JP4167957B2 - Assembly method and assembly apparatus for carriage assembly - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for assembling a carriage assembly that is assembled by coupling a suspension carrying a magnetic head and a carriage arm.

  FIG. 4 is an external view of a carriage assembly used in the magnetic disk device. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a carriage arm, and reference numeral 12 denotes a suspension 12 connected to the tip of the carriage arm 10. A magnetic head 14 is mounted on the tip of the suspension 12. The magnetic head 14 is electrically connected to the control unit 18 via a flexible substrate 16 attached to the side surface of the carriage arm 10. Reference numeral 19 denotes an actuator shaft fixed to the base of the carriage arm 10. The carriage arm 10 performs a seek operation in a plane parallel to the surface of the recording medium as the actuator shaft 19 rotates around the axis.

The carriage assembly is formed by caulking and fixing the suspension 12 on both surfaces of the front end portion of each carriage arm attached in parallel to the actuator shaft 19.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional method for fixing the suspension 12 to the carriage arm 10. In the conventional method, after the suspension 12 is positioned and attached to the tip of each carriage arm 10, the metal ball 20 formed to have a diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole 12 b is passed through the spacer hole 12 b of the suspension 12. As a result, the suspension 12 is caulked and fixed to the carriage arm 10. Reference numeral 22 denotes a pressure shaft for pressing the metal ball 20 to pass through the spacer hole 12b.

FIG. 6 shows an operation in which the metal ball 20 is passed through the spacer hole 12 b of the suspension 12 and the suspension 12 is caulked and fixed to the carriage arm 10. The suspension 12 is attached to both surfaces of each carriage arm 10 with the fitting holes 10a and the spacer holes 12b aligned. Since the metal ball 20 has a slightly larger diameter than the spacer hole 12b, the metal ball 20 acts to push the caulking portion 13 formed on the inner peripheral edge of the spacer hole 12b when passing through the spacer hole 12b. As a result, the suspension 12 is fixed to the carriage arm 10 so as to stick. As shown in FIG. 6, the metal balls 20 are caused to protrude from the one side of the carriage arm 10 to the other side by the pressure shaft 22 and pass through the spacer holes 12 b one after another as shown in FIG. 6. Moving.
JP 2001-167546 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-680 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 05-2937 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-192420

  Thus, when the carriage assembly is assembled, conventionally, the suspension hole 12 is caulked and fixed to the carriage arm 10 by using the metal ball 20 to spread the spacer hole 12b. Due to the balance between the inner diameter of the spacer hole 12b and the spacer hole 12b, there arises a problem that the spacer 12a is deformed by the caulking stress acting on the spacer 12a and the suspension 12 is displaced from the reference position. That is, when the suspension 12 is caulked and fixed to the carriage arm 10, the flatness of the spacer portion 12a may be deteriorated and the suspension 12 may be inclined from the reference angle. The inclination of the suspension 12 affects the flying height of the magnetic head 14 from the surface of the recording medium, and the flying height of the magnetic head 14 from the surface of the recording medium varies.

Recent magnetic disk devices have become extremely large in capacity, and accordingly, the flying height of the magnetic head from the surface of the recording medium has been suppressed. For this reason, the variation in the flying height of the magnetic head greatly affects the read / write characteristics of information, and in order to obtain the required characteristics, it is required to suppress the variation in the flying height of the magnetic head.
Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve these problems, and the object of the present invention is to allow the suspension to be accurately attached to the carriage arm without deforming it, thereby varying the flying characteristics of the magnetic head. It is an object of the present invention to provide a carriage assembly assembling method and an assembling apparatus capable of assembling a carriage assembly having a good read / write characteristic of information.

The present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve the above object.
That is, in the method of assembling a carriage assembly assembled by connecting the suspension of the magnetic disk device to the distal end portion of the plurality of carriage arms, and a fitting hole provided in the carriage arm, spacer hole provided in the spacer portion of the suspension The suspension is assembled to the carriage arm, a gap support plate for supporting the carriage arm at a predetermined interval is inserted between the adjacent carriage arms, and the pressurizing plates are applied to both end surfaces of the plurality of carriage arms. An ultrasonic horn having an action portion in which a maximum outer diameter dimension is larger than an inner diameter dimension of the spacer hole in a state where the carriage arm, the suspension, and the gap support plate are clamped by a pressure plate. Use the suspension to pass the working part through the spacer hole Characterized by fixing the ® on to the carriage arm.
In addition, a plurality of working parts having outer diameters larger than the spacer holes of the suspension are gradually increased from the front end side of the horn to the working part having the outer diameter of the final caulking diameter in the axial direction. By using an ultrasonic horn provided in an arrangement having a diameter, the suspension can be securely fixed to the carriage arm without damaging the suspension .

Further, in the method of assembling a carriage assembly assembled by connecting the suspension of the magnetic disk device to the distal end portion of the plurality of carriage arms, and a fitting hole provided in the carriage arm, spacer hole provided in the spacer portion of the suspension The suspension is assembled to the carriage arm, a gap support plate for supporting the carriage arm at a predetermined interval is inserted between the adjacent carriage arms, and the pressurizing plates are applied to both end surfaces of the plurality of carriage arms. In a state where the carriage arm, the suspension, and the gap support plate are clamped by a pressurizing plate, a metal ball whose outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole is used with an ultrasonic horn. The suspension is passed through the spacer hole and the carriage arm Characterized by fixed. The metal ball is formed separately from the ultrasonic horn. The metal ball passes through the spacer hole by the action of the ultrasonic wave, and the suspension is fixed to the carriage arm.

Further, in a carriage assembly assembling apparatus in which a suspension of a magnetic disk device is coupled to the tip portions of a plurality of carriage arms, an ultra-compact device having a working portion whose maximum outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole. The sonic horn, the fitting hole provided in the carriage arm, and the spacer hole provided in the spacer portion of the suspension are aligned, the suspension is assembled to the carriage arm, and the carriage is placed between the adjacent carriage arms. In a state where a gap support plate for supporting the arms at a predetermined interval is inserted, pressurizing plates are brought into contact with both end surfaces of the plurality of carriage arms, and the carriage arm, the suspension, and the gap support plate are clamped by the pressurizing plates. The ultrasonic horn is oscillated in a direction parallel to the clamping direction by the pressurizing plate. Is allowed, the assembling apparatus of the carriage assembly, characterized in that a control unit of the ultrasonic horn by passing said working portion to the spacer hole to secure the suspension carriage arm.

  According to the carriage assembly assembling method and the assembling apparatus according to the present invention, when assembling the carriage assembly by fixing the suspension to the carriage arm, it is possible to assemble while suppressing the deformation of the suspension. It is possible to assemble a carriage assembly that suppresses variations and has good read / write characteristics of recorded data.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a method of assembling a carriage assembly according to the present invention. The carriage assembly assembling method of this embodiment is characterized in that the suspension 12 is fixed to the carriage arm 10 using ultrasonic vibration.
In FIG. 1, the shapes of the carriage arm 10 and the suspension 12 are the same as those of the conventional example described above. That is, a fitting hole 10 a is provided at the tip of the carriage arm 10, and a spacer hole 12 b that fits into the fitting hole 10 a is provided in the spacer portion 12 a provided at the base of the suspension 12.

When the suspension 12 is attached to the carriage arm 10, the spacer 12 b is aligned with the fitting hole 10 a and the suspension 12 is assembled to the tip of the carriage arm 10, and then the action portion 30 formed in a ball shape at the tip. The suspension 12 is fixed to the carriage arm 10 through the spacer hole 12b while ultrasonically vibrating the ultrasonic horn 32 provided with the shaft in the axial direction (longitudinal direction).
The outer diameter of the action portion 30 provided at the tip of the ultrasonic horn 32 is about several μm larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole 12b, like the metal ball 20 used in the assembly of the conventional carriage assembly. Is set to

  In this embodiment, when the suspension 12 is coupled to the carriage arm 10, the axis of the ultrasonic horn 32 is aligned with the center position of each spacer hole 12 b, and ultrasonic vibration (20 The ultrasonic horn 32 is lowered from the upper carriage arm 10 toward the lower carriage arm 10 while acting on the spacer hole 12b of the suspension 12 assembled to each carriage arm 10. 30 is passed. The moving operation of the ultrasonic horn 32 is automatically controlled by a control unit such as a robot.

  When the action part 30 of the ultrasonic horn 32 is passed through the spacer hole 12b of the suspension 12 assembled to each carriage arm 10, when the action part 30 passes through the spacer hole 12b, the inner peripheral edge of the spacer hole 12b. The caulking portion 13 provided on the carriage 12 is plastically deformed, and the suspension 12 is fixedly attached to each carriage arm 10. FIG. 1 shows a state in which only one suspension 12 is attached to the carriage arm 10 for the sake of explanation. Actually, however, two suspensions are arranged at the tip of each carriage arm 10 so that the tip is sandwiched in the thickness direction. 12 is attached.

In the case where the suspension 12 is fixed to the carriage arm 10 using the ultrasonic horn 32 of this embodiment, the ultrasonic vibration stress by the ultrasonic horn 32 and the static stress that the action part 30 pushes the caulking part are generated. By acting in a superimposed manner, the deformation resistance can be reduced, and the average machining force can be reduced by a high-speed repeated impact, so that the deformation of the fixed portion of the suspension 12 and the carriage arm 10 can be suppressed and fixed. There are advantages.
When the suspension 12 was actually caulked and fixed to the carriage arm 10 using the ultrasonic horn 32, the variation in the flatness of the spacer portion 12a could be reduced to about ½ of the conventional product.

FIG. 2 shows another assembling method for assembling the carriage assembly using the ultrasonic horn 32.
The carriage assembly assembling method shown in FIG. 2 is characterized in that the action portion 30 provided at the tip of the ultrasonic horn 32 is formed in a tapered surface shape having a small diameter on the tip side, and a plurality of action portions are provided. To do. When the outer peripheral surface of the action part 30 is formed in a tapered surface shape, the distal end side of the action part 30 is smaller than the final caulking diameter, and the final caulking diameter is a part where the action part 30 finally passes through the spacer hole 12b. Set to be. The final caulking diameter is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole 12b.

  Note that, in the illustrated ultrasonic horn 32, the first action part 30a and the second action part 30b having an outer peripheral surface formed in a tapered shape are connected in the axial direction. The outer diameter dimension of the part having the maximum diameter in the first action part 30a is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter dimension of the spacer hole 12b, whereas the outer diameter part of the part having the maximum diameter is set in the second action part 30b. The diameter is set to the final caulking diameter of the spacer hole 12b. When the caulking operation is performed using the ultrasonic horn 32 in which a plurality of action portions 30 are formed in this way, first, after the first caulking operation is performed by the first action portion 30a, the second action portion is performed. The final caulking is fixed by 30b.

  In this way, when using the ultrasonic horn 32 provided with a plurality of action portions that gradually increase in diameter from the action portion formed to have a small diameter to the action portion having an outer diameter size that is the final caulking diameter, There is an advantage that the suspension 12 can be fixed without applying a large stress to the suspension 12 as compared with the case where the single action portion 30 is used. That is, according to this method, the stress acting on the spacer portion 12 a of the suspension 12 can be reduced, the deformation of the suspension 12 can be suppressed, and the suspension 12 can be securely fixed to the carriage arm 10.

  When the action portions 30 provided in the ultrasonic horn 32 are formed in a plurality of stages, the shape of each action portion 30 is not limited to the outer peripheral surface as shown in FIG. An appropriate shape such as a shape can be selected. Further, the action portions 30 having different shapes such as a tapered surface shape and a spherical shape may be mixed and provided. Further, the number of action portions 30 provided in the ultrasonic horn 32 is not limited to two and three, and can be further increased. If the action part 30 provided in the ultrasonic horn 32 is spherical or elliptical, a caulking force acts only when passing through a point having the maximum diameter (only one point). Thereby, the stress due to caulking can be minimized.

  In FIG. 2, in order to further suppress deformation that occurs when the suspension 12 is fixed to the carriage arm 10, a gap holding plate 36 is inserted between the adjacent carriage arms 10, and the gaps between the opposite end surfaces of the carriage arms 10 arranged side by side are inserted. The suspension 12 is fixed to the carriage arm 10 using an ultrasonic horn 32 in a state of being sandwiched between the pressurizing plates 37a and 37b. The pressurizing plates 37a and 37b are sandwiched from both sides by a supporting jig and apply a pressurizing force to a fixing portion between the carriage arm 10 and the suspension 12 by a pressurizing mechanism. The gap holding plate 36 is inserted and set between adjacent carriage arms 10 by a gap holding plate insertion mechanism.

  By mounting the gap holding plate 36 between the adjacent carriage arms 10, deformation of the suspension 12 fixed to the carriage arm 10 can be suppressed, and the pressurizing plates 37a and 37b can be interposed via the gap holding plate 36. By pressurizing the spacer portion 12a, the suspension 12 can be fixed to the carriage arm 10 while suppressing deformation of the spacer portion 12a and the suspension 12.

  As in the above-described embodiments, when the suspension 12 is caulked and fixed to the carriage arm 10 using the ultrasonic horn 32 provided with the action portion 30, the conventional method using a metal ball is used. Compared with the case where the metal ball is disposable for each caulking operation, the working efficiency can be greatly improved. Further, in the case of the conventional method, the metal ball 20 is moved slowly so as not to cause the suspension 12 to be deformed. However, when the ultrasonic horn 32 is used for caulking and fixing, the ultrasonic horn is used. Even if 32 is moved relatively fast, the suspension 12 can be fixed without being deformed, and this also makes it possible to improve the working efficiency.

FIG. 3 shows still another assembling method for assembling the carriage assembly using the ultrasonic horn 32.
This assembly method of the carriage assembly is characterized in that a conventionally used metal ball 20 is passed through the spacer hole 12b using an ultrasonic horn 32. The metal ball 20 is the same as the metal ball 20 used in the assembly of the conventional carriage assembly. In FIG. 3, the gap holding plate 36 is inserted between the adjacent carriage arms 10, the pressurizing plates 37 a and 37 b are brought into contact with both end surfaces of the carriage arm 10, and the carriage arm 10 is supported while being sandwiched from both sides. It shows the state.

  The ultrasonic horn 32 is subjected to ultrasonic vibration in the axial direction (longitudinal direction), and the metal ball 20 is less affected by the action of the ultrasonic horn 32 than the conventional method when the caulking is fixed to the spacer portion 12a. It is possible to prevent the suspension 12 from being deformed when the suspension 12 is attached to the carriage arm 10 and to fix the suspension 12 to the carriage arm 10 with higher accuracy.

  In the present embodiment, the end face of the ultrasonic horn 32 is formed as a conical surface so that the metal ball 20 is aligned with the axial center position. When the metal ball 20 and the ultrasonic horn 32 are formed separately as in the present embodiment, the position of the metal ball 20 can be displaced with respect to the ultrasonic horn 32, so that the suspension 12 is positioned on the carriage arm 10. Even in a case where the assembly is shifted, the metal ball 20 moves following the fitting hole 10a of the carriage assembly 10, and the suspension 12 can be fixed at a proper position. Also in this case, since the metal ball 20 and the ultrasonic horn 32 are separated, the suspension 12 and the ultrasonic horn 32 are not damaged and dust generation can be suppressed.

As described above, in the case of the method in which the suspension 12 is caulked and fixed to the carriage arm 10 by applying ultrasonic vibration to the metal ball 20, the suspension 12 is compared with the case where the ultrasonic horn 32 and the action portion 30 are integrally formed. The suspension 12 can be fixed to the carriage arm 10 easily corresponding to the displacement of the assembly position, and damage at the time of caulking and fixing can be mitigated to enable high-precision caulking and fixing.
In the case of the present embodiment using the metal ball 20, the metal ball 20 is disposable for each caulking operation, and therefore it is necessary to set a new metal ball 20 for each caulking operation.

(Supplementary Note 1) In a method for assembling a carriage assembly in which a suspension of a magnetic disk device is assembled by coupling to a tip end portion of a carriage arm, a fitting hole provided in the carriage arm and a spacer hole provided in a spacer portion of the suspension And the suspension is assembled to the carriage arm, and an ultrasonic horn having an action part whose maximum outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole is used. To assemble the carriage assembly, the suspension being fixed to the carriage arm.
(Supplementary note 2) A plurality of working parts having outer diameters larger than the spacer holes of the suspension are gradually stepped from the tip end side of the horn to the working part having the outer diameter of the final caulking diameter in the axial direction. The method of assembling a carriage assembly according to appendix 1, wherein an ultrasonic horn provided in an arrangement having a large diameter is used.
(Additional remark 3) The assembly method of the carriage assembly of Additional remark 2 characterized by using the ultrasonic horn in which the some action part is formed spherically.
(Supplementary Note 4) between adjacent carriage arm, while inserted between gap supporting plate for supporting the carriage arm at predetermined intervals, using an ultrasonic horn, and wherein the securing the suspension carriage arm A method of assembling the carriage assembly according to appendix 1, 2 or 3.
(Supplementary Note 5) The suspension is fixed to the carriage arm using an ultrasonic horn in a state where the carriage arm is sandwiched between and supported by the pressurizing mechanism between both ends of the carriage arms arranged side by side. 5. A method for assembling the carriage assembly according to 4.
(Supplementary Note 6) In a method for assembling a carriage assembly in which a suspension of a magnetic disk device is assembled by connecting to a tip portion of a carriage arm, a fitting hole provided in the carriage arm and a spacer hole provided in a spacer portion of the suspension And the suspension is assembled to the carriage arm, and a metal ball having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole is passed through the spacer hole using an ultrasonic horn to move the suspension to the carriage arm. A method for assembling a carriage assembly, wherein the carriage assembly is fixed to an arm.
(Additional remark 7) In the assembly apparatus of the carriage assembly assembled by connecting the suspension of the magnetic disk device to the tip end portion of the carriage arm, an ultra-compact device provided with an action portion whose maximum outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole. The sonic horn, the fitting hole provided in the carriage arm, and the spacer hole provided in the spacer portion of the suspension are aligned, and the suspension hole is assembled to the carriage arm, and the action is applied to the spacer hole. An assembly device for a carriage assembly, comprising: an ultrasonic horn control section for passing the section and fixing the suspension to the carriage arm.
(Supplementary Note 8) The ultrasonic horn has a plurality of working parts having an outer diameter dimension larger than the spacer hole of the suspension, and the outer diameter dimension is the final caulking diameter in the axial direction from the distal end side of the horn. 8. The carriage assembly assembling apparatus according to appendix 7, wherein the assembly is provided so as to gradually increase in diameter to the action portion.
(Supplementary note 9) The carriage assembly assembling apparatus according to Supplementary note 7, wherein the action portion provided in the ultrasonic horn is formed in a spherical shape.
(Supplementary Note 10) of the carriage assembly according Appendix 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises between Suki holding plate insertion mechanism for inserting between Suki support plate for supporting the carriage arm at a predetermined interval between the adjacent carriage arm Assembly equipment.
(Supplementary note 11) The carriage assembly assembling apparatus according to supplementary note 10, further comprising a pressurizing mechanism for pressing the carriage arm between both ends of the carriage arms arranged side by side.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly method of the carriage assembly which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other assembly method of a carriage assembly. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other assembly method of a carriage assembly. It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of a carriage assembly. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional method of assembling a carriage assembly. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action which assembles a carriage assembly using a metal ball.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Carriage arm 10a Fitting hole 12 Suspension 12a Spacer part 12b Spacer hole 13 Caulking part 14 Magnetic head 20 Metal ball 22 Pressurizing shaft 30, 30a, 30b Action part 32 Ultrasonic horn 34 Vibrator 36 Gap holding plate 37a, 37b Pressure plate

Claims (5)

In a method of assembling a carriage assembly in which a suspension of a magnetic disk device is assembled by connecting to the tip portions of a plurality of carriage arms,
Positioning the fitting hole provided in the carriage arm and the spacer hole provided in the spacer portion of the suspension, the suspension is assembled to the carriage arm,
Insert a gap support plate that supports the carriage arm at a predetermined interval between adjacent carriage arms,
In a state in which a pressure plate is brought into contact with both end faces of the plurality of carriage arms and the carriage arm, the suspension, and the gap support plate are clamped by the pressure plate, the maximum outer diameter dimension is larger than the inner diameter dimension of the spacer hole. A method for assembling a carriage assembly, comprising: using an ultrasonic horn having an action portion having a large diameter, passing the action portion through the spacer hole, and fixing a suspension to a carriage arm.   A plurality of working parts having outer diameters larger than the spacer holes of the suspension gradually increase in diameter from the tip end side of the horn to the working part having the outer diameter of the final caulking diameter in the axial direction. 2. The method of assembling a carriage assembly according to claim 1, wherein an ultrasonic horn provided in an arrangement is used. In a method of assembling a carriage assembly in which a suspension of a magnetic disk device is assembled by connecting to the tip portions of a plurality of carriage arms,
Positioning the fitting hole provided in the carriage arm and the spacer hole provided in the spacer portion of the suspension, the suspension is assembled to the carriage arm,
Insert a gap support plate that supports the carriage arm at a predetermined interval between adjacent carriage arms,
In a state where the pressurizing plates are brought into contact with both end surfaces of the plurality of carriage arms and the carriage arm, the suspension, and the gap support plate are clamped by the pressurizing plates, the outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole. A method for assembling a carriage assembly, comprising: passing a metal ball having a diameter through the spacer hole using an ultrasonic horn to fix the suspension to a carriage arm. The method of assembling a carriage assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a vibration direction of the ultrasonic horn and a pressing direction by the pressurizing plate are parallel. In an assembly apparatus for a carriage assembly that assembles a suspension of a magnetic disk device by connecting to the tip portions of a plurality of carriage arms,
An ultrasonic horn provided with a working portion whose maximum outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the spacer hole;
The engagement hole provided in the carriage arm and the spacer hole provided in the spacer portion of the suspension are aligned, the suspension is assembled to the carriage arm, and the carriage arm is spaced a predetermined distance between the adjacent carriage arms. The pressure support plate is inserted in a state where the pressure support plate is inserted into the both ends of the plurality of carriage arms and the carriage arm, the suspension and the space support plate are clamped by the pressure plate. And an ultrasonic horn control unit that vibrates the ultrasonic horn in a direction parallel to the pinching direction by and passes the action portion through the spacer hole to fix the suspension to the carriage arm. Assembly device for carriage assembly.

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