JP2501516Y2 - Floating head loading device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a loading device for a floating head slider used in a magnetic disk device.

[Conventional technology]

In a magnetic disk device, a floating head slider having a magnetic head mounted on one end surface thereof is used. The floating head slider floats on the disk by the high-speed airflow generated by the high-speed rotation of the disk, and performs recording and reproduction while maintaining a slight gap between the magnetic head and the recording medium.However, the floating head slider is used as a disk surface protrusion or runout. On the other hand, a gimbal spring for keeping the spacing constant and performing a follow-up operation keeps the floating head slider movably in each of the pitch, roll, and parallel directions, and at the same time controls the levitation amount of the floating head slider. A roll spring for supporting the head for moving the magnetic head on the recording track is added to the gimbal spring.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional floating head support. This floating head support includes a floating head slider 3
And a gimbal spring 1 consisting of a tongue-shaped leaf spring that supports this, and the gimbal spring 1 joined to one end thereof,
At the same time, the structure is composed of a load spring 2 in the form of a leaf spring that applies an appropriate load to the floating head slider 3 and a spacer 4.

On the other hand, in the current magnetic disk device, as a start / stop method, when the rotation of the disk is stopped, the floating head slider and the disk are placed in contact with each other, and the rotation of the disk is started to raise the rotating speed and levitate the floating head slider. The so-called contact start stop (CSS) method, in which the floating head slider is landed on the disk when the disk rotation speed drops when the disk is stopped, is the mainstream. In this method, the floating head slider and the disk surface go through the steps of contact, low-speed sliding, separation, low-speed sliding, and contact, which may cause friction and wear problems. Head crush may occur due to wear.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

The CSS method has the characteristic that the structure of the mechanism is simple,
It has the following problems. That is, the first is CSS
This is a problem of contact sliding that sometimes occurs inevitably. When the number of rotations of the disk reaches a certain speed or more, a sufficient levitating force is generated in the floating head slider, so the floating head slider and the disk are kept in non-contact with each other. The levitation force that works is small,
Therefore, the floating head slider and the disk are in contact with each other and slide. Such contact sliding also occurs when the disk is stopped, and in this case, the floating head slider transits from the fluid lubrication state to the contact sliding state.

Generally, the floating head slider is made of an extremely hard material such as ceramic. On the other hand, the disk has a protective film for protecting the magnetic recording layer and a lubricating film with good slidability on the surface to reduce frictional force during CSS, but its hardness is smaller than that of the floating head slider. . Therefore, there is a problem of frictional wear at the time of contact sliding, and the fine frictional wear powder generated at this time may hinder the stable motion of the floating head slider in some cases, leading to head crash.

The second problem is that the finishing accuracy of the slider lubrication surface of the floating head slider, which is required to be reduced more and more in the future, is required to be extremely smooth, and at the same time, the disk surface is high so as not to hinder the low flying amount of the slider. Since the flatness is required, the floating head slider and the disk may be attracted to each other when the disk is stopped. Once suction occurs, the frictional force increases sharply, making it difficult to start the disk.

In order to avoid the above problems, it is necessary to employ a start / stop system for a disk device in which the floating head slider and the disk surface always operate without contact. It involves loading the floating head slider mounted on the floating head support to the surface of the magnetic disk medium by a force provided by some mechanical system, and unloading the floating head slider away from the surface of the magnetic disk medium. Is required.

This loading or unloading operation is realized by providing the floating head support member with a floating head lifting mechanism as shown in FIG. 5, for example. The floating head elevating mechanism has a bar 10 as a floating head loading mechanism that abuts the floating head support, and an elevating actuator 11 that elevates and lowers the bar 10, and the elevating actuator 11 expands and contracts in the Z direction shown in the drawing. By moving the bar 10 up and down, and as a result, the floating head support member that abuts on the bar 10 rotates about its spacer 4 as a supporting point, so that the floating head slider 3 moves toward or away from the surface of the magnetic disk medium. The unloading operation is realized.

However, at this time, a slight slip occurs between the bar 10 and the load spring 2 of the floating head supporting member which is in contact with the bar 10 during the loading and unloading operations. If this sliding is frequently performed by repeated loading and unloading, there is a problem that the wear progresses between the bar 10 and the load spring 2, and the risk of head crash due to the abrasion powder increases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a floating head loading device that solves the above problems.

[Means for solving the problem]

The floating head loading device of the present invention comprises a floating head slider, a gimbal spring composed of a tongue-shaped leaf spring supporting the floating head slider, and the gimbal spring joined to one end thereof, and at the same time, an appropriate load is applied to the floating head slider. For a floating head support consisting of a leaf spring-shaped load spring that adds
At least a part of the surface of either the load spring or the gimbal spring is coated with ceramic in a thin film shape, and can abut against the ceramic-coated part of the floating head support. In (1), there is provided a floating head lifting mechanism for moving the floating head support member away from or closer to the surface of the magnetic disk medium.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a floating head loading device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a floating head loading device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a floating head support which constitutes the floating head loading device of FIG. 1, and FIG. A-A of the load spring in the figure
A line section is shown.

The floating head support includes a floating head slider 3 and a gimbal spring 1 including a tongue-shaped leaf spring that supports the floating head slider 3.
And a gimbal spring 1 is joined to one end thereof, and at the same time, a leaf spring-shaped load spring 2 for applying an appropriate load to the floating head slider 3, and a coating on the surface of the load spring 2 on the side to which the gimbal spring 1 is joined. Formed ceramic film 5. The ceramic membrane 5 is
For example, the thin film is coated by the plasma CVD method.

This embodiment has a floating head elevating mechanism that separates or joins the floating head support from the surface of the magnetic disk medium, and this floating head elevating mechanism serves as a floating head loading mechanism. It comprises a bar (10) that abuts against and a lifting actuator (11) for lifting the bar (10). As the elevating actuator 11 expands and contracts in the Z direction shown in the figure, the bar 10 is moved up and down, and as a result, the floating head support member contacting the bar 10 rotates by using the spacer 4 as a support point.
The floating head slider 3 realizes so-called loading and unloading operations of moving away from or approaching the surface of the magnetic disk medium. Therefore, the floating head slider 3 and the surface of the magnetic disk medium (not shown) are always kept in non-contact with each other, so that the problems of frictional wear and adsorption associated with CSS can be avoided.

At this time, the surface of the load spring 2 that contacts the bar 10 is coated with the ceramic film 5, and the ceramic material has high hardness and excellent wear resistance. Even if slippage occurs between the ceramic film 5 and the bar 10 formed on the surface of the, the abrasion between the two is minimized, and therefore the amount of abrasion powder is small, and therefore the risk of head crash due to dust in the atmosphere is reduced. Can be greatly improved.

The ceramic material used in the present invention is, for example, TiC, TiN,
It may be selected according to the material forming the floating head support, such as SiC, alumina, Si ₃ N ₄ and diamond.
As a method for forming the ceramic film, an appropriate method such as plasma CVD, PVD, or ion implantation may be used. Furthermore, the thickness of the ceramic film to be formed may be selected as appropriate for the usage conditions.

[Effect of device]

By using the floating head loading device according to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the problems of friction and wear between the floating head slider and the magnetic disk medium associated with CSS, and at the same time, the floating head in loading and unloading the floating head slider. The problem of friction and wear associated with the contact between the lifting mechanism and the floating head support can be minimized. Therefore, the generation of dust in the atmosphere of the magnetic disk drive is minimized, and the risk of head crash is greatly reduced. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a floating head loading device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a floating head support which constitutes the floating head loading device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the floating head support of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional floating head support, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional floating head loading device. 1 …… Gimbal spring 2 …… Load spring 3 …… Floating head slider 4 …… Spacer 5 …… Ceramic film 10 …… Bar 11 …… Lift actuator

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A floating head slider, a gimbal spring composed of a tongue-shaped leaf spring for supporting the floating head slider, and a plate for joining the gimbal spring to one end thereof and at the same time applying an appropriate load to the floating head slider. At least a part of the surface of either the load spring or the gimbal spring is coated with ceramic in a thin film shape with respect to a floating head support made of a spring-shaped load spring, and the floating head support is ceramic-coated. It is possible to abut the part
A floating head loading device comprising a floating head lifting mechanism for moving the floating head support away from or closer to the surface of the magnetic disk medium at the contact portion.