JPS6231075A - Loading/unloading apparatus for magnetic converter for recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a disk drive device used in a computer system and for storing information.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for loading/unloading a magnetic transducer with respect to a storage medium and further locking a head carriage mechanism in a selected position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the increasing use of computers, particularly microprocessors constructed of integrated circuits, there is an increasing need for devices for use with microprocessors to permanently store information. Conventionally, magnetic media, which are flexible magnetic disks commonly called floppy disks, have been widely used. However, in recent years, rigid disk media (
A hard disk (hereinafter referred to as a hard disk) has been developed, which has significantly improved storage capacity and shortened access time compared to the flexible magnetic disk. This hard disk storage device consists, for example, of a hard disk or a plurality of hard disks coated with a magnetic material having suitable magnetic properties and permanently contained within a sealed enclosure. In addition to the hard disk, this sealed enclosure includes a magnetic transducer that writes information to and reads information from the hard disk surface. During normal operation, such magnetic transducers "ride" or "fly" on the surface of the hard disk through a thin air layer formed by the rotation of the hard disk, that is, they are in a floating state. As a result,
The magnetic converter operates when the hard disk is not rotating at the desired operating speed, that is, when the hard disk is stopped, or from the time of startup until its speed reaches the desired operating speed, or after stopping. It comes into contact with the surface of the hard disk only during deceleration. 2. Description of the Related Art As hard disk drives and related technologies advance, hard disk storage devices are becoming less expensive and smaller, while their storage capacity and reliability are improving. As a result, there is a tendency for hard disk drives to be used more and more, especially as devices used to permanently store information in combination with microprocessors.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) However, although hard disk storage devices are excellent as a means for permanently storing large amounts of information, many problems regarding their use remain unresolved for a long time. . especially,
When the device is started, the magnetic transducer contacts the surface of the hard disk, creating a large resistance to rotation of the hard disk. This resistance continues until the hard disk reaches a rotational speed that creates the above-mentioned air layer.In hard disk drives that use a large number of hard disks, magnetic transducers are installed on each side of the disks used. This configuration gives rise to a number of disadvantages. When magnetic transducers are placed on both sides of multiple hard disk media,
A very large force is required to rotate the hard disk medium. Of course, moving the magnetic transducer away from the surface of the hard disk significantly reduces the force required to rotate the hard disk, but the higher starting torque required necessarily reduces the amount of force required to rotate the hard disk. This means that more force is required to bring the speed to the desired operating speed.

In particular, one of the important requirements for portable devices equipped with hard disk storage devices that operate with power supplied from a battery power source is to reduce the required starting power. However, a more important consideration is the undesirable frictional contact that occurs between each surface of the hard disk and the magnetic transducer during startup or shutdown. This frictional contact not only damages the surface of the node disk and erases stored information, but also wears out the magnetic transducer.

Although an example of undesirable contact on the hard disk surface has been described above, there is still another problem in the mechanical relationship between the magnetic transducer and the hard disk.

In hard disk storage devices, magnetic transducers are generally
Attached to one end of a cantilevered positioning arm, the magnetic transducer is positioned at a selected location on the hard disk surface by radial movement of the arm. Although such a t# allows the necessary radial positioning of the magnetic transducer relative to the hard disk, the magnetic transducer may not be able to move relative to the surface of the hard disk due to unexpected physical movement of the hard disk enclosure. It also moves vertically. When the magnetic transducer moves vertically, the transducer hits the surface of the hard disk, resulting in damage to the magnetic transducer or the surface of the hard disk.

Furthermore, when a hard disk drive is powered down, the magnetic transducer that moves radially along the surface of the hard disk may move off course. This is because the head positioning motor that positions the magnetic transducer with respect to the surface of the hard disk is always connected to the magnetic transducer via the cantilever positioning arm, so the operating characteristics of the motor in the power-down state are This is due to factors that partially affect the movement characteristics of the head (magnetic transducer) relative to the hard disk surface. Conventionally, motors for positioning magnetic transducers have generally been used.

A step motor was used. The step motor is 1
Normally, when the power is down, a so-called cogging torque remains that resists rotation of the motor shaft. This residual cogging torque limits the movement of the magnetic transducer over the hard disk surface to some extent, but not enough to completely prevent unwanted radial movement; furthermore, the storage density of the hard disk increases. As the distance between the tracks on the surface increases, accurate positioning cannot be performed using a step motor, for example.

Positioning motors such as voice coil or DC motors are currently used. However, with these types of motors,
The disadvantage is that the possibility of undesired radial movement of the magnetic transducer is greater because no cogging torque remains in the powered down state.

Many attempts have been made to reduce the risk of damage due to said factors. As for the hard disk media themselves, the materials of manufacture have improved so that the hard disk surfaces are less at risk of damage due to undesirable direct or frictional contact with magnetic transducers. Similarly, magnetic transducers have been improved to increase durability and reduce the risk of damage to hard disks. however,
These improvements have not completely eliminated the risk of hard disk damage.

Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of hard disk damage, before stopping the power supply to the hard disk drive, first connect the magnetic transducer to a part of the hard disk where no information is stored, for example, to the inner circumference of the hard disk. Attempts have also been made to locate the As a result, the contact area between the magnetic transducer and the hard disk surface can be limited to a region where information on the disk surface is not stored. However, although this approach can prevent damage to the information stored on the hard disk to some extent, it is inevitably accompanied by a number of undesirable problems. Specifically, the surface available for storing information is reduced and the magnetic transducers are still at risk of damage. Additionally, during power down, the radial movement of the magnetic transducer on the surface of the hard disk is not restricted, so there is a risk that the magnetic transducer may move to the surface area of the hard disk where information is stored due to undesired shocks or vibrations. There is sex.

Furthermore, attempts have been made to hold the magnetic transducer in a state separated from the hard disk surface after the magnetic transducer is lifted from the hard disk surface. This operation is referred to as "unloading" the magnetic transducer.

After the unloading operation, the magnetic transducer is then lowered or "loaded" back onto the surface of the hard disk. Loading and unloading of the magnetic transducer is generally performed by a mechanism comprising the magnetic transducer.

Conventionally, loading and unloading of magnetic transducers is carried out according to the movement characteristics of a cantilevered arm cooperating with a stationary separator element and to which a magnetic head is attached. This movement characteristic is determined by the shape and dimensions of the arm.

When the magnetic transducer passes a predetermined outer peripheral position of the hard disk and moves radially outward, it is unloaded from the hard disk. On the other hand, when it moves radially inward from the outer circumferential position, it is loaded onto the hard disk surface. With such a configuration, loading and unloading of the magnetic transducer can be performed, but since the moving distance of the carriage that supports the head becomes long, it is necessary to separately provide a mechanism to prevent the carriage from moving in the radial direction. .

As more emphasis is placed on the portability of microprocessor devices and the benefit mfIj value of hard disks as storage devices used in the devices, the above-mentioned conditions have become very important.

Further, as the technology of storage media advances, it is predicted that a non-contact relationship between the storage medium and the converter or a contact relationship under precise control will be required.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. With,
The object is to provide a device that prevents undesired radial movement of a magnetic transducer along the surface of a storage medium.

A magnetic transducer loading/unloading device for a storage medium according to the invention comprises a separator element;
This separator element operates in close proximity to a cantilevered arm to which a magnetic transducer is attached. When the separator element is in the first position, the head carriage assembly operates normally. That is, the magnetic transducer is
In the loading state, its radial movement is unrestricted; on the other hand, when located in the second position, the magnetic transducer is unloaded from the hard disk and the head carriage assembly is locked in the selected position, so that the magnetic change Radial movement of the vessel is prevented. Movement of the separator element between the first and second positions results in loading/unloading of the magnetic transducer with respect to the hard disk.

The separator element has one or more inclined surfaces.

The inclined surface abuts a portion of the cantilevered arm carrying the magnetic transducer, causing the magnetic transducer to move up and down as the separator element rotates between the first and second positions. Specifically, when the separator element moves from the first position to the second position, the surface of the separator element having a predetermined inclination angle comes into contact with the cantilever arm, and the separator element moves toward the second position. As it rotates, the cantilevered arm is vertically displaced, thereby vertically moving the magnetic transducer toward or away from the hard disk. Similarly, when the separator element moves from the second position to the first position, the cantilevered arm is also vertically displaced, which in turn causes the magnetic transducer to also move vertically towards or away from the hard disk. That is, movement of the separator element between the first and second positions causes the magnetic transducer to move in a direction perpendicular to the hard disk. Additionally, when the separator element is in the second position, movement of the head carriage assembly is prevented, thereby also preventing radial movement of the m-actual transducer.

Another feature of the invention is the ability to effectively lock the separator element in the first and second circumferential positions.

The energy required to move the separator element from the first position to the second position is stored in a spring device. Therefore, the unloading of the magnetic transducer with respect to the hard disk as well as the locking operation of the head carriage assembly in the selected position need only be done by moving the trigger element. , offset in the desired direction of rotation from the axis of rotation of the separator element, resulting in a torque acting about the axis of rotation of the separator element. The other end of the spring marked # is connected to the trigger member, and when the trigger member is pulled toward the separator element, it comes into contact with the separator element and prevents the element from moving. In this way, the energy stored in the spring holds the separator element in the first position. Then, when the trigger member is moved in a direction to release the contact relationship between the separator element and the trigger member, the restraining force is released and the separator element is moved to the second position by the energy stored in the spring. That is, when the separator element moves from the first position to the second position, the magnetic transducer is unloaded from the hard disk. When the separator element is in the second position, a restraining force is created that prevents movement of the head carriage assembly, thereby preventing radial movement of the magnetic transducer.

When the separator element reaches the second position and the trigger member returns to its original position, the geometric contact of the separator element surface and the trigger member locks the separator element in the second position.

Generally speaking, moving the trigger member in a direction to release said geometrical contact returns the separator element to the first position. Then, moving the head carriage assembly moves the separator element towards the first position. Then, when the trigger member is released, the separator element is fully returned to the first position.

Then, when the separator element returns to the first position, the trigger member applies a torque to the separator element J! the separator element is held in the first position.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, movement of the head carriage assembly is combined with actuation of a trigger member to appropriately control the magnetic transducer for unloading from the hard disk.

Another feature of the present invention lies in the operating requirements of the separator element.6 Specifically, the unloading of the magnetic head and the head carriage assembly can be accomplished by simply temporarily breaking contact between the member and the separator element. can be locked. Similarly, loading the magnetic head, unlocking the head carriage assembly, and returning the separator element to the first position by temporarily breaking contact between the trigger member and the separator element and then moving the head carriage assembly According to the invention, energy is only required when moving the separator element between the first and second positions, and not when holding it in position again.

(Example) The device according to the present invention not only loads and unloads a magnetic transducer with respect to a storage medium, but also
Movement of the head carriage mechanism is restrained to prevent unwanted radial movement along the surface of the 1 m magnetic transducer storage medium. Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail by taking a storage medium consisting of a hard disk as an example. However, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to hard disk type storage media, and therefore it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be applied to storage media other than hard disk types.

Figure 1 shows the most common hard disk storage device.
This schematically shows the elements constituting the hard disk 12, which is connected to a motor 14.

It is rotationally driven by the motor. A magnetic transducer 16 attached to one end of the cantilevered arm 18 transfers information to and from the hard disk 12, while the cantilevered arm 18 is connected to a carriage 20, which is The illustrated moving means moves one-dimensionally, that is, linearly. The magnetic transducer 16 moves radially along the surface of the eight-dot disk 12 in response to the movement of the carriage 20. Below, magnetic transducer 16
, the cantilevered arm 18 and the carriage 20 collectively referred to as the head carriage assembly. Although the basic elements that make up a hard disk storage device have been described, there are many other ways in which these elements can function. I understand that there are possible ways to do this.For example,
Instead of providing a magnetic transducer positioning device to move the magnetic transducer radially along the surface of the hard disk.

It can also move in an arc. Therefore, the following description of the concept of the present invention is not limited to application to hard disk drives comprising components that perform the functions described above.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, separator element 30 is hinged at one end 32 for rotation about that end. In the preferred embodiment, the lowering of the hinge structure is via pins 34 and 36. These pins not only serve as a means of attaching separator element 30 to the desired structure 38, but also allow rotation of separator element 30. Although the preferred embodiment uses pin means to rotate separator element 30 about one end 32 thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible. Therefore, the present invention does not limit the manner in which the desired rotation of separator element 30 may be achieved to the use of pins.

The separator element 30 also has a surface 40 that is inclined with respect to its direction of rotation.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship among the separator element 30, head carriage assembly, and hard disk 12 in FIG. 1, and corresponding elements have the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2. is attached. In this figure, separator element 30 rotates between a first position 42 shown in dotted lines and a second position 44 shown in solid lines. In the first position 42, the separator element 30 adjoins a support wall 43 located outside the trajectory of movement of the head carriage assembly and parallel to its surface. Thus, as carriage 20 moves, magnetic transducer 16 moves radially along the surface of hard disk 12. However, when the magnetic transducer 16 is positioned on the outer periphery of the hard disk 12 by the movement of the carriage 20, and then the separator element 3o is moved to the first position N42, the movement of the rad carriage assembly to a part of the separator element 3o located within range,
Radial movement of the magnetic transducer 16 along the surface of the hard disk 12 is restricted. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 3, with corresponding elements similarly provided with the same reference numerals. In the same figure, the separator element 30 is
Moving from position N42 to second position 44, the 3° inclined surface 40 of the separator element abuts the cantilevered arm 18. More specifically, when the separator element 3o is moved within the range of movement of the helad carriage assembly, the inclined surface 40 moves along the surface of the cantilevered arm 18, so that the magnetic transducer 16 is moved away from the surface of the hard disk 12. Separated, ie unloaded. When the separator element 30 returns from the second position 44 to the first position 42, the magnetic transducer 16 is loaded onto the surface of the hard disk 12. The speed at which the magnetic transducer 16 is loaded onto the surface of the hard disk 12 depends on the speed at which the magnetic transducer 16 is loaded onto the surface of the hard disk 12.
This can be directly controlled by controlling the moving speed of the hard disk 12 toward the hard disk 12 side. Also, when the separator element 30 moves from the second position 844 to the first position 42, the separator element 30 is positioned outside the range of movement of the carriage 20. In this state, the magnetic transducer 16 moves in the radial direction on the surface of the hard disk 12 as the carriage 20 moves.

In a preferred embodiment, the face 40 of the separator element 30 is angled at approximately 75 degrees relative to the sides of the separator element 30.

In the device shown in FIG. 4, the separator element 3o acts only on one magnetic transducer 16 and a single surface of the hard disk 12, but the above inventive concept can be applied to a plurality of magnetic transducers as shown in FIG. It can also be easily expanded by acting on each side of the hard disk storage device. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a plurality of hard disks, a magnetic transducer, a cantilevered arm, a carriage, and a separator element corresponding to the plurality of cantilevered arms. In the figure, the magnetic transducer and cantilever arm are shown in a loaded state with dotted lines and in an unloaded state with solid lines. The hard disk 12A has a cantilever type arm 18.
Magnetic transducers 16A and 16B attached to A and 18B
Collaborate with each other. On the other hand, hard disk 12B cooperates with magnetic transducers 16C and 160 attached to cantilevered arms 18c and 180, respectively. Cantilevered arms 18A, 18B, 18C and 18D are connected to carriage 20. Hey there! ! Qi converter 16
A, 16B, 16c and 16D move in the radial direction along the upper and lower surfaces of the m-air transducers 12A and 12B, respectively, as the carriage 20 moves. The separator element 31 is
It is similar to separator element 30 shown in FIGS. 2-4, and corresponding parts have been provided with like reference numerals.

However, while the separator element 30 has only a single inclined surface 40, the separator element 31 has a plurality of inclined surfaces 4.
OA, 40B, 40C and 40D.

That is, it has an inclined surface corresponding to each side of the hard disk, the magnetic transducer, and the cantilevered arm. Like separator element 30, separator element 31 moves between a first position 42 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 and a second position 8144 shown in solid lines in FIG. In the first position 42, the separator element 31 is not within the range of movement of the carriage 20 and is adjacent to a support wall 43 (not shown in FIG. 5) parallel to the sides of the separator element 30. On the other hand, in the second position 44, the separator element 31 is within the movement range of the carriage 20 and the carriage cannot move.
As with the single cantilevered arm shown in FIG.
144, the inclined surfaces 4OA, 40B', 40C and 40D of the separator element 31 abut cantilevered arms 18A, 18B, 18C and 180, respectively. The separator element 31 is then further moved to the second position 44.
When moved to the side, magnetic transducers 16A, 16B, 16c and 16D separate from hard disks 12A and 12B, respectively. Further, like the separator element 30, when the separator element 31 reaches the second position 44, the element is located within the movement range of the carriage 20, so that the hard disk 1
Magnetic transducers 16A, 16 along the surfaces of 2A and 12B
Radial movement of B, 16c and 160 is prevented.

That is, when the separator element 31 is in the second position 44, the magnetic transducers are spaced apart from the surfaces of each hard disk and are prevented from moving radially along those surfaces.

Similar to the description in FIG. 4, the separator element 31 is in the second position 4.
4 to the first position 42 side, the magnetic transducer 16A
, 16B, 16G and 160 are located on the surfaces of the hard disks 12A and 12B, respectively. In this state,
Since the separator element 31 moves out of the range of movement of the carriage 20.

Radial movement of magnetic transducers 1116A, 16B, 16G, and 160 along the surfaces of hard disks 12A and 12B is again enabled.

The separator elements 30 and 31 have a single inclined surface inclined with respect to the moving direction, but in order to achieve the function of the separator elements, it is necessary to use other structures, for example, the hard disk 12. Of course, it is also possible to use a rotating cylinder or the like having a surface inclined relative to the surface. The preferred embodiments are illustrative of the operation of the apparatus and method according to the invention, and various modifications may be made to achieve the same or similar functions within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Next, the rotational characteristics of the separator element will be explained. 6th
The figure is a side view schematically showing the separator element 31 shown in FIG. 5, with corresponding elements having the same reference numerals.

In the figure, separator element 31 has a trigger element. This trigger element abuts the surface of the separator element 31 when the separator element 31 is in the first or second position. According to a preferred embodiment, the function of the trigger element is performed using a pivot member or trigger member 50. Trigger member 50 moves between a first position 54 shown in solid lines in FIG. 6 and a second position 56 shown in dotted lines in FIG. In the first position 54, the edge 5 of the trigger member 50
8 abuts the edge 60 of the separator element 31. On the other hand, in the second position, the edge 58 of the trigger member 50 does not abut the portion 60 of the separator element 31, as shown in FIG. This will be explained in detail with reference to the following.

Separator element 31 is connected to trigger member 50 via spring 61 . This spring 61 connects a spring connection point 62 provided on the separator element 31 and the trigger member 50.
It is arranged between spring connection points 64 provided in the. The action of the spring 61 maintains the contact relationship between the trigger member 50 and the separator element 31. As described above, the trigger member 50 is maintained in contact with the separator element 31 by the force of the spring 60, and when a trigger force described later is applied, the trigger member 50 returns to the second position 5.
Move to 6. In the following explanation, the axis of the rotating shaft 68 is
The separator element 31 is a rotation axis when rotating between the first position and the second position described above.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the separator element 31 and trigger member 50 shown in FIG. The figure also shows in more detail the positional relationship between the spring connection point 62 and the rotating shaft 62, and the contact relationship between the separator element 31 and the trigger member 50. The surface of the separator element 30 on which the spring force acts via the spring connection point 62 is displaced from the axis of rotation 68 by a distance DI in a direction perpendicular to that surface. Therefore,
The spring 60 produces a rotational torque in the separator element 31 that is proportional to said distance Dl, causing the separator element 31 to rotate about its axis of rotation 68.

Next, the edge 60 of the separator element 31 and the trigger member 5
The relationship between the edges 58 of 0 will be explained. The edge 60 of the separator element 31 is parallel to the axis of rotation 68 and the separator element 31
In the illustrated embodiment, the edge 60 is sloped at an angle of about 50 degrees to the side of the separator element 31 . Similarly, the edge 58 of the trigger member 50 is also parallel to the rotation axis 68, and
It is inclined with respect to the side surface of the separator element 31. Edge 5
The angle of inclination of the trigger member 50 is different from the angle of inclination of the separator element 31, and as described below, the angle of inclination of the edge 58 is greater than the angle of inclination of the separator element 31. It abuts the edge 60 of at point 59. As mentioned above, the spring 61 is connected to the trigger member 50 at a spring connection point 64, and the edge 58 of the trigger member 50 contacts the edge 60 of the separator element 31 at a point 59, so that the separator W A torque centered on the rotation axis 68 of the element 31 is generated in the opposite direction to the torque described in relation to the distance D1. Here, if the vertical distance between the rotational axis 68 and the plane containing the vector of the force caused by the contact at point 59 is D2, then the spring 60 produces a torque on the separator element 31 that is proportional to this distance D2. . In the preferred embodiment, distance D2 is greater than distance DI, so that a net torque about axis of rotation 68 of separator element 31 causes separator element 31 to rotate against support wall 43.
is maintained in a first position adjacent to . Note that the point 59 is positioned so that the distance D2 is as large as possible and the net torque is maximized. Further, in order to minimize the amount of displacement of the trigger member 50 as it moves between the repositions, the angle of inclination of the edge 58 is set to be larger than the angle of inclination of the edge 60.

The function of the support wall 43 is to prevent rotation of the separator element 31 due to the net torque, and to move the separator element 31 into the first position.
The purpose is to maintain it in position 42.

The present invention is not limited to the particular configurations of the preferred embodiments described above; therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other configurations different from the above configurations that perform the same or similar functions as those described above are within the spirit of the invention. It can be done within the range.

Additionally, separator element 31 and trigger member 50 have sloped surfaces 63, 65, 67 and 69, as described in more detail below.

When a force is applied to the trigger member 50, the trigger member 50 rotates about the pivot point 52. As a result, the torque that causes the separator element 31 to rotate about the rotating shaft 68, which is generated when the trigger member 50 contacts the separator element 31, is removed. And spring 61
The torque generated by and acting on the separator element 31 via the spring connection point 62 causes the separator element 3 to
1 rotates from the first position to the second position. When the separator element 31 moves toward the second position 44.

The inclined surfaces 4OA, 40B, 40C and 400 correspond to the cantilevered arms 18A, 18B as described with reference to FIG.
, 18C and 180, so that the magnetic transducer 1
6A, 16B, 16C and l6D are hard disk 1
Separate from 2A and 12B. Then, the separator element 31 continues to rotate until it reaches the second position, and when the separator element 31 reaches the second position, the stop surface 31 of the separator element 31 comes into contact with the carriage 20 and its rotation is blocked. Now, during the movement of the separator element 31 from the first position 42 to the second position 44, the torque acting through the spring connection point 62 increases. When the separator element 31 reaches the second position 44, the torque exerted by the spring 61 and acting on the separator element 31 acts on the carriage 20 via the spring connection point 62, so that the separator element 31 moves against the carriage 20. It is firmly held. As a result, separator element 31
is firmly held at the second position 44, and the magnetic head 16A
, 16B, 16C and 160 are separated from the hard disks, that is, are in an unloaded state, and since the separator element 31 moves within the movement range of the carriage 20, the separator element 31 moves along the surface of the hard disks 12A and 12B. Radial movement of magnetic transducers 16A, 16B, 16C and 160 is prevented. FIG. 8 shows separator element 31 in second position 44 and force 66 removed from trigger member 50.
This is an example of the positional relationship between the trigger member 50 and the trigger member 50.

As shown in the figure, with separator element 31 in the second position and force 66 removed from trigger member 50, surfaces 63 and 65 of separator element 31 are aligned with trigger member 50.
The state is parallel to and in contact with surfaces 67 and 69 of 0, respectively. That is, the trigger member 50 connects the spring connection point 62 on the separator element 31 and the connection point 64 on the trigger member 50.
Due to the spring force of the spring 60 disposed therebetween, it comes into contact with the separator element 31 again. However, rotation of the separator element 31 in the opposite direction to the torque applied to the separator element 31 causes the surface 63 of the separator element 31 and the trigger member 5 to
This is prevented because the surface 67 of 0 is in a close and abutting relationship. This results in magnetic transducers 16A, 16B, 16C and 160 along the surfaces of hard disks 12A and 12B.
The radial movement (FIG. 5) causes separator element 31 to move toward carriage 20 due to the aforementioned relationship between surfaces 63 and 65 of separator element 31 and corresponding surfaces 67 and 69 of trigger member 50, respectively. It is prevented because it is held against

Briefly, hard disks 12A and 12B
magnetic heads 16A, 16B, 16C and 160 for
Reloading of the separator element 30 is accomplished by first applying a force 6.6 to the trigger member 50 (FIG. 6) and then moving the carriage 20 relative to the stop surface 70.
This is done by returning the force to the first position 42 and then releasing the force 66. More specifically, by applying a force 66, surfaces 63 and 65 of separator element 31;
These surfaces are released from parallel abutment with surfaces 67 and 69 of trigger member 50 (FIG. 8), and movement of carriage 20 relative to stop surface 70 of separator element 31 causes separator element 31 to move to the first position. The magnetic disks 16A, 16B, 16c and 16I) are reloaded onto the hard disks 12A and 12B. Here, the carriage 20 moves relative to the separator element 31 as described above, but this movement is not to return the separator element 31 to the first position, but to move the separator element 31 toward the first position 42. It is for the purpose of Then, following the above-mentioned movement of the carriage 20, when the trigger force is released from the trigger member 50, the abutting relationship between the trigger member 50 and the separator element 31 (i.e., the contact between the surfaces 58 and 60) is re-established (the first 6 and 7), so that the net rotational torque about the axis of rotation 68 of the separator element 31 is opposite to the torque produced by the spring 61 and acting through the spring connection point 62. occurs in the direction. This net torque causes the separator element 31 to move to the first position;
It will be returned to 42.

In the illustrated embodiment, a pivot member, i.e., trigger member 50, is used as the trigger element, but various modifications may be made as long as they perform the same or similar functions. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the respective surfaces of the separator element and the trigger element may be easily engaged, for example by using a solenoid-operated bin, which performs the same or similar function as the bin described above. can do. Therefore, as with the separator elements, such modifications of solenoid-driven bins and the like are considered within the scope and spirit of this invention.

(Effects of the Invention) With the above configuration, the present invention can load and unload the magnetic transducer with respect to the hard disk and prevent the magnetic transducer from moving in the radial direction. Furthermore, a more controlled loading and unloading of the magnetic transducer can be achieved by manipulating the trigger element taking into account the speed of carriage movement. That is, when the carriage is first moved to a selected position, in this position the separator element is moved into abutment with the carriage in response to actuation of the trigger member. However, prior to abutment, the inclined surface of the separator element abuts a cantilevered arm comprising a magnetic transducer. Thereafter, by controlling the speed at which the carriage is pulled back, the speed at which the magnetic transducer is unloaded from the surface of the hard disk can be directly controlled. Similarly, loading control of the magnetic transducer to the hard disk can be achieved by actuating the trigger element and controlling the advancement speed of the carriage 20 with the magnetic transducer unloaded to the eight-hard disk.

Although one preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications that can obtain the same or the same effect as the above configuration are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that anything can be done without departing from the following.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the hard disk, magnetic transducer, cantilevered arm and head carriage assembly;
3 is a perspective view showing how the hinged separator element according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, and FIG. 3 shows the hinged separator element shown in FIG. Top view of transducer and head carriage assembly, ? Figure s4 is a perspective view of the hinged separator element, hard disk, magnetic transducer and head carriage assembly shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the hinged separator element, hard disk, magnetic transducer and head carriage assembly shown in Figure 3; A hinged separator element according to another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hard disk, magnetic transducer and head carriage assembly used in connection with the element; FIG. 6 is a side view of the hinged separator element shown in FIG. 5; FIG.
6 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 with the hinged separator element in a first position, and FIG. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 with the hinged separator element in a second position. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Hard disk storage device, 12... Hard disk, 16... Magnetic transducer, 18... Cantilever type arm, 20... Carriage, 30.31...
・Separator element, 40... Inclined surface of separator element, 5O... Trigger member, 61... Spring patent applicant Tanton Corporation agent patent attorney
Bottom 1) Part 1 Patent attorney Kuni Ohashi Patent attorney Udou Koyama Patent attorney No 1) Shigeru FIG, 2 FIG, 3 FIG, 5 FIG, 6

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A device for loading/unloading a magnetic transducer onto/from a storage medium, wherein the magnetic transducer is connected to a cantilever type member, and the cantilever type member loads the magnetic transducer onto the surface of the storage medium. a carriage means for moving the magnetic transducer along the magnetic transducer, the carriage means being movable between a first position and a second position; separator means for unloading the separator means from the storage medium; and moving means coupled to the separator means for selectively moving the separator means between the first position and the second position. A device for loading/unloading a magnetic transducer to a storage medium. (2) the separator means has a predetermined width, rotates between the first position and the second position via a hinge about a rotation axis, and is inclined with respect to the surface of the storage medium; a plate member having an inclined surface that cooperates with the cantilever type member to move the magnetic transducer up and down with respect to the storage medium between the first position and the second position; 2. A device for loading/unloading a magnetic transducer for a storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising trigger means for moving said separator means between said first and second positions. . (3) The moving means comprises a spring connected between the separator means and the trigger means, and the spring is connected to the separator means at a position offset from the rotation axis of the separator means. A device for loading/unloading a magnetic transducer for a storage medium according to claim 2.