Slanted mounting for preload flat suspension

• US 7,113,370 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: VerMeer, Bradley J., Limmer, Joel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAO, ALLEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/736,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 360/246.2
• US Class Current: 360/244.5
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4833 Structure of the arm assembly, e.g. load beams, flexures, parts of the arm adapted for controlling vertical force on the head G11B5/484 takes precedence

Abstract

An actuator arm of a magnetic disc drive having a mounting surface includes a mounting block having a sloped mounting surface. A base plate of a head gimble assembly is attached to the sloped mounting surface. The head gimbal assembly is unbent in its free state and is bent upon being loaded onto the disc.

Claims

1. An actuator for data storage devices, the actuator comprising:

an actuator arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the actuator arm being rotatable in a rotational plane for supporting a transducer with respect to a data storage medium; and

a head gimbal assembly connected to the distal end of the actuator arm at an inclined angle with respect to the rotational plane of the actuator arm, wherein the head gimbal assembly comprises;

a load beam having a proximal region, a distal region, and a bendable hinge region between the proximal region and the distal region;

a slider for carrying the transducer, wherein the slider includes an air-bearing surface; and

a gimbal connecting the slider to the distal region of the load beam.

2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the head gimbal assembly comprises a base plate at the proximal region of the load beam.

3. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the bendable hinge region includes a notch across the load beam.

4. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the actuator arm includes a mounting block having an angled surface.

5. The actuator of claim 4 wherein the mounting block is positioned on a side of the actuator arm that is facing the data storage medium.

6. The actuator of claim 1 and further comprising:

a wedge with a planar surface and an angled surface, wherein the actuator arm is attached to the planar surface of the wedge and the head gimbal assembly is attached to the angled surface of the wedge.

7. A data storage device, the storage device comprising:

a data storage disc;

a rotatable arm with a distal end and a proximal end; and

a head gimbal assembly attached to the distal end at an angle so that when loaded against the disc, the head gimbal assembly is concave in a direction facing away from the disc, wherein the head gimbal assembly comprises;

a load beam having a proximal region, a distal region, and a flexible hinge region between the proximal region and the distal region;

a slider for carrying a transducer; and

a gimbal connecting the slider to the distal region of the load beam.

8. The data storage device of claim 7 wherein the head gimbal assembly further comprises a base plate at the proximal region of the load beam.

9. The data storage device of claim 7 wherein the flexible hinge region includes a notch across the load beam.

10. An actuator for positioning a transducer with respect to a storage medium in a storage device, the actuator comprising:

a mounting block with a sloped mounting surface wherein the sloped mounting surface is greater than zero degrees, but less than ninety degrees with respect to a top plane of the mounting block so that the sloped mounting surface creates a downward plane; and

a head gimbal assembly attached to the sloped mounting surface of the mounting block, wherein the head gimbal assembly comprises;

a load beam having a proximal region, a distal region, and a bendable hinge region between the proximal region and the distal region;

a slider for carrying a transducer; and

a gimbal connecting the slider to the distal region of the load beam.

11. The actuator of claim 10 wherein the head gimbal assembly further comprises a base plate at the proximal end of the load beam.

12. The actuator of claim 10 wherein the bendable hinge region includes a notch across the load beam.

13. A method of assembling an actuator, the method comprising:

attaching an unbent head gimbal assembly to a mounting block with a sloped surface, the head gimbal assembly having a bendable hinge region; and

loading the head gimbal assembly onto a data storage medium to create a bend in the hinge region so that a portion of the head gimbal assembly assumes a oncave shape facing away from the data storage medium.