Magnetic disk unit using negative pressure to counterbalance having head lifting mechanism

摘要

A magnetic disk unit for data storage in which a magnetic read/write head is attached to a suspension arm. To prevent the head from making direct contact with the associated disk when the disk is not rotating, the disk unit is provided with a head lifting mechanism which comprises at least one linearly contractable and extendable bellows mounted on the base of the disk unit, a lifter member fixed to a movable end face of the bellows and a pressure transmitting passage to transmit a negative pressure created within the magnetic disk unit in the vicinity of a radially inner region of the rotating disk to the interior of the bellows. When the disk is stationary the bellows is in the expanded state, and the lifter member supports thereon the suspension arm so as to keep the head spaced from the disk. In read/write operations the negative pressure causes the bellows to contract such that the lifter member remains apart from the suspension arm.