JP3234110B2 - Information recording / reproducing device and head assembly - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing apparatus in which a recording / reproducing head is relatively movable with respect to an information recording medium, such as a magnetic disk drive, and a head unit used for the same.
The information recording / reproducing apparatus and the information recording / reproducing apparatus which can reduce the positional error between the head slider on which the recording / reproducing head is attached and the supporting member thereof, in particular ,
Regarding the head assembly to be used .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a magnetic disk device which is a typical example of an information recording / reproducing device, the increase in recording density is caused by an increase in bit density (recording density in a disk circumferential direction) and a track density (recording density in a disk radial direction). Are increasing in both aspects. In particular, to improve the bit density,
It is necessary to reduce the spacing between the magnetic head unit having the recording / reproducing function and the magnetic disk as the magnetic recording medium, that is, the so-called spacing. Due to the demand for miniaturization of the spacing and the cost reduction of the entire magnetic head assembly, the miniaturization of the magnetic head slider has been promoted.

On the other hand, as the size of the magnetic head slider is reduced, the size of a suspension having a gimbal function for supporting the slider is also reduced. Many of these suspensions are provided with a pivot portion for intensively applying a force that balances the fluid force generated in the dynamic pressure bearing portion of the magnetic head slider when the magnetic disk rotates. As shown in FIG. 7, the pivot portion 30 is formed in a semicircular shape by rolling. Therefore, the position of the load point of the load applied to the magnetic head slider 2 via the pivot portion 30 changes due to the mounting error of the magnetic head slider 2. In other words, the structure is such that the positional deviation amount when the magnetic head slider 2 and the suspension 4 are mounted is directly reflected on the positional deviation amount of the load point. Further, the semi-spherical structure is not perfect, and the load point may vary within the range of the diameter of the pivot portion 30 depending on where the suspension 4 and the pivot portion 30 are in contact.

Conventionally, when assembling a magnetic head assembly, a dedicated jig is used to position the magnetic head slider with respect to the pivot portion as follows.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional jig for assembling the magnetic head slider 2 and the suspension 4.
Usually, the suspension 4 has positioning holes 401,
Two or more 402 are provided. The jig has a pin 1 corresponding to the position and size of the holes 401 and 402.
A suspension positioning section having the first and second suspension positions is provided. On the other hand, the magnetic head slider 2 has a working reference for a dynamic pressure bearing surface which is an air bearing surface facing the magnetic disk medium, and the jig has a surface provided in contact with the reference surface. A part 50a is provided. By setting the positions of these two portions so as to have a predetermined relationship, the positional relationship between a pivot portion (not shown) provided on the suspension 4 and the load point of the magnetic head slider 2 is set. Furthermore, after setting the positional relationship, an adhesive is injected between the suspension 4 and the magnetic head slider 2 and the two are fixedly adhered to form a magnetic head assembly. Reference numeral 50b is a member for suppressing the movement of the magnetic head slider 2 when the magnetic head slider 2 is bonded to the suspension 4.

In recent years, a positioning method using an image processing technique may be employed for the purpose of improving the assembly accuracy. That is, the reference surface of the magnetic head slider 2 is read by, for example, an optical method and detected by image processing or the like. Based on the read reference surface of the magnetic head slider 2, the positional relationship between the suspension positioning jig prepared in advance and the magnetic head slider positioning jig prepared in advance is adjusted. Similarly, the suspension 4 and the magnetic head slider 2 are fixed with an adhesive to form a magnetic head assembly.

However, in the conventional method, it has been difficult to manufacture a magnetic head assembly having an accurate relative positional relationship due to the following factors. That is, when one jig is used many times, the pins 101 and 102 constituting the suspension positioning portion are worn, and the surface of the magnetic head slider positioning portion 50a with which the reference surface of the magnetic head slider 2 contacts is worn. , These wears cause a relative position error. In addition, a relative position error of each part of the jig occurs depending on an environmental change such as a temperature change. Due to these relative position errors, a desired magnetic head slider assembly could not be manufactured.

Also, in the method of detecting the reference plane using the image processing technique of the magnetic head slider 2, it is difficult to detect the true reference plane. In addition, there is a distance between the positioning holes 401 and 402 of the suspension 4 and the pivot portion which is a positioning point. For this reason, a relative position error may occur due to a difference between the positioning position of the magnetic head slider 2 and the suspension 4 (the position of the positioning holes 401 and 402) and the mounting position thereof (the position of the pivot portion and the load point). Due to these relative position errors, a relative position error occurs between the pivot portion on the suspension and the load point on the magnetic head slider, and the flying attitude of the magnetic head slider flying above the magnetic disk varies. In addition, the spacing, which is the most important in magnetic recording and reproduction, fluctuates, which prevents high recording density while maintaining reliability.

In particular, the above-mentioned problem of the variation in the flying attitude becomes more conspicuous as the magnetic head slider becomes smaller. By reducing the size of the magnetic head slider, the flying follow-up characteristics with respect to disk deformation and the like are improved. Nevertheless, since the positional error between the magnetic head and the suspension supporting the magnetic head becomes relatively large, there has been a limit in downsizing the magnetic head slider.

[0010]

As described above,
Conventionally, a position error occurs between a head slider having a recording / reproducing head and a suspension (support member) supporting the head slider. For example, in an information recording / reproducing device such as a magnetic disk device, the above-described position error is a factor. As a result, there is a problem that the spacing and the minimum flying height vary, and it is difficult to increase the recording density while maintaining the reliability, that is, to reduce the flying height while maintaining the reliability.

Therefore, the present invention reduces the positional error between the head slider and its supporting member, and reduces the variation in spacing and minimum flying height, thereby enabling high-density recording and high reliability. Information recording / reproducing device having
And a head assembly used for the same.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information recording medium, rotating means for rotatably holding the information recording medium, and recording of information on the information recording medium. A head slider on which a recording / reproducing head for performing reproduction is mounted, a supporting member for supporting the head slider, and a connecting member for connecting the head slider and the supporting member, and via a pivot portion provided on the connecting member. An information recording / reproducing apparatus having a configuration in which a load is applied to the head slider from the support member,
The information recording / reproducing apparatus is characterized in that the pivot portion includes a curved portion formed on a part of the connecting member and a convex portion provided on the curved portion.

Also, an information recording medium, rotating means for rotatably holding the information recording medium, a head slider equipped with a recording / reproducing head for recording / reproducing information on / from the information recording medium, and the head slider An information recording device comprising: a supporting member for supporting; and a connecting member for connecting the head slider and the supporting member, wherein a load is applied from the supporting member to the head slider via a pivot portion provided on the connecting member. In the playback device,
The pivot portion includes a curved portion formed on a part of the connecting member, and a convex portion provided on the curved portion, and a groove is provided on a surface of the head slider connected to the connecting member, An information recording / reproducing apparatus is provided, wherein the pivot portion is disposed in an area of the groove.
Further, in the present invention, recording of information on an information recording medium is performed.
Head slider equipped with a recording / reproducing head for reproducing
A support member for supporting the head slider;
A slider for connecting the support member to the support member.
The pivot member provided on the connecting member.
A structure in which a load is applied to the head slider from a support member
A head assembly comprising:
The portion is a curved portion formed in a part of the connecting member,
And a projection provided on the curved portion.
A head assembly is provided. In addition, information
Equipped with a recording / reproducing head that records and reproduces information on recording media
Head slider and helping this head slider
A support member, and the head slider and the support member are connected.
And a pivot member provided on the coupling member.
From the support member to the head slider via a socket
A head assembly that has a structure to which a load is applied
The pivot portion is formed on a part of the connecting member.
Composed of a curved portion to be provided and a convex portion provided in the curved portion.
Is connected to the connecting member of the head slider.
The surface is provided with a groove, and the pivot portion is provided in the area of the groove.
Head assembly characterized by being located in the area
I will provide a.

[0014]

According to the present invention having the above structure, the pivot portion has a two-stage structure formed by a curved portion and a convex portion, so that the diameter of the pivot portion can be reduced as compared with the prior art, and the pivot portion has a smaller diameter. Because you can earn height,
It is possible to reduce the fluctuation of the load point when the slider is mounted.

Further, a groove is provided on a surface of the head slider connected to the connecting member, and the pivot is disposed in the area of the groove, so that when a load is applied from the support member, the convex constituting the pivot is formed. Moves to the vicinity of the load point of the head slider, and exerts a function of automatically recovering the displacement between the convex portion and the load point.

Further, by forming the groove portion provided in the head slider in a substantially cylindrical shape, even if there is a positional shift between the convex portion forming the pivot portion and the load point of the slider when the head slider is mounted, it is possible to reduce the displacement. The displacement is automatically corrected.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, a magnetic disk device incorporating a magnetic head assembly will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other information recording / reproducing devices.

Before describing the magnetic head assembly according to the present invention, an outline of a magnetic disk drive in which the magnetic head assembly is incorporated will be described with reference to FIG. The magnetic disk 21 for recording information is
It is mounted on a spindle 22. A magnetic head slider (hereinafter, referred to as “slider”) 2 having a magnetic head mounted thereon is attached to a tip of the thin plate-shaped suspension 4. The magnetic head accesses the magnetic disk 21 rotated at a constant rotation speed to record / reproduce information.

The suspension 4 is connected to one end of the arm 23. At the other end of the arm 23, a voice coil motor 24, which is a kind of linear motor, is provided. The voice coil motor 24 includes a drive coil (not shown) and a magnetic circuit. The drive coil (not shown) is wound around a bobbin of the arm 23. The magnetic circuit includes a permanent magnet and an opposing yoke that are arranged to face each other so as to sandwich the drive coil.

The arm 23 is held by ball bearings (not shown) provided at two positions above and below the fixed shaft 25, and can be rotated and oscillated by a voice coil motor 24.

Next, a magnetic head assembly according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the pivot portion is usually semi-spherical, but the shape of the pivot portion is not perfect, so that the position of the load point fluctuates when the slider is mounted. The variation range of the position of the load point due to the shape error of the pivot portion is a range of the diameter of the pivot portion. Therefore, the smaller the diameter of the pivot portion, the smaller the displacement of the load point due to the shape error of the pivot portion. However, when the diameter of the pivot portion is reduced, the possibility that the suspension and the slider come into contact with each other at a portion other than the pivot portion increases. Therefore, in order to prevent this, it is necessary to increase the height of the pivot portion. Thus, the present invention provides a magnetic head assembly having the following configuration.

FIG. 1 shows the shape of a pivot portion constituting a magnetic head assembly according to the present invention. Here, the pivot portion 10 is provided on the gimbal 11 with the curved portion 12.
And a two-stage structure in which semi-spherical convex portions 13 are formed. With such a structure, the diameter of the pivot portion 10 is reduced and the pivot portion 10
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the variation of the load point when the slider is mounted. Therefore, in the magnetic disk drive configured using the gimbal 11 having the pivot portion 10 having such a shape, the displacement of the load point when the slider (not shown) is mounted can be reduced, and the spacing and the minimum flying height can be reduced. Variations can be reduced. Here, the shape of the convex portion is not limited to a hemispherical shape, but may be another convex shape having the same effect.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the magnetic head assembly according to the present invention. Gimbal 11
Is provided with a pivot portion 10 having the shape shown in FIG. In addition, holes 14 extending in the longitudinal direction of the gimbal 11 are arranged on both sides of the pivot portion 10 in a slit shape.
The holes 14 are for adjusting the rigidity of the gimbal 11 and optimizing a self-repair function for positional deviation described later. On the other hand, a groove 15 is provided in the width direction on the back surface (surface connected to the gimbal 11) 2b of the slider 2. A load point is set substantially at the center of the groove 15. The dimension of the groove 15 in the longitudinal direction of the slider is set to a length equal to or greater than a position error that is considered to occur at the time of mounting.

In the drawings, the pivot portion 10 of the gimbal 11 and the groove portion 15 of the slider 2 are exaggerated in comparison with the actual size. Here, the suspension 4 and the gimbal 11 may be formed separately or may be formed integrally.

Next, an outline of a magnetic head assembly in which a slider is mounted on a suspension will be described with reference to FIG. The magnetic head assembly is generally performed by a process of attaching a slider to a support member in which the suspension 4 and the gimbal 11 are integrated. At this time, the gimbal 1 is arranged such that the semi-spherical convex portion 13 constituting the pivot portion 10 provided on the gimbal 11 is located on the load point of the slider with respect to the load direction of the suspension.
It is necessary to attach the slider 2 to 1. However, there is a limit in relative positioning accuracy between the two. Therefore, in the present invention, by using the assembly structure shown in FIG. 2, an automatic repair function of a position shift occurring when the slider 2 is mounted is realized. Hereinafter, this self-healing function will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 (a) shows an example of the magnetic head assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention in which no displacement occurs during mounting, and FIG. 4 (b) shows the position during mounting. An example is shown in which the slider 2 is mounted on the gimbal 11 such that the semi-spherical convex portion 13 constituting the pivot portion 10 is displaced leftward in the drawing from the load point of the slider 2 due to displacement. Things. However, it is assumed that the pivot portion 10 is arranged in the area of the groove portion 15 of the slider 2 even when the slider 2G is attached with a displacement. Here, FIGS. 4A and 4B both show
This shows a state in which a load is applied to the gimbal 11 from the suspension 4, and the gimbal 11 bends in the groove 15 by processing the groove 15 in the slider 2. In FIG. 4A, since the semi-spherical convex portion 13 constituting the pivot portion 10 is attached to the approximate center of the groove portion 15 of the slider 2 where the load point is set, a load is applied. However, the amount of deflection of the left and right gimbals 11a and 11b with respect to the pivot portion 10 is constant. On the other hand, in FIG. 4B, since the pivot portion 10 is mounted to be shifted leftward from the load point of the slider 2, the gimbal 1 on the left side of the pivot portion 10 is mounted.
The length of the right gimbal 11b is longer than the length of 1a. For this reason, as shown in the figure, the amount of deflection of the gimbal 11b becomes larger than the amount of deflection of the gimbal 11a, and the semi-spherical convex portion 13 forming the pivot portion 10 automatically moves to the right, and the displacement amount Will be repaired automatically.
Here, since the gimbal 11a, 11b is provided with the slit-shaped hole 14 shown in FIG. 2, a sufficient amount of deflection can be obtained even when the load applied by the suspension 4 is small, It is possible to optimize the automatic repair function of the displacement.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the magnetic head assembly according to the present invention. Gimbal 1 as in the first embodiment
1 is provided with a pivot portion 10 having the shape shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a cylindrical surface 15 having a point on the load point of the slider 2 on the center line in the width direction of the slider 2 is formed on the back surface 2b of the slider 2. When the slider 2 is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the slider 2 within the range of the cylindrical surface 15 when the slider 2 is mounted, the top portion of the semi-spherical convex portion 13 forming the pivot portion 10 is positioned exactly at the focal position of the cylindrical surface 15. Since the gimbals 11a and 11b on both sides of the pivot portion 10 bend so as to come into contact with each other, the pivot portion 10
Are automatically corrected. Note that, also here, the gimbals 11a and 11b include:
Since the slit-shaped holes 14 shown in FIG. 2 are provided, a sufficient amount of deflection can be obtained at the time of mounting, and it is possible to optimize automatic correction of the positional deviation.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The pivot portion that defines the positional relationship between the recording / reproducing head and the support member is formed in a two-stage structure, and even if a positional displacement occurs between the recording / reproducing head and the support member during the assembly of the head assembly, the displacement is reduced. By providing a mechanism for automatic restoration, it is possible to reduce the displacement of the load point.

Therefore, the variation in the flying attitude caused by the head assembly is reduced, and the flying height error can be significantly reduced even with a smaller recording / reproducing head.

As a result, the recording density of the recording / reproducing head can be improved while maintaining high reliability, and a high recording density / high reliability information recording / reproducing apparatus and a head used for the same can be improved.
It is possible to provide a de-assembly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a pivot portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the magnetic head assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically showing a magnetic head assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram relating to a position shift automatic repair function according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the magnetic head assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a magnetic disk drive provided with a magnetic disk assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a conventional magnetic head assembly.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a conventional assembly jig for a magnetic disk assembly.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Magnetic Head Slider (Head Slider) 4 Suspension (Support Member) 10 Pivot Part 11 Gimbal (Connecting Member) 12 Curved Part Constituting Pivot Part 13 Convex Part Constituting Pivot Part 14 Hole 15 Groove Part

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] An information recording medium, a rotating means for rotatably holding the information recording medium, a head slider mounted with a recording / reproducing head for recording / reproducing information on / from the information recording medium, and the head slider An information recording device comprising: a supporting member for supporting; and a connecting member for connecting the head slider and the supporting member, wherein a load is applied from the supporting member to the head slider via a pivot portion provided on the connecting member. In the playback device, the pivot
The information recording / reproducing apparatus is characterized in that the connecting portion is constituted by a curved portion formed on a part of the connecting member and a convex portion provided on the curved portion. 2. An information recording medium, rotating means for rotatably holding the information recording medium, a head slider equipped with a recording / reproducing head for recording / reproducing information on / from the information recording medium, and the head slider An information recording device comprising: a supporting member for supporting; and a connecting member for connecting the head slider and the supporting member, wherein a load is applied to the head slider from the supporting member via a pivot portion provided on the connecting member. In the playback device, the pivot
The head portion includes a curved portion formed on a part of the connecting member, and a convex portion provided on the curved portion, and a groove portion is provided on a surface of the head slider connected to the connecting member, The information recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the pivot portion is disposed in a region of the groove. 3. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of holes are provided in the vicinity of the pivot portion of the connecting member. 4. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the groove has a substantially cylindrical shape. 5. An information recording medium, rotating means for rotatably holding the information recording medium, a head slider mounted with a recording / reproducing head for recording / reproducing information on / from the information recording medium, and supporting the slider. And a connecting member for connecting the head slider and the supporting member, wherein a load is applied from the supporting member to a load point of the head slider via a pivot portion provided on the connecting member. In the information recording / reproducing apparatus, the pivot portion includes a curved portion formed on a part of the connecting member, and a convex portion provided on the curved portion. When a load is applied from the support member, the pivot portion is A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus having a mechanism for moving the head slider near a load point of the head slider. 6. A recording apparatus for recording and reproducing information on an information recording medium.
Head slider equipped with recording / playback head and this head
A support member for supporting a slider, and the head slider
A connection member for connecting the support member, wherein the connection portion
From the support member via a pivot portion provided on the material
A head having a configuration in which a load is applied to the head slider
In the door assembly, the pivot portion is connected to the connection portion.
A curved portion formed in a part of the member;
A head comprising:
Assembly. 7. A recording apparatus for recording and reproducing information on an information recording medium.
Head slider equipped with recording / playback head and this head
A support member for supporting a slider, and the head slider
A connection member for connecting the support member, wherein the connection portion
From the support member via a pivot portion provided on the material
A head having a configuration in which a load is applied to the head slider
In the door assembly, the pivot portion is connected to the connection portion.
A curved portion formed in a part of the member;
The head slider,
A groove is provided on the surface connected to the binding member, and the pivot
Wherein the groove is disposed in the area of the groove.
Head assembly. 8. A multiple part near the pivot part of the connecting member.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a number of holes are provided.
Head assembly. 9. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said groove has a substantially cylindrical shape.
The head assembly according to claim 7 or 8, wherein
Ri. 10. Recording and reproduction of information on an information recording medium
A head slider with a read / write head and this slider
A support member for supporting the slider, the head slider and the support member,
A connection member for connecting the support member, wherein the connection member
The support member is connected to the support member through a pivot portion provided.
The load is applied to the load point of the slider
In the head slider, the pivot portion is connected to the connection portion.
A curved portion formed in a part of the member;
And a load is applied from the support member.
When the projection is moved, the protrusion is positioned near the load point of the head slider.
Heads having a mechanism for moving
Rider.