JPH09204748A - Magnetic head supporting body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic head supporting body loading/unloading a magnetic head in non-contact with a medium while stably floating it on the medium. SOLUTION: A gap A is provided between the slider surface 2a of the magnetic head 2 and the medium surface 4a of the medium 4, and the medium 4 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow B simultaneously when a device is started. When the rotational speed of the medium 4 is increased, an air flow flows from an attaching part side of a suspension 12 in the direction of the arrow C. An opening part 5 is a wing form, and dynamic pressure occurs on the suspension 12 in the direction of the arrow D, and the magnetic head 2 approaches the medium 4. When the slider surface 2a approaches exceedingly the medium surface 4a, the dynamic pressure occurs between the slider surface 2a and the medium surface 4a, and the gap A between the magnetic head 2 and the medium surface 4a is kept to a fixed level. Further, when the medium 4 starts to stop, the air flow flowing on the medium surface 4a is decreased gradually, and the suspension 12 and the magnetic head 2 return to the state before start since dynamic pressure and negative pressure are lost.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support for supporting a magnetic head slider mounted on a magnetic disk device, and more particularly to a load / unload mechanism for the support.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a general magnetic disk device, in which a magnetic disk medium (hereinafter, referred to as a magnetic disk medium) directly connected to a drive motor (not shown) is rotated on a base. A medium) 4, a magnetic head slider (hereinafter referred to as a magnetic head) 2 facing the surface of the medium 4, a support (hereinafter referred to as a suspension) 1 that supports the magnetic head 2, and a support arm to which the suspension 1 is attached. Three
And is provided. The support arm 3 is attached to a positioning mechanism that performs a swinging motion. Then, a method of loading and unloading the magnetic head 2 by mechanically displacing the suspension 1 with respect to the medium 4 is adopted. As a result, the magnetic head 2 is driven by the positioning mechanism and positioned on a predetermined track of the medium 4, and data writing / reading is performed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a suspension of a conventional magnetic disk device. Generally, a start / stop system in a magnetic disk device is called a contact start / stop system (hereinafter referred to as CSS system). In this CSS system, the magnetic head 2 has a support arm 3
Is supported by a suspension 15 attached to a magnetic disk medium (hereinafter,
It is pressed against a medium 4) with a predetermined pressure. Therefore, in the CSS method, when the medium 4 rotates or stops, friction may occur between the slider surface 2a of the magnetic head 2 and the medium surface 4a, and the magnetic film on the medium surface 4a may be damaged. Then, the reliability of the magnetic disk device may decrease.

Further, since the slider surface 2a of the magnetic head 2 and the medium surface 4a of the medium 4 are mirror-finished on each other, and the medium surface 4a has a lubricating film for protection, the medium 4 is formed. In the state where the rotation of the slider has stopped, due to the influence of water, gas, or the like that has penetrated into the gap between the slider surface 2a and the medium surface 4a or generated in the gap,
There is a high possibility that the slider surface 2a and the medium surface 4a will be attracted to each other and cause a so-called head crash accident.

However, there is a negative pressure magnetic head (hereinafter referred to as a negative pressure head) as one of the methods for solving such an adsorption phenomenon.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of a suspension of a magnetic disk device having a negative pressure head mounted thereon.
FIG. 6B is a partially enlarged view showing the lower surface (medium facing surface) of the negative pressure head 6 of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the negative pressure head 6, when the medium 4 is stopped, the slider surface (positive pressure surface) 6 a is the medium surface 4.
It is about 100 μm away from a. Next, when the medium 4 starts to rotate, the negative pressure surface 6 b of the negative pressure head 6 and the medium surface 4
The negative pressure head 6 is attracted to the medium surface 4a by the negative pressure generated between the negative pressure head 6 and a. However, the air bearing effect is generated by the dynamic pressure (positive pressure) generated between the slider surface 6a and the medium surface 4a. Therefore, if the negative pressure and the positive pressure generated in the slider of the magnetic head are designed to be appropriate, the negative pressure head 6 contacts the medium 4 while maintaining a gap of about 0.1 to 0.3 μm. It can be levitated stably.

On the other hand, when the negative pressure head 6 is used, the medium 4
When the rotation of the negative pressure head 6 is stopped, the slider surface 6a of the negative pressure head 6 is stopped.
The dynamic pressure and the negative pressure generated between the negative pressure surface 6b and the medium surface 4a are lost, the initial state is restored, and the slider surface 6a is separated from the medium surface 4a. As described above, the method of starting and stopping the magnetic head and the medium in a non-contact manner is based on the above-mentioned CS.
It is called the flying start stop method (hereinafter referred to as the FSS method) as opposed to the S method.

[0009]

In the above-mentioned conventional magnetic disk device, in the CSS type suspension, the slider surface and the medium surface are accompanied by mechanical friction when the magnetic disk device is started and stopped, and therefore the slider surface and the medium surface are subject to mechanical friction. The surfaces have the drawback that they fatigue each other when the magnetic disk device is started and stopped.

Further, when the conventional FSS method, which is one method for solving the problems of the CSS method, is adopted, in a magnetic disk apparatus having a plurality of media and magnetic heads, the magnetic disk apparatus is stopped. In this state, the initial gap between the slider surface of the magnetic head and the medium surface is 100 μm.
Although some degree is required, the components that make up the magnetic disk device include dimensional tolerances and variations during assembly, so the initial clearance required for the negative pressure head should be uniform on all media. Is very difficult.

An object of the present invention is to realize an FSS system in a magnetic disk device, to ensure a sufficient initial clearance between the slider surface of the magnetic head and the medium surface, and to load the magnetic head and the medium in a non-contact manner. It is to provide a suspension that unloads and floats stably.

[0012]

A suspension of the present invention is a magnetic head support for supporting a magnetic head slider, wherein the support receives the airflow generated by the rotation of a magnetic disk medium. It is characterized by comprising a posture control means for controlling the posture of.

The attitude control means is characterized in that it is loaded and unloaded by the dynamic pressure generated by the surface air flow of the magnetic head support. Further, the attitude control means may be configured to load / unload by a negative pressure generated by a surface air flow of the magnetic head support,
Furthermore, the dynamic pressure and the negative pressure generated by the surface air flow of the magnetic head support may be used for loading / unloading.

Thus, by having the self-loading / unloading mechanism by the operation of the suspension utilizing the airflow when the medium rotates, the slider surface of the magnetic head and the medium surface can be loaded / unloaded without contact. Since the slider surface of the magnetic head and the medium surface do not come into contact with each other when the magnetic disk device is started and stopped, it is possible to prevent damage due to friction and adsorption between the magnetic head and the medium.

[0015]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic heads described below refer to all types of levitation type magnetic heads, including dynamic pressure (positive pressure) heads and negative pressure heads.

Referring to FIG. 1, the suspension 12
Is supported by the support arm 3, the magnetic head 2 is attached to the tip of the support arm 3, and the suspension 12 is opened in the direction of the support arm 3 at the substantially central portion thereof, and the medium surface 4
It has a wing-shaped opening 5 punched out on the a side.

Next, the operation of the suspension 12 thus constructed will be described. First, in the state before starting the magnetic disk device, the slider surface 2a and the medium surface 4a are
And have a gap A. At the same time as starting, the medium 4 starts rotating in the direction of arrow B. As the rotation speed of the medium 4 increases, the relative speed between the slider surface 2a and the medium surface 4a increases, and the airflow generated on the surface of the medium 4 flows from the mounting portion side of the suspension 12 in the direction of arrow C. Further, since the opening 5 has a wing shape, dynamic pressure is generated in the suspension 12 in the direction of arrow D, and the magnetic head 2 approaches the medium 4. Then, the slider surface 2a
Is closest to the medium surface 4a, a dynamic pressure is generated between the slider surface 2a and the medium surface 4a, and the magnetic head 2 holds a constant gap, for example, about 0.1 to 0.3 μm. Levitate stably.

On the other hand, when the medium 4 starts to stop and the rotation speed decreases and the relative speed between the slider surface 2a and the medium surface 4a decreases, the air flow from the opening 5 gradually decreases, so that the suspension 12 moves. The pressure is lost and it returns to the state before startup. Therefore, the magnetic head 2 can perform loading / unloading without the slider surface 2a contacting the medium surface 4a.

Next, FIG. 2 (a) is a side view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is the same figure (a).
FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, the suspension 13
Is substantially U-shaped on the medium surface 4a side in the substantially central portion thereof,
It has a posture control section composed of a positive pressure generating surface 13a and a negative pressure generating surface 13b, and a magnetic head 2 is attached to the tip of the suspension 13 and supported by a support arm 3.

Next, the operation of the suspension 13 thus constructed will be described. The operation of the suspension 13 is the same as that of the suspension 12 shown in FIG. 1 before the magnetic disk device is activated. Subsequently, when the medium 4 starts to rotate and the rotation speed gradually increases, negative pressure is generated on the negative pressure generating surface 13b of the suspension 13 and the suspension 12 approaches the medium 4, but the positive pressure generating surface of the suspension 13 is generated. The magnetic head 2 is stably levitated while maintaining a constant gap due to the dynamic pressure (positive pressure) generated between the slider surface 2a of the magnetic head 13a and the medium surface 4a of the magnetic head 2.

Here, when the medium 4 starts to stop and the rotation speed decreases, the air flow flowing on the medium surface 4a gradually decreases, and the suspension 13 and the magnetic head 2 lose their dynamic pressure and negative pressure, and thus start up. Returns to the previous state. That is, the magnetic head 2 can perform loading / unloading without the slider surface 2a contacting the medium surface 4a.

Next, FIG. 3 is a side view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the suspension 14
Has the function of the suspension 12 shown in FIG. 1 and the function of the suspension 13 shown in FIG.
The medium surface 4a side of the substantially central portion has a substantially U shape, and has a positive pressure generating surface 14a and a negative pressure generating surface 14b, and
Further, the attitude control unit having the opening 14c is also provided. The magnetic head 2 is attached to the tip of the suspension 14 and is supported by the support arm 3.

Next, the operation of the suspension 14 thus constructed will be described. The operation of the suspension 14 is the same as that of the suspension 12 shown in FIG. 1 before the magnetic disk device is activated. Then, when the medium 4 starts to rotate and the rotation speed gradually increases, a negative pressure is generated on the negative pressure generating surface 14b of the suspension 14 and an air flow flows from the opening 14c in the direction of the arrow E. 14, a dynamic pressure is generated in the direction of arrow F, and the suspension 14 approaches the medium 4, but is generated between the positive pressure generating surface 14a of the suspension 14, the slider surface 2a of the magnetic head 2 and the medium surface 4a. Magnetic head 2 by dynamic pressure (positive pressure)
Keeps a constant gap and levitates stably.

When the medium 4 starts to stop, it returns to the state before starting as in the above-described embodiment, so that the magnetic head 2 is loaded and loaded without the slider surface 2a contacting the medium surface 4a.
Unloading can be performed.

[0028]

As described above, the magnetic head support of the present invention is a load / unload by the FSS system and allows the slider surface of the magnetic head and the medium surface to be in non-contact with each other. The magnetic head and the medium do not come into contact with each other and wear during the start-up / operation and stop of the magnetic disk device. Therefore, friction and adsorption due to sliding, which are likely to occur when the conventional CSS type magnetic disk device is stopped, and There is no damage to the magnetic head and the medium due to vibration. Further, even when the apparatus is in operation, no dust is generated and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a head crash accident. Therefore, the environmental resistance of the magnetic disk device against temperature and humidity and the mechanical life can be improved.

In addition, by adopting the FSS method, the medium does not require a fine groove processing called a texture mainly for preventing adsorption and a lubricant for improving abrasion resistance with the magnetic head. Since it becomes possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the medium, particularly in a magnetic disk device equipped with a large number of mediums, the reduction effect becomes large.

Further, in terms of manufacturing the magnetic disk device, since the magnetic head is mounted in a state of being separated from the medium, it is possible to absorb variations in dimensional tolerances of component parts. For example, when assembling the device, the magnetic head is mounted. The step of inserting the medium into the medium can be carried out without requiring a dedicated manufacturing facility, and there is an effect that the number of assembling steps and facility cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view and a bottom view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration example of a general magnetic disk device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional suspension.

6A and 6B are a side view and a partially enlarged view showing another example of a suspension equipped with a conventional negative pressure head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Suspension 2 Magnetic head 2a Slider surface 3 Support arm 4 Medium 4a Medium surface 5,14c Opening 6 Negative pressure head 6a Slider surface (positive pressure surface) 6b Negative pressure surface 13a, 14a Positive pressure Generator 13b, 14b Negative pressure generator

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic head support for supporting a magnetic head slider, comprising attitude control means for controlling the attitude of the support by receiving an air flow generated by the rotation of a magnetic disk medium on the support. A magnetic head support characterized by the following. 2. The magnetic head support according to claim 1, wherein the attitude control means is configured to load and unload by a dynamic pressure generated by a surface air flow of the magnetic head support. 3. The magnetic head support according to claim 1, wherein the attitude control means is configured to load and unload by a negative pressure generated by a surface air flow of the magnetic head support. 4. The magnetic head support according to claim 1, wherein the attitude control means is configured to load and unload by a dynamic pressure and a negative pressure generated by a surface air flow of the magnetic head support. 2. The magnetic head support according to claim 1, wherein the suspension is loaded and unloaded by a dynamic pressure and a negative pressure of a surface air flow.