JPH04298872A - magnetic head - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic head for reading information from and/or writing information to a recording surface of a magnetic disk.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for larger capacities and smaller sizes for magnetic disk drives, which are widely used as external storage devices for computers.In order to meet these demands, there is a strong desire to realize high-density recording. ing. In order to realize such high-density recording, it is necessary to improve the magnetic disk that serves as the recording medium, as well as the magnetic head that reads and writes information on the recording surface of the magnetic disk.

This magnetic head is supported by the tip of a support spring, which is a thin plate spring attached to a movable arm of an actuator, and is opposed to the recording surface of a magnetic disk, and is moved in the radial direction by the movement of the movable arm. A desired position on the recording surface is accessed by relative movement in the circumferential direction due to the rotation of the magnetic disk, and a read/write operation is performed at this access position. Therefore, in order to meet the demands for high-density recording, it is important to improve the access accuracy on the actuator side and to develop a magnetic head that can read and write in as narrow a range as possible at the access position.

Since the size of the read/write range by a magnetic head corresponds to the distance between the head core of the magnetic head and the recording surface, the read/write range can be further reduced by moving the magnetic head closer to the recording surface. This is possible by contacting the recording surface. This contact occurs when a flexible floppy disk is used as the recording medium.
This can be achieved relatively easily by pressing the magnetic head against the recording surface using the additional load of the support spring, but when the recording medium is a hard disk using a hard substrate such as metal, vertical vibrations of about 10 μm occur on the recording surface. In order to absorb the irregularities and undulations of the recording surface itself, as well as the misalignment of the mounting position of the support spring to the movable arm with respect to the recording surface, and to bring the magnetic head into reliable contact, it is necessary to increase the additional load by the support spring. On the other hand, if this is done, there is a risk that the contact pressure of the magnetic head will shorten the life of the recording surface.

[0005] For this reason, in conventional magnetic disk drives using hard disks as recording media, the following magnetic heads are used. FIG. 6 shows this magnetic head, with (a) being a side view and (b) being a bottom view. This applies the spring force of the support spring 8 to the recording surface 70 via the support section 6 to the head slider 5 which is pivotably supported by the support section 6 at the tip of the support spring 8 and faces the recording surface 70 of the magnetic disk 7. It is configured to be added towards the target. Note that in this figure, a gimbal connecting the head slider 5 and the support spring 8 is not shown.

The head slider 5 relatively slides on the recording surface 70 in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the magnetic disk 7, which occurs in the direction indicated by the white arrow in the figure.
At this time, information is read and written in the head core 50 configured at one end (rear side) in the sliding direction. On the surface of the head slider 5 facing the recording surface 70, a pair of tapered portions 54 are formed on both sides in the width direction on the other end (front end) side in the sliding direction.
, 54 are provided with slide surfaces 51 and 52 of approximately the same width that are connected to each other and are formed over the entire length in the sliding direction.

In this magnetic head, as the head slider 5 slides, air enters between the slide surfaces 51, 52 and the recording surface 70 through the tapered portions 54, 54, and the flying force and support due to this air are Due to the balance with the additional load in the section 6, the head slider 5 floats through a thin air layer above the recording surface 70, and the head core 50 at the rear end of the head slider 5 touches the recording surface 70 with a slight gap. to face.

[0008]

In such a conventional magnetic head, the flying force acting on the head slider 5 is reduced, the gap between the head core 50 and the recording surface 70 is reduced, and the gap between the head core 50 and the recording surface 70 is reduced. It is possible to support even higher density recording by making the two substantially in contact with each other, and for this purpose, it is conceivable to first remove the tapered portions 54, 54 that serve as the air introduction ends, but in this case, head slider 5
It is difficult to stabilize the posture of the head slider 5.
A so-called stick-slip phenomenon occurs in which the head core 50 swings about the support portion 6 as a fulcrum, and the relative relationship between the head core 50 and the recording surface 70 cannot be stabilized.

It is also conceivable to narrow the width of the slide surfaces 51, 52 and increase the additional load via the support section 6, but in this case, the entire slide surfaces 51, 52 will overlap the recording surface 70. Since the recording surface 70 is substantially in contact with the recording surface 70, the life of the recording surface 70 is shortened due to an increase in the contact surface pressure.

Furthermore, it is conceivable to reduce the pressure inside the housing housing the magnetic disk 7, the magnetic head, and its actuator, thereby reducing the levitation force, but in this case, the reduced pressure state must be maintained for a long period of time. In order to achieve this, the housing needs to be a completely sealed housing, which poses difficulties in designing the sealing structure of each part, which hinders miniaturization of the entire magnetic disk device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a magnetic head that realizes substantial contact of the head core with the recording surface with a simple configuration and is capable of supporting high-density recording. The purpose is to

0012

[Means for Solving the Problems] A magnetic head of the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object has a sliding portion on one surface that slides on the recording surface of a rotating magnetic disk, and a head core is configured on one end side in the sliding direction. A magnetic head that reads and/or writes information by urging the head core toward the recording surface by applying an additional load to a support portion that pivotally supports the other surface of the head slider. In the slide portion, the slide portion is connected to a pair of tapered portions formed with appropriate widths on both sides in the width direction on the other end side in the slide direction, and extends halfway in the slide direction, and these taper portions extend halfway in the slide direction. first and second slide surfaces facing the recording surface through a layer of air introduced through the slider, and located closer to the other end than the head core on one end in the slider direction; It is characterized by comprising a third sliding surface facing the recording surface. In addition to this, the support part is disposed on a perpendicular line from the center point of the third slide surface toward the line segment connecting the respective center points of the first and second slide surfaces, and The center point is located at the apex of an isosceles triangle whose base is the line segment connecting the center points of the first and second slide surfaces, and the third slide surface and the first and second slide surfaces on one surface of the head slider. A recess is formed with an appropriate depth between the head slider and the third slide surface or within the third slide surface, and urges the head slider toward the recording surface by the negative pressure generated inside the recess. Each is characterized by

[0013]

[Operation] FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory views of the operation of the magnetic head of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the first and second slide surfaces 11 extend halfway in the slide direction of the head slider 1.
, 12 is subjected to a levitation force F1 by the air introduced through the separate tapered parts 14, 14, but since the point of action of this levitation force F1 is located in front of the support part 2,
The head slider 1 moves the recording surface 30 of the magnetic disk 3 due to the additional load F2 on the support portion 2 and the levitation force F1.
The third slide surface 13 and the head core 10 located immediately behind the third slide surface 13 substantially contact the recording surface 30 while maintaining a stable posture tilted upward so as to increase the front gap. In FIG. 5, due to the negative pressure generated within the recess 15,
A biasing force F3 directed toward the recording surface 30 is further applied to the head slider 1, and the third slide surface 13 and head core 10
contact with the recording surface 30 more reliably.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are views showing embodiments of the magnetic head according to the present invention, in which (a) is a side view and (b) is a bottom view.

In the figure, 1 is a head slider. The head slider 1 has a planar shape in which a trapezoidal part sharing one side of the rectangular part and a long base thereof is connected to one side of the rectangular part, and a substantially central part of one side is connected to the tip of a support spring 4 via a support part 2. The magnetic disk 3 is pivotably supported so as to face the recording surface 30 of the magnetic disk 3. As a result, the spring force of the support spring 4 is applied to the head slider 1 via the support portion 2 to the recording surface 30 of the magnetic disk 3.
will be added towards. Note that in these figures, as in FIG. 6, the gimbal connecting the head slider 1 and the support spring 4 is not illustrated.

The head slider 1 relatively slides on the recording surface 30 in the opposite direction to the rotational direction as the magnetic disk 3 rotates in the direction indicated by the white arrow in the figure.
At this time, information is read and written at the head core 10 configured at one end (rear side) in the sliding direction, that is, at the short base of the trapezoidal portion. On the surface of the head slider 1 facing the recording surface 30, a pair of tapered portions 14, 14 are formed on both sides in the width direction of the other side (front side) edge in the sliding direction. are flat surfaces of approximately the same width,
Second sliding surfaces 11 and 12 are provided in series. Note that these sliding surfaces 11 and 12 have a length up to the end of the rectangular portion, that is, a length up to the halfway point in the sliding direction.

[0017] Further, the opposing surface has a third flat surface located in front of the short base of the trapezoidal portion and having approximately the same width as the short base.
A sliding surface 13 is provided. As shown in the figure, this third slide surface 13 is a first slide surface in the width direction of the head slider 1.
, located between the second sliding surfaces 11 and 12 and within a range that does not reach the rear ends of the first and second sliding surfaces 11 and 12 in the sliding direction, preferably the third sliding surface 13
It is preferable that the center point of the slide surface is located at the apex of an isosceles triangle whose base is a line segment connecting the center points of the first and second slide surfaces 11 and 12. Further, the support portion 2 that supports the head slider 1 on the other surface side extends vertically from the center point of the third slide surface 13 toward the line segment connecting the respective center points of the first and second slide surfaces 11 and 12. It is best to place them on a line.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in addition to the first and second slide surfaces 11 and 12 and the third slide surface 13, these forming surfaces, that is, the recording surface of the head slider 1 A recess 1 having an appropriate depth on the surface opposite to 30
5 is the first and second sliding surface 11, 1 as shown in FIG.
2 and the third sliding surface 13, or within the third sliding surface 13 as shown in FIG. This recess 1
5 is not limited to the rectangular shape shown in the figure, but may have other planar shapes such as circular, elliptical, polygonal, etc., and this recessed portion 15
The size may be appropriately set according to the restrictions at the formation position.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory views of the operation of the magnetic head of the present invention constructed as described above, with FIG. 4 corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. do.

As the head slider 1 slides as described above, separate tapered portions 14 are formed between the first and second sliding surfaces 11 and 12 and the recording surface 30 on the front side thereof.
, 14, and on the head slider 1, a levitation force F1 is applied upwardly due to this air flow, and an additional load F2 due to the support spring 4 is applied downwardly through the support portion 2. 1. Second sliding surface 11,1
2 extends only halfway in the sliding direction of the head slider 1, and the point of action of the levitation force F1 is the additional load F.
The front half of the head slider 1 is supported on the recording surface 30 by the action of the floating force F1, and the head slider 1 is positioned in front of the recording surface 30 at the front end.
Maintain a stable tilted posture to increase the gap between the At this time, a third
The slide surface 13 and the head core 10 located immediately behind the slide surface 13 come into substantially contact with the recording surface 30 due to the action of the additional load F2 with the point of application of the levitation force F1 as a fulcrum.

Furthermore, in FIG. 5, as mentioned above, the flow path area of the flowing air increases rapidly at the position where the recess 15 is formed.
Negative pressure is generated within the recess 15 due to the accompanying decrease in flow velocity, and a downward biasing force F3 corresponding to the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure on the support portion 2 side and the negative pressure is applied to the head slider 1. , that is, it acts toward the recording surface 30. Since the point of action of this biasing force F3 is located behind the point of action of the levitation force F1 due to the formation of the recess 15 described above, the head slider 1 is operated by the levitation force F1 due to the biasing force F3 and the additional load F2. A third slide surface 1 formed on the rear side of the head slider 1 is pressed downward using a point as a fulcrum.
3 and the recording surface 3 of the head core 10 located immediately after this.
0 can be made more reliably.

At this time, since contact with the recording surface 30 occurs only at the head core 10 and the third sliding surface 13 immediately in front of it, there is little risk that the recording surface 30 will be damaged by this contact, and the lifespan of the recording surface 30 will be reduced. The degree of decline is small.

[0023]

As described in detail above, in the magnetic head of the present invention, the first and second slide surfaces floating through the air introduced between the recording surface of the magnetic disk are used as fulcrums, and the supporting portion The third slide surface and the head core on the rear side thereof substantially come into contact with the recording surface due to the additional load on the surface, or the resultant force of this additional load and the urging force caused by the negative pressure generated in the recess, resulting in a narrow reading/writing range. This makes it possible to support high-density recording.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a magnetic head of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the magnetic head of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the magnetic head of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the magnetic head of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the magnetic head of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional magnetic head.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Head slider 2 Support part 3 Magnetic disk 4 Support spring 10 Head core 11 First sliding surface 12 Second sliding surface 13 Third sliding surface 14 Taper part 15 Recess 30 Recording surface

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A head slider (1) having a slide portion on one surface that slides on a recording surface (30) of a rotating magnetic disk (3) and comprising a head core (10) at one end in the sliding direction. ), the head core (10) is moved to the recording surface (30
), and the magnetic head reads and/or writes information, and the slide portion includes a pair of slide portions formed with an appropriate width on both sides in the width direction on the other end side in the slide direction. The recording surface (14) is connected to the tapered parts (14), (14) and extends halfway in the sliding direction, and the recording surface (14) is first and second sliding surfaces (11) and (12) facing the recording surface 30), which are formed closer to the other end than the head core (10) at one end in the sliding direction (30) and a third sliding surface (13) facing the magnetic head. Claim 2: First and second sliding surfaces (11), (
2. The magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the support portion (2) is disposed on a perpendicular line from the center point of the third slide surface (13) toward a line segment connecting the center points of the third slide surface (13). 3. The center point of the third slide surface (13) is the apex of an isosceles triangle whose base is the line segment connecting the center points of the first and second slide surfaces (11) and (12). 3. The magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic head is located at . 4. A third slide surface (13) on one surface of the head slider (1) and the first and second slide surfaces (
11), (12), or between the third slide surface (13)
) is formed to have an appropriate depth within the head slider (30), and the negative pressure generated therein moves the head slider (1) to the recording surface (30
4. The magnetic head according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a recessed portion (15) that urges the magnetic head toward the magnetic head.