Sliding-type magnetic head for magnetooptical recording

Abstract: A magnetic head for magnetooptically recording information on a magnetooptical recording medium in sliding contact therewith has a head body (22) having a sliding sole (29) for sliding contact with a magnetooptical recording medium (1), a leaf spring (23), the head body (22) being supported by the leaf spring (23), and a support member (24), the leaf spring (23) having an end fixed to the support member (24). The leaf spring (23) comprises a first spring system (53) joined to the support member (24), a second spring system (55) extending from the first spring system (53), and a third spring system (56) extending from a distal end of the second spring system (55) toward the support member (24), the head body (22) being supported by the third spring system (56). The support member (24) has a stopper (72) which holds the distal end of the second spring system (55) in a position to store a predetermined amount of recovery energy in the leaf spring (23).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to a sliding-type magnetic head for magnetooptically recording information on a magnetooptical recording medium in sliding contact therewith. Description of the Relevant Art: One of optical disks for storing, erasing, and retrieving information with a light beam is known as a magnetooptical disk. As shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a conventional magnetooptical disk 1 comprises a transparent substrate 2, a magnetooptical recording layer 3 in the form of a perpendicularly magnetizable film disposed on the transparent substrate 2 with an SiN protective film 8 interposed therebetween, a reflecting film 4 in the form of a thin metal film such as an aluminum film disposed on the magnetooptical recording layer 3 with another SiN protective film 8 interposed therebetween, and a protective film 5 as of an ultraviolet-curing resin disposed on the reflecting film 4. Field- and beam-modulating recording processes are known for recording information on magnetooptical disks. The field-modulating recording process is capable of recording information in an overwrite mode in which a new signal is recorded over an old signal on the magnetooptical disk. The field-modulating recording process will be described below with reference to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings. An optical pickup for applying a laser beam 6 is disposed on one side of a magnetooptical disk 1 with a magnetooptical recording layer in the form of a perpendicularly magnetizable film, i.e., on the substrate side of the magnetooptical disk 1, and a magnetic field generator, i.e., a magnetic head 7, is disposed on the other side of the magnetooptical disk 1, i.e., on the protective film side, for movement in synchronism with the laser spot. The direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic head 7 is varied by varying the direction of an electric current supplied to the magnetic head 7. In operation, the magnetooptical disk 1 is rotated about its own center at a predetermined speed. It is assumed that a magnetic field representing a recording signal is generated in the vicinity of a laser spot 6a on the magnetooptical disk 1. A region 1A of the magnetooptical disk 1, in which recorded information is to be rewritten, is heated to the Curie temperature by the laser spot 6a and hence demagnetized. When the region 1A is moved out of the laser spot 6a on rotation of the magnetooptical disk 1, the temperature of the region 1A drops below the Curie temperature, and the region 1A is magnetized in the direction of the applied magnetic field, thus recording the signal. The magnetooptical disk 1 is a non-contact recording medium, i.e., the magnetic head 7 is spaced from the magnetooptical disk 1 by a predetermined distance d 0 . The applicant has developed an ultrasmall-size digital recording and reproducing apparatus for digitally recording information on and reproducing information from a small-size magnetooptical disk. Since the conventional magnetic head 7 is held out of contact with a magnetooptical disk 1 when recording information thereon, the magnetic head 7 is associated with an electromagnetic servomechanism for causing the magnetic head 7 to follow disk surface displacements that occur due to any inclination of the magnetooptical disk 1, thickness irregularities thereof, etc., when the magnetooptical disk 1 rotates. The presence of the electromagnetic servomechanism has posed limitations on a recording and reproducing apparatus with respect to efforts to reduce power consumption and apparatus size (particularly apparatus thickness). If a magnetic head is held in sliding contact with a magnetooptical disk, then the magnetic head can be supported by a simple support structure, dispensing with an electromagnetic servomechanism which takes up a large space. Therefore, a recording and reproducing apparatus with a magnetic head designed to held in sliding contact with a magnetooptical disk may be reduced in power requirements and size. The magnetooptical disk 1 has surface irregularities such as bumps or the like. When a magnetic head held in sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 passes a bump, the magnetic head jumps away from the disk surface by a distance corresponding to the height of the bump, resulting in a reduction in recording capability. To maintain a desired level of recording capability, the magnetic head is required to have a higher power output. Shocks that are applied to the magnetooptical disk by the sliding-type magnetic head are proportional in magnitude to the weight of the magnetic head. When such shocks are imposed on the magnetooptical disk, the magnetooptical disk vibrates, causing an optical system coupled to the magnetic head to be defocused. In order to reduce shocks applied to the magnetooptical disk, the magnetic head should be reduced in weight and hence size. However, inasmuch as smaller-size magnetic heads produce lower output levels, they fail to meet the requirement for higher power output. In the JP-A-1236412 a magneto-optical head is disclosed which has a magnetic head element comprising a magnetic core, nonmagnetic bodies for holding the magnetic core and a winding. The magneto-optical head further comprises a slider disposed on one side of the magnetic head element for sliding contact with a magneto-optical recording medium. The surface of the slider is coated with a resilient nonmagnetic sliding layer. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sliding-type magnetic head for recording information on a magnetooptical disk, which magnetic head is capable of sufficiently follow disk surface displacements or vertical undulations, and surface irregularities, and of absorbing vibrations and shocks, and is relatively small in weight and size. According to the present invention, there is provided a magnetic head according to the features of the appended claim 1. The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent the same or similar objects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a magnetooptical disk; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrative of a field-modulsting recording process that is being carried out on the magnetooptical disk; FIG. 3 is a plan view an example of a sliding-type magnetic head which is not part of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the sliding-type magnetic head shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a plan view of the sliding-type magnetic head shown in FIG. 3 with a flexible wire cable; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a head body of the sliding-type magnetic head shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the head body shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8A is a plan view of a slider of the head body shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the slider; FIG. 9 is a plan view of a leaf spring of the sliding-type magnetic head shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the leaf spring shown in FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a plan view of a support member of the sliding-type magnetic head shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the support member shown in FIG. 11; FIGS. 13A and 13B are side elevational views showing the manner in which the magnetic head shown in FIG. 3 operates; FIG. 14 is a side elevational view showing the manner in which the magnetic head shown in FIG. 3 operates; FIG. 15A is a side elevational view of a comparative magnetic head; FIG. 15B is a side elevational view of an inventive magnetic head; FIG. 16 is a side elevational view showing the heights of the examplary and comparative magnetic heads; FIGS. 17A and 17B are side elevational views showing the manner in which the comparative and examplary magnetic heads operate; FIG. 18 is a plan view of a disk cartridge of a magnetooptical disk; FIG. 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a window in the disk cartridge shown in FIG. 18; FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the head body of the example; FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing the manner in which the magnetic head shown in FIG. 20 operates; FIG. 22 is a graph showing the relationship between an angle  10 and a distance L in FIG. 21 at radially opposite ends of a radial area used of a magnetooptical disk on which the magnetic head shown in FIG. 20 operates; FIG. 23 is a schematic view of the head body of a sliding-type magnetic head according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 24 is a schematic view showing the manner in which the magnetic head shown in FIG. 23 operates; FIG. 25 is a plan view of a sliding-type magnetic head according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of the sliding-type magnetic head shown in FIG. 25; FIG. 27A is a plan view of a head body of the magnetic head shown in FIG. 25; FIG. 27B is a side elevational view of the head body shown in FIG. 27A; FIG. 28 is a plan view of a blank form of a leaf spring of the magnetic head shown in FIG. 25; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Like or corresponding parts are denoted by like or corresponding reference numerals throughout views. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a sliding-type magnetic head according to an example , which is generally designated by the reference numeral 21, comprises a head body 22, a thin leaf spring 23 for pressing a sliding sole 29 thereof against a surface 1a of a magnetooptical disk 1, and a support member or head arm 24 to which the leaf spring 23 is attached. The leaf spring 23 has one end fixedly joined to the support member 24, and the head body 22 is mounted on the other end of the leaf spring 23. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the head body 22 has a magnetic head element 27 comprising a substantially E-shaped magnetic core 25 of ferrite and a coil bobbin 41 with a coil 26 wound therearound. The magnetic core 25 comprises a central magnetic core 25A and a pair of side magnetic cores 25B disposed one on each side of the central magnetic core 25A. The magnetic head element 27 is mounted on a slider 28, which includes the sliding sole 29 that is held in sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1. The coil bobbin 41 has a pair of spaced flanges 42A, 42B as of liquid crystal polymer or the like on respective upper and lower ends thereof. The coil bobbin 41 has a vertical through hole 43 extending through the flanges 42A, 42B, with the central magnetic core 25A being inserted in the through hole 43. The upper flange 42A has an integral terminal support 45 mounted thereon on one side of the through hole 43, the terminal support 45 having a pair of terminal pins 44 as of nickel silver that are spaced from each other across the through hole 43. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the slider 28, which is injection-molded of a synthetic resin having a low coefficient of friction, has the sliding sole 29 and a mount 31 integrally joined to one side of the sliding sole 29, the mount 31 having a recess 30 defined therein for receiving the magnetic head element 27. The sliding sole 29 has a thickness t 1 that is smaller than the thickness t 2 of the mount 31. The lower surface of the mount 31 which supports the magnetic head element 27 is displaced a small distance d 2 from the lower surface of the sliding sole 29 which lies for sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1. The lower sliding surface of the sliding sole 29 is arcuate in shape along the transverse direction (normal to the sheet FIG. 8B), and has a flat surface 33 and a pair of opposite curved end surfaces 34 along the longitudinal direction. .Therefore, when the sliding sole 29 is held against the disk surface 1a, it is in linear contact with the disk surface 1a. The recess 30, which is positioned on one side of the sliding sole 29, includes an upper opening 46 of a substantially crisscross shape which receives an upper surface of the magnetic core 25 and the terminal pins 44. When the magnetic head element 27 is placed in the recess 30 of the slider 28, they jointly make up the head body 22. Since the slider 28 is required to be highly slidable with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1, not to be electrically charged, and to be lightweight, the slider 28 is made of polymeric polyethylene with or without a carbon content (e.g., 8 weight % of carbon), or any of various plastic materials described later on. The magnetic core 25 has a pair of steps or shoulders 47 on opposite ends of the upper surface thereof. The opening 46 of the slider 28 has a length L 10 which is the same as the length of the upper surface of the magnetic core 25 between the steps 47 and which is shorter than the length L 11 of the magnetic core 25 by a distance equal to the sum of the lengths of the steps 47. When the upper surface of the magnetic core 25 is snugly received in the opening 46, therefore, the magnetic head element 27 is easily positioned with respect to the slider 28. The depth of the steps 27 is selected such that when the upper surface of the magnetic core 25 is received in the opening 46, the upper surface of the slider 28 and the upper surface of the magnetic core 25 lie flush with each other. As shown in FIG. 8A, the recess 30 has its longitudinal central axis X 1 extending out of alignment with the longitudinal central axis X 2 of the slider 28 for reasons described later on. The sliding sole 29 has an attachment 48 integrally mounted on its upper surface for attaching the head body 22 to a distal end portion of the leaf spring 23. The attachment 48 projects upwardly from a base 50 on the upper surface of the sliding sole 29, which base 50 serves to contact the lower surface of the distal end portion of the leaf spring 23. With the sliding sole 29 held in contact with the magnetooptical disk 1, the magnetic core 25 of the magnetic head element 27 has its lower end surface spaced from the disk surface 1a by the distance d 2 . The leaf spring 23 is in the form of a thin sheet which may be made of SUS304, BeCu, or tension- annealed materials thereof. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the leaf spring 23 comprises a joint 52 to be coupled to the support member 24, a first spring system (springy portion) 53 extending from the joint 52 obliquely downwardly at an angle  1 for enabling the magnetic head 21 to follow surface displacements of the magnetooptical disk 1 and applying biasing forces to the magnetic head 21, an inclined portion 54 extending from the first spring system 53 obliquely downwardly at an angle  2 , a second spring system (springy portion) 55 extending from the inclined portion 54 for enabling the magnetic head 21 to follow surface irregularities such as bumps of the magnetooptical disk 1, a third spring system 56 extending as a gimbal from the second spring system 55 back toward the joint 52, and a locking hook bent upwardly at a substantially right angle or a similar angle from the distal end of the second spring system 55 and having a hook end 57 bent outwardly at a substantially right angle or a similar angle from the distal end of the locking hook. The portion of the locking hook which vertically extends has an opening (not shown) which makes itself lightweight. The joint 52 is of a flat shape having a plurality of positioning holes 52a. The first spring system 53 is in the form of a substantially flat plate having a central opening 58 and includes a pair of laterally spaced side arms 53A, 53B which exert spring forces. The first spring system 53 is slightly curved as a whole when the leaf spring 24 is attached to the support member 24. The inclined portion 54 has a pair of ribs 60 extending along its opposite sides, respectively, and bent upwardly at a right angle. The second spring system 55 comprises a pair of laterally spaced parallel flat springy arms 55A, 55B extending from the respective opposite sides of the inclined portion 24 through constrictions portions 61 positioned between the inclined portion 54 and the second spring system 55. The springy arms 55A, 55B are disposed one on each side of a space 63 and lie in the same plane. The third spring system 56 extends from an inner side of the distal end of the second spring system 55 into the space 63 between the springy arms 55A, 55B. The third spring system 56 has a positioning hole 62 defined in its distal portion to be fitted over the attachment 48 of the head body 22. The first and second spring systems 53, 55 are operatively separate from each other by the inclined portion 54 stiffened by the ribs 60, and the second and third spring systems 55, 56 are also operatively separate from each other. Therefore, the first, second, and third spring systems 53, 55, 56 are operable independently of each other. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the support member 24, which may be made of iron, steel, SUS304, aluminum, or the like, has an attachment base 70 to which the joint 52 of the leaf spring 23 is to be attached, and a stopper 73 extending from the attachment base 70 in an asymmetrical fashion. The stopper 73 has an arm 71 extending from one side of the attachment base 70, which side is positioned radially inwardly with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1, the arm 71 including a first portion corresponding to the length of the leaf spring 23 from the joint 52 to an intermediate position of the inclined portion 54, and a second portion corresponding to the length of the leaf spring 23 from the intermediate position of the inclined portion 54 to the locking hook and inclined at an angle  3 with respect to the second portion. The stopper 73 also has a stop 72 integrally extending perpendicularly from the distal end of the arm 71 in spaced confronting relationship to the attachment base 70. The angle  3 is selected to be smaller than the angle  2 that is smaller than the angle  1 ( 3 <  2 <  1 ). The support member 24 may be blanked out of sheet of iron, steel, SUS304, aluminum, or the like. Alternatively, the support member 24 may be injection-molded of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyacetal (POM), polyarylate (PAR), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer with or without a carbon content. The joint 92 of the leaf spring 23 is joined to the attachment base 70 of the support member 24 by laser beam welding, spot welding, or the like with the positioning holes 52 fitted over respective positioning pins 70a on the support member 24. The hook end 57 bent from the distal end of the second spring system 55 engages the stop 72 on the distal end of the arm 71. Since the angles  1 ,  2 of the leaf spring 23 are different from the angle  3 of the arm 71, the leaf spring 23 is engaged by the stop 72 with the first and second spring systems 53, 55 tending to recover their initial shapes. Stated otherwise, the first and second spring systems 53, 55 are pre-charged with predetermined spring forces. Then, the attachment 48 of the head body 22 is inserted in the positioning hole 62 of the third spring system 56, and fused to attach the head body 22 to the leaf spring 23. The positioning hole 62 includes a plurality of slits 62a which enable the attachment 48 to be securely joined to the leaf spring 23. The head body 22 is formed such that its center P of gravity (see FIG. 4) is positioned between the sliding sole 29, particularly a position where it is in direct contact with the magnetooptical disk 1, and the magnetic head element 27, particularly the central magnetic core 25A. With the head body 22 installed on the end of the third spring system 56, the magnetic head element 27 is positioned in the space 63 defined between the springy arms 55A, 55B of the second spring system 55. The head body 22 should preferably be supported such that in use, the springy arms 55A, 55B extend through or in the vicinity of an axis Y 1 (see FIG. 3) which extends through the center P of gravity of the head body 22 and about which the head body 22 is angularly movable when it hits a bump 16 (see FIG. 14) of the magnetooptical disk 1. Therefore, the head body 22 is supported vertically across a plane in which the springy arms 55A, 55B lie. The frequency of natural vibration of the head body 22 including the leaf spring 23 is lower than the equivalent frequency of bumps on the disk surface 1a when the magnetic head 21 slides against the magnetooptical disk 1 and also lower than the frequency of natural vibration of the magnetooptical disk 1. The resonant frequencies of the three independent spring systems 53, 55, 56 are selected to meet the above frequency requirement. The equivalent frequency of bumps on the disk surface 1a is defined as a maximum-amplitude frequency component caused by a bump when changes in the height of the magnetooptical disk 1 that moves at a linear speed used are expressed by a frequency. As shown in FIG. 5, a flexible wire cable 81 connected to coil terminals has two wires (not shown) which have end connectors, i.e., round connectors, inserted into and connected to the terminal pins 44 that project upwardly from the slider 28. The flexible wire cable 81 extends on and along the arm 71 of the support member 24, and has an engaging hole defined in one end thereof which is fitted over an engaging pin 82 on the proximal end of the arm 71. The magnetic head 21 operates as follows: When the magnetic head 21 is in its free state prior to contact with the disk surface 1a, the head body 22 is held on the leaf spring 23 such that the third spring system 56 is lower than the second spring system 55, as shown in FIG. 13A. When the head body 22 is brought toward the disk surface 1a, the sliding sole 29 first abuts against the disk surface 1a and lies parallel to the disk surface 1a with the third spring system 56 moving in unison with the sliding sole 29, and thereafter the locking hook end 57 is released from the stop 72. Now, the head body 22 is held in slidable contact with the disk surface 1a under a predetermined load. The head body 22 is movable within an allowable range of surface displacements of the disk surface 1a under the bias of the first spring system 53. For example, if the magnetooptical disk 1 is an ultrasmall magnetooptical disk having a diameter of 64 mm, then the allowable range of surface displacements of the disk surface thereof is ± 0.7. The head body 22 is also movable to follow the bump 16 (FIG. 14) under the bias of the second spring system 55. The third spring 56 functions as a gimbal to allow the head body 22 to follow surface displacements of the disk surface 1a. Since the leaf spring 23 is pre-loaded by the locking hook 57 engaged by and extending from the support member 24, any fluctuations in the pressure applied to the disk surface 1a by the head body 22 are small, i.e., the pressure applied to the disk surface 1a by the head body 22 is substantially constant, even when the head body 22 is vertically displaced by surface displacements of the disk surface 1a. In this embodiment, because the magnetic head element 27 is retracted from the sliding surface of the sliding sole 29 by the distance d 2 , the bump 16 on the disk surface 1a passes through a clearance between the magnetic head element 27 and the magnetooptical disk 1. As shown in FIG. 14, the center P of gravity of the head body 22 is located between the magnetic head element 27 and the sliding sole 29. When the head body 22 encounters a surface irregularity such as the bump 16, the bump 16 passes between the magnetic head element 27 and the disk surface 1a into abutment against the end of the sliding sole 29. Upon the bump 16 abutting against the end of the sliding sole 29, the magnetic head 22 turns clockwise the center P of gravity as shown in FIG. 14, causing the magnetic head element 27 to move closer to the disk surface 1a. As a result, the recording capability of the magnetic head 21 is increased. At the same time, the equivalent weight of the head body 22 as it is seen from the bump 16 is reduced. Therefore, the shock applied to the magnetooptical disk 1 by the head body 22 is relatively small, lessening adverse effects on an optical pickup system associated with the magnetic head 21. Inasmuch as the magnetic head element 27 does not jump, but moves closer to the disk surface 1a even when the head body 22 encounters a surface irregularity of the disk surface 1a, the magnetic head 21 is not required to have a high recording capability, and may hence be relatively be small in mass and weight. Even when subjected to external shocks, the magnetic head 21 applies relatively small shocks to the magnetooptical disk 1. The magnetic head 21 can sufficiently withstand external shocks imposed thereon. In this embodiment, the weight of the head body 22 may be reduced to about 30 mg to 40 mg, and it can withstand external forces of 10 G (gravitational forces). As described above, the frequency of natural vibration of the head body 22 including the leaf spring systems 53, 55, 56 is lower than the equivalent frequency of bumps on the disk surface 1a when the magnetic head 21 slides against the magnetooptical disk 1 and also lower than the frequency of natural vibration of the magnetooptical disk 1. Thus, the head body 22 is prevented from resonating, and the magnetic head 21 is operable stably. The protective film 5 of the magnetooptical disk 1 is formed by spin coating. The spin coating process is however liable to produce a raised film portion on the outer circumferential edge of the magnetooptical disk 1. For higher recording density on the magnetooptical disk 1, information should preferably be recorded on the magnetooptical disk 1 as closely to its outer circumferential edge as possible. As shown in FIG. 8A, the central axis X 1 of the magnetic head element 27 is displaced out of alignment with the central axis X 2 of the slider 28, as described above. Therefore, even when the magnetic head element 27 moves closer to the raised film portion on the outer circumferential edge of the magnetooptical disk 1, the slider 29 slides in linear contact with a flat area of the disk 1 which is spaced from the raised film portion. As a result, the magnetic head 21 is able to record information with high density on the magnetooptical disk 1. As the second spring system 55 which enables the magnetic head 21 to follow surface irregularities such as bumps of the magnetooptical disk 1 is operable independently of the first spring system 56 which enables magnetic head 21 to follow surface displacements of the magnetooptical disk 1, any adverse effects imposed on the magnetooptical disk 1 at the time the magnetic head 21 hits a bump 16 are minimized. The second spring system 55 extends through or in the vicinity of the axis Y 1 that extends through the center P of gravity of the head body 22. Thus, when the magnetic head 21 hits a bump 16, the head body 22 turns about the center P of gravity or the axis Y 1 that is aligned with the axis about which the second spring system 55 operates. Therefore, the head body 22 can operate in a perfect mode. Stresses developed in the leaf spring 23 concentrate on the constricted portions 61 positioned between the inclined portion 54 and the second spring system 55. Therefore, the leaf spring 23 is prevented from resonating during operation. The magnetic head 21 offers the following advantages as compared with a prior sliding-type magnetic head for magnetooptically recording information on a magnetooptical recording medium in sliding contact therewith as proposed in Japanese patent application No. 4-23964, published as JP 5 290 428 A on 05.11.1993. The prior comparative magnetic head, which is denoted at 83 in FIG. 15A, has a leaf spring 87 that comprises a first spring system 84, an inclined portion 85 extending obliquely at a certain angle from the first spring system 84 and having ribs, and a second spring system 86 extending from the inclined portion 85. The leaf spring 87 is fixed at one end thereof to a support member 88, which has a stopper 89 held against the inclined portion 85 to pre-charge the first spring system 84 with a predetermined spring force. The magnetic head also has a head body 22 supported on the distal end of the second spring system 86 through a gimbal. The first spring system 84 enables the magnetic head 83 to follow surface displacements of a magnetooptical disk 1 within an allowable range and applies biasing forces to the magnetic head 83, and the second spring system 86 enables the magnetic head 83 to follow surface irregularities such as bumps of the magnetooptical disk 1. FIG. 15B shows an exemplary magnetic head 21 which is identical to the magnetic head 21 shown in FIG. 3. Comparison between the magnetic heads 21, 83 shows that when a disk cartridge housing a magnetooptical disk is ejected from a recording and reproducing apparatus, the proximal portion of the support member 24, for example, is turned to space the head body 22 away from the disk cartridge, i.e., from an operating position to a nonoperating position, by a distance that is smaller than the distance of the comparative magnetic disk 83. More specifically, with the magnetic head 83 shown in FIG. 15A, only the first spring system 84 is pre-charged, and the second spring system 86 is in a free state. In use, after the sliding sole 29 of the head body 22 contacts the magnetooptical disk 1, the magnetic head 83 is pressed downwardly to achieve a desired pressure against the magnetooptical disk 1. The distance that the head body 22 traverses at this time with respect to the support member 88 until the instant the second spring system 86 disengages from the stopper 89 is larger than the distance traversed by the head body 22 of the inventive magnetic head 21. When the magnetic head 83 is depressed, the spring pressure exerted by the leaf spring 87 progressively increases until the inclined portion 85 is released from the stopper 89. After the inclined portion 85 is released from the stopper 89, the spring pressure of the leaf spring 87 changes a little, i.e., increases slightly, even when the magnetic head 83 is further depressed. With the exemplary magnetic head 21, however, because the first and second spring systems 53, 55 are pre-charged, the distance that the head body 22 traverses with respect to the support member 24 after the slider 29 contacts the magnetooptical disk 1 until the second spring system 55 disengages from the stop 72, i.e., the distance by which the magnetic head 21 is depressed to achieve a desired pressure against the magnetooptical disk 1, is relatively small. As a consequence, the distance by which the magnetic head 21 is lifted when the disk cartridge is ejected is relatively small. FIG. 16 shows, for comparison, the height of the exemplary magnetic head 21 and the height of the comparative magnetic head 83. As shown in FIG. 16, the exemplary magnetic head 21 is higher than the comparative magnetic head 83 by a distance which is equal to the difference Δh between the height of the examplary magnetic head 21 and the height of the comparative magnetic head 83. When the magnetic heads are incorporated in the proposed ultrasmall-size digital recording and reproducing apparatus, the difference Δh is approximately 1 mm. Accordingly, the ultrasmall-size digital recording and reproducing apparatus with the examplary magnetic head 21 may be reduced in thickness. Inasmuch as only the first spring system 84 is pre-charged in the comparative magnetic head 83, the head body 22 fixed to the second spring system 86 tends to wobble when it is lifted. Therefore, the distance to be traversed by the head body 22 when it is lifted should be increased to accommodate such wobbling movement of the head body 22. According to this embodiment, however, since the distal end of the second spring system 55 near the head body 22 is engaged by the stop 72 through the locking hook end 57, the head body 22 is prevented from wobbling when it is lifted. As the distance to be traversed by the head body 22 when it is lifted does not need to be increased to accommodate wobbling movement of the head body 22, that distance may be relatively small. When the head body 22 of the comparative magnetic head 83 is brought into contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 and the magnetic head 83 is thereafter depressed, a moment m 1 (see FIG. 17A) acts in the vicinity of a region where a gimbal mechanism supporting the head body 22 is attached to the second spring system 86 in order to match the angle of the second spring system 86 alongside of the gimbal mechanism. Therefore, stresses are applied to the magnetooptical disk 1 by the head body 22 concentrate in a point Q 1 positioned on the sliding sole 29 near the magnetic head element. Consequently, as the magnetooptical disc 1 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the sliding sole 29 of the head body 22 tends to stick to the surface of the magnetooptical disk 1. On the other hand, when the examplary magnetic head 21 is depressed, the third spring system 56 shifts a stress concentration point Q 2 toward the distal end of the sliding sole 29, and a moment m 2 which is opposite in direction to the moment m 1 is exerted. Therefore, when the magnetooptical disc 1 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the front end of the head body 22 tends to float away from the magnetooptical disk 1, preventing the head body 22 from sticking to the magnetooptical disk 1 while slipping thereon. In operation, the sliding-type magnetic head 21 is held in contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 through a window 92 (see FIGS. 18 and 19) defined in a disk cartridge 91 without contacting the disk cartridge 91 itself. If the magnetooptical disk 1 has a diameter of 65 mm, then the head body 22 moves within the window 92 by a radial distance from a position that is spaced from the cartridge center by 14.5 mm to a position that is spaced from the cartridge center by 31.0 mm. The margin between the core center and the edge of the window 92 is x 1 = 1.5 mm on an outer circumferential side and x 2 = 4.0 mm on an inner circumferential side. The disk cartridge 91 has a step 94 on the inner circumferential side of the window 92. The arm 71 of the magnetic head 21 has a marginal dimension x 3 of 5.5 mm. As the arm 71 is positioned on one side of the magnetic head 21, i.e., a radially inner side thereof with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1, the head body 22 can move by the above radial distance within the window 92 without undue limitations. The spring characteristics of the leaf spring 23 are not modified by the flexible wire cable 81 because the flexible wire cable 81 is placed on and along the arm 71. To stabilize the attitude of a sliding-type magnetic head for recording information on a magnetooptical disk, it is desirable that the sliding sole 29 be positioned adjacent to the magnetic head element 27 along the direction in which the magnetic head runs with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1 and that the sliding sole 29 have its longitudinal direction close to that direction. In such an arrangement, the sliding sole 29 is held in linear contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 or in point contact therewith through a linear array of points. Since the magnetic head element 27 is positioned on a radius of the magnetooptical disk 1, the sliding sole 29 is slightly displaced from the radius of the magnetooptical disk 1. In the case where the longitudinal direction of the sliding sole 29 is aligned with the direction in which the magnetic head runs with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1, frictional forces applied to the head body 22 by the magnetooptical disk 1 when the magnetic head slides against the magnetooptical disk 1, and shocks imposed on the head body 22 by an obstacle on the magnetooptical disk 1 have a relatively large component across the longitudinal direction of the sliding sole 29. Such frictional forces and shocks pose the following problems: (1) The probability that an obstacle such as a bump 16 or the like on the disk surface 1a hits the head body 22 is large. (2) Particularly, shocks imposed on the head body 22 when an obstacle on the magnetooptical disk 1 hits the head body 22 have a relatively large component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sliding sole 29. This makes the magnetic head less stable in attitude. (3) Frictional forces that act on the sliding sole 29 at all times also have a relatively large component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sliding sole 29, tending to apply large torsional forces to the head body 22. The magnetic head element 27 is thus positionable with less accuracy. The above drawbacks will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 20 schematically shows the head body 22 with the sliding sole 29 being positioned adjacent to the magnetic head element 27 along the direction A in which the magnetic head runs with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1, i.e., along the tangential direction of the magnetooptical disk 1 as it rotates. Actually, the sliding sole 29 has a sliding contact region 101 that is actually held in linear contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 or point contact therewith through a linear array of points. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 20, the sliding contact region 101 is held in linear contact with the magnetooptical disk 1, and has its longitudinal direction aligned with the direction in which the magnetic head element 27 positioned on a radius of the magnetooptical disk 1 runs with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1. FIG. 21 illustrates a radial range d in which the sliding contact region 101 of the sliding sole 29 is held in sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 when the magnetic head element 27 is positioned on a radius r of the magnetooptical disk 1. The radial range d is equal to the difference between the distance from the center O of the magnetooptical disk 1 to one end of the sliding contact region 101 and the distance from the center O of the magnetooptical disk 1 to the other end of the sliding contact region 101, i.e., r 2 - r 1 . It is clear that if obstacles on the magnetooptical disk 1 which affect the sliding sole 29 have a uniform density, then the probability that the sliding sole 29 is affected by such obstacles is higher as the radial range d is greater. The direction indicated by the arrow 102 in which the sliding sole 29 actually slides on the magnetooptical disk 1 is angularly spaced from the longitudinal direction of the sliding contact region 101 by an angle  10 . The angle  10 varies according to the equation  10 = tan -1 (L/r) depending on the distance L from the center of the magnetic head element 27 to the far end of the sliding contact region 101, as shown in FIG. 22. FIG. 22 illustrates the relationship between the angle  10 and the distance L at radially opposite ends of an actual area used of the magnetooptical disk 1, which actual area extends radially from a radius r = 16 mm to a radius r = 31 mm. The curve I represents the relationship at the radius r = 16 mm, and the curve II represents the relationship at the radius r = 31 mm. As shown in FIG. 18, the dimension L is determined by half W/2 of the width of the window 92 of the disk cartridge 91, the dimension W/2 being not greater than 8.5 mm. Since the sliding sole 29 is located adjacent to the magnetic head element 27 along the direction in which the magnetic head runs with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1 as shown in FIG. 20, the dimension L is not smaller than 1.5 mm. Shocks applied to the head body 22 due to obstacles on the magnetooptical disk 1 or frictional forces applied to the head body 22 upon rotation of the magnetooptical disk 1 have a component, commensurate with sin 10 , acting perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the sliding contact region 101. This component sin 10 , which is not preferable from the standpoint of attitude stability of the head body 22, becomes greater as the angle  10 is larger. FIG. 23 schematically shows the head body of a sliding-type magnetic head according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is designed to solve the above problem. In FIG. 23, the head body, generally indicated by 22, has a sliding sole 29 for sliding contact with a magnetooptical disk 1, the sliding sole 29 being located adjacent to a magnetic head element 27 that is positioned on a radius of the magnetooptical disk 1 along the direction A in which the magnetic head runs with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1. The sliding sole 29 has a sliding contact region 101 held in linear contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 or in point contact therewith through a linear array of points. In this embodiment, the sliding contact region 101 is held in linear contact with the magnetooptical disk 1, and has its longitudinal direction aligned with the direction 104 in which the sliding contact region 101 slides on the magnetooptical disk 1 and angularly spaced an angle ϕ radially inwardly from the direction A in which the magnetic head runs with respect to the magnetooptical disk 1. FIG. 24 shows a radial range d' in which the head body 22 slides on the magnetooptical disk 1 when the magnetic head element 27 is positioned on a radius r' of the magnetooptical disk 1. The radial range d' shown in FIG. 24 is smaller than the radial range d shown in FIG. 21. Therefore, study of FIG. 24 indicates that there is an angle ϕ through which the sliding contact region 101 can be inclined to the direction A for reducing the probability that the sliding sole 29 is affected by obstacles on the magnetooptical disk 1. Inclining the sliding sole 29 into the direction 104 through the angle ϕ is equivalent to inclining the vertical axis of the graph of FIG. 22 in the positive direction through the angle ϕ. Therefore, the component, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sliding sole 29, of the shocks applied to the sliding sole 29 due to obstacles on the magnetooptical disk 1 or frictional forces applied to the sliding sole 29 upon rotation of the magnetooptical disk 1 is commensurate with sin ( 10 - ϕ). Thus, the force imposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the sliding sole 29 can be reduced by giving a suitable angle ϕ with respect to the angle  10 which has a positive value at all times. This is effective to stabilize the attitude of the magnetic head. If it is assumed that the radial range used of the magnetooptical disk extends radially from a radius r = 16 mm to a radius r = 31 mm, and the dimension L or W/2 from the center of the magnetic head element 27 to the sliding sole 29 ranges from 1.5 mm to 8.5 mm, then the angle ϕ ranges from 3° to 28° as can be seen from the hatched area in FIG. 25 or according to the equation  10 = tan -1 (L/r). As described above, the probability that an obstacle on the magnetooptical disk 1 collides with the head body 22 can be lowered by inclining the sliding sole 29 into alignment with the direction 104 with respect to the magnetic head element 27. Furthermore, since the component, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sliding sole 29, of shocks applied to the head body 22 when it is hit by obstacles on the magnetooptical disk 1 can be reduced, the head body 22 can be stabilized in attitude while in sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1. Reduction of the above component of shocks is effective in reducing forces tending to twist the head body 22, thereby minimizing any positional displacement of the magnetic head element 27. FIGS. 25 and 26 show a sliding-type magnetic head according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic head shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 has a head body 22 including a sliding sole 29 that is inclined into alignment with a direction in which it actually slides on a magnetooptical disk, with respect to a magnetic head element 27. FIGS. 27A and 27B show in detail the head body 22 of the magnetic head shown in FIGS. 25 and 26. The head body 20 comprises a slider 113 including a mount 31 with a magnetic head element 27 mounted thereon and a sliding sole 29 disposed on one side of the mount 31 and inclined an angle ϕ with respect thereto. The magnetic head element 27 mounted in the mount 31 comprises a substantially E-shaped magnetic core of ferrite with a coil wound around the central magnetic core thereof. The sliding sole 29 has a pair of longitudinally spaced lower contact surfaces or lands 112a positioned on respective opposite longitudinal ends for sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1. Therefore, the sliding sole 29 is held in point contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 through a plurality of points. The lower surface of the sliding sole 29 between the contact surfaces 112a comprises an upwardly concave flat surface. Each of the contact surfaces 112a may be a cylindrical surface, a spherical surface, or the like. As illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, the magnetic head comprises the head body 22, a thin leaf spring 23 for pressing a sliding sole 29 thereof against the disk surface, and a support member 24 to which the leaf spring 23 is attached. The leaf spring 23 has one end fixedly joined to the support member 24, and the head body 22 is mounted on the other end of the support member 24. The leaf spring 23 and the support member 24 are identical in structure to those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The support member 24 has an attachment base 70 to which a joint 52 of the leaf spring 23 is to be attached, an arm 71 extending from one side of the attachment base 70 in an asymmetrical fashion, and a stop 72 integrally extending perpendicularly from the distal end of the arm 71 in spaced confronting relationship to the attachment base 70. The leaf spring 23 comprises a first spring system 53, an inclined portion 54 extending from the first spring system 53 and having ribs, a second spring system 55 extending from the inclined portion 54, a third spring system 56 extending from the second spring system 55 back toward the joint 52, and a locking hook bent upwardly at a substantially right angle from the distal end of the second spring system 55. The head body 22 is fused to the third spring system 56 through its attachment 48. The locking hook has a hook end 57 engaging the stop 72 such that the leaf spring 23 is pre-charged. FIG. 28 shows a blank form of the leaf spring 23 in a developed manner. The blank is bent at positioned indicated by chain lines into the leaf spring 23, which has openings 63, 160 defined therein. The sliding sole 29 of the head body 22 is inclined an angle ϕ with respect to the magnetic head element 27. In order to accommodate the head body 22 in the opening or space 63, the sliding sole 29 is positionally displaced from the center of the leaf spring 23 toward the arm 71 as shown in FIG. 25. Therefore, when the sliding sole 29 is in contact with the disk surface, the force applied to a springy arm 55B of the second spring system 55 which is closer to the sliding sole 29 is stronger than the force applied to a springy arm 55A thereof. As a result, the springy arms 55A, 55B would be out of balance or equilibrium, causing the head body 22 to be tilted or otherwise displaced. To avoid the above shortcoming, the springy arms 55A, 55B have different widths M A , M B , respectively. Specifically, the width M B of the springy arm 55B that is positioned radially inwardly with respect to the magnetooptical disk is greater than the width M A of the springy arm 55A that is positioned radially inwardly with respect to the magnetooptical disk. When the sliding sole 29 is in contact with the disk surface, the spring forces exerted by the springy arms 55A, 55B are held in equilibrium, thus allowing the head body 22 to slidingly contact the magnetooptical disk 1 in a stable attitude.

Claims: A magnetic head adapted to magneto-optically record information on a magneto-optical recording disc (1) in sliding contact herewith, said magneto-optical recording disc (1) having a radial direction (r) and a center (O) and said magnetic head comprising : a mount (31) supporting thereon a magnetic head element (27); and a sliding sole (29) having a substantially longitudinal shape and being disposed on one side of said mount (31) and having a sliding surface (112a) for sliding contact with a magneto-optical recording medium; characterized in that said sliding sole (29) is disposed in such a way that a longitudinal axis (104) thereof is inclined towards said center (o) of said magneto-optical recording disc (1) with respect to an axis of said mount (31) perpendicular to said radial direction (r) of said magneto-optical recording disc (1).

Inventors: ASADA KAZUTOSHI, KIMURA KAZUHIRO, NISHII TADAO, TAKAHASHI TOMOYUKI, TAKESHI MICHIAKI, TANAKA HIDEO, YAZAWA KENJI, ASADA, KAZUTOSHI, KIMURA, KAZUHIRO, NISHII, TADAO, TAKAHASHI, TOMOYUKI, TAKESHI, MICHIAKI, TANAKA, HIDEO, YAZAWA, KENJI
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G11B11
IPC codes: G11B11