Patent Publication Number: US-2009231760-A1

Title: Head clip and working method using the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The embodiments discussed herein are directed to a head clip and a working method using the same, and more particularly to a head clip used in a task of assembly, inspection, and maintenance such as repair or cleaning of a device having a head, and to a working method using the head clip. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A magnetic storage device includes a plurality of magnetic recording media and a plurality of heads for recording and reproducing information. A magnetic disc device has a plurality of magnetic discs coaxially disposed at predetermined intervals, and one head disposed at the extreme end of a head actuator to move across the recording surface of each magnetic disc. When a task of the assembly, inspection, and maintenance such as repair or cleaning of these devices is performed, a head clip is used, to prevent careless motion of the head actuator. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional head clip. A head clip  1  shown in  FIG. 1  has a positioning shaft  2 , a head fixing arm  3 , and a plurality of comb-shaped teeth  4 . 
       FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  3  are views explaining how the head clip is attached to an actuator.  FIG. 2A  is a side elevational view showing the head clip  1  attached to an actuator  11 , and  FIG. 2B  is an upper surface view showing the actuator  11  before the head clip  1  is attached thereto. As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the actuator  11  has an actuator block  12 , a coil  13 , a unit bearing  14 , a head clip insertion hole  15 , suspensions  16 , and a head assembly  17 . The actuator  11  has the plurality of the suspensions  16  and the head assembly  17  disposed thereto. 
     The head clip  1  is attached to the actuator  11  by inserting the shaft  2  into the hole  15  from the upper surface side of the actuator  11  and pivoting the head clip  1  about the shaft  2 .  FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the actuator  11  showing how the head clip  1  is attached thereto. When the head clip  1  is attached to the actuator  11 , the comb-shaped teeth  4  are inserted between two adjacent suspensions  16  to prevent heads  18 , which are disposed at the extreme ends of the suspensions  16  in the head assembly  17 , from colliding with each other. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are views explaining how the heads can collide with each other by a shock and the like. In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the heads  18  are attached to the extreme ends of flexures  19  disposed on the suspensions  16 . The confronting surfaces of two adjacent heads  18  have an interval set to a very narrow dimension of, for example, about 1 mm when the head clip  1  is attached to the actuator  11 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the case in which the suspensions  16  have relatively low rigidity. In this case, even when the head clip  1  is attached to the actuator  11  and a shock and the like is applied to the actuator  11  and/or the head clip  1  from the outside, the suspensions  16  are vibrated, and adjacent heads  18  may collide with each other because the suspensions  16  and the flexures  19  vibrate as shown by broken lines. The shock occurs from the outside when the heads  18  are rinsed by air blow and the like when, for example, the head clip  1  is attached to the actuator  11 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the case in which the suspensions  16  have relatively high rigidity. In this case, even when the head clip  1  is attached to the actuator  11 , and the suspensions  16  are vibrated, and in particular, when the flexures  19  are vibrated by shock and the like from the outside, the adjacent heads  18  may collide with each other. 
     An example of a jig used when an actuator assembly is transported is proposed by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-174459). 
     Conventionally, adjacent heads  18  can collide with each other due to shock and the like from the outside, and can be broken even if the head clip  1  is attached to the actuator  11 . 
     Accordingly, an object of a head clip and a working method using the same according to an embodiment is to provide a head clip that can prevent breakage of heads and a working method using the head clip. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with an aspect of embodiments, a head clip attached to an actuator having heads at an extreme end thereof opposite to a pivoting fulcrum, includes first and second support units inserted into the actuator so as to support suspensions to which the heads are disposed, wherein the first support units are in contact with adjacent suspensions and support them at a first position which is located nearer to the pivoting fulcrum than to the heads in the longitudinal direction of the actuator, the second support units regulate the adjacent suspensions at a second position located at the extreme end, and the heads are disposed between the first position and the second position on the longitudinal direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional head clip; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are views explaining how the head clip of  FIG. 1  is attached to an actuator; 
         FIG. 3  is a view explaining how the head clip of  FIG. 1  is attached to the actuator; 
         FIG. 4  is a view explaining how heads collide with each other due to shock and the like; 
         FIG. 5  is a view explaining how the heads collide with each other due to shock and the like; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view showing an example of a magnetic storage device having an actuator; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a head clip of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C are three surface views showing a side surface, a front surface, and an upper surface of the head clip shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a second support unit in enlargement; 
         FIGS. 10A ,  10 B, and  10 C are three surface views showing a side surface, a front surface, and an upper surface of a support portion; 
         FIG. 11  is a view explaining how the head clip is attached to the actuator; 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view showing the head clip attached to the actuator; 
         FIG. 13  is a view showing the second support unit shown in  FIG. 12  in enlargement; and 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevational view explaining how the head clip is attached to the actuator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     A head clip of an embodiment and respective embodiments of a working method using the head clip will be explained referring to  FIG. 6  and subsequent views. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view showing an example of a magnetic storage device having an actuator. In the example, the magnetic storage device is a magnetic disc device using a magnetic disc as a magnetic recording medium. 
     The magnetic disc device  21  shown in  FIG. 6  has a known arrangement in which an actuator  11 , a load/unload mechanism  23 , a magnetic disc  25 , and the like are disposed on a base  22 . Since the actuator  11  has the arrangement explained referring to  FIG. 2 , the detailed explanation thereof is omitted. Heads  18 , which are disposed at the extreme ends of suspensions  16  (that is, flexures  19 ) of the actuator  11 , record a signal in the magnetic disc  25  rotated by a motor (not shown) and reproduce the signal recorded thereon. Note that the number of suspensions  16  and the number of heads  18  disposed on the actuator  11  are not particularly limited as long as the numbers are plural. 
     Since the actuator  11  is of a load/unload type for the convenience of explanation, the heads  18  are unloaded from the load/unload mechanism  23 , move onto the magnetic disc  25  and are loaded on the load/unload mechanism  23  from on the magnetic disc  25  according to the operating mode of the magnetic disc device  21 . As explained below referring to  FIG. 13 , a load/unload tab  16 - 1  is disposed at the extreme ends of the suspensions  16  of the actuator  11  so that the tab can be engaged with the load/unload mechanism  23 . The load/unload tab  16 - 1  is formed integrally with, for example, the suspensions  16 . Since the load/unload tab  16 - 1  is guided along the guide surface of the load/unload mechanism  23 , the heads  18  are loaded on and unloaded from the load/unload mechanism  23 . When the heads  18  are loaded on the load/unload mechanism  23 , the heads  18  are evacuated to a position where the recording surface of the magnetic disc  25  is avoided. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the head clip of the present invention. The head clip  31  shown in  FIG. 7  has a positioning shaft  32 , a head fixing arm  33 , a plurality of first support units  34 , a plurality of second support units  35 , a knob  36 , and an engaging unit  37 . The first support units  34  are comb-shaped teeth for supporting the suspensions  16 , and the second support units  35  are comb-shaped teeth for supporting the load/unload tab  16 - 1 . 
     Although a material used for the head clip  31  is not particularly limited, the head clip  31  is preferably formed of a material which is unlikely to cause static electricity. For example, the head clip  31  can be formed of a material having a resistance value of about 1×10 12  Ω·m or less. Further, the head clip  31  may be either formed integrally or formed by bonding a plurality of portions thereof. At least the portion of the head clip  31  which is in direct contact with the actuator  11  may be formed of material which is unlikely to cause static electricity. 
       FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C are three surface views showing a side surface, a front surface, and an upper surface of the head clip shown in  FIG. 7 , wherein  FIG. 8A  is a side elevational view of the head clip  31 ,  FIG. 8B  is a front elevational view thereof, and  FIG. 8C  is an upper surface view thereof (that is, plan view). 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a second support unit  35  surrounded by a broken line in  FIG. 7  in enlargement. As shown in  FIG. 91  the second support unit  35  has a first comb-shaped tooth  35 - 1  for supporting the load/unload tab  16 - 1  and a second comb-shaped tooth  35 - 2  for supporting flexures  19 . 
       FIGS. 10A ,  10 B, and  10 C are three surface views showing a side surface, a front surface, and an upper surface of the support portion including the first and second support units  34 ,  35 , wherein  FIG. 10A  is a side elevational view of the support portion,  FIG. 10B  is a front elevational view thereof and  FIG. 10C  is an upper surface view thereof (that is, plan view). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10A to 10C , the extreme end of each of the first and second support units  34 ,  35 , which is engaged with the actuator  11  first when the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 , has a taper shape. The taper shape is not particularly limited and may be formed of one or a plurality of slant surfaces or curved surfaces. The taper shape is formed so that when the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  1  the first and second support units  34 ,  35  can be easily and securely inserted between two adjacent suspensions  16  and avoid collision between the first and second support units  34 ,  35  and the suspensions  16  and the like. Such a collision could possibly break the suspensions  16  and the like or at least apply a large shock and a large vibration to them. 
       FIG. 11  is a view explaining how the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 . The head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11  by inserting the shaft  32  ( FIG. 7 ) into the hole  15  (see  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B) from the upper surface side of the actuator  11  and pivoting the head clip  31  about the shaft  32  by pivoting the knob  36 . When the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 , first, the first support units  34  are inserted between a pair of corresponding suspensions  16 , and then the second support units  35  are inserted between the pair of corresponding suspensions  16 . When the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 , the engaging unit  37  is engaged with a corresponding engaging portion  51  of the actuator  11 , whereby the head clip  31  is tentatively fixed so that it is not easily removed from the actuator  11 . The design of the engaging portion of the engaging unit  37  with the actuator  11  is not particularly limited as long as it has a shape by which it can be tentatively fixed, and a combination of, for example, a claw portion and a recessed portion, a convex portion and a recessed portion, and the like may be employed. 
       FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the actuator  11  showing how the head clip  31  is attached.  FIG. 12  is a plan view showing the head clip  31  attached to the actuator  11 , and  FIG. 13  is a view showing the second support unit  35  surrounded by a broken line in  FIG. 12  in enlargement.  FIG. 14  is a front elevational view explaining how the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 . Note that, in  FIG. 14 , the second support unit  35  of the head clip  31  is not shown for the pair of the suspensions  16  on the left side and only the first support unit  34  is shown. Further, in  FIG. 14 , the flexure support portions  16 - 2  of the suspensions  16  support the flexures  19  so that the floating amounts of the heads  18  can be secured with respect to the magnetic discs  25 . The flexure support portions  16 - 2  are integrally formed with, for example, the suspensions  16  in a hemispherical shape. 
     In the state that the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 , the first and second support portions  34 ,  35  are inserted between the two adjacent suspensions  16  as shown in  FIG. 14  to prevent the heads  18 , which are disposed on the outer ends of the suspensions  16 , from colliding with each other in the head assembly  17 . In this state, the suspensions  16  are supported by the first support units  34 , and the first and second comb-shaped teeth  35 - 1 ,  35 - 2  of the second support units  35  are not in contact with the suspensions  16  (or flexures  19 ). When the suspensions  16  vibrate relatively largely, the first and second comb-shaped teeth  35 - 1 ,  35 - 2  come into contact with the suspensions  16  and regulate them to thereby prevent the suspensions  16  and the flexures  19  from vibrating in excess of an allowable range. In the embodiment, when the suspensions  16  vibrate, the load/unload tab  16 - 1  comes into contact with the first comb-shaped teeth  35 - 1  first, and when the suspensions  16  vibrate relatively largely, the flexures  19  come into contact with the second comb-shaped teeth  35 - 2  next, to thereby regulate the suspensions  16 . With this operation, breakage of the heads  18  can be largely prevented. When the second comb-shaped teeth  35 - 2  are arranged to come into contact with the flexures  19  at the time the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 , there is a possibility that the flexures  19  may be broken. Accordingly, in the embodiment, an interval is formed between the extreme ends of the flexures  19  and the second comb-shaped teeth  35 - 2  of the second support units  35  when the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 . 
     Note that the suspensions  16  may be supported by the first support unit  34  and the first comb-shaped teeth  35 - 1  of the second support unit  35 , and the second comb-shaped teeth  35 - 2  of the second support units  35  may not be in contact with the flexures  19  when the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 . In this case, the second comb-shaped teeth  35 - 2  come into contact with the flexures  19  when the flexures  19  vibrate relatively largely to thereby regulate the flexures  19  so that the flexures  19  are prevented from vibrating in excess of the allowable range. 
     Next, an example of the dimensions of the respective portions of the head clip  31  and the actuator  11  will be explained referring to  FIGS. 10A to 10C  and  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
     In  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B and  10 C, A 1  shows the maximum width of the first support unit  34  of the head clip  31  (an interval-widening amount of, that is, an interval between adjacent suspensions  16 , which is most suitably set to each actuator  11 ), and A 2  shows an effective range in which the width of the first support unit  34  of the head clip  31  is set to A 1 . Further, C 1  shows a width of the first comb-shaped tooth  35 - 1  of the second support unit  35  of the head clip  31 , and C 2  shows a width of the second comb-shaped tooth  35 - 2  of the second support unit  35  of the head clip  31 . Further, C 3  shows a total length of the first comb-shaped tooth  35 - 1 , and C 4  shows a total length of the second comb-shaped tooth  35 - 2 . 
     In  FIG. 13 , D 1  shows the maximum width of the first comb-shaped tooth  35 - 1  of the second support unit  35  of the head clip  31 , and D 2  shows the maximum width of the second comb-shaped tooth  35 - 2  of the second support unit  35  of the head clip  31 . 
     In  FIG. 14 , B 1  shows an interval between the adjacent load/unload tabs  16 - 1  in the state that the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11  and the adjacent suspensions  16  are located adjacent with each other in the state that the intervals therebetween are widened by the first support units  34 . Further, B 2  shows the interval between adjacent flexures  19  in the state that the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11  and the intervals between the adjacent suspensions  16  are widened by the first support units  34 . 
     When the head clip  31  is pivoted and attached to the actuator  11 , the above dimensions can be set as follows. To insert the second support units  35  between the adjacent suspensions  16  after the first support units  34  are inserted therebetween, C 3 &lt;A 2  is established. Further, to insert the second comb-shaped teeth  35 - 2  between the flexures  19  of the adjacent suspensions  16  after the first comb-shaped teeth  35 - 1  of the second support units  35  are inserted therebetween, C 4 &lt;C 3  is established. 
     The above dimensions can be set as follows in the state that the head clip  31  is attached to the actuator  11 . When the suspensions  16  are mainly supported by the first support units  34  of the head clip  31  and the second support units  35  supplementally support the suspensions  16  when they vibrate relatively largely, C 1 &lt;B 1  is established. Further, to prevent the second comb-shaped teeth  35 - 2  of the second support units  35  of the head clip  31  from being in contact with the flexures  19 , C 2 &lt;B 2  is established. 
     The dimensions D 1 , D 2  of the second support units  35  of the head clip  31  depend on the relation between the load/unload tabs  16 - 1  of the actuator  11  and the load/unload mechanism  23  of the magnetic disc device  21 . That is, the dimensions D 1 , D 2  can be set according to an amount of insertion and the like of the load/unload tabs  16 - 1  into the load/unload mechanism  23  in the state that the load/unload tabs  16 - 1  are loaded on the load/unload mechanism  23 . 
     In the above embodiment, since the actuator  11  is of the load/unload type, the load/unload tabs  16 - 1  are effectively utilized so that the first comb-shaped teeth  35 - 1  of the second support units  35  of the head clip  31  support the extreme ends of the suspensions  16 . However, the actuator to which the head clip  31  can be applied is not limited to the actuator of the load/unload type. When the head clip  31  is applied to an actuator of a type other than the load/unload type, it is sufficient for the first comb-shaped teeth  35 - 1  of the second support units  35  of the head clip  31  to support the extreme ends of the suspensions  16 . That is, since the head clip  31  has such an arrangement that it supports adjacent suspensions at least two positions on the longitudinal direction of the actuator, it is sufficient for the two positions to be located across the heads and for one position to be located at the extreme end of the actuator. 
     Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and may be variously modified and improved within the range of the present invention.