A New Head-Pad Model for a Double Layered Flexible Disk System

A novel head system composed of four spherical-surface pads and one small-sized head of the single-pole type was studied as a means of supporting a Co-Cr/permalloy flexible disk of diameter 3.5 inches. In a disk drive, the radial position on the disk of the head system was varied between 32 and 38 mm, at disk revolution rates ranging from 400 to 1000 rpm, to evaluate the effect of the head/pad configuration on read/write characteristics and the depression of the head. Stable read/write characteristics were observed in the high-density region around 70 kfci. Since this system is constructed so as to relax the excess stress on the head and disk, an improvement in signal durability is expected in addition to the stable read/write characteristics.