JP3835364B2 - Disk unit - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disk device having a recording and / or reproducing head such as a floating thin film magnetic head or an optical head.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a magnetic disk apparatus, a magnetic head slider attached to the tip of a head arm assembly (HAA) is levitated from the surface of a rotating magnetic disk, and in that state, a thin film magnetic head element mounted on the magnetic head slider is used. Recording on the magnetic disk and / or reproduction from the magnetic disk is performed.
[0003]
The HAA generally has a rigid support arm, a voice coil motor (VCM) that is an actuator for rotating the support arm in parallel with the magnetic disk surface, and an elastic suspension fixed to the tip of the support arm. And a magnetic head slider attached to the tip of the suspension, and the load in the magnetic disk surface direction of the magnetic head slider is a connection between a leaf spring provided on the suspension itself or the suspension and the support arm. It is comprised so that it may generate | occur | produce with the leaf | plate spring provided in the part.
[0004]
In the HAA having such a structure, a limiter mechanism is usually provided for the purpose of preventing the suspension from flexing and shaking the magnetic head slider when an external impact is applied.
[0005]
The conventional limiter mechanism has a structure that regulates the distance between the flexure and the load beam so that the flexure provided at the front end of the suspension is bent and does not jump so much from the load beam.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the conventional limiter mechanism that regulates the flexure so that it is not far from the load beam, the flexure is deflected by impact and the magnetic head slider can be prevented from colliding with the surface of the magnetic disk to some extent. It was impossible to suppress the jumping of the suspension away from the surface, and hence the suspension. Further, the distance between the flexure and the load beam can be suppressed so as not to increase, but the deflection of the load beam itself due to the impact cannot be suppressed. For this reason, it was impossible to obtain sufficient impact resistance.
[0007]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a disk device having a limiter mechanism that can prevent the suspension from jumping in a direction away from the surface of a magnetic disk.
[0008]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk device having a limiter mechanism that can more effectively prevent the entire suspension from bending toward the surface of the magnetic disk.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, the head slider having at least one head element, the head slider is supported, the flexure has elasticity for controlling the flying posture of the head slider, and the flexure is supported at one end. A load beam having a spring portion for generating a load for urging the head slider in the direction of the surface of the recording medium and having a load application portion to the head slider, and a support arm for supporting the load beam at one end portion And an actuator for rotating the support arm, the load beam, the flexure, and the head slider around the horizontal rotation axis in a horizontal direction with respect to the surface of the recording medium, and a horizontal rotation direction of the load beam. and with which it consists protrusions protruding in the direction of the load beam from the stationary portion, contact with only a portion of the load beam Load beam by Rukoto, disk device and a limiter means for flexure and head slider to regulate the movement of more than a predetermined limit in a direction away from the recording medium surface is provided.
[0010]
Limiter means, the load beam by consist protrusions protruding in the direction of the load beam from the stationary portion with continuous along the horizontal rotation direction of the load beam, into contact with only a portion of the load beam, flexure And the head slider is restricted from moving beyond a predetermined limit in a direction away from the recording medium surface. As a result, the limiter means can restrict the entire support arm, load beam, flexure and head slider from moving beyond a predetermined limit, so that the suspension can be prevented from jumping away from the disk surface. Since the deflection toward the magnetic disk surface direction can be more effectively prevented, sufficient impact resistance can be obtained.
[0011]
It is preferable that the apparatus further includes a housing that houses at least the head slider , the flexure, the load beam, the support arm , the actuator, and the spring portion , and the stationary portion is formed of a wall surface facing the recording medium surface of the housing.
[0012]
It is preferable that the actuator further includes a yoke portion, and the stationary portion is formed of a wall surface facing the recording medium surface of the yoke portion.
[0014]
It is also preferable that the protrusion is formed integrally with the wall surface, or a member formed separately from the wall surface is fixed to the wall surface.
[0015]
It is also preferable that the limiter means is made of a highly rigid member that comes into contact with the load beam only when the load beam moves a predetermined limit.
[0016]
Limiter means, the first member having a spring property for suppressing the vibration of the load beam is in contact at all times to the load beam (damper unit) supports a first member, moving the load beam a predetermined limit It is also preferable to include a second member (limiter part) having high rigidity that stops the rotation of the load beam when the load beam is rotated .
[0017]
It is preferable that the actuator is fixed to the other end of the support arm , and the horizontal rotation shaft is provided in a horizontal bearing portion located in the middle of the support arm .
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a partial configuration of a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the relationship between the HAA and the limiter mechanism in this embodiment. 3 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the HAA and the limiter mechanism in this embodiment.
[0020]
1 and 2, 10 is a magnetic disk provided in the magnetic disk device, 11 is a HAA that performs a seek operation by rotating horizontally on the rotating magnetic disk 10, and 12 is a housing of the magnetic disk device. , 13 denotes an upper lid that engages with the housing 12, and 14 denotes a protrusion formed integrally on the inner wall surface of the upper lid 13 as a limiter mechanism having only a limiter function. In FIG. 1, the upper lid 13 is shown in an inverted state so that its inner wall surface can be seen.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 3, the HAA 11 includes a head gimbal assembly (HGA) 15, a highly rigid support arm 16 to which a base of the HGA 15 is fixed, and a horizontal bearing portion (bearing housing) 17. The coil assembly 18 is mainly composed of a coil assembly 18 having a VCM as an actuator for rotating in the direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic disk around the center.
[0022]
The HGA 15 includes a magnetic head slider 19 having at least one thin film magnetic head element, a flexure 20 having elasticity that supports the magnetic head slider 19 at one end, and a flexure 20 that is supported and fixed. And a load beam 21 having The base of the load beam 21 is fixed to the support arm 16. The load beam 21 includes a spring portion 21 a that generates a load on the magnetic head slider 19 and a dimple 21 b that is a protrusion that applies a load to the magnetic head slider 19.
[0023]
The magnetic head slider 19 is formed with at least one thin film magnetic head element including a write head element and an MR read head element.
[0024]
The flexure 20 has a soft tongue (not shown) centered on a dimple 21b provided on the load beam 21, and has elasticity so that the magnetic head slider 19 is flexibly supported by this tongue to stabilize the flying posture. ing. In this embodiment, the flexure 20 is made of a stainless steel plate (for example, SUS304TA) having a thickness of about 25 μm.
[0025]
The load beam 21 has elasticity for stabilizing the flying height by pressing the magnetic head slider 19 in the magnetic disk direction. The load beam 21 is composed of a stainless steel plate having a thickness of about 60 to 65 μm and having a width narrowing toward the tip, and the flexure 20 is fixedly supported at the tip. This fixation between the flexure 20 and the load beam 21 is performed by spot welding such as laser welding.
[0026]
The protrusion 14 formed on the inner wall surface of the upper lid 13 of the magnetic disk device as a limiter mechanism is opposed to the load beam 21 of the arm member 11 and is an arc-shaped protrusion continuous along the horizontal rotation direction. The upper lid 14 having high rigidity is integrally formed with the wall surface by, for example, pressing.
[0027]
The tip of the protrusion 14 is not in contact with the load beam 21 during normal operation, and is separated. When some impact is applied from the outside and the load beam 21 rotates to an angle (displacement height) in a direction away from the magnetic disk, the tip of the projection 14 abuts on the surface of the load beam 21 and beyond. Is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the HGA from jumping up in the direction away from the surface of the magnetic disk due to an externally applied impact. Furthermore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the deflection of the magnetic disk surface due to the impact of the entire HGA.
[0028]
As a result, the impact resistance of the magnetic disk device can be further improved. In addition, since the limiter projection is formed integrally with the wall surface of the upper lid, it is possible to prevent troubles such as providing additional parts and an increase in manufacturing cost.
[0029]
FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the HAA and the limiter member in another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5A and 5B show the configuration of the limiter member in the embodiment of FIG. It is the perspective view seen from a different direction.
[0030]
In FIG. 4, 41 is a HAA provided in the magnetic disk device, 43 is an upper lid that engages with the casing of the magnetic disk device, and 44 is a limiter member that has only a limiter function fixed on the inner wall surface of the upper lid 43. Each is shown.
[0031]
The structure of the HAA 41 and its attaching portion is substantially the same as in the embodiment of FIG. Therefore, the same reference numerals as those in the embodiment of FIG.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 5, the limiter member 44 is formed in a partial annular shape as a whole, and an arcuate protrusion 44 a continuous along the horizontal rotation direction of the HAA is provided on the inner edge thereof. The limiter member 44 is formed of a material having high rigidity as a separate part from the magnetic disk device, and one surface 44b is fixed to the inner wall surface of the upper lid 43 of the magnetic disk device, whereby the other member is fixed. The tip of the protrusion 44a of the surface 44c faces the load beam 21 of the HAA 41.
[0033]
The tip of the protrusion 44a of the limiter member 44 is not normally in contact with the load beam 21, but is separated. When an impact is applied from the outside and the load beam 21 is rotated to an angle (displacement height) in a direction away from the magnetic disk, the tip of the projection 44a abuts on the surface of the load beam 21 and beyond. Is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the HGA from jumping up in the direction away from the surface of the magnetic disk due to an externally applied impact. Furthermore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the deflection of the magnetic disk surface due to the impact of the entire HGA. As a result, the impact resistance of the magnetic disk device can be further improved.
[0034]
Other configurations and other functions and effects of this embodiment are substantially the same as those of the embodiment of FIG.
[0035]
FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the HAA and the limiter member in still another embodiment of the present invention.
[0036]
In the figure, 61 is an HAA provided in the magnetic disk device, 63 is an upper lid that engages with the housing of the magnetic disk device, and 64 is fixed on the inner wall surface of the upper lid 63 to provide a damper function and a limiter function. The damper / limiter member is shown.
[0037]
The structure of the HAA 61 and its attachment is substantially the same as in the embodiment of FIG. Therefore, the same reference numerals as those in the embodiment of FIG. 1 are used as the reference numerals of the respective parts of the HAA 61.
[0038]
The damper / limiter member 64 is formed as a part separate from the magnetic disk device and is formed in a partial annular shape as shown in FIG. 5, and the HAA is formed along the horizontal rotation direction of the HAA at the inner edge thereof. A continuous arc-shaped protrusion 64a is provided. The damper / limiter member 64 has a two-stage configuration of a damper portion having low spring properties and a rigid limiter portion supporting the base portion of the damper portion, and one surface of the damper / limiter member 64 has a magnetic disk device. It is fixed to the inner wall surface of the upper lid 63. As a result, the tip of the projection 64a on the other surface is always in contact with the surface of the load beam 21 at a position closer to the magnetic head slider 19 than the spring 21a that generates the load of the HAA 61.
[0039]
When the load beam 21 is rotated in a direction away from the magnetic disk for some reason, the vibration is attenuated by the damping effect of the low load, low spring constant damper portion up to a certain angle (displacement height). When an impact is applied from the outside and the load beam 21 rotates further, this exceeds the maximum displacement of the damper portion, and the rigidity of the limiter portion restricts further rotation of the load beam 21 and is applied from the outside. This prevents the suspension from bouncing up due to impact.
[0040]
The damper part and the limiter part of the damper / limiter member 64 may be formed of the same material, or may be formed of materials having different rigidity. In any case, the damper portion is formed to have low rigidity and the limiter portion is formed to have high rigidity.
[0041]
Other configurations and other functions and effects of this embodiment are substantially the same as those of the embodiment of FIG.
[0042]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a partial configuration of a magnetic disk device according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically showing a partial configuration of the magnetic disk device of FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the HAA and the limiter mechanism in this embodiment.
[0043]
7 and 8, reference numeral 70 denotes a magnetic disk provided in the magnetic disk device, 71 denotes a HAA that performs a seek operation by rotating horizontally on the rotating magnetic disk 70, and 72 denotes a housing of the magnetic disk device. 73 (FIG. 9) is an upper lid that engages with the casing 72, 76 is a yoke portion of the VCM, and 74 is a limiter mechanism that has only a limiter function and extends from the yoke portion 76 to the HAA. Yes.
[0044]
The structure of the HAA 71 and its attaching portion is substantially the same as in the embodiment of FIG. Therefore, the same reference numerals as those in the embodiment of FIG.
[0045]
The limiter member 74 formed as a part of the yoke portion 76 has its tip opposed to the load beam 21 at a position closer to the magnetic head slider 19 than the spring portion 21a that generates the load of the HAA 71, and its horizontal rotation direction. It is a circular arc-shaped protrusion which continues along.
[0046]
The tip of the protrusion of the limiter member 74 is not in contact with the load beam 21 during normal operation, and is separated. When some impact is applied from the outside and the load beam 21 rotates to a certain angle (displacement height) in the direction in which the magnetic head slider 19 moves away from the magnetic disk, the tip of the protrusion of the limiter member 74 is It abuts against the surface and restricts further rotation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the HAA from jumping up in the direction away from the magnetic disk surface due to an externally applied impact. As a result, the impact resistance of the magnetic disk device can be further improved. Further, since the limiter member 74 is formed by being integrally formed with the yoke portion 76 of the VCM, it is possible to prevent troubles such as providing additional parts and an increase in manufacturing cost.
[0047]
Other configurations and other functions and effects of the present embodiment are substantially the same as those of the embodiment of FIGS.
[0048]
It should be noted that the shape and structure of the limiter member and the damper / limiter member in the above-described embodiments and modifications are merely examples, and it is obvious that any shape may be used as long as the above-described functions are satisfied. It is. Further, the attachment target member is not limited to the upper lid or the yoke portion of the VCM as long as it is a stationary portion, and may be any member such as a bottom or a side wall of the housing.
[0049]
The above embodiment relates to a magnetic disk device having a HAA having a general structure. However, in order to improve the resistance to the impact of the HAA having such a structure, the main part of the HAA is made rigid. It is composed of a high arm member, a magnetic head slider is attached to one end of the arm member, a VCM is attached to the other end, and a fulcrum that can rotate in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the magnetic disk is provided in between. The present invention can also be applied to a magnetic disk apparatus having a HAA having a structure in which a leaf spring for generating a load is attached to the portion.
[0050]
As described above, the present invention has been described using the HAA magnetic disk device provided with the thin film magnetic head element. However, the present invention is not limited to such a magnetic disk device. For example, it is obvious that the present invention can also be applied to a HAA disk device including a head element such as an optical head element.
[0051]
All the embodiments described above are illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting, and the present invention can be implemented in other various modifications and changes. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and their equivalents.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the limiter means protrudes in the direction of the arm member from the stationary portion, and restricts the arm member from moving beyond a predetermined limit in the direction away from the recording medium surface. As a result, the limiter means can restrict the entire arm member from moving beyond a predetermined limit, so that the suspension can be prevented from jumping away from the disk surface, and further, the suspension can be deflected in the direction of the magnetic disk surface. Since it can prevent more effectively, sufficient impact resistance is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a partial configuration of a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the relationship between the HAA and the limiter mechanism in the embodiment of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of an HAA and a limiter mechanism in the embodiment of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of an HAA and a limiter mechanism in another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the configuration of the limiter member in the embodiment of FIG. 4 as seen from different directions.
FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing configurations of an HAA and a limiter mechanism in still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a partial configuration of a magnetic disk device in still another embodiment of the invention.
8 is a plan view schematically showing a partial configuration of the magnetic disk device of FIG. 7; FIG.
FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the HAA and the limiter mechanism in the embodiment of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 70 Magnetic disk 11, 41, 61, 71 HAA
12, 72 Cases 13, 43, 63, 73 of the magnetic disk drive Upper lids 14, 44a, 64a Protrusion 15 HGA
16 Support arm 17 Horizontal bearing (bearing housing)
18 Coil assembly 19 Magnetic head slider 20 Flexure 21 Load beam 21a Spring portion 21b Dimple 44, 74 Limiter member 76 VCM yoke portion 64 Damper / limiter member

Claims (8)

A head slider having at least one head element; supporting the head slider; having a flexure having elasticity for controlling the flying posture of the head slider; and supporting the flexure at one end; A load beam having a spring portion for generating a load for urging the head slider toward the surface of the recording medium and having a load application portion to the head slider, and a support arm for supporting the load beam at one end portion When, the supporting arm around the shaft horizontal times, the load beam, and an actuator for rotating in a horizontal direction with respect to the flexure and the recording medium surface the head slider, the horizontal rotation direction of the load beam consists protrusions protruding in the direction of the load beam from the stationary portion with continuous along the, the Rodobi The load beam by contact with part only of the arm, a disk device, characterized in that said flexure and said head slider and a limiter means for restricting it from moving more than a predetermined limit in a direction away from said recording medium surface . The apparatus further includes a housing that houses at least the head slider , the flexure, the load beam, the support arm , the actuator, and the spring portion , and the stationary portion faces the recording medium surface of the housing. The disk device according to claim 1, comprising a wall surface.   The disk apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a yoke portion of the actuator, wherein the stationary portion is a wall surface of the yoke portion facing the recording medium surface. The protrusion, the disk apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said are wall integrally molded. The protrusion, the disk device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said wall is obtained by fixing the separately formed member to the wall surface. Said limiter means is a disk device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the load beam is made of a member having the load beam and the high rigidity abuts only when moved the predetermined limit . It said limiter means comprises a first member having a spring property for suppressing the vibration of the are in contact at all times the load beam to the load beam, supports a first member, the load beam is predetermined the disk apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that comprising a second member having a high rigidity to restrain the rotation of the load beam when the limit moved. Wherein the actuator is secured to the other end of the support arm, according to claim 1 to 7, wherein the horizontal pivot axis, characterized in that provided in the horizontal bearing section located in the middle of the support arm The disk device according to any one of claims.

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