JP2004265541A - Contact sliding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a contact sliding mechanism that reduces wear caused by friction between mechanical elements that perform a contact sliding operation.
A first and a second mechanical element are provided, and the working surfaces of the first and the second mechanical element are mutually moved through a lubricant with the relative movement of the first and the second mechanical element. In a contact sliding mechanism that performs a contact sliding operation, a surface energy pattern composed of two regions, a region having a high surface energy and a region having a low surface energy, is formed on the operating surface of at least one mechanical element. The two regions are alternately adjacent to each other and are arranged so that at least two stripe-shaped patterns that are inclined with respect to the relative movement direction of the first and second mechanical elements are line-symmetric, and the surface energy The pattern is formed.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a contact / sliding mechanism between mechanical elements which relatively performs a contact / sliding operation between mechanical elements and requires a high degree of precision in the operation, and more particularly, to information sliding by magnetic or optical means. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a contact sliding mechanism between a recording medium and a read / write head in a recording apparatus for recording / reproducing data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Various precision devices such as information devices often include mechanical elements that perform precise mechanical operations. Such mechanical elements require precise movements, for example, in terms of rotational movement, translational movement, and the like, and such movements must be guaranteed over a long period of time. Further, for example, in a device having a mechanism such that a mechanical element which is a separate member slides in contact with each other, such as a recording medium and a head of a magnetic recording device of information equipment, this contact sliding operation is performed for a long time. Assurance is required. Hereinafter, a mechanism in which such separate members slide in contact with each other will be described, particularly using a magnetic recording device as an example.
[0003]
FIG. 5 schematically shows the structure of a levitation type information recording / reproducing portion in a magnetic recording apparatus. As shown in the figure, the information recording / reproducing portion includes a recording medium 1 on which information is recorded and a magnetic head 2 for recording / reproducing information. The recording medium 1 is formed on a substrate (not shown) and includes a magnetic layer 11 on which magnetic information is recorded, a protective film 12 for protecting the magnetic layer 11, and a lubricating film 13 for preventing abrasion of the protective film 12. Have. The magnetic head 2 is provided with a recording / reproducing element (not shown) at the rear end 21 of the magnetic head 2.
[0004]
The magnetic head 2 flies above the recording medium 1 by the air flow 3 and has a high flying height on the side (hereinafter, referred to as “inflow end”) 2a into which the air flow 3 flows, and is opposite to the inflow end 2a (hereinafter, “inflow end”). The position is such that the flying height of 2b is low. In order to write as much information as possible on the recording medium, that is, to increase the recording density, it is necessary to bring the recording / reproducing element of the magnetic head 2 close to the magnetic layer 11, and finally, as shown in FIG. In addition, it is necessary to bring the magnetic head 2 into complete contact with the recording medium 1, that is, to bring it into a contact state. In the example of the contact method shown in FIG. 6, the inflow end 2a is levitated by air, and the outflow end 2b where the recording / reproducing element is arranged is brought into contact with the recording medium 1. In this example, if the contact force 22 on the recording medium 1 at the rear end 21 of the magnetic head 2 is small, the magnetic head 2 is likely to generate jump vibration on the recording medium 1, thereby making the recording or reproducing operation unstable. Might be. In order to suppress such a jump vibration, it is necessary to press the magnetic head 2 against the recording medium 1 with an appropriate contact force 22.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-219077
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned contact type magnetic recording apparatus, both the recording medium 1 and the magnetic head 2 wear due to the frictional force generated between the recording medium 1 and the magnetic head 2 due to the direct contact therebetween. There is a problem that the recording / reproducing performance deteriorates due to wear.
[0007]
In order to reduce the wear of the magnetic head 2, it is desired to make the contact force 22 minute. However, in the contact type magnetic recording device, as described above, the magnetic head 2 is pressed against the recording medium 1. Therefore, the lubricating film 13 is pushed away by the sliding of the magnetic head 2 on the recording medium 1, and the magnetic head 2 comes into contact with the recording medium 1 (boundary lubrication state), and the magnetic head 2 is worn. On the other hand, to reduce the distance between the recording / reproducing element and the magnetic layer 11 in order to increase the recording density, the recording / reproducing element is formed just below the surface of the magnetic head 2. For this reason, if the magnetic head 2 is worn even a little, the recording / reproducing element itself is damaged, and a normal recording / reproducing operation becomes impossible. Further, if the surface properties of the contact surface of the end portion 21 of the magnetic head 2 change due to abrasion, the contact state between the magnetic head 2 and the recording medium 1 also changes, and the magnetic head 2 can smoothly travel on the recording medium 2. become unable. As a result, for example, a jumping vibration occurs, and a normal recording / reproducing operation becomes impossible.
[0008]
In addition, in order to prevent the magnetic head 2 from being worn, an uneven surface is formed on the contact surface of the magnetic head 2, and the convex surface is configured as a high surface energy portion and the concave surface is configured as a low portion, so that the surface energy is low. It has also been proposed to lubricate the concave portion to flow the lubricant toward the convex surface to prevent the convex portion from being worn (see Patent Document 1).
[0009]
Since the magnetic spacing (distance between the recording / reproducing element and the magnetic layer 11) in the contact recording method is about 10 nm or less, the allowable wear amount (wear height) is, for example, about 1 to 0.5 nm. However, the conventional optimization of the lubricant and the protective film surface or the above-mentioned proposed means cannot be said to be sufficient to clear the above-mentioned permissible abrasion amount, and the recording / reproducing performance still deteriorates.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide a contact sliding mechanism that reduces wear due to friction between mechanical elements that perform a contact sliding operation in view of the above-mentioned problems.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a contact sliding mechanism according to the present invention includes first and second mechanical elements, and the first and second mechanical elements move relative to each other through a lubricant with the relative movement of the first and second mechanical elements. In the contact sliding mechanism in which the operating surfaces of the first and second mechanical elements perform a sliding contact operation with each other, at least one of the operating surfaces of the mechanical elements includes a region having a high surface energy and a region having a low surface energy. A surface energy pattern is formed, and the surface energy pattern is such that a plurality of the high surface energy regions and a plurality of the low surface energy regions are arranged alternately adjacent to each other, and the first and second machines are arranged. It is characterized in that it includes an oblique stripe pattern that is inclined with respect to the relative movement direction of the elements.
[0012]
The surface energy pattern may be formed by a plurality of the oblique stripe patterns having different inclinations with respect to a relative movement direction of the first and second mechanical elements, and further, at least two of the oblique stripe patterns. May be formed in a herringbone pattern arranged so as to be line-symmetric with respect to the center line of the operating surface.
[0013]
It is preferable that the surface energy pattern is formed by selectively applying or adding an element different from the operating surface to a specific region of the operating surface by plasma processing, photolithography, or the like.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows a slide surface of a magnetic head in a contact type magnetic recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a contact surface of the slide surface shown in FIG. 1 with a recording medium. FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged view of the contact surface for the purpose. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the contact surface of the magnetic head slide surface and the lubricating film, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a meniscus formed at the contact boundary between the magnetic head slide surface and the contact surface by the lubricant. FIG.
[0016]
The basic structure of a recording medium 1 as a first mechanical element and a magnetic head 2 as a second mechanical element which make up a magnetic recording apparatus and slide in contact with each other are the same as those shown in FIGS. Same as the example, and thus the same reference numbers indicate the same components.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows a lower surface (abdominal surface) of the magnetic head 2 shown in FIG. 6, that is, a surface facing the recording medium 1.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 23 denotes a slide surface of the magnetic head 2 as a second mechanical element which is covered with a hard amorphous carbon film and faces the recording medium 1 as a first mechanical element. Reference numeral 231 denotes an air bearing surface on the inflow end 2a side of the slide surface 23, which is formed to project by about several μm from other portions, and the recording medium 1 is formed by using the air bearing surface 231. The air flow generated by the relative movement between the magnetic head 2 and the magnetic head 2 generates pressure, and causes the magnetic head 2 to float above the recording medium 1 (see FIG. 6). Reference numeral 232 denotes a contact surface formed in a specific area on the outflow end 2b side of the slide surface 23. The contact surface 232 contacts the surface of the recording medium 1 with the relative movement of the recording head 1 and the magnetic head 2. Slide.
[0019]
The present invention is characterized by the configuration of the contact surface 232. That is, the contact surface 232 as an operation surface for performing a contact sliding operation includes a region 232a having a high surface energy and a region 232b having a low surface energy. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of regions 232 a having a high surface energy and the plurality of regions 232 b have a band shape having substantially the same width, and are alternately adjacent to each other, are arranged substantially in parallel, and have a contact surface. 232, an oblique striped pattern is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the center line 232c, and furthermore, the striped pattern is arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center line 232c in the left-right direction (up and down in the figure). . As a result, each of the regions 232a and 232b has a V-shape, and is arranged in an oblique stripe pattern having a turn on the center line 232c as a whole, that is, a so-called herringbone pattern. Note that the center line 232c coincides with the center line of the slide surface 23 of the magnetic head 2. The recording / reproducing element 24 is provided on the outflow end 2b side of the contact surface 232 on the center line 232c.
[0020]
As described above, the surface energy pattern in which the two regions 232 a and 232 b having different surface energies are appropriately arranged on the contact surface 232 is such that the region 232 a having a high surface energy The region 232b formed of the element itself and having a low surface energy is formed by vapor deposition of fluorine on the slide surface 23 or the like.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 3, the contact surface 232 of the magnetic head 2 configured as described above floats the inflow end 2a side from the recording medium 1 and slides the outflow end 2b side against the recording medium 1 while sliding. It moves relatively to the recording medium 1. At this time, a meniscus 131 due to the lubricating film 13 of the recording medium 1 is formed on the contact surface 232 of the magnetic head 2 intersecting with the surface of the lubricating film 13.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the meniscus 131 of the lubricating film 13 formed on the contact surface 232 of the magnetic head 2 when viewed from the upper surface side (back side) of the magnetic head 2. Note that the dotted line CC indicates a boundary line representing a contact boundary between the lubricating film 13 and the contact surface of the magnetic head 2. The contact angle of the lubricant forming the lubricant film 13 with the region 232a having a high surface energy is small, whereas the contact angle of the lubricant with the portion 232b having a low surface energy is large. Here, in order to make the description easy to understand, if the contact angle with respect to the region 232a having a high surface energy is 90 ° or less and the contact angle with respect to the region 232b having a low surface energy is 90 ° or more, the meniscus 131 formed is formed. As shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 4, in the region 232 a where the surface energy is high, the surface moves forward (to the right of the boundary line C-C in FIG. (Located to the left of line CC).
[0023]
Now, as shown in FIG. 3, when the recording medium 1 moves to the left of the drawing at a speed V with respect to the magnetic head 2, lubrication in a portion sandwiched between the contact surface 232 of the magnetic head 2 and the recording medium 1 is performed. The lubricant constituting the film 13 actually has a velocity distribution A as schematically shown in FIG. Here, in order to make the description easy to understand, it is assumed that the lubricant forming the lubricating film 13 flows with a speed distribution B of an average speed v. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, even at the meniscus 131, the lubricant constituting the lubricating film 13 tends to flow at the average velocity v toward the outflow end 2b as shown by the arrow 132b.
[0024]
However, the lubricant in the protruding (or advancing) meniscus portion in the high surface energy region 232a travels to the receding meniscus portion located in front (outflow end 2b side) of the low surface energy region 232b. And flows in an oblique direction as indicated by arrow 132a. As a result, the lubricant constituting the lubricating film 13 has a velocity vector toward the folded portion of the herringbone-shaped pattern of the contact surface 232, that is, the center line 232c. As a result, the lubricant is concentrated along the center line 232c of the contact surface 232, in other words, along the center line of the magnetic head 2, and the pressure increases, so that the magnetic head 2 is moved as shown in FIG. The recording medium 1 is pushed up by a rising force F due to the pressure of the agent, and is brought into a non-contact state with the protective film 12 of the recording medium 1.
[0025]
In this case, from the viewpoint of concentrating the lubricant along the center line 232c, the angle formed by the high surface energy region 232a and the low surface energy region 232b with respect to the center line 232c is 15 to 75 degrees. Preferably, there is.
[0026]
The lubricating film 13 is usually a very thin film of about 2 nm, and although the height at which the magnetic head 2 is pushed up by the lubricant constituting the lubricating film 13 is very small, the lubricating film 13 contacts the contact surface 232 of the magnetic head 2 for recording. Since the contact of the medium 1 with the protective film 12 is avoided as compared with the related art, abrasion of the contact surface 232 or the protective film 12 is reduced, and therefore, deterioration of the recording / reproducing performance of the magnetic recording device is prevented.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the two contact surfaces 232 of the magnetic head have a herringbone pattern in which the region 232a having a high surface energy and the region 232b having a low surface energy are bilaterally symmetric with respect to the center line 232c. It is not something that can be done. For example, the regions 232a and 232b do not necessarily have to have the same width. In each of the regions 232a and 232b, a plurality of contact surfaces 232 having a symmetrical herringbone pattern may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line of the slide surface 23, as shown in this embodiment. The left and right patterns may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line of the slide surface 23 at intervals. Further, the region 232a having a high surface energy and the region 232b having a low surface energy do not necessarily have to form a symmetrical pattern, and the inclination of the region 232a having a high surface energy and the region 232b having a low surface energy may be slightly different from each other.
[0028]
Next, a method for forming a surface energy pattern on a contact surface according to the present invention will be described.
[0029]
As described above, the distance between the magnetic head 2 and the recording medium 1 is very small, and the surface thereof is required to have a very high smoothness, for example, an average roughness Ra of 0.2 to 0.5 nm. . Therefore, for example, even after a surface energy pattern is formed on the slide surface 23 of the magnetic head 2, the same smoothness is required for the slide surface 23 of the magnetic head 2.
[0030]
In this embodiment, in order to form a partially different surface energy region on the contact surface 232, the surface energy is different from the element coating the slide surface 23, that is, (hard amorphous) carbon (carbon). It is preferable to deposit an element, for example, fluorine, on a coating film (in this embodiment, a hard amorphous carbon film) constituting the surface of the slider surface 23 by plasma processing.
[0031]
According to this forming method, only the very surface layer of the hard amorphous carbon film on the slide surface 23 can be terminated with fluorine, so that the surface of the slider surface 23 having high smoothness is hardly affected. Absent.
[0032]
In this embodiment, the coating film itself forming the surface of the slide surface 23 is used as it is as one of the different surface energy regions, that is, the region 232a having a high surface energy. Similarly, an element other than carbon constituting the surface of the slide surface 23 may be deposited on the slide surface 23.
[0033]
In addition, in order to selectively impart or add a different element to a specific portion, a photolithography method may be used, or if an appropriate element is imparted to the entire surface and then scanning is performed with a focused ion beam, Optionally, only the very surface portion is removed, and the original surface, that is, the carbon film can be exposed. Even if such a patterning process is performed, a surface energy pattern can be formed without affecting the surface shape.
[0034]
Furthermore, it is possible to increase the surface energy of the coating film on the slider surface by, for example, performing an oxygen plasma treatment, and this may be used to form regions having different surface energies. .
[0035]
In the present embodiment, the contact / sliding mechanism comprising the recording medium as the first mechanical element and the magnetic head as the second mechanical element, which constitute the magnetic recording apparatus and slide in contact with each other, has been described. The present invention is not limited to such a magnetic recording device, but is applicable to all contact sliding mechanisms including first and second mechanical elements that relatively perform a sliding contact operation via a lubricant. Further, the contact surface on which the herringbone-shaped surface energy pattern is formed may be provided on either the first or second mechanical element, or may be provided on both the first and second mechanical elements.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the contact sliding mechanism according to the present invention provides an operating surface of the first and second mechanical elements that slides in contact with each other via the lubricant with the relative movement of the first and second mechanical elements. On at least one of the operating surfaces, a surface energy pattern composed of a high surface energy region and a low surface energy region is formed, and the surface energy pattern includes a plurality of the high surface energy regions and a plurality of the high surface energy regions. Since the low surface energy regions are alternately arranged adjacent to each other and include oblique stripe patterns that are both inclined with respect to the relative movement direction of the first and second mechanical elements, Controlling the flow of lubricant generated by the relative movement of the first and second mechanical elements to generate pressure at a predetermined portion of the working surface to bring the working surfaces into a non-contact state. It can be, it is possible to suppress the wear or friction at the contact sliding operation of the operating surfaces on each.
[0037]
In addition, the surface energy pattern is formed by selectively applying or adding an element different from the working surface to a specific region of the working surface by plasma processing, photolithography, or the like. A surface energy pattern can be formed without affecting the surface shape, and a sufficient wear or friction reducing effect as described above can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a slide surface of a magnetic head in a contact type magnetic recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged view of a recording medium contact surface for explaining a configuration of a contact surface of the slide surface shown in FIG. 1 with the recording medium.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a contact surface of a magnetic head slide surface and a lubricating film.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a meniscus formed at a contact boundary of a magnetic head slide surface with a contact surface by a lubricant.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a levitation type information recording / reproducing portion in the magnetic recording apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a contact type information recording / reproducing portion in the magnetic recording device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording medium 2 Magnetic head 2a Inflow end 2b Outflow end 3 Air flow 11 Lubricant film 12 Protective film 13 Magnetic layer 21 Back end 22 Contact force 23 Slide surface 131 Meniscus 231 Air bearing surface 232 Contact surface 232a High surface energy area 232b Area 232c with low surface energy Center line (of contact surface)

Claims (8)

A first and a second mechanical element, wherein, with the relative movement of the first and the second mechanical element, the working surfaces of the first and the second mechanical element are in sliding contact with each other via a lubricant; In the contact sliding mechanism that performs
A surface energy pattern composed of a high surface energy region and a low surface energy region is formed on the operating surface of at least one mechanical element,
The surface energy pattern is such that a plurality of the high surface energy regions and a plurality of the low surface energy regions are alternately arranged adjacent to each other and with respect to a relative movement direction of the first and second mechanical elements. A contact / sliding mechanism, wherein each of the contact / sliding mechanisms includes a slanted stripe pattern. 2. The contact slide according to claim 1, wherein the surface energy pattern is formed by a plurality of the oblique striped patterns having different inclinations with respect to a relative movement direction of the first and second mechanical elements. 3. mechanism. The surface energy pattern is formed as a herringbone pattern in which at least two of the oblique stripe patterns are arranged so as to be line-symmetric with respect to a center line of an operation surface. 3. The contact sliding mechanism according to 2. 4. The contact sliding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the surface energy pattern is formed in a specific area on the operation surface. 5. The contact sliding mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the surface energy pattern is formed by selectively adding or adding an element different from the operating surface to the specific region. 6. The contact sliding mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the method of adding or adding an element different from the operation surface is by plasma processing. The contact sliding mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the method of adding or adding the element different from the operation surface is by photolithography. The method of adding or adding an element different from the operation surface is based on adding the element by plasma treatment to the entire surface of the specific region of interest, and then removing the selectively added element by a focused ion beam. The contact sliding mechanism according to claim 5, wherein:

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