Magnetic head load/unload device, method and a magneto-optical disk

Abstract

A magnetic head is supported with variable stiffness for loading onto the disk surface and unloading off the disk surface. The magnetic head is attached to an end of a thin leaf spring which has been curved in advance, and the leaf spring is interposed between two flat plates, with one of the flat plates being slidable. With the slidable flat plate being moved to the position where the plate overlies a fitting section of the magnetic head, a head support point is provided at a first position with respect to the magnetic head, the thin leaf spring takes an extending straightened state, and at the same time, the thin leaf spring, two flat plates, and magnetic head fitting section form a unitary member with a high stiffness for supporting the magnetic head thereby to load the magnetic head onto the disk surface. With the slidable plate being moved in the opposite direction so as to free the curved section of the thin leaf spring, a second head support point provided at a position further away from the magnetic head than the first position, and the magnetic head is supported flexibly with a lower stiffness by the thin leaf spring. Since the thin leaf spring curves in a free state at this moment, the magnetic head which is attached to the end of the leaf spring is unloaded off the disk surface as if it is whipped up.