JPH0125133B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a magnetic head device that can easily and stably track a recording medium.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

In recent years, the size of magnetic heads in magnetic recording and reproducing devices has been reduced, as exemplified by thin film magnetic heads made using microfabrication technology. Coupled with improvements in the recording characteristics of magnetic recording media and advances in microprocessor technology, digital recording devices with significantly improved quality have been developed. Among such devices, various digital audio tape decks have been developed, for example, which record PCM signals by forming multi-channel tracks on a so-called compact cassette tape.

Such a digital audio tape deck records the PCM signals in parallel by forming a channel of usually 18 to 36 tracks on the magnetic recording tape. The track width of each channel is approximately 50 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m. For this reason,
In order to accurately trace such minute tracks, it is necessary to control the tracking of the magnetic head, taking into consideration variations in the width of the tape itself and compatibility between various tapes and devices.

Therefore, conventionally, a magnetic head device having a structure as shown in FIG. 1 has been considered.

In this device, two leaf springs 1 and 2 are arranged vertically and in parallel to face each other with a support block 3 interposed therebetween, and a head mounting block 4 is clamped to the tips of the leaf springs. A reproduction head 5 made of a thin film head is provided on the front surface of the head mounting block, and a drive plate 6 is provided on one side thereof. This drive plate 6 is connected to the upper end of the drive coil 7a of the voice coil motor 7. Tracking control is performed by driving the voice coil motor 7 based on a tracking error signal or the like to move the reproduction head 5 up and down.

However, the conventional device configured in this manner has the following problems. That is, so-called cassette tapes in which a magnetic recording tape is housed in a cassette case are not sufficiently prevented from moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the tape moves within the cassette case (hereinafter referred to as the tracking direction). For this reason, even if the running position of the tape is mechanically regulated with high precision, it may vary depending on the surface condition of the tape, the presence or absence of pads, internal conditions such as tape tension, and external conditions such as temperature and humidity. During tracking control, a problem occurred in that the tape itself also moved along with the moving playback head 5. As a result, a problem arose in that stable tracking control was not performed.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made to address such problems, and its purpose is to prevent the movement of the recording medium due to tracking control of the magnetic head, and to provide a magnetic recording medium that enables stable tracking. The object of the present invention is to provide a head device.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides a sliding member that slides on a recording medium near a magnetic head whose movement is controlled by a tracking mechanism, and moves this sliding member in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the magnetic head under tracking control. The feature is that it is made to do.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Thus, according to the present invention, when the magnetic head is tracking, the sliding member moves in the opposite direction to the magnetic head, so that the force exerted by the magnetic head on the recording medium in the tracking direction is offset. Therefore, even if tracking control is performed by moving the magnetic head, the recording medium will not move in the tracking direction accordingly.
Stable tracking becomes possible. In addition, since the configuration is simple, it is highly practical and provides great effects that cannot be expected from conventional devices.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This device includes a reproducing head 11 that is a magnetic head main body, a sliding member 12 that is provided near the reproducing head 11 and slidingly contacts the tape, and a sliding member 12 and the reproducing head 11. It is comprised of a tracking mechanism 13 that supports the respective tapes and controls the movement of the sliding contact positions of the reproducing head 11 and the sliding contact member 12 with respect to the tape.

The reproducing head 11 is located between two non-magnetic substrates.
18 tracks of MR elements (variable magnetoresistive elements)
are laminated, and the end faces of the laminated layers are polished for curvature. Further, the sliding contact member 12 is connected to the reproducing head 1.
It is formed in the same shape as 1.

The tracking mechanism 13 is connected to the reproduction head 11.
and a support portion 14 that supports the sliding contact member 12, respectively.
A first voice coil motor 15 that drives the reproduction head 11 in the vertical direction in the figure, and a second voice coil motor 16 that drives the sliding contact member 12 in the vertical direction in the figure are mounted on a support base 17. It is configured by placing it on. Further, the support portion 14 has two leaf springs 18 and 19 arranged in parallel in the vertical direction and two leaf springs 20 and 21 arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. The rear end portion is supported by support blocks 22 and 23.

The tracking mechanism 13 having such a structure has the reproducing head 1 attached to the tips of the leaf springs 18 and 19.
1 is supported with its curved surface facing forward, and the sliding member 12 is supported at the tip of the leaf springs 20 and 21.
is supported with its curved surface facing forward. These reproducing head 11 and sliding contact member 12 are provided with voice coil motors 1 and 12 provided at the bottom thereof, respectively.
5 and 16, and are driven to move in parallel in the vertical direction.

The magnetic head device constructed as described above is used by bringing the curvature surfaces of the reproducing head 11 and sliding contact member 12 into sliding contact with a magnetic tape (not shown). This magnetic tape is driven to run in the left and right directions in the figure. However, the control head of the playback head 11 is
Control signals are detected from control tracks on the magnetic tape. A tracking servo circuit (not shown) uses this control signal to generate first and second tracking error signals having opposite phases to each other.
S ₁ and S ₂ are generated, and these S ₁ and S ₂ are sent to voice coil motors 15 and 16, respectively. As a result, the reproducing head 11 and the sliding member 12 are moved in opposite directions. At this time, the moving forces that the magnetic tape receives from the reproducing head 11 and the sliding contact member 12 in the tracking direction are in opposite directions and are exactly canceled out, so that the magnetic tape does not move in the tracking direction. Therefore, by this movement, the reproducing head 11 is accurately positioned on the recording track, that is, the reproducing head 11 is accurately tracked.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a front configuration view thereof.

This device consists of a frame 31 with a hinge structure at the four corners.
The reproducing head 11 and the sliding contact member 1 are placed on opposite sides of the
2, the frame 31 is supported by a support plate 32 with the center points of the upper and lower sides of the frame 31 as fulcrums, and the playback head 11 and sliding contact member 12 are rotated upside down. It has a structure that allows for parallel movement.

That is, the frame 31 is made of flexible film 3.
Four outer panels 39, 40, 41, 42 are attached to the outer surface of 8 to form a square shape, and the outer panels 39, 4 are made into a rectangular shape.
Inner plates 43, 44, 45, and 46 are attached to the inside of the film 38, respectively, facing the film 38. These inner plates 43, 44, 45,
Each end of 46 is tapered, and the above-described hinge structure is realized by the flexible film 38 sandwiched between the outer plate and the inner plate. V-shaped grooves 43a and 45a are provided in the center portions of the upper and lower inner plates 43 and 45 of the frame 31, and knife edge portions 32a and 45a are provided at both ends of the support body 32 protruding from the support base 35, respectively. 32b.
Note that this engaging portion is filled with a flexible adhesive 47, and the support body 32 and the inner plates 43, 45 are movably bonded. As a result, the frame 31 is distorted using the knife edge portions 32a, 32b as fulcrums while keeping each side parallel.

An actuator shaft 34a of a voice coil motor 34 is connected to such a frame 31 through an "L"-shaped member 33 to the outer plate 42.

According to the device configured in this way, the reproducing head 11 supported by the frame 31 and the sliding contact member 12 are vertically parallel to each other due to the distortion of the frame 31 caused by the drive of the voice coil 34. , and are moved in the opposite direction, producing the same effect as in the embodiment described above. Furthermore, according to such a configuration, the reproduction head 11 and the sliding contact member 12 are connected to the support plate 3.
Since the reproducing head is supported in a suspended state by the knife edge portion of No. 2, the reproducing head will not move due to impact or vibration from any direction. For this reason,
A magnetic head device with excellent shock resistance and vibration resistance can be provided.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. This device consists of a reproducing head 11 and a sliding contact member 1.
2 and 2 are attached to opposite positions of an endless steel belt 53, respectively. The steel belt 53 has rollers 56 provided at each end of a support frame 55 having both ends shaped like a "U".
57, and is rotated by a motor 58 that rotationally drives the rollers 57.

Therefore, the reproducing head 11 and the sliding contact member 12
means the steel belt 53 supported as described above.
Since it is provided between the rollers 55 and 56, it is moved in the opposite direction up and down by the rotation of the belt 53, and therefore the same effect as in the previous embodiment can be achieved. Furthermore, if the reproducing head 11 and the sliding contact member 12 are overlapped in the same way, it is possible to provide a magnetic head device with excellent impact resistance and vibration resistance, similar to the embodiment described above. Note that playback head 1
1 and the sliding contact member 12 limit the rotational movement range of the belt 53 so that it is restricted only between the rollers 55 and 56.

As described above with reference to the first to third embodiments, the present invention moves the reproducing head 11 and the sliding member 12 in opposite directions to offset the displacement force applied to the magnetic recording tape. , since displacement in the tracking direction is prevented, allowing accurate tracking control by the magnetic head. Furthermore, since the device configuration is simple, effects such as high practicality can be achieved.

It is also possible to replace the sliding contact member 12 in the above embodiment with a recording head to provide a magnetic head device with even higher added value.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a magnetic head device of a conventionally proposed digital audio tape deck, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a magnetic head device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A perspective view of the external appearance of a magnetic head device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a view seen from direction A, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the external appearance of a magnetic head device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a diagram. 1, 2, 18-21...plate spring, 3, 22, 23
...Support block, 4...Head mounting block, 5,
11... Reproduction head, 6... Drive plate, 7, 15, 1
6, 34...Voice coil motor, 12...Sliding contact member, 13, 36, 54...Tracking mechanism, 14
...Support part, 17, 35...Support stand, 31...Frame body, 3
2... Support body, 33... Member, 38... Flexible film, 39-42... Outer plate, 43-46... Inner plate, 47
...Flexible adhesive, 53...Steel belt, 55...
Support frame, 56, 57...roller, 58...motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A magnetic head main body provided in sliding contact with a magnetic recording medium that is driven to run in one direction, and a magnetic head main body that is arranged in a plane of the magnetic recording medium perpendicular to the running direction of the magnetic recording medium. a tracking mechanism that performs tracking control by moving the magnetic head body in a direction opposite to the direction in which the magnetic head body is moved by the tracking mechanism; A magnetic head device comprising a sliding contact member whose movement is controlled. 2. The magnetic head device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding contact member is a magnetic head different from the magnetic head main body.