JPS6396789A - Dehumidifying mechanism for magnetic disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the trouble of replacing a moisture absorbent by providing a heater restoring functions which emits moisture absorbed by heating the moisture absorbent arranged in a moisture absorbing chamber and restores an absorbing function, and 1st and 2nd valves which open and close 1st and 2nd communication holes in normal operation and in the restoration of the absorbing function. CONSTITUTION:Normally the 1st valve 12a closes a steam discharge port 13 to open a moisture absorbing hole 14. The moisture in a container is absorbed with the moisture absorbent 1 through the hole 14. At a time when the absorbing function of the moisture absorbent 1 is deteriorated, a solenoid 11 is functioned to switch a changeover valve 12. The steam discharge hole 13 is opened, and the 2nd valve 12b completely blocks the moisture absorbing hole 14. Then the heater 6 heats to emit the moisture that the moisture absorbent 1 has absorbed out of the absorbent 1, and the absorbing function is restored. The moisture emitted from the absorbent 1 is discharged to the outside from the steam discharging hole 13. At that time, the 2nd valve 12b completely blocks the moisture absorbing hole 14, whereby no moisture enters the container. After the absorbing function of the moisture absorbent 1 is restored, the action of the solenoid 11 switches the changeover valve 12, and the operation returns to normality. Thus the absorbent can be used repeatedly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a dehumidification mechanism that removes moisture from the air inside a magnetic disk drive.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 3 is from the Precision Machinery Society of Japan Symposium "Drive Technology in Clean Gas" text P34-P41. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a moisture absorption mechanism of a conventional magnetic disk device described in E1.60.4.18. In the figure, (1) is a cover (5) placed over the space (5) on which the magnetic disk unit is installed.
2) with a moisture absorbent placed inside the filter (3) on top.
A diaphragm (4) is provided.

Next, the operation will be explained. In magnetic disk drives, the surfaces of the magnetic head and magnetic disk are finished to be extremely smooth, so the head and disk may stick together when stopped. The main cause of this is.

The problem is that water vapor contained in the air inside the magnetic disk drive condenses, forming a film of water between the head and the disk. Therefore, if a moisture absorbent is placed inside the magnetic disk drive as shown in FIG. 1, the air becomes dry and there is no possibility that the head and disk will stick together.

Note that the filter (3) is designed to prevent the fine powder of the moisture absorbent (1) from entering the magnetic disk device, and the aperture (4) is
) is provided to extend the life of the device.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Conventional dehumidification mechanisms have had the problem that once the moisture absorbent absorbs moisture to its full capacity, it loses its moisture absorption effect, and the moisture absorbent must be replaced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifying mechanism for a magnetic disk device that eliminates the need to replace the moisture absorbent.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The dehumidifying mechanism for a magnetic disk drive of the present invention is formed by partitioning a closed container housing a magnetic disk drive, and includes a 5g1 slow passage hole that communicates with the outside air and a filter that connects the inside of the container with a filter. A moisture absorption chamber having 5g2 communication holes communicating through the moisture absorption chamber, a moisture absorption agent placed in the moisture absorption chamber to adsorb moisture in the container, and an adsorption capacity that heats the moisture absorption agent placed in the moisture absorption chamber to release the adsorbed moisture. A first valve that fully closes the first communication hole during normal operation and opens when the adsorption capacity is recovered, and a second valve that opens the second slow passage hole during the normal operation and closes when the adsorption capacity is recovered.

[Effect]

The heater of this invention heats the moisture absorbent to release the adsorbed moisture and restore the adsorption capacity, so the moisture absorbent can be used repeatedly and there is no need to replace the moisture absorbent. By switching the valve, the water that comes out when the moisture absorbent is dried is discharged to the outside and does not reach the magnetic disk drive.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1st
This figure is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a steady state in which the magnetic disk device absorbs moisture, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a state in which the adsorption ability of the moisture absorbent is restored.

In the figure, (■) is a heat insulating material that partitions the inside of the sealed container that houses the magnetic disk device, which is formed by the space (5) in which the magnetic disk device is installed and the cover (2), and forms a moisture absorption chamber. A moisture absorbent disposed in the moisture absorption chamber C2η, (
6) is a heater that is placed in the moisture absorption chamber Qυ and restores the adsorption capacity of the moisture absorbent (11), in this case it is an electric heater, (the power is the energizing terminal to the heater (6), ) is a hole made in the cover (2) to take it in and out, (9) is a lid that closes the hole (8). 111 is an O-ring, (13 is a hole made in the cover (2) on the outside air side and the moisture absorption chamber Qυ. The first communicating hole, in this case, the steam outlet; (141 is the second communicating hole, which communicates the inside of the container made in the heat insulating material with the moisture absorption chamber, in this case, the moisture absorption hole, the moisture absorption hole) A filter (3) is provided in the α layer, so that the fine powder of the moisture absorbent (1) can enter the container. α2 is a switching valve that opens and closes the steam exhaust hole A4 on one side. The first valve (
12a) and the second valve (12b) that opens and closes the moisture absorption hole I on the other side.
)have. υ is a solenoid that operates the switching valve α.

Next, I will congratulate you on your actions. In the steady state shown in FIG. 1, the steam outlet 0 is closed by the first valve (12a) and the moisture absorption hole α
The tube is open, and the moisture in each container is absorbed by the moisture absorbent (1) through the moisture absorption hole (I4). and.

When the adsorption capacity of the moisture absorbing material +11 begins to decline, as shown in Figure 2, actuate the solenoid valve (13) to raise the steam exhaust hole a3 and close the moisture absorption hole α4 to the second valve (13).
12b), and then the heater (6) is energized and heated to release the moisture adsorbed from the moisture absorbent (1) and restore the adsorption capacity. The moisture released from the moisture absorbent (1) is discharged to the outside through the steam exhaust hole α as shown by the arrow. At this time, since the moisture absorption hole I is completely closed by the second valve (12b), moisture does not enter the inside of the container (on the side of the magnetic disk device). After recovering the adsorption capacity of the moisture absorbent (1),
Stop energizing the heater (6).

The switching valve α2 is switched by the action of the solenoid θ, returning to the steady state shown in FIG. As described above.

In this embodiment, when the adsorption capacity of the hygroscopic agent decreases, the adsorption capacity is restored by heating with a heater, so the hygroscopic agent can be used repeatedly and the effort of replacing the hygroscopic agent can be saved. Further, if the device is set to automatically repeat the steady state and the adsorption capacity recovery state, further labor savings can be achieved.

In the above embodiment, a solenoid is used to operate the switching valve α2, but the same effect can be achieved even if the switching valve α2 is operated using other means such as a motor. Of course, it may be a manual type.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a closed container housing a magnetic disk device is partitioned and formed.

a moisture absorption chamber having a first communication hole communicating with outside air and a second communication hole communicating with the inside of the container via a filter; a moisture absorption agent disposed within the moisture absorption chamber to adsorb moisture in the container; A heater is arranged to heat the moisture absorbent to release the adsorbed moisture and restore the adsorption capacity.
Communication hole fully closed.

By having a first valve that opens when the adsorption capacity is recovered, and a second valve that opens the second communication hole during normal operation and closes when the adsorption capacity recovers, the moisture absorbent can be used repeatedly and the hassle of replacing the moisture absorption agent is eliminated. There are some infancy that can be saved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a steady state of the dehumidifying mechanism of a magnetic disk drive according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing its adsorption capacity recovery state, and FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional diagram of a conventional example. The figure shows. In the figure, (1) is a moisture absorbent, (3) is a filter, and (6
) is the heater, (12a) is the first valve, (12b) is the second valve, (I3 is the first communication hole, Q4) i'm second communication hole,
121 is a heat insulating material, and Qυ is a moisture absorption chamber. In Figure 62, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A moisture absorption chamber formed by partitioning an airtight container housing a magnetic disk device and having a first communication hole that communicates with the outside air and a second communication hole that communicates with the inside of the container via a filter, disposed within the moisture absorption chamber. a hygroscopic agent that adsorbs moisture in the container; a heater placed in the hygroscopic chamber that heats the hygroscopic agent to release the adsorbed moisture and restore adsorption capacity; The first valve that opens when
A dehumidifying mechanism for a magnetic disk device, further comprising a second valve that opens a second communication hole during normal operation and closes when adsorption capacity is recovered. (2) A dehumidifying mechanism for a magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the moisture absorption chamber is partitioned by a heat insulating material.