JPH0581810A - Floating head slider - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a floating head slider having the feature such that a dust intruded between the floating head slider and a magnetic disk is caught and also the caught dust is hardly fallen off. CONSTITUTION:The floating force generating surface of a slider rail includes grooves 20. The grooves 20 are arranged near the flowing-out end on the floating force generating surface, and the surfaces connected to a flowing-in end forming the grooves are inclined upward obliquely facing to the flowing-out end, and an air flow is guided along these slopes to stick the dust in the air flow on the slopes by an eddy, etc., generated inside of the grooves. Since the dust deposited on the slopes always stays inside the grooves and does no protrude from the floating force generating surface, it does not come into contact with the surface of magnetic disk even if the floating head slider is inclined, and is not fallen off to the surface of magnetic disk.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a floating head slider that is used in a magnetic disk device and that floats by the action of an air bearing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a magnetic disk device, a space between a floating head slider and a magnetic disk tends to be narrowed in order to realize a high recording density. Along with this, floating dust and the like in the magnetic disk device enters between the flying surface of the slider rail and the magnetic disk to temporarily make it impossible to read recorded information, or cause the slider disk to read.
Dust adheres to the surface of the module and makes the levitation unstable, and as a result, the risk of a destructive sliding accident is increasing.

As a countermeasure against this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-17092
No. 2, there is provided a step at the outflow end of the slider rail,
It is described that the step causes a complicated air flow to reduce the amount of dust accumulated at the outflow end of the slider rail. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-46475, a taper is attached to the outflow end of the slider rail, and dust is attached to the taper portion to reduce the amount of floating dust and to reduce the amount of floating dust. It is provided to prevent dust from entering between the levitation force generation surface and the magnetic disk.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 189620/1987, a burnishing head has a rectangular cross section groove near the inflow end and the outflow end of a flying force generating surface of a slider rail, and burnishing of a magnetic disk is performed. A burnishing device for a magnetic disk is described which increases stability and collects burnished debris in the grooves during finishing.

[0005]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention JP-A-61-1709
In the floating head sliders of JP-A No. 22 and JP-A-62-46475, the amount of dust accumulated at the outflow end of the slider rail can be reduced, but the dust acts as a flying force generating surface of the slider rail. Dust that adheres to the surface of the step that connects to the levitation force generation surface or the connection with the slope, and the dust that adheres accumulates there and protrudes from the levitation force generation surface of the slider rail. Since this is the outflow end where the gap between the head slider and the surface of the magnetic disk becomes small when the head slider flies,
When the start / stop is performed, not only the accumulated dust comes into contact with the surface of the magnetic disk and drops off as a lump, but the floating head slider changes the state of the air flow during seeking. If it goes up and down, the accumulated dust may come into contact with the surface of the magnetic disk and fall off, causing a head crash, and if a large mass of dust grows, the surface of the magnetic disk may grow even during following. Contact and fall off.

In the head disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-189620, the dust is not accumulated at the outflow end where the gap between the head and the surface of the magnetic disk is small when the floating head slider floats, but dust is not generated. Since the dust that adheres to the connection between the levitation force generation surface and the surface of the groove that connects to the levitation force generation surface accumulates and accumulates as a mass on the slider rail, it protrudes from the levitation force generation surface of the slider rail. Kaisho 61
When the contact start stop is performed similarly to the heads of JP-A-170922 and JP-A-62-46475, dust comes into contact with the surface of the magnetic disk and falls off as a lump, causing a head crash. There is a risk of causing it.

An object of the present invention is to reliably trap dust that enters between the floating head slider and the magnetic disk, and to collect dust that has accumulated and becomes lumps after trapping, regardless of the state of the floating head slider. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved flying head slider that does not drop on the surface of a magnetic disk.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a slider rail is provided with a groove in front of an outflow end on a levitation force generating surface, and a levitation force generating surface forming the groove is formed. It is characterized in that the surface connected to the inflow end side is an inclined surface having a lower inflow end side portion than the opposite end side portion.

It is preferable that the groove has a substantially v-shaped cross section with the other surface constituting the groove being inclined in the direction opposite to the above-mentioned inclined surface, and the groove width is 200 μm. Below, maximum depth is 10 to 50 μm
It is preferable that As for the arrangement of the grooves on the slider rail, even if one groove is arranged at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the slider rail immediately before the outflow end, it is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the slider rail immediately before the outflow end. Alternatively, the second groove may be further provided immediately after the inflow end. Further, the groove may be composed of one groove having one end extending rearward of the inflow end and the other end extending forward of the outflow end and inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the slider rail. ..

[0010]

When the floating head slider is flying, after the air flow passes through the inflow end side portion of the flying force generating surface of the slider rail, a part of the flow enters the groove, and then along the flying force generating surface. The air flows out from the outflow end of the slider rail together with the flow, but the airflow is disturbed by the surface connected to the outflow end side portion of the levitation force generation surface, and a vortex flow is generated inside the groove. Dust contained in the air flow is trapped only on this inclined surface when the air flow flows along the inclined surface connected to the inflow end side portion of the levitation force generation surface, and the inflow end side portion of the levitation force generation surface and this Does not adhere to the connecting part with the surface that connects to. It is speculated that the adhesion of dust to the inclined surface is caused by a complicated air flow inside the groove, due to the vortex flow generated inside the groove. Then, even if the captured dust accumulates and becomes a lump, the dust lump is formed by the inclined surface connected to the inflow end side portion of the levitation force generation surface and another surface forming a groove with this surface. Since it is in the pocket, the floating head slider moves up and down during contact seeking even if a contact start stop is made, and between the outflow end and the surface of the magnetic disk. Even if the gap becomes small, dust does not contact the surface of the magnetic disk. Even if the adhered dust grows and the dust should protrude from the levitation force generation surface, the groove is located in front of the outflow end and is located on the levitation force generation surface of the slider rail. Is in a large area,
Dust does not contact the surface of the magnetic disk.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, this floating head slider has slider rails 11 provided on both side edges of a main body 10. The inflow end 14 of the slider rail 11 is formed into a slope, and the outflow end 13 is a right-angled plane. A groove 20 is formed in front of the outflow end of the slider rail 11. The groove 20 is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the slider rail 11. The groove itself is composed of two slopes 21 and 22 that are flat and have a width of 2
The size is 00 μm and the maximum depth is 50 μm.
Of these slopes, the slope 21 is connected to the inflow end side portion of the flying force generating surface 12 of the slider rail 11, as shown in FIG. 2, and the floating head slider is moved from the flying force generating surface side. In the viewed state of FIG. 1, the levitation force generating surface 12 is inclined obliquely downward. The other slope 22 is connected to the outflow end side portion of the levitation force generating surface 12 of the slider rail 11, and when the floating head slider is viewed from the levitation force generating surface side, it is inclined obliquely downward with respect to the levitation force generating surface 12. is doing. Therefore, the groove 20 has a substantially v-shaped cross section.

This floating head slider is incorporated in a hard disk drive in the same manner as a conventional slider.
When the magnetic disk rotates, air enters between the levitation force generating surface 12 and the surface of the magnetic disk, and the levitation force generating surface 12 forms a minute gap between the surface of the magnetic disk and the floating head slider. Make the whole surface. At this time, since the size of the groove 20 is extremely small as described above, the influence on the attraction force with the magnetic disk when the floating head slider is stopped is small.

Of the air flow flowing between the levitation force generating surface 12 and the surface of the magnetic disk, the air flow flowing along the levitation force generating surface 12 reaches the groove 20 and then flows along the slope 21. The flow is disturbed by the slopes 22 and the like to generate a vortex inside the groove 20. The dust contained in the airflow adheres to the slope 21 when the airflow flows along the slope 21. By repeating the adhesion, the dust accumulated on the slope 21 becomes a lump, but the lump of dust is always inside the pocket formed by the slope 21 and the slope 22 and does not protrude from the levitation force generating surface 12.
Therefore, even if you make a contact start stop,
Alternatively, even if the gap between the outflow end and the surface of the magnetic disk becomes small during seek and following, the lump of dust accumulated on the slope 21 does not contact the surface of the magnetic disk.

Next, the results obtained by the following tests will be described with respect to the effect on dust entering between the floating head slider and the magnetic disk.

In the test, the floating head slider according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and the conventional floating head slider having no groove in the slider rail shown in FIG. This was done by observing the adhered state.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the magnetic disk device for test, a plurality of magnetic disks 60 are formed at fixed intervals and are fitted and fixed to a spindle 53, and the spindle is a case.
It is held by bearings on the case and is also connected to the motor built into the case. Guide arms 55 are arranged in the space formed between the magnetic disks 60, and these guide arms are supported by the carriage 54. The carriage is held by a guide rail 56 on the case via a bearing 58, and can perform linear reciprocating movement by switching the direction of the current flowing through the coil 54.

The test attaches the floating head slider according to the present invention to the tip of some guide arms 55, indicated by reference numeral 10, and the tip of the guide arm 55, which leaves the conventional floating head slider indicated by reference numeral 40. , The spindle 53 is rotated by a motor, a current is applied to the coil 51, and start and stop are repeated.

First, after the start and stop are repeated with a part of the magnetic disk device open to the atmosphere, the floating head slider 1 is unloaded.
0 and 40 were removed from this test apparatus, and the floating force generating surfaces 12 of both floating head sliders 10 and 40 were observed. The conventional floating head slider 40 was confirmed at the outflow end 13 of the flying force generating surface 12 of the slider rail 11. The length of the deposit was measured and found to be 10μ
m, and the long one was about 100 μm. The thickness was measured and found to be about 20 μm to 40 μm.
To this end, the floating head slider 10 according to the invention is used.
Almost no deposit was observed at the outflow end 13, and it was deposited on the slope 21 on the inflow end side of the groove 20.

After this observation, the floating head slider 10,
40 is mounted on the test apparatus again, this time the magnetic disk apparatus is hermetically sealed, and after repeatedly starting and stopping in the clean room, the floating head sliders 10 and 40 are removed from the test apparatus in the unloaded state. The levitation force generation surface 12 of each of the floating head sliders 10 and 40 was observed again. In the conventional floating head slider 40, most of the dust attached to the outflow end 13 has fallen off.
However, the floating head slider 10 according to the present invention has the groove 20.
The amount of dust accumulated on the slope 21 was not changed much.

From the above, the floating head slider according to the present invention has the slope 21 forming the groove 20 even when the contact between the floating head slider and the magnetic disk occurs due to start / stop.
It can be seen that the dust once captured is hard to fall off.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the floating head slider of the present invention. In this floating head slider, a groove 120 for capturing dust is provided on the flying force generating surface 12 of the slider rail 11 at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the slider rail 11. Regarding the groove shape, the surface connected to the inflow end side portion of the levitation force generating surface 12 has inclined surfaces 121 and 122 configured in the same manner as the groove 20 described with reference to FIG. 2, and the groove size is also the same.

In the floating head slider having such a groove 120, as in the floating head slider described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the floating head slider floats, and the flying force generating surface 12 and the surface of the magnetic disk. The air flow that has entered between and flows along the levitation force generating surface 12 of the slider rail 11 and reaches the groove 120, flows along the slope 121 forming the groove 120, and generates a vortex inside the groove. .. The dust contained in the air flow adheres to the slope 121 due to the complicated air flow in the groove 120 when the air flow flows along the slope 121, and even if it becomes a lump, the dust is included in the groove 120.
Deposits only inside the. Therefore, the contact star
Even if the stop is stopped, even if the gap between the outflow end of the floating head slider and the surface of the magnetic disk becomes small during seeking, the accumulated dust does not contact the surface of the magnetic disk.

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the floating head slider according to the present invention. In this floating head slider, the groove 220 for catching dust has the flying force generation surface 12
In addition, the slider rail 11 is provided at a large angle from near the inflow end 14 to near the outflow end 13.
Regarding the groove shape, the surface connected to the inflow end side portion of the levitation force generating surface 12 has inclined surfaces 221 and 222 configured similarly to the groove 20 described with reference to FIG. 2, and the groove size is also the same.

Also in this floating head slider, a part of the air flow flowing between the levitation force generating surface 12 and the surface of the magnetic disk flows along the levitation force generating surface 12 of the slider rail 11 and enters the groove 220. When it reaches, it flows along the slope 221 on the inflow end side of the groove 220, and generates a vortex inside the groove 220. When the dust included in the air flow flows along the slope 221, it adheres to the slope 221 due to the complicated air flow in the groove 220 and accumulates only inside the groove 220 even if it becomes a lump. For this reason,
Even if the contact start stop is performed, even if the gap between the outflow end of the floating head slider and the surface of the magnetic disk becomes small during seeking, the accumulated dust remains on the surface of the magnetic disk. Do not touch. And
In this floating head slider, the groove 220 has a slider rail.
The levitation characteristics are stable because they are arranged over the entire loop 11.

FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment of the floating head slider according to the present invention. In this floating head slider, the groove 320 for capturing dust has the flying force generating surface 12
Of the slider rail 11 in front of the outflow end 13 of the slider rail 11 as well as the groove 32 having the same shape and size.
0'is also provided at a portion in front of the inflow end 14. The shape of the two grooves is such that the surface connected to the inflow end side portion of the levitation force generating surface 12 has inclined surfaces 321 and 322 configured in the same manner as the groove 20 described with reference to FIG. 2, and the groove size is also the same. ..

The air flow entering from the inflow end 14 between the levitation force generating surface 12 and the surface of the magnetic disk is the inflow end 1
4 reaches the groove 320 in the groove 320, flows along the slope 321 forming the groove 320, generates a vortex in the groove 320, and then flows along the levitation force generating surface 12, and the groove 320 in the vicinity of the outflow end 13. After entering the groove 320 ', the groove 320' flows along the inclined surface 321 'to generate a vortex inside the groove 320'. Of the dust contained in the airflow, the large dust is the slope 32 of the groove 320 where the airflow is in front of the inflow end 14.
1 along the sloped surface 321 'of the groove 320' near the outflow end 13 due to the complicated air flow in the groove 321 adhering to the sloped surface 321. The complex air flow in 320 ′ attaches to the slope 321 ′ and deposits inside the groove 320 and the groove 320 ′. Therefore, contact
Even if the start-stop is used, even if the gap between the outflow end of the floating head slider and the surface of the magnetic disk becomes small during seeking, the accumulated dust will contact the surface of the magnetic disk. do not do.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another structure of the groove provided on the floating force generating surface 12 of the slider rail 12. The groove 20a is composed of two slopes 21a and 22a. Each of the slopes 21a and 22a is formed of a curved surface, and the slopes are connected by the curved surface so that the air flow is divided into the slope 21a and the slope 22a. It is made to flow along a part. Figure 2 shows the groove width and maximum depth.
This is the same as the groove described in relation to.

The groove 20a having such a structure is provided on the slope 2
1a and 22a and the levitation force generating surface connected to these slopes are curved surfaces, so that the air flow that has entered between the levitation force generating surface 12 and the surface of the magnetic disk is
The vortex flow is generated in the groove 20a by the 2a, and the dust flows along not only the slope 21a but also near the outflow end side portion of the levitation force generating surface 12 on the slope 22a. Slopes 21a, 22
It adheres to a and the trapped amount increases. Since the connecting portion between the inflow end side portion of the levitation force generating surface and the slope 21a is a curved surface, dust is less likely to adhere to the groove 20 as compared with the groove 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and is deposited. It is possible to improve the effect of preventing dust from falling off the surface of the magnetic disk.

As shown in FIG. 1, the groove 20a has an outflow end 13a.
4 inclining toward the slider rail 11 toward the front of FIG.
5, at a right angle to the slider rail 11 in front of the outflow end 13, and between the rear of the inflow end 14 and the front of the outflow end 13 as shown in FIG. 5, inclined with respect to the slider rail 11, or As shown in FIG. 6, the slider rails 11 are provided both behind the inflow end 14 and in front of the outflow end 13.
It is arranged to be inclined with respect to. A floating head slider having such a groove is incorporated in a hard disk drive and is used as an outflow end when contact start stop or seek and following is performed. Even if the gap with the surface of the magnetic disk becomes small, the dust particles accumulated on the slope 21a connected to the inflow end side portion of the levitation force generation surface do not contact the surface of the magnetic disk.

[0030]

As described above, in the floating head slider of the present invention, dust is trapped on the inclined surface connected to the air bearing surface on the inflow end side, and even if the trapped dust becomes lumps, the inclined surface and this The groove is arranged in front of the outflow end of the slider rail without protruding from the levitation force generating surface of the slider rail in the pocket formed by the surface and the other surface forming the groove. Since dust does not contact the surface of the magnetic disk regardless of the posture of the floating head slider, the reliability of the magnetic disk device can be greatly improved. Is suppressed, it is possible to perform efficient cleaning.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a floating head slider of the present invention, with a floating force generating surface facing upward.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a groove provided on a flying force generating surface of the floating head slider of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a magnetic disk device for conducting a comparative experiment between the floating head slider of the present invention and a conventional floating head slider.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the floating head slider of the present invention with the flying force generating surface facing upward.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the floating head slider of the present invention with the flying force generating surface facing upward.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a floating head slider according to still another embodiment of the present invention with the flying force generating surface facing upward.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing another configuration of the groove provided on the flying force generating surface of the floating head slider of the present invention.

8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the groove along the line BB in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional floating head slider with the flying force generating surface facing upward.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Slider rail, 12 ... Levitating force generating surface, 13 ... Outflow end, 14 ... Inflow end, 20, 20a, 120, 220,
320 ... Grooves, 21, 21a, 121, 221, 321 ...
A surface that connects to the inflow end.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A slider rail is provided with a groove located in front of an outflow end on a levitation force generating surface, and a surface connected to an inflow end side portion of the levitation force generating surface forming the groove is an inflow end side end portion. The floating head slider is characterized in that it has an inclined surface lower than the opposite end.