JP2986502B2 - Flying slider - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flying slider used for a magnetic disk drive.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, magnetic disk drives have been widely used, and floating sliders are widely used in magnetic disk drives. The slider, which began with IBM's magnetic disk drive, has gained a solid position in the 1976 mini-slider, part number 3350.

Hereinafter, a conventional magnetic disk drive will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional flying slider, with the surface facing the magnetic disk surface facing upward. The slider 2 is made of a magnetic material, and the magnetic core 3 is magnetically coupled to and held by the slider 2 while maintaining the head gap 21. A coil (not shown) is provided in a space 4 provided in the magnetic core 3.
Is wound to form a magnetic head portion. The slider 2
Has two side rails 5 on the surface facing the magnetic disk, and a central rail 6 at the center, the width of which is reduced corresponding to the track width of the magnetic disk. The fluid lubricated surface is provided with parallel flat portions 12 and 13 and tapered portions 11 and 14 having a gentle inclination of about 1 degree or less. The front surface 10 of the slider 2 is a surface perpendicular to the flat portion 12 of the rail, and also substantially perpendicular to the fluid lubrication surface. In addition, the rails 5 and 6 are provided with chamfers 7, 8, and 9 chamfered at ridge portions of the rising surfaces thereof to cope with chipping or the like generated by machining.

When a slider having such a structure is placed close to the surface of a rotating magnetic disk on the surface of the rail, airflow on the surface of the magnetic disk flows between the rail and the rail to form a thin fluid lubricating film, and the slider is moved. Generates pressure (hereinafter referred to as positive pressure in the text) that moves away from the magnetic disk surface,
By balancing the positive pressure and the load (external force) applied in the direction of the surface of the magnetic disk, the slider is held with a very narrow gap of 1 μm or less between the slider and the surface of the magnetic disk. Such a slider that flies by the balance between the positive pressure and the external force is generally called a positive pressure type. The external force is due to spring pressure, own weight, or the like. At this time, the tapered portions 11 and 14 of the rails contribute to the inflow of the air flow, and the chamfered portions 7 and 8 determine the area of the fluid lubricating surface, and thus contribute to the optimization of the positive pressure.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such a conventional flying slider, the front surface 10
The dust in the air stream (hereinafter referred to as dust) is caught in the chamfered portions 1 and 9 provided on the ridge line portion of the magnetic disk and the rail, and is pushed between the magnetic disk surface and the slider, thereby forming the magnetic disk. Defects occur on the surface. This situation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tip of the side rail 5 of the conventional slider is flying above the magnetic disk surface 22.

In the figure, the flat portion 12 of the side rail 5 of the slider is 1 μm.
When flying from the magnetic disk surface while maintaining the following gap, the distance h1 at which the tip end 23 of the tapered portion 11 floats from the magnetic disk surface 22 is at most several μm. However, since the chamfered portion 1 is provided at an inclination of about 45 degrees, its tip portion 24
The distance h2 from which the disk flies above the magnetic disk surface is about 100 μm
Also. When the dust mixed in the air flow reaches the tip of the rail in such a state, the chamfered portion of 100 mm
As a result, dust enters the gap from the disk surface and penetrates through the opening, and dust is pressed against the magnetic disk surface to cause local wear on the magnetic disk surface. This problem was not a serious defect because the magnetic film had a large thickness and a coated magnetic disk containing hard alumina powder and a lubricant had high mechanical reliability. However, thin-film magnetic disks developed for high-density recording in recent years have low mechanical reliability because they do not contain hard alumina powder or lubricant, and the damaged part immediately becomes a defective part. Has a fatal problem that not only the subsequent writing becomes impossible but also the already written data is lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem and to provide a flying slider that is less affected by dust mixed in an air flow.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fluid lubricating surface having a flat portion, a step portion provided adjacent thereto, and an airflow adjoining the fluid lubricating surface. The height difference between the step portion and the flat portion is set to 1 μm or less in a flying slider in which a front surface opposed to the slider forms a substantially right angle and generates at least one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure on the fluid lubricating surface.

Also, the flat portion, the fluid lubricating surface provided with the tapered portion provided adjacent thereto, and the front surface adjacent to the fluid lubricating surface and facing the inflow of air flow are substantially at right angles, and the fluid lubricating surface is positive. In a flying slider that generates at least one of a pressure and a negative pressure, the inclination angle of the tapered portion is 1 ° or less, and the difference in height between the front surface side and the flat portion side of the tapered portion is 1 μm or less.

The opening between the tip of the fluid lubrication surface and the surface of the medium into which air flows can be narrowed in the height direction.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a flying slider according to a first embodiment of the present invention with its fluid lubricating surface facing upward.

The slider 2 is made of a magnetic material, and the magnetic core 3 is magnetically coupled to and held by the slider 2 while maintaining the head gap 21. A coil (not shown) is wound around a space 4 provided in the magnetic core 3 to form a magnetic head. The slider 2 has two side rails 5 on the surface facing the magnetic disk surface and a central rail 6 having a narrow central portion, and the rails are flat portions 12 and 13 substantially parallel to the magnetic disk surface, respectively. The fluid lubricating surface is provided with tapered portions 11 and 14 having a gentle inclination of about 1 degree or less. The front surface 10 of the slider is a surface perpendicular to the flat portion 12 of the rail and substantially perpendicular to the fluid lubrication surface. Further, the rails 5 and 6 are provided with chamfers 7, 8 chamfered at the ridges of the rising side surfaces thereof to cope with chipping or the like generated by machining. The main parts of the above configuration are the same as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 5 and the functions thereof are also the same. However, in this embodiment of the present invention, the tapered portions 11 and
The ridge portion between the front face 10 and the front face 10 facing the inflow of the air flow is present without being chamfered. Further, the front surface 10 is polished and mirror-finished in order to remove chips or the like at the time of processing, and is processed so that a ridge line with the rail surface has no missing portion.

When the slider 2 is placed close to the surface of the rotating magnetic disk on the surface of the rail, the air flow on the surface of the magnetic disk flows between the rail and the rail to generate a positive pressure, The slider is held with a very narrow gap of 1 μm or less between the slider and the surface of the magnetic disk due to the balance between the positive pressure and the load previously applied in the direction of the magnetic disk surface. At this time, the tapered portions 11 and 14 of the rail contribute to the inflow of the air, and the chamfered portions 7 and 8 determine the surface area of the rail, and also contribute to the optimization of the floating force.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tip of the side rail 5 of the slider is flying above the magnetic disk surface 22.

As shown, the flat portion 12 of the side rail 5 of the slider is
When floating from the magnetic disk surface while maintaining a gap of μ or less, the distance h1 at which the tip end portion 23 of the tapered portion 11 floats from the magnetic disk surface 22 is at most several μm. Since there is no chamfered portion unlike the conventional slider, the opening through which the air flow is introduced is only this opening having a thickness of several μm. When dust mixed in the airflow reaches the tip of the rail in such a state, the dust is bounced off the front surface 10 of the slider without entering the gap with the magnetic disk surface at the narrow opening.
In one experimental example using an air flow in which dust of 10 μm was mixed, the magnetic disk was destroyed with a probability of 50% with the conventional flying slider, but with the present embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic disk was destroyed with a probability of 1%. I just did.

As described above, according to the flying slider of one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid lubricating surface and the front surface adjacent to the fluid lubricating surface and facing the inflow of the air flow are substantially perpendicular to each other, so that the magnetic lubrication is achieved. It is possible to effectively prevent dust from entering the gap between the disk surface and the slider.

It should be noted that setting the front surface 10 of the slider substantially perpendicular to the fluid lubricating surface is a preferable choice in terms of independence without involvement in the pressure and workability in manufacturing, but it is not necessary that the front surface 10 be exactly perpendicular.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a slider according to a second embodiment of the present invention, with its fluid lubricating surface facing upward.

As shown in the figure, a magnetic core 3 made of a magnetic material is magnetically coupled to and held by the slider 2 while maintaining a head gap 21. A coil (not shown) is wound around a space 4 provided in the magnetic core 3 to form a magnetic head. The slider 2 has two side rails 5 on the surface facing the magnetic disk surface, and each of the rails has a flat portion 12 and a step portion 15 which are substantially parallel to the magnetic disk surface to form a fluid lubricating surface. I have. The front surface 10 of the slider is at right angles to the flat part 12 of the rail and also to the fluid lubrication surface. The step portion 15 corresponds to a tapered portion in the conventional example and constitutes a part of the fluid lubricating surface, and a slight step of 1 μm or less is provided by a processing means such as lapping which does not cause a defect. The magnetic head portion is processed so that the rear end of the rail is narrowed in a strip shape in accordance with the width of the track of the magnetic disk,
Both sides are structured to be supplemented with glass material 16.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described. When the slider is placed close to the surface of the rotating magnetic disk on the surface of the rail, the airflow on the surface of the magnetic disk flows between the rail and the rail to generate a positive pressure. The slider is held while maintaining a very narrow gap of 1 μm or less between the positive pressure and the load applied in advance in the direction of the magnetic disk surface. At this time, the step portion 15 of the rail contributes to the inflow of the air flow, and the surface area of the flat portion 12 of the rail contributes to the optimization of the positive pressure.

When the flat portion 12 of the slider side rail 5 floats above the magnetic disk surface while maintaining a gap of 1 μ or less, the distance at which the tip of the step portion floats from the magnetic disk surface is at most several μm. Since there is no chamfered portion unlike the conventional slider, the opening through which the air flow is introduced is only this opening having a thickness of several μm. When dust mixed in the airflow reaches the tip of the rail in such a state, the dust is bounced off the front surface 10 of the slider without entering the gap with the magnetic disk surface at the narrow opening.

As described above, according to the flying slider of the second embodiment of the present invention, the fluid lubricating surface having the stepped portion at the tip and the surface adjacent to the fluid lubricating surface and facing the inflow of the airflow are formed. By forming them at substantially right angles, it is possible to effectively prevent dust from entering the gap between the magnetic disk surface and the slider.

In this embodiment, since two magnetic heads are provided, one of the magnetic heads can be optimally used for the recording operation, and the other can be properly used for the reproducing operation.
Setting the front surface 10 of the slider substantially perpendicular to the fluid lubricating surface is a preferable choice in terms of independence without involvement in the pressure and workability in manufacturing, but it is not necessary that the front surface 10 be exactly perpendicular.

The effect of mirror-finishing the slider front surface 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention with its fluid lubricating surface facing upward.

The third embodiment is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a slider generally called a negative pressure system.

As shown in the figure, a magnetic core 3 made of a magnetic material is magnetically coupled to and held by the slider 2 while maintaining a head gap 21. A coil (not shown) is wound around a space 4 provided in the magnetic core 3 to form a magnetic head. The floating portion 2 includes two side rails 5 on the surface facing the magnetic disk surface, and a cross rail 16 connecting the two side rails at the end portions. The three rails are respectively provided on the magnetic disk surface. The cross rail 16 has a stepped portion 15 at the front edge thereof, and the stepped portion forms a fluid lubricating surface together with the flat portion of the rail. The front surface 10 of the slider 2 is a plane perpendicular to each rail and also a plane perpendicular to the fluid lubrication surface. The step portion 15 corresponds to the tapered portion of the conventional example, and is provided by a processing means in which a slight step of about 1 μm or less does not cause chipping or the like in the ridge line portion due to lapping or the like. On the other hand, the three rails 5, 16 and the surface 17 having a predetermined depth form a hollow space portion.

The magnetic head portion is configured such that a rear end portion of the rail is narrowed into a strip shape in accordance with a track width of a magnetic disk.

In operation of the third embodiment, when the slider is placed close to the surface of the rotating magnetic disk on the surface of the rail, the airflow on the surface of the magnetic disk flows across the cross rail 16 and On the side rail 5, a positive pressure is generated to move the slider away from the magnetic disk surface, and a negative pressure is generated due to an increase in the cross-sectional area of the air flow in the space of the recess, so that the slider is attracted to the magnetic disk. Force is generated. The opposing positive and negative pressures are balanced at a specific distance from the magnetic disk, and the slider is held with a very narrow gap of 1 μm or less between the slider and the surface of the magnetic disk. A slider performing such an operation is generally called a negative pressure type slider. At this time,
The step 15 of the cross rail contributes to the inflow of the air flow, the surface area of the flat part of each rail contributes to the positive pressure, and the cross rail contributes to the formation of the space for the generation of the negative pressure. The depth of the depression is related to the magnitude of the negative pressure and contributes to the optimization of the flying height.

When the flat portion 12 of the rail 5 of the slider floats above the magnetic disk surface while maintaining a gap of 1 μ or less, the distance at which the tip of the step portion of the cross rail flies above the magnetic disk surface is at most several μm. Since there is no chamfered portion unlike the conventional slider, the opening through which the air flow is introduced is only this opening having a thickness of several μm. When dust mixed in the air flow reaches the tip of the slider in such a state, the dust is bounced off the front surface 10 of the slider without entering the gap with the magnetic disk surface in the narrow opening.

As described above, according to the flying type slider of the third embodiment of the present invention, the negative pressure generating section is constituted by the two side rails and the crossing rails which connect and cross the ends of the side rails. A step is provided at the front edge of the crossing rail, and the crossing rail and the surface adjacent to the crossing rail and facing the inflow of air flow are substantially perpendicular to each other. Can be effectively eliminated.

The flat area of the two side rails is set to be small, so that a slider without positive pressure and only with negative pressure can be configured.

Setting the front surface 10 of the slider substantially perpendicular to the fluid lubricating surface is a preferable choice in terms of independence without involvement in the pressure and workability in manufacturing, but it is not necessary that the front surface 10 be exactly perpendicular.

In this embodiment, since two magnetic heads are provided, one of the magnetic heads can be optimally used for the recording operation, and the other can be properly used for the reproducing operation.

The effect of mirror-finishing the slider front surface 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The fluid lubricating surface having the flat portion and the step portion provided adjacent to the flat portion and the front surface adjacent to the step portion and facing the inflow of air flow are substantially at a right angle, and the fluid lubricating surface is positive. A floating slider for generating at least one of pressure and negative pressure, wherein a height difference between a step portion and a flat portion is 1 μm or less, or a flat portion and a taper provided adjacent to the flat portion. In the fluid lubricated surface provided with the portion, the inclination of the tapered portion is 1 ° or less, and the difference in height between the front side and the flat portion side of the tapered portion is 1 μm or less. The height difference between the step portion and the portion where the front surface intersects can be almost eliminated, and the height direction of the opening for introducing air between the medium surface and the fluid lubrication surface is further narrowed. Can be mixed with the introduced air Dust can be reduced the possibility of entering between the medium surface and the fluid bearing surface, in particular stepped portion and the tapered portion can be suppressed to a minimum the occurrence of damage to the head or medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a flying type slider according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a principal part showing a state where the slider is flying above a magnetic disk surface, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a flying slider according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a flying slider according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a conventional flying slider. It is a perspective view which shows a structure of. 2 ... Slider, 10 ... Slider front, 11 ... Tapered part (fluid lubricated surface), 12 ... Flat part (fluid lubricated surface), 13 ...
Flat part (fluid lubrication surface), 14 ... taper part (fluid lubrication surface), 22 ... magnetic disk surface.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A fluid lubricating surface having a flat portion and a step portion provided adjacent to the flat portion, and a front surface adjacent to the step portion and facing an inflow of air flow, making a substantially right angle, and A floating slider for generating at least one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure on a lubricating surface, wherein a height difference between the step portion and the flat portion is 1 μm or less. 2. A fluid lubricating surface provided with a flat portion and a tapered portion provided adjacent to the flat portion, and a front surface adjacent to the tapered surface and facing an inflow of air flow is substantially perpendicular to the fluid lubricating surface. A floating slider for generating at least one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure on a lubricating surface, wherein an inclination angle of the tapered portion is 1 ° or less, and a difference in height between a front surface side and a flat portion side of the tapered portion. A flying slider having a height of 1 μm or less. 3. The front surface is a mirror surface.
The flying slider according to any one of 1 and 2.