Magnetic head supporting mechanism

Abstract

A magnetic head supporting mechanism includes a head positioning actuator having an arm, and a load beam connected to the arm. The load beam has a gimbal. The gimbal includes a magnetic head slider fixing portion on which a magnetic head slider having a magnetic head is mounted, a first pair of beams extending from opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion along a traverse direction of the load beam perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second pair of beams respectively connected to the first pair of beams and extending so as to face the opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A magnetic head supporting mechanism comprising: 
 a head positioning actuator having an arm; and    a load beam connected to said arm, said load beam paving a gimbal comprising: 
 a magnetic head slider fixing portion on which a magnetic head slider having a magnetic head is mounted;  
 a first pair of beams extending from opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion along a traverse direction of the load beam perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof; and  
 a second pair of beams respectively connected to the first pair of beams and extending so as to face said opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion.  
   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said magnetic head slider fixing portion comprises a closed beam so that an opening is defined by said closed beam;    said magnetic head slider comprises flanges; and    said magnetic head slider is inserted into said opening in a state in which said flanges of the magnetic head slider is attached to the closed beam by means of an adhesive member.    
     
     
         3 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising lead wires connected to terminals of the magnetic head, 
 said lead wires being fixed to the magnetic head slider fixing portion and to the load beam.    
     
     
         4 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said load beam comprises: 
 wiring patterns formed on the first pair of beams, the second pair of beams and an intermediate stiffness portion of the load beam;  
 first terminals connected to the wiring patterns and formed on the magnetic head slider fixing portion; and  
 second terminals connected to the wiring patterns and formed on an end portion of the load beam, the wiring patterns extending from the first terminals to the end portion via the intermediate stiffness portion,  
   the first terminals being connected to terminals of the magnetic head.    
     
     
         5 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said load beam comprises first dummy patterns formed in the gimbal so that the dummy patterns are symmetrical to the wiring patterns.  
     
     
         6 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said load beam comprises second dummy patterns formed on the intermediate stiffness portion of the load beam so that the dummy patterns are symmetrical to the wiring patterns.  
     
     
         7 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second pair of beams extend in the longitudinal direction of the load beam.  
     
     
         8 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second pair of beams are slightly inclined with respect to the first pair of beams.  
     
     
         9 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a projection formed on the magnetic head slider fixing portion so that the projection prevents the magnetic head slider from being tilted due to the presence of the wiring patterns.  
     
     
         10 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said load beam comprises a flexible plate.  
     
     
         11 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the load beam comprises an intermediate stiffness portions having opposite edges along which ribs are formed.  
     
     
         12 . A magnetic head supporting mechanism comprising: 
 a head positioning actuator having an arm; and    a load beam connected to said arm,    said load beam having a gimbal comprising: 
 a magnetic head slider fixing portion on which a magnetic head slider having a magnetic head is mounted;  
 a first pair of beams extending from opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion along a longitudinal direction of the load beam perpendicular to a traverse direction thereof; and  
 a second pair of beams respectively connected to the first pair of beams and extending so as to face said opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion.  
   
     
     
         13 . A magnetic head supporting mechanism comprising: 
 a head positioning actuator having an arm; and    a load beam connected to said arm,    said load beam having a gimbal comprising: 
 a magnetic head slider fixing portion on which a magnetic head slider having a magnetic head is mounted;  
 first and second beams extending from opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion along a longitudinal direction of the load beam, said first and second beams being spaced apart from the magnetic head slider fixing portion; and  
 a third beam which extends in the longitudinal direction and connects an end of the load beam to the magnetic head slider fixing portion.  
   
     
     
         14 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second beams extend in the longitudinal direction of the load beam.  
     
     
         15 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said load beam comprises 
 wiring patterns formed on the first, second and third beams and a main body of the load beam;    first terminals connected to the wiring patterns and formed on the magnetic head slider fixing portion; and    second terminals connected to the wiring patterns and formed on the load beam,    the first terminals being connected to terminals of the magnetic head.    
     
     
         16 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said load beam comprises a flexible flat plate; and    said load beam is attached to said arm so that the load beam is downwardly inclined with respect to a horizontal plane in such a manner that a vertical level of the magnetic head slider is lower than that of the arm.    
     
     
         17 . The magnetic head supporting mechanism as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said third beam has a width equal to that of the magnetic head slider fixing portion so that the third beam and the magnetic head slider fixing portion form an integrated member.