JP4761480B2 - Magnetic head suspension - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic head suspension for supporting a magnetic head for reading and / or writing data on a storage medium such as a hard disk.

In recent years, data storage devices that read data from and / or write data to a recording medium using a magnetic head have been widely used in mobile devices such as notebook personal computers and portable music players. Higher shock resistance has been demanded for the magnetic head suspension that supports the head.
In other words, the magnetic head suspension is desired to prevent the magnetic head from damaging the disk surface as much as possible when the data storage device is dropped on the ground in the operating state. .

For example, when an impact force is applied in the direction in which the magnetic head is brought closer to the disk surface to the data storage device in operation, the magnetic head is moved by the air film existing between the magnetic head and the disk surface. Collision with the disk surface can be avoided to some extent.
However, when an impact force of a certain magnitude or more is applied to the data storage device in operation in the direction of separating the magnetic head from the disk surface, the magnetic head jumps in the direction of separating from the disk surface. When jumping back and forth, the magnetic head may collide with the disk surface, and the disk surface and the magnetic head may be damaged.

  Therefore, in order to improve the impact resistance of the data storage device, it is possible to prevent the magnetic head from performing a jumping action as much as possible by an impact force applied from the outside. It is necessary to increase the acceleration (limit acceleration) of the impact force that causes the jumping motion of the head as much as possible.

The magnetic head is supported by a magnetic head suspension attached to the data storage device.
Specifically, the magnetic head suspension includes a load bending portion that generates a load for pressing the magnetic head toward the disk surface, a load beam portion for transmitting the load to the magnetic head, and the load bending. A support portion that supports the load beam portion via a portion, and a flexure portion that has a head mounting region on which the magnetic head is mounted and is welded to the load beam portion.

For example, it is possible to increase the limit acceleration by increasing the load generated by the load bending portion.
However, the load needs to be set in an appropriate range in order to control the flying height of the magnetic head on the disk surface. Therefore, the method of raising the limit acceleration by increasing the load naturally has a limit.

Further, the limit acceleration can be increased by reducing the inertial force applied to the load beam portion when an impact force is applied by reducing the mass of the load beam portion.
However, in order to reduce the mass of the load beam portion, it is necessary to reduce the plate thickness of the load beam portion and / or to form a hole in the load beam portion. There is a problem in that the rigidity of the portion is lowered, and thereby the vibration characteristics and the load / unload characteristics are deteriorated.

As another configuration for suppressing the jumping motion of the magnetic head when an impact force is applied, a configuration is proposed in which an extension portion extending from the portion joined to the load bending portion to the base end side is provided in the load beam portion. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 to 4 below).
In this configuration, by making the mass of the portion positioned on the distal end side of the load bending portion of the load beam portion and the mass positioned on the proximal end side of the load bending portion as much as possible, It suppresses the jumping operation of the magnetic head when an impact force is applied, and is useful in that it does not cause a decrease in rigidity of the load beam portion.

However, in the magnetic head suspensions described in these patent documents, the load beam portion is joined to the free end portion of the load bending portion in a state where the load beam portion is cantilevered by the support portion. In this configuration, when an impact force is applied, the support point of the load beam portion (that is, the junction point of the load beam portion and the load bending portion) greatly fluctuates in a direction perpendicular to the disk surface.
Therefore, although the magnetic head suspension described in each of the patent documents does not cause a problem that the rigidity of the load beam portion is reduced, the limit acceleration cannot be sufficiently increased.

Further, the magnetic head suspension is a member that moves the magnetic head at high speed in a radial direction (seek direction) on a storage medium such as a hard disk in accordance with driving of an actuator, and accurately positions the magnetic head on a target track. Therefore, it is desired to improve vibration characteristics, particularly vibration characteristics in the seek direction parallel to the disk surface (that is, increase the resonance frequency of the SWAY mode).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-082052 JP-A-11-039808 JP 2004-348804 A JP 2005-174506 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a magnetic head suspension capable of improving both impact resistance and vibration characteristics in the seek direction.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a load bending portion for generating a load for pressing the magnetic head toward the disk surface, a load beam portion for transmitting the load to the magnetic head, and the load. A magnetic head suspension comprising a support portion for supporting the load beam portion via a bending portion, and a flexure portion having a head mounting region for supporting the magnetic head and welded to the load beam portion, The support portions are a pair of support pieces that extend from the body region and from both sides in the width direction of the body region to the distal end side and define a recess that opens to the distal end side between the body region and the longitudinal center line of the magnetic head suspension A pair of support pieces that are symmetrical with respect to each other, and the magnetic head suspension includes an elastic plate that is supported at both ends by the pair of support pieces, and the elastic plate includes the pair of support pieces. First and second support portion contact areas that are in contact with the support pieces and are welded at appropriate welding points, and loads that are in contact with the load beam portion and are welded at appropriate weld points in the recesses. A beam portion contact region, and first and second extending regions that connect the load beam portion contact region and the first and second support member contact regions, respectively. The second extending region is configured to act as the load bending portion by being twisted and elastically deformed around a load bending center line along the width direction of the magnetic head suspension, and the load beam portion contact region is configured to act as the magnetic field suspension portion. It has a central region relates longitudinal position of the head suspension corresponding to the first and second extension region, and a tip region extending distally from the central region, the tip region, at least the longitudinal Provided is a magnetic head suspension that is welded to both a load beam substrate that forms the load beam portion and a flexure substrate that forms the flexure portion at a pair of first welding points that are symmetrical with respect to a center line in the direction. .

Good Mashiku, the flexure substrate is contact with the load beam substrate and a load beam portion contacting region to be welded in the proper welding point, the support from the load beam portion contacting region of the pair extending distally And a head mounting region connected to the free ends of the pair of support pieces and mounting the magnetic head, and the load beam portion abutting region beyond the load beam substrate and out of the width direction of the magnetic head suspension. A pair of widened regions extending in the direction, and the elastic plate magnetically extends from the tip region of the load beam portion contact region beyond the load beam substrate so as to be able to contact the pair of widened regions. A pair of outward extending regions extending outward in the head suspension width direction may be provided.
The pair of outwardly extending regions and the pair of widened regions are welded to each other at a pair of second welding points that are symmetrical with respect to at least the longitudinal center line.

More preferably, the flexure substrate extends from the both sides in the width direction of the load beam portion contact area to the proximal end side, and a support portion contact region that is contacted with the support portion and is welded at an appropriate welding point. A pair of bridge regions connected to the support portion contact region, the pair of bridge regions being symmetric with respect to the longitudinal center line.
The base end side of the load beam portion contact area in the flexure substrate is a central base end extending part extending from the load bending center line to the base end side in the center of the magnetic head suspension width direction, and the pair of bridge areas. There may be a pair of transition portions extending from both sides of the magnetic head suspension width direction to the base end side so as to be connected to each other, and a pair of transition portions that are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line.
The central proximal end extending portion is welded to both the load beam substrate and the elastic plate at one or more third welding points arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line.
A space between the central proximal end extending portion and the pair of transition portions is a concave shape that opens toward the proximal end in a plan view, and the concave distal end side is positioned on the load bending center line.

  In the various configurations, the magnetic head suspension is preferably an equilibrium mass body fixed to the load beam substrate so as to be located on the base end side with respect to the load bending center line and to be located in the concave portion in a plan view. Can be provided.

  More preferably, the balanced mass has a bent portion along the width direction of the magnetic head suspension, and the bent portion is arranged such that a region closer to the base end side from the bent portion moves away from the disk surface as going to the base end side. Bend at.

  According to the magnetic head suspension of the present invention, the first and second support portion contact areas that are in contact with the pair of support pieces in the support portion and are welded at appropriate welding points, and the pair of support pieces. A load beam portion contact area that is in contact with the load beam portion and is welded at an appropriate welding point, the load beam portion contact area, and the first and second support portion contact areas. An elastic plate having first and second extending regions that are connected to each other and that are torsionally elastically deformed around a load bending center line along the magnetic head suspension width direction. Since the magnetic head is configured to act as a load bending portion that generates a load for pressing the magnetic head toward the disk surface, the load beam portion and the load are applied when an impact force is applied. The junction point between the bent portion is changed in a direction perpendicular to the disk surface can be effectively prevented, thereby making it possible to improve impact resistance.

Further, according to the magnetic head suspension according to the present invention, the load beam portion contact area in the elastic plate has a central area corresponding to the first and second extending areas with respect to a longitudinal position of the magnetic head suspension, and A load beam that forms the load beam portion at a pair of first welding points that are symmetrical with respect to at least the longitudinal center line. It is welded to both the substrate and the flexure substrate forming the flexure portion, and the flexure substrate is configured to also act as a reinforcing member that reinforces the rigidity of the load beam substrate. Therefore, it is possible to improve the rigidity in the seek direction of the portion of the magnetic head suspension located on the tip side of the load bending center line without increasing the mass (that is, increasing the resonance frequency of the SWWAY mode). Can be made).

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a magnetic head suspension according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1A and 1B are a top view (viewed from the side opposite to the disk surface) and a bottom view (viewed from the disk surface side) of the magnetic head suspension 1 according to the present embodiment, respectively. Figure).
FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a portion II in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic head suspension 1 includes a load bending portion 20 that generates a load for pressing the magnetic head 100 toward the disk surface, and a load for transmitting the load to the magnetic head 100. A load beam portion 30, a support portion 10 that supports the load beam portion 30 via the load bending portion 20, and a head mounting region 43 that supports the magnetic head 100 are welded to the load beam portion 30. The flexure unit 40 is provided.

The support portion 10 is a member for supporting the load beam portion 30 via the load bending portion 20, and has a relatively high rigidity.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the support portion 10 is an arm whose base end portion is coupled to the rotation center of the actuator. Alternatively, the support portion 10 may be a base plate provided with a boss portion that is joined to the tip of the carriage arm by swaging.
The support part 10 is preferably formed by a stainless plate having a thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, for example.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support portion 10 has a tip from both sides in the width direction so as to define a recess 13 that opens to the tip side in the center in the width direction of the magnetic head suspension 1. It has a pair of support piece 12 extended to the side.
That is, the support portion 10 includes a flat plate-like main body region 11 whose base end portion is directly or indirectly connected to the actuator, and the pair extending from the both ends in the width direction at the front end portion of the main body region 11 to the front end side. And the recess 13 is defined between the pair of support pieces 12.

As described above, the load beam portion 30 is a member for transmitting the load generated by the load bending portion 20 to the magnetic head 100, and therefore a predetermined rigidity is required.
The load beam portion 30 is formed by a load beam substrate 130 formed into a predetermined shape.

  The rigidity of the load beam portion 30 is ensured by making the plate thickness of the load beam substrate 130 larger than the plate thickness of the following elastic plate 60 that forms the load bending portion 20 and the flexure substrate 140 that forms the flexure portion 40. And / or by providing flange portions 35 on both side edges of the load beam substrate 130 so that the load beam substrate 130 has the same thickness as the flexure substrate 140 and the load beam portion 30. It is also possible to ensure the rigidity.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the flange portions 35 are provided on both side edges of the load beam substrate 130, thereby reducing the thickness of the load beam substrate 130. The rigidity of the load beam portion 30 is ensured while making it as thin as possible.
The load beam substrate 130 is, for example, a stainless steel plate having a thickness of about 0.015 mm to 0.1 mm.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a projection 31 called a so-called dimple is provided at the tip of the load beam portion 30.
The protrusion 31 protrudes, for example, about 0.04 mm to 0.08 mm in a direction close to the disk surface. The protrusion 31 is in contact with the back surface (the surface opposite to the disk surface) of the head mounting area 43 in the flexure section 40, and the load is applied to the head mounting area of the flexure section 40 through the protrusion 31. 43.

The flexure part 40 is a member for supporting the magnetic head 100.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexure section 40 has a head mounting region 43 that supports the magnetic head 100, is in contact with the load beam substrate 130, and is appropriately A wiring integrated type integrally including a flexure substrate 140 to be welded at a welding point, an insulating layer 150 stacked on the flexure substrate 140, and a conductor layer 155 stacked on the insulating layer 150 is provided.

The flexure substrate 140 is, for example, a stainless plate having a thickness of about 0.015 mm to 0.025 mm.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2, the flexure substrate 140 is in contact with the load beam substrate 130 and is welded to the load beam substrate 130 at an appropriate welding point 51. The head on which the magnetic head 100 is mounted, connected to a contact region 141, a pair of support pieces 142 extending from the load beam portion contact region 141 toward the tip side, and free ends of the pair of support pieces 142 And a mounting area 43.

The head mounting area 43 supports the magnetic head 100 on a surface facing the disk surface.
As described above, the protrusion 31 is in contact with the back surface of the head mounting area 43. Accordingly, the head mounting area 43 can flexibly swing in the roll direction and the pitch direction with the protrusion 31 as a fulcrum. It has become.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2, the flexure substrate 140 is further brought into contact with the support portion 10 and is welded at an appropriate welding point 52. The region 144 has a pair of bridge regions 145 that extend from both sides in the width direction of the load beam portion contact region 141 toward the base end side and are connected to the support portion contact region 144.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pair of bridge regions 145 extends into the recess 13 so as to connect the load beam portion contact region 141 and the support portion contact region 144. In addition, the magnetic head suspension 1 is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line CL.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic head suspension 1 further includes an elastic plate 60 that is supported at both ends by the pair of support pieces 12 in the support portion 10. It acts as the load bending portion 20.

FIG. 3A shows an enlarged bottom view of the elastic plate 60.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the elastic plate 60 is in contact with the pair of support pieces 12 and is welded at appropriate welding points 53 (see FIG. 1B). The support portion contact regions 61 and 62, the load beam portion contact region 65 that contacts the load beam portion 30 in the recess 13 and is welded at least at the following pair of first welding points 21, which will be described later. First and second extending regions 71 and 72 that connect the load beam portion contact region 65 and the first and second support portion contact regions 61 and 62, respectively.

  The elastic plate 60 is configured such that the first and second extending regions 71 and 72 are twisted and elastically deformed around a load bending center line BL along the width direction of the magnetic head suspension 1 to generate the load. Has been.

  That is, a torsional elastic deformation operation around the load bending center line BL of the first and second extending regions 71 and 72 in a state where the magnetic head 100 receives air pressure accompanying rotation of the disk surface and floats on the disk surface. The elastic elasticity of the elastic plate 60 generated by the above-described elastic force acts as a pressing load that presses the magnetic head 100 toward the disk surface, and this pressing load balances with the air pressure, so that the magnetic head 100 is on the disk surface in an operating state. To surface.

  The elastic plate 60 is formed of a member that can generate the load by a twisting operation around the load bending center line BL. The elastic plate 60 is preferably formed by a stainless plate having a thickness of about 0.02 mm to 0.1 mm, for example.

  Preferably, the first and second extending regions 71 and 72 of the elastic plate 60 are in contact with the first and second support portions in a state before the magnetic head suspension 1 is mounted on the data storage device. In a state where the regions 61 and 62 are held substantially parallel to the disk surface by the pair of support pieces 12, the leading end side and the base end side in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic head suspension in the load beam portion contact region 65 are with respect to the disk surface. And torsionally deform around the load bending center line BL so as to approach and separate.

  In such a configuration, the magnetic head suspension 1 is in a state where the pair of first and second extending regions 71 and 72 are twisted back around the load bending center line BL to generate a predetermined pressing load. Mounted on a storage device. When the magnetic head suspension is actuated (loaded) to receive air pressure accompanying rotation of the disk surface with the magnetic head 100 positioned on the disk surface, the pair of first and first The magnetic head 100 floats on the disk surface when the pressing load generated by the torsional elastic deformation around the load bending center line BL of the second extending regions 71 and 72 is balanced with the air pressure. Therefore, the control of the pressing load can be stably performed.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elastic plate 60 is located on the disk surface side of the support portion 10.
In other words, the support portion contact areas 61 and 62 are welded and fixed at the welding point 53 in a state of being in contact with the lower surface of the pair of support pieces 12 on the disk surface side.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1A, the load beam substrate 130 is located on the opposite side of the elastic plate 60 from the disk surface, and the flexure substrate 140 is formed as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the load beam substrate 130 and the elastic plate 60 are located on the disk surface side.
That is, the lower surface (the surface on the disk surface side) of the load beam substrate 130 is in contact with the upper surface (the surface on the side opposite to the disk surface) of the load beam portion contact area 65 of the elastic plate 60. .
On the other hand, the upper surface of the flexure substrate 140 is in contact with the lower surface (the surface on the disk surface side) of the load beam substrate 130 in the region where the elastic plate 60 does not exist, and the elastic plate 60 exists. Is in contact with the lower surface of the elastic plate 60 (the surface on the disk surface side).

  Thus, in the magnetic head suspension 1 according to the present embodiment, the elastic plate 60 in a state where both ends are supported is configured to act as the load bending portion 20, thereby achieving the following effects. To get.

That is, the load bending portion in the conventional magnetic head suspension is in the form of a cantilever spring in which the base end portion is supported by a supporting portion such as an arm and the free end portion supports the load beam portion.
In such a conventional configuration, when an impact force is applied from the outside, the support point of the load beam portion (that is, the joint point between the load beam portion and the load bending portion) greatly varies in the direction perpendicular to the disk surface. Therefore, if the load beam portion is lightened without causing a decrease in rigidity, and / or the mass balance of the load beam portion on the front end side and the base end side is performed based on the support point of the load beam portion. However, it is not possible to sufficiently prevent the magnetic head from jumping in the direction perpendicular to the disk surface when an impact force is applied.

On the other hand, in the magnetic head suspension 1 according to the present embodiment, the elastic plate 60 supported at both ends is configured to act as the load bending portion 20.
According to such a configuration, when an impact force is applied from the outside, the support point of the load beam portion 30 (that is, the junction point between the load beam substrate 130 and the elastic plate 60) is orthogonal to the disk surface. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent the magnetic head suspension 1 from jumping, and to suppress the jumping operation of the magnetic head 100 when an impact force is applied, thereby greatly improving the shock resistance of the magnetic head suspension 1.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the first and second extending regions 71 and 72 may have a straight side and a proximal side, but preferably, the first and second extended regions 71 and 72 may be linear. The side on the distal end side and the side on the proximal end side of each of the first and second extending regions 71 and 72 are concave shapes that open to the distal end side and the proximal end side, respectively, in plan view.
By providing such a configuration, the first and second extending regions 71 and 72 can perform a torsional elastic deformation operation around the load bending center line BL without difficulty, thereby reducing load variation (load stability). ) And variation in the spring constant (stabilization of the spring constant) can be achieved.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the side on the distal end side and the side on the proximal end side of the first and second extending regions 71, 72 are respectively the distal end side and the base side in plan view. The curved shape opens to the end side.

  Furthermore, in the magnetic head suspension 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the load beam portion abutment region 65 of the elastic plate 60 is located on the tip side of the load bending center line BL. The portion located is welded to both the load beam substrate 130 and the flexure substrate 140 at least at a pair of first welding points 21 that are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line CL. The main resonance mode is achieved by increasing the rigidity in the seek direction (the direction parallel to the disk surface) of the portion of the magnetic head suspension 1 located on the tip side of the load bending center line BL without deteriorating impact properties. The resonance frequency of the swing mode (SWAY mode) is improved.

  That is, by increasing the thickness of the load beam substrate 130, it is possible to increase the rigidity in the seek direction of the portion of the magnetic head suspension 1 located on the front end side of the load bending center line BL. In the configuration, the mass of the load beam portion 30 is increased, and the impact resistance is deteriorated.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a portion of the elastic plate 60 located on the tip side of the load bending center line BL, the load beam substrate 130, and the flexure substrate 140 in the load beam portion contact region 65. Are welded at a pair of first welding points 21 that are symmetrical with respect to at least the longitudinal center line CL.
According to such a configuration, the flexure substrate 140 also acts as a reinforcing member that reinforces the rigidity of the load beam substrate 130, and thus the magnetic field without increasing the thickness of the load beam substrate 130. It is possible to increase the rigidity in the seek direction of a portion of the head suspension 1 that is located on the tip side of the load bending center line BL.

Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexure substrate 140 has a portion welded to the elastic plate 60 together with the load beam substrate 130 and the load beam portion contact area 141 in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic head suspension. A pair of widened regions 148 extending beyond the load beam substrate 130 from the load beam portion abutting region 141 outward in the width direction of the magnetic head suspension with respect to the front end portion of the magnetic head suspension, with reference to the longitudinal center line CL. A pair of widened regions 148 that are symmetrical with respect to each other.
By providing the pair of widened regions 148, the effect of reinforcing the rigidity in the seek direction by the flexure substrate 140 with respect to the load beam portion 30 can be further improved.

The pair of widened regions 148 can be formed by using, for example, a bridge portion that connects adjacent flexure substrates when a plurality of flexure substrates are formed from a single sheet material.
That is, usually, a plurality of flexure substrates are formed from a single sheet material, and in this case, in order to prevent the flexure substrates from being deformed, adjacent flexure substrates are connected by a bridge portion. A pre-molded body is formed, and then the bridge portion is cut to form the flexure substrate.
In the case of forming the flexure substrate by such a manufacturing method, preferably, the pre-molded body can be formed such that the widened region 148 is formed by the bridge portion after being cut.
According to such a manufacturing method, the flexure substrate 140 having the widened region 148 can be obtained without substantially increasing the number of manufacturing steps.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the flange portions 35 are provided on both side edges of the load beam substrate 130. As shown in FIG. The flexure substrate 140 is bent in a direction away from the disc surface, and the lower surface of the load beam substrate 130 on the disc surface side is in contact with the flexure substrate 140 as shown in FIGS. .
Therefore, the widened region 148 can be provided in the flexure substrate 140 without touching the flange portion 35.

  In the magnetic head suspension 1 according to the present embodiment, the elastic plate 60 easily twists and elastically deforms around the load bending center line BL while strengthening the bonding between the flexure substrate 140 and the load beam substrate 130. The following configuration is further provided so that it can be performed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the base end side of the load beam portion contact area 141 in the flexure substrate 14 is a central base end extending from the load bending center line BL to the base end side in the center of the magnetic head suspension width direction. A pair of transition portions 141b extending from both sides of the magnetic head suspension width direction to the base end side so as to be connected to the pair of bridge regions 145, respectively, on the basis of the longitudinal center line CL. It has a pair of transition parts 141b made symmetrical.

  In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the central proximal end extending portion 141a has one or a plurality of third welding points 25 (in the form shown in the figure) arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line CL. Are welded to both the load beam substrate 130 and the elastic plate 60 at one welding point 25) located on the longitudinal center line CL, whereby the flexure substrate 140 and the load beam substrate 130 are Are firmly joined.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the base end side of the load beam contact region 141 in the flexure substrate 140 has a portion 141c between the central base end side extending portion 141a and the pair of transition portions 141b. It is a concave shape that opens to the proximal end side in a plan view, and the concave distal end side is positioned on the load bending center line BL.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the rigidity of the flexure substrate 140 from adversely affecting the torsional elastic deformation operation around the load bending center line BL of the elastic plate 60 as much as possible.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic head suspension 1 according to the present embodiment is further positioned on the base end side with respect to the load bending center line BL and in the recess 13 in plan view. The balance mass body 200 fixed to the load beam substrate 130 is provided, and thereby, the distal end side with respect to the load bending center line BL of the member supported by the elastic plate 60 acting as the load bending portion 20. In addition, the mass balance on the base end side is achieved.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the load beam substrate 130 includes a distal end region 131 positioned on the distal end side from the load bending center line BL and a proximal end side from the load bending center line BL. And a proximal region 132 located.
The load beam substrate 130 further has a lift tab region 133 extending from the tip region 131 to the tip side. The lift tab area 133 is used when switching between loading / unloading of the magnetic head suspension 1A. That is, when the magnetic head suspension moves in the seek direction so that the magnetic head 100 is located outside the disk surface when the magnetic head suspension 1A is not operated (unloaded), the lift tab region 133 is formed. Engage with a ramp in the data storage device. With such a configuration, it is possible to improve impact resistance when the magnetic head suspension 1A is unloaded.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the balance mass body 200 is positioned on the base end side of the load bending center line BL and in the recess 13 in a plan view. The proximal end region 132 is fixed by welding.
By providing such a balanced mass body 200, the base end region 132 is made as short as possible, and the mass of the portion positioned on the front end side with respect to the load bending center line BL is positioned on the base end side. It is possible to achieve an equilibrium with the mass of the portion, thereby effectively suppressing the jumping operation of the magnetic head when an impact force is applied and improving the impact resistance characteristics.

  Specifically, the balance mass body 200 is in contact with the upper surface of the base end region 132 of the load beam substrate 130 and is welded at appropriate welding points 55 and 56, and the load beam portion abutment region 210. A proximal end extending region 220 extending from the beam portion abutting region 210 to the proximal end side in the recess 13 is provided.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the load beam portion contact area 210 of the balanced mass body 200 is a pair of front end side welds arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line CL. A pair of points 55 welded to both the load beam substrate 130 and the elastic plate 60 and arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line CL on the proximal side of the pair of distal end side welding points 55. Are welded to the load beam substrate 130 at the base end side welding point 56.
The equilibrium mass body 200 may be formed of a metal plate having a thickness of about 0.05 mm to 0.4 mm, for example.

  As described above, the load beam substrate 130 is provided with a pair of flange portions 35 that are bent upward on both sides in the width direction. Therefore, the load beam portion contact area 210 of the balance mass body 200 is welded and fixed between the pair of flange portions 35 while being in contact with the upper surface of the load beam substrate 130. A certain rigidity is ensured at a connection portion between the balance mass body 200 and the load beam substrate 130.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a bottom view (viewed from the disk surface side) and a side view of the balanced mass 200, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the balanced mass body 200 has a bent portion 205 along the magnetic head suspension width direction, and a region on the base end side from the bent portion 205 goes to the base end side. And bent at the bent portion 205 so as to be separated from the disk surface.

  In this way, in the operating state of the magnetic head suspension 1, the balanced mass body 200 is formed so that the region on the base end side from the bent portion 205 moves away from the disk surface as it goes to the base end side. It is possible to effectively prevent the base end side of the balanced mass 200 from colliding with the disk surface when an impact force is applied to bring the balanced mass body 200 closer to the disk surface.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the balanced mass body 200, a region including the bent portion 205 is thinner than other regions.
According to such a configuration, the bending process of the balanced mass body 200 at the bent portion 205 can be performed stably.
The thinning is easily performed, for example, by etching at least one surface (the surface on the disk surface side in the present embodiment) of the portion corresponding to the bent portion 205 in the balanced mass body 200. Can do.

Embodiment 2
Hereinafter, another embodiment of a magnetic head suspension according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
5A and 5B are a top view and a bottom view of the magnetic head suspension 2 according to the second embodiment, respectively.
FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the VI part in FIG.
In the figure, the same members in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The magnetic head suspension 2 according to the present embodiment is different from the magnetic head suspension 1 according to the first embodiment in that the elastic plate 60 is changed to an elastic plate 260.
FIG. 7 shows an enlarged bottom view of the elastic plate 260.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the elastic plate 260 has a load beam portion contact region 65 in addition to a central region 66 corresponding to the first and second extending regions 71 and 72 with respect to the longitudinal position of the magnetic head suspension. Thus, the elastic plate 60 is different from the elastic plate 60 in the first embodiment in that it has a distal end region 67 extending from the central region 66 toward the distal end side.

The pair of first welding points 21 are located in the tip region 67.
That is, the elastic plate 260 is welded to both the load beam substrate 130 and the flexure substrate 140 at the pair of first welding points 21 positioned in the tip region 67 in the load beam portion contact region 65. ing.

  As described above, the load beam contact region 65 of the elastic plate 260 is provided with the tip region 67 extending to the tip side from the first and second extending portions 71 and 72 in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic head suspension, The tip region 67 is welded to both the load beam substrate 130 and the flexure substrate 140 at least at the pair of first welding points 21, so that the tip region 67 is positioned on the tip side of the load bending center line BL in the magnetic head suspension 2. The rigidity in the seek direction of the portion to be performed can be improved more effectively.

  Here, with respect to the magnetic head suspension 2 according to the present embodiment, the analysis result regarding the resonance frequency of the swing mode performed using the finite element method and the analysis regarding the critical acceleration of the impact force causing the jumping motion of the magnetic head 100. The results will be described.

In this analysis, as an example, the magnetic head suspension 2 shown in FIG. 5 includes the flexure substrate 140, the load beam substrate 130, the balance mass body 200, the elastic plate 260, and the support portion 10 all. The magnetic head suspension 2 made of SUS304-HTA and having thicknesses of 0.018 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.03 mm, and 0.3 mm, respectively, was used.
As a comparative example, only the elastic plate 260 and the load beam substrate 130 are welded at the pair of first welding points 21 and the flexure substrate 140 is not welded. It was.

FIG. 8 shows an analysis result (frequency response characteristic) regarding the resonance frequency in the seek direction performed using the example and the comparative example.
Further, in contrast to the embodiment and the comparative example, the magnetic head 100 is a shock wave (sine half wave) in a direction away from the disk surface, and shock waves having pulse widths of 0.5 mmsec, 1.0 msec, and 2.0 msec are applied. In addition to the above, the acceleration (critical speed) of the shock wave that causes the magnetic head 100 to jump was analyzed. The result is shown in FIG.

As is clear from FIGS. 8 and 9, the magnetic head suspension according to the example has a limit acceleration equal to or higher than that of the shock wave of all pulse widths as compared with the magnetic head suspension according to the comparative example. The resonance frequency of the SWAY mode is 11.8 kHz in the magnetic head suspension according to the comparative example, whereas it is 12.5 kHz in the magnetic head suspension according to the embodiment. Is improved by about 700 Hz with respect to the magnetic head suspension according to the comparative example.
This is considered to be due to the flexure substrate 140 acting as a rigidity reinforcing member in the seek direction of the load beam portion 30.

Embodiment 3
Hereinafter, another embodiment of a magnetic head suspension according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 10A and 10B are a top view and a bottom view of the magnetic head suspension 3 according to the third embodiment, respectively.
FIG. 11 shows an enlarged view of the XI portion in FIG.
In the drawing, the same members in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the magnetic head suspension 3 according to the present embodiment includes an elastic plate 360 instead of the elastic plate 260 in the magnetic head suspension 2 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows an enlarged bottom view of the elastic plate 360.
As shown in FIG. 12, the elastic plate 360 includes the first and second support portion contact regions 61 and 62, the load beam portion contact region 65 including the center region 66 and the tip region 67, and A pair of outward extensions extending from the first and second extending regions 71 and 72 and the tip region 67 of the load beam portion contact region 65 to the outside of the magnetic head suspension width direction beyond the load beam substrate 130 And the existing area 75.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the tip region 67 of the load beam portion contact region 65 in the elastic plate 360 is similar to that in the second embodiment, at the pair of first welding points 21. It is welded to both the load beam substrate 130 and the flexure substrate 140.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the pair of outwardly extending regions 75 in the elastic plate 360 is a pair that is symmetrical with respect to at least the longitudinal center line CL. The second welding point 22 is welded to the pair of widened regions 148 in the flexure substrate 140.

  As described above, the elastic plate 360 is provided with the pair of outward extending regions 75 extending beyond the load beam substrate 130 in the width direction of the magnetic head suspension, and the flexure substrate 140 is also provided with the load beam substrate 130. The pair of widened regions 148 extending outward in the width direction of the magnetic head suspension is provided, and the pair of outwardly extending regions 75 and the pair of widened regions 148 are welded at least at the pair of second welding points 22. As a result, the rigidity in the seek direction of the portion of the magnetic head suspension 3 located on the tip side of the load bending center line BL can be further effectively improved.

1A and 1B are respectively a top view (viewed from the side opposite to the disk surface) and a bottom view (viewed from the disk surface side) of the magnetic head suspension according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure). FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part II in FIG. FIG. 3A is an enlarged bottom view of the elastic plate in the magnetic head suspension according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged bottom view of the elastic plate according to the modification. FIGS. 4A and 4B are a bottom view and a side view, respectively, of an equilibrium mass body in the magnetic head suspension shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are a top view and a bottom view, respectively, of the magnetic head suspension according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the VI part in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom view of the elastic plate in the magnetic head suspension according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a graph showing analysis results regarding the resonance frequency in the seek direction for the magnetic head suspension according to the example of the second embodiment and the magnetic head suspension according to the comparative example. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the analysis results regarding the limit acceleration for the magnetic head suspension according to the example and the comparative example. FIGS. 10A and 10B are a top view and a bottom view, respectively, of the magnetic head suspension according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a part XI in FIG. FIG. 12 is an enlarged bottom view of the elastic plate in the magnetic head suspension according to the third embodiment.

1 to 3 Magnetic head suspension 10 Support portion 11 Main body region 12 Support piece 13 Recess 20 Load bending portion 21 Pair of first welding points 22 Pair of second welding points 25 Third welding point 30 Load beam portion 40 Flexure portion 43 Magnetic head Mounting area 51-53 Welding point 60 Elastic plates 61, 62 First and second support part abutting area 65 Load beam part abutting area 66 Central area 67 Tip area 71, 72 First and second extending area 75 Outwardly extending region 130 Load beam substrate 140 Flexure substrate 141 Load beam portion contact region 141a Center proximal end extended portion 141b A pair of transition portions 142 A pair of support pieces 144 A support portion contact region 145 A pair of bridge regions 148 A pair Widening region 200 Balance mass body 205 Bending part CL Longitudinal direction center line BL Load bending center line

Claims (5)

A load bending portion that generates a load for pressing the magnetic head toward the disk surface, a load beam portion for transmitting the load to the magnetic head, and the load beam portion is supported via the load bending portion. A magnetic head suspension having a support part and a flexure part welded to the load beam part, the head mounting region supporting the magnetic head;
The support portions are a pair of support pieces that extend from the body region and from both sides in the width direction of the body region to the distal end side and define a recess that opens to the distal end side between the body region and the longitudinal center line of the magnetic head suspension A pair of support pieces that are symmetric with respect to
The magnetic head suspension includes an elastic plate supported on both ends by the pair of support pieces,
The elastic plate is in contact with the pair of support pieces and is welded at an appropriate welding point and is welded at an appropriate welding point, and the elastic plate is in contact with the load beam portion in the recess. A load beam portion contact region welded at a welding point, and first and second extension regions connecting the load beam portion contact region and the first and second support portion contact regions, respectively. And the first and second extending regions are configured to act as the load bending portion by twisting and elastically deforming around a load bending center line along the width direction of the magnetic head suspension,
The load beam portion abutting region has a central region corresponding to the first and second extending regions with respect to the longitudinal position of the magnetic head suspension, and a distal region extending from the central region to the distal side,
The tip region is welded to both the load beam substrate that forms the load beam portion and the flexure substrate that forms the flexure portion, at least at a pair of first welding points that are symmetric with respect to the center line in the longitudinal direction. Magnetic head suspension characterized by that. The flexure substrate is in contact with the load beam substrate and is welded at an appropriate welding point, a pair of support pieces extending from the load beam portion contact region to the front end side, and the pair And a pair of head mounting areas on which the magnetic head is mounted and a pair extending from the load beam contact area to the outside of the magnetic head suspension width direction beyond the load beam substrate. A widened area,
The elastic plates extend from the tip region of the load beam portion contact region beyond the load beam substrate and extend outward in the width direction of the magnetic head suspension so as to be able to contact the pair of widened regions. Has an area,
The pair of outer extension region and said pair of widening region to claim 1, characterized in that it is welded together at the second welding point symmetrical pair with respect to the at least the longitudinal center line The magnetic head suspension described. The flexure substrate is in contact with the support portion and is welded at an appropriate welding point, and extends from the both sides in the width direction of the load beam portion contact region to the base end side to support the support portion. A pair of bridge regions connected to the contact region, and a pair of bridge regions symmetrical to each other with respect to the longitudinal center line,
The base end side of the load beam portion contact area in the flexure substrate is a central base end extending part extending from the load bending center line to the base end side in the center of the magnetic head suspension width direction, and the pair of bridge areas. A pair of transition portions extending from both sides of the magnetic head suspension width direction so as to be connected to the base end side, and having a pair of transition portions symmetrical to each other with respect to the longitudinal center line,
The central proximal side extending portion is welded to both the load beam substrate and the elastic plate at one or a plurality of third welding points arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line,
Between the center base end side extension portion and the pair of transition portions, a concave shape that opens to the base end side in a plan view,
The magnetic head suspension according to claim 2 , wherein the concave tip end side is located on the load bending center line. From claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the balance mass member fixed to the load beam substrate so as to be positioned in the recess at a position to and viewed on the proximal side of the load bending center line of 3 Any one of the magnetic head suspensions. The balanced mass has a bent portion along the magnetic head suspension width direction, and is bent at the bent portion so that a region closer to the base end side from the bent portion moves away from the disk surface as going to the base end side. The magnetic head suspension according to claim 4 , wherein the magnetic head suspension is provided.

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