JPH05159500A - Floating magnetic head supporting mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the stability of a slider by providing a recessed part on the gimbal attaching position of the slider, or adding a load to the upper surface of the slider and making the application point of a suspension force against the slider coincident with the centroid of the slider. CONSTITUTION:When a slider 7 operates a seeking by an actuator, a force is transmitted to the slider 7 in a seeking direction from the suspension made of a load beam 9 and a gimbal 8 and applied with the dimple 8b of the notched part 8a of a gimbal fixing section as an application point. Here, the centroid of the slider 7 is brought close to the dimple 8b of the notched part 8a which is the application point of the suspension force by providing a groove section 7c on the gimbal 8 attaching position of the slider 7. Thus, even when a force in a seeking direction is applied to the slider 7, since its application point and the centroid of the slider are made coincident, the force in the seeking direction is directly applied to the centroid of the slider and the stability is improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a floating magnetic head support mechanism for supporting a magnetic head for writing or reading information on a hard disk or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a hard disk drive for writing or reading information to or from a hard disk, an air flow generated on the disk surface during high speed rotation of the disk in order to avoid abrasion damage due to contact between a magnetic head and the disk surface. A so-called levitation magnetic head is used in which the head is configured to levitate from the disk surface with a minute gap therebetween.

The flying magnetic head described above is generally constructed as follows. A slider equipped with a magnetic head is fixed to the tip of a flexible leaf spring-shaped gimbal, and the other end of the gimbal is fixed to the lower surface of the load beam which is also a leaf spring. To form the suspension. Furthermore, the load beam is attached to an arm that moves in a radial direction parallel to the disk surface by an actuator. The slider fixing portion of the gimbal is provided with a dimple that is a protrusion that defines the flying distance of the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted from the disk surface.

Therefore, when the rotation of the disk is stopped, the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted is in contact with the surface of the disk, but when the disk rotates, the slider is mounted on the slider by the air flow generated by the rotation. The magnetic head floats. Due to the floating, the gimbal fixed on the slider rises toward the load beam, but since the dimple is arranged in the slider fixing portion of the gimbal as described above, the gimbal abuts on the load beam and stops. Therefore, in the floating magnetic head, the downward force from the suspension composed of the load beam and the gimbal and the upward force from the slider levitated by the air are balanced at the gimbal fixing portion on the slider upper surface, and the predetermined flying distance is maintained. Information is written in or read from a predetermined track of the disk while keeping the same.

[0005]

By the way, in recent years,
With the demand for high-speed writing or reading of information,
In the track access operation of the magnetic head, it is important to perform high-speed and accurate positioning as well as to keep the flying distance accurate. The speed at which the slider equipped with the magnetic head moves inside and outside the disk by the actuator. , The so-called seek speed tends to increase year by year.

However, the stability of the slider at the time of resting on the target recording track on the disk at the time of seeking has become a problem. For example, as described above, the slider is fixed to the load beam, which is also a leaf spring shape, via a leaf spring-shaped gimbal. At this time, the gimbal has a roll / pitch motion (disc circumferential direction). In order to secure the degree of freedom of the rocking and the rocking in the radial direction, one having a relatively low rigidity is used, the fixing position of the gimbal is the upper surface of the slider, and the dimple is arranged on the slider fixing portion of the gimbal. Has been done. Therefore, when seeking, the force in the seek direction is transmitted from the actuator to the suspension composed of the load beam and the gimbal, but this force in the seek direction is transmitted to the slider as the dimple action point of the gimbal fixing part on the upper surface of the slider and directly to the center of gravity of the slider. Does not work and the rigidity of the gimbal is weak, a moment is generated and the slider has a vibration mode like a pendulum. Therefore, the stability is not good when the slider rests on the target recording track on the disk at the time of seek, making it difficult for the magnetic head to write or read information quickly, stably and reliably.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and improves the stability when the slider stands still on the disk at the time of seek, and the magnetic head quickly and stably writes or reads information. -It is an object of the present invention to provide a flying magnetic head support mechanism that can be reliably performed.

[0008]

In a support mechanism for fixing a slider on which a magnetic head is mounted to a load beam via a gimbal, in order to make the action point of suspension force on the slider substantially coincide with the center of gravity of the slider, A recess may be provided at the gimbal mounting position of the slider, or a load may be applied to the upper surface of the slider.

[0009]

In a floating magnetic head support mechanism in which a slider with a magnetic head mounted is fixed to a load beam via a gimbal, high-speed and accurate positioning is required in order to perform information writing or reading quickly, stably and reliably. It is important to do this, and the speed (seek speed) at which the slider equipped with the magnetic head moves on the inner and outer circumferences of the disk tends to increase. However, the point of action of the suspension force on the slider does not match the center of gravity of the slider, and the rigidity of the gimbal that connects the load beam and slider is not so great that the slider will not be able to reach the target recording track on the disc during seek. Stability at rest has become an issue.

In the present invention, the suspension force acts on the slider by providing a recess at the gimbal mounting position of the slider such that the gimbal is located at the center of gravity of the slider, or by applying a load to the upper surface of the slider. By making the points substantially coincide with the center of gravity of the slider, stability is improved when the slider rests on the disk during seek.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 First, FIG. 1 shows a peripheral structure of a slider suspension. As shown in FIG. 1, the slider 1 is attached to a suspension 2 and is attached to an arm actuator 3. When the magnetic disk 4 rotates in the direction of R1, the arm actuator 3 rotates in the direction of R2, and the slider 1 attached to the suspension 2 is sought from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the magnetic disk 4, and the slider 1 is arbitrarily moved. Position to position.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment comprises a slider 7 having a magnetic head 6 mounted at its end, a gimbal 8 and a load beam 9. FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the floating magnetic head support mechanism of FIG. As shown in the figure, one main surface of the slider 7 is rail-processed to form a groove portion 7a, and a bottom surface 7b of the slider 7 is used as an air bearing surface. It has a groove portion 7c, and the magnetic head 6 is attached to the end portion. The gimbal 8 has a notch 8
It is a leaf spring shape having a and is fixed to the bottom surface 7d of the groove portion 7c of the slider 7 by the cut portion 8a, and the cut portion 8a is a hemispherical dimple that is a protrusion that defines the flying distance of the slider 7. 8b is formed. The load beam 9 is a triangular leaf spring whose both ends are erected, and is fixed to the gimbal 8 at a fixing portion 8c.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of this embodiment. As described above, this embodiment is composed of the slider 7 having the magnetic head 6 mounted on the end thereof, the notch 8a, the gimbal 8 having the dimple 8b formed at the notch 8a, and the load beam 9. .. Slider 7 and gimbal 8 have groove 7
The bottom surface 7d of c is fixed to the cut portion 8a, and the gimbal 8 and the load beam 9 are fixed to the fixed portion 8c and the load beam 9 respectively.
It is fixed at the fixing portion 9a on the lower surface of the. Therefore, the suspension 2 is formed by the gimbal 8 which is a leaf spring and the load beam 9 which is also a leaf spring.

When the rotation of the magnetic disk 4 is stopped, the slider 7 on which the magnetic head 6 is mounted is in contact with the surface of the magnetic disk 4, but when the magnetic disk 4 rotates,
The slider 7 is driven by the air flow generated by the rotation.
The magnetic head 6 mounted on the surface flies. Due to the floating, the gimbal 8 fixed on the slider 7 is pushed up toward the load beam 9. However, as described above, the dimple 8b has the cut portion 8a of the gimbal 8 having a leaf spring shape.
Since it is arranged in the above position, it comes into contact with the load beam 9 and the floating is stopped. At this time, the load applied by the load beam 9 is the suspension 2 composed of the load beam 9 and the gimbal 8.
As a downward force from, the upward force from the slider 7 floated by the air is balanced with the notch 8a on the upper surface of the slider 7. Therefore, the slider 7 on which the magnetic head 6 is mounted writes or reads information to or from a predetermined track of the magnetic disk 4 while maintaining a predetermined flying distance from the magnetic disk 4.

When writing or reading information, the slider 7 having the magnetic head 6 mounted thereon as described above is sought on the inner and outer circumferences of the magnetic disk 4 by the arm actuator 3 as shown in FIG. Information is written or read while resting on a predetermined track of the disk 4. When seeking, load beam 9
The force in the seek direction is inevitably transmitted from the suspension 2 composed of the gimbal 8 to the slider 7, and the force in the seek direction acts with the dimple 8b of the cut portion 8a which is the gimbal fixing portion on the upper surface of the slider 7 as the point of action. In this embodiment, since the groove portion 7c is provided at the position where the slider 7 is attached to the gimbal 8, the center of gravity of the slider 7 is closer to the dimple 8b of the cut portion 8a, which is the point of action of the force of the suspension 2.

Therefore, even if a force in the seek direction is applied to the slider 7 from the suspension 2 at the time of seeking, the action point of the force of the suspension 2 and the center of gravity of the slider 7 are substantially coincident with each other, so that the force in the seek direction is directly applied to the slider 7. Directly on the center of gravity of. Therefore, the stability when the slider 7 stands still on a target recording track on the magnetic disk 4 at the time of seek is good, and the magnetic head 6 can write or read information quickly, stably and surely.

Embodiment 2 Next, another embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be shown. The present embodiment is an example in which the shape of the slider is not changed unlike the first embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment includes a slider 10, a gimbal 8 and a load beam 9. A rail 10 is formed on one main surface of the slider 10 to form a groove 10a, the bottom surface 10b of which is an air bearing surface, and the magnetic head 6 is attached to the end thereof. FIG. 6 shows a side view of this embodiment. The gimbal 8 is in the shape of a leaf spring having a cut portion 8a, and similar to the first embodiment, the cut portion 8a is formed with a dimple 8b which is a protrusion that defines the flying distance of the slider 10. The load beam 9 is a triangular leaf spring whose both ends are formed upright. At this time, the slider 10 and the gimbal 8 are fixed to the slider upper surface 10c by the cut portion 8a. Further, the gimbal 8 and the load beam 9 are fixed to each other by a fixing portion 8c and a fixing portion 9a on the lower surface of the load beam 9. Therefore, the suspension 2 is formed by the gimbal 8 which is a leaf spring and the load beam 9 which is also a leaf spring. Further, the protrusions 11 are arranged along both side edges on the upper surface of the slider 10,
It is shaped to add a load. At this time, the protrusion 11 is provided to move the center of gravity of the slider 10 to the notch 8a, which is the fixing surface of the slider 10 and the gimbal 8, and has a weight capable of moving the center of gravity.

Also in this embodiment, the magnetic head 6 mounted on the slider 10 is levitated in the same manner as in the first embodiment to write or read information. Further, when writing or reading information, the slider 10 having the magnetic head 6 mounted thereon is also sought on the inner and outer circumferences of the magnetic disk 4 by the arm actuator 3 as shown in FIG. Information is written or read while resting on a predetermined track of the disk 4. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, from the suspension 2 composed of the load beam 9 and the gimbal 8 to the slider 1
The force in the seek direction is inevitably transmitted to 0, and the force in the seek direction acts with the dimple 8b of the cut portion 8a which is the gimbal fixing portion on the upper surface of the slider 10 as the point of action. In this embodiment, the protrusion 11 is formed on the upper surface of the slider 10.
By arranging, the center of gravity of the slider 10 is in the direction of approaching the cut portion 8a which is the fixing surface of the slider 10 and the gimbal 8.

Therefore, even if a force in the seek direction is applied to the slider 10 from the suspension 2 during a seek, the force in the seek direction directly acts on the center of gravity of the slider 10.
Therefore, when the slider 10 seeks, the magnetic disk 4
The stability when stationary on the intended recording track is good, and the magnetic head 6 can write or read information quickly, stably and reliably.

Embodiment 3 Further, another embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be shown. FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, this embodiment comprises a slider 7 having a magnetic head 6 mounted at its end, a gimbal 12 and a load beam 13. As shown in the figure, the slider 7 has one main surface rail-processed to form the groove portion 7a.
The bottom surface 7b is an air bearing surface, and the rear surface is also dug in a rail shape to have a groove portion 7c, and the magnetic head 6 is attached to the end portion. The gimbal 12 is of a leaf spring shape having a cutout 12a, and is fixed to the bottom surface 7d of the groove 7c of the slider 7 at the cutout 12a. A rectangular rim 12b is formed in the cutout 12a. There is. Also, load beam 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a triangular leaf spring whose both ends are erected, a V-shaped rim 13a is formed at the tip thereof, and is fixed to the gimbal 12 by a fixing portion 12c.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of this embodiment. As described above, in this embodiment, the slider 7 having the magnetic head 6 mounted on the end portion and the cutout portion 12a, the gimbal 12 having the rim 12b formed on the cutout portion 12a, and the V-shaped rim 13a at the tip end are provided. Triangular leaf spring shaped load beam 1
It is composed of 3. The slider 7 and the gimbal 12 are fixed to the bottom surface 7d of the groove portion 7c and the cut portion 12a, and the gimbal 12 and the load beam 13 are fixed to each other by the fixing portion 12c and the fixing portion 13b on the lower surface of the load beam 13. Therefore, the gimbal 12 which is a leaf spring and the load beam 13 form the suspension 2.

Also in this embodiment, when writing or reading information, the magnetic head 6 mounted on the slider 7 floats by the air due to the rotation of the magnetic disk 4 as in the first embodiment. Due to the floating, the gimbal 12 fixed on the slider 7 is pushed up toward the load beam 13, but as described above, the rectangular rim 12b is formed in the notch 12a of the gimbal 12, and the tip of the load beam 13 is V-shaped. Since the V-shaped rim 13a is formed, the rim 12b is formed at the V-shaped valley of the rim 13a.
Enter, and the two engage with each other, the gimbal 12 comes into contact with the load beam 13, and the floating is stopped. At this time, the load exerted by the load beam 13 is balanced as a downward force from the suspension 2 composed of the load beam 13 and the gimbal 12 with an upward force from the slider 7 levitated by the air and the notch 12a on the upper surface of the slider 7. The slider 7 on which the magnetic head 6 is mounted writes or reads information to or from a predetermined track of the magnetic disk 4 while maintaining a predetermined flying distance from the magnetic disk 4.

At this time, the slider 7 having the magnetic head 6 mounted thereon is moved (seek) on the inner and outer circumferences of the magnetic disk 4 by the arm actuator 3 as shown in FIG. Information is written or read while resting on a predetermined track of the disk 4. At the time of seek, the force in the seek direction is inevitably transmitted from the load beam 13 to the gimbal 12 and is transmitted to the slider 7. When the force is transmitted from the load beam 13 to the gimbal 12, naturally, it is transmitted via these contacts. The contact point is the load beam 9 when the hemispherical dimple 8b is used as in the first embodiment.
When a force in the seek direction larger than the frictional force between the dimple 8b and the dimple 8b is applied, slippage occurs between the load beam 9 and the dimple 8b. As a result, vibration is generated and the slider 7 is vibrated.

In this embodiment, since the rectangular rim 12b is formed in the notch 12a of the gimbal 12 and the V-shaped rim 13a is formed at the tip of the load beam 13 as described above, the rim 13a is formed. , B are not meshed with each other to cause the above-described slippage, and the slider 7 is not vibrated. Similar to the hemispherical dimple 8b, the degree of freedom of roll / pitch movement (swing in the disc circumferential direction and swing in the radial direction) is secured.

Therefore, the force in the seek direction transmitted from the suspension 2 composed of the load beam 13 and the gimbal 12 to the slider 7 as described above uses the rim 12b of the notch 12a, which is the gimbal fixing portion on the upper surface of the slider 7, as the point of action. Act on 7. In this embodiment,
The center of gravity of the slider 7 is in the direction of approaching the rim 12b of the notch 12a, which is the point of action of the force of the suspension 2.
Therefore, when seeking, the force in the seek direction is applied to the suspension 2
Even if it is applied to the slider 7 from, the point of action of the force of the suspension 2 and the center of gravity of the slider 7 are substantially the same,
The force in the seek direction directly acts on the center of gravity of the slider 7.
Further, since the contact point between the load beam 13 and the gimbal 12 is the rectangular rim 12b and the V-shaped rim 13a, no slip occurs between the load beam 13 and the gimbal 12, and no vibration is given to the slider 7. .. Therefore, the stability when the slider 7 rests on the target recording track on the magnetic disk 4 during seek is further improved, and the magnetic head 6 can write or read information quickly, stably and reliably.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a Winchester type flying magnetic head supporting mechanism. As shown in FIG. 9, this embodiment is similar to the Wattles type of Embodiments 1, 2 and 3 in that the slider 14 having the magnetic head 6 mounted at the end thereof is
It is formed of a gimbal 15 and a load beam 16.
In this embodiment, the slider 14 on which the magnetic head 6 is mounted is not supported in the circumferential direction of the magnetic disk 4, but is supported in the radial direction by the gimbal 15 and the load beam 16. The gimbal 15 is formed by a leaf spring portion 15A having a fixed portion 15a in the center and a support portion 15B that supports the leaf spring portion 15A. Therefore, the slider 14 is fixed to the gimbal 15 by the fixing portion 15a of the gimbal 15,
The load beam 16 has a gimbal 15 at the fixing portion 16a.
Is stuck to. Each role is Example 1, 2, 3
Is the same as. In this embodiment, the center of gravity of the slider 14 is located at the center of the plane formed by the leaf spring portion 15A of the gimbal 15, so that the action point of the force of the suspension constituted by the gimbal 15 and the load beam 16 and the slider 14 can be adjusted. Approximately match the centers of gravity. Therefore,
When a seek force is applied to the slider 14 during a seek, the seek direction force directly acts on the center of gravity of the slider 14, and therefore, the stability when the slider 14 stands still on a target recording track on the magnetic disk during a seek. The magnetic head 6 can write or read information quickly, stably and reliably.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, in the flying magnetic head support mechanism for fixing the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted to the load beam via the gimbal,
The suspension force on the slider can be adjusted by applying a load to the top surface of the slider so that the gimbal is located at the center of gravity of the slider or the gimbal is located at the center of gravity of the slider. By making the point of action substantially coincide with the center of the slider, when the slider equipped with the magnetic head moves (seeks) the inner and outer circumferences of the disk by the actuator when writing or reading information, Since the stability at the time of resting on the recording track is improved, the seek speed can be further increased, and the magnetic head mounted on the slider can write or read information quickly, stably and reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a peripheral configuration of a slider suspension.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing another example of a Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of a Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing another example of a Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of a Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing still another example of the Wattles type flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a Winchester type flying magnetic head support mechanism to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 ... Slider 8 ... Gimbal 8a ... Cut portion 8b ... Dimple 9 ... Load beam 10 ... Slider 11 ... Load 12 ... Gimbal 12a ... Cut portion 12b ... rim 13 ... load beam 13a ... rim 14 ... slider 15 ... gimbal 15A ... leaf spring part 15a ... fixed part 15B ... support part 15b ... fixed part 16 ... load beam

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A levitation magnetic head, characterized in that, in a support mechanism for fixing a slider having a magnetic head mounted thereto to a load beam via a gimbal, a point of action of suspension force on the slider is substantially coincident with a center of gravity of the slider. Support mechanism. 2. A flying magnetic head support mechanism, comprising: a support mechanism for fixing a slider having a magnetic head mounted thereon to a load beam via a gimbal, wherein a recess is provided at a gimbal mounting position of the slider. 3. A levitation magnetic head support mechanism, comprising: a support mechanism for fixing a slider having a magnetic head mounted thereto to a load beam via a gimbal, wherein a load is applied to an upper surface of the slider.