Head suspension with bridge portion separating apertures near lift tab
View Patent ↗A magnetic disk drive is to be provided wherein a ramp and a magnetic disk do not overlap each other and both rigidity and dynamic characteristics of a suspension are maintained. In one embodiment, a ramp and an actuator lying at a retractive position are spaced away from and do not overlap an outer peripheral end of a magnetic disk. A tab is formed centrally of a front end of a load beam and is bent in U shape. Flanges are formed along both longitudinal edges of the load beam. An aperture is formed in a front portion of the load beam. The aperture permits the tab to be machined in a desired shape. An aperture is formed behind the aperture. The apertures are not formed in an integrally contiguous manner but are separated from each other by a bridge portion.
1. A suspension having deformable gimbals which hold a head configured to access a recording area on a rotating recording disk and a load beam which supports said gimbals, said load beam comprising:
a tab projecting from a front end of said load beam and being integrally formed centrally in a longitudinal direction of the front end of the load beam, said tab being bent in a transverse section thereof;
flanges formed by bending both longitudinally extending edge portions of said load beam;
a first aperture formed in a position overlapping an end on a tab side of a head-disposed position of the head on the load beam toward the tab;
a second aperture formed on a tab side of said first aperture;
a bridge portion which separates said first and second apertures from each other, and
wherein said tab extends from said second aperture, which has bent portions bending longitudinally in the same direction as said flanges.
2. A suspension according to claim 1 , wherein said flanges are formed at least between the tab-side end of the head-disposed position and the front end of said load beam.
3. A suspension according to claim 2 , wherein said load beam includes a hinge portion which generates an elastic force toward said gimbals, and said flanges are formed at least between an end on a tab side of said hinge portion and the front end of said load beam.
4. A suspension according to claim 1 , wherein said tab is bent in U shape.
5. A suspension according to claim 1 , wherein the portion between said second aperture and said tab is bent in the transverse direction of said load beam.
6. A data storage device comprising:
a recording disk configured to record data and rotate;
a head configured to access a recording area on said recording disk which is rotating;
a ramp spaced away from an outer peripheral end of said recording disk and to which said head retracts from a position above a surface of said recording disk;
a suspension having deformable gimbals which support said head and a load beam which supports said gimbals, said suspension being configured to pivot in a pivotal direction around a pivot shaft, to cause said head to move to a position above the surface of said recording disk and to said ramp; and
a drive unit configured to drive said suspension pivotally,
wherein said load beam includes:
a tab extending from a central part in a longitudinal direction of a front end of said load beam and being bent in a section thereof in said pivotal direction, said tab being configured to slide on a surface of said ramp;
flanges formed by bending both longitudinally extending edge portions of said load beam;
a first aperture formed in a position overlapping an end face on a tab side of said head;
a second aperture formed on a tab side of said first aperture;
a bridge portion formed between said first and second apertures to separate said first and second apertures from each other, and
wherein said tab extends from said second aperture, which has bent portions bending longitudinally in the same direction as said flanges.
7. A data storage device according to claim 6 , wherein when said tab is at rest on said ramp surface, said suspension is spaced away from the outer peripheral end of said recording disk.
8. A data storage device according to claim 6 , wherein said load beam is formed from said head up to an arm portion and includes a hinge portion which generates an elastic force toward said recording disk, and said flanges are formed at least between an end on a tab side of said hinge portion and the front end of said load beam.
9. A data storage device according to claim 6 , wherein said tab is bent in U shape and the convex portion of the U-shaped tab is configured to slide on the surface of said ramp.
10. A data storage device according to claim 6 , wherein the portion between said second aperture and said tab is bent in said pivotal direction.
11. A data storage device according to claim 6 , wherein, at a position where said tab comes into contact with an end on a recording disk side of said ramp, said head lies above the recording disk.
12. A data storage device comprising:
a recording disk for recording data;
a head configured to access a storage area on the recording disk;
a ramp spaced away from an outer peripheral end of the recording disk and to which said head retracts from a position above a surface of said recording disk;
a suspension having deformable gimbals which support said head and a load beam which supports said gimbals, said suspension being configured to pivot in a pivotal direction around a pivot shaft, to cause said head to move to a position above the surface of said recording disk and to said ramp; and
a drive unit configured to drive said suspension,
wherein said load beam includes:
a tab extending from a central part in a longitudinal direction of a front end of said load beam and bent in a section thereof in said pivotal direction, said tab being configured to slide on a surface of said ramp and stop on a stop surface of said ramp;
flanges formed by bending both longitudinally extending edge portions of said load beam in an area between an end face on a tab side of said head toward the tab and the front end of said load beam;
a first aperture formed in a position overlapping the tab-side end face of said head;
a second aperture formed opposite the tab side of said first aperture;
a tab aperture having bent portions bending longitudinally in the same direction as said flanges; and
a bridge portion which separates said first aperture and said tab aperture from each other,
wherein said tab extends from said tab aperture.
13. A data storage device according to claim 12 , wherein when said tab is at rest on said stop surface, said suspension is spaced away from the outer peripheral end of said recording disk.
14. A data storage device according to claim 12 , wherein said load beam is formed from said head up to an arm portion and includes a hinge portion which generates an elastic force toward said recording disk, and said flanges are formed at least between an end on a tab side of said hinge portion and the front end of said load beam.
15. A data storage device according to claim 12 , wherein said tab is bent in U shape and the convex portion of the U-shaped tab is configured to slide on the surface of said ramp.
16. A data storage device according to claim 12 , wherein the portion between said tab aperture and said tab is bent in said pivotal direction.
17. A data storage device according to claim 12 , wherein, at a position where said tab comes into contact with an end on a recording disk side of said ramp, said head lies above the recording disk.