that can protect the magnetic head slider provided in the head gimbal assembly from the turbulent flow that causes vibration and vibration is provided. Is desired.

  A first embodiment of the present invention is a head stack assembly (HSA) provided with a turbulent flow prevention structure for an HGA of a disk device, and can suppress vibration and displacement of a magnetic head slider due to turbulent flow.

  A second embodiment of the present invention is an invention of a method for manufacturing an HSA having a turbulent flow prevention structure for an HGA of a disk device. This also can suppress the vibration and displacement of the magnetic head slider due to turbulence, as described above.

  A third embodiment of the present invention is an invention of a disk device equipped with an HSA equipped with a turbulent flow prevention structure for an HGA of the disk device. This also can suppress the vibration and displacement of the magnetic head slider due to turbulence, as described above.

Specifically, the head stack assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention includes:
Voice coil,
An E block coupled to the voice coil and having at least one actuator arm;
At least one head gimbal assembly comprising a suspension having a flexure for mounting a magnetic head slider, coupled to a respective tip of an actuator arm;
At least one support block formed on each of the actuator arms, with a support for supporting the tail end of the flexure to reduce flexure displacement;
It is characterized by having.

  And the said support block is provided in each front-end | tip part of an actuator arm, and the support part is located in the side part of an actuator arm, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The support block includes at least one of a stepped front side surface portion formed low on the surface of the microactuator, a stepped back side surface portion formed low on the back surface of the microactuator, and the front side surface portion and the back side surface portion. And a stepped support portion having an engagement hole for engaging the head gimbal assembly. Furthermore, the support part has a support surface that supports the tail end of the flexure.

The disk device according to the third aspect of the present invention is
A set of discs,
A spindle motor that rotates the disk;
A head stack assembly;
A voice coil motor that drives the head stack assembly;
A disk device comprising:
The head stack assembly
Voice coil,
An E block coupled to the voice coil and having at least one actuator arm;
At least one head gimbal assembly comprising a suspension having a flexure for mounting a magnetic head slider, coupled to a respective tip of an actuator arm;
At least one support block formed on each of the actuator arms, with a support for supporting the tail end of the flexure to reduce flexure displacement;
It is characterized by having.

  And the support block is provided in each front-end | tip part of an actuator arm, and the support part is located in the side part of an actuator arm, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The support block includes at least one of a stepped front side surface portion formed low on the surface of the microactuator, a stepped back side surface portion formed low on the back surface of the microactuator, and the front side surface portion and the back side surface portion. And a stepped support portion having an engagement hole for engaging the head gimbal assembly. Furthermore, the support part has a support surface that supports the tail end of the flexure.

Further, a method for manufacturing a head stack assembly according to the second aspect of the present invention includes:
Forming a voice coil;
Forming an E block coupled to the voice coil and having at least one actuator arm;
Forming at least one head gimbal assembly comprising a suspension having a flexure for mounting a magnetic head slider, coupled to each tip of the actuator arm;
Forming the E block comprises forming at least one support block having a support for supporting a tail end of the flexure;
It is characterized by that.

  And the process of shape | molding a support block is characterized by shape | molding the said support block in each front-end | tip part of an actuator arm, and shape | molding a support part in the side part of an actuator arm. The step of forming the support block includes a stepped front side surface portion formed low on the surface of the microactuator, a stepped back side surface portion formed low on the back surface of the microactuator, and at least one of the front side surface portion and the back side surface portion. A stepped support portion having a support portion protruding from one surface and an engagement hole for engaging the head gimbal assembly is formed. The step of forming the support block is characterized in that a support surface for supporting the tail end portion of the flexure is formed on the support portion. And it has the process which fixes the tail end part of a flexure to the support part of a support block further, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  As described above, the present invention supports the HSA actuator arm as a stepped support portion having a support portion for supporting the tail end portion of the flexure in order to suppress vibration of the tail of the flexure. Forms a block. As a result, the positional deviation amount of the magnetic head slider can be suppressed and the positioning error of the magnetic head slider can be reduced. Further, since the support portion has a support surface instead of a support point, and the tail end portion of the flexure is supported by such a surface, the state of the flexure is more stable and can be released from vibration. .

  The present invention is a head stack assembly (HSA) equipped with a turbulence prevention structure for a head gimbal assembly (HGA). Thereby, it is possible to suppress the positional deviation of the magnetic head slider when flying over the rotating magnetic disk, and to reduce the occurrence of positioning errors of the magnetic head slider. In particular, the present invention is characterized in that a support block having a support portion for supporting the tail end portion of each flexure of the HSA is provided. Thus, the tail end portion of the flexure can be protected from turbulent flow that causes vibration and displacement.

  Hereinafter, further features and advantages of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and the like, which explain some of the essence of the present invention in the embodiments described later.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a general configuration of a head stack assembly (HSA) according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the HSA 400 includes a voice coil 401, an E block 402 having a bearing portion 403 inserted through a bearing hole, and a plurality of lengths having a predetermined length up to the free end of the actuator arm 405. Actuator arms 405 and a plurality of head gimbal assemblies 500 (HGA) fixed to the tip portions 408 of the actuator arms 405 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 9, the voice coil 401 is supported by a block iron assembly that forms a VCM 107 for driving the HSA 400. As a result, the equipped magnetic head slider 60 floats on the disk 101 of the disk device 100. The bearing unit 403 connects the HSA 400 to the housing 108 of the disk device 100. The magnetic head slider 60 is supported by the corresponding HGA 500 in order to operate for recording / reproducing with respect to the surface of the magnetic disk 101.

  And FIG. 3 is a figure which shows the detailed structure of HGA in a present Example. The HGA 500 includes a suspension having a base plate 501, a load beam 503, and a flexure 504 and a hinge 506 that are integrally assembled. The hinge 506 has two flexure holders 509 for supporting the tail end 507 opposite to the end where the magnetic head slider of the flexure 504 is mounted. When the HGA 500 is caulked and fixed to the tip end portion 408 (see FIG. 2) of the actuator arm 405, the base plate 501 is placed on the surface of the tip end portion 408 of the actuator arm 405, and is engaged in layers. The flexure holder 509 supports the tail end 507 of the flexure 504.

  Here, FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration of the actuator arm 405 of the HSA 400 in the present embodiment disclosed in FIG. As shown in this figure, the actuator arm 405 in this embodiment is a side that supports a front side stepped surface portion 409a (front side surface portion), a back side stepped surface portion 409b (back side surface portion), and a tail end portion 507 of the flexure 504. It has a tip portion 408 (support block) in which a stepped support portion having a support plate 412 (support portion) and a fixing hole 411 (engagement hole) for fixing the HGA 500 is formed.

  Specifically, the front and back surfaces of the distal end portion 408 of the actuator arm 405 are formed in steps so that the plate thickness of the actuator arm 405 itself is reduced. That is, the vicinity of the tip 408 on the front and back surfaces of the actuator arm 405 is formed lower than the other end by a predetermined height. Further, a side support plate 412 is formed on the side portion of the tip portion 408 so as to project on the front and back stepped surfaces (409a, 409b) to form a support surface on the surface.

  Comparing the above configuration with the prior art, the tip portion 408 of the actuator arm 405 is formed with stepped support portions such as stepped surface portions 409a and 409b in the present invention, and further supports the tail end portion 507 of the flexure 504. The side support plate 412 is provided. This is clearly different from the flat tip of a conventional actuator arm.

  5 to 6 show the structure of the actuator arm 405 to which the HGA 500 is connected. The base plate 501 of each HGA 500 is fixed by, for example, caulking to a stepped surface portion 409a or 409b formed at the distal end portion 408 of each actuator arm 405. Further, the side support plate 412 of each actuator arm 405 supports the tail end 507 of each flexure 504. As a result, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of vibration and displacement due to the turbulent flow at the tail end 507 of the flexure 504. Further, the positional deviation of the magnetic head slider 60 (see FIG. 1) can be suppressed, and the magnetic head slider positioning error can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the side support plate 412 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a support surface for supporting the tail end portion 507 on the surface thereof. Therefore, as shown in FIG. Contact with the tail end 507 is realized in a wide area. By taking a wide contact area between the side support plate 412 and the tail end portion 507, the tail end portion 507 can be supported more stably on the support surface of the side support plate 412. As a result, the positional deviation suppression function functions more effectively.

  In addition, the shape of the side support plate 412 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. Any shape that can support the tail end portion 507 is possible. And in this invention, the side support plate 412 may be comprised so that the more superior position shift suppression function and higher stability are realizable.

  FIG. 7 shows data obtained by measuring the positional deviation in the HSA 400 according to the present invention. According to the two peaks 701 in the range of 10 to 14 kHz, it can be seen that the positional deviation of the magnetic head slider is smaller when the magnetic head slider 60 is flying in the 7200 RPM disk device. Further, two peaks 702 in the range of 10 to 14 kHz show the influence of turbulent flow at the tail end 507 of the flexure 504 in FIG. 3, and the displacement of the flexure in the tail end region is compared with the conventional design. The displacement is smaller, and the displacement of the magnetic head slider is also smaller. In other words, the HSA in the present invention is greatly improved to suppress the positional deviation of the magnetic head slider.

  In the present invention, the E block 402 includes only one actuator arm, and the HSA 400 illustrates only one HGA. However, the actuator arm 405 has a structure as shown in FIG. The structure is not limited, and any structure may be used as long as a support portion for supporting the tail end portion 507 is formed. Further, the HGA is not limited to the shape and structure shown in FIG. 3, and may have any shape and structure as long as it can be fixedly mounted on the actuator arm.

  Here, the head stack assembly described above can be manufactured, for example, by the following procedure. First, a voice coil is formed, an E block is formed which is coupled to the voice coil and includes at least one actuator arm, and is further connected to each tip of the actuator arm to mount a magnetic head slider. Mold at least one head gimbal assembly with a suspension having flexures. Then, in the step of forming the E block described above, at least one support block having a support portion that supports the tail end portion of the flexure is formed. Then, each component is assembled, and in particular, the tail end portion of the flexure is fixed to the support portion of the support block, thereby completing the head stack assembly. Each part may be formed in any order.

  Further, in the step of forming the support block in the above-described procedure, the support block is formed at each tip portion of the actuator arm, and the support portion is formed on the side portion of the actuator arm. Further, in the step of forming the support block, a stepped front side surface portion formed low on the surface of the microactuator, a stepped back side surface portion formed low on the back surface of the microactuator, a front side surface portion and a back side A stepped support portion having a support portion protruding from at least one of the surface portions and an engagement hole for engaging the head gimbal assembly is formed. Further, in the step of forming the support block, a support surface for supporting the tail end portion of the flexure is formed on the support portion.

  FIG. 9 shows a disk device 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. This disk device includes a housing 108, a pair of magnetic disks 101 in which a plurality of tracks (not shown) are concentrically formed on each disk surface and capable of magnetically storing data, a spindle motor 102, and a VCM 107. The HSA 400 according to the present invention described in the first embodiment is provided. The magnetic disk 101 is mounted on a spindle motor 102 that rotates the disk 101. Note that the configuration and / or assembly method of such a disk device is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such contents, and includes various improvements and equivalent modifications that are included in the scope of the idea of the present invention.

  The HSA of the present invention can be used as an HSA mounted on a disk device that is an information storage device mounted with a magnetic disk, and has industrial applicability.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of HSA in this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of HSA in this invention, and shows the structure after removing HGA from E block. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of HGA with which HSA disclosed in FIG. 1 is equipped. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the actuator arm of HSA disclosed in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the HSA disclosed in FIG. It is a side view which shows the detailed structure of the front-end | tip part of HSA disclosed in FIG. The data which measured the position shift displacement of the magnetic head slider in this invention are shown. The data which measured the displacement of the flexure in this invention are shown. It is a figure which shows the structure of the disk apparatus equipped with HSA disclosed in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the disk apparatus in a prior art example. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an air flow path to a magnetic head slider on a magnetic disk in a conventional HSA. It is a side view of HGA equipped with HSA in a conventional example. The data which measured the position shift of the magnetic head slider in a prior art example are shown. The data which measured the displacement of the flexure in a prior art example are shown.

Explanation of symbols

60 Magnetic head slider 100 Disk device 101 Magnetic disk 102 Spindle motor 107 Voice coil motor (VCM)
108 Housing 400 Head stack assembly (HSA)
401 Voice coil 402 E block 403 Bearing portion 405 Actuator arm 408 Actuator arm tip 409a Front side stepped surface portion 409b Back side stepped surface portion 411 Fixing hole 412 Side support plate 500 Head gimbal assembly 501 Base plate 503 Load beam 504 Flexure 506 Hinge 507 Tail End 509 flexure holder

Claims (13)

Voice coil,
An E block coupled to the voice coil and having at least one actuator arm;
At least one head gimbal assembly comprising a suspension having a flexure mounted on each of the actuator arms and having a magnetic head slider;
At least one support block formed on each of the actuator arms, the support arm supporting a tail end of the flexure to reduce displacement of the flexure;
A head stack assembly comprising: The support block is provided at each distal end of the actuator arm, and the support is located on a side of the actuator arm.
The head stack assembly according to claim 1. The support block includes a stepped front side surface portion formed low on the surface of the microactuator, a stepped back side surface portion formed low on the back surface of the microactuator, and the front side surface portion and the back side surface portion. A stepped support portion having the support portion protruding from at least one surface and an engagement hole for engaging the head gimbal assembly;
The head stack assembly according to claim 1, wherein the head stack assembly is a head stack assembly. The support portion has a support surface that supports the tail end portion of the flexure.
4. The head stack assembly according to claim 1, 2, or 3. A set of discs,
A spindle motor that rotates the disk;
A head stack assembly;
A voice coil motor that drives the head stack assembly;
A disk device comprising:
The head stack assembly includes:
Voice coil,
An E block coupled to the voice coil and having at least one actuator arm;
At least one head gimbal assembly comprising a suspension having a flexure mounted on each of the actuator arms and having a magnetic head slider;
At least one support block formed on each of the actuator arms, the support arm supporting a tail end of the flexure to reduce displacement of the flexure;
A disk device comprising: The support block is provided at each distal end of the actuator arm, and the support is located on a side of the actuator arm.
2. The disk device according to claim 1, wherein: The support block includes a stepped front side surface portion formed low on the surface of the microactuator, a stepped back side surface portion formed low on the back surface of the microactuator, and the front side surface portion and the back side surface portion. A stepped support portion having the support portion protruding from at least one surface and an engagement hole for engaging the head gimbal assembly;
3. The disk device according to claim 1, wherein the disk device is a disk device. The support portion has a support surface that supports the tail end portion of the flexure.
4. The disk device according to claim 1, 2, or 3. A method of manufacturing a head stack assembly, comprising:
Forming a voice coil;
Forming an E block coupled to the voice coil and having at least one actuator arm;
Forming at least one head gimbal assembly comprising a suspension having a flexure mounted on each of the actuator arms and having a magnetic head slider mounted thereon,
The step of forming the E block includes a step of forming at least one support block having a support portion that supports a tail end portion of the flexure.
A method of manufacturing a head stack assembly. The step of forming the support block is formed by forming the support block on each tip of the actuator arm, and forming the support on the side of the actuator arm.
The method of manufacturing a head stack assembly according to claim 9. The step of forming the support block includes a stepped front side surface portion formed low on the surface of the microactuator, a stepped back side surface portion formed low on the back surface of the microactuator, the front side surface portion, and the Forming a stepped support portion having the support portion protruding from at least one surface of the back side surface portion and an engagement hole for engaging the head gimbal assembly;
The method of manufacturing a head stack assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The step of forming the support block includes forming a support surface for supporting the tail end portion of the flexure on the support portion.
12. The method of manufacturing a head stack assembly according to claim 9, 10 or 11. And a step of fixing a tail end portion of the flexure to the support portion of the support block.
13. The method of manufacturing a head stack assembly according to claim 9, 10, 11 or 12.

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