KR20000020326A - Latch apparatus for hard disk drive - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A latch apparatus for hard disk drive is provided to save the manufacturing cost and assembly processes by fixing a head of an actuator to a parking zone on a disk. CONSTITUTION: A VCM is installed to one side of a base(40). The VCM(30) has a magnet(31a), upper and lower yokes(31), and a bobbin(22) of an actuator(20) inserted between upper and lower yokes(31). A plurality of coils(22a) are inserted into the bobbin(22) by an insert molding. A head is installed to the other side of the actuator(20) for reading or storing information on a disk. An outer crash stopper and an inner crash stopper are installed to the VCM for controlling the movement of the bobbin(22). VCM spacers for separating upper and lower yokes(31) in a uniform interval are used as the outer crash stopper. The VCM is contacted to the one side of the bobbin(22) and uses an O-ring. The inner crash stopper is composed to the one side of the VCM.

Description

Latch Device of Hard Disk Drive

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hard disk drive, and more particularly, to a latch device serving as an inner crash stopper configured to place an actuator head in a parking zone on a disk, which is a recording medium, when the power is turned off.

In general, a hard disk drive (HDD) is used as a secondary storage device of a computer for reading digital information written or recorded on a disk, which is a predetermined recording medium by converting a digital electronic pulse into a more permanent magnetic field. Such a hard disk drive includes an actuator having a disk in which information data is stored, a head for recording or reading information recorded on the disk, and the actuator around the predetermined pivot axis. Voice Coil Motor (VCM) that flows to the correct data location on the image, and an electronic circuit that controls the devices and an interface that connects the drive to the computer body.

In addition, the VCM configured in the end and the main body of the actuator is provided with an O-ring (O-ring) that serves as an outer crash stopper (Outer Crash Stopper) to prevent the head of the floating actuator to escape to the outermost of the disk One VCM spacer and a latching device serving as an inner crash stopper for fixing the head of the actuator to the parking zone when the device is powered off are in place. As the latch device, a method using a magnetic force of a magnet, which is a component of VCM, an electromagnet method for applying a constant current, and a method using air pressure or the like are used. Hereinafter, a latch device using a magnetic induction method by the magnetic force of the magnet will be described.

1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a hard disk drive according to an embodiment of the prior art.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional hard disk drive and a latching device includes a disk 110, which is a recording medium rotated at a high speed by a spindle motor 111, and for reading information data recorded or recorded on the disk. An actuator 120 having a head 121 and a VCM 130 for flowing the head 121 of the actuator 120 to a predetermined data position on the disk are configured on the base 140.

In the configuration of the VCM 140, first, one side of the actuator 120 is integrally formed with a bobbin 122 formed by insert molding a coil 122a wound in the center a plurality of times. The iron piece 123 is installed in the end position of the said bobbin 122.

Thereafter, the lower yoke is provided by the VCM spacers 132 and 133 having a space in which the bobbin 122 of the actuator 120 can be inserted. In FIG. 1, the upper yoke is omitted for the sake of explanation. The VCM spacers 132 and 133 are installed at both ends so that the upper yoke and the lower yoke 131 are spaced at regular intervals. Magnets 131a are fixed to the inner surfaces of the upper yoke and the lower yoke, respectively, and the bobbin 122 of the actuator 120 is inserted into the space therebetween. That is, the current is applied to the coil 122a of the bobbin 122 to flow the head 121 of the actuator 120 to the position of the predetermined information data on the disk.

In addition, an O-ring 132a having a predetermined elastic force is coupled to the center of the outer peripheral surface of the VCM spacers 132 and 133 serving as spacers of the upper and lower yokes, so that the head 121 of the actuator 120 is connected to the data zone 110a on the disk 110. It is configured to prevent the departure from the outside. Thereafter, when the device is powered off, a latch housing 134 is installed on the lower yoke 131 so that the head 121 of the actuator 120 can be located in the parking zone 110b on the disk. That is, since the iron piece 123 installed in the bobbin 122 of the actuator 120 is in contact with the latch housing 134 by a constant magnetic force, the head 121 of the actuator is always located in the parking zone 110b on the disk when the device is not operated.

In addition, a slot (not shown) of a predetermined depth is formed in a portion in contact with the iron piece 123 of the latch housing 134. The slot is configured to have a stronger latching force by maximizing the amount of magnet flux by flowing the applied magnetic force lines to the outside.

However, as described above, the method of attaching the iron piece to the latch housing by using the magnetic force of the magnet should form a slot using a dedicated processing machine at the contact portion with the iron piece of the latch housing, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost and assembly labor. This happened. In addition, a problem arises in that the latching force for positioning the actuator in the parking zone is distributed. In addition to the magnetic induction method as described above, a method using a pneumatic pressure method or an electromagnet also has a problem in that expensive manufacturing costs are required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a latch device of a hard disk drive, which can reduce manufacturing costs and assembly labor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a latch device of a hard disk drive capable of always implementing a constant latch force.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is installed so as to face the upper and lower yoke and the inner surface of the upper and lower yokes, which are installed to be spaced apart at regular intervals by VMS spacer on the base. In the VCM of a hard disk drive having a configuration in which a bobbin of an actuator having a coil is inserted between the magnet and the magnets of the upper and lower yokes so as to flow according to an applied current. The cylindrical latch pin is installed so as to extend by a predetermined length, and when the head of the actuator is located in the parking zone on the disk, a spring holder of a predetermined shape is installed on the base where the latch pin of the bobbin is located, the spring The holder is fixed to the free end formed with a plurality of protrusions on the inner side U-shaped leaf spring is formed integrally with the end is characterized in that it is installed in the direction in which the latch pin is inserted.

1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a hard disk drive according to an embodiment of the prior art.

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a hard disk drive showing a latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a perspective view showing a latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a hard disk drive equipped with a latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5a is a block diagram showing a state before the latch pin is inserted into the leaf spring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5b is a block diagram showing a state in which the latch pin is mounted to the leaf spring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5c is a block diagram showing a state in which the latch pin is fixed by the leaf spring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

23: latch pin 41: spring holder

51: leaf spring 52: free end

53: fixed end 52a, 52b, 53a: protruding end

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used for the same components, even if displayed on different drawings. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

2 is a partial perspective view of a hard disk drive showing a latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a latch device, Figure 4 is a block diagram of a hard disk drive equipped with a latch device to be.

In the configuration of the latch device according to the present invention, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, first, VCM 30 is installed on one side on the base 40. The VCM 30 has a magnet 31a, and is installed to be spaced apart at a predetermined interval, the lower yoke 31 (the upper yoke is not shown for convenience of description), and the bobbin 22 of the actuator 20 inserted between the upper and lower yokes. It consists of. The coil 22a wound around the bobbin 22 is inserted into the insert molding, and is configured to apply a current to the coil 22a to obtain a constant force in the magnetic field between the upper and lower yokes. At this time, the other end of the actuator 20 is provided with a head 21 for reading or storing information on the disk 10, which is a recording medium.

The head 21 of the actuator 20 has an outer crash stopper and a latch device 50 for controlling the flow of the bobbin 22 for preventing the departure from the data zone 10a on the disk 10 and fixing the position to the parking zone 10b. An inner crash stopper will be installed. As an outer crash stopper for preventing the head 21 of the actuator 20 from escaping to the outermost portion of the data zone 10a of the disk 10, in this drawing, the VCM spacer 32 is installed to space the upper and lower yokes at a predetermined interval. 33 was used. In addition, an O-ring 32a was used as the damping member in the VCM spacer 32 in contact with one side of the bobbin 22.

Then, the latch device 50 which is an inner crash stopper according to the present invention is configured on one side of the VCM30. First, the latch pin 23 is installed in the end position of the actuator bobbin 22 to extend downward by a predetermined length. The latch pin 23 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a predetermined diameter.

Then, when the head 21 of the actuator 20 is located in the parking zone 10b on the disk 10, a spring holder 41 having a predetermined shape is installed on the base 40 where the latch pin 23 of the bobbin 22 is positioned. The spring holder 41 is provided with a U-shaped leaf spring 51 in which a free end 52 and a fixed end 53 having a plurality of protrusions formed on an inner side thereof are integrally installed in a direction in which the latch pin 23 is inserted. The fixed end 53 is fixed to the spring holder 41, and the free end 52 is formed to have a predetermined elastic force when the latch pin 23 is inserted or detached and to open outward.

The protrusions may be spaced apart from the inner surface of the free end 52 of the leaf spring 51 at a predetermined interval by the first protrusions 52a and the second protrusions 52b and the first protrusions 52a and the second protrusions at the inner side of the fixed end 53. It consists of the 3rd protrusion part 53a which protrudes in the direction between 52b. The gap between the first protrusion 52a and the third protrusion 53a of the leaf spring 51 is smaller than the diameter of the latch pin 23, and the diameter of the latch pin 23 is the first, second, third protrusion 52a, 52b, or 53a. The ends are formed to have the same diameter as the imaginary circle that all abut. In addition, end portions of the protrusions 52a, 52b, and 53a that contact the outer circumferential surfaces of the latch pins are curved to smoothly insert and close the latch pins 23. At this time, the latch force of the protrusion of the leaf spring 51 to hold the latch pin 23 by the elastic force of the free end 52 is formed to be smaller than the force for flowing the actuator 20 generated in the VCM30.

Figure 5a is a block diagram showing a state before the latch pin is inserted into the leaf spring according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5b is a block diagram showing a state in which the latch pin is mounted on the leaf spring, Figure 5c Is a configuration diagram showing a state in which the latch pin is fixed by the leaf spring.

The operation of the latch device according to the present invention, as shown in Figs. 5a to 5c, when the power is off, the latch pin 23 provided on the bobbin 22 of the actuator is a free end 52 of the U-shaped leaf spring 51 installed in the spring holder 41 on the base When inserted between and the fixed end 53, the outer peripheral surface of the latch pin 23 is in contact with the first projection 52a formed on the inner surface of the free end 52 of the leaf spring 51 and the third projection 53a formed on the inner surface of the fixed end 53 at the same time do. At this time, when the actuator is further rotated and inserted between the leaf springs 51, the latch pin 23 pushes the first protrusion 52a. Therefore, the free end 52 of the leaf spring 51 is bent while having a predetermined elastic force by the insertion of the latch pin 23.

Thereafter, when the latch pin 23 of the bobbin 22 is inserted, the outer circumferential surface of the latch pin 23 is formed on the inner surfaces of the first and second protrusions 52a and 52b and the fixed end 53 formed on the inner surface of the leaf spring free end 52. The third protrusion 53a is in contact with the same time. At this time, the free end 52 of the leaf spring 51 moves to its original position to support and fix the latch pin 23.

On the other hand, when power is applied, the head of the actuator is moved to the data zone on the disk, whereby the latch pin 23 of the bobbin 22 is separated from the leaf spring 51. In this case, too, since the latch pin 23 flows while pushing the first protrusion 52a of the free end 52, the free end 52 of the leaf spring 51 is bent while having an elastic force to the outside. That is, it is because the VCM force for flowing the actuator is larger than the latch force (elastic force) of the leaf spring 51 supporting and fixing the latch pin 23.

As described above, since the latch device of the hard disk drive according to the embodiment of the present invention can fix the head of the actuator to the parking zone on the disk by using the elastic force of the leaf spring, it is possible to always implement a constant latch force. Since a separate dedicated processing machine is not used for the implementation of the device, manufacturing cost is reduced and assembly labor is reduced.

Claims (5)

Upper and lower yokes provided on the base to be spaced at regular intervals by VCM spacers, magnets provided to face each other on the inner surfaces of the upper and lower yokes, and magnets of the upper and lower yokes. In the VCM of the hard disk drive having a configuration in which the bobbin of the actuator having a coil is inserted so as to flow in accordance with the current applied therebetween, A cylindrical latch pin is installed at an end position of the actuator bobbin to extend downward by a predetermined length; When the head of the actuator is located in the parking zone on the disk, a spring holder of a predetermined shape is installed on the base where the latch pin of the bobbin is located; The spring holder is a latch device of a hard disk drive, characterized in that the U-shaped leaf spring is formed in the direction in which the latch pin is inserted is formed integrally with the free end and the fixed end formed with a plurality of protrusions on the inner side. The method of claim 1, End portions of the protrusions are formed in a curved shape for smooth insertion of the latch pins, characterized in that the latch device of the hard disk drive. The method of claim 1, The protrusion, First and second protrusions spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals on the inner surface of the free end of the leaf spring; And a third protrusion protruding in the direction between the first protrusion and the second protrusion on the inner side of the fixed end. The method of claim 3, wherein The gap between the first protrusion and the third protrusion of the leaf spring is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the latch pin, The latch pin has a diameter of the hard disk drive latch device, characterized in that formed so as to have the same diameter as the virtual circle that the end of the first, second, third projections all contact. The method of claim 1, And a latching force of the protrusion of the leaf spring to hold the latch pin with an elastic force of a free end is smaller than a force for flowing the actuator generated in the VCM.