HEAD SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR DUAL HEAD DISC DRIVE

Abstract: Mechanism for carrying a pair of magnetic core heads (1,1′) for reading and writing magnetic codes on a flexible disk having magnetic coatings thereon while the disk is rotating. Each of the heads is disposed on either side of the disk. The head carrying mechanism allows one of the heads (1′) to rock about a radial axis with respect to the disk, i.e. pitching and to rock about a circumferential axis with respect to the disk, i.e. rolling as well as to move in the direction normal to the disk face. Further, the head carrying mechanism allows the head (1) to pitch about a radial axis with respect to the disk face but not to roll about an axis parallel to the circumferential direction with respect to the disk.

Description: The invention relates to head supporting structure for disk driving apparatus for double-sided flexible disks, and more specifically to a support for a pair of heads which are utilized for reading and writing data on a flexible disk as is used in computers or word processors. Several types of head supporting structure have been in use, and efforts have been made to realize a structure which allows the head to follow faithfully the surface of the flexible disk while it rotates. A typical prior art will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. In the Specification of U.S. Patent No. 4,089,029, a head carrier for the O-side of a flexible disk (hereinafter cited as media) as well as a head carrier for the side-1 of the media is described. Figs. 9 to 14 show an example of aforementioned prior art. Figs. 9 and 10 show a head carrying mechanism for 1-side surface of the media and Figs. 11, 12, one for O-side surface of the media respectively. The head carrying mechanism for side-0 surface and that for side-1 surface has the same structure except for the location of the head core 121 and pressure loading arm 125. The side 1 head 102 is held by a cantilever gimbal spring 103. The side 0 head 122 is held by a similar gimbal spring 123. Both head 102, 122 have at their rear face projections 104, 124, which abut on the spring 105, 125. The gimbal 103, the projection 104, and the spring 105 form an unseparable part. Similarly, the gimbal 123, projection 124, and the spring 125 form another part as seen in Fig. 13. The gimbal 103 for the side l face, and the gimbal 123 for the side 0 face, is fixed on the members 107 and 127 respectively, which are fixed to the bottom of the arms 106 and 126 on either side of the media 100. To provide magnetic recording or reading, the heads 102, 122 are moved into contact with the rotating media surfaces. The head carrying mechanism of the prior art shown in Fig. 13 has cantilever gimbals 103, 123, which are very flexible, and are capable of following a slight wobbling motion, radial or circumferential distortion of the media. The head is also capable of smaller head load force, i.e. force of contact of the head to a media surface. However the head of the prior art has the drawback that good recording contact of the head can be easily damaged due to the wobbling of the head in case of excessive distortion or warp of the media, or inaccuracy of positioning of the media. In other words, the cantilever gimbal springs 103, 123, which carry the heads 102, 122 form cantilevers with one of their ends fixed to the arms 106, 126. Other drawback is that when the cantilever springs carrying the heads 102, 122 are bent, and the heads 102, 122 are inclined to the media surfaces, the head cores 101, 121 are slightly radially displaced whereby causing hazardous effect on tracking accuracy. The head carrying mechanism of the prior art has another drawback that complicate shape of the cantilever springs 103, 123 and loading springs require severe dimentional tolerances. The gimbal springs 103, 123 when they are removed from the assembly, show a spring back as shown in broken lines in Figs. 9, 11 to give a pre-load to the head carrier when it is assembled. This spring back of the gimbal spring causes difficulty in keeping the head in a correct position when it is assembled into a head carrying mechanism. Figs. 15-17 show another prior art as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,151,573. A carriage 201 is provided on the side 0 face of a media 200. The carriage is movable in the radial direction with respect to the media. On the carriage 201 is fixed a button-shaped head 202. The head is in contact with the side 0 surface of the media. On the side 1 surface of the media is disposed a head 205 which is movable with respect to the media. The head 205 is fixed on a cantilever gimbal 204, which is held on an arm 203. One end of the arm 203 is hinged to the stem of the carriage 201. The head 205 has at its back a projection 206 which receives a loading force of a pivot 207 fixed on the arm 203. A coil spring 208 is provided on the stem of the arm to urge the pivot downward, or to the button-shaped head 202. The button-shaped head 202 for side 0 surface has a flat contact surface with its periphery chamfered. The contact surface of the head 202 is placed slightly above the level of the media surface to penetrate the media. The head carrying mechanism of the last mentioned prior art has found a wide use because the head of this type has many advantages e.g. simplicity in structure, high reliability of tracking notwithstanding wobblings of the media due to the fact that the head is fixed directly on the carriage and no displacement of the head occurs. However in order to yield the media to assure a good recording contact between the head and media surface, a comparatively high loading pressure is required, in particular when the media has undulations. To prevent excessive wear of the media, allowable loading pressure is limited. When the media has excessive undulations, a slight gap may occur between the head and the media surface, even if the greatest allowable loading pressure is applied on the head. Furthermore, when the accuracy of the position of the head with respect to the media surface is not sufficient, a gap can easily occur between the side 0 surface and the head which moves to the side 0 surface of the media because the tolerance in height of the head over the media surface is very tight. If the gap exceeds 0.2-0.3 µm for a media having an ordinary recording density, recording or reading of data is impossible. The gap must be tighter for higher recording density. For this reason, this type of head carrying mechanism is not suitable for high density recording. The head of this type has still other drawbacks that the side 1 head 205 receives a relatively great mass of the arm 203, and tends to damage the media when the head is moved to the media surface too rapidly, or contact pressure on the media surface is liable to change by the posture of the carriage. Figs. 18-20 show still another prior art as is shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-34596 (U.S. Patent No. 4,306,258). In the publication, a head is disposed on each side of the media. The head carrier of each side is similar in construction. The head is fixed on the center of the planar spring gimbal 302. The contact pressure is obtained by the spring back of the gimbal 302. The head carrying mechanism prevent dislocation of the head as long as not deformation occurs on the head carrying arm 303. The head carrying mechanism assures a good recording contact of the head due to the spring rate of the gimbal in the direction normal to the media face, capability of the head of swing movement about the axis both circumferential and radial with respect to the media. However, the head carrying mechanism allows a radial dislocation of the head core gap as a result of swing motion about an axis parallel to the direction of the motion of the media. The dislocation of the head core gap occurs because the head slider, which is more than 2 mm in height, is tilted about the gimbal. The height of the head slider must be at lest 2 mm to allow for the jacket of the media. The above-mentioned radial wobbling of the head core causes a dislocation of the head, i.e. off-tracking. As a result, severe allowance is posed on the track margin and this allowance is especially severe when a high density recording is employed in which a number of tracks per inch or per mm is very large. In a disk driving apparatus for a high density recording disk in which a servo tracking technology is employed, follow up control of too rapid off-tracking, i.e. high frequency of off-tracking, is impossible. Figs. 21-22 show the forth example of prior arts as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-43828, in which the heads 401, 402 is fixed at the center of gimbals 403, 404. One of the gimbals 404 is supported by radially spaced members at 404, 405. The head 401, 402 are supported on a carriage which is pivotable about an axis parallel to a radius of the media so that good circumferential follow-up of the heads can be achieved. In other words, the head is allowed to rock about a radial axis with respect to the media (pitching): This type of head carrying mechanism allows only a swing motion of the heads around an axis parallel to a radius of the disk through the head to disk contact point, and no swing motion around an axis parallel to a tangent to a disk track at the contact point nor wobbling in the direction perpendicular to the disk is allowed. This means a gap can occur, when the relative height changes, between the head core and the disk. Because the supports 405, 406 are fixed on a carriage 407 with resilient members therebetween, the head is allowed to rock in the Z-X plane (rolling), which is undesirable. Fig. 22 shows another type of gimbal which realizes similar functions as that shown in Fig. 21. The gimbal has a pair of bridges 411, 412, which allow the head to pitch. However, the gimbal does not allow the head to roll nor to move in the direction perpendicular to the disk face. Objects of the present invention are to overcome the drawbacks of the above mentioned four prior art examples, while keeping the advantages thereof, and in particular to make it possible to provide a head supporting structure which allows sufficient follow-up characteristics of the head, while substantially preventing off-tracking thereof, and to provide a head supporting structure for a high recording density head, i.e. a high circumferential density (BPI) as well as a high radial density (TP1 recording head. EP-A-0012975 describes supporting structure for the dual magnetic heads of a disk drive system for a double-sided flexible disk, comprising: first and second read/write magnetic core heads disposed in use respectively at first and second sides of a flexible disk; first support means for supporting said first head, said first support means comprising a first leaf spring gimbal to allow the first head three degrees of freedom, namely movement (Z-Z) perpendicular to the plane of the disk, rolling about an axis (Y-Y) tangential to a disk track at the head to disk contact point and pitching about an axis (X-X) radial to the disk track at said contact point; and second support means for supporting said second head, said second support means including a second leaf spring gimbal; The second support means is similar to the first support means and thus have the same three degrees of freedom. The present invention is characterized in that: said second support means comprises said second leaf spring gimbal carrying said second head and a further leaf spring structure coupled to said second leaf spring gimbal at first and second points spaced apart along said radial axis (X-X), to allow the second head two degrees of freedom, namely movement perpendicular to the plane of the disk and pitching about the radial axis (X-X) but substantially preventing rolling about the tangential axis (Y-Y). WO-A-81/01070 describes supporting structure having different support means for the first and second heads, the first head having freedom to pitch about the X-X axis and to roll about the Y-Y axis, but the second head only being able to move in the direction perpendicular to the disk along the Z-Z axis. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of head supporting structure on a carriage. Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the carriage. Fig. 3 is an exploded view of another embodiment of side 0 head supporting structure. Fig. 4A is a plan view of the head supporting structure, shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4B is a cross-section of the apparatus taken on line Y-Y of Fig. 4A. Fig. 4C is a cross-section of the apparatus taken on line X-X of Fig. 4A. Fig. 5 is an isometric view of side 0 head supporting structure of another embodiment. Fig. 6A is a plan view of the head supporting structure of Fig. 5. Fig. 6B is a sectional view taken on line Y-Y of Fig. 5. Fig. 6C is a sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 6A. Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of still another embodiment. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7. Figs. 9-22 show examples of prior art. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 1-8. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a carrying mechanism according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the carrying mechanism. The carriage has a pair of heads 1, 1' which will be described hereinafter. The carriage is slidable along guide bars in the direction normal to the surface of a flexible disk (which will be referred to as media 10). In the figures, each of the heads 1, 1' has a read/write core for reading or writing codes magnetically on the media. The heads 1, 1' are fixed on a respective supporting member 3, 3'. The member 3 is fixed on a lower arm 12 at its peripheral portion. Similarly, the member 3' is fixed on an upper arm 11. The central portion 3b of the members 3, 3' is capable of pitching (about the X-X axis) and rolling (about the Y-Y axis), wherein the X-X axis is radial to a disk track at the head to disk contact point and the Y-Y axis is tangential to the disk track at the contact point. Furthermore, the central portion 3b is movable in the Z-Z direction. Thus the members 3, 3' function as gimbals. The head 1 is fixed on the central portion 3b of the gimbal 3 for recording contact with side 0 surface of the media. The central portion 3b of the gimbal spring for the surface "0" is supported at its back by a pair of vertical projection 5a, 5a of a cantilever spring 4 which can be manufactured by cutting off or etching process. Thus the head is secured against rolling. The cantilever spring 4 has a horizontal extension disposed parallel to the Y-Y axis and a pair of legs extending normal to the X-Y plane which acts as a spacer 5 for the head. The bifurcated spacer 5 is secured on the gimbal 3 normally thereto at points 5a, 5a (more than two joint may be used). The height (h) of the spacer measures 2-3 mm. At the end of the legs 5, 5 is formed a projection 5a having tapered sides, which is inserted into apertures 6, 6. These legs 5, 5 and apertures 6, 6 are coupled together preventing any loose motion in the Y-Y direction. As the coupling joint allows relative rotation around the axis X-X, the angle between the gimbal and the spacer can change. The change in the angle is possible when the cantilever spring 4 is made with a thin plate. Because the joints between the gimbal and spacer allow no sliding motion thereof, vibrations can occur in the gimbals 3, 3′, which secure the heads 1, 1′ when the media moves in contact with the head. In this case damping material having high viscosity may be applied onto the joints. Thus pitching vibration is damped. Although in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the spacer 5 is shown as having a tongue 4 bent upwardly, which is made with a resilient material, the structure of the spacer is not limited to the embodiment. Figs. 3 and 4 show another example of spacer. In the figures, a cantilever leaf spring 4 and a spacer 5 are made as separate parts. On the lower side of the spacer 5 is formed a projection 5c, which is inserted in a slot extending in Y direction whereby forming a non-slidable joint. In assembling the head carrying mechanism, the gimbal 3, cantilever spring 4 and the spacer 5 are assembled into a unit in the first step and the unit is then set on the arm 12. Figs. 5 and 6 show still another embodiment of a head carrying gimbal for side 0 head. In the embodiment, a third gimbal spring 40 similar to the gimbal 3 is disposed under the gimbal 3, with spaced relation by means of a spacer 5, preventing rolling motion. The gimbal 40 which is spaced from the head carrying gimbal 3, and parallel thereto is secured at its periphery 40a. The central part 40b is movable in the Z direction, is capable of pitching, but not of rolling (rocking about Y-Y axis). The head carrying mechanism, with two gimbals 3, 40, each being connected by means of the spacer 5, does not permit the head 1 to rock in the X-Z plane, but permits the head 1 to rock in Y-Z plane and to move in the Z-Z direction. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the gimbal 3′ carrying the head 1′ for side 1 surface has at its upper side a projection. Through the projection 30, the biasing force of the spring 14 is exerted on the head 1′. The spring 14 is secured at its other end 14a on the upper arm 11 by means of screws or other known means. This construction permits the side 1 head to move in relation to the arm 11 in the Z-Z direction. An adjusting screw 13 is used to adjust the biasing force of the spring 14. In the above embodiments, the displacement of the top of the spacer 5, which will be denoted as x, if the head is inclined to the media surface in the Z-X plane, is given by the following formula: x = h·tan ϑ wherein ϑ: angle of inclination of head h: height of the spacer The displacement appears in X-X direction. The leaf spring 4 extends in the Y-Y direction, and has a sufficient width in X-X direction to regist to a X-X deflection. Hence, the spacer 5 which is jointed to the spring 4, will not deflect in X-X direction thus preventing rocking motion of the gimbal in the Z-X plane. As the cantilever spring 4 as well as the gimbal 3 is yieldable in Z direction, the head carrying mechanism assures a good follow up characteristic of the head even in case of wobbling of the media or misalignment of the media due to machining tolerances in the dimention, while keeping rigidity against rolling. Furthermore, the head carrying mechanism assures good lengthwise follow-up of the head because the spacer 5 is jointed to the gimbal 3 at plurality of points disposed in X-X direction which permit pitching of the head. Although in the last-mentioned embodiment, the gimbals 3, 3′ carrying the heads 1, 1′ are described as two-axis square spring gimbals, other types of gimbals may be used, for example round spring gimbal or a cantilever gimbal as will be described below. Figs. 7-8 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which a cantilever gimbal 31 is employed. This type of gimbal has the drawback that it is liable to rotate. As shown in the figures, the head 1 is fixed on a cantilever leaf spring gimbal 31. Another cantilever spring 41 is disposed parallel to the gimbal 31 with a support member 7′ therebetween. The other end of each leaf spring is jointed with a spacer 5 thereby preventing rolling of the head. The space has a pair of projections 5a, 5a on the upper side, and each of these projections is inserted into either of two or more slots 6, 6, provided in radially spaced relation on the cantilever leaf spring gimbal 31. On the bottom side of the spacer 5 are provided a pair of projections 5c, 5c, and each of these projections is inserted into either of the slots 6′, 6′ provided on a leaf spring 41. With this head carrying structure, the head 1 is prevented of translational motion in the Z-X plane because a pair of cantilever leaf spring 31, 41, support member 7′ and the spacer 5 form a parallelogram. More than two projections may be provided on the bottom side of the spacer to make more the two joints between spacer and the cantilever leaf spring 41, thereby assuring more rigidity of the head against rotation. Due to the joints between spacer and gimbal aligned on the X-X axis, the head is capable of pitching and translational movement in Z-Y plane (shown in Fig. 8 in imaginary lines). The head carrying mechanism has sufficient rigidity against torsion about the longitudinal axis of the cantilever.

Claims: Supporting structure for the dual magnetic heads of a disk drive system for a double-sided flexible disk (10), comprising: first and second read/write magnetic core heads (1',1) disposed in use respectively at first and second sides of a flexible disk; first support means for supporting said first head (1'), said first support means comprising a first leaf spring gimbal (3') to allow the first head three degrees of freedom, namely movement (Z-Z) perpendicular to the plane of the disk, rolling about an axis (Y-Y) tangential to a disk track at the head to disk contact point and pitching about an axis (X-X) radial to the disk track at said contact point; and second support means for supporting said second head (1), said second support means including a second leaf spring gimbal (3); characterized in that: said second support means comprises said second leaf spring gimbal (3) carrying said second head (1) and a further leaf spring structure (4) coupled to said second leaf spring gimbal (3) at first and second points (6) spaced apart along said radial axis (X-X) to, allow the second head too degrees of freedom, namely movement perpendicular to the plane of the disk and pitching about the radial axis (X-X) but substantially preventing rolling about the tangential axis (Y-Y). Supporting structure according to claim 1 characterized in that said further leaf spring structure is a cantilever leaf spring (4) whose fixed end is fixed along a line parallel to said radial axis (X-X) and whose free end (5) is jointed to the central portion of said second leaf spring gimbal (3) at said first and second points (6) spaced apart along said radial axis (X-X). Supporting structure according to claim 1 characterized in that said further leaf spring structure (4) comprises a cantilever leaf spring (4) whose fixed end is fixed along a line parallel to said radial axis and whose free end is connected to the central portion of said second leaf spring gimbal by means of a spacer (5), one end (5c) of said spacer being jointed by at least one joint to the free end of said cantilever leaf spring (4) and the other end (5a) of said spacer being jointed by first and second joints to said second leaf spring gimbal at said first and second points (6). Supporting structure according to claim 3 characterized in that said second leaf spring gimbal (3), said cantilever leaf spring (4) and said spacer (5) are assembled into a unit to be mounted on a carriage arm (12) of said disk drive system. Suporting structure according to claim 1 characterized in that said further leaf spring structure comprises a third leaf spring gimbal (40) extending parallel to and spaced apart from said second leaf spring gimbal (3) and a spacer (5) connecting the central portions of said second and third leaf spring gimbals, one end (6') of said spacer being jointed by at least one joint to the third leaf spring gimbal (40) and the other end (5a) of said spacer being jointed by first and second joints to said second leaf spring gimbal (3) at said first and second points (6). Supporting structure according to any one of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that said joints at said first and second points (6) each comprise a slot (6) formed in the central portion of said second leaf spring gimbal (3) and aligned along said radial axis (X-X), and a tapered projection (5a) inserted into that slot. Supporting structure according to claim 1 characterized in that said second leaf spring gimbal (31) and said further leaf spring structure (41) comprise a pair of cantilever leaf spring gimbals (31,41) extending parallel to and spaced apart from one another, and a spacer (5) connects the free ends of the cantilever leaf spring gimbals, each end (5a,5c) of the spacer being jointed by first and second joints to first and second radially spaced points (6,6') on the respective cantilever leaf spring gimbals to form a parallelogram connection. Supporting structure according to claim 7 characterized in that each said joint comprises a radially aligned slot (6,6') formed in the respective cantilever leaf spring gimbal (31,41) and a tapered projection (5a,5c) on said spacer inserted in that slot. Supporting structure according to claim 7 or claim 8 characterized in that said pair of cantilever leaf spring gimbals (31,41) and said spacer (5) are assembled into a unit to be mounted on a carriage arm (12) of said disk drive system.

Inventors: ISOZAKI, SHIN, YAGI, MICHIO
Applicants: KONICA CORPORATION
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G11B21
IPC codes: G11B17, G11B5, G11B21