JP2812936B2 - Magnetic disk drive - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic disk drive capable of magnetically recording or reproducing data on or from a magnetic disk, and more particularly to a magnetic head mounting structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The rapid development of OA equipment has been developed, and the reduction in size and size of portable equipment has progressed in units of hours. Floppy disk drives (hereinafter abbreviated as FDDs) used in word processors and laptop computers are no exception, and technological competition for lighter, thinner and more compact is in progress.

A conventional example of such an FDD will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows that the cartridge 6 is an FDD.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration at the time of unloading while being mounted on a. In the figure, 1 is a carriage, 2
Is a guide rail, which is fixed to a frame (not shown). An arm 3 is rotatably supported on the carriage 1 by a rotation shaft 9. Reference numeral 4 denotes a magnetic head, which is held at the tip of the arm 3 via a gimbal spring 20. Reference numeral 5 denotes a magnetic head, which is held on the carriage 1 via a gimbal spring 20. Reference numeral 6 denotes a cartridge, in which a floppy disk 7 is rotatably housed. A cover 8 protects the carriage device 10 that slides on the guide rail 2.

[0004] When the cartridge 6 is not mounted, the arm 3 is lifted to an upper unloading position as shown in the figure. When the cartridge 6 is inserted, the cartridge 6 moves downward to bring the floppy disk 7 into contact with the magnetic head 5. At the same time, arm 3
Rotates downward, and holds the floppy disk 7 between the upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5. Then, read / write of information is performed via the magnetic heads 4 and 5. In addition, the cartridge 6 is lifted to its original upper position, that is, the unloading position.

At the unload position, a predetermined gap is provided so that the arm 3 or the gimbal spring 20 does not come into contact with the cover 8, so that the ascending and descending operation is performed reliably.

Next, the gimbal spring 20 according to the prior art is used.
Fig. 7 shows the shape of the tip of the arm to which it is attached.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view seen from the side where the magnetic head is mounted, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view seen from the back side. The gimbal spring 20 includes an inner frame 23 to which the magnetic head 4 is fixed, a middle frame 22 supporting the inner frame 23 by a support shaft 25, and a mounting portion 21 supporting the middle frame 22 by a support shaft 24. ing. Support shaft 24,
Reference numeral 25 denotes an elongated plate which is configured to rotate by twisting.

The two support shafts 25 are arranged so as to form one shaft symmetrically with the inner frame 23 interposed therebetween, and the inner frame 23 to which the magnetic head 4 is fixed can rotate about this axis with respect to the middle frame 22. It has become. Similarly, the two support shafts 24 are arranged so as to form one shaft symmetrically with respect to the support shaft 25 with the middle frame 22 interposed therebetween, and the middle frame 23 is rotated about this axis with respect to the mounting portion 21. It is possible. As a result, the magnetic head 4 is rotatable about two axes which are parallel to the recording surface of the floppy disk 7 and are perpendicular to each other. It is possible to maintain a close contact state.

The arm 3 has a window portion 11 penetrating the front and back sides at the tip thereof, and a mounting portion 2 for a gimbal spring 20 around the window portion 11.
1 is fixed by bonding. The middle frame 22 is arranged in the plane of the window 11 so as not to hinder the rotational movement of the magnetic head 4.

[0009]

As described above,
In the conventional configuration, the mounting portion for the gimbal spring is provided on the entire circumference. In addition, a portion for fixing the mounting portion is provided on the entire side of the arm corresponding to the mounting portion of the gimbal spring. For this reason, when the arm rotates between the load position and the unload position, the distance from the rotation axis to the tip of the arm or the tip of the gimbal is long. In other words, there is a problem that the maximum rotation radius of the arm is large and the device becomes thick and large. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of reducing the maximum rotation radius of the arm and to solve the above-mentioned problems, thereby providing a thin and lightweight magnetic disk device.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a carriage slidably provided in a radial direction of a magnetic disk, an arm rotatably supported by the carriage, and an arm. A magnetic head supported via a gimbal spring, the gimbal spring includes an inner frame to which the magnetic head is fixed, a middle frame supporting the inner frame with a first support shaft, and a A gimbal spring fixed to an end of the arm by a mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion is not provided in a front portion of the gimbal spring. while, that the in frame protrudes arm tip side than the mounting portion. Further, in addition to this configuration, it is characterized in that substantially half of the middle frame projects toward the arm tip from the mounting portion.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the shapes of the gimbal spring 20 of the FDD according to the present invention and the distal end of the arm 3, respectively, as viewed from the mounting side of the magnetic head 4 and from the back side. Show. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view in the unloaded state of the magnetic disk drive according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is also a schematic side view in the loaded state. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the magnetic head shown in FIG.

First, the shape of the gimbal spring 20 and the shape of the tip of the arm 3, which are the most characteristic structures of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in both figures,
At the tip of the arm 3, projections 31 and 32 are formed, and a U-shaped recess 33 is formed. The gimbal spring 20
It comprises an attachment portion 21, a middle frame 22, an inner frame 23, a middle frame support portion 24, an inner frame support portion 25, and a spacer 26. And, it is fixed to the peripheral edge of the concave portion 33 of the arm 3 by the mounting portion 21.

The inner frame 23 fixes and supports the magnetic head 4 on a surface facing the floppy disk. The inner frame 23 is supported by the middle frame 22 by an inner frame support 25 provided in parallel with the arrow X direction. Since the inner frame support 25 is formed as a bridge structure having a small width, it can easily be twisted, and the inner frame 23, that is, the magnetic head 4, is parallel to the arrow X and the center of the inner frame support 25 is aligned with the arrow X. It is possible to rotate around the axis that passes.

Similarly, the middle frame 22 has a middle frame support portion 24 formed in a direction of an arrow Y which is a direction perpendicular to the inner frame support portion 25.
Are supported by the mounting portion 21. And since the middle frame support part 24 also has a bridge structure of a slight width, it is possible to easily perform a torsional movement, and the inner frame 23, that is, the magnetic head 4 is parallel to the arrow Y, and It is possible to rotate around an axis passing through the center.

The mounting portion 21 is located at the front of the middle frame 22 (arrow X).
In the opposite direction). In this embodiment,
It is formed only on the rear end side of the arm 3 (in the direction of the arrow X) from the middle frame support portion 24. The gimbal spring 20 is fixed to the periphery of the concave portion 33 of the arm 3 by the mounting portion 21 formed only on the rear end side of the arm 3. The protrusions 31 and 32 of the arm 3 are formed so as not to protrude from the middle frame support 24 to the distal end side. A spacer 26 is provided on the side of the arm end of the middle frame 23 opposite to the magnetic head 4.
Is fixed.

The gimbal spring 20 constructed as described above
Enables the magnetic head 4 to follow the undulation accompanying the rotation of the floppy disk by allowing the magnetic head 4 to follow the undulations caused by the rotation of the floppy disk by the inner frame supporting portion 25 and the middle frame supporting portion 24, and the magnetic head 4 is sufficiently adhered to the floppy disk. Let it.

In order to remove the tip of the mounting portion 21 of the gimbal spring 20 from the middle frame support portion 24 as in this embodiment, the middle frame support portion 24 is formed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the arm. Must be done.

Next, the loading and unloading states of the FDD according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 3, a carriage 1 carries a magnetic head 5 at one end, and supports an arm 3 at the other end so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 9 and is guided by a guide rail 2 to provide a floppy disk.
The disk 7 is configured to be able to reciprocate in the radial direction.
At the time of loading, the upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 hold the floppy disk 7 housed in the cartridge 6 at a predetermined contact pressure and reciprocate in the radial direction to read / write information. I do.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 4, of an unloading time when the effect of the present invention is most exhibited. When the reading / writing of information is completed and the cartridge 6 is ejected to the outside of the apparatus, first, the cartridge 6 is lifted to an unloading position shown in the drawing by a lifting mechanism (not shown), and thereafter is discharged by a discharging mechanism (not shown). It moves horizontally and is discharged outside the device. The operation of inserting the cartridge 6 into the apparatus is the reverse of the above operation, and the loading state described above with reference to FIG.

As can be seen from this embodiment, the arm 3
When in the unload position, the mounting portion 21 is not provided at the front portion of the gimbal spring 20, and the tip of the arm 3 is shortened corresponding to this mounting portion. Very short.

Further, in the present embodiment, the spacer 26 fixed to the end of the gimbal spring 20 opposite to the mounting side of the magnetic head 4 is brought into contact with the cover 8. The arm 3 also rotates thereafter, and the gimbal spring 20 is elastically deformed until the magnetic head 4 is in a horizontal state, and a gap is provided between the upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 enough to insert and remove the cartridge 6.

Accordingly, as can be seen from the drawing, the gap H1 between the upper surface of the cartridge 6 and the cover 8 can be made much smaller than in the conventional FDD according to the elastic deformation of the gimbal spring 20. It is. Further, since the rotation of the arm 3 is restricted during unloading, the arm 3 is prevented from rotating and vibrating even when an impact is applied to the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view of the arm tip portion of FIG. 4, and shows the configuration of the gimbal spring 20 and the magnetic head 4 when the arm is opened. A spacer 26 is fixed to the free end of the inner frame 22 and comes into contact with the lower surface of the cover 8, and the arm tip or a wiring member (not shown) on the back of the magnetic head comes into contact with the cover 8. Space is secured so as not to be. In addition, it is an action point of a force for rotating the middle frame 22 about the middle frame support portion 24. The position of the magnetic head 4 in FIG. 6 showing the conventional example is the same as that of the arm 3, while the position of the magnetic head 4 in the present embodiment is that Are kept horizontal, so they are arranged horizontally.

[0024]

As is apparent from the foregoing description, according to the present invention gimbal spring of the front portion together Ru provided <br/> having no region the mounting portion, the gimbal spring mounting of the inner frame of the gimbal spring
Since protruded to the arm distal to section, the distance from the axis of rotation of the arm gimbal spring to the tip is short and, medium
Resiliently deform the gimbal spring even when the frame abuts the cover
be able to. Therefore, when the arm is at the unload position, the space required for the rotation of the arm is reduced while securing a sufficient gap between the upper and lower heads, and the device can be made thinner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically illustrating an FDD according to the present invention at the time of unloading.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an outline of loading of an FDD according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the arm tip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of an arm tip of the FDD according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of FIG. 4 as seen from the back.

FIG. 6 is a side view schematically illustrating a conventional FDD when unloading.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tip end of an arm of a conventional FDD.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of FIG. 7 as seen from the back.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 2 Guide rail 3 Arm 4, 5 Magnetic head 20 Gimbal spring 21 Attachment part 22 Middle frame 23 Inner frame 24 Middle frame support part 25 Inner frame support part 26 Spacer 31, 32 Projection

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A carriage provided slidably in a radial direction of a magnetic disk, an arm rotatably supported by the carriage, and a magnetic head supported by the arm via a gimbal spring. It has the gimbal spring comprises a frame which is magnetic head is fixed, the inner frame supporting the inner frame in the first support shaft, and a mounting portion for supporting the inner frame in the second support shaft together, wherein the gimbal spring is by the attachment portion a - in a magnetic disk device which is fixed to the distal end of the arm, together with the front portion of the gimbal spring to form a region without the prior SL mounting portion, wherein in frame the mounting Arm
A magnetic disk device protruding toward the front end . 2. The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1 , wherein substantially half of the middle frame projects toward the arm tip from the mounting portion.