Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head mounting – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2002-03-26
Klimowicz, William (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head mounting
Disk record
C360S244800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06362936
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk storage device, and, more particularly, to a structure of a suspension assembly on one end of which a magnetic head is mounted.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recent magnetic disk drives are being reduced in size, more particularly, in thickness, and various measures are being taken to accommodate such circumstances. They include, for example, reducing the size of the structure of a load beam. The load beam is a support structure for the magnetic head, for mounting it on an actuator, and the mounting structure for the magnetic head. A typical structure for supporting the magnetic head comprises, as shown in
FIG. 1
, a mount plate
10
connected to an actuator arm, a load beam
12
coupled to the mount plate
10
, and a flexure
14
coupled to the load beam
12
, wherein the magnetic head is supported on the flexure
14
with a gimbal structure. A signal line
16
from the head is fixed on the side of the load beam
12
.
FIG. 2
shows an exploded view of the mount plate
10
, the load beam
12
, and the flexure
14
. Each component is worked into the predetermined shape, and then coupled and fixed to each other. The load beam
12
or the flexure
14
is manufactured under precise control on its material and thickness so as to provide predetermined mechanical characteristics such as natural frequency and stiffness. The load beam and the flexure are typically made of stainless steel. The mount plate
10
is coupled to the load beam
12
with welding at a plurality of welding points
18
shown in FIG.
1
. The load beam
12
and the flexure
14
are also coupled by welding at a plurality of welding points
19
.
As the disk drive is made smaller and smaller, the clearance between disks is narrowed down. Accordingly, there is an increased possibility that a head assembly disposed between the disks will collide with the surface of a disk due to some external impact or vibration. If the load beam or the flexure on the head mount contacts a disk surface, the disk surface may be damaged, leading to damage or loss of data. It is believed that, since the load beam or flexure is generally made of stainless steel as described above, and a sharp edge is formed on such stainless steel member, when the edge hits the disk surface, the disk surface tends to be easily scratched.
FIGS. 3 and 4
schematically show a variation of the load beam. The load beam is in the form of a thin plate, and is deformed as shown in
FIG. 3
or
4
under an external impact. Consequently, the edge of the load beam (
31
in
FIG. 3
, and
41
in
FIG. 4
) collides with the disk surface, so that the disk surface may be damaged, leading to damage or loss of data.
The present invention is intended to provide a head support structure which can prevent damage on the disk surface which may be caused by contact between the disk surface and the head assembly.
Furthermore, the present invention is intended to provide a disk drive with excellent impact resistance without impairing its low profile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To attain the above objects, a head support assembly for a disk drive according to the present invention comprises a head suspension assembly connected to an actuator arm at one end and supporting a head at the other end, wherein a projection is formed on a flexure closely fixed on a thin-plate load beam, said projection projecting toward a disk surface and having a smooth surface.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the projection is formed at the vicinity of a hinge portion of the load beam, but at a position offset therefrom.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5831793 (1998-11-01), Resh
patent: 6072664 (2000-06-01), Aoyagi et al.
patent: 6201664 (2001-03-01), Le et al.
patent: 6222704 (2001-04-01), Aoyagi et al.
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patent: 0-658 882 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 0-700 034 (1996-03-01), None
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patent: 4-139672 (1992-05-01), None
Harako Fujio
Inoue Hiroo
Matsuda Hiroshi
Takahashi Keishi
International Business Machines - Corporation
Klimowicz William
Millett Douglas R.
Watko Julie Anne
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