Patent Publication Number: US-9905252-B2

Title: Head suspension having actuator in which piezoelectric element is bonded with bonding tape, actuator and method of attaching piezoelectric element with bonding tape

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a divisional application of Ser. No. 14/047,658, filed Oct. 7, 2013 which is currently allowed. The subject matter of the aforementioned prior applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a head suspension having a piezoelectric element that deforms in response to an applied voltage, an actuator having such a piezoelectric element, and a method of attaching such a piezoelectric element to an actuator attaching part. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A head suspension is a device installed in, for example, a hard disk drive to write and read data on a hard disk of the hard disk drive. Such a head suspension may have an actuator in which a piezoelectric element is attached to an actuator attaching part. 
     A head suspension, an actuator, and a method of attaching a piezoelectric element to an actuator attaching part according to a related art will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 15A to 15F . 
       FIGS. 15A to 15F  are sectional views, in which  FIG. 15A  illustrates an actuator attaching part  103  and a contact  111   a  of a flexure  111 ,  FIG. 15B  illustrates a condition that a first adhesive AD 1  is applied to the actuator attaching part  103 ,  FIG. 15C  illustrates a condition that a piezoelectric element  113  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  103 ,  FIG. 15D  illustrates a condition that the first adhesive AD 1  is solidified;  FIG. 15E  illustrates a condition that a second adhesive AD 2  is filled between the piezoelectric element  113  and the actuator attaching part  103 ; and  FIG. 15F  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element  103  is fixed to the actuator attaching part  103  with the adhesives AD 1  and AD 2 . 
     The piezoelectric element  113  is attached to the head suspension as illustrated in  FIGS. 15A to 15F . 
     In  FIG. 15A , the actuator plate  101  of the head suspension or the actuator has the actuator attaching part  103 . The actuator attaching part  103  has an opening  105  and actuator supports  107  and  109  each having a recessed shape. In the opening  105 , there is positioned the contact  111   a  of the flexure  111 . Onto the contact  111   a , conductive paste EP is applied. 
     In  FIG. 15B , the first adhesive AD 1  is applied to the actuator supports  107  and  109 . 
     In  FIG. 15C , the piezoelectric element  113  is set on the first adhesive AD 1  so that the piezoelectric element  113  is bonded to the actuator supports  107  and  109  through the first adhesive AD 1 . At this time, an electrode surface of the piezoelectric element  113  is electrically connected through the conductive paste EP to the contact  111   a  of the flexure  111 . 
     In  FIG. 15D , the first adhesive AD 1  solidifies. 
     In  FIG. 15E , the second adhesive AD 2  is filled between the actuator supports  107  and  109  and the piezoelectric element  113 . 
     In  FIG. 15F , the second adhesive AD 2  solidifies and unites with the first adhesive AD 1 , thereby fixing the piezoelectric element  113  to the actuator attaching part  103 . 
     The related art uses the first adhesive AD 1  to correctly position the piezoelectric element  113  in the actuator attaching part  103  and the first and second adhesives AD 1  and AD 2  to surely fix the piezoelectric element  113  to the actuator attaching part  103 . 
     In this way, the related art involves a plurality of steps to apply and harden the adhesives. Namely, the related art must apply the first adhesive AD 1 , harden the first adhesive AD 1  after placing the piezoelectric element  113  thereon, fill the second adhesive AD 2  between the actuator supports  107  and  109  and the piezoelectric element  113 , and harden the second adhesive AD 2 . These adhesive applying and hardening steps are time-consuming to deteriorate productivity. 
     Further, the adhesives freely flow in the actuator attaching part  103  and frequently ooze due to the capillary action into unintended gaps between the piezoelectric element  113  and any one or more of actuator plate  101 , flexure  111 , and other parts of the head suspension. If this happens, the rigidity, spring load, and dynamic characteristics of the head suspension will be spoiled or varied. 
     This and other related arts are Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications No. 2002-050140, No. 2002-184140, and No. 2010-79944. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a head suspension, an actuator, and a method of attaching a piezoelectric element to an actuator attaching part, capable of reducing the number of adhesive applying and hardening steps, correctly positioning the piezoelectric element, and preventing an adhesive from freely flowing. 
     In order to accomplish the object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a head suspension including a base to be attached to a carriage and turned around a spindle of the carriage, a load beam having a rigid part and a resilient part, the resilient part connecting the rigid part to the base, the load beam applying load onto a head at a front end distal to the base to write and read information, a flexure attached to the load beam, supporting the head, and including read/write wiring connected to the head, an actuator attaching part located between the base and the head, to enable the head to be moved in a sway direction relative to the base, a piezoelectric element fixed to the actuator attaching part and being deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto to move the head in the sway direction relative to the base, a bonding tape bonding the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part, an adhesive fixing the bonded piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part. 
     A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of attaching a piezoelectric element to a head suspension that includes a base to be attached to a carriage and turned around a spindle of the carriage, a load beam having a rigid part and a resilient part, the resilient part connecting the rigid part to the base, the load beam applying load onto a head at a front end distal to the base to write and read information, a flexure attached to the load beam, supporting the head, and including read/write wiring connected to the head, an actuator attaching part located between the base and the head, to enable the head to be moved in a sway direction relative to the base, and a piezoelectric element fixed to the actuator attaching part and being deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto to move the head in the sway direction relative to the base. The method includes bonding the piezoelectric element with a bonding tape to the actuator attaching part and then applying an adhesive to fix the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part. 
     A third aspect of the present invention provides an actuator including an actuator attaching part located between a base and a movable part and movably supporting the movable part relative to the base, a piezoelectric element fixed to the actuator attaching part and being deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto to move the movable part relative to the base, a bonding tape bonding the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part, and an adhesive fixing the bonded piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method of attaching a piezoelectric element to an actuator that has an actuator attaching part located between a base and a movable part and movably supporting the movable part relative to the base, and a piezoelectric element fixed to the actuator attaching part and being deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto to move the movable part relative to the base. The method includes bonding the piezoelectric element with a bonding tape to the actuator attaching part and then applying an adhesive to fix the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part. 
     According to the first aspect, the bonding tape bonds the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part and the adhesive fixes the bonded piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part, to reduce the number of adhesive applying and hardening steps to one and surely position the piezoelectric element in the actuator attaching part by the bonding. In addition, the first aspect prevents the adhesive from penetrating into unintended gaps. Surely fixing the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part results in stabilizing the rigidity, spring load, and dynamic characteristics of the head suspension to precisely support the head. 
     According to the second aspect, the method uses the bonding tape to bond the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part of the head suspension and then applies the adhesive to fix the bonded piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part. The method reduces the number of adhesive applying and hardening steps to one and surely positions the piezoelectric element in the actuator attaching part by the bonding, thereby improving productivity. The bonding tape restricts the flowing of the adhesive that is applied after bonding with the bonding tape, thereby preventing the adhesive from penetrating into unintended gaps. This results in stabilizing the rigidity, spring load, and dynamic characteristics of the head suspension. The bonding tape is easy to be handled for bonding the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part and using the bonding tape is achievable to improve productivity. 
     According to the third aspect, the bonding tape bonds the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part and the adhesive fixes the bonded piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part, to reduce the number of adhesive applying and hardening steps to one and surely position the piezoelectric element in the actuator attaching part by the bonding. In addition, the third aspect prevents the adhesive from penetrating into unintended gaps. With the correctly fixed piezoelectric element, the actuator is capable of precisely driving, for example, a head of a head suspension. 
     According to the fourth aspect, the method uses the bonding tape to bond the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part of the actuator and then applies the adhesive to fix the bonded piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part. The method reduces the number of adhesive applying and hardening steps to one and surely positions the piezoelectric element in the actuator attaching part by the bonding, thereby improving productivity. The bonding tape restricts the flowing of the adhesive that is applied after bonding with the bonding tape, thereby stabilizing the rigidity and other characteristics of the actuator. The bonding tape is easy to be handled for bonding the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part and using the bonding tape is achievable to improve productivity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a head suspension including an actuator, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view schematically illustrating the head suspension of  FIG. 1  with see-through portions of a flexure and the like; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along a line III-III of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the piezoelectric element of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  schematically illustrate the piezoelectric element that is provided with a bonding tape, in which  FIG. 5A  is a sectional view taken along a line VA-VA of  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5B  is a back view of the piezoelectric element seen from the bonding tape side; 
         FIGS. 6A to 6D  are sectional views illustrating a method of attaching the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which  FIG. 6A  illustrates the actuator attaching part and a contact of the flexure of the head suspension,  FIG. 6B  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element is bonded to the actuator attaching part with the bonding tape,  FIG. 6C  illustrates a condition that an adhesive is filled between the piezoelectric element and the actuator attaching part, and  FIG. 6D  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element is fixed to the actuator attaching part with the adhesive; 
         FIGS. 7A to 7D  illustrate a process of individually attaching a piezoelectric element to an actuator attaching part according to the first embodiment, in which  FIG. 7A  illustrates a first step that arranges a piezoelectric element in opposition to a bonding tape set on a tape sheet,  FIG. 7B  illustrates a second step that bonds the piezoelectric element to the bonding tape,  FIG. 7C  illustrates a third step that lifts the piezoelectric tape with the bonding tape away from the tape sheet, and  FIG. 7D  illustrates a fourth step that bonds the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part with the bonding tape; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a process of collectively attaching piezoelectric elements to actuator attaching parts according to the first embodiment, in which  FIG. 8  is a plan view illustrating the piezoelectric elements bonded to bonding tapes of a tape sheet and  FIG. 9  is a plan view illustrating chained head suspensions having the actuator attaching parts to which the piezoelectric elements aligned in a line are collectively attached; 
         FIGS. 10A to 10C  illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention, in which  FIG. 10A  is a back view of a piezoelectric element with a bonding tape,  FIG. 10B  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element is bonded to an actuator attaching part with the bonding tape, a contact of a flexure is bonded to the piezoelectric element, and an adhesive is filled between the piezoelectric element and the actuator attaching part, and  FIG. 10C  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element is fixed to the actuator attaching part with the adhesive; 
         FIGS. 11A to 11C  illustrate a modification of the second embodiment, in which  FIG. 11A  is a back view of a piezoelectric element with a bonding tape,  FIG. 11B  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element is bonded to an actuator attaching part with the bonding tape, a contact of a flexure is bonded to the piezoelectric element, and an adhesive is filled between the piezoelectric element and the actuator attaching part, and  FIG. 11C  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element is fixed to the actuator attaching part with the adhesive; 
         FIGS. 12A to 12C  illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention, in which  FIG. 12A  is a back view of a piezoelectric element with a bonding tape,  FIG. 12B  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element is bonded to an actuator attaching part with the bonding tape, a contact of a flexure is bonded to the piezoelectric element, and an adhesive is filled between the piezoelectric element and the actuator attaching part, and  FIG. 12C  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element is fixed to the actuator attaching part with the adhesive; 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  are sectional views illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which  FIG. 13A  illustrates a condition that a piezoelectric element is bonded to an actuator attaching part with a bonding tape and inverted and a contact of a flexure is faced to the piezoelectric element and  FIG. 13B  illustrates a condition that the contact of the flexure is bonded to the piezoelectric element; 
         FIGS. 14A to 14D  are sectional views illustrating a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which  FIG. 14A  illustrates an actuator attaching part and a contact of a flexure,  FIG. 14B  illustrates a condition that a piezoelectric element is bonded to the actuator attaching part with a bonding tape,  FIG. 14C  illustrates a condition that an adhesive is filled between the piezoelectric element and the actuator attaching part, and  FIG. 14D  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element is fixed to the actuator attaching part with the adhesive; and 
         FIGS. 15A to 15F  are sectional views illustrating a related art, in which  FIG. 15A  illustrates an actuator attaching part and a contact of a flexure,  FIG. 15B  illustrates a condition that a first adhesive is applied to the actuator attaching part,  FIG. 15C  illustrates a condition that a piezoelectric element is bonded to the actuator attaching part,  FIG. 15D  illustrates a condition that the first adhesive is solidified;  FIG. 15E  illustrates a condition that a second adhesive is filled between the piezoelectric element and the actuator attaching part; and  FIG. 15F  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element is fixed to the actuator attaching part with the adhesives. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention reduces the number of adhesive applying and hardening steps to one, surely positions a piezoelectric element in an actuator attaching part of a head suspension or an actuator, and prevents an adhesive from freely flowing. For this, the present invention provides a head suspension ( 1 ) including a base ( 10 ) to be attached to a carriage and turned around a spindle of the carriage, a load beam ( 5 ) having a rigid part ( 21 ) and a resilient part ( 23   a ,  23   b ), the resilient part connecting the rigid part ( 21 ) to the base ( 10 ), the load beam ( 5 ) applying load onto a head ( 26 ) at a front end distal to the base ( 10 ) to write and read information, a flexure ( 7 ) attached to the load beam ( 5 ) and supporting the head ( 26 ), and including read/write wiring ( 28 ) connected to the head ( 26 ), an actuator attaching part ( 17 ) arranged between the base ( 10 ) and the head ( 26 ), to enable the head ( 26 ) to be moved in a sway direction relative to the base ( 10 ), and a piezoelectric element ( 15 ) fixed to the actuator attaching part ( 17 ), the piezoelectric element ( 15 ) being deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto to move the head ( 26 ) in the sway direction relative to the base ( 10 ). Based on the head suspension ( 1 ), the present invention bonds the piezoelectric element ( 15 ) with a bonding tape ( 27 ) to the actuator attaching part ( 17 ) and then applies a nonconductive adhesive ( 29 ) to fix the piezoelectric element ( 15 ) to the actuator attaching part ( 17 ). 
     Now, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings. 
     First, a head suspension, an actuator, and a method of attaching a piezoelectric element according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the head suspension  1  according to the first embodiment and  FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view schematically illustrating the head suspension  1  of  FIG. 1  with see-through portions of the flexure  7  and the like. In this specification, a direction in a rotation radius of the head suspension is referred to as “length direction” or “front-rear direction”, a direction orthogonal to the length direction as “width direction” or “sway direction”, and an axial direction around which the head suspension is turned as “thickness direction”. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the head suspension  1  has a base plate  3 , a load beam  5 , and a flexure  7 . Also, the head suspension  1  includes the actuator  9 . 
     The base plate  3  is a component of a base  10  that is fitted to a carriage (not illustrated) that drives and turns the base  10 , i.e., the head suspension  1  around a spindle. The base plate  3  has a boss  11  allows the base plate  3  to be fixed to the carriage by ball-caulking. The base plate  3  is integrally attached to the actuator  9 . 
     The actuator  9  includes an actuator plate  13  and a piezoelectric element  15  attached to the actuator plate  13 . The actuator plate  13  includes a reinforcing part  16  and an actuator attaching part  17 . The reinforcing part  16  is laid on the base plate  3  and is fixed thereto by, for example, laser spot welding, thereby forming the base  10 . The actuator attaching part  17  has a front end  17   a  to which the load beam  5  is integrally fixed by, for example, laser spot welding. 
     The load beam  5  includes a rigid part  21  and a resilient part  23  comprising separated resilient parts  23   a  and  23   b  that connect a base end of the rigid part  21  to the base  10 . The load beam  5  applies load onto a head  26  that is a movable part at a front end distal to the base  10  to write and read information. The resilient parts  23   a  and  23   b  are joined to the front end  17   a  of the actuator attaching part  17  of the actuator plate  13 . To the rigid part  21  of the load beam  5 , the flexure  7  is attached. 
     A front end of the flexure  7  has a slider  25  including read/write elements (not illustrated) to form the head  26 . The read/write elements are connected to read/write wiring  28  of the flexure  7 . The flexure  7  extends through the actuator attaching part  17  toward the base plate  3 . 
     The actuator attaching part  17  is located between the base  10  and the head  26 , to move the head  26  with the load beam  5  in the sway direction with respect to the base  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along a line III-III of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the piezoelectric element  15 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the piezoelectric element  15  is fixed to the actuator attaching part  17  and deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, to move the head  26  in the sway direction relative to the base  10 . The piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with a bonding tape  27  and is fixed to the same with a nonconductive adhesive  29 . This will be explained in more detail. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the actuator attaching part  17  has a through opening  20  formed through the actuator attaching part  17  at a central portion in the front-rear direction and actuator supports  31  and  33  formed on both sides of the through opening  20  in the front-rear direction, respectively. On respective widthwise sides of the actuator attaching part  17 , left and right flexible parts  34   a  and  34   b  each having a U-shape are integrally formed and protrude outward. The actuator supports  31  and  33  continuously extends in the width direction from a base part of the flexible part  34   a  to a base part of the flexible part  34   b  along respective front and rear sides of the actuator attaching part  17 . The actuator supports  31  and  33  include opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  as upright faces extending along the thickness direction in the cross section of  FIG. 3  and support faces  31   b  and  33   b  intersecting the thickness direction. The support faces  31   b  and  33   b  are orthogonal to the opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a , so that each of the actuator supports  31  and  33  has a recessed shape. 
     The actuator supports  31  and  33  may be formed only at the bases of the flexible parts  34   a  and  34   b , or only along the front and rear sides of the actuator attaching part  17 , or only at four corners defined by the bases of the flexible parts  34   a  and  34   b  and the front and rear sides of the actuator attaching part  17 . The opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  and support faces  31   b  and  33   b  may be formed by joining separate plate materials together. 
     Front and rear edges of a common electrode plate  35  of the piezoelectric element  15  are bonded to the respective support faces  33   b  and  31   b  with the bonding tape  27 . Front and rear end faces  15   a  and  15   b  of the piezoelectric element are fixed to the opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a , respectively, with the nonconductive adhesive  29 . End faces  15   c  and  15   d  of the piezoelectric element  15  are partly fixed to the opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  in the width direction in the vicinities of the flexible parts  34   a  and  34   b  with the nonconductive adhesive  29 . 
     According to the first embodiment, the bonding tape  27  is non-liquid and does not harden after the nonconductive adhesive  29  hardens. The bonding tape  27  may be one that hardens when the nonconductive adhesive  29  hardens. 
     The contact  7   a  of the flexure  7  (hereinafter also referred to as “flexure contact  7   a ”) is bonded to a central part of the common electrode plate  35  of a first surface of the piezoelectric element  15  with conductive paste  37  such as silver paste that is a conductive adhesive. On a second surface opposite to the common electrode plate  35 , the piezoelectric element  15  has a pair of electrode plates  39   a  and  39   b  that are connected to the front end  17   a  of the actuator attaching part  17  with respective conductive adhesives  41   a  and  41   b  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the piezoelectric element  15  is a flat plate having a rectangular shape and is made of a pair of piezoelectric materials  43   a  and  43   b . On and over first surfaces of the piezoelectric materials  43   a  and  43   b , the common electrode plate  35  is provided, and on second surfaces thereof, the pair of respective electrode plates  39   a  and  39   b  are provided. 
     When a voltage is applied to, for example, the common electrode plate  35 , the piezoelectric material  43   a  contracts and the piezoelectric material  43   b  expands, so that the piezoelectric element  15  displaces in a Z-direction by a very small distance. This results in moving the head  26  in the Z-direction relative to the base  10 . 
     When the common electrode plate  35  is grounded and a voltage is applied to the pair of electrode plates  39   a  and  39   b , the piezoelectric element  15  displaces in a −Z-direction (opposite to the Z-direction) by a very small distance, to move the head  26  in the −Z-direction relative to the base  10 . 
     The head suspension  1  is attached to a carriage (not illustrated) through the boss  11  and is installed in a hard disk drive. The carriage is driven by a voice coil motor in the hard disk drive, to turn the head suspension  1  so that the head  26  is moved on a hard disk of the hard disk drive to write and read information on the hard disk. 
     A method of attaching the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  of the head suspension  1  (the actuator  9 ) according to the first embodiment will be explained. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the piezoelectric element  15  with the bonding tape  27 , in which  FIG. 5A  is a sectional view taken along a line VA-VA of  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5B  is a back view of the piezoelectric element  15  seen from the bonding tape side.  FIGS. 6A to 6D  are sectional views illustrating the piezoelectric element attaching method according to the first embodiment, in which  FIG. 6A  illustrates the actuator attaching part  17  and the contact  7   a  of the flexure  7 .  FIG. 6B  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27 ,  FIG. 6C  illustrates a condition that the adhesive  29  is filled between the piezoelectric element  15  and the actuator attaching part  17 , and  FIG. 6D  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element  15  is fixed to the actuator attaching part  17  with the adhesive  29 . 
     In  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the bonding tape  27  having a rectangular frame shape is bonded in advance along a peripheral edge of the common electrode plate  35  of the piezoelectric element  15  that is the rectangular flat plate. 
     In  FIG. 6A , the contact  7   a  of the flexure  7  on which the conductive paste  37  is applied is set in the through opening  20  of the actuator attaching part  17  so that the contact  7   a  of the flexure  7  faces a space for accommodating the piezoelectric element  15  in the actuator attaching part  17 . 
     In  FIG. 6B , the piezoelectric element  15  with the bonding tape  27  bonded to the common electrode plate  35  is arranged in the actuator attaching part  17 . The widthwise side edges of the piezoelectric element  15  are partly bonded to the support faces  31   b  and  33   b  with the bonding tape  27  around the flexible parts  34   a  and  34   b . The front and rear edges of the piezoelectric element  15  are entirely bonded to the front and rear support faces  31   b  and  33   b  with the bonding tape  27 . At this time, the contact  7   a  of the flexure  7  is bonded to a central portion of the common electrode plate  35  with the conductive paste  37 . 
     The bonding tape  27  may be attached in advance to the support faces  31   b  and  33   b , and thereafter, the piezoelectric element  15  may be bonded to the bonding tape  27  on the support faces  31   b  and  33   b.    
     In  FIG. 6C , the nonconductive liquid adhesive  29  is filled between the end faces  15   c  and  15   d  of the piezoelectric element  15  and the opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  of the actuator attaching part  17 . Although not illustrated, the nonconductive adhesive  29  is also filled between the end faces  15   a  and  15   b  of the piezoelectric element  15  and the opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  of the actuator attaching part  17  like  FIG. 6C . 
     Although the nonconductive adhesive  29  has fluidity, the bonding tape  27  bonded to the piezoelectric element  15  and the support faces  31   b  and  33   b  stops the flowing of the nonconductive adhesive  29  or prevents the passage or oozing of the nonconductive adhesive  29  caused by the capillary action. As a result, the nonconductive adhesive  29  does not reach the flexure  7  or other parts. 
     As the nonconductive adhesive  29  is prevented from penetrating or flowing into unintended gaps between the piezoelectric element  15  and any one or more of the actuator plate  13 , load beam  5 , and flexure  7  during the application and solidification of the adhesive  29 , the head suspension  1  is stable and uniform in rigidity, spring load, and dynamic characteristics. 
     The nonconductive adhesive  29  can be applied as soon as the piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6B and 6C . Namely, there is no need for setting a wait time that must be set if an adhesive (such as AD 1  of  FIG. 15B  of the related art) is used instead of the bonding tape  27 . Accordingly, the first embodiment can reduce the number of time-consuming adhesive applying and solidifying processes to one, to improve productivity. 
     In  FIG. 6D , the nonconductive adhesive  29  solidifies to fix part of the end faces  15   c  and  15   d  and the whole of the end faces  15   a  and  15   b  ( FIG. 2 ) of the piezoelectric element  15  to the opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  of the actuator attaching part  17 . 
     The bonding of the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27  is carried out individually as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A to 7D  or collectively as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
       FIGS. 7A to 7D  illustrate the process of individually attaching the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17   
     In the bonding process of  FIGS. 7A to 7D , the first step of  FIG. 7A  arranges the piezoelectric element  15  on the bonding tape  27  set on the tape sheet  45  one-on-one. The second step of  FIG. 7B  lowers the piezoelectric element  15  to bond the piezoelectric element  15  onto the corresponding bonding tape  27 . The third step of  FIG. 7C  lifts the piezoelectric element  15  together with the bonding tape  27  bonded to the lifting piezoelectric element  15  away from the tape sheet  45 . The fourth step of  FIG. 7D  bonds the piezoelectric element  15  to the support faces  31   b  and  33   b  with the bonding tape  27 .  FIG. 7D  corresponds to  FIG. 6B . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a process of collectively attaching piezoelectric elements  15  to actuator attaching parts  17 . In  FIG. 8 , piezoelectric elements  15  are bonded to each set of linearly-aligned bonding tapes  27  on a tape sheet  45 A, respectively. Although the bonding tape  27  is under the piezoelectric element  15  and is actually invisible in  FIG. 8 , the bonding tape  27  is illustrated in  FIG. 8  (the number “27” in parentheses) together with the piezoelectric element  15  for easy understanding. In  FIG. 9 , the bonding tapes  27  in the single line are collectively bonded to the actuator attaching parts of chained head suspension  1 A. In other words, the piezoelectric elements  15  on the bonding tapes  27  in the single line on the tape sheet  45  are collectively bonded to the actuator attaching parts of chained head suspensions  1 A with the bonding tapes  27 , respectively. It is possible to individually attach the piezoelectric elements  15  on the tape sheet  45 A to the actuator attaching parts of the chained head suspensions  1 A. 
     Effects of the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
     The head suspension  1  according to the first embodiment includes the base  10  to be attached to a carriage and turned around a spindle of the carriage, the load beam  5  having the rigid part  21  and resilient part ( 23   a ,  23   b ), the resilient part connecting the rigid part  21  to the base  10 , the load beam  5  applying load onto the head  26  at a front end distal to the base  10  to write and read information, the flexure  7  attached to the load beam  5 , supporting the head  26 , and including read/write wiring connected to the head  26 , the actuator attaching part  17  arranged between the base  10  and the head  26 , to enable the head  26  to be moved in a sway direction relative to the base  10 , and the piezoelectric element  15  fixed to the actuator attaching part  17 , the piezoelectric element  15  being deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto to move the head  26  in the sway direction relative to the base  10 . The piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27  and is fixed to the same with the nonconductive adhesive  29 . 
     This configuration reduces the number of time-consuming adhesive applying and hardening steps to one and surely positions the piezoelectric element  15  in the actuator attaching part  17 , to thereby improve productivity. 
     The bonding tape  27  restricts the flowing of the nonconductive adhesive  29  before it hardens, thereby preventing the adhesive  29  from oozing into unintended gaps between the piezoelectric element  15  and the actuator plate  13 , load beam  5 , and flexure  7  due to the capillary action. 
     Accordingly, the piezoelectric element  15  is correctly bonded and fixed to the actuator attaching part  17  of the head suspension  1 . It, therefore, suppresses variation in rigidity, spring load, and dynamic characteristics of the head suspension  1 . In other words, the head suspension  1  is stable and uniform in rigidity, spring load, and dynamic characteristics, to correctly support and drive the head  26 . 
     In particular, the actuator attaching part  17  has the through opening  20  formed through the actuator attaching part  17  in the thickness direction and located between the base  10  and the head  26  in the front-rear direction. The actuator supports  31  and  33  each having a recessed shape are formed on both sides of the through opening  20  in the front-rear direction respectively. The actuator supports  31  and  33  include the opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  that extending along the thickness direction and support faces  31   b  and  33   b  intersecting or orthogonal to the thickness direction. Edges of the common electrode plate  35  of the piezoelectric element  15  are bonded to the respective support faces  31   b  and  33   b  of the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27 . The whole of the end faces  15   a  and  15   b  and part of the end faces  15   c  and  15   d  of the piezoelectric element  15  are fixed to the opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  of the actuator attaching part  17  with the nonconductive adhesive  29 . 
     The piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the support faces  31   b  and  33   b  with the bonding tape  27  and is fixed to the opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  with the nonconductive adhesive  29 , thereby to result in correctly attaching the piezoelectric element  15  to the recessed actuator supports  31  and  33  and improve productivity. 
     The piezoelectric element attaching method for the head suspension  1  according to the first embodiment bonds the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27  and then fixes the piezoelectric element  15  and the actuator attaching part  17  together with the nonconductive adhesive  29 . 
     The method reduces the number of time-consuming adhesive applying and hardening steps to one, i.e., needs only the applying and hardening step for the nonconductive adhesive  29  and surely positions the piezoelectric element  15  in the actuator attaching part  17  by bonding with the bonding tape  27 , thereby improving productivity. The piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27  prior to fixing with the nonconductive adhesive  29 , so that it restricts the flowing of the nonconductive adhesive  29  before it hardens. This prevents the adhesive  29  from oozing into unintended gaps due to the capillary action. The head suspension  1  thus produced is stable and uniform in rigidity, spring load, and dynamic characteristics. 
     The method attaches the common electrode plate  35  of the piezoelectric element  15  to the bonding tape  27  on the tape sheet  45 , removes the piezoelectric element  15  together with the bonding tape  27  from the tape sheet  45 , and bonds the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27 . This technique avoids the bonding tape  27  itself from being solely handled and easily bonds the piezoelectric element  15  having the bonding tape  27  to the actuator attaching part  17 . 
     The actuator  9  according to the first embodiment includes the actuator attaching part  17  located between the base  10  and the head  26  movably supporting the head  26  relative to the base  10 . The actuator  9  also includes the piezoelectric element  15  attached to the actuator attaching part  17 , the piezoelectric element  15  being deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto to move the head  26  relative to the base  10 . The piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27  and is fixed to the same with the nonconductive adhesive  29 . 
     This configuration reduces the number of time-consuming adhesive applying and hardening steps to one and surely positions the piezoelectric element  15  in the actuator attaching part  17 . In addition, it prevents the adhesive  29  from penetrating into gaps around the piezoelectric element  15  and correctly bonds and fixes the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  of the actuator  9 . 
     The piezoelectric element attaching method for the actuator  9  according to the first embodiment bonds the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27  and then applies the nonconductive adhesive  29  to fix the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17 . 
     The method reduces the number of time-consuming adhesive applying and hardening steps to one and surely positions the piezoelectric element  15  in the actuator attaching part  17  of the actuator  9  to improve productivity. The piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27  prior to fixing with the nonconductive adhesive  29 , so that it restricts the flowing of the nonconductive adhesive  29 . The actuator  9  thus produced is, therefore, stable and uniform in rigidity and other characteristics. 
     Head suspensions, actuators, and methods of attaching a piezoelectric element according to the second to fifth embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 10A to 14D . These embodiments are based on the first embodiment, and therefore,  FIGS. 10A to 14D  illustrate only characteristic parts of the embodiments (in particular, the actuator attaching part and piezoelectric element of a head suspension or of an actuator of each embodiment). For the other parts of the second to fifth embodiments not illustrated in  FIGS. 10A to 14D ,  FIGS. 1 to 4  commonly serve. 
     The second embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 10A to 10C . The second embodiment is based on the first embodiment, and therefore, like parts are represented with like reference numerals or like reference numerals plus “B” to omit overlapping explanation. 
       FIG. 10A  is a back view of the piezoelectric element  15  with a bonding tape  27 B,  FIG. 10B  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27 B, the flexure contact  7   a  is bonded to the piezoelectric element  15 , and an adhesive  29  is filled between the piezoelectric element  15  and the actuator attaching part  17 , and  FIG. 10C  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element  15  is fixed to the actuator attaching part  17  with the adhesive  29 . 
     According to the second embodiment, the bonding tape  27 B has a central contact hole  27 Ba to define and expose a contact on the piezoelectric element  15  and is bonded to the common electrode plate  35  of the piezoelectric element  15 . 
     Attaching the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  is carried out in an order similar to  FIGS. 6A to 6D .  FIG. 10B  corresponds to  FIG. 6C  and  FIG. 10C  to  FIG. 6D . According to the second embodiment, the contact  7   a  of the flexure  7  is set in the through opening  20  and is bonded through the hole  27 Ba of the bonding tape  27 B to a central portion of the common electrode plate  35  of the piezoelectric element  15  with the conductive paste  37 . 
     As a result, the conductive paste  37  on the flexure contact  7   a  is surrounded by an inner periphery of the hole  27 Ba to prevent the conductive paste  37  from spreading or oozing out. If the bonding tape  27 B is one that does not harden after the nonconductive adhesive  29  hardens, it will relax stress on the conductive paste  37  on the flexure contact  7   a.    
     Otherwise, the second embodiment provides effects similar to those of the first embodiment. 
     A modification of the second embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 11A to 11C . The modification is based on the first and second embodiments, and therefore, like parts are represented with like reference numerals or like reference numerals plus “C” to omit overlapping explanation. 
       FIG. 11A  is a back view of the piezoelectric element  15  with a bonding tape  27 C,  FIG. 11B  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27 C, the flexure contact  7   a  is bonded to the piezoelectric element  15 , and the adhesive  29  is filled between the piezoelectric element  15  and the actuator attaching part  17 , and  FIG. 11C  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the piezoelectric element  15  is fixed to the actuator attaching part  17  with the adhesive  29 . 
     According to the modification, the bonding tape  27 C has a ring  27 Ca ( FIG. 11A ) instead of the hole  27 Ba ( FIG. 10A ) of the second embodiment. The bonding tape  27 C is basically the same as the bonding tape  27  of the first embodiment except that the bonding tape  27 C has the central ring  27 Ca. 
     The ring  27 Ca is already formed in the bonding tape  27 C when the bonding tape  27 C is on the tape sheet  45  of  FIG. 7A  ( 45 A of  FIG. 8 ). When the piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the bonding tape  27 C on the tape sheet, the ring  27 Ca is also bonded to the piezoelectric element  15 . 
     Attaching the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  is carried out in an order similar to  FIGS. 6A to 6D .  FIG. 11B  corresponds to  FIG. 6C  and  FIG. 11C  to  FIG. 6D . 
     The modification surrounds the conductive paste  37  on the flexure contact  7   a  by the ring  27 Ca to prevent the conductive paste  37  from spreading or oozing out. In addition, the modification prevents the bonding tape  27 C from being excessively exposed. If the bonding tape  27 C is one that does not harden after the nonconductive adhesive  29  hardens, it will relax stress on the conductive paste  37  on the flexure contact  7   a.    
     The third embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 12A to 12C . The third embodiment is based on the first embodiment, and therefore, like parts are represented with like reference numerals or like reference numerals plus “D” to omit overlapping explanation. 
       FIG. 12A  is a back view of the piezoelectric element  15  with a bonding tape  27 D,  FIG. 12B  is a sectional view illustrating the piezoelectric element  15  bonded to an actuator attaching part  17 D with the bonding tape  27 D, the flexure contact  7   a  bonded to the piezoelectric element  15 , and the adhesive  29  filled between the piezoelectric element  13  and the actuator attaching part  17 D, and  FIG. 12C  is a sectional view illustrating the piezoelectric element  15  fixed to the actuator attaching part  17 D with the adhesive  29 . 
     According to the third embodiment, the bonding tape  27 D has widthwise side portions  27 Da and  27 Db that are wider than those of the first embodiment. Support faces  31 Db and  33 Db of the actuator attaching part  17 D in an actuator plate  13 D are accordingly wider than those of the first embodiment. The bonding tape  27 D is viscoelastic and has viscoelasticity even after the nonconductive adhesive  29  hardens. 
     Attaching the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17 D is carried out in an order similar to  FIGS. 6A to 6D .  FIG. 12B  corresponds to  FIG. 6C  and  FIG. 12C  to  FIG. 6D . 
     According to the third embodiment, the bonding tape  27 D having the wider side portions  27 Da and  27 Db than the first embodiment bonds the piezoelectric element  15  to the wider support faces  31 Db and  33 Db, to surely suppress vibration of the support faces  31 Db and  33 Db without hindering a stroke of the piezoelectric element  15 . 
     Any one of the first, second, and fourth (explained below) embodiments may employ a viscoelastic bonding tape. In the second embodiment of  FIGS. 10A to 10C , the bonding tape  27 B may have viscoelasticity like the bonding tape  27 D of  FIG. 12A  and the support faces  31   b  and  33   b  may be widened. In the modification of  FIGS. 11A to 11C , the bonding tape  27 C may have viscoelasticity like the bonding tape  27 D of  FIG. 12A  and the side portions of the bonding tape  27 C and the support faces  31   b  and  33   b  may be widened. With the viscoelastic bonding tapes, the examples of  FIGS. 10A to 10C and 11A to 11C  are able to suppress vibrations of the flexures  7 . 
     The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 13A and 13B . The fourth embodiment is based on the first embodiment, and therefore, like parts are represented with like reference numerals or like reference numerals plus “E” to omit overlapping explanation. 
       FIG. 13A  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with a bonding tape  27 E and inverted and the flexure contact  7   a  is faced to the piezoelectric element  15  and  FIG. 13B  is a sectional view illustrating a condition that the flexure contact  7   a  is bonded to the piezoelectric element  15 . 
     According to the fourth embodiment, the piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the support faces  31   b  and  33   b  of the actuator supports  31  and  33  of the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27 E like  FIG. 6B . At this time, the contact  7   a  of the flexure  7  is not yet bonded to the piezoelectric element  15  in this example. The actuator attaching part  17  with the piezoelectric element  15  is inverted as illustrated in  FIG. 13A . 
     The bonding tape  27 E has a central contact hole  27 Ea like that of  FIG. 10A . 
     Conductive paste  37  is applied to a central part of the common electrode plate  35  of the piezoelectric element  15  and the contact  7   a  of the flexure  7  is set on the conductive paste  37  and is bonded to the common electrode plate  35  with the conductive paste  37  as illustrated in  FIG. 13B . At this time, the conductive paste  37  on the flexure contact  7   a  is surrounded by the inner periphery of the hole  27 Ea, and therefore, does not ooze out. 
     In this way, the fourth embodiment bonds the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  with the bonding tape  27 E, and just after that, allows the actuator attaching part  17  and piezoelectric element  15  to be inverted. Thereafter, the fourth embodiment electrically connects the flexure contact  7   a  to the common electrode plate  35  of the piezoelectric element  15  so that the flexure  7  is put on the piezoelectric element  15 . 
     The technique of the fourth embodiment is applicable to the second and third embodiments of  FIGS. 10A to 12C . 
     The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 14A to 14D . The fifth embodiment is based on the first embodiment, and therefore, like parts are represented with like reference numerals or like reference numerals plus “F” to omit overlapping explanation. 
       FIG. 14A  illustrates the actuator attaching part  17  and flexure contact  7   a ,  FIG. 14B  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element  15  is bonded to the actuator attaching part  17  with a bonding tape  27 F.  FIG. 14C  illustrates a condition that the adhesive  29  is filled between the piezoelectric element  15  and the actuator attaching part  17 , and  FIG. 14D  illustrates a condition that the piezoelectric element  15  is fixed to the actuator attaching part  17  with the adhesive  29 . 
     According to the fifth embodiment, an actuator plate  13 F that defines the actuator attaching part  17  is made of a first plate  13 Fa having opposing faces  31   a  and  33   a  and a second plate  13 Fb having support faces  31   b  and  33   b . The first and second plates  13 Fa and  13 Fb are laid one on another and joined together. 
     The bonding tape  27 F has an outline of an outer circumferential edge that is larger than an outline of an outer circumferential edge of the piezoelectric element  15  and is equal to an inner circumferential edge of the actuator attaching part  17 . As a result, the edge of the bonding tape  27 F protrudes out of the edge of the piezoelectric element  15 . 
     Attaching the piezoelectric element  15  to the actuator attaching part  17  is carried out like  FIGS. 6A to 6D . Namely,  FIGS. 14A to 14D  correspond to  FIGS. 6A to 6D , respectively. 
     According to the fifth embodiment, the edge of the bonding tape  27 F closes a joint line between the first and second plates  13 Fa and  13 Fb, to prevent the nonconductive adhesive  29  filled as illustrated in  FIG. 14C  from penetrating into a gap between the first and second plates  13 Fa and  13 Fb due to the capillary action. 
     To surely fit the edge of the bonding tape  27 F to the support faces  31   b  and  33   b  in  FIG. 14B , air may be blown to the edge of the bonding tape  27 F protruding from the piezoelectric element  15 . This surely closes the joint line between the first and second plates  13 Fa and  13 Fb with the bonding tape  27 F. 
     If there is no adhesive on an upper surface of the edge of the bonding tape  27 F protruding from the piezoelectric element  15  in  FIG. 14B , a jig may be used to press the edge of the bonding tape  27 F from the above in the step of  FIG. 14B  so that the joint line between the first and second plates  13 Fa and  13 Fb is surely closed with the bonding tape  27 F. 
     The edge of the bonding tape  27 F protruding from the piezoelectric element  15  is satisfactory if it can close the joint line between the first and second plates  13 Fa and  13 Fb. It is possible to form the protruding edge of the bonding tape  27 F only on the front and rear sides of the piezoelectric element  15  or only on the left and right sides thereof. 
     The bonding tape  27 F may be attached in advance to the support faces  31   b  and  33   b  to close the joint line between the first and second plates  13 Fa and  13 Fb, and thereafter, the piezoelectric element  15  may be bonded onto the bonding tape  27 F on the support faces  31   b  and  33   b.    
     The fifth embodiment is applicable to any one of the second to fourth embodiments of  FIGS. 10A to 13B . 
     According to the embodiments mentioned above, the base plate  3  and actuator plate  13  are made from discrete plate materials. Instead, they may integrally be made from a single plate material. 
     According to the embodiments, the actuator  9  includes only one piezoelectric element  15 . Instead, the actuator  9  may include a pair of piezoelectric elements arranged side by side. 
     The actuator  9  of the present invention is applicable not only to a head suspension but also to other devices.