JPH01317233A - Floating head support mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the precise positioning job of a floating head by providing the folded parts to a flexure, giving the degrees of freedom to a slider in terms of the width direction and the rotational direction of the flexure, and using the electromagnetic force to the driving force. CONSTITUTION:A slider 2 mounting the optical heads 1a and 1b is provided together with a flexure 3 forming the folded parts 3b-3e at both sides of a tongue-shaped part 3a, a load beam 5 having a folded part and an engaging hole to a pivot 4, and an arm 6 providing the load beam 5 moved in the radial direction of a recording carrier 7. Then the repulsive force is produced between the electromagnetic coils 8c and 8d attached to one of both side faces of the slider 2 and the permanent magnets 9c and 9d of the arm 6 opposite to both coils 8c and 8d. While the attracting force is produced between the electromagnetic coils 8a and 8b attached to the other side face of the slider 2 and the permanent magnets 9 and 9b of the arm 6 opposite to both coils 8a and 8b respectively. As a result, the folded part of the beam 5 having a spring function is deformed and at the same time the folded parts of the flexure 3 are expanded and contracted. Thus it is possible to attain the stable floating action of the slider 2 and also to improve the head positioning accuracy.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is applicable to an information recording device, in which information is recorded on the surface of a record carrier by floating at a constant minute distance by air force generated on the surface of the record carrier. The present invention relates to a support mechanism for a head that performs reproduction.

[Prior Art] In the field of magnetic recording, floating heads are widely used for recording and reproducing information. With this floating head, the air flow generated on the surface of the recording carrier as it rotates causes the slider on which the head is mounted to float off the carrier surface by a minute amount on the order of submicrons, keeping the distance between the recording carrier surface and the head constant. It is used to record and play back information.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional floating head support mechanism, FIG. 7(1) is a plan view, and FIG. 7(2) is a side view.

The slider 12 has a rectangular shape and is equipped with heads lla and llb. The flexure 13 is plate-shaped, and has a tongue-like part 13a extending in the longitudinal direction from one end thereof.
It is fixed to 3a. The load beam 15 has a shape in which side ends parallel to the longitudinal direction are bent into a U-shape, and the flexure 13 is attached to portions 15a to 15 such that the longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the flexure 13.
It is fixed to the load beam 15 at point d. Also,
The rotor beam 15 is connected to the head II via an arm 16 so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the radial direction of the record carrier 17.
It is supported by a positioner (not shown) that positions and drives Ilb.

The slider 12 is pressed in the Z direction (towards the record carrier) by a load beam 15. At this time, the record carrier 17
By rotationally moving the surface of the record carrier 1 in the X direction,
The slider 12 floats in a small gap with the surface of the slider 7. At this time, the slider 12 is supported via the flexure 13, which has low rigidity with respect to θy rotation (rolling) and θX rotation (pitching), with the pivot 14 as a fulcrum, so the mechanism has a degree of freedom in θy rotation and θX rotation. It becomes. Further, since the rigidity of the load beam 15 in the Z direction is low to some extent, even if the record carrier 17 causes surface wobbling or the like, stable floating at a constant interval can be obtained. On the other hand, in the θZ force direction, the X direction (width direction of the support part) and the X direction (axial direction), high rigidity is required to prevent the heads lla and llb from vibrating or deforming when positioned by the positioner. have. Note that the driving direction of the positioner is the X direction (the axial direction of the support section).

In the optical recording field, a head is mounted on the slider mentioned above,
A floating optical head has been devised that records and reproduces information by keeping the distance between the surface of the record carrier and the optical head constant using aerodynamic means. However, in optical recording, the pitch (recording width) of one track is approximately 1.6. Since the allowable track error is as small as 01 tiles, the track pitch is approximately 25 μm L:r) Extremely precise head positioning is required compared to magnetic recording. Therefore, if the floating head support mechanism and driving method used in magnetic recording are used as they are, it is impossible to position the optical head with the above-mentioned accuracy of 0.1 μm.

In addition, with the aim of increasing speed, a multi-head system has been devised in which two or more heads are mounted on one slider to perform recording and playback simultaneously. In order to realize this head, it is necessary to position each head on predetermined tracks at the same constant interval when simultaneously accessing each head. As a result, the slider 12 undergoes thermal deformation as shown in FIG.
When the spacing between the heads 11a and llb changes from L to +ΔL, the slider 12 is driven in the rotational direction on the medium to make the head spacing the same as the width before deformation, and position it on the same track as before deformation. It is necessary to. To achieve this, as shown in Fig. 9, a system was devised in which electromagnetic coils +8a to +8d are attached to the side surface of the slider 12, and the electromagnetic force generated between them and the fixed permanent magnets +9a to 19d is utilized. There is. Two electromagnetic coils are attached to one side of the slider 12, and a total of four electromagnetic coils are attached to both sides, and the head is driven in the linear and rotational directions shown by the arrows using the difference in electromagnetic force generated by energization. It is a method.

Therefore, a floating head support mechanism that has degrees of freedom in the linear and rotational directions shown in FIG. 9 has been required. Furthermore, when realizing this support mechanism, it is necessary to keep the laser beam diameter of the optical head or the amount of reflected light from the record carrier constant, so the flying distance of the head must be kept constant as before.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] An object of the present invention is to improve the head positioning accuracy in the track direction without impairing stable slider flying as in the past, and to support a multi-head system. An object of the present invention is to provide a floating head support mechanism having degrees of freedom in terms of direction and direction of rotation on a record carrier.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The floating head support mechanism of the present invention comprises a rectangular slider on which a head is mounted and at least two electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets attached to each opposing side surface; , a tongue-shaped portion extending in the longitudinal direction from one end is formed inside, an upper surface of the slider is fixed to the lower surface of the tongue-shaped portion, and a pivot is fixed to the upper surface of the tongue-shaped portion,
A flexure in which at least two bent portions each having a V-shaped cross section are formed in the width direction in the narrow width portions on both sides of the tongue portion, and side ends parallel to the longitudinal direction are bent into a U-shape. The central part of the bottom face is cut out, and the parallel bent part of the central part acts as a spring in a plane parallel to the bottom face, and the flange is shaped such that its longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the flexure. a lecture is secured to the bottom at the other end;
a load beam having a bottom surface formed with a hole into which the pivot fits; a bottom surface to which the flexure is fixed; has an arm that is fixed to the opposite end and has a permanent magnet or electromagnetic coil mounted at a position facing the electromagnetic coil or permanent magnet mounted on the slider.

[Operation] A repulsive force is generated between the electromagnetic coil or permanent magnet attached to one side of the slider and the permanent magnet and electromagnetic coil of the corresponding arm, and the electromagnetic coil or permanent magnet attached to the other side of the slider generates a repulsive force. By creating an attractive force between the coil or permanent magnet and the corresponding permanent magnet and electromagnetic coil of the arm, the spring-acted bend of the load beam is deformed and the slider, and therefore the head, moves around the record carrier radius □. Move to.

In addition, a repulsive force is generated between the electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets attached to both sides of the slider, and the permanent magnet and electromagnetic coil attached to the arm, which are located diagonally to each other. By generating a suction force, the bent part of the flexure expands and contracts, and the slider,
Therefore, the head rotates about the pivot.

The following table shows a comparison of the spring rigidity and torsional rigidity in each direction of the conventional support mechanism and the support mechanism of the present invention.

[Example] Next, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the floating head support mechanism of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view thereof, and Figs. 3 (1) and (2).
2 is a plan view and a side view, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the positioning operation in the X direction in this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the positioning operation in the θZ rotational direction in this embodiment.

The slider 2 is a rectangular body with an optical head la on one side.

1b, and electromagnetic coils 8 are installed on both sides adjacent to this.
A and 8b, 8c and 8d are installed. The flexure 3 is plate-shaped, and has a tongue-shaped portion 3a extending in the longitudinal direction from one end thereof formed therein, and the upper surface of the slider 2 is fixed to the lower surface of the tongue-shaped portion 3a. is pivot 4
is fixed, and bent portions 3b having a V-shaped cross section are formed in narrow portions on both sides of the tongue portion 3a.

3c, 3d, and 3e are formed in the width direction. The funnel beam 5 has a shape in which the side ends parallel to the longitudinal direction are bent into a U-shape, and the central portion 5h of the bottom surface is cut out, and the parallel bent portions 5e and 5f of the central portion 5h are in a plane parallel to the bottom surface. The lever acts as a spring, and the longitudinal direction is flexure 3.
The flexure 3 is fixed to the bottom surface at the flexure attachment portions 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d so as to match the longitudinal direction of the flexure 3, and a hole 5g into which the pivot 4 fits is formed in the bottom surface. The arm 6 is supported by a positioner (not shown) having a coarse positioning mechanism and moves in the radial direction of the record carrier 7, and the load beam 5 is moved in the circumferential direction of the record carrier 7 from the bottom surface to which the flexure 3 is fixed. Permanent magnets 9a, 9b, 9c, and 'ld are fixed to the arm 6 at the opposite end and are attached to the arm 6 so as to face the electromagnetic coils 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d attached to the slider 2, respectively. has been done.

In this embodiment, the record carrier 7 rotates in the X direction, and the required positioning motion directions are the Z direction and the ez force direction.

In the floating head support mechanism of this embodiment, the bending portions 5e and 5f of the load beam 5 act as springs, so the slider 2 can move in the X direction, and the flexure 3
Since the bending portions 3b to 3e are formed in and the pivot 4 is rotatable with respect to the load beam 5, the slider 2 is
The movement in the X direction and the θZ rotation are performed by the electromagnetic coils 8a to 8a attached to the side surface of the slider 2.
This is done by utilizing the electromagnetic force generated between the magnet 8d and the permanent magnets 9a to 9d mounted on the arm 6. In addition, in the floating head support mechanism of this embodiment, the slider 2 has low rigidity with respect to θy rotation (rolling) and θ× rotation (pitching) with the pivot 4 as a fulcrum, and It has low rigidity, and
Due to the rotary beam 5, force can be obtained for pressing against the record carrier surface 8, and the function for obtaining stable flying, which is a conventional head, is not impaired.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When a repulsive force is generated between the electromagnetic coil 8a and the permanent magnet 9a, and between the electromagnetic coil 8b and the permanent magnet 9b, and an attractive force is generated between the electromagnetic coil 8C and the permanent magnet 9C1 and the electromagnetic coil 8d and the permanent magnet 9d, the bent portion 5e and 5f are deformed as shown in FIG. 4, and the slider 2, and therefore the head 1a,
Ib moves in the arrow direction (X direction).

In addition, the electromagnetic coil 8a, the permanent magnet 9a, and the electromagnetic coil 8d
An attractive force is generated between the permanent magnet 9d and the electromagnetic coil 8.
By generating a repulsive force between B and the permanent magnet 9b, and between the electromagnetic coil 8C and the permanent magnet 9C, the bent portions 3b to 3e expand and contract slightly, as shown in FIG. Ia and lb rotate in the θZ force direction using the pivot 4 as a fulcrum.

Although the displacements are shown as large in FIGS. 4 and 5 for convenience of explanation, if the conventional technology is used, the head la, lb
is coarsely positioned by a positioner with an accuracy of about 5 presses, so the X-direction movable range is 5 μm to compensate for this.
It is enough. In addition, the θZ rotation movable range of the slider 2 is approximately 10
mrad is sufficient.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention provides a bending portion in the flexure, a hole in the funnel beam into which the pivot fits, and a spring action on the bending portion of the load beam. By providing flexibility in the lecture width direction and in the rotational direction around the pivot, and by using electromagnetic force as the driving force, the head floating above the record carrier surface can be moved without impairing the stable slider floating as before. To,
It is possible to drive in the width direction of the support part and in the rotational direction on the recording carrier, which has the effect of realizing precise positioning of the floating head that could not be achieved with conventional positioners.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the floating head support mechanism of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view thereof, and FIGS. 3(1) and 3(2) are a plan view and a side view of FIG. 2, respectively. 4 is a diagram showing the positioning operation in the X direction in this embodiment, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the positioning operation in the θZ rotational direction in this embodiment, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional example of the floating head support mechanism, and FIG. Figure (1)
, (2) is an enlarged plan view and side view thereof, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating correction of the head spacing of a multi-head, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a precision positioning method using electromagnetic force. la, Ib...optical head, 2...slider, 3...flexure, 3a...tongue, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e...bending Department, 4・
...Bihot, 5...Rot beam, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d...Flexure mounting part, 5e, 5f...Bending part, 5g...Hole, 5h...notch, 6...arm, 7...record carrier, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d-electromagnetic coil, 9a,
9b, 9c,' 9d = permanent magnet. Patent applicant Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A mechanism that supports a head that flies while maintaining a minute distance from the surface of the record carrier by air force generated on the surface of the record carrier and records and reproduces information on the surface of the record carrier. The slider is rectangular and has a head mounted thereon, and has at least two electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets attached to each opposing side. The slider is plate-shaped and has a tongue-like part inside thereof extending in the longitudinal direction from one end. a top surface of the slider is fixed to the bottom surface of the tongue, and a pivot is fixed to the top surface of the tongue;
A flexure in which at least two bent portions each having a V-shaped cross section are formed in the width direction in the narrow width portions on both sides of the tongue portion, and side ends parallel to the longitudinal direction are bent into a U-shape. The flexure has a shape such that the central portion of the bottom surface is notched, the parallel bent portion of the central portion acts as a spring in a plane parallel to the bottom surface, and the longitudinal direction of the flexure coincides with the longitudinal direction of the flexure. a lecture is secured to the bottom at the other end;
a load beam having a bottom surface formed with a hole into which the pivot fits; a bottom surface that moves in the radial direction of the record carrier, and the load beam moves in the circumferential direction of the record carrier to which the flexure is fixed. a floating head support mechanism having an arm fixed at an end opposite to the slider and having a permanent magnet or electromagnetic coil mounted at a position facing the electromagnetic coil or permanent magnet mounted on the slider.