Data storage device

Abstract

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to suppressing deterioration in rigidity and dynamic characteristics of a tab even when an initial point of contact between a tab and a ramp during unloading is set closer to the outer periphery of a disk. A data storage device in one embodiment of the present invention includes a head, a ramp for unloading the head, a load beam having a head support portion for supporting the head and a tab adapted to slide on a sliding surface of the ramp on a front end side with respect to the head support portion, and an actuator having the load beam and adapted to actuate the head for loading and unloading. During unloading, a portion of the tab offset from the center in the transverse direction of the tab first comes into contact with the sliding surface of the ramp. The load beam has a flange formed to be bent and continuously from the front end portion of the tab up to both ends of the head support portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic construction of a hard disk drive according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view showing loading and unloading conditions of a ramp and a tab according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3( a)-(c) are exemplary diagrams showing the construction of a head suspension assembly and that of an arm according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4( a)-(b) are exemplary perspective views of the construction of the head suspension assembly and that of the arm according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary side view showing the construction of the suspension according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing loading and unloading conditions of the suspension according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7( a)-(c) are exemplary diagrams showing loading and unloading conditions of the tab and a head according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary graph showing rigidity characteristics of the tab according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary side view showing the construction of a conventional suspension.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram showing loading and unloading conditions of the conventional suspension.

FIGS. 11( a)-(c) are exemplary diagrams showing loading and unloading conditions of a conventional tab and head.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising: a head accessing a recording area of a medium;a ramp having an unloading position to which the head is unloaded from a surface of the medium; andan actuator pivoting around a pivot shaft to unload the head to the unloading position and load the head to a position above the surface of the medium from the unloading position;wherein the actuator includes a load beam having a head support portion for supporting the head and a tab provided on the side opposite to the pivot shaft with respect to the head support portion and adapted to come into contact with the ramp;the load beam further includes a flange formed to be bent and continuously from a front end of the tab up to both ends in the pivotal direction of the head support portion; anda portion offset from the center of the tab in the pivotal direction comes into contact with a inclined surface of the ramp.

2. A data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the head includes a slider having a head element portion, and the size in the pivotal direction of the tab is larger than the size in the pivotal direction of the slider.

3. A data storage device comprising: a head accessing a recording area of a medium;a ramp having an unloading position to which the head is unloaded from a surface of the medium; andan actuator pivoting about a pivot shaft to unload the head to the unloading position and load the head to a position above the surface of the medium from the unloading position;wherein the actuator includes a load beam having a head support portion for supporting the head and a tab provided on the side opposite to the pivot shaft with respect to the head support portion and adapted to come into contact with the ramp;the load beam further includes a flange formed to be bent and continuously from a front end of the tab up to both ends in the pivotal direction of the head support portion; anda portion of the tab positioned outside the head in the pivotal direction comes into contact with a inclined surface of the ramp.

4. A data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the center of the tab in the pivotal direction and the center of the tab-side end of the head support portion coincides with each other.

5. A data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the tab located near the head support portion is of the same width as the head support portion and the front end of the tab is narrower than the vicinity of the head support portion.

6. A data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the tab and the head support portion are formed contiguously, and in the contiguous portion, the size of the tab in the pivotal direction and the size of the head support portion in the pivotal direction are the same.

7. A data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the front end of the tab comes into contact with the ramp.

8. A data storage device according to claim 1, wherein when the tab is in contact with the ramp, the other portion of the tab than the front end of the tab is spaced away from the ramp.

9. A data storage device according to claim 1, wherein in the state where the tab is positioned above the surface of the medium, the tab extends to the medium side with respect to the head support portion.

10. A data storage device according to claim 1, wherein when the tab is in contact with the ramp, the height from the point of contact between the tab and the ramp to the surface of the medium is smaller than the height from a portion of the head support portion farthest from the surface of the medium to the surface of the medium.

11. A data storage device according to claim 3, wherein the center of the tab in the pivotal direction and the center of the tab-side end of the head support portion coincides with each other.

12. A data storage device according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the tab located near the head support portion is of the same width as the head support portion and the front end of the tab is narrower than the vicinity of the head support portion.

13. A data storage device according to claim 3, wherein the tab and the head support portion are formed contiguously, and in the contiguous portion, the size of the tab in the pivotal direction and the size of the head support portion in the pivotal direction are the same.

14. A data storage device according to claim 3, wherein the front end of the tab comes into contact with the ramp.

15. A data storage device according to claim 3, wherein, when the tab is in contact with the ramp, the other portion of the tab than the front end of the tab is spaced away from the ramp.

16. A data storage device according to claim 3, wherein, in the state where the tab is positioned above the surface of the medium, the tab extends to the medium side with respect to the head support portion.

17. A data storage device according to claim 3, wherein, when the tab is in contact with the ramp, the height from the point of contact between the tab and the ramp to the surface of the medium is smaller than the height from a portion of the head support portion farthest from the surface of the medium to the surface of the medium.